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Abstract Tigecycline is a last-resort antibiotic to treat complicated infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens, while the emergence of plasmid-mediated tet(X) family severely compromises its clinical efficacy. Novel antimicrobial strategies not limited to new antibiotics in pharmaceutical pipeline are urgently needed. Herein, we reveal the metabolic disparities between tet(X)-negative and -positive E. coli, including distinct energy demand patterns under tigecycline exposure. In particular, the cysteine and methionine metabolism pathway is remarkably downregulated in tet(X)-positive bacteria. More importantly, we find that the addition of exogenous L-methionine (Met) effectively resensitizes tet(X)-positive pathogens to tigecycline. Our mechanistic analysis demonstrates that exogenous Met promotes intracellular tigecycline accumulation by upregulating bacterial proton motive force. Moreover, Met accelerates the conversion to S-adenosyl-L-methionine, an essential methyl donor, thereby enhancing 5mC methylation modification in the promoter region of tet(X4) gene and reducing its expression. Consistently, the potentiation of Met to tigecycline is abolished in tet(X4)-carrying E. coli Δdcm but restored in dcm-complementary bacteria, which encodes DNA-cytosine methyltransferase. In multiple animal models of infection, Met markedly potentiates the effectiveness of tigecycline against pathogenic E. coli and K. pneumoniae. Overall, this work highlights the therapeutic potential of Met in overcoming plasmid-mediated high-level tigecycline resistance, and provides a new paradigm to enhance antibiotic efficacy by harnessing cellular metabolic networks as well as epigenetic modifications.

Study of niche characteristics, species interactions and community connectivity along elevation gradients contributes to our understandings on species' spatial interactions and vicarious distribution pattern, and helps reveal congeneric species coexistence and formation mechanisms of species distribution boundaries. In this study, we conducted a field survey on five types of Quercus communities across six elevation belts ranging from 900 to 2300 m (a.s.l) on the north and south slopes of Qinling Mountains, where the north subtropical and warm temperate zones divide. We analyzed the importance values, niche widths, niche overlaps, competition, interspecific associations of the three dominant Quercus species, as well as community connectivity. The richness of tree layer in the vicarious distribution of Quercus communities was relatively low, with Pinus (Pinus armandii and Pinus tabuliformis) being the main associate species. The χ² test and Spearman analysis demonstrated a significant negative correlation between Pinus and Quercus. The nich widths of all three studied Quercus species were found to be wider in their core communities compared to their edge communities, pariticularly on the south slopes. The niche overlap of dominant species on the both slopes were at a relatively low level, while higher niche overlap observed on the north slopes compared to the south slopes. The elevation trend in niche overlap among dominant species was consistent with interspecific competition intensity. Compared to the core and upper edge areas, the Quercus communities in the lower edge area exhibited greater niche overlap and a higher proportion of interspecific competition. The resutlts of variance ratio (VR) and W statistic values indicated that the Quercus communities on the both slopes primarily exhibited a non-significant negative correlation. The associations among dominant species were weak, resulting in a relatively loose community structure. Overall, the communities were in a relatively stable stage of middle-late succession. For the conservation and restoration process of Quercus forests, appropriate artificial interventions should be implemented to adjust interspecific relationships and enhance the strength of interspecific connections.

Oncolytic viruses have emerged as a highly promising modality for cancer treatment due to their ability to replicate specifically within tumors, carry therapeutic genes, and modulate the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment through various mechanisms. Additionally, they show potential synergy with immune checkpoint inhibitors. A study report indicates that from 2000 to 2020, 49.5% of oncolytic viruses were administered intratumorally and 35% intravenously during clinical trials. However, both administration methods face significant challenges, particularly with intravenous delivery, which encounters issues such as non-specific tissue uptake, neutralizing antibody responses, and antiviral effects mediated by various immune cells. Despite extensive research into the antiviral roles of CD8+ T cells and NK cells in oncolytic virus therapy, neutrophils—constituting approximately 50% to 70% of human peripheral blood leukocytes—have received relatively little attention. Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocyte subset in peripheral circulation, known for their phagocytic activity. Beyond their traditional roles in bacterial and fungal infections, emerging literature suggests that neutrophils also play a critical role in the body’s antiviral responses. Given the gaps in understanding the role of neutrophils in oncolytic virus therapy, this article reviews current literature on this topic. It aims to provide a theoretical foundation for developing oncolytic virus-based cancer therapies and enhancing their anti-tumor efficacy in future clinical treatments.

Abstract Creep is the macroscopic manifestation of the process of generation, expansion, and penetration of microscopic cracks in a rock body. In this study, the GDEM continuous–discontinuous numerical simulation software was used to model a rock body containing X-fractured for the purposes of exploring creep crack expansion and rupture in the rock body, analyzing the effects of various factors on X-fractured the rock body under the rule of change of the creep curve, and assessing the influences of the intersection angle of the fracture and other factors on the non-parallel fractured rock body on the creep rupture process. The results show that an X-fractured rock body exhibits a mixed tensile–shear damage mode, with tensile damage being the main type of damage. In the isotropic creep stage of a rock body with X-fractured , the steady-state creep rate initially increases and then decreases as the sub- fracture length increases, with the change of the fracture angle of the creep rate of the w-type; the sub-fracture length of h is 14 mm, the rock body is the first to enter into the accelerated creep stage, for the different fracture intersection angle of the rock body For the rock mass with different fracture angles, the time sequence of entering the accelerated creep stage is consistent with the creep rate; when the fracture intersection angle is 45°, and the sub-fracture length is 12 mm, the rock mass has the largest degree of fragmentation, which has a significant impact on the creep damage; after using a single variable processing, it is found that the fracture intersection angle, the sub-fracture length and other factors compared to the fracture intersection angle has a greater impact on the creep damage of the X-fractured rock body. This paper can provide theoretical basis and reference for the study of rock engineering creep damage law and mechanical properties of X-fractured rock body.

PurposeThis study aims to optimize neoadjuvant radiotherapy target area for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients undergoing total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) by examining local recurrence patterns.Methods and materialsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of rectal cancer patients who undergone local recurrence after surgery. Recurrence sites were categorized and compared with initial diagnosis imaging, focusing on visible and suspicious lesions.ResultsOf the 126 patients who met our criteria, 186 lesions were analyzed. Within these, 75.40% of cases (95/126) and 83.33% of lesions (155/186) were located within the pelvic cavity. Conversely, 3.97% of cases (5/126) and 3.33% of lesions (6/186) occurred outside the pelvic cavity. Additionally, 20.63% of cases (26/126) and 13.44% of lesions (25/186) were found in both regions. Recurrences were predominantly observed in mesenteric regions (MR) (40.86%, 76/186) and presacral regions (PR) (32.26%, 60/186). In addition, 86.51% of patients (109/126) had recurrent lesions in HRA and the suspected lesions areas. Further analysis showed that initial CEA levels and adjuvant therapy types were identified as independent predictors for recurrence in MR/PR and initially suspected lesions. 86.51% of patients had recurrent lesions in HRA and the suspected lesions areasConclusionThe MR, PR, and areas of initial suspicious lesions are high-risk zones for post-surgical recurrence of LARC. Exploratory study of involved-field irradiation (IFI) can be carried out in the context of TNT in LARC.

Summary: Preparation of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with long-lasting passivation effectiveness is challenging. Here, we present a protocol for fabricating efficient and stable passivated perovskite solar cells. We describe steps for preparing the electron transporting layer (ETL) via chemical bath deposition and perovskite film. We then detail procedures for passivating the surface defects with excess terpyridine ligands and stability characterization. This protocol features a passivator-terpyridine whose passivation effect is independent of concentration, which greatly improves the durability of the passivation.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Wang et al.1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

China has recently launched extensive marine ranching projects, highlighting the need for scientific evaluation of ecosystem structure and function to guide their development. This study established two energy flow models and an evaluation index system to assess the structure, function, carrying capacity, and ecological status of both a marine ranching ecosystem and a nearby control site in the Beibu Gulf. The results show that the ranching ecosystem outperformed the control ecosystem in terms of food chain length, system size, and ecological carrying capacity of economically important species. The ranching ecosystem was classified as “relatively good”, while the control ecosystem was deemed “relatively poor”, which may confirm the success of the ranching efforts. Mussels, large crabs, and scorpaenidae were identified as key species for stock enhancement based on their biomass potential. Scenario simulations using Ecosim, driven by biomass and fishing factors, indicate that stock enhancement strategies targeting MOB (mussels, oysters, and barnacles) significantly improved the ranching ecosystem, raising its status to “good”. However, the simulations also revealed that stock enhancement had limited effects on optimizing food web structure, system organization, and energy transfer efficiency, suggesting that a combination of strategies is necessary for further improvement.

Abrus cantoniensis Hance (ACH) is an ancient Chinese medicine herb known for its therapeutic effects. This study investigated the potential protective effect of ACH against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage in mice. Fifty (n= 50) ICR mice were grouped into five groups. CCl4 was intraperitoneally injected into different mice groups: AM (CCl4 induced), AD (ACH-treated with 25 mg/kg), AZ (ACH-treated with 50 mg/kg), and AG (ACH-treated with100mg/kg) after every three days for a total of 31 days. The control group was denoted as AC. Additionally, groups AD, AZ, and AG received daily doses of ACH via gavage throughout the study period. According to our findings, ACH administration prominently mitigated liver pathological lesions and the increased liver index induced by CCl4 in mice (p < 0.05). Treatment with ACH resulted in a dose-dependent recovery of GSH-px, SOD, and CAT activities (p < 0.001). Moreover, the levels of TNF-α, MDA, and ALT showed significanlty decreasing trends with various doses of ACH (p < 0.001). Furthermore, 16 S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated that ACH increased the abundance of beneficial genera of Comoclathris, Aureobasidium, and Kazachstania while decreased the presence of pathogenic genera such as Sporobolomyces and Filobasidium. Additionally, ACH treatment ameliorated the changes in liver metabolism due to CCl4 and enhanced the beneficial liver metabolites. In conclusion, ACH shows potential in protecting the liver against oxidative stress and inflammation caused by CCl4 exposure, possibly through its effects on gut microbiota and liver metabolism. Therefore, the use of ACH may offer an effective approach for alleviating CCl4-induced liver injury.

Abstract Background Neural stem cells (NSCs), especially human NSCs, undergo cellular senescence characterized by an irreversible proliferation arrest and loss of stemness after prolonged culture. While compelling correlative data have been generated to support the oxidative stress theory as one of the primary determinants of cellular senescence of NSCs, a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the accumulation of oxidation-mediated damage and cellular senescence of NSCs has yet to be firmly established. Human SOD1 (hSOD1) is susceptible to oxidation. Once oxidized, it undergoes aberrant misfolding and gains toxic properties associated with age-related neurodegenerative disorders. The present study aims to examine the role of oxidized hSOD1 in the senescence of NSCs. Methods NSCs prepared from transgenic mice expressing the wild-type hSOD1 gene were maintained in culture through repeated passages. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) were isolated from culture media at each passage. To selectively knock down oxidized SOD1 in NSCs and EVs, we used a peptide-directed chaperone-mediated protein degradation system named CT4 that we developed recently. Results In NSCs expressing the hSOD1 from passage 5, we detected a significant increase of oxidized hSOD1 and an increased expression of biomarkers of cellular senescence, including upregulation of P53 and SA-β-Gal and cytoplasmic translocation of HMGB1. The removal of oxidized SOD1 remarkably increased the proliferation and stemness of the NSCs. Meanwhile, EVs derived from senescent NSCs carrying the wild-type hSOD1 contained high levels of oxidized hSOD1, which could accelerate the senescence of young NSCs and induce the death of cultured neurons. The removal of oxidized hSOD1 from the EVs abolished their senescence-inducing activity. Blocking oxidized SOD1 on EVs with the SOD1 binding domain of the CT4 peptide mitigated its toxicity to neurons. Conclusion Oxidized hSOD1 is a causal factor in the cellular senescence of NSCs. The removal of oxidized hSOD1 is a strategy to rejuvenate NSCs and to improve the quality of EVs derived from senescent cells.

Regulated cell death is a genetically determined form of programmed cell death that commonly occurs during the development of living organisms. This process plays a crucial role in modulating homeostasis and is evolutionarily conserved across a diverse range of living organisms. Ferroptosis is a classic regulatory mode of cell death. Extensive studies of regulatory cell death in Alzheimer's disease have yielded increasing evidence that ferroptosis is closely related to the occurrence, development, and prognosis of Alzheimer's disease. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis and recent research advances in the role of ferroptosis in Alzheimer's disease. Our findings are expected to serve as a theoretical and experimental foundation for clinical research and targeted therapy for Alzheimer's disease.

The accelerating spread of antibiotic resistance has significantly weakened the clinical efficacy of existing antibiotics, posing a severe threat to public health. There is an urgent need to develop novel antimicrobial alternatives that can bypass the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and effectively kill multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are one of the most promising candidates to treat MDR pathogenic infections since they display broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities and are less prone to achieve drug resistance. In this study, we investigated the antibacterial capability and mechanisms of two machine learning-driven linear peptide compounds termed YI12 and FK13. We reveal that YI12 and FK13 exhibit broad-spectrum antibacterial properties against clinically significant bacterial pathogens, inducing no or minimal hemolysis in mammalian red blood cells. We further ascertain that YI12 and FK13 are resilient to heat and acid-base conditions, and exhibit susceptibility to hydrolytic enzymes and divalent cations under physiological conditions. Initial mechanistic investigations reveal that YI12 and FK13 compromise bacterial membrane integrity, leading to membrane potential dissipation and excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Collectively, our findings highlight the prospective utility of these two cationic amphiphilic peptides as broad-spectrum antibacterial agents.

Edible mushroom products, encompassing both cultivated and wild varieties, are highly favored by consumers due to their rich nutritional profiles, including significant levels of proteins and amino acids. These mushrooms have extensive applications across the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, making the edible mushroom industry a vital component of global poverty alleviation efforts. Taking China as an example, the country produces over 45 million tons of edible mushrooms annually, accounting for 94.01% of the world’s total production, thereby establishing itself as the leading global producer of edible mushrooms. However, alongside the rapid expansion of this industry, concerns have emerged regarding counterfeit products and incidents of poisoning resulting from the consumption of toxic wild mushrooms. As follows, to advance the development and integrity of the mushroom production and processing industry: (1) This study presents the situation of counterfeit edible mushrooms and elucidates the factors contributing to the production of fraudulent products from both subjective and non-subjective perspectives. (2) We provide a detailed introduction to 22 varieties of freshly cultivated edible mushrooms and commonly encountered wild edible mushrooms in the Chinese consumer market, proposing the application of DNA barcoding, environmental DNA analysis, and other technologies for the future authentication of counterfeit mushroom products. (3) Concurrently, we present an overview of mushroom poisoning incidents in China from 2010 to 2023, emphasizing the challenges in mitigating the risks associated with wild mushroom consumption and preventing food poisoning, thereby necessitating heightened consumer caution. (4) Finally, we offer four recommendations aimed at ensuring the healthy, stable, and sustainable growth of the edible mushroom industry.

Background: Meniere Disease is a clinical condition defined by hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural fullness symptoms, there are currently no any medications approved for its treatment. Objective: To determine whether taVNS as an adjunctive therapy could relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life in patients with Meniere disease. Methods: In this Single-center, single blind, randomized trial, participants were assigned to transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) group and sham taVNS group. The primary outcome measures comprised Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Pure Tone Auditory, Visual analogue scale of aural fullness. Secondary outcome measures comprised the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, video head impulse test, and the caloric test. Results: After 12 weeks, the THI (−11.00, 95%CI, −14.87 to −7.13; P < 0.001), DHI (−47.26, 95%CI, −50.23 to −44.29; P < 0.001), VAS of aural fullness (−2.22, 95%CI, −2.95 to −1.49; P

As a representative chemotherapeutic drug, docetaxel (DTX) has been used for breast cancer treatment for decades. However, the poor solubility of DTX limits its efficacy, and the DTX based therapy increases the metastasis risk due to the upregulation of C–X–C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) expression during the treatment. Herein, we conjugated CXCR4 antagonist peptide (CTCE) with DTX (termed CTCE–DTX) as an anti-metastasis agent to treat breast cancer. CTCE–DTX could self-assemble to nanoparticles, targeting CXCR4-upregulated metastatic tumor cells and enhancing the DTX efficacy. Thus, the CTCE–DTX NPs achieved promising efficacy on inhibiting both bone-specific metastasis and lung metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer. Our work provided a rational strategy on designing peptide–drug conjugates with synergistic anti-tumor efficacy.

The glutinous rice starch (GRS) regeneration process could lead to decreased product quality and shorter shelf life. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of an ethanol extract of tea (EET) on the regeneration properties of GRS. The microstructure of starch was determined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to determine the microstructure of starch-polyphenol molecular groups, an X-ray diffraction (XRD) instrument was used to determine the starch crystal structure, a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) was used to determine the thermodynamic properties of starch, and the inhibitory effect of EET on GRS regeneration was comprehensively evaluated. The effect of EET on the in vitro digestion properties of GRS was also determined. The results showed that the addition of EET in GRS resulted in an increase in solubility and swelling power and a decrease in crystallinity and ΔHr. Compared to the control group, when retrograded for 10 days, the ΔHr of GRS with 1%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10% addition of EET decreased by 34.61%, 44.53%, 52.93%, and 66.79%, respectively. Furthermore, the addition of EET resulted in a decrease in the content of RDS and an increase in the content of SDS and RS in GRS. It was shown that the addition of EET could significantly inhibit the retrogradation of GRS, improve the processability, and prolong the shelf life of GRS products.

The ε4 allele of the lipoprotein E gene (APOE4) is the strongest genetic risk factor associated with sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD). While the neuronal cell type-specific function of APOE4 in connection with AD pathology remains understudied. Therefore, we generated an induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) line from a 77-year-old female donor with ApoE4 genetic background. We reprogrammed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with non-integrative Sendai viral vectors containing reprogramming factors. Established iPSCs showed the capability of pluripotency, three-germ differentiation in vitro with normal karyotype. Hence, the generated iPSC could be a powerful tool to conduct further studies of AD mechanisms.

Abstract Introduction Women living with HIV (WLWH) are more likely to develop cervical cancer. Screening and available healthcare can effectively reduce its incidence and mortality rates. We aimed to summarize the lifetime prevalence and adherence rate of cervical cancer screening among WLWH across low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs), and high‐income countries (HICs). Methods We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science and Embase for studies published between database inception and 2 September 2022, without language or geographical restrictions. Those reporting the lifetime prevalence and/or adherence rate of cervical cancer screening among WLWH were included. Pooled estimates across LMICs and HICs were obtained using DerSimonian–Laird random‐effects models. When the number of eligible studies was greater than 10, we further conducted stratified analyses by the World Health Organization (WHO) region, setting (rural vs. urban), investigation year, screening method, type of cervical cancer screening programme, age and education level. Results Among the 63 included articles, 26 provided data on lifetime prevalence, 24 on adherence rate and 13 on both. The pooled lifetime prevalence in LMICs was 30.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 21.0–41.3), compared to 92.4% in HICs (95% CI: 89.6–94.6). The pooled adherence rate was 20.1% in LMICs (95% CI: 16.4–24.3) and 59.5% in HICs (95% CI: 51.2–67.2). Discussion There was a large gap in cervical cancer screening among WLWH between LMICs and HICs. Further analysis found that those in LMICs had higher lifetime prevalence in subgroups with urban settings, with older age and with higher education levels; and those in HICs had higher adherence in subgroups with younger age and with higher education levels. Conclusions Cervical cancer screening among WLWH falls considerably short of the WHO's goal. There should be continuous efforts to further increase screening among these women, especially those residing in the rural areas of LMICs and with lower education levels.

Abstract Gut microbiota‐mediated colonization resistance (CR) is crucial in protecting the host from intestinal infections. Sleep deprivation (SD) is an important contributor in the disturbances of intestinal homeostasis. However, whether and how SD affects host CR remains largely unknown. Here, it is shown that SD impairs intestinal CR in mice, whereas nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation restores it. Microbial diversity and metabolomic analyses suggest that gut microbiota and metabolite profiles in SD‐treated mice are highly shaped, whereas NMN reprograms these differences. Specifically, the altered gut microbiota in SD mice further incurs the disorder of secondary bile acids pool accompanied by a decrease in deoxycholic acid (DCA). Conversely, NMN supplementation retakes the potential benefits of DCA, which is associated with specific gut microbiota involved in primary bile acids metabolic flux. In animal models of infection, DCA is effective in preventing and treating bacterial infections when used alone or in combination with antibiotics. Mechanistically, DCA alone disrupts membrane permeability and aggravates oxidative damage, thereby reducing intestinal pathogen burden. Meanwhile, exogenous DCA promotes antibiotic accumulation and destroys oxidant–antioxidant system, thus potentiating antibiotic efficacy. Overall, this work highlights the important roles of gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism in the maintenance of intestinal CR.

Many algae respond to the CO2 limitation in seawater by inducing a CO2 concentrating mechanism (CCM) to obtain sufficient inorganic carbon to meet their photosynthetic needs, and Ulva sp. is a model population suitable for studying the ecological adaptability of macroalgae. As the dominant species of green tide disaster, Ulva sp. often faces strong inorganic carbon restriction due to its rapid growth and high population density and must have evolved a variety of carbon acquisition strategies, such as CCM, to overcome these limitations. This paper briefly summarizes the position and function of the important components of CCM (inorganic carbon transporters, carbonic anhydrase, Rubisco, and pyrenoid) and introduces several indexes suitable for evaluating the relative function of CCMs in macroalgae from the aspects of affinity between photosynthesis and Rubisco for CO2, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. The methods of judging the carbon sequestration pathway of Ulva sp., the CCM responses of diversity under different carbon sources, and the related genes that may be involved in the operation of CCMs were summarized. This work could provide a reference for revealing the CCMs of macroalgae and lay a foundation for further research on the inorganic carbon utilization strategy of the Ulva sp.

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is of vital importance to the progression and prognosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The construction of a simple, sensitive, and accurate detection assay for measuring the biomarkers associated with BBB injury is still an urgent need owing to the complex pathogenesis of SAH and low expression levels of pathological molecules. Herein, we introduced surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) label-embedded Fe3O4@Au core-shell nanoparticles as ideal SERS sensors for quantitative double detection of MMP-9 and occludin in SAH patients. Meanwhile, utilizing the SERS signals to dynamically estimate MMP-9 and occludin concentration in the rat SAH model is the first application in exploring the relationship of pathological MMP-9 and occludin molecular levels with neurobehavioral score. This method warrants reliable detection toward MMP-9 and occludin with a wide recognition range and a low detection limit in blood samples. Furthermore, the results monitored by the SERS assay exactly matched with those obtained through a traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The aforementioned results demonstrated this novel biosensor strategy has extensive application prospects in the quantitative measurement of multiple types of biomolecules in body fluid samples.

This study draws on the social identity approach (SIA), to examine how political elites (i.e., members of the 116 th United States Congress) communicated norms about mask-wearing on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Twitter data collected in 2020, we found that Republican members of Congress were significantly less likely to promote mask-wearing than Democratic members. We also observed some variations in norm-conforming behaviors among the members of each party. For Republicans, increased loyalty to the Trump leadership was significantly associated with a lower level of mask promotion. For Democrats, we found some evidence that loyalty to the party predicted higher levels of mask promotion. On the other hand, interactions with out-group members decreased adherence to party norms for both Republican and Democratic members of Congress. These findings allow us to better understand the social–psychological effects of party membership among political elites as well as the importance of leader–follower relationships and intergroup interactions.

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) are ubiquitous proteins present in all organisms. The sHSPs are not only upregulated under heat shock as well as other stresses but also are expressed in unstressed cells, indicating quite diverse functions of sHSPs. However, there is little known about the role of sHSPs in nodulation and nitrogen fixation in soybean. In this study, we cloned a candidate protein of sHSP, GmHSP17.1, from proteome of nodule and analyzed its function in soybean nodulation. We found that GmHSP17.1 was a cytosolic protein and preferentially expressed during nodule development. An overexpression of GmHSP17.1 in composite transgenic plants showed increases in nodule number, fresh weight, nodule size, area of infection cells, and nitrogenase activity, and subsequently promoted the content of nitrogen and growth of soybean plants. While GmHSP17.1 RNA interference (RNAi) lines showed significantly impaired nodule development and nitrogen fixation efficiency. Through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), GmRIP1 was identified as the first potential target of GmHSP17.1, and was shown to be specifically expressed in soybean nodules. The interaction between GmHSP17.1 and GmRIP1 was further confirmed by yeast-two hybrid (Y2H), bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) in vivo and pull-down assay in vitro. Furthermore, peroxidase activity was markedly increased in GmHSP17.1 overexpressed nodules and decreased in RNAi lines. As a result, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) content greatly decreased in GmHSP17.1 overexpression lines and increased in suppression lines. Taken together, we conclude that GmHSP17.1 plays an important role in soybean nodulation through interacting with GmRIP1. Our results provide foundation for studying the mechanism of nitrogen fixation and for the genetics improvement of legume plants.

This paper presents a coil-based liquid lens (CLL) with a mature and simple fabrication process. A tunable focal length is achieved by changing the liquid–liquid interface curvature using electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD). The lens cavity is a coil wound or stacked by a particular structure named EWOD wire, which is made by coating a soft insulating dielectric layer on a flexible conductive core. As a result, requirements for different lens designs can be achieved, and coating an insulating dielectric layer in complex cavities is not required. The optical performance of the CLL is measured with a clear aperture of 8 mm, which shows that the tunable range for the focal length is (−∞, −35 mm] ∪ [78 mm, +∞) at a voltage of 0–235 V, and the response time is less than 40 ms.

The accessibility of mountain tourist attractions is a prerequisite to enhancing the attractiveness of tourist attractions and driving the well-being of local residential areas, which increases people’s prosperity and the sustainable development of tourist attractions, and achieves the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper focuses on the accessibility of typical mountainous areas in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, and uses the cost distance and OD distance methods under the guidance of core-edge theory to explore the changes of accessibility of traffic nodes, tourist attractions, and residents with the future enrichment of the traffic road network. The results show that: (1) The change in accessibility will highlight the location advantages of some tourist attractions, which can be prioritized in the context of similar tourist attractions; (2) Regional accessibility improvements require a combination of traffic modes to maximize impact; (3) Residents of different multi-core circles could choose various industrial development patterns based on the accessibility of tourist attractions and residential areas; (4) Group development according to the spatial location and accessibility of tourist attractions can facilitate the virtuous drive among tourist attractions, which achieves the goal of integrated tourism.

Diarrhea is one of the most commonly reported diseases in young farm animals. Escherichia coli (E. coli) F17 is one of the major pathogenic bacteria responsible for diarrhea. However, the pathogenicity of diarrhea in lambs involving E. coli F17 strains and how E. coli F17 infection modifies lambs’ intestinal microbiota are largely unknown. To evaluate diarrhea in newborn lambs with an infection of E. coli F17, 50 lambs were selected for challenge experiments and divided into four groups, namely, a high-dose challenge group, low-dose challenge group, positive control group, and negative control group. The E. coli F17 challenge experiments caused diarrhea and increased mortality in the experimental lamb population, with a higher prevalence (90%), mortality (35%), and rapid onset time (4–12 h) being observed in the high-dose challenge group than the results observed in the low-dose challenge group (75%, 10%, 6–24 h, respectively). After the challenge experiment, healthy lambs in the high-dose challenge group and severely diarrheic lamb in the low-dose challenge group were identified as lambs sensitive/resistant to E. coli F17 (E. coli F17 -resistant/-sensitive candidate, AN/SE) according to the histopathological detection. Results of intestinal contents bacteria plate counting revealed that the number of bacteria in the intestinal contents of SE lambs was 102~3-fold greater than that of the AN lambs, especially in the jejunum. Then, 16S rRNA sequencing was conducted to profile the intestinal microbiota using the jejunal contents, and the results showed that SE lambs had higher Lactococcus and a lower Bacteroidetes:Firmicutes ratio and intestinal microbiota diversity in the jejunum than AN lambs. Notably, high abundance of Megasphaera elsdenii was revealed in AN lambs, which indicated that Megasphaera elsdenii may serve as a potential probiotic for E. coli F17 infection. Our study provides an alternative challenge model for the identification of E. coli F17-sensitive/-resistant lambs and contributes to the basic understandings of intestinal microbiota in lambs with different susceptibilities to E. coli F17.

A hybrid-clustering model is presented for the probabilistic characterization of ship traffic and anomaly detection. A hybrid clustering model was proposed to increase the efficiency of trajectory clustering in the port area and analyze the maritime traffic patterns in port. The model identified dissimilarities between trajectories based on characteristics, using K-Means and the density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise algorithm (DBSCAN). Firstly, the ship’s trajectory characteristics are constructed based on real ship trajectories considering static characteristics and dynamic characteristics of ship trajectories to calculate the characteristic dissimilarity between trajectories. Simultaneously, the spatial dissimilarity could be quantified using the Hausdorff algorithm. Then, the ship trajectory is clustered initially based on the departure and destination characteristics using K-Means algorithms to obtain various sub-trajectories. However, there are still different types of trajectories in each sub-trajectory. Thus, the DBSCAN algorithm is adopted to cluster the sub-trajectory based on the analysis of the different trajectory characteristics. Finally, the proposed model is applied to the characterization of the Zhanjiang Port, and the results show that the hybrid-clustering method can effectively cluster ship trajectory and present probabilistic characterization of ship traffic and anomaly detection. This lays a solid theoretical foundation for the supervision and risk control of intelligent ships.

This paper focuses on multi-target parameter estimation of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar with widely separated antennas on moving platforms. Aiming at the superimposed signals caused by multi-targets, the well-known expectation maximization (EM) is used in this paper. Target’s radar cross-section (RCS) spatial variations, different path losses and spatially-non-white noise appear because of the widely separated antennas. These variables are collectively referred to as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) fluctuations. To estimate the echo delay/Doppler shift and SNR, the Q function of EM algorithm is extended. In addition, to reduce the computational complexity of EM algorithm, the gradient descent is used in M-step of EM algorithm. The modified EM algorithm is called generalized adaptive EM (GAEM) algorithm. Then, a weighted iterative least squares (WILS) algorithm is used to jointly estimate the target positions and velocities based on the results of GAEM algorithm. This paper also derives the Cramér-Rao bound (CRB) in such a non-ideal environment. Finally, extensive numerical simulations are carried out to validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

The detection of microseismic events with low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) can expand the seismic catalog and provide opportunities for a deeper understanding of subsurface reservoir features. We propose a novel polarization analysis method for comprehensively detecting S-wave arrival and P-S travel time of low-SNR events from the particle motion of P and S waves in the time and frequency domain. In most circumstances, the direct S-wave particle motion shows a flat plane, and that is perpendicular to the direct P-wave motion direction. We combine these two properties to detect the S-wave arrival of low-SNR events. Our previous study applied spectral matrix (SPM) analysis to characterize the 3D particle motion of P waves. However, SPM analysis had limitations in detecting S-wave arrivals. We then introduce the time-delay components of the SPM (complex spectral matrix [cSPM]) to characterize the S-wave particle motion, separate the S-wave from the noise, and detect S-wave arrivals. Using the cSPM analysis method, we assess the planarity and perpendicularity of the S-wave polarization in the time and frequency domains. We then define a characteristic function that detects S-wave arrivals by combining two properties, planarity and perpendicularity, to detect more low-SNR events. The P-S travel time is obtained by setting the threshold values for the P- and S-wave characteristic functions. We apply our method to 4 hr and 2 months of field data recorded at the Groningen field in the Netherlands. Our method successfully detects the P-S travel time of all catalog events and several additional undetected events. We locate the hypocenter of all events using the detected P-S travel times with a grid-based search method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sepsis is a serious complication that occurs after trauma, burns, and infections, and it is an important cause of death in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Despite many new measures being proposed for sepsis treatment, its mortality rate remains high; sepsis has become a serious threat to human health, and there is an urgent need to carry out in-depth clinical research related to sepsis. In recent years, it has been found that septic shock-induced vasoplegia is a result of vascular hyporesponsiveness to vasopressors. Therefore, this study intended to establish an objective formula related to vasoplegia that can be used to assess the prognosis of patients and guide clinical treatment. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from 106 septic shock patients admitted to the ICU of Jining No. 1 People's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2022. The patients were divided into mortality and survival groups based on 28-day survival, and hemodynamics were monitored by the pulse index continuous cardiac output system. The dose and duration of vasopressors, major hemodynamic parameters, lactic acid (Lac) levels, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores were recorded within 48 h of hospital admission. Multifactorial logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients, and the predictive value of the vascular response index (VRI) was analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: The differences between the survival and mortality groups in terms of age, sex ratio, body weight, ICU length of stay, distribution of infection sites, underlying disease conditions, baseline Lac levels, and some hemodynamic parameters were not statistically significant (P >.05). The results of multifactorial logistic regression showed that the admission Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, Lac level at 24 h of treatment, maximal vasoactive inotropic score at 24 h (VISmax24), maximal vasoactive inotropic score at 48 h (VISmax48), and VRI were independent risk factors affecting 28-day mortality. Within 48 h of receiving vasopressor therapy, the VRI was lower in the mortality group than in the survival group. The area under the ROC curve for the VRI was 0.86, and the best cutoff value of the VRI for predicting 28-day mortality was 32.50 (YI = 0.80), with a sensitivity of 0.90, a specificity of 0.90, and a better prediction of mortality than the other indicators. Conclusions: The VRI is a good predictor of mortality in patients with septic shock, and a lower VRI indicates more severe vasoplegia, poorer prognosis, and higher mortality in patients with septic shock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]