Search

Abstract A novel type I arabinogalactan (AG‐I) polysaccharide (EPS) from Epiphyllum oxypetalum (DC.) Haw's flowers is hypothesized to possess immunomodulatory activity. This study investigated EPS's effects on immune functions and its potential mechanism for enhancing intestinal health in immunosuppressed mice. The results showed that supplementing EPS significantly alleviated immune organ damage, increased the thymus index (p

Abstract Aiming at the current low degree of mechanization of pomegranate sprouting tiller pruning in China, all relying on manual pruning, this paper designs a PLC-based pomegranate sprouting tiller removal machine. This machine adopts the identification method of wireless map transmission, the sprouting tiller removal method of multi-cylinder cooperative operation, and the MCGS configuration to realize the interaction between the user and the system, which realizes the displacement and angle compensation of the end-effector under complex conditions to realize the all-around accurate removal of the pomegranate sprouting tiller. The performance test and finite element analysis showed that the device could remove up to 74.62% of sprouting tillers, and the damage rate was as low as 18%. This meets the requirements of pomegranate plantations for the removal of emergent tillers.

Deep-learning based approaches have been proven effective for Digital Elevation Model (DEM) super-resolution (SR) tasks. Previous networks typically treat DEM elevation values as single-channel image for input. However, DEM images alone cannot fully capture spatial and terrain features. Shaded relief images (SRIs), derived from DEMs, serve as crucial visual cues that intuitively convey terrain characteristics, addressing the limitations of DEM images and providing synergistic benefits for training DL models. The primary challenge in utilizing SRIs for guiding DEM SR lies in accurately selecting a consistent structure to extract and effectively integrate features from SRIs and DEMs. In this study, we propose an Attention-based Hierarchical Terrain Fusion (AHTF) framework for guided DEM SR. Specifically, an Attention-based Feature Fusion Module (AFFM) is designed to efficiently fuse relevant information from LR DEM and SRI, which includes a feature enhancement block to select valuable features and a feature recalibration block to fuse diverse terrain features. Additionally, we optimize the loss function from the perspectives of terrain analysis and visual effects. We validate AHTF on our newly constructed real-world Shade-DEM SR dataset and two open-source DEM SR datasets. Compared to the current state-of-the-art methods, our AHTF achieves the best results in terms of root mean square error (RMSE) for elevation, slope, and aspect. Furthermore, the extracted stream networks are closer to real-world conditions. This study offers new insights and methods for further research and application in the field of DEM super-resolution. Our dataset can be obtained at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.25590945.

Dimethyl sulfide (DMS), an organic volatile sulfide produced from Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), exerts a significant impact on the global climate change. Utilizing published literature data spanning from 2005 to 2020, a BP neural network (BPNN) model of the surface seawater DMS in the Yellow and East China Sea (YECS) was developed to elucidate the influence of various marine factors on the DMS cycle. Results indicated that the six parameters inputted BPNN model, that include the time (month), latitude and longitude, sea-surface chlorophyll a (Chl-a), sea-surface temperature (SST), and sea-surface salinity (SSS), yielded the optimized simulation results (R2 = 0.71). The optimized estimation of surface seawater DMS in the YECS were proved to be closely aligned with the observed data across all seasons, which demonstrated the model’s robust applicability. DMS concentration in surface seawater were found to be affected by multiple factors such as Chl-a and SST. Comparative analysis of the three environmental parameters revealed that Chl-a exhibited the most significant correlation with surface seawater DMS concentration in the YECS (R2 = 0.20). This underscores the pivotal role of chlorophyll in phytoplankton photosynthesis and DMS production, emphasizing its importance as a non-negligible factor in the study of DMS and its sulfur derivatives. Furthermore, surface seawater DMS concentration in the YECS exhibited positive correlations with Chl-a and SST, while displaying a negative correlation with SSS. The DMS concentration in the YECS show substantial seasonal variations, with the maximum value (5.69 nmol/L) in summer followed in decreasing order by spring (3.96 nmol/L), autumn (3.18 nmol/L), and winter (1.60 nmol/L). In the YECS, there was a gradual decrease of DMS concentration from the nearshore to the offshore, especially with the highest DMS concentration concentrated in the Yangtze River Estuary Basin and the south-central coastal part off the Zhejiang Province. Apart from being largely composed by the release of large amounts of nutrients from anthropogenic activities and changes in ocean temperature, the spatial and temporal variability of DMS may be driven by additional physicochemical parameters.

Abstract The most widely practiced strategy for constructing the deep learning (DL) prediction model for drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) involves the adoption of ready-made and state-of-the-art architectures usually proposed for non-biological problems. However, the ultimate goal is to construct a customized model for predicting the drug resistance of MTB and eventually for the biological phenotypes based on genotypes. Here, we constructed a DL training framework to standardize and modularize each step during the training process using the latest tensorflow 2 API. A systematic and comprehensive evaluation of each module in the three currently representative models, including Convolutional Neural Network, Denoising Autoencoder, and Wide & Deep, which were adopted by CNNGWP, DeepAMR, and WDNN, respectively, was performed in this framework regarding module contributions in order to assemble a novel model with proper dedicated modules. Based on the whole-genome level mutations, a de novo learning method was developed to overcome the intrinsic limitations of previous models that rely on known drug resistance-associated loci. A customized DL model with the multilayer perceptron architecture was constructed and achieved a competitive performance (the mean sensitivity and specificity were 0.90 and 0.87, respectively) compared to previous ones. The new model developed was applied in an end-to-end user-friendly graphical tool named TB-DROP (TuBerculosis Drug Resistance Optimal Prediction: https://github.com/nottwy/TB-DROP ), in which users only provide sequencing data and TB-DROP will complete analysis within several minutes for one sample. Our study contributes to both a new strategy of model construction and clinical application of deep learning-based drug-resistance prediction methods.

Abstract Background To evaluate the current prevalence of prediabetes in northeast China, and further determine the association between prediabetes alone or coexistent with hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Methods In the prospective study, 15,557 participants without diabetes among aged ≥40 years in northeast China, were followed for a median of 5.5 years. Following the American Diabetes Association, prediabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose (FPG) range of 5.6-6.9 mmol/L or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) range of 5.7-6.4% in people without diabetes. Results The prevalence of prediabetes was 44.3% among population aged ≥40 years in northeast China. Prediabetes alone did not promote risk of CVD mortality. However, when the subgroups were stratified by hypertension, the CVD mortality risk in prediabetes plus hypertension subjects increased significantly compared with population without prediabetes and hypertension. Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios for CVD mortality in prediabetes subgroups plus hypertension were 2.28 (95% CI: 1.50, 3.47) for those diagnosed by FPG

Abstract Background The association between the common carotid artery (CCA) diameter and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is recognized, but the precise nature of this link remains elusive. This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between CCA diameter and the risk of CVD mortality in a large population in northeast China. Methods The current study included 5668 participants (mean age 58.9 ± 10.1 years) from a population-based study conducted in rural areas of northeast China between September 2017 and May 2018. Information on death was collected from baseline until July 31, 2022. The CCA inter-adventitial diameter was measured using ultrasound. Cox proportional-hazard models were employed to explore the relationship between the common carotid artery diameter and cardiovascular mortality. Results At baseline, the mean CCA diameter (mm) of subjects was 7.30 ± 0.99 and increased significantly with age, ranging from 6.65 ± 0.71 among people 40–49 years to 7.99 ± 1.04 among people ≥ 80 years. CCA diameter was significantly larger in males compared to females (7.51 ± 1.03 versus vs. 7.16 ± 0.94; P

The multi-modal two-step floating catchment area (MM-2SFCA) method is an extension of the two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method that incorporates the impact of different transportation modes, thereby facilitating more accurate calculations of the spatial accessibility of public facilities in urban areas. However, the MM-2SFCA method does not account for the impact of distance within the search radius on supply–demand capacities, and it assumes an idealized supply–demand relationship. This paper introduces the gravity model into the MM-2SFCA method, proposing a multi-modal gravity-based 2SFCA (MM-G2SFCA) method to better account for distance decay and supply–demand relationships. Furthermore, a standardized gravity model is proposed based on the traditional gravity model. This model imposes constraints on upper and lower limits for distance decay weights without compromising the fundamental curve characteristics of the gravity model, thereby avoiding extreme weight scenarios. The accessibility of public hospitals in Shenzhen is evaluated through the integration of basic geographic information data, resident travel data, and official statistical data. The findings demonstrate that the standardized gravity model effectively addresses the issue of excessively high local distance weights in the traditional gravity model, making it more suitable as a distance decay function. The MM-G2SFCA method improves the consideration of distance and supply–demand relationships, thereby facilitating a more rational distribution of accessibility on a global scale. This study discovers differences in the spatial allocation of public hospital resources across the Shenzhen’s districts. Accessibility within the metropolitan core is significantly higher than that outside the core. Additionally, there is a notable difference in the level of accessibility among the districts. Accessibility is found to be better in district centers and along the main traffic arteries.

IntroductionThe ancient ivories unearthed from the Sanxingdui Ruins site are valuable cultural relics, however, the microbial biodeterioration on ivories during temporary cold storage poses a great threat to their later long-term preservation.MethodsHere, the combination of high-throughput sequencing and biochemical assays was applied for the in-depth investigation of the key deteriorative microorganisms colonizing on the ivories and the tracing of their origin, as well as the assessment of the ethanol disinfection impact on the microbial communities on ivories.ResultsIt was observed that the surfaces of ivories were scattered by the fungal patches of white, dark grey, and hedge green colors during cold storage. The high-throughput sequencing results showed that the genera Mortierella (38.51%), Ilyonectria (14.43%), Penicillium (1.15%), and Aspergillus (1.09%) were the dominant fungi, while Pseudomonas (22.63%), Sphingopyxis (3.06%), and Perlucidibaca (2.92%) were the dominant bacteria on ivories. The isolated Aspergillus A-2 resulted in the highest amount of calcium releasing from the degradation of hydroxyapatite (HAP), the main component of ivory, by the organic acids produced, including oxalic acid and citric acid. The fast expectation-maximization for microbial source tracking (FEAST) analysis revealed that the majority of the fungi (57.45%) and bacteria (71.84%) colonizing on the ivories were derived from the soils surrounding ivories in the sacrifice pits, indicating soils as the primary source for the spoilage microbes growing on ivories. The dominant strains could degrade cellulose, the key components of wet cotton towels commonly applied on ivories for moisture maintenance, aiding the spoilage microbes colonizing on ivories. Notably, the ivory disinfection with 75% ethanol during the cleansing significantly decreased the relative abundance of the dominant genera of Ilyonectria, Aspergillus, and Pseudomonas, with Mortierella becoming the dominant one on ivories.DiscussionTogether, the fungi, particularly Aspergillus and Penicillium, played a significant role in the microbial biodeterioration of unearthed ancient ivories by producing the organic acids. These results may improve the control of the microbial biodeterioration and develop more efficient strategies for the long-time conservation of unearthed ancient ivories and other cultural relics.

Abstract Background Outbreaks of monkeypox have been ongoing in non-endemic countries since May 2022. A thorough assessment of its global zoonotic niche and potential transmission risk is lacking. Methods We established an integrated database on global monkeypox virus (MPXV) occurrence during 1958 − 2022. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to examine the evolution of MPXV and effective reproductive number (Rt) was estimated over time to examine the dynamic of MPXV transmissibility. The potential ecological drivers of zoonotic transmission and inter-regional transmission risks of MPXV were examined. Results As of 24 July 2022, a total of 49 432 human patients with MPXV infections have been reported in 78 countries. Based on 525 whole genome sequences, two main clades of MPXV were formed, of which Congo Basin clade has a higher transmissibility than West African clade before the 2022-monkeypox, estimated by the overall Rt (0.81 vs. 0.56), and the latter significantly increased in the recent decade. Rt of 2022-monkeypox varied from 1.14 to 4.24 among the 15 continuously epidemic countries outside Africa, with the top three as Peru (4.24, 95% CI: 2.89–6.71), Brazil (3.45, 95% CI: 1.62–7.00) and the United States (2.44, 95% CI: 1.62–3.60). The zoonotic niche of MPXV was associated with the distributions of Graphiurus lorraineus and Graphiurus crassicaudatus, the richness of Rodentia, and four ecoclimatic indicators. Besides endemic areas in Africa, more areas of South America, the Caribbean States, and Southeast and South Asia are ecologically suitable for the occurrence of MPXV once the virus has invaded. Most of Western Europe has a high-imported risk of monkeypox from Western Africa, whereas France and the United Kingdom have a potential imported risk of Congo Basin clade MPXV from Central Africa. Eleven of the top 15 countries with a high risk of MPXV importation from the main countries of 2022-monkeypox outbreaks are located at Europe with the highest risk in Italy, Ireland and Poland. Conclusions The suitable ecological niche for MPXV is not limited to Africa, and the transmissibility of MPXV was significantly increased during the 2022-monkeypox outbreaks. The imported risk is higher in Europe, both from endemic areas and currently epidemic countries. Future surveillance and targeted intervention programs are needed in its high-risk areas informed by updated prediction.

Abstract In recent years, advancements in industries such as aerospace, military weaponry, automobiles, locomotives, and shipbuilding have led to a surge in the demand for bent and rolled components, along with increasingly stringent requirements for rolling precision. However, the traditional hydraulic cylinder feeding solution has hindered further enhancements in the accuracy of rolled profile contours. Additionally, owing to variations in profile specifications, material properties, and an assortment of random factors during the forming process, the applicability of existing forming formulas remains limited, rendering them suitable only for profile processing under specific circumstances. To address these challenges, servo electric cylinders have been introduced as a replacement for traditional hydraulic cylinders, and the mechanical structure of a four-roll bending machine has been re-engineered. This innovation has demonstrated the feasibility of employing servo electric cylinders in four-roll CNC bending machines for profile bending, resulting in higher control precision and faster response times, ultimately providing a comprehensive design solution for four-roll CNC bending machines. In response to the limited universality of existing forming formulas, the actual R (profile forming curvature) and d (servo electric cylinder feed) values from the four-roll CNC bending machine have been utilized, and curve fitting methods have been implemented as the foundation for the automatic control model. This approach offers a high degree of universality, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. Moreover, as the number of trials increased, forming precision progressively improved.

Abstract Background Acute diarrhea with fever can potentially represent a more severe form of the disease compared to non-febrile diarrhea. This study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and enteric pathogen composition of febrile-diarrheal patients, and to explore factors including pathogens associated with fever by age group. Methods A nationwide surveillance study of acute diarrheal patients of all ages was conducted in 217 sentinel hospitals from 31 provinces (autonomous regions or municipalities) in China between 2011 and 2020. Seventeen diarrhea-related pathogens, including seven viruses and ten bacteria, were investigated and their association with occurrence of fever symptoms was assessed using multivariate logistic analysis. Results A total of 146,296 patients with acute diarrhea (18.6% with fever) were tested. Th diarrheal children below 5 years had the highest frequency of fever (24.2%), and related to significantly higher prevalence of viral enteropathogens (40.2%) as compared with other age groups (P

The increased global incidence of chronic metabolic diseases, a vital threat to human health and a burden on our healthcare systems, includes a series of clinical metabolic syndromes such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. One of the well-known probiotic microorganisms, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum plays an important role in promoting human health, including inhibiting the occurrence and development of a variety of chronic metabolic diseases. The present study provides an overview of the preventive and therapeutic effects of L. plantarum on diabetes, obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, kidney stone disease, and cardiovascular diseases in animal models and human clinical trials. Ingesting L. plantarum demonstrated its ability to reduce inflammatory and oxidative stress levels by regulating the production of cytokines and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and the balance of intestinal microbial communities to alleviate the symptoms of chronic metabolic diseases. Furthermore, updated applications and technologies of L. plantarum in food and biopharmaceutical industries are also discussed. Understanding the characteristics and functions of L. plantarum will guide the development of related probiotic products and explore the modulatory benefit of L. plantarum supplementations on the prevention and treatment of multiple chronic metabolic diseases.

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of carotid arteriosclerosis (CA) among high stroke risk people aged ≥ 40 years in rural areas of Chaoyang prefecture for providing evidence to develop targeted intervention measures on CA prevention and control. MethodsFace-to-face interview with a self-designed questionnaire, physical examination, and laboratory tests were conducted among 6 830 permanent residents aged ≥ 40 years recruited with stratified random cluster sampling in rural areas of Chaoyang prefecture, Liaoning province from September 2017 to May 2018. Subsequent carotid artery ultrasonography was carried out in 2 479 participants assessed as having high stroke-risk based on the National Technical Specification for Stroke Screening and Prevention; CA prevalence and its influencing factors in the high-risk population were analyzed. ResultsAmong the 2 479 high stroke-risk people, totally 1 211 CA cases were detected and the observed CA prevalence rate was 48.9%. The results of multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that aged ≥ 50 years, with an annual household income of 5 000 – 19 999 RMB yuan, current smoking, and lack of physical exercise are risk factor of CA for the high stroke-risk people; while, female gender and being overweight/obesity are protective factors against CA. ConclusionThe prevalence of CA is relatively high and mainly influenced by gender, age, total annual household income, smoking, physical exercise and body mass index among middle-aged and older residents with high stroke-risk in rural areas of Chaoyang prefecture.

Abstract Tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNFRs) are promising targets for cancer therapy. However, activating their downstream signaling requires cross‐linking of TNFRs. Herein, to devise strong agonists of TNFRs, ligands targeting TNFRs, such as OX40L and tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL), were fused with a multivalent protein scaffold (MV) to prepare multivalent agonists for cross‐linking TNFRs. The nano‐clustered multivalent‐OX40L (MV‐OX40L) and MV‐TRAIL could promote T cell activation and directly induce tumor cell apoptosis. Moreover, to develop a universal nano‐adaptor for the rapid preparation of multivalent agonists of different TNFRs, the Fc receptor that could immobilize antibodies was fused with MV to prepare MV‐FcR, which could multimerize commercial agonist antibodies targeting TNFRs, such as anti‐OX40 antibody (αOX40). Simply incubating αOX40 with MV‐FcR could prepare MV‐αOX40 to enhance its antitumor efficacy. In addition, MV‐FcR could multimerize with other therapeutic antibodies, such as anti‐PD‐L1 antibody, to enhance their valency. This study provides a promising strategy for engineering multivalent antitumor protein drugs.

A polygonal building aggregation method is proposed in this study to address the shortcomings of existing aggregation methods that mostly focus on maintaining a few features, ignoring the requirement for a clear expression. First, visually conglutinated buildings were clustered considering obstacle elements. Unreasonable triangles, starting from the marginal triangles, were removed to extract the visual conglutinate areas. Bridging modes were designed and local shape features were considered to bridge the visual conglutinate areas. Then, the contours of the aggregated results were established through a minimum loop search on the path connection graph. An experiment was conducted using the data of OpenStreetMap from Nanjing, and the comparative experimental results showed that the proposed method preserved the aggregated results of right-angled and locally shaped features. The advantages of improving the visual clarity of the results were verified by introducing degrees of visual conglutination and complexity.

AbstractPurpose This study aimed to develop a postoperative MRI-based fibrosis scoring system and to assess its correlation with anorectal function in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) cases administered neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT).Methods Pathologically confirmed LARC cases administered nCRT and radical resection were assessed retrospectively. Based on postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, anastomotic fibrosis score (AFS) and perirectal fibrosis score (PFS) were determined to evaluate the extent of fibrosis. The Wexner continence score for anorectal function was obtained 2 years postoperatively and assessed for correlation with MRI fibrosis scores. The cases were divided into 2 groups by the median Wexner score. Univariable and multivariable analyses were adopted for building a nomogram model, whose diagnostic performance was estimated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and decision curve analyses (DCA).Results Finally, 144 patients with LARC were included in cohort 1 (training set). 52 patients were enrolled in cohort 2 (external validation set). Spearman correlation analysis indicated that AFS and PFS were positively correlated with the Wexner score. Univariable and multivariable analyses revealed age, tumor height, AFS, and PFS were independent predictors of anorectal function. The nomogram model achieved a good diagnostic performance, with AUCs of 0.800 and 0.827 in the training and validation sets, respectively; its predicting value was also confirmed by DCA.Conclusion The present study showed AFS and PFS derived from postoperative MRI are positively correlated with Wexner score. In addition, the new scoring system was effective in predicting anorectal function in LARC cases administered nCRT.

Identifying and selecting high-quality seeds is crucial for improving crop yield. The purpose of this study was to improve the selection of crop seeds based on separating vital seeds from dead seeds, by predicting the potential germination ability of each seed, and thus improving seed quality. The methods of oxygen consumption (Q) of seeds and the headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) were evaluated for identifying the viability of individual seeds. Firstly, the oxygen consumption technique showed clear differences among the values related to respiratory characteristics for seeds that were either vital or not, and the discrimination ability of final oxygen consumption (Q120) was achieved not only in sweet corn seeds but also in pepper and wheat seeds. Besides, Qt was established as a new variable to shorten the measuring process in the Q2 (oxygen sensor) procedure, which was significantly related to the viability of individual seeds. To minimize seed damage during measurement, the timing for viability evaluation was pinpointed at the 12, 6 and 9 h for pepper, sweet corn, and wheat seeds based on the new variables concerning oxygen consumption (i.e., Q12, Q6 and Q9, respectively). The accuracies of viability prediction were 91.9, 97.7 and 96.2%, respectively. Dead seeds were identified and hence discarded, leading to an enhancement in the quality of the seed lot as indicated by an increase in germination percentage, from 86.6, 90.9, and 53.8% to all at 100%. We then used the HS-GC-IMS to determine the viability of individual sweet corn seeds, noting that corn seed has a heavier weight so the volatile gas components are more likely to be detected. A total of 48 chromatographic peaks were identified, among which 38 target compounds were characterized, including alcohols, aldehydes, acids and esters. However, there were no significant differences between the vital and dead seeds, due to the trace amount volatile composition differences among the individual seeds. Furthermore, a PCA based on the signal intensities of the target volatile compounds obtained was found to lose its effectiveness, as it was unable to distinguish those two types of sweet corn seeds. These strategies can provide a reference for the rapid detection of single seed viability.

In order to effectively solve the problems of the complex growth state of dragon fruit and how the picking process is mostly manual, this study designed a picking and selecting integrated remote-operation-type dragon-fruit-picking device. Based on SOLIDWORKS 2020 software for the three-dimensional digital design and overall assembly of key components, the structure and working theory of the machine are introduced. By improving the high-recognition-rate dragon fruit target detection algorithm based on YOLOv5, better recognition and locating effects were achieved for targets with a small size and high density, as well as those in bright-light scenes. Serial communication, information acquisition, and the precise control of each picking action were realized by building the software and hardware platforms of the picking device control system. By analyzing the working principle of the mechanical system and the mechanics of the machine picking process, the critical factors affecting the net picking rate and damage rate of the dragon-fruit-picking device were confirmed. Based on the force and parameter analysis of the test results, it was confirmed that the machine had an optimal picking influence when the flexible claw closing speed was 0.029 m/s, the electric cylinder extending speed was 0.085 m/s, and the mechanical arm moving speed was 0.15 m/s. The net picking rate of the device reached 90.5%, and the damage rate reached 2.9%. The picking device can complete the picking of a single dragon fruit, as well as a plurality of fruits grown at a growing point, and integrates the integration of picking fruits, removing bad fruits, and sorting fruits, which can improve the efficiency of dragon fruit harvesting and replace manual work.

With the rapid development of profile processing industry, the processing shape, efficiency, and consistency of profiles are more and more demanding. In this case, the progress of bending machine tools was very important. In this study, the disadvantages and shortcomings of traditional three-roll bending machine are investigated, and a new design of three-roll bending machine is proposed, including a new mechanical structure, hydraulic pressure, and control system. ABAQUS was used to analyze the constrained mode of the table, and the first six order natural frequencies and natural vibration modes were obtained. A mathematical model was established to analyze the relationship between the pressure displacement and the forming radius under ideal working conditions, and the limit position of the downward movement of the lower press roll and the speed relationship between the lower press roll and the support roll are discussed. Based on the experimental data, the nonlinear curve fitting was carried out on the rebound compensation algorithm of asymmetric rolling bending forming. The fitting rebound compensation algorithm was carried out on the symmetric rolling bending forming experiment. The experimental results show that this algorithm can be applied to both symmetric rolling bending and asymmetric rolling bending.

This study was to explore the immunity-promoting activity of porcine placenta as a potential raw material for functional foods. Porcine placenta was subjected to the analysis for its bioactive substances, and their immunity-promoting activity was determined in mice supplemented with porcine placenta extract (PPE) and freeze-dried porcine placenta powder at high (PPH) and low (PPL) dosage. Results showed that porcine placenta contained placental peptides and 15 free amino acids, and the amounts of estrogen and progesterone in products developed from porcine placenta were within the limit of national standard. Mice model experiment revealed that compared with the control, the PPH treatment significantly improved the spleen index (P < 0.05) by increasing the phagocytic rate of macrophages from 20 % to 60 % and the conversion rate of T lymphocytes from 8 % to 60 %. The qPCR analysis disclosed that the porcine placenta powder enhanced mice immunity via promoting the expression of Th1 cytokines of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IFN-γ, especially the former, by almost 8 times in the spleens of male mice, while inhibited Th2 cytokines of IL-4 and IL-10. This investigation has provided a reference for the development of porcine placenta as a raw material applied in functional foods to improve human immunity.

Abstract Background Rare diseases impose a heavy economic burden on patients’ families and society worldwide. This study used the samples from Sichuan Province in China to estimate the curative care expenditure (CCE) of ten rare diseases, for supporting the prioritization of rare disease health policies. Methods Multi-stage cluster sampling method was adopted to investigate 9714 rare disease patients from 1556 medical institutions in Sichuan Province. Based on the System of Health Accounts 2011, this study estimated the total CCE of 10 rare diseases, financing schemes, and their allocation among different medical institutions and groups of people. Results In 2018, the total CCE of the ten rare diseases was $19.00 million, the three costliest rare diseases were Hemophilia ($4.38 million), Young-onset Parkinson’s disease ($2.96 million), and Systemic Sclerosis ($2.45 million). Household out-of-pocket expenditure (86.00% for outpatients, 41.60% for inpatients) and social health insurance (7.85% for outpatients; 39.58% for inpatients) were the main sources of financing CCE. The out-of-pocket expenditures for patients with Young-onset Parkinson’s disease, Congenital Scoliosis, and Autoimmune Encephalitis accounted for more than 60% of the total CCE. More than 80% of the rare disease CCE was incurred in general hospitals. The 40–59 age group accounted for the highest CCE (38.70%) while men spent slightly more (55.37%) than women (44.64%). Conclusions As rare disease treatment is costly and household out-of-pocket expenditure is high, we suggest taking steps to include rare disease drugs in the National Reimbursement Drug List and scientifically re-design insurance coverage. It is also necessary to explore a multi-tiered healthcare security system to pay for the CCE of rare diseases and reduce the economic burden on patients.

Abstract Background Female reproductive tract infection (RTI) is the common source of varied diseases, especially as an important risk factor for pregnancy outcomes, therefore the rapid, accurate and simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens is in urgent need for assisting the diagnosis and treatment of RTI in pregnant women. Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae), Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), Gardnerella vaginalis (G. vaginalis), Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) are five main pathogens in lower genital tract with high risk, serious consequences and clinical demands. The combination of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and microfluidic technology was used to develop the LAMP-microfluidic chip for rapid, simple, sensitive and simultaneous detection of the five target pathogens above. Results Standard strains and clinical isolates were used for the establishment of the novel LAMP method in tube and LAMP-microfluidic chip, followed by the chip detection on 103 clinical samples and PCR verification partially. The sensitivities of LAMP of S. agalactiae, E. faecalis, G. vaginalis, and C. albicans in tube were 22.0, 76.0, 13.2, 1.11 CFU/μL, respectively, and C. trachomatis was 41.3 copies/μL; on LAMP-microfluidic chip they were 260, 154, 3.9 and 7.53 CFU/μL, respectively, and C. trachomatis was 120 copies/μL. The positive coincidence rates of clinical stains in tube and on chip experiments were 100%. Compared with the classic culture method performed in hospitals, the positive coincidence rate of the 103 clinical samples detected by LAMP-microfluidic chip were 100%. For the six inconsistent ones, including four G. vaginalis and two C. albicans positive samples tested by LAMP-microfluidic chip and verified by PCR were negative by culturing method in hospitals, indicating the lack of efficient detection by the classic culturing method. Conclusion Our study suggested that the LAMP-microfluidic chips could simultaneously, efficiently, and accurately detect multiple main pathogens, including S. agalactiae, E. faecalis, G. vaginalis, C. albicans and C. trachomatis, in clinical samples of female RTI to give a great clinical value. Accordingly, this novel method has the potential to provide a valuable reference for female RTI screening and early diagnosis during pregnancy.

This study explored the antibiofilm efficacy of 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) on Staphylococcus aureus and its disinfection on common food-contact surfaces. The minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) of DIM on S. aureus was 62.5 μmol/L, while it did not impede the bacterial growth evaluated by growth curve and XTT reduction assay. DIM in the concentration range of 31.2−62.5 μmol/L demonstrated a dose-dependent antibiofilm activity to S. aureus, as confirmed by light microscopic (LM), confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM), and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analyses. At DIM of 62.5 μmol/L, the biomass of S. aureus biofilm was significantly reduced by 97 % and its average thickness by 58 % (P < 0.05). DIM of 62.5 μmol/L inhibited the bacterial initial adhesion and proliferation, as well as cell motility; the release of extracellular DNA (eDNA) and extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) were reduced by 75 % and 69 %, respectively. DIM exhibited a strong inhibition to S. aureus biofilm formation on common food-contact surfaces, including 304 stainless steel, glass, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) but not disperse the mature biofilm. Overall, our investigation identified DIM as a promising antibiofilm agent and its suitability to prevent the biofilm formation of S. aureus on common food-contact surfaces utilized during food processing.

Deep learning, which is a dominating technique in artificial intelligence, has completely changed image understanding over the past decade. As a consequence, the sea ice extraction (SIE) problem has reached a new era. We present a comprehensive review of four important aspects of SIE, including algorithms, datasets, applications and future trends. Our review focuses on research published from 2016 to the present, with a specific focus on deep-learning-based approaches in the last five years. We divided all related algorithms into three categories, including the conventional image classification approach, the machine learning-based approach and deep-learning-based methods. We reviewed the accessible ice datasets including SAR-based datasets, the optical-based datasets and others. The applications are presented in four aspects including climate research, navigation, geographic information systems (GIS) production and others. This paper also provides insightful observations and inspiring future research directions.

Recently, more and more attentions are payed to improve the quality and safety of food during processing and storage, and food additives are screened as the good solution plan according to various practices in a long history. Although some synthetic additives are effective, their potential toxicity and hazards on human health are being considered. Thus, the natural additives from food and other natural sources may be the alternative approach. In present study, the modification of lotus anthocyanins on the quality of ice cream was investigated. With the addition of lotus anthocyanins, the color of ice cream changed to purple, and its a* value increased and L* and b* values decreased, which enhanced its attractiveness to consumers. Meanwhile, in the low range of addition amount (0.5% to 1.5%, m/m), lotus anthocyanins increased the expansion rate of ice cream and decreased its melting rate, which was beneficial for air filling and delaying its melting. In addition, lotus anthocyanins at low amount (0.5% to 1.5%, m/m) could ameliorated the texture, rheology and interface properties of ice cream, and further changed the particle size distribution of ice cream to a appropriate range, so as to enhance the stability and shelf life of ice cream. All present results suggest that lotus anthocyanins at the appropriate amount can improve the quality of ice cream, and have the potential applications on ice cream production in food industry.

Abstract Background Viral pathogens belonging to the order Bunyavirales pose a continuous background threat to global health, but the fact remains that they are usually neglected and their distribution is still ambiguously known. We aim to map the geographical distribution of Bunyavirales viruses and assess the environmental suitability and transmission risk of major Bunyavirales viruses in China. Methods We assembled data on all Bunyavirales viruses detected in humans, animals and vectors from multiple sources, to update distribution maps of them across China. In addition, we predicted environmental suitability at the 10 km × 10 km pixel level by applying boosted regression tree models for two important Bunyavirales viruses, including Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV). Based on model-projected risks and air travel volume, the imported risk of RVFV was also estimated from its endemic areas to the cities in China. Results Here we mapped all 89 species of Bunyavirales viruses in China from January 1951 to June 2021. Nineteen viruses were shown to infect humans, including ten species first reported as human infections. A total of 447,848 cases infected with Bunyavirales viruses were reported, and hantaviruses, Dabie bandavirus and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) had the severest disease burden. Model-predicted maps showed that Xinjiang and southwestern Yunnan had the highest environmental suitability for CCHFV occurrence, mainly related to Hyalomma asiaticum presence, while southern China had the highest environmental suitability for Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) transmission all year round, mainly driven by livestock density, mean precipitation in the previous month. We further identified three cities including Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai, with the highest imported risk of RVFV potentially from Egypt, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Kenya. Conclusions A variety of Bunyavirales viruses are widely distributed in China, and the two major neglected Bunyavirales viruses including CCHFV and RVFV, both have the potential for outbreaks in local areas of China. Our study can help to promote the understanding of risk distribution and disease burden of Bunyavirales viruses in China, and the risk maps of CCHFV and RVFV occurrence are crucial to the targeted surveillance and control, especially in seasons and locations at high risk. Graphical abstract

Background Stroke has become the 3rd leading cause of death among urban residents in China, and the combined rate ofrisk factorssuch as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia is high among urban high-risk groups. Liaoning Province is a high incidence area of stroke in China, however, there are a few studies on the recurrence of stroke and its combined risk factors in the northern urban areas. Objective To explore the recurrence status of surviving stroke patients aged over 40 and its combined risk factors in urban areas of Liaoning Province, in orderto provide a theoretical basis for formulating effective secondary prevention strategies. Methods From September 2018 to December 2020, 6 349 permanent urban residents aged over 40 in Liaoyang, Dandong, Benxi, and Chaoyang Cities of Liaoning Province were selected according to the economic and regional distribution using stratified cluster random samplingand investigated. A total of 488 surviving stroke patients were included and their recurrence rate and associated risk factors were analyzed in this study. Results There were 244 males and 244 females among the 488 surviving stroke patients, the average age was (65.8±7.5) years old and the proportion of patients aged 60-69 was the largest (43.7%) ; There were 352 (72.1%) first-onset stroke patients, 136 (27.9%) recurrent stroke patients, and a recurrence rate of 27.9% among surviving stroke patients; The recurrence rates of male and female surviving stroke patients were 29.5% (72 cases) and 26.2% (64 cases) , respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (χ2=0.652, P=0.419) . The recurrence rate of stroke among people aged 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and ≥80 years old was 4/11, 23.4% (22/94) , 25.4% (54/213) , 35.9% (47/131) and 23.1% (9/39) , respectively, there was no significant difference in recurrence rate between male and female surviving stroke patients in different age groups (P>0.05) .The current drinking rate of the relapsed patients was lower than that of the first-onset stroke patients, and the awareness rate of hypertension, dyslipidemia, the treatment rate of dyslipidemia, and the control rate of dyslipidemia were higher than those of the first-onset stroke patients, and the difference was statistically significant (P

Abstract Background Variety genuineness and purity are essential indices of maize seed quality that affect yield. However, detection methods for variety genuineness are time-consuming, expensive, require extensive training, or destroy the seeds in the process. Here, we present an accurate, high-throughput, cost-effective, and non-destructive method for screening variety genuineness that uses seed phenotype data with machine learning to distinguish between genetically and phenotypically similar seed varieties. Specifically, we obtained image data of seed morphology and hyperspectral reflectance for Jingke 968 and nine other closely-related varieties (non-Jingke 968). We then compared the robustness of three common machine learning algorithms in distinguishing these varieties based on the phenotypic imaging data. Results Our results showed that hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with a multilayer perceptron (MLP) or support vector machine (SVM) model could distinguish Jingke 968 from varieties that differed by as few as two loci, with a 99% or higher accuracy, while machine vision imaging provided ~ 90% accuracy. Through model validation and updating with varieties not included in the training data, we developed a genuineness detection model for Jingke 968 that effectively discriminated between genetically similar and distant varieties. Conclusions This strategy has potential for wide adoption in large-scale variety genuineness detection operations for internal quality control or governmental regulatory agencies, or for accelerating the breeding of new varieties. Besides, it could easily be extended to other target varieties and other crops.

IntroductionThe gut-brain axis has been widely recognized in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and probiotics are considered to potentially benefit the rescuing of autism-like behaviors. As a probiotic strain, Lactiplantibacillus plantarumN-1(LPN-1) was utilized to investigate its effects on gut microbiota and autism-like behaviors in ASD mice constructed by maternal immune activation (MIA).MethodsAdult offspring of MIA mice were given LPN-1 at the dosage of 2 × 109 CFU/g for 4 weeks before subject to the behavior and gut microbiota evaluation.ResultsThe behavioral tests showed that LPN-1 intervention was able to rescue autism-like behaviors in mice, including anxiety and depression. In which the LPN-1 treatment group increased the time spent interacting with strangers in the three-chamber test, their activity time and distance in the central area increased in the open field test, and their immobility time decreased when hanging their tails. Moreover, the supplementation of LPN-1 reversed the intestinal flora structure of ASD mice by enhancing the relative abundance of the pivotal microorganisms of Allobaculum and Oscillospira, while reducing those harmful ones like Sutterella at the genus level.DiscussionThese results suggested that LPN-1 supplementation may improve autism-like behaviors, possibly via regulating the gut microbiota.

Dimethylsulfide (DMS) produced by marine phytoplankton is the most important volatile sulfur compound in ocean surface seawater and has a distinct contribution to global climate change. To assess DMS-climate feedbacks, the interannual variations in seawater DMS concentrations in the East China Sea (ECS) were examined, and their periodic characteristic patterns related to different El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) categories were discussed. Based on satellite surface seawater temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) datasets, a 23-year (1998–2020) dataset of DMS concentrations in the ECS was hindcasted by using a generalized additive mixed model (GAMM). The ENSO events from 1998 to 2020 were selected and divided into persistent, recession and transformed types according to their development process. The variability of surface seawater DMS concentration in the Yangtze River Estuary and its adjacent seas, the coast of Zhejiang and Fujian, and the coast of northern Jiangsu are more strongly influenced by ENSO events than the remainder of the ECS. Furthermore, ENSO alters the seasonal variability in DMS concentrations in the Yangtze River Estuary. The DMS concentrations of Apr-Jul were reduced (enhanced) by approximately 3.05 (0.61) nmol/L during Persistent El Niño (PEN) (Persistent La Niña (PLN)) events, which were reduced by approximately 0.51 and 1.10 nmol/L during recessionary El Niño (REN) event and recessionary La Niña (RLN) event, respectively. However, the DMS concentrations were enhanced by approximately 0.53 (1.29) nmol/L during El Niño-La Niña transition (ELT) (La Niña-El Niño transition (LET)) events. ENSO events affected the DMS concentrations in the surface seawater of the study area by influencing Chl-a and SST, where the short-period interannual variability (2–3 years) of DMS was mainly affected by SST, while the interannual variability of the long period (6 years) was mainly affected by Chl-a. The findings can be applied to the development of DMS concentration prediction methods.

Abstract Little is known about the epidemiology and impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) mortality among hypertensive elderly population in northeast China. The community‐based study included 4497 hypertensive elderly residents aged ≥65 years who lived in northeast China from September 2017 to March 2019. Information on CVD deaths was obtained from baseline until July 31, 2021. Cox proportional hazard regression models were performed in the evaluation of CVD mortality. We identified 101 persons with AF. The prevalence of AF was 2.2% among elderly hypertensive population, which increased significantly with age. The prevalence of AF was higher in men than in women. The awareness rate was 51.5%, higher in urban areas than in rural areas (68.8% vs 43.5%, P = .018). Only 4.0% patients received oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy among AF patients. Moreover, diabetes (26.7%) and dyslipidemia (37.6%) were highly prevalent in AF patients. Furthermore, 212 persons died due to CVD (14.7/1000 person‐years) during a median follow‐up of 3.2 years. AF patients had a 3.42 (95% CI: 2.07‐5.63) times higher risk of CVD mortality than the patients without AF in the fully adjusted model. Therefore, the burden of AF among hypertensive elderly population in northeast China was considerable. Long‐term screening and management strategies for AF and related risk factors are required among hypertensive elderly in northeast China.

Cattleyak, the interspecies hybrid from cattle (males) and yak (females), displays a faster growth rate and higher feeding efficiency than yak with usually one-year shorter raising cycle. This study aimed to assess the carcass characteristics and meat quality attributes of cattleyak by compared to yak at a similar bodyweight. Results showed that cattleyak exhibited an elevated dressing percentage (58.33%) and a significantly higher content of healthy fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (5.64%) and docosahexaenoic acid (0.46%) (P < 0.05). Compared to yak meat, the tenderness of cattleyak meat was significantly enhanced (P < 0.05), with the lower Warner-Bratzler shear force (59.53 N) and hardness value (580.92 g), as well as the significant reduction of more than 20% of muscle fiber diameter (P < 0.05). Additionally, myofibrillar proteins in cattleyak, including desmin, tropomyosin, and troponin-T, degraded faster than those in yak (P < 0.05), indicating their role in tenderization improvement in cattleyak. These findings suggest that, in comparison to yaks of the similar bodyweight, cattleyaks with less than one year of the raising cycle have improved meat quality and economic efficiency.

The optimal engine operating zone of energy management plays an important role in the fuel economy improvement of Plug-in hybrid electric buses. However, the existing investigations usually design the engine operating zone by experience. This paper proposes a robust design method for the robust and optimal design of the engine operating zone. Firstly, a nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC)-based energy management together with a single-point preview SOC (state of charge) plan method is designed. Then, a Taguchi robust design model is designed to find the optimal engine operating zone by taking the energy management as underlying solving module. Particularly, the noises of driving cycles and stochastic vehicle mass are considered to improve the robust performance of the engine operating zone. Finally, The Monte Carlo Simulation is deployed to verify the robustness and optimal performances of the designed engine operating zone. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method is beneficial to the fuel economy improvement, where the fuel economy can be averagely improved by 9.10% compared with the experienced designed engine operating zone, and can be averagely improved by 16.34% compared with the rule-based energy management strategy.

Dental caries is among the most prevalent chronic oral infectious diseases. Streptococcus mutans, a major cariogenic bacterial species, possesses several cariogenicity-associated characteristics, including exopolysaccharides (EPS) synthesis, biofilm formation, acidogenicity, and aciduricity. Nicotinamide (NAM), a form of vitamin B3, is a non-toxic, orally available, and inexpensive compound. The present study investigated the inhibitory effects of NAM on the cariogenic virulence factors of S. mutans in vitro and in vivo. NAM inhibited the growth of S. mutans UA159 and the clinical isolates. In addition, there was a decrease in the acid production and acid tolerance ability, as well as biofilm formation and EPS production of S. mutans after NAM treatment. Global gene expression profiling showed that 128 and 58 genes were significantly downregulated and upregulated, respectively, in NAM-treated S. mutans strains. The differentially expressed genes were mainly associated with carbohydrate transport and metabolism, glycolysis, acid tolerance. Moreover, in a rat caries model, NAM significantly reduced the incidence and severity of smooth and sulcal-surface caries in vivo. NAM exhibited good antimicrobial properties against S. mutans, indicating its potential value for antibiofilm and anti-caries applications.

The roots of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus (AMM) and A. membranaceus (AM) are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Although AMM has higher yields and accounts for a larger market share, its cultivation is fraught with challenges, including mixed germplasm resources and widespread adulteration of commercial seeds. Current methods for distinguishing Astragalus seeds from similar (SM) seeds are time-consuming, laborious, and destructive. To establish a non-destructive method, AMM, AM, and SM seeds were collected from various production areas. Machine vision and hyperspectral imaging (HSI) were used to collect morphological data and spectral data of each seed batch, which was used to establish discriminant models through various algorithms. Several preprocessing methods based on hyperspectral data were compared, including multiplicative scatter correction (MSC), standard normal variable (SNV), and first derivative (FD). Then selection methods for identifying informative features in the above data were compared, including successive projections algorithm (SPA), uninformative variable elimination (UVE), and competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS). The results showed that support vector machine (SVM) modeling of machine vision data could distinguish Astragalus seeds from SM with >99% accuracy, but could not satisfactorily distinguish AMM seeds from AM. The FD-UVE-SVM model based on hyperspectral data reached 100.0% accuracy in the validation set. Another 90 seeds were tested, and the recognition accuracy was 100.0%, supporting the stability of the model. In summary, HSI data can be applied to discriminate among the seeds of AMM, AM, and SM non-destructively and with high accuracy, which can drive standardization in the Astragalus production industry.

With geospatial intelligence research developing rapidly, automatic road extraction is becoming a fundamental and challenging task. Due to the special geometric structure and spectral information of road networks, existing methods suffer from incomplete and fractured results. In this work, a novel road extraction convolutional neural network, incorporating the road boundary details and road junction information via a dual-branch multi-task structure, is proposed to learn synergistic feature representations and strengthen road connectivity. Firstly, a BiFPN-based feature aggregation module is utilised to bridge the semantic gap between low-level and high-level feature maps, allowing multi-scale spatial details to be fully fused. Secondly, the boundary auxiliary branch, using a U-shaped network with a spatial-channel attention module, captures residential information for the backbone to enhance the subtleties of road edges. Thirdly, the node inferring branch models the road junction position jointly with the road surface, aiming to strengthen the topology structure and reduce the fragmented road segments. We perform experiments on three diverse road datasets, namely the DeepGlobe dataset, Massachusetts dataset, and SpaceNet dataset. The results demonstrate that our model shows an overall performance improvement over some SOTA algorithms and the IoU indicator achieves 3.86%, 0.79%, and 1.71% improvements over Unet on the three datasets, respectively.

ABSTRACT Lysine acetylation, a ubiquitous and dynamic regulatory posttranslational modification (PTM), affects hundreds of proteins across all domains of life. In bacteria, lysine acetylation can be found in many essential pathways, and it is also crucial for bacterial virulence. However, the biological significance of lysine acetylation events to bacterial virulence factors remains poorly characterized. In Streptococcus mutans, the acetylome profiles help identify several lysine acetylation sites of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate to lactic acid, causing the deterioration of teeth. We investigated the regulatory mechanism of LDH acetylation and characterized the effect of LDH acetylation on its function. We overexpressed the 15 Gcn5 N-acetyltransferases (GNAT) family members in S. mutans and showed that the acetyltransferase ActA impaired its acidogenicity by acetylating LDH. Additionally, enzymatic acetyltransferase reactions demonstrated that purified ActA could acetylate LDH in vitro, and 10 potential lysine acetylation sites of LDH were identified by mass spectrometry, 70% of which were also detected in vivo. We further demonstrated that the lysine acetylation of LDH inhibited its enzymatic activity, and a subsequent rat caries model showed that ActA impaired the cariogenicity of S. mutans. Collectively, we demonstrated that ActA, the first identified and characterized acetyltransferase in S. mutans, acetylated the LDH enzymatically and inhibited its enzymatic activity, thereby providing a starting point for the further analysis of the biological significance of lysine acetylation in the virulence of S. mutans. IMPORTANCE Lysine acetylation, a dynamic regulatory posttranslational modification, remains poorly characterized in bacteria. Hundreds of proteins have been identified to be acetylated in bacteria, with advances made in acetylome analyses. However, the regulatory mechanisms and functional significance of the majority of these acetylated proteins remain unclear. We analyzed the acetylome profiles of Streptococcus mutans and found that lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) contains several lysine acetylation sites. We also demonstrated that the acetyltransferase ActA, a member of the Gcn5 N-acetyltransferases (GNAT) family in S. mutans, acetylated LDH, inhibited its enzymatic ability to catalyze the conversion of pyruvate to lactic acid, and impaired its cariogenicity in a rat caries model. Therefore, LDH acetylation might be a potential target that can be exploited in the design of novel therapeutics to prevent dental caries.

Chemical hybridization and genic male sterility systems are two main methods of hybrid wheat production; however, complete sterility of female wheat plants cannot be guaranteed owing to the influence of the growth stage and weather. Consequently, hybrid wheat seeds are inevitably mixed with few parent seeds, especially female seeds. Therefore, seed purity is a key factor in the popularization of hybrid wheat. However, traditional seed purity detection and variety identification methods are time-consuming, laborious, and destructive. Therefore, to establish a non-destructive classification method for hybrid and female parent seeds, three hybrid wheat varieties (Jingmai 9, Jingmai 11, and Jingmai 183) and their parent seeds were sampled. The transmittance and reflectance spectra of all seeds were collected via hyperspectral imaging technology, and a classification model was established using partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) combined with various preprocessing methods. The transmittance spectrum significantly improved the classification of hybrids and female parents compared to that obtained using reflectance spectrum. Specifically, using transmittance spectrum combined with a characteristic wavelength-screening algorithm, the Detrend-CARS-PLS-DA model was established, and the accuracy rates in the testing sets of Jingmai 9, Jingmai 11, and Jingmai 183 were 95.69%, 98.25%, and 97.25%, respectively. In conclusion, transmittance hyperspectral imaging combined with a machine learning algorithm can effectively distinguish female parent seeds from hybrid seeds. These results provide a reference for rapid seed purity detection in the hybrid production process. Owing to the non-destructive and rapid nature of hyperspectral imaging, the detection of hybrid wheat seed purity can be improved by online sorting in the future.

Objectives Little is known about the prevalence and impact of isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) in northeast China. We aimed to investigate the current epidemiology of IDH and to illustrate whether IDH accounted for cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality.Design A prospective cohort study.Setting A population-based study carried out in northeast China.Participants We built a community-based study of 18 796 residents aged ≥40 years who were living in northeast China with blood pressure measurements between September 2017 and March 2019.Outcome measures Information on CVD death was obtained from baseline until 31 July 2021. IDH was defined as a diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg together with systolic blood pressure

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), the main cause of TB in humans and animals, is an extreme example of genetic homogeneity, whereas it is still nevertheless separated into various lineages by numerous typing methods, which differ in phenotype, virulence, geographic distribution, and host preference. The large sequence polymorphism (LSP), incorporating region of difference (RD) and H37Rv-related deletion (RvD), is considered to be a powerful means of constructing phylogenetic relationships within MTBC. Although there have been many studies on LSP already, focusing on the distribution of RDs in MTBC and their impact on MTB phenotypes, a crumb of new lineages or sub-lineages have been excluded and RvDs have received less attention. We, therefore, sampled a dataset of 1,495 strains, containing 113 lineages from the laboratory collection, to screen for RDs and RvDs by structural variant detection and genome assembly, and examined the distribution of RvDs in MTBC, including RvD2, RvD5, and cobF region. Consistent with genealogical delineation by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), we identified 125 RDs and 5 RvDs at the species, lineage, or sub-lineage levels. The specificities of RDs and RvDs were further investigated in the remaining 10,218 strains, suggesting that most of them were highly specific to distinct phylogenetic groups, could be used as stable genetic markers in genotyping. More importantly, we identified 34 new lineage or evolutionary branch specific RDs and 2 RvDs, also demonstrated the distribution of known RDs and RvDs in MTBC. This study provides novel details about deletion events that have occurred in distinct phylogenetic groups and may help to understand the genealogical differentiation.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has inflicted significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. Continuous virus mutations have led to the emergence of new variants. The Omicron BA.1 sub-lineage prevailed as the dominant variant globally at the beginning of 2022 but was subsequently replaced by BA.2 in numerous countries. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) offers an efficient tool for capturing viral shedding from infected individuals, enabling early detection of potential pandemic outbreaks without relying solely on community cooperation and clinical testing resources. This study integrated RT-qPCR assays for detecting general SARS-CoV-2 and its variants levels in wastewater into a modified triple susceptible-infected-recovered-susceptible (SIRS) model. The emergence of the Omicron BA.1 variant was observed, replacing the presence of its predecessor, the Delta variant. Comparative analysis between the wastewater data and the modified SIRS model effectively described the BA.1 and subsequent BA.2 waves, with the decline of the Delta variant aligning with its diminished presence below the detection threshold in wastewater. This study demonstrates the potential of WBE as a valuable tool for future pandemics. Furthermore, by analyzing the sensitivity of different variants to model parameters, we are able to deduce real-life values of cross-variant immunity probabilities, emphasizing the asymmetry in their strength.

In metal processing, bending forming is widely applied in various fields. To prevent excessive surface scratching and heavy indentation on the profiles, which can negatively affect the surface quality, it is often necessary to determine the clearances between the rollers and the upper and lower surfaces of the profiles using experimental methods. However, this experimental approach not only results in material waste but also fails to determine the optimal clearance value. Therefore, orthogonal experiments were conducted to design different clearances between the rollers and the upper and lower surfaces of the profiles to mitigate the issues of excessive surface scratching and poor surface quality during the bending forming process of large-section Z-profiles. Finite element simulation was employed to simulate the different experiments, and a range analysis was performed on the experimental results to obtain the optimal clearance value. The obtained results fall within the range of results obtained from traditional experimental methods, indicating its consistency with actual practice, higher accuracy, and scientific rigor compared with experimental methods. Furthermore, the roller tooling design was revised based on the optimal clearance value for the profile processing. The experimental results demonstrate that the surface quality of the profiles processed with optimal clearance is superior to those processed without it. Additionally, this study presents a comprehensive methodology for roller tooling design and investigates the influence of different loading modes on the local wrinkling deformation of the profiles.

This study was conducted to increase the enzymatic activity of Bacillus licheniformis XS-4, which was isolated from the traditional fermented mash of Xianshi soy sauce. The mutation was induced by atmospheric and room-temperature plasma (ARTP), and a mutant strain, mut80, was obtained. mut80 exhibited significant increases in protease and amylase activity by 90.54% and 143.10%, respectively, and the enhanced enzymatic activities were stably maintained after 20 consecutive incubations. Re-sequencing analysis of mut80 revealed that the mutation sites were located in 1518447(AT-T) and 4253106(G-A) in its genome, which was involved in the metabolic pathways of amino acids. The expression of the protease synthetic gene (aprX) increased 1.54 times, while that of the amylase gene (amyA) increased 11.26 times, as confirmed via RT-qPCR. Using ARTP mutagenesis, the present study proposes a highly efficient microbial resource with enhanced protease and amylase activity provided by B. licheniformis, which can potentially be used to improve the efficiency of traditional soy sauce fermentation.

Indole, a metabolite of the amino acid tryptophan, has been proven to act as a signal molecule in bacteria, acting in different aspects of biofilm formation. The oral biofilm is a type of biofilm that has consequences for human health. It is a complex, three-dimensional structure that develops on the surface of teeth via the attachment of primary microbial colonizers. Many oral infections are caused by an imbalance occurring in the microorganisms naturally found in oral biofilms and are considered major public health concerns. In this study, we test the effect of a natural bis-indole, 3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM), in mitigating the pathogenicity of the oral biofilm inhabiting bacterium Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium that is considered to be a principal etiological agent in dental caries. Our study found that DIM was able to attenuate S. mutans biofilm formation by 92%. Additionally, treatment with DIM lowered extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production and decreased its durability significantly under acidic conditions. Therefore, the anti-biofilm and anti-virulence properties of DIM against S. mutans bacteria in an “oral setting” provides evidence for its usefulness in reducing biofilm formation and potentially for caries attenuation.

The current situation in which garlic cultivation is non-homogeneous and modular cannot be adapted to combine harvester operations. In this paper, a single-row harvesting and cutting integrated handheld garlic harvester is designed, and the structure and working principle of the machine are described. By analyzing the mechanics of the machine mechanism, mechanics of the machine harvesting process, and design principle of the machine chassis, the key factors affecting the garlic harvesting machine wounding rate, leakage rate, and net harvesting rate were determined. According to the force and parametric analyses of the test results, it was determined that the machine had the best harvesting effect with a conveying speed of 0.6 m/s, prop speed of 125.6 r/min, digging angle of 15°~25°, forward speed of 0.8 m/s, clamping point height of 62.15 mm, and rollover threshold value of 0.89. Compared with the traditional garlic harvester, the garlic injury rate was 57.1% lower, the garlic leakage rate was 25% lower, and the net harvest rate was 4.0% higher, which meets the requirements of the garlic harvesting operation.

Abscisic acid (ABA), as a classic plant hormone, is a key factor in balancing the metabolism of endogenous plant hormones, and plays an important role in regulating the activation of mammalian innate immune cells and glucose homeostasis. Currently, Botrytis cinerea has been used for fermentation to produce ABA. However, the mechanism of the regulation of ABA biosynthesis in B. cinerea is still not fully understood. The putative methyltransferase LaeA/LAE1 is a global regulator involved in the biosynthesis of a variety of secondary metabolites in filamentous fungi. In this study, we demonstrated that BcLAE1 plays an important role in the regulation of ABA biosynthesis in B. cinerea TB-31 by knockout experiment. The deletion of Bclae1 caused a 95% reduction in ABA yields, accompanied by a decrease of the transcriptional level of the ABA synthesis gene cluster Bcaba1-4. Further RNA-seq analysis indicated that deletion of Bclae1 also affected the expression level of key enzymes of BOA and BOT in secondary metabolism, and accompanied by clustering regulatory features. Meanwhile, we found that BcLAE1 is involved in epigenetic regulation as a methyltransferase, with enhanced H3K9me3 modification and attenuated H3K4me2 modification in ΔBclae1 mutant, and this may be a strategy for BcLAE1 to regulate ABA synthesis.

BackgroundDetermining risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality and evaluating their influence are important for effectively reducing corresponding mortality. However, few research findings have estimated the relationship between atrial fibrillation (AF) and CVD-related mortality among hypertension individuals.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of AF in a hypertension population and determine the relationship between AF and CVD-related mortality.MethodsUsing a multistage, stratified, and cluster random sampling method, the prospective cohort study with a median follow-up of 3.51 years enrolled 10,678 hypertensive participants at baseline. The prevalence, awareness, and anticoagulation data of AF in this focal population were carefully assessed. Stepwise logistic regression and Cox regression analysis were respectively performed to evaluate the determinants of AF and the association between AF and CVD-related mortality.ResultsThe overall prevalence of AF was 1.3% (95% CI, 1.1%−1.6%) in the hypertensive population, and it was higher in men than in women (1.8% vs. 1.0%, respectively; p=0.001). The awareness of AF was 53.1%, and the rate of oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy was only 4.2%, although all AF participants should have required according to the European Society of Cardiology guidelines. The determinants of AF included elder, male, and history of coronary heart disease in the hypertensive population. Besides, compared with individuals without AF, the risk of CVD-related mortality significantly increased in the hypertensive population with AF (HR 3.37, 95% CI 2.10–5.40).ConclusionOur results indicated a huge burden of AF and underuse of OAC therapy for them in a community-based hypertensive population. Considering that most of the risk factors of AF were unmodifiable in hypertensive individuals, as well as its high risk of mortality, long-term interventions including AF education, timely screening, and widespread use of OACs should be emphasized in the focal populations.

Ingestion of food toxins such as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) during pregnancy may impair fetal neurodevelopment. However, animal model results may not be accurate due to the species’ differences, and testing on humans is ethically impermissible. Here, we developed an in vitro human maternal–fetal multicellular model composed of a human hepatic compartment, a bilayer placental barrier, and a human fetal central nervous system compartment using neural stem cells (NSCs) to investigate the effect of AFB1 on fetal-side NSCs. AFB1 passed through the HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells to mimic the maternal metabolic effects. Importantly, even at the limited concentration (0.0641 ± 0.0046 μM) of AFB1, close to the national safety level standard of China (GB-2761-2011), the mixture of AFB1 crossing the placental barrier induced NSC apoptosis. The level of reactive oxygen species in NSCs was significantly elevated and the cell membrane was damaged, causing the release of intracellular lactate dehydrogenase (p < 0.05). The comet experiment and γ-H2AX immunofluorescence assay showed that AFB1 caused significant DNA damage to NSCs (p < 0.05). This study provided a new model for the toxicological evaluation of the effect of food mycotoxin exposure during pregnancy on fetal neurodevelopment.