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Tyrosol is an important component of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics, and their biosynthetic pathways are currently a hot research topic. d-Erythrose 4-phosphate is a key precursor for the biosynthesis of tyrosol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Hence, the flux of d-Erythrose 4-phosphate determined the yield of tyrosol synthesis. In this study, we first obtained an S. cerevisiae strain S19 with a tyrosol yield of 247.66 mg/L by metabolic engineering strategy. To increase the production of d-Erythrose 4-phosphate, highly active phosphoketolase BA-C was obtained by bioinformatics combined with tyrosol yield assay. The key residue sites 183, 217, and 320 were obtained by molecular docking, kinetic simulation, and tyrosol yield verification. After mutation, the highly efficient phosphoketolase BA-CHis320Met was obtained, with a 37.32 % increase in enzyme activity. The tyrosol production of strain S26 with BA-CHis320Arg increased by 43.05 % than strain S25 with BA-C and increased by 151.19 % compared with the strain S19 without phosphoketolase in a 20 L fermenter. The mining and modification of phosphoketolase will provide strong support for the de novo synthesis of aromatic compounds.

Supercapacitors are widely considered as advanced energy storage devices with vast development prospects due to their excellent properties, including high specific energy and good cyclic stability. Recently, the development of novel and high-performance supercapacitors has attracted extensive attention. As one of the key components, the electrode material has a significant impact on the electrochemical performance of supercapacitors. Engineering biochar not only has natural advantages such as renewability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental-friendliness but also possesses well-developed properties, including pore structure, functional group, and cyclic stability. Therefore, numerous investigations have been conducted to develop high-performance engineered biochar-based supercapacitors. This review provides an overview of emerging synthesis routes for engineered biochar-based electrode materials and discusses recent advances in various synthesis approaches, offering deeper and more comprehensive information on engineered biochar-based supercapacitors. Machine learning (ML)-based predictions and inverse designs have contributed to the innovation of engineered biochar-based electrode materials for high-performance applications, clarifying the inherent mechanisms and complex relationships between the properties of engineering biochar and the electrochemical performance of supercapacitors. Finally, detailed assessments from perspectives of environmental benefits and economic feasibilities are proposed as science-based guidelines for industries and policymakers. The main existing challenges and solutions of engineered biochar-based energy storage systems are discussed, aiming to accelerate commercial applications of engineered biochar-based supercapacitors.

Background There is a lack of synthesis of literature to determine hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) strategies for hepatitis B virus (HBV) supported by quality evidence. We aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of HepB strategies among people with different characteristics.Research design and methods PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for meta-analyses comparing the efficacy and safety of HepB up to July 2023.Results Twenty-one meta-analyses comparing 83 associations were included, with 16 high quality, 4 moderate, and 1 low quality assessed by AMSTAR 2. Highly suggestive evidence supports HepB booster and HepB with 1018 adjuvant (HBsAg-1018) for improved seroprotection, and targeted and universal HepB vaccination reduced HBV infection Suggestive evidence indicated that targeted vaccination decreased the rate of hepatitis B surface antibody positivity and booster doses increased seroprotection in people aged 10–20. Weak evidence suggests potential local/systemic reaction risk with nucleotide analogs or HBsAg-1018. Convincing evidence shows HLA-DPB1*04:01 and DPB1*04:02 increased, while DPB1*05:01 decreased, hepatitis B antibody response. Obesity may reduce HepB seroprotection, as highly suggested.Conclusion Targeted vaccination could effectively reduce HBV infection, and adjuvant and booster vaccinations enhance seroprotection without significant reaction. Factors such as obesity and genetic polymorphisms may affect the efficacy.

The decline in air quality is thought to be due to rapid land use/land cover (LULC) changes near metropolitan areas that are undergoing rapid urbanisation. Here, we quantify the characteristics and relationship between the aerosol optical depth (AOD) index and LULC changes in Hangzhou, China, since the 21st century using multispectral satellite remote sensing data. The regional study results show that the correlation between the operational AOD observations (MOD04_3K) at 3 km resolution and the in situ AOD measurements available in Hangzhou ranges from 0.48 to 0.80, and their root mean square error (RMSE) < 0.30. During the past two decades, Hangzhou has been in the stage of rapid urbanisation, and the area of construction land has increased significantly, mainly converted from cultivated land and forests. The correlation coefficients between the AOD and the changes of cultivated land, forest land, grassland and construction land in Hangzhou were 0.36, 0.86, 0.61 and 0.63, respectively, indicating a strong correlation except for the cultivated land. Finally, the temporal evolution of the correlation coefficients between the cultivated land and building land are positively correlated with AOD, while from the trend of the correlation curve, grassland, woodland and AOD show negative correlations.

Abstract Background Based on the embeddedness theory, the present study aims to explore the association between patients’ trust in family doctors (Interpersonal Trust), trust in community health centers (Organizational Trust), and trust in society as a whole (Social Trust). Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in six community health centers in China, using partial least squares structural equation modeling to assess trust scale reliability and validity while testing hypotheses. Results The scores of Interpersonal Trust, Organizational Trust, and Social Trust were 3.761, 3.636, and 3.635, respectively. Our findings confirm that Interpersonal Trust is positively associated with Organizational Trust (β = 0.916, p

Abstract The gut microbiome primarily generates short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by fermenting dietary fibers. Though previous studies have linked SCFAs to blood pressure, there remains a lack of research on the relationship between SCFAs levels in the serum of elderly individuals and blood pressure. Based on this, we investigated the associations of serum SCFAs with blood pressure in Chinese older adults in a cross-sectional study. In this report, we recruited 1013 older adults over 60 years of age from June to September 2016 in Lu 'an City, China. Using Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole-Exactive-Orbitrap-Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-QE-Orbitrap MS), we measured the level of various SCFAs, including acetic acid (AA), propanoic acid (PA), butyric acid (BA), isobutyric acid (iso-BA), valeric acid (VA), isovaleric acid (iso-VA), and caproic acid (CA), in serum samples collected from Chinese elderly adults. The study recruited 1013 older adults in total. Multiple logistic regression analysis shows that AA (OR = 0.696, 95%CI: 0.501–0.966) and VA (OR = 0.713, 95%CI: 0.516–0.985) are negatively associated with hypertension. Linear regression analysis shows a negative correlation between AA (β = -3.89, 95% CI: -7.12 – -0.66) and the systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels, and a significant negative association between iso-VA (β = -2.11, 95% CI: -3.94 – -0.29) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels. Whether in unadjusted or adjusted linear regression models, we all observe significant positive associations between CA and blood pressure levels. In the Bayesian kernel-machine regression (BKMR) models, the trends between the mixture of SCFAs and hypertension, SBP are inverse, but not significant; we also observe a significant negative correlation between AA and SBP, and a significant negative association between iso-VA and DBP levels, while CA is significantly positively correlated with SBP and DBP. Collectively, our results advocate for considering SCFA as a potential intervention to lower blood pressure, and especially AA may be a possible target for research. This may provide new perspectives for understanding the role of SCFAs in hypertension.

Abstract Municipal solid waste (MSW) is crucial for carbon cycle, residents' lives, and green circular economy development, but quantitative research is limited in efficiency and regional synergy. Considering the regional characteristics of Chengdu and Chongqing, this study establishes the input–output indicator system of MSW treatment in 16 cities in the Chengdu–Chongqing area, constructs the Data Envelopment Analysis model and the coupling coordination degree model, and makes an in‐depth study on the efficiency and environmental benefits of MSW resource treatment from 2012 to 2021. The research conclusion is as follows: first, the improvement of MSW treatment efficiency can be enhanced through reasonable policies and measures to promote sustainable urban development and socioeconomic benefits. The input and output levels of MSW treatment in 16 cities all show an upward trend. Second, the 16 MSW treatment systems have good average pure technical efficiency (Chongqing 0.9879, Chengdu 0.9805), average scale efficiency (Nanchong 0.9396), and average comprehensive efficiency (Nanchong 0.9148), but the overall comprehensive efficiency needs improvement. Third, in 2021, Chengdu's ecological and environmental benefits are better than Chongqing's, while Chongqing has a certain degree of input redundancy and output deficiency. Fourth, in the coupling analysis of resource treatment efficiency and environmental improvement benefits in Chengdu and Chongqing between 2012 and 2021, the coordination between resource treatment and environmental improvement in Chengdu lags behind that in Chongqing, but overall, the coupling is improving. Finally, suggestions for improving the efficiency of MSW resource treatment and promoting environmental improvement are presented from the front, middle, and back ends, respectively, to provide a reference for the policy‐making of city managers.

Abstract Objective As the ageing process in China further accelerates and the average life expectancy increases, chronic disease prevalence and multimorbidity rates are constantly rising, especially among elderly individuals. However, few previous studies have explored the impacts of chronic diseases and multimorbidity on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to investigate this association among community-dwelling elderly individuals in China. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in communities in three cities (Suzhou, Qingdao, and Guangzhou). The basic characteristics, chronic diseases and HRQoL of participants were collected, and HRQoL was measured by the EuroQol 5-Dimensions 3-Level version (EQ-5D-3L). Logistic regression, Tobit regression and generalized linear models were used to assess the impacts of chronic diseases and multimorbidity on HRQoL. Results Approximately 83.2 percent of the 1,218 respondents had chronic conditions, with 30 percent having multimorbidity. After controlling for sociodemographic and health behaviour factors, patients with stroke were more likely to report problems in all five dimensions of the EQ-5D and had a lower EQ-5D utility index (UI) (b = -0.342) than patients with other chronic conditions. Patients with chronic pulmonary obstruction had a lower EuroQol Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS) (b = -11.169) than patients with other chronic conditions. Furthermore, patients with multimorbidity had worse HRQoL (P

To explore the differences in the quality and volatiles of 10 kinds of commercial butter hotpot base, the basic physicochemical indexes of hotpot base were determined. The volatiles of hotpot base were further analyzed by headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) in this study. The physicochemical indexes analysis results showed that the 10 kinds of commercially available butter hot pot base, samples N4 and N7 had higher amino acid nitrogen content, samples N1, N2 and N3 had higher fat content, and sample N6 had higher protein and total acid content. The HS-SPME-GC-MS analysis results indicated that a total of 107 volatiles were identified in 10 kinds of commercial butter hotpot base, and 15 key differentiated volatiles including hinokiene, γ-pinene, terpinolene and linalool could be used to differentiate the spicy butter hotpot base from the mellow, saucy, and cumin butter hotpot bases. The orthogonal partial least-squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) results showed that the volatiles content in the N1 sample was higher than that in the N4, N5, N7, N8 and N9 samples among the six spicy butter hotpot bases. In the mellow, saucy and cumin butter hotpot base, the volatiles content in the N2 sample was higher than that in the N3 and N10. The HS-GC-IMS results showed that γ-butyrolactone and ethyl 3-methylthiopropionate were the characteristic volatiles of the N2 sample, isobutyl acetate and ethyl butyrate were the characteristic volatiles in the N4, N6, and N10 samples, and 2-hexenal and 2,6-trimethylpyridine were the characteristic volatiles of the N4, N5, and N10 samples. These results indicated that 10 kinds of the commercial butter hotpot base had different characteristic fingerprints.

Abstract Background Respiratory infectious diseases have the highest incidence among infectious diseases worldwide. Currently, global monitoring of respiratory pathogens primarily focuses on influenza and coronaviruses. This study included influenza and other common respiratory pathogens to establish a local respiratory pathogen spectrum. We investigated and analyzed the co-infection patterns of these pathogens and explored the impact of lifting non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on the transmission of influenza and other respiratory pathogens. Additionally, we used a predictive model for infectious diseases, utilizing the commonly used An autoregressive comprehensive moving average model (ARIMA), which can effectively forecast disease incidence. Methods From June 2023 to February 2024, we collected influenza-like illness (ILI) cases weekly from the community in Xuanwu District, Nanjing, and obtained 2046 samples. We established a spectrum of respiratory pathogens in Nanjing and analysed the age distribution and clinical symptom distribution of various pathogens. We compared age, gender, symptom counts, and viral loads between individuals with co-infections and those with single infections. An autoregressive comprehensive moving average model (ARIMA) was constructed to predict the incidence of respiratory infectious diseases. Results Among 2046 samples, the total detection rate of respiratory pathogen nucleic acids was 53.37% (1092/2046), with influenza A virus 479 cases (23.41%), influenza B virus 224 cases (10.95%), and HCoV 95 cases (4.64%) being predominant. Some pathogens were statistically significant in age and number of symptoms. The positive rate of mixed infections was 6.11% (125/2046). There was no significant difference in age or number of symptoms between co-infection and simple infection. After multiple iterative analyses, an ARIMA model (0,1,4), (0,0,0) was established as the optimal model, with an R2 value of 0.930, indicating good predictive performance. Conclusions The spectrum of respiratory pathogens in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, was complex in the past. The primary age groups of different viruses were different, causing various symptoms, and the co-infection of viruses did not correlate with the age and gender of patients. The ARIMA model estimated future incidence, which plateaued in subsequent months.

Abstract Background Elevated mammographic density (MD) for a woman’s age and body mass index (BMI) is an established breast cancer risk factor. The relationship of parity, age at first birth, and breastfeeding with MD is less clear. We examined the associations of these factors with MD within the International Consortium of Mammographic Density (ICMD). Methods ICMD is a consortium of 27 studies with pooled individual-level epidemiological and MD data from 11,755 women without breast cancer aged 35–85 years from 22 countries, capturing 40 country-& ethnicity-specific population groups. MD was measured using the area-based tool Cumulus. Meta-analyses across population groups and pooled analyses were used to examine linear regression associations of square-root (√) transformed MD measures (percent MD (PMD), dense area (DA), and non-dense area (NDA)) with parity, age at first birth, ever/never breastfed and lifetime breastfeeding duration. Models were adjusted for age at mammogram, age at menarche, BMI, menopausal status, use of hormone replacement therapy, calibration method, mammogram view and reader, and parity and age at first birth when not the association of interest. Results Among 10,988 women included in these analyses, 90.1% (n = 9,895) were parous, of whom 13% (n = 1,286) had ≥ five births. The mean age at first birth was 24.3 years (Standard deviation = 5.1). Increasing parity (per birth) was inversely associated with √PMD (β: − 0.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): − 0.07, − 0.03) and √DA (β: − 0.08, 95% CI: − 0.12, − 0.05) with this trend evident until at least nine births. Women who were older at first birth (per five-year increase) had higher √PMD (β:0.06, 95% CI:0.03, 0.10) and √DA (β:0.06, 95% CI:0.02, 0.10), and lower √NDA (β: − 0.06, 95% CI: − 0.11, − 0.01). In stratified analyses, this association was only evident in women who were post-menopausal at MD assessment. Among parous women, no associations were found between ever/never breastfed or lifetime breastfeeding duration (per six-month increase) and √MD. Conclusions Associations with higher parity and older age at first birth with √MD were consistent with the direction of their respective associations with breast cancer risk. Further research is needed to understand reproductive factor-related differences in the composition of breast tissue and their associations with breast cancer risk.

Abstract Influenza A viruses (IAVs) significantly impact animal and human health due to their zoonotic potential. A growing body of evidence indicates that the host’s long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in regulating host–virus interactions during IAV infection. However, numerous lncRNAs associated with IAV infection have not been well characterised. Here, in this study, we identify the LINC01197 as an antiviral host factor. LINC01197 was significantly upregulated after IAV infection, which is controlled by the NF-κB pathway. Functional analysis revealed that overexpression of LINC01197 inhibited IAV replication and virus production, while knockdown of LINC01197 facilitated IAV replication. Mechanistically, LINC01197 directly interacts with poly(A) binding protein cytoplasmic 1 (PABPC1), which in turn sequesters and restricts its functions. This work shows that LINC01197 acts as a protein decoy, suppressing IAV replication and playing a key role in controlling IAV replication.

Objective To explore the model of treatment of refractory wounds by apheresis platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and evaluate its efficacy and safety. Methods PRP treatment was carried out for 34 patients with refractory wounds who were hospitalized in our hospital from June 2020 to December 2023. The patient′s autologous PRP was collected by the blood composition separator. PRP point-like injection and/or direct application along the edge of the wound, or platelet gel (PG) to cover the wound and fill the sinus were used to treat different types of wounds. The frequency of treatment was once to twice a week, with each course of treatment consisting of 4 to 5 sessions. The efficacy was observed and recorded, and the safety was evaluated. Results Before PRP collection, the basal platelet, white blood cell and red blood cell counts were (321.85±114.64) ×109/L, (9.52±3.21) ×109/L and (4.34±0.62) ×1012/L, respectively. The counts of platelets, white blood cells and red blood cells in PRP products were (1 438.53±376.89)×109/L, (1.38±1.03)×109/L and (0.03±0.01)×1012/L, respectively. The platelet concentration of PRP products increased by 4.47 times on average, and the sampled bacterial culture was negative. Out of 34 patients treated with PRP, 33 showed improvement in symptoms, while 1 did not respond well due to long-term bedridden and poor compliance. Four patients had mild adverse reactions during PRP collection or treatment, but all were able to complete PRP collection or treatment after standardized treatment. Conclusion Apheresis PRP products have the advantages of stable quality, safety, reliability and traceability, and can effectively promote the healing of a variety of refractory wounds. Its treatment process is safe and effective, and is worthy of popularization and application.

Abstract The primary objective of this manuscript is to investigate the existence and uniqueness of solutions for the Langevin ( k , φ ) $(\mathtt{k},\varphi )$ -Hilfer fractional differential equation of different orders with multipoint nonlocal fractional integral boundary conditions. We consider the generalized version of the Hilfer fractional diferential equation called as ( k , φ ) $(\mathtt{k},\varphi )$ -Hilfer fractional differential equation. We provide some significant outcomes about ( k , φ ) $(\mathtt{k},\varphi )$ -Hilfer fractional Langevin differential equation that requires deriving equivalent fractional integral equation to ( k , φ ) $(\mathtt{k},\varphi )$ -Hilfer Langevin fractional differential equation. The existence result is established using the Krasnoselskii’s fixed-point theorem, while the uniqueness is addressed with the help of Banach contraction principle. Additionally, we investigate the different forms of Ulam stability for the solution of the mentioned problem, under specific conditions. To validate our main outcomes, we present a detailed example at the end of the manuscript.

By high-throughput sequence methods, the research explored the diversity and succession of the bacterial communities in fermented grains of Shanxi aged vinegar. The results showed that during the acetic acid fermentation of Shanxi aged vinegar, mainly 7 phyla were at the phylum level, including Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, among which the relative abundance of Firmicutes showed an increasing trend during the fermentation, and finally even reached over 98%, dominating the entire fermentation stage. At the genus level, the main bacteria participating in the acetic acid fermentation stage of Shanxi aged vinegar included Lactobacillus (57.4%~66.4%), Acetobacter (3.8%~27.3%), Streptococcus (0.3%~3.0%), Weissella (0.2%~1.8%), Bacillus (0.1%~1.2%), Pseudomonas (0%~1.8%), etc, among which Lactobacillus and Acetobacter bacteria dominated, with a relative abundance of around 90% in the first 5 days of fermentation. Meanwhile, Pseudomonas was not detected in the vinegar Pei samples during the early stage of the acetic acid fermentation, but appeared in the samples on the 5th day and reached its peak (1.1%~3.4%) on the 7th day. Besides, "mash inoculation" adopted during the acetic acid fermentation of Shanxi aged vinegar, the bacterial community structure as well as changes in different fermentation batches were basically the same, and the shared microbial species accounted for more than 70% of the total, indicating the stability of the solid-state fermentation process of Shanxi aged vinegar.

Abstract The assessment of mutagenicity is essential in drug discovery, as it may lead to cancer and germ cells damage. Although in silico methods have been proposed for mutagenicity prediction, their performance is hindered by the scarcity of labeled molecules. However, experimental mutagenicity testing can be time-consuming and costly. One solution to reduce the annotation cost is active learning, where the algorithm actively selects the most valuable molecules from a vast chemical space and presents them to the oracle (e.g., a human expert) for annotation, thereby rapidly improving the model’s predictive performance with a smaller annotation cost. In this paper, we propose muTOX-AL, a deep active learning framework, which can actively explore the chemical space and identify the most valuable molecules, resulting in competitive performance with a small number of labeled samples. The experimental results show that, compared to the random sampling strategy, muTOX-AL can reduce the number of training molecules by about 57%. Additionally, muTOX-AL exhibits outstanding molecular structural discriminability, allowing it to pick molecules with high structural similarity but opposite properties.

Abstract Background In the context of global educational reform, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, as an interdisciplinary educational model, has become increasingly central to foundational pedagogical reforms. However, research on the impact and development of STEM teachers’ interdisciplinary teaching abilities is relatively limited. This meta-analysis explored STEM education’s impact on elementary and secondary school teachers’ interdisciplinary teaching abilities. The review encompassed 21 empirical studies published between 2010 and 2023 and aimed to quantify the effect size of STEM interventions on teachers’ interdisciplinary abilities. Results A moderately positive correlation (r = 0.452) was found between STEM education and teachers’ interdisciplinary teaching abilities. The role of potential moderating variables, including demographic traits, gender, academic qualifications, subject specialization, pedagogical tenure, and prior exposure to interdisciplinary learning, was scrutinized. The findings highlighted a substantial improvement in teachers’ interdisciplinary teaching abilities through STEM education, emphasizing the critical role of knowledge integration. STEM programs significantly aided educators in bridging and amalgamating diverse disciplinary insights. Variations in the efficacy of STEM education across different educational tiers, subject domains, levels of teaching seniority, and interdisciplinary familiarity were identified, indicating that the benefits of STEM training were contingent upon individual teacher profiles. Notably, gender disparities in the enhancement of interdisciplinary teaching abilities through STEM education were not observed. Despite the methodological diversity of the included studies, which encompassed various research paradigms, sampling strategies, and evaluation instruments, the integration of findings across these diverse methodologies added intricacy to the interpretation of the meta-analytic results. The study’s potential limitations, such as the risk of sample selection bias and the use of potentially imprecise assessment tools, were acknowledged as possibly having influenced the meta-analytic outcomes. Conclusions The findings had two implications. First, they provided a roadmap for the strategic design and execution of STEM initiatives aimed at fostering excellence in interdisciplinary teaching. Second, they highlighted the imperative for tailored approaches to the development of STEM teachers, which recognize the heterogeneous needs and potential based on their unique professional and experiential backgrounds.

Abstract Background The health effects of different weight loss strategies vary greatly, and the relationship between weight loss strategies, especially the combination of multiple strategies, and death is still unclear. We aimed to examine the associations of various numbers and combinations of weight loss strategies with all-cause and specific-cause mortality and to further evaluate the associations of different total weight loss volumes with mortality. Methods Using data from NHANES (1999–2018) with 48,430 participants aged 20 and above, we collected fourteen self-reported weight loss strategies and identified five clusters using latent class analysis. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association between the amounts and clusters of weight loss strategies and mortality. Results During a median follow-up of 9.1 years of 48,430 participants, 7,539 deaths were recorded (including 1,941 CVDs and 1,714 cancer). Participants who adopted 2, 3–4, and ≥ 5 weight loss strategies had a lower risk of all-cause mortality, with HRs of 0.88 (95% CI, 0.81 to 0.97), 0.89 (95% CI, 0.81 to 0.96) and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.61 to 0.82). Regardless of weight loss or weight gain categories, there was a significant trend toward reduced mortality as the number of weight loss strategies increased (P trend

Abstract The precise extraction of winter wheat planting structure holds significant importance for food security risk assessment, agricultural resource management, and governmental decision-making. This study proposed a method for extracting the winter wheat planting structure by taking into account the growth phenology of winter wheat. Utilizing the fitting effect index, the optimal Savitzky–Golay (S–G) filtering parameter combination was determined automatically to achieve automated filtering and reconstruction of NDVI time series data. The phenological phases of winter wheat growth was identified automatically using a threshold method, and subsequently, a model for extracting the winter wheat planting structure was constructed based on three key phenological stages, including seeding, heading, and harvesting, with the combination of hierarchical classification principles. A priori sample library was constructed using historical data on winter wheat distribution to verify the accuracy of the extracted results. The validation of fitting effect on different surfaces demonstrated that the optimal filtering parameters for S–G filtering could be obtained automatically by using the fitting effect index. The extracted winter wheat phenological phases showed good consistency with ground-based observational results and MOD12Q2 phenological products. Validation against statistical yearbook data and the proposed priori knowledge base exhibited high statistical accuracy and spatial precision, with an extracting accuracy of 94.92%, a spatial positioning accuracy of 93.26%, and a kappa coefficient of 0.9228. The results indicated that the proposed method for winter wheat planting structure extracting can identify winter wheat areas rapidly and significantly. Furthermore, this method does not require training samples or manual experience, and exhibits strong transferability.

Abstract Animal experiments traditionally identify sensitizers in cosmetic materials. However, with growing concerns over animal ethics and bans on such experiments globally, alternative methods like machine learning are gaining prominence for their efficiency and cost‐effectiveness. In this study, to develop a robust sensitizer detector model, we first constructed benchmark data sets using data from previous studies and a public database, then 589 sensitizers and 831 nonsensitizers were collected. In addition, a graph‐based autoencoder and Mondrian conformal prediction (MCP) were combined to build a robust sensitizer detector, iSKIN. In the independent test set, the Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROCAUC) values of the iSKIN model without MCP were 0.472 and 0.804, respectively, which are higher than those of the three baseline models. When setting the significance level in MCP at 0.7, the MCC and ROCAUC values of iSKIN could achieve 0.753 and 0.927, respectively. Regrouping experiments proved that the MCP method is robust in the improvement of model performance. Through key structure analysis, seven key substructures in sensitizers were identified to guide cosmetic material design. Notably, long chains with halogen atoms and phenyl groups with two chlorine atoms at ortho‐positions were potential sensitizers. Finally, a user‐friendly web tool (http://www.iskin.work/) of the iSKIN model was deployed to be used by other researchers. In summary, the proposed iSKIN model has achieved state‐of‐the‐art performance so far, which can contribute to the safety evaluation of cosmetic raw materials and provide a reference for the chemical structure design of these materials.

This study evaluated the effects of supplementing low-protein diets with Edible Dock Powder (EDP) on the growth performance, slaughter traits, serum biochemical parameters, muscle quality, and cecal microbiota of Sanhua geese. A total of 288 healthy, five-week-old Sanhua geese were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial design, with three crude protein levels (16.00 %, 14.50 %, and 13.00 %) and two levels of EDP supplementation (0 % and 2.50 %). Two-way ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test were used for statistical analysis. EDP supplementation significantly increased average daily gain (ADG) and improved feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) during both growth phases (P

BackgroundThe use of acupuncture in cancer treatment is expanding. Nevertheless, the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in alleviating cancer-related hiccups remains uncertain and inconclusive.MethodsWe conducted a systematic search across eight databases: PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, WanFang, China Science and Technology Journal Database, SinoMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Embase, covering the period from their inception to July 2023. Literature was screened based on predefined PICOS inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Data synthesis was performed using Review Manager 5.3 software and R studio 4.4. Additionally, we conducted a frequency analysis of acupoint usage.ResultsA total of nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 580 patients were included in the analysis. The risk of bias assessment indicated a high risk of bias in all nine RCTs, primarily due to blinding of participants and personnel and random sequence generation (selection bias). The meta-analysis revealed that acupuncture significantly reduced the symptoms of cancer-related hiccups compared to pharmacological treatment (relative risk (RR) = 1.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.53, 2.20], p

PurposeTo compare the efficacy of intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents with oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) in treating cystoid macular edema (CME) secondary to retinitis pigmentosa (RP).MethodsThis retrospective study analyzed 98 patients (98 eyes) with RP-CME: 47 (48.0%) received intravitreal anti-VEGF agents (Ranibizumab or Bevacizumab) and 51 (52.0%) were treated with oral CAIs (methazolamide 50 mg/day or acetazolamide 500 mg/day). Medical records were reviewed to assess best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), and intraocular pressure (IOP) at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-treatment using Generalized Estimation Equations (GEE). Adverse events and risk factors influencing visual prognosis were also evaluated.ResultsBoth groups showed significant improvement in BCVA and reduction in CMT at 1 and 3 months post-treatment compared to baseline (all p < 0.001). In the oral CAIs group, these improvements persisted until 6 months. However, by 12 months, neither group exhibited significant improvements in BCVA or CMT compared to baseline (all p > 0.05). Intragroup comparisons revealed that the oral CAIs group had significantly better BCVA and CMT improvements at 3 and 6 months than intravitreal anti-VEGF group (p < 0.001 for BCVA at 3 months, p = 0.003 for BCVA at 6 months; all p < 0.001 for CMT at both 3 and 6 months). No significant differences were found between the two groups in BCVA and CMT at 12 months or in IOP at any time point (all p > 0.05). Subgroup analysis indicated that oral acetazolamide was more effective than methazolamide in reducing CMT and improving BCVA at 3 and 6 months (p = 0.005 for BCVA at 3 months, p = 0.015 for BCVA at 6 months; p = 0.037 for CMT at 3 months, p < 0.001 for CMT at 6 months). There were no significant differences in outcomes between intravitreal Ranibizumab and Bevacizumab (all p > 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that worse BCVA at 12 months was associated with older age (r = 0.202, p = 0.046), higher baseline CMT (r = 0.353, p < 0.001), poorer baseline BCVA (r = 0.579, p < 0.001), but showed no correlation with genotype. Adverse effects from oral CAIs included tingling sensation (3.9%), altered taste (9.8%), and gastrointestinal upset (7.8%). The Ranibizumab group required an average of 3.7 ± 0.8 treatments, and the Bevacizumab group required an average of 3.8 ± 0.5 treatments over the course of 1 year without experiencing severe adverse effects.ConclusionBoth intravitreal anti-VEGF agents and oral CAIs effectively improved CMT and BCVA in RP-CME patients within the first 3 months of treatment. However, oral CAIs demonstrated superior anatomic and functional improvements at 6 months. Poorer BCVA prognosis was associated with older age, higher baseline CMT, poorer baseline visual acuity. Larger, randomized clinical trials with extended follow-up periods are needed to confirm these findings.

Glucosinolates (GSLs) are important secondary metabolites abundantly distributed in Brassicaceae plants, whose degradation products benefit plant resistance but are regarded as disadvantageous factors for human health. Thus, reducing GSL content is an important goal in the breeding program in crops, such as Brassica napus. In this study, 1280 genes in the GSL pathway were identified from 14 land plant genomes, which are specifically distributed in Brassicaceae and are extensively expanded in B. napus. Most GSL pathway genes had many positive selection sites, especially the encoding genes of transcription factors (TFs) and structural genes involved in the GSL breakdown process. There are 344 genes in the GSL pathway in the B. napus genome, which are unequally distributed on the 19 chromosomes. Whole-genome duplication mainly contributed to the gene expansion of the GSL pathway in B. napus. The genes in GSL biosynthesis were regulated by various TFs and cis-elements in B. napus and mainly response to abiotic stress and hormone induction. A comparative transcriptome atlas of the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, siliques, and seeds of a high- (ZY821), and a low-GSL-content (ZS11) cultivar was constructed. The features of the two cultivars may be attributed to diverse expression differences in each organ at different stages, especially in seeds. In all, 65 differential expressed genes (DEGs) concentrated on the core structure pathway were inferred to mainly influence the GSL contents between ZY821 and ZS11. This study provides an important RNA-seq dataset and diverse gene resources for future manipulating GSLs biosynthesis and distribution in B. napus using molecular breeding methods.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) commonly exacerbates the difficulty of cancer treatment, increasing bleeding risks and potentially reducing chemotherapy dosage, ultimately impacting its efficacy. However, there are limited studies about avatrombopag application in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) CIT. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of avatrombopag in treating CIT patients diagnosed with ALL. Design: This retrospective study, using propensity score matching, included 42 pairs of cases treated with and without avatrombopag (CAT: 54 cases, CAT+: 30 cases). Methods: Data of CIT-ALL children were retrospectively collected. The primary endpoint was platelet count (PC) response rate on day 10 ± 2 (defined as an increase of PC to ⩾75 × 10 9 /L with the exclusion of platelet transfusion). Secondary efficacy endpoints, safety endpoints, and factors that predict PC response were also analyzed. Results: In the avatrombopag group, the PC response rate was prominently higher on day 10 ± 2 (89.1%) versus the control group (56.4%, p = 0.005). On day 10 ± 2, the difference in median PC change from baseline was predominantly distinct in the avatrombopag group compared to the control group ( p = 0.001). In the avatrombopag group, platelet recovery to ⩾25 and ⩾50 × 10 9 /L was faster ( p = 0.001, p = 0.002), and quicker platelet reaching ⩾75 × 10 9 /L and ⩾100 × 10 9 /L was achieved ( p = 0.023, p = 0.011). The avatrombopag group not only increased the nadir PC ( p = 0.009) but also reduced the total platelet transfusion compared to the control group ( p = 0.047). Only one case (2.4%) experienced bleeding events after medication. Nine cases of secondary thrombocythemia were noted without other adverse events. There was no difference in event-free survival between the two groups ( p = 0.648). Drug administration was prediction factor for PC response. Conclusion: Avatrombopag is a potentially safe and effective treatment option for CIT in pediatric ALL.

With the development of digital media, an increasing number of new technologies are being used in cultural communication, and virtual reality (VR) technology for cultural communication has become a modern tool of transmission. To investigate the factors that influence rural cultural identity (RCI) through technical interaction (TI) and technology acceptance (TA) in VR in cultural communication, this study initially constructed a model of the influence path mediated by embodied cognition (EC) and flow experience (FE) based on compensatory media, technology acceptance, embodied cognition and flow experience theory. All participants had experienced some rural historical and cultural VR work and then completed a corresponding questionnaire. A total of 356 questionnaires were collected and analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS software. The results indicated that the technological interaction and acceptance of VR influenced identification with rural culture through the mediating role of embodied cognition and flow experience. These findings provide a reference for strengthening audiences' embodied cognition and flow experience to promote their rural cultural identity. When VR technology is used to communicate culture, its technological interaction and acceptance can be improved to provide audiences with a better experience and perhaps influence the development of local tourism.

Here, we regularly followed two SARS-CoV-2 infected cohorts to investigate the combined effects of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) and B and T cell profiles during the convalescent period. Ten infected participants in December 2022 were selected to assess the effects of an inhaled adenovirus type 5 vectored COVID-19 vaccine (Ad5-nCoV) booster on B cells and humoral immunity in the first cohort. To evaluate T cell responses, eight primary and 20 reinfection participants were included in the second cohort. Blood samples from all 38 participants were collected at 1-, 2-, and 6-months post-infection. In the first cohort, eighteen monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with neutralizing activity from memory B cells (MBC) against SARS-CoV-2 mutants were obtained by high throughput single-B-cell cloning method, which lasted from 1- month to 6- month post infection. The overall number of mAbs from MBC in the boosted immunization group was higher than that in the nonboosted immunization group at 2-, and 6-months post-infection. In the second cohort, circulating T follicular helper cells (cTfh) and AIM + CD4 + T cells increased over time in the reinfection group (P < 0.05). In both cohorts, serum NAb titers showed significant immune escape, while cTfh and AIM + CD4 + T cells in the second cohort essentially showed no immune escape to new strains (including XBB, EG.5). AIM + CD4 + T cells against BA.5 and EG.5 were strongly negatively correlated with the time to viral clearance in the reinfected group at 6-months post-infection. We comprehensively assessed the ability of the SARS-CoV-2 boosted immunization and reinfection-induced generation of T/B cell immune memories in preventing reinfection.

The bond between reinforced bars and concrete has a significant impact on reinforced concrete structures. Incorporating steel fibers in concrete not only enhances the performance of the concrete but also influences the bond strength of embedded reinforcing bars. In this paper, experiments have been carried out to investigate the influences of different bar diameters, concrete cover and embedment lengths on bond-slip responses between reinforcing bars and steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC). Furthermore, pull-out tests with normal concrete were also executed as a comparative group. The bond-slip results of specimens were collected. The impact of embedment length, reinforcing bar diameter, and the existence of steel fibers on the bond behavior of reinforcing bars was comprehensively analyzed. Meanwhile, the results indicate that variations in the ratio of concrete cover to reinforcing bar diameter lead to different effects on the bond behavior of SFRC compared with normal concrete. Different failure modes of specimens were exhibited and discussed. Additionally, a mathematical model for bond strength of bars in SFRC was proposed based on the correction of the bond strength model with normal concrete, which shows good agreement with experimental results.

Abstract The development of theragnostic nanosystems integrating FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) imaging and chemodynamic therapy (CDT) for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of lung tumors is still a big challenge. Herein, a peptide‐assembled 3D DNAzyme motor nanodevice is engineered for a self‐powered FRET amplifier profiling human neutrophil elastase (HNE) and self‐supplied H2O2 enhancing CDT. The nanodevice is prepared by depositing AuNPs on ZIF‐8, in which ZIF‐8 co‐loaded the lysosomal targeting peptide‐modified copper peroxides (PCPs) and hairpins (H1, H2, and H3), AuNPs are co‐labeled by DNAzyme‐peptide (DP) conjugate and H3. In the tumor micro‐environment, HNE driven 3D DNAzyme walker followed by an exponential amplification constructed by a synergistic cross‐activation between hybridization chain reaction and DNAzyme, generating a self‐powered FRET amplifier. The FRET amplifier specifically measures HNE with a sensitivity of 0.026 pM, and successfully images exogenous HNE in living cells and monitors HNE in mouse models. Moreover, the PCPs can target lysosomes, reducing lysosome escape. The self‐supplying H2O2 undertaken by PCPs improves the Cu (II)‐catalyzed Fenton‐like reaction, effectively causing cell apoptosis to inhibit tumor growth. Significantly, the nanodevice successfully screens inhibitors and discriminates the HNE level in normal and lung cancer tissues, suggesting that the nanodevice provides an effective tool for the diagnosis and treatment of lung tumors.

Abstract Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by insulin resistance (IR) and is often accompanied by mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The detrimental effects of T2DM and IR on the hippocampus have been extensively demonstrated. Few studies have examined the effects of IR on structure and function of hippocampal subfields in T2DM‐MCI patients. Method A total of 104 T2DM patients were recruited in this prospective study and divided into four groups (T2DM‐MCI‐higherIR, n = 17; T2DM‐MCI‐lowerIR, n = 32; T2DM‐nonMCI‐higherIR, n = 19; T2DM‐nonMCI‐lowerIR, n = 36). Structure and function MRI data were captured. Clinical variables and neuropsychological scores were determined for all participants. Hippocampal subfield volume and functional connectivity were compared among four groups. Partial correlation analysis was performed between imaging indicators, clinical variables, and neuropsychological scores in all patients. Results T2DM‐MCI‐higher IR group had the smallest volumes of bilateral hippocampal tail, right subiculum‐body, right GC‐ML‐DG‐body, and right CA4‐body. IR in right hippocampal tail, right subiculum‐body, and right GC‐ML‐DG‐body exerted main effect. Furthermore, elevated functional connectivity was found between right subiculum‐body and bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and right anterior cingulate–medial prefrontal cortex. Hippocampal subfield volume positively correlates with total cholesterol and triglycerides and negatively correlates with fasting insulin. Conclusion The present study found that T2DM‐MCI patients have structural and functional alterations in hippocampal subfields, and IR is a negative factor influencing the alteration of hippocampal subfields volume. These findings support the importance of IR in T2DM‐MCI patients and might be potential neuroimaging biomarkers of cerebral impairment in T2DM‐MCI patients.

Dietary flavonoids are regarded as potent inhibitors of gut bacterial β-glucuronidase (β-GUS), although the precise structure-activity relationship between dietary flavonoids and β-GUS remains elusive. In this study, 24 dietary flavonoids of 6 common different structural types were selected as model molecules to investigate this relationship through enzymatic inhibition kinetics and molecular docking simulations. The findings revealed that delphinidin (1) and baohuoside I (16) exhibited robust inhibitory activities, while the formation of ionic bond and hydrogen bonds was found to play crucial roles in these interactions. Moreover, the core structure, position, and quantity of hydroxyl groups; type and number of glycosyls, and the presence of isopentenyl group all played pivotal roles in influencing inhibitory activities against β-GUS derived from Escherichia coli. These results offer valuable insights into the relationship between flavonoid structure and enzyme inhibition, which could prove invaluable for the development of novel drugs and flavonoid dietary supplements.

Abstract Background Extremely preterm infants (EPIs) frequently encounter challenges in feeding due to their underdeveloped digestive systems. Attaining full enteral feeding at the earliest possible stage can facilitate the removal of vascular catheters and decrease catheter-related complications. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study comprising 145 extremely preterm infants with a gestational age

Abstract Objectives To systematically evaluate the therapeutic effect of electrical stimulation combined with pelvic floor muscle exercise on female pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). Methods Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was applied. A computer-based retrieval was performed in the databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library from database establishment to September 15, 2023, to identify randomized controlled trials on electrical stimulation combined with pelvic floor muscle function exercise on female PFD. Literature screening, data extraction, and quality evaluation were performed independently by two researchers, and meta-analysis was performed using the statistical software Stata15.0. Results 1. In total, 12 randomized controlled trials were included, involving 721 female patients. The overall quality of methodologies employed in the included studies was relatively high. 2. Meta-analysis results showed that electrical stimulation combined with pelvic floor muscle exercise could effectively mitigate the severity of female PFD (SMD = -1.01, 95% CI − 1.78, − 0.25, P 0.05). Conclusions Compared with pelvic floor muscle exercise alone, electrical stimulation combined with pelvic floor muscle exercise could effectively mitigate the severity of female PFD. It had a notable positive impact on enhancing pelvic floor muscle strength in female patients, although it did not significantly improve quality of life. Future high-quality studies are warranted.

Abstract Males and females have long shown disparities in body weight and height; yet, the underlying mechanisms influencing growth and development remain unclear. Male and female Zhedong White Geese (ZDW) geese have long been selected for large body size and egg production, respectively. This led to a large difference in body weight between males and females, making them a unique model for studying the effects of sex on growth and development. This study aimed to elucidate these mechanisms by comparing the transcriptomes of muscle and pituitary tissues in male and female ZDW geese to identify the critical genes responsible for the effects of sex on growth performance. Our analysis revealed 1101 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in leg musculature (507 upregulated, 594 downregulated), 773 DEGs in breast musculature (311 upregulated, 462 downregulated), and 517 DEGs in the pituitary gland (281 upregulated, 236 downregulated) between male and female geese. These DEGs were significantly enriched in gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways associated with endocrine metabolism (e.g., hormonal activities), muscle formation (e.g., sarcomere and myofibril), and bone formation (e.g., bone morphogenesis and cartilage formation). The upregulated genes in males were enriched in KEGG pathways involving nutrient digestion and absorption (vitamin and protein), as well as the secretion of digestive juices (gastric acid and bile). Through protein–protein interaction analyses, we also observed high-density gene networks related to muscle fiber development, calcium ion metabolism, mitochondrial respiratory chain, and bone development. Therefore, our multi-tissue transcriptome analysis provides a deeper understanding of the complex and systematic gender-driven effects on growth and development in geese. IGF1, GHRHR, and NCAPG-LCORL and pathways related to myogenesis might play vital roles in gender differences before hormones exert their effect.

Abstract Background Infertility produces infertility-related stress in both members of infertile couples, especially for infertile women. Some studies verified the negative relationship between infertility-related stress and outcomes of infertility treatments. Effective mental health care during fertility treatment is urgently needed, but there has been a lack of efficient support services. To reduce the infertility-related stress of infertile women, expressive art therapeutic schemes will be organized and implemented by certified international expressive art therapists. Methods This study is a randomized controlled trial. Participants in the intervention group will receive expressive art therapies after the baseline investigation. Expressive art therapies will be led by the certified international expressive art therapist. The interventions include progressive muscle relaxation training, music meditation and drawing therapy. Participants in the control group will receive routine care. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI) will be used to investigate the anxiety, depression, and infertility-related stress of all participants at admission and at discharge. Discussion This study will verify the effectiveness and efficiency of expressive art therapies for infertile women. The results will provide new knowledge on mental health care strategies for infertile women. Trial registration ChiCTR, ChiCTR2300070618. Registered 14 April 2023.

Abstract Human activity recognition has a wide range of applications in various fields, such as video surveillance, virtual reality and human–computer intelligent interaction. It has emerged as a significant research area in computer vision. GCN (Graph Convolutional networks) have recently been widely used in these fields and have made great performance. However, there are still some challenges including over-smoothing problem caused by stack graph convolutions and deficient semantics correlation to capture the large movements between time sequences. Vision Transformer (ViT) is utilized in many 2D and 3D image fields and has surprised results. In our work, we propose a novel human activity recognition method based on ViT (HAR-ViT). We integrate enhanced AGCL (eAGCL) in 2s-AGCN to ViT to make it process spatio-temporal data (3D skeleton) and make full use of spatial features. The position encoder module orders the non-sequenced information while the transformer encoder efficiently compresses sequence data features to enhance calculation speed. Human activity recognition is accomplished through multi-layer perceptron (MLP) classifier. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves SOTA performance on three extensively used datasets, NTU RGB+D 60, NTU RGB+D 120 and Kinetics-Skeleton 400.

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate changes in ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV) in individuals with arterial stiffness and subclinical atherosclerosis (subAS), and to provide cutoff values. Methods This retrospective study recruited 231 participants, including 67 patients with subAS. The pulse wave velocity was measured at the beginning and end of systole (PWV-BS and PWVES, respectively) using ultrafast ultrasonography to assess arterial stiffness. The right and left common carotid arteries were measured separately, and laboratory metabolic parameters were also collected. Participants were balanced between groups using propensity score matching (PSM) at a 1:1 ratio, adjusting for age, sex, and waist-to-hip ratio as potential confounders. Cutoff values of ufPWV for monitoring subAS were determined via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results PWV-ES, unlike PWV-BS, was higher in the subAS subgroup than in the subAS-free group after PSM (all P0.05). Conclusion PWV-ES measured using ultrafast ultrasonography was significantly higher in individuals with subAS than in those without. Specific PWV-ES cutoff values showed potential for predicting an increased risk of subAS.

Abstract It is of great significance for coal mining and utilization to study the adsorption process of mixed gas in coal. In this paper, the Monte Carlo method (MC) is employed to study the competitive saturation adsorption of oxygen and water vapor inside coal particles, and then the convection, diffusion and adsorption inside and between particles are studied by lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). In addition, this study examines the impacts of porosity, average particle size, and gas concentration on the process of adsorption in coal porous media. The research results show that oxygen and water vapor present in the mixed gas experience increased permeability, diffusion rate, and saturated adsorption capacity as the porosity and average particle size of the coal porous medium increase. However, the time required to achieve saturated adsorption decreases. Under the condition of maintaining the proportion of gas components and altering the initial gas concentrations from 4.087 to 53.131 mol/m3, saturated adsorption capacity of both gases remains nearly unchanged. Yet, the effective diffusivity of gases declines with increasing initial concentration. Additionally, it is also found that water vapor diffuses more quickly than oxygen in the mixed gas and achieves adsorption saturation faster.

Abstract Protein homeostasis is predominantly governed through post-translational modification (PTM). UBE3B, identified as an oncoprotein, exhibits elevated protein levels in breast cancer. However, the impact of PTM on UBE3B remains unexplored. In this study, we show that VHL is a bona fide E3 ligase for UBE3B. Mechanistically, VHL directly binds to UBE3B, facilitating its lysine 48 (K48)-linked polyubiquitination at K286 and K427 in a prolyl hydroxylase (PHD)-independent manner. Consequently, this promotes the proteasomal degradation of UBE3B. The K286/427R mutation of UBE3B dramatically abolishes the inhibitory effect of VHL on breast tumor growth and lung metastasis. Additionally, the protein levels of UBE3B and VHL exhibit a negative correlation in breast cancer tissues. These findings delineate an important layer of UBE3B regulation by VHL.

Abstract Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (HJD) is a well-known Traditional Chinese Medicine formula that has been used for liver protection in thousands of years. However, the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of HJD in treating drug-induced liver injury (DILI) remain unknown. In this study, a total of 26 genes related to both HJD and DILI were identified, which are corresponding to a total of 41 potential active compounds in HJD. KEGG analysis revealed that Tryptophan metabolism pathway is particularly important. The overlapped genes from KEGG and GO analysis indicated the significance of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1. Experimental results confirmed that HJD has a protective effect on DILI through Tryptophan metabolism pathway. In addition, the active ingredients Corymbosin, and Moslosooflavone were found to have relative strong intensity in UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis, showing interactions with CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1 through molecule docking. These findings could provide insights into the treatment effects of HJD on DILI.

Abstract Knowledge diffusion in regional innovation ecosystems is an important factor that influences the regional innovation efficiency. In regional innovation ecosystems under digital empowerment, the knowledge diffusion enables the optimal allocation of innovation resources and promotes the sustainable development and ecological evolution of regional innovation ecosystems. In this paper, a SEIR (Susceptible–Exposed–Infected–Recovered) model is proposed for knowledge diffusion in regional innovation ecosystems under digitization. The basic reproduction number of the proposed model is calculated and its stability is validated. Finally, the expressions for the optimal control system and the optimal control parameters are presented. According to the research conclusions of this paper, the knowledge-diffusion ability of innovation agents in an innovation ecosystem affects the knowledge diffusion in a system; the contact rate between innovation agents affects the efficiency of knowledge diffusion in the system and the structure of the system; the digital transmission ability of innovation agents affects the breadth of knowledge diffusion in the system; and the self-learning ability of innovation agents affects the efficiency of knowledge diffusion in the system.The digital technologies help heterogeneous innovation agents in regional innovation ecosystems to break down the knowledge silos. At the same time, the digital technologies enhance the ability of innovation agents to absorb and learn knowledge in regional innovation ecosystems under digitization, thereby increasing the infection rate of knowledge diffusion in such systems.These conclusions extend the theoretical boundaries of innovation ecosystems and knowledge diffusion and offer management implications for enterprises and governments in decision-making.

Abstract Hypermutated neoantigens in cancers with DNA mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) are prerequisites for favorable clinical responses to immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. However, TMB is not significantly associated with favorable prognosis from Preclinical and clinical studies. It implies that except for TMB, other mechanisms should be needed to contribute to successful cancer immunotherapy. We found that the hyperactivation of PANoptotic effective molecules in dMMR tumor cells caused cell membrane damage, induced ESCRT-mediated membrane repair, and protected tumor cells from the damage caused by Triton X-100, while DNA mismatch repair proficient (pMMR) tumor cells were sensitive to Triton X-100 mediating cell membrane damage due to the lack of ESCRT-mediated membrane repair. There was hyperactivation of GSDMD, GSDME, and p-MLKL in dMMR tumor cells. Co-treatment of IFN-γ and TNF-α induced rapid death of dMMR tumor cells by inducing PANoptosis including pyroptosis, apoptosis, and no necrosis. pMMR tumor cells had defects in the PANoptosis pathway and were resistant to co-treatment of IFN-γ and TNF-α. In conclusion, we can activate immune cells to release IFN-γ and TNF-α to overcome resistance to ICB treatment.

Abstract Background Insulin like growth factor II mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) has been implicated in numerous inflammatory and cancerous conditions. However, its precise molecular mechanisms in endometriosis (EMs) remains unclear. The aim of this study is to examine the influence of IGF2BP3 on the occurrence and progression of EMs and to elucidate its underlying molecular mechanism. Methods Efects of IGF2BP3 on endometriosis were confrmed in vitro and in vivo. Based on bioinformatics analysis, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), RNA pull-down assays and Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) were used to show the association between IGF2BP3 and UCA1. Single-cell spatial transcriptomics analysis shows the expression distribution of glutaminase 1 (GLS1) mRNA in EMs. Study the effect on glutamine metabolism after ectopic endometriotic stromal cells (eESCs) were transfected with Sh-IGF2BP3 and Sh-UCA1 lentivirus. Results Immunohistochemical staining have revealed that IGF2BP3 was upregulated in ectopic endometriotic lesions (EC) compared to normal endometrial tissues (EN). The proliferation and migration ability of eESCs were greatly reduced by downregulating IGF2BP3. Additionally, IGF2BP3 has been observed to interact with urothelial carcinoma associated 1 (UCA1), leading to increased stability of GLS1 mRNA and subsequently enhancing glutamine metabolism. Results also demonstrated that IGF2BP3 directly interacts with the 3’ UTR region of GLS1 mRNA, influencing its expression and stability. Furthermore, UCA1 was able to bind with c-MYC protein, stabilizing c-MYC mRNA and consequently enhancing GLS1 expression through transcriptional promotion. Conclusion These discoveries underscored the critical involvement of IGF2BP3 in the elevation and stability of GLS1 mRNA in the context of glutamine metabolism by interacting with UCA1 in EMs. The implications of our study extended to the identification of possible therapeutic targets for individuals with EMs.

Abstract Background Quality of life research can guide clinical workers to adopt more targeted treatment and intervention measures, so as to achieve the purpose of improving patients’ quality of life. The objective of this study was to evaluate health-related quality of life in Chinese patients with cervical cancer and to explore its influencing factors. Methods A total of 186 patients with cervical cancer were investigated by using the QLICP-CE (V2.0) scale (Quality of Life Instruments for Cancer Patients-Cervical Cancer) developed by our group in China. The data were analyzed by t-test, one-way ANOVA, univariate analysis, and multivariate linear regression. Results The total score of quality of life scale for cervical cancer patients was (62.58 ± 12.69), Univariate analysis of objective clinical indexes showed that creatinine concentration was a negative influence factor in the psychological domain, potassium ion concentration was a negative influence factor in the common symptoms and side effect domain, erythrocyte content was a positive influence factor physical domain and common general domain. Multiple linear regression results suggested that clinical staging was the influencing factor of common symptom and side effect domain, common general module and total score of scale. Marital status has different degrees of influence on the psychological, social, and common general domains. The level of education also influenced scores in the social domain. Conclusion The total score of quality of life in patients with cervical cancer who received active treatment was acceptable. Marital status, clinical staging, and educational level are the factors that affect the quality of life of patients with cervical cancer. At the same time, potassium ion concentration, red blood cell count and creatinine concentration also have important effects on quality of life in patients with cervical cancer. Therefore, it is very important to give personalized treatment and nursing to patients based on various factors.

IntroductionContinuous drought stress aggravates agricultural losses and threats food security. However, the responses of crops to continuous drought stress remain uncertain.MethodsTo make up the limitations of field experiment and achieve the setting of multiple continuous drought stress scenarios, AquaCrop model is calibrated and validated using field experiment data of summer maize in 2017 and 2018 seasons. Then, the whole growth processes under different continuous drought stress scenarios at two growth stages of maize are simulated. The quantitative responses of transpiration (Tr), biomass accumulation, and yield formation to continuous drought stress are analyzed.Results and discussionThe results show that when the maize encounters serious drought at the seedling stage, the reduction rates of Tr at the jointing stage, the tasseling stage, and the milking stage are 57.45%, 43.61%, and 5.24%, respectively. Drought stress at a growth stage of maize not only have negative impacts on transpiration and biomass accumulation at this stage, but also have after-effects on these elements at the subsequent stages. In addition, continuous serious drought at the seedling and jointing stages reduces yield by 100%, which is higher than the sum of the loss rates at these two stages [>33.30% + 24.16%)], while the loss rate due to continuous light drought is lower than the sum [20.66%

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effect of postsurgical vaginal microbiome (VM) on high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection and the risk of disease recurrence in patients surgically treated for cervical cancer (CC) or intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Methods: 207 women who underwent surgical treatment for CC or CIN at the Department of Gynecologic Oncology of the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from November 2016 to October 2023 were included. The patients’ clinical data, including age, surgical modality, and diagnosis at time of index surgery, were collected retrospectively and analyzed. Associations between postsurgical VM indices, hrHPV infection, cervical cytology, and recurrence were also evaluated. Results: Patient age, surgical modality (whether complete excision of the cervix was performed), and diagnosis at time of index surgery (cervical dysplasia vs. cervical carcinoma) showed no significant association with postsurgical hrHPV infection, cervical cytology, or disease recurrence. However, postsurgical VM imbalance was significantly associated with hrHPV infection status (OR = 4.640, 95 % CI = 2.085–10.460, P

Background: Extreme temperature events (ETEs), including heatwaves and cold spells, are attracting increasing attention because of their impacts on human health. However, the association between ETEs and cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) and the role of functional dependency in this relationship remain unclear. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from 2011 to 2020, considering 12 definitions each for heatwaves and cold spells, and three levels of functional dependency. Mixed Cox models with time-varying variables were used to comprehensively assess the independent and combined effects of ETEs and functional dependency on CMM. Additionally, subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate whether the relationship between ETEs and CMM was modified by the baseline characteristics. Results: Heatwave and cold spell exposures were associated with an increased risk of CMM (HR range: 1.028–1.102 and 1.046–1.187, respectively). Compared to participants with normal functional abilities, the risk of CMM increased with higher levels of functional dependency (HR range: 1.938–2.185). ETEs exposure and functional dependency are jointly associated with CMM risk. Participants with high-intensity ETEs exposure and high functional dependency had the greatest risk of developing CMM. Participants aged 60 and above were more susceptible to the effects of ETEs on CMM. Additionally, urban residents and those in northern regions were more vulnerable to heatwaves. Conclusion: Both ETEs exposure and functional dependency increase the risk of developing CMM. Participants with functional dependency exposed to high-intensity ETEs faced the highest risk of developing CMM. These findings highlight the significant impact of ETEs on CMM and the importance of protecting vulnerable populations during periods of extreme temperature.

This study aimed to investigate the changes in physicochemical properties, bioactivities and metabolites of fermented goji juice (FGJ) by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus at different fermentation stages. The results showed that Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus fermentation significantly decreased the content of soluble protein, total phenolic, total flavonoid and total sugar. Meanwhile, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability and the inhibition rate of xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity were remarkably enhanced by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus fermentation. Flavor profiles analysis indicated that FGJ produced novel volatile compounds such as 4-methylpentanol and 2-butanol, which provide its distinct aroma. The non-targeted metabolomics analysis showed that the differential metabolites in the FGJ28 vs. FGJ0 group were mainly included 1,7-bis (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) heptan-3-yl acetate, isoplumbagin, triacetylresveratrol, sulochrin, indole-3-acetaldehyde, etc., which might have an effect on the promotion of the bioactivity of goji juice. These findings will contribute to understanding the biotransformation effect of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus fermentation on goji juice.