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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Modified Tou Nong Powder (MTNP) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula widely used for treating body surface ulcers. Since colonic ulcers share similar pathological characteristics, MTNP has shown promising results in alleviating ulcerative colitis (UC) and has been safely used in clinical practice., Aim of the Study: This study aims to investigate how MTNP alleviates experimental colitis by inducing autophagy through the regulation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) signaling pathway., Materials and Methods: In this study, UC rat models were created using 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS). The therapeutic effects of MTNP on TNBS-induced colitis were evaluated through various methods such as disease activity index, visual examination, and histological examination of the colon. An inflammation model was also established in Caco-2 cells using H 2 O 2 . Western blot analysis was used to assess the expression of autophagy-related proteins, while immunofluorescence detection was employed for protein localization. Furthermore, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed to analyze the expression of autophagy-related genes, confirming the role of MTNP in modulating the AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway., Results: In vivo, oral administration of MTNP led to a remarkable reduction in colonic injury, inhibition of inflammatory infiltration, and improvement in the abnormal expression of inflammatory factors in colonic tissues. Furthermore, MTNP stimulated autophagy by activating the AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway, thereby mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction. In vitro, exposure to MTNP drug-containing serum (MTNP-DS) resulted in a reduction of reactive oxygen species levels, improvement in mitochondrial membrane potential, and activation of the AMPK/PGC-1α pathway, leading to the promotion of mitochondrial autophagy., Conclusion: The results indicate that MTNP triggers autophagy and enhances mitochondrial function, leading to the alleviation of UC in both in vitro and in vivo. These benefits are strongly linked to the activation of the AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Mudan granules (MuD), a time-honored traditional Chinese patent medicine (TCPM), are widely utilized in the clinical treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). In the field of biomedical diagnostics, both diabetic retinopathy (DR) and DPN are recognized as critical microvascular complications associated with diabetes. According to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), these conditions are primarily attributed to a deficiency in Qi and the obstruction of collaterals. Despite this, the protective effects of MuD on DR and the underlying mechanisms remain to be comprehensively elucidated., Aims of the Study: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of MuD on DR and to further explore the promising therapeutic targets., Methods: A diabetic mouse model was established by administering 60 mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ) via intraperitoneal injection for five consecutive days. The therapeutic efficacy of MuD was evaluated using a comprehensive approach, which included electroretinogram (ERG) analysis, histopathological examination, and assessment of serum biochemical markers. Then, the pharmacodynamic mechanisms of MuD were systematically analyzed using Tandem Mass Tags-based proteomics. Meanwhile, the candidate compounds of MuD were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and molecular docking was applied to estimate the affinity of the active ingredient to their potential key targets. In addition, the functional mechanisms identified through bioinformatics analysis were confirmed by molecular biological methods., Results: We demonstrated that MuD provided significant protection to retinal function and effectively mitigated the reduction in retinal thickness observed in the animal model. Through proteomic analysis, we identified a substantial regulation by MuD of 70 biomarkers associated with diabetic retinal damage. These proteins were notably enriched in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, a critical mediator in inflammatory processes. A particularly intriguing finding was the significant downregulation of fibrillin-2 (FBN2) in the diabetic retina compared to the control group (0.36 times the level), and its most pronounced upregulation (3.26 times) in the MuD treatment group. This suggests that FBN2 may play a pivotal role in the protective effects of MuD. Molecular docking analyses have unveiled a robust interplay between the components of MuD and TNF-α. Further corroboration was provided by molecular biological methods, which confirmed that MuD could suppress TNF-mediated inflammation and prevent retinal neovascularization and fibrogenesis., Conclusion: MuD have the potential to alleviate diabetic retinal dysfunction by effectively curbing the fibrogenesis-associated neoangiogenesis and mitigating the inflammatory response, thereby restoring retinal health and function., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), precancerous lesions of gastric cancer (PLGC), and gastric cancer (GC), seriously threaten human health. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been employed in the treatment of chronic diseases for a long time and has shown remarkable efficacy., Aim of the Study: Recently, there has been an increasing use of TCM in treating CAG, PLGC, and GC. The objective of this study is to compile a comprehensive overview of the existing research on the effects and molecular mechanisms of TCM, including formulas, single herbs, and active components., Materials and Methods: To obtain a comprehensive understanding of traditional use of TCM in treating these diseases, we reviewed ancient books and Chinese literature. In addition, keywords such as "TCM", "CAG", "PLGC", "GC", and "active ingredients" were used to collect modern research on TCM published in databases such as CNKI, Web of Science, and Pubmed up to April 2024. All collected information was then summarized and analyzed., Results: This study analyzed 174 articles, which covered the research progress of 20 TCM formulas, 14 single herbs, and 50 active ingredients in treating CAG, PLGC, and GC. Sources, effects, and molecular mechanisms of the TCM were summarized., Conclusions: This article reviews the progress of TCM in the management of CAG, PLGC, and GC, which will provide a foundation for the clinical application and further development of TCM., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: As one of the important by-products of Taxus chinensis (Pilg.) Rehder, its fruit (TCF) has a sweet taste, which is commonly used in folklore to make health care wine reputed for enhancing immune function and promoting anti-aging effects, especially popular in the longevity villages of China for a long history. Evidences had showed that Taxus chinensis fruit contained polysaccharides, flavonoids, amino acids and terpenoids, which all were free of toxic compounds, but its medicinal value has not been fully recognized. Our previous studies have found that TCF extract may reverse many biological events, including oxidative stress, inflammatory response, neuronal apoptosis, etc. by in silico methods, suggesting potential avenues for future pharmaceutical exploration in aging and age-related diseases., Aim of the Study: Yet, the anti-aging properties of TCF have not been specifically studied, this study aims to fill this gap by investigating the effects of TCF extract (TCFE) in an aging mouse model, particularly focusing on its role in inhibiting microglial activation and elucidating its underlying anti-aging mechanisms., Materials and Methods: An aging mouse model was induced using D-galactose, with interventions involving high, medium, and low doses of TCFE compared to a positive control (2 mg/kg rapamycin combined with 100 mg/kg metformin). The methodology involved evaluating behavioral changes, serum oxidative and antioxidative markers, hypothalamic β-galactosidase activity, expression of the aging-related protein P63, serum inflammatory factors, and the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammatory pathway in hypothalamic tissues. Additionally, to strengthen our in vivo findings, we conducted in vitro experiments on LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Finally, UPLC-MS/MS for precise component analysis using compound standards, coupled with molecular docking analyses, were employed to discern and elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of TCF., Results: In vivo results revealed TCFE significantly ameliorated behavioral deficits, reduced oxidative stress markers (MDA) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL1-β, IL-6, IFNg, TNFα, IL-17), and increased in antioxidants (SOD, T-AOC) and anti-inflammatory factors (IL-10). TCFE also reduced hypothalamic senescence, improved cellular integrity, lowered p63, and inhibited microglia activation and inflammatory pathways (TLR4, NFKB, NLRP3). The overall effect of TCFE was better than that of the positive drug group (rapamycin combined with metformin). In vitro results further revealed that TCFE markedly decreased IL1-β, NFKB, and TLR4 levels in BV2 microglial cells, showing comparable efficacy to a TLR4 classic positive inhibitor C34, supporting its anti-inflammatory role. Through UPLC-MS/MS analysis coupled with compound standards, we identified ten bioactive compounds, including gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, catechin, procyanidin B2, kaempferol, quercetin, rutin, naringin, apigenin, ginkgetin. All these compounds showed strong binding affinity to TLR4, notably procyanidin B2 and rutin, potentially through hydrogen bonds, aromatic cation-π interactions, and hydrophobic interactions, suggesting a molecular basis for their anti-inflammatory action., Conclusion: TCFE showed strong anti-aging effects by inhibiting microglia activation and lessening oxidative stress and modulating inflammatory pathways. This research supports TCF's use in anti-aging and sets a base for future drug development in the realms of neuroinflammation and aging., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Robust interfaces in anodes play a crucial role in boosting sodium-ion battery (SIB) performance. However, the fragile interfaces constructed by a two-step synthesis or artificial stack are prone to be destroyed during the charging/discharging processes, which significantly reduces the lifetime of SIBs. Here, a facile construction strategy is developed to produce robust interfaces in hollow sphere-like CoSe 2 /nitrogen-doped carbon (HS-CoSe 2 /NC) using intrinsic Co, N, C in metal-organic framework as precursors, which enhance the electron/ion diffusion kinetics. In parallel, the hollow sphere structure of CoSe 2 /NC contributes to shortening the sodium-ion diffusion distance and guaranteeing structure stability. Benefiting from the unique design, ultrahigh reversible specific capacity (456.6 mAh g -1 at 5 A g -1 ) is maintained even after 7250 cycles with a supreme capacity retention (96.6%). The sodium-ion storage mechanism is clarified by combining theoretical calculations and in situ/ex situ experimental characterizations. This work provides a new pathway to build robust interfaces in anodes for boosting SIBs performance.

An efficient organophosphorus-catalyzed thiocarbonylation reaction of disulfides with carboxylic acids under air conditions was described. Various functional groups on carboxylic acids and disulfides can be tolerated under the present reaction conditions, affording thioesters in good to excellent yields. This method exhibited excellent chemoselectivity and can be applied for the late-stage functionalization of drug molecules containing a carboxylic acid group.

Diabetes significantly increases the risk of serious health issues, including prolonged skin inflammation and delayed wound healing, owing to inferior glucose control and suppression of the immune system. Although traditional hydrogen (H2) therapy is slightly effective, its ability to tailor the release of H2 on the skin is limited. Accordingly, this study proposed a novel strategy for electrocatalytic H2 release under neutral conditions to promote wound healing in diabetic mice and rabbit. Herein, a defect-engineered cobalt phosphide (CoP) catalyst was designed by introducing a neutral single-metal electrocatalytic Hydrogen valence state channel into CoP. By effectively regulating the formation and transfer of *H active species during the CoP catalytic process, a considerable enhancement in neutral electrocatalytic H2 evolution performance was achieved (-78.0 mV@-10.0 mA cm-2). Based on this superior catalytic performance, we developed a flexible electrode (namely, CoP/flexible gold electrode made by screen printing (FGSP) by combining a convenient electrolysis platform with continuous electrolyte supply and FGSP, enabling customized H2 release and accelerating wound healing in diabetic mice and rabbits. Notably, the designed flexible electrode features adjustable dimensions, interchangeable substrates, and material adaptability, meeting the diverse needs of clinical and basic research and demonstrating significant potential for applications in clinical medicine., (© 2025 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Heat dissipation has become a critical challenge in modern electronics, driving the need for a revolution in thermal management strategies beyond traditional packaging materials, thermal interface materials, and heat sinks. Cubic boron arsenide (c-BAs) offers a promising solution, thanks to its combination of high thermal conductivity and high ambipolar mobility, making it highly suitable for applications in both electronic devices and thermal management. However, challenges remain, particularly in the large-scale synthesis of a high-quality material and the tuning of its physical properties. This Perspective reviews key research on c-BAs and discusses the future potential of van der Waals (vdW) epitaxy and remote epitaxy for preparing high-quality c-BAs thin-films. Based on superlattice area mismatch calculations, we predict some potential substrates for these epitaxy techniques. Three important design considerations for future vdW or remote epitaxy of c-BAs thin-films are identified: superlattice matching at the heterointerface, the kinetics of B and As adatoms, and the surface modification of vdW or vdW/3D substrates.

The near-infrared electrochemiluminescence (NIR-ECL) technique has received special attention in cell imaging and biomedical analysis due to its deep tissue penetration, low background interference, and high sensitivity. Although cyanine-based dyes are promising NIR-ECL luminophores, limited ECL efficiency and the need for exogenous coreactants have prevented their widespread application. In this work, poly[9,9-bis(3'-( N,N -dimethylamino)propyl)-2,7-fluorene]- alt -2,7-(9,9-dioctylfluorene)] (PFN) was innovatively developed to significantly invigorate the NIR-ECL performance of heptamethine cyanine dye IR 783 by the resonance energy transfer (RET) strategy. Astonishingly, the IR@PFN nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized from IR 783 and PFN by a nanoprecipitation method emitted a strong coreactant-free NIR-ECL signal at +1.05 V, and the maximum emission wavelength was 815 nm. IR@PFN NPs were integrated in a spontaneous entropy-driven chain replacement (ESDR) reaction to achieve ECL analysis of microRNA-21 (miRNA-21), and the limit of detection was as low as 0.25 fM. IR@PFN NPs created a promising coreactant-free NIR-ECL platform for bioanalysis and imaging, providing a novel NIR-ECL detection method for miRNA-21.

Covalent modification of cell membranes has shown promise for tumor imaging and therapy. However, existing membrane labeling techniques face challenges such as slow kinetics and poor selectivity for cancer cells, leading to off-target effects and suboptimal in vivo efficacy. Here, we present an enzyme-triggered self-immobilization labeling strategy, termed E-SIM, which enables rapid and selective labeling of tumor cell membranes with bioorthogonal trans-cycloctene (TCO) handles in vivo . E-SIM utilizes P-TCO, an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) responsive quinone methide (QM) precursor with a TCO group, facilitating the rapid conjugation of high-density TCO handles onto tumor cell membranes via proximity labeling. These TCO groups then react efficiently with tetrazine (Tz)-bearing reporters via a fast bioorthogonal reaction, resulting in significant enrichment of reporters of various sizes and imaging modalities on tumor cell membranes. We demonstrate the efficacy of E-SIM labeling and bioorthogonal reaction for pretargeted multimodality imaging of tumors in vivo . Notably, we achieve selective and efficient installation of Tz-modified Renilla luciferase on tumor cells in vivo , thereby offering highly sensitive bioluminescence signals for detecting and guiding the surgical removal of small human HepG2 liver tumor peritoneal metastases. E-SIM represents a robust tool for precise tumor cell labeling in complex in vivo environments, feasible for pretargeted enrichment of various reporters in tumors for multimodal imaging applications.

It is still challenging to perform a high-throughput digestion on limited amounts of sample prior to elemental analysis by atomic spectrometry. Herein, a photochemical reactor consisting of a quartz tube inserted into a low-pressure mercury lamp was used to fabricate a flow droplet photodigestion (FD-PD) device for the high-throughput digestion of small amounts of samples. A mixture containing 20 μL of blood sample, 20 μL of H 2 O 2 , and 10 μL of HNO 3 was pumped and passed through the reactor before its online analysis by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS). The developed photochemical reactor provides significantly higher oxidation capability than conventional ultraviolet (UV) photochemical reactor since the vacuum UV irradiation below 200 nm from the mercury lamp directly irradiates samples with high transmittance, enabling complete digestion within 2 min. Compared to conventional digestion methods, the proposed method retains several unique advantages of higher sample throughput (57 pcs h -1 ), lower sample, mineral acid, and oxidant consumption, and shorter digestion time, facilitating painless blood analysis for children. Limits of detection (LODs) of 0.25 and 0.15 μg L -1 were obtained for As and Hg, respectively, with precisions (relative standard deviations (RSDs), n = 11, 2.0 μg L -1 ) better than 4%. The practicality of FD-PD-HG-AFS was confirmed by detecting As and Hg in one blood and two urine certified reference materials (CRMs), as well as several children's blood samples with satisfactory recoveries (93%-109%).

This study reports a simple and rapid aptamer-based sensor platform designed for the sensitive and selective detection of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Under standard conditions, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) remain dispersed and exhibit a characteristic peak at 520 nm. However, the addition of sodium chloride (NaCl) destabilizes the charge of the solution, leading to the aggregation of AuNPs. The AS1411 aptamer can adsorb onto the surface of AuNPs, effectively preventing their aggregation. In the presence of A549 cells, the AS1411 aptamer is induced to form stable G-tetrads, which allows for specific binding to the cells and results in the aggregation of AuNPs in the NaCl solution. This proposed aptasensor platform demonstrates high specificity for A549 cells when compared to other control human normal cells. The method exhibits a dynamic range of 10 1 to 10 6 cells per mL, with a detection limit of 7 cells per mL.

Importance: Autoantibodies targeting astrocytes, such as those against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) or aquaporin protein 4, are crucial diagnostic markers for autoimmune astrocytopathy among central nervous system (CNS) autoimmune disorders. However, diagnosis remains challenging for patients lacking specific autoantibodies., Objective: To characterize a syndrome of unknown meningoencephalomyelitis associated with an astrocytic autoantibody., Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective case series study included samples collected from April 2021 to May 2024 at a tertiary referral hospital among patients with uncharacterized CNS autoimmune disorders and similar clinical and radiological features. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cells of 2 index patients to identify the putative target antigen of the clonally expanded B cells. A comprehensive screening for additional patients was conducted using blinded cell-based and tissue-based assay. Candidate patients were followed up for a median (range) duration of 23 (5-31) months., Exposures: scRNA-seq, autoantibody characterization, and testing., Main Outcomes and Measures: Detection of the autoantibody and characterization of the associated autoimmune meningoencephalomyelitis., Results: Fourteen candidate patients (10 [71%] female; median [IQR] age, 33 [23-41] years) were identified. Initially, CSF from 2 female patients with unknown encephalomyelitis showed astrocytic reactivity on rat tissue but was negative for GFAP IgG. A total of 17 of 37 clonally expanded B cell clonotypes (46%) in their CSF expressed IgG autoantibodies targeting the astrocytic intermediate filament protein vimentin. Subsequent screening identified 12 additional patients. These 14 patients shared a unique clinical profile characterized by relapsing courses and symptoms prominently involving the cerebellum, brainstem, and corticospinal tract (CST). All patients also exhibited elevated CSF protein and cells, intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showing bilateral lesions on CST. Notably, 8 of 12 patients (67%) who received first-line immunotherapy at their first episode responded well. At the last follow-up, 11 patients (79%) experienced significant disability (modified Rankin Scale ≥3)., Conclusions and Relevance: In this case series, autoantibodies targeting the astrocytic intermediate filament protein vimentin were identified in patients with previously undifferentiated meningoencephalomyelitis and common radiographic features.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an abnormal gynecological condition caused by the overgrowth of specific bacteria in the vagina. This study aims to develop a novel method for BV detection by integrating surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with machine learning (ML) algorithms. Vaginal fluid samples were classified as BV positive or BV negative using the BVBlue Test and clinical microscopy, followed by SERS spectral acquisition to construct the data set. Preliminary SERS spectral analysis revealed notable disparities in characteristic peak features. Multiple ML models were constructed and optimized, with the convolutional neural network (CNN) model achieving the highest prediction accuracy at 99%. Gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) was used to highlight important regions in the images for prediction. Moreover, the CNN model was blindly tested on SERS spectra of vaginal fluid samples collected from 40 participants with unknown BV infection status, achieving a prediction accuracy of 90.75% compared with the results of the BVBlue Test combined with clinical microscopy. This novel technique is simple, cheap, and rapid in accurately diagnosing bacterial vaginosis, potentially complementing current diagnostic methods in clinical laboratories., Importance: The accurate and rapid diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) is crucial due to its high prevalence and association with serious health complications, including increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Although widely used, traditional diagnostic methods have significant limitations in subjectivity, complexity, and cost. The development of a novel diagnostic approach that integrates SERS with ML offers a promising solution. The CNN model's high prediction accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and extraordinary rapidity underscore its significant potential to enhance the diagnosis of BV in clinical settings. This method not only addresses the limitations of current diagnostic tools but also provides a more accessible and reliable option for healthcare providers, ultimately enhancing patient care and health outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) is a staple crop for nearly half of the global population and one of China's most extensively cultivated cereals. Heading date, a critical agronomic trait, determines the regional and seasonal adaptability of rice varieties. In this study, a series of mutants ( elh5 to elh12 ) exhibiting extremely late heading under both long-day (LD) and short-day (SD) conditions were identified from an ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutant library. Using MutMap and map-based cloning, the causative gene was identified as a novel allele of Ehd2 / OsID1 / RID1 / Ghd10 . Functional validation through CRISPR/Cas9 knockout and complementation assays confirmed its role in regulating heading. The elh6 mutation was found to cause intron retention due to alternative splicing. Ehd2 encodes a Cys-2/His-2-type zinc finger transcription factor with an IDD domain and transcriptional activity in yeast. Its expression peaks in developing leaves before heading and spikes during reproductive conversion. In elh6 mutants, delayed heading resulted from downregulating the Ehd1 - Hd3a pathway genes. Salinity stress significantly hampers rice growth and productivity. Transcriptomic analysis of elh10 and ZH8015 seedlings exposed to salt stress for 24 h identified 5150 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at the seedling stage, predominantly linked to stress response pathways. Ehd2 was revealed as a modulator of salt tolerance, likely through the regulation of ion transport, enzyme activity, and antioxidant systems. This study establishes Ehd2 as a pivotal factor in promoting heading while negatively regulating salt tolerance in rice., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

The stepped paddy fields (SPFs) are important for food security and sustainable development. The unique spatial structure and complex hydrological processes in this system make it difficult to understand the migration of pollutants. In this study, microplastic pollution was investigated in the water and soil from Ziquejie SPFs, China. Samples were taken according to different stages of rice cultivation, different altitudes, and soil depths. Before rice planting, the average abundance in the water and soil samples was 1.3 ± 1.1 items/L and 292.2 ± 260.8 items/kg, respectively. After rice harvesting, the average abundance in soil increased to 495.37 ± 175.46 items/kg. More microplastics were found in depths of 0-15 cm than that of 15-30 cm, but the difference was not significant. Major microplastics were small (<1 mm) polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) fibers, with the main color of blue and transparent. The study found that SPFs hindered the migration of microplastics in irrigation water and hydraulic conditions affected the accumulation of microplastics. The edge areas in paddy fields where the water flowed slowly and were prone to vortices made it easier for microplastics to stay. Most of the microplastics accumulated in the upper SPF. After rice harvesting, the overall abundance of microplastics in the SPFs increased. Fibers and fragments exhibited different characteristics in migration. This study attempts to draw attention to the ecological risks caused by microplastic pollution in SPFs, especially in the upper paddy field and the effluent. The results are helpful for the protection of the SPF ecosystem and provide valuable references for future research., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The pollutants after were discharged into the water can gradually degrade through the self-purification. The oxygen consumption and pollutant degradation rates characterize the self-purification of small and medium-sized streams, while the dynamics of the two characteristics for large rivers has not been reported yet. The in-situ investigation for 297 sites in the 1700 km stream of the Yangtze River was conducted. The oxygen consumption rate was 0.003d - 1 , and the degradation rate of organic pollutants was greater than that of inorganics. The degradation of anion surfactant was the fastest, while the degradation of TN was the slowest, with rates of 0.043 and 0.001 d - 1 , respectively. The oxygen consumption rate was negatively correlated with the degradation rate of COD, anion surfactant, and TP, indicating the synchronicity between reaeration and degradation during the self-purification. This study highlighted the role of synchronicity in modelling of water quality and estimation of environmental capacity for large rivers., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

It is still a challenge to use a fast and efficient method for preserving fresh-cut fruits from browning. To address this problem, we developed konjac glucomannan (KGM) incorporated with elderberry anthocyanins (EA) to form film-forming solution (KEA) combined with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) solution to produce KEA/PVP fiber films by microfluidic blow spinning (MBS). The introduction of PVP and EA improved the spinnability and function properties of KGM-based fiber film, respectively. The fiber diameter of KEA/PVP films was increased with the addition of KEA. The FT-IR and XRD results verified that hydrogen bonds formed among KGM, EA, and PVP, contributing to the enhanced thermal stability, water barrier (WCA: 65°), and mechanical properties (TS: 2.73 MPa) of KEA/PVP films. The KEA/PVP films exhibited excellent antioxidant properties with DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging rates of 74.69 % and 96.18 %, respectively. Besides, the antibacterial ability of KEA/PVP films against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was also enhanced. The fresh-cut apple was effectively preserved that packaged in the KEA/PVP films and exhibited the best preservation effect compared with other groups. This work expanded the application of MBS and natural active compounds incorporated into KGM-based fiber film for fresh-cut apple preservation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest No conflict of interest exists in the submission of this manuscript., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objectives: SLE is a multifaceted autoimmune disorder with a complex pathogenesis involving genetic, environmental and hormonal factors, which converge on immune dysregulation. The T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire's role in SLE has garnered significant interest due to its potential in both diagnostics and therapeutics. Our study aimed to delineate the variances in the TCRβ repertoire between patients with SLE and healthy individuals, correlating these differences with the severity and subtypes of SLE., Methods: We conducted an analysis of blood samples from 50 treatment-naive patients with SLE and 50 healthy donors, employing RNA extraction, high-throughput sequencing and subsequent bioinformatics analysis., Results: Our findings revealed significant alterations in TRBV and TRBJ gene usage frequencies, indicative of a skewed TCR repertoire in patients with SLE. Notably, nine hub TRBV genes were identified as potential biomarkers for SLE with high diagnostic accuracy. Furthermore, we observed a reduction in TCR diversity, characterised by a lower diversity 50 value and increased clonal expansion, which correlated with disease severity., Conclusions: The TCRβ repertoire is significantly altered in SLE, with potential implications for diagnostics and therapeutics. The identified hub genes may serve as novel biomarkers for SLE, and the findings contribute to the understanding of the immunopathogenesis of the disease., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.)

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is gaining increasing attention as the central reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), while the geographical distribution of ARGs in AD is neglected. Accordingly, a sampling scheme on full-scale AD plants across China was implemented, and the resistome therein was excavated. The abundance of ARGs in AD sludge ranged from 0.198 to 0.574 copies/cell. Some of the frequently reported and emergent ARGs were detected in our AD system. Both the abundance and composition of ARGs presented significant differences between the south and north regions of China, hinting the physical/economic factors may function in the formation of ARG profiles. The risk scores of AD samples were in middle of domestic and hospital wastewater. Risk scores were significantly higher in the north. Besides, the proportion of Rank I and Rank II ARGs was also higher in north, which explained the regional difference of ARG composition in a micro-perspective. This study provides a fundamental survey on the of ARG level and profile in AD process across China, reveals the biogeography of ARGs and inspires the control strategies of antibiotic resistance., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Karst caves are a unique environment significantly different from the external environment; adaptation of cave-dwelling animals to the cave environment is often accompanied by shifts in the sensory systems. Aquatic and terrestrial leeches have been found in the karst caves. In this study, we conducted a transcriptome analysis on the cave-dwelling leech Sinospelaeobdella wulingensis . A total of 29,286 unigenes were obtained by assembling the clean reads, and only 395 genes are differentially expressed in winter and summer samples. Two piezo-type mechanosensitive ion channels (Piezos), eight transient receptor potential channels (TRPs), and six ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) were identified in the transcriptome. These channels/receptors are transmembrane proteins sharing conserved structural features in the respective protein families. SwPiezo1 shares high identity with Piezos in non-caving leeches. SwiGluRs are conserved in protein sequence and share high identities with homologous proteins in other leeches. In contrast, SwTRPs belong to different subfamilies and share diverse identities with TRPs in other species. Gene expression analysis showed that two SwPiezos, five SwTRPs, and one SwiGluR are abundantly expressed in both winter and summer samples. These results suggest that SwPiezos, SwTRPs, and SwiGluRs are candidate sensory channels/receptors that may have roles in mechanosensory and chemosensory systems. High expression levels of Piezo and TRP genes imply a mechanosensory adaptation of S. wulingensis to the hanging living style in caves. Furthermore, enrichment of sensory genes in the oral sucker indicates the important role of this tissue in response to environmental stimuli. Similar gene expression profiles in winter and summer samples imply a stable physiological status of S. wulingensis in the cave environment., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2025 The Author(s). Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Platelets and neutrophils are among the most abundant cell types in peripheral blood. Beyond their traditional roles in thrombosis and haemostasis, they also play an active role in modulating immune responses. Current knowledge on the role of platelet-neutrophil interactions in the immune system has been rapidly expanding. Notably, circulating platelet-neutrophil complexes (PNCs) have been widely detected in various inflammatory diseases and infections, closely associated with inflammatory processes affecting multiple organs. These findings emphasise the critical role of platelet-neutrophil interactions in driving and sustaining inflammatory responses. In this review, we elucidate the mechanisms by which neutrophils and platelets physically interact, leading to mutual activation. Additionally, activated platelets release pro-inflammatory factors that further modulate neutrophil effector functions, enhancing their immune response capabilities. We highlight the role of platelets in promoting the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which, in turn, promote local platelet activation, thereby exacerbating the immune response and sustaining chronic inflammation. Furthermore, we review current evidence on the role of platelet-neutrophil interactions in common autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Finally, we identify gaps in understanding the mechanisms of these interactions in the context of other autoimmune diseases and underscore the potential of targeting platelets and neutrophils as a therapeutic strategy for these conditions., (© 2025 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Rapid socio-economic developments confront China with a rising consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and ultra-processed drinks (UPDs). This study aims to evaluate their potential impact on diet transformation towards sustainability including nutrition, environmental sustainability, and diet-related cost., Methods: Dietary intake was assessed by 24 h recalls in 27,311 participants (age: 40.5 ± 19.7; female, 51.1%) in the China Health and Nutrition Survey 1997-2011. The nutrient quality, environmental sustainability (greenhouse gas emission (GHGE), total water use (TWU), land use (LU), and diet cost were assessed as diet-related sustainability indicators. Foods and drinks were classified according to the degree of processing based on NOVA. Two-level mixed effects models were applied to explore the secular trends of the sustainability indicators being nested within random effect (individual level)., Results: UPFs and UPDs are less nutrient-dense, containing more energy, sodium, and added sugar compared to unprocessed or minimally processed foods and drinks (MPFs and MPDs). UPFs and UPDs were higher for GHGE and TWU but lower for LU. Costs of UPDs tripled those of MPDs. In the period of 1997-2011, the percentage of UPFs and UPDs per 2000 kcal increased for both sexes. The increase in UPFs and UPDs was associated with a lower nutrient quality but a higher environmental impact and diet cost., Conclusions: From 1997 to 2011, there was a significant increase in the consumption of UPFs and UPDs in China. This trend had negative impacts on both the nutrient quality and environmental impact; meanwhile, it led to increased diet costs. Policies to reduce the production and consumption of UPFs and UPDs should be reinforced by making alternatives for ultra-processed breakfast cereals, snacks, and alcoholic beverages available and acceptable. Additionally, instead of only focusing on high-UPFD consumers, attention is needed on the currently low-UPFD consumers as their consumption has been growing rapidly in the last decades.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between the newly defined adiposity metric, the Body Roundness Index (BRI), which assesses central obesity, and the development of new-onset hyperuricemia., Methods: In the Kailuan cohort study from 2006 to 2019, 91,804 eligible participants were included. A multivariate Cox regression model was used to test the correlation between BRI and hyperuricemia. At the same time, the restricted cubic spline was applied to solve the dose-response relationship between BRI and the risk of hyperuricemia.Then, stratified analysis was carried out using multivariate Cox regression according to age, sex, hs-CRP level, TG level, education level, smoking status and hypertension status., Results: The results showed that the risk of new-onset hyperuricemia was significantly increased in the highest quartile compared with the lowest quartile. After adjusting for confounders, compared with Q1, the HR (95% CI) for new-onset hyperuricemia was 1.24 (1.18-1.30), 1.32 (1.25-1.40), and 1.40 (1.29-1.52) for Q2, Q3, and Q4, respectively. Restricted cubic spline analysis showed a J-curve relationship between baseline BRI levels and new-onset hyperuricaemia. Age, sex, hs-CRP level, TG level, income level, education level, smoking, and hypertension each had a multiplicative interaction with BRI at baseline., Conclusion: We found that elevated BRI increased the risk of developing new-onset hyperuricaemia. In addition, the association between elevated BRI and the risk of new-onset hyperuricemia showed dependency on age, sex, hs-CRP level, TG level, education level, smoking status and hypertension status., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was approved by the ethics committees of Kailuan General Hospital (Approve No.: 2006-5) and conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. A written informed consent form was obtained from all participants. Consent for publication: None. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Bio-based conductive hydrogels are catching a widespread attention in the field of flexible sensors and human-machine interface interaction. Here, an enhanced autocatalytic system constructed from dopamine-encapsulated cellulose nanofibers (DA@CNF) and Cu 2+ in a glycerol-water binary solvent achieved fast auto-polymerization of hydrogels within 60 s. X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), UV-vis spectrum (UV), Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) were used to characterize the autocatalytic system. The hydrogel obtained has excellent mechanical properties (strain >900 %, compressive strength >800 kPa, toughness >700 kJ/m 3 ), reproducible adhesive properties (>10 times), excellent high and low temperature (-20-60 °C) adaptability and stability. And the excellent electrical conductivity endows the hydrogel with high strain sensitivity (GF = 5.15) over a wide strain range (400 %). The excellent overall performance ensures the stability and accuracy of the hydrogel as a flexible electronic skin for signal detection during human-computer interface interaction. This work contributes a new research strategy for the rational design and green development of biomass-based conductive hydrogel sensors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Leaders, often perceived as possessing exceptional confidence and competence, are not immune to feelings of self-doubt. Leader impostorism describes the experience that one's attributes, experiences, skills, and abilities fall short of the standards expected in the leadership role, resulting in a sense of deception in fulfilling leadership responsibilities. While existing research has examined the antecedents and individual outcomes of leader impostorism, its implications for leaders' treatment of subordinates remain largely unexplored. In this research, we investigate the downstream consequences of leader impostorism on behaviors directed toward subordinates. Integrating research on leader impostorism with power dependence theory, we propose that for leaders with a low power distance orientation, leader impostorism increases supervisor support through the mechanism of perceived power dependence on subordinates, whereas for leaders with a high power distance orientation, leader impostorism increases supervisor undermining through the mechanism of power threat. The findings from two field studies support our theoretical model. This research contributes to the literature by broadening the understanding of the impact of leader impostorism on subordinates, extending power dependence theory within leader-subordinate dynamics, and offering insights into the dual nature of impostorism and its contingent effects. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

This article reviews plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (ELNs), and highlights their potential in regenerative medicine. Various extraction techniques, including ultracentrifugation and ultrafiltration, and their impact on ELN purity and yield were discussed. Characterization methods such as microscopy and particle analysis are found to play crucial roles in defining ELN properties. This review is focused on exploring the therapeutic potential of ELNs in tissue repair, immune regulation, and antioxidant activities. Further research and optimization methods for extraction of ELNs to realize clinical potential applications are necessary.

A compound fruit drink (CFD) is a functional beverage containing fruits, Chinese herbal medicine, and prebiotic fructose. Previous studies have shown the effect of a CFD on alleviating constipation and its impact on gut microbiota. However, a comprehensive analysis has not been reported in regard to the serum metabolism of CFDs. This study established a mouse constipation model, using loperamide hydrochloride. Herein, based on UHPLC-QTOF/MS analysis, 93 differential metabolites (mainly including phosphoglycerides and amino acid derivatives) among the groups of mice were identified. After CFD treatment, the content of phosphatidylethanolamine, amino acid derivatives (including N-Acetyl-L-aspartate, L-Norleucine, and cis-4-Hydroxy-D-proline), and fumarate increased, while that of esters decreased. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the CFD mitigated constipation by modulating nine metabolic pathways, which encompass glycerophospholipid metabolism, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, pyruvate metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism. Notably, the glycerophospholipid metabolic pathway was identified as the most pertinent. Collectively, the results provide new ideas for developing functional foods that nourish the intestines and relieve constipation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

The inertial element of a solid block is commonly used as the proof mass in traditional accelerometers. However, it is challenging to accommodate both the high-density solid-state proof mass and the highly elastic component simultaneously in a miniature sensor, which makes it difficult for the sensors to maintain comparable sensing performance at a miniaturized size. Here, a novel, to the best of our knowledge, liquid metal-based fiber optic accelerometer (LMFOA) is proposed for the first time to meet this requirement. A theoretical model for the LMFOA is introduced to illustrate its feasibility and sensing mechanism. Then, a miniature LMFOA based on a gallium-indium-tin alloy and a polymer-based flexible diaphragm is demonstrated experimentally, showing excellent consistency between the simulation and experimental results. The characteristic test results indicate that the prepared LMFOA has an acceleration sensitivity of 36.6 dB re 1 rad/g below 300 Hz, with a transverse cross talk less than -35 dB. By integrating high-density, highly fluidity liquid metal with a highly flexible diaphragm, the LMFOA shows great potential for applications requiring miniaturization.

Recently, transparent wood (TW) has been considered for many energy-efficient building products, such as windows and decorations. However, the existing TW still faces issues with size and thickness, as well as problems with functional fillers affecting the optical and mechanical properties of TW, which limits its wide application in the window products. In this study, a wood composite material (WCM) with good optical, mechanical, and thermal insulation and UV-shielding properties was prepared by using delignified wood (DW), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and 4-vinylphenylboric acid (VPBA). Compared with NaClO 2 delignification, peracetic acid (PAA) preserves hemicellulose and a more stable pore structure, which facilitates the filling of polymers into the DW template, resulting in the preparation of more extensive and thicker TW. VPBA, as a functional raw material for UV shielding, on the one hand, improves the interfacial compatibility of the TW, thus improving the optical properties (transmittance of about 90%, haze of about 55%) and mechanical properties (64.5 MPa). On the other hand, WCM was found to effectively block UV-C, UV-B (about 100%), and UV-A (about 90%) radiation while maintaining sufficient visible light transmittance. In addition, as an insulating window, WCM has low thermal conductivity and can maintain a high temperature for a long time after the loss of solar radiation, which is an ideal thermal insulation material and is expected to become a potential substitute for conventional glass.

Objectives: Poststroke dysphagia (PSD) is a common complication after stroke but there is limited information on its global prevalence and influencing factors, such as spatial, temporal, demographic characteristics, and stroke-related factors. Our study seeks to fill this knowledge gap by exploring the overall prevalence of PSD and its influencing factors., Methods: A search of English-language literature from database inception from 2005 until May 2022 was performed using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Instrument to estimate study quality and calculated the pooled prevalence of PSD with a 95% confidence interval (CI) using an inverse-variance weighted random-effects meta-analysis. A subgroup analysis was performed to identify sources of heterogeneity, and the relationship between PSD and various clinical features was examined using binary logistic regression., Results: Among 95 studies of 1,059,969 patients, the overall pooled estimated prevalence of PSD was 38.57% (95% CI 35.45-41.69%). Subgroup analysis reveals that South America has the highest prevalence of PSD at 52.30% (95% CI 41.15-63.46%). In rehabilitation units, this rate is 42.42% (95% CI 34.20-50.64%). Women are notably affected, with a prevalence of 41.17% (95% CI 36.97-45.36%) and a higher risk (OR: 1.376, 95% CI 1.315-1.439) than men. Individuals over 65 years exhibit a higher prevalence of 40.26% (95% CI 35.68-44.84%). Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing test shows a striking prevalence of 64.27% (95% CI 55.72-72.81%), and Video fluoroscopic Swallowing Study is 46.93% (95% CI 41.99-51.87%). The the Speech Language Physiotherapist group accounts for 41.36% (95% CI 36.61-46.11%), and a positive correlation between the prevalence of PSD and the NIHSS score. The prevalence of PSD is higher in non-acute strokes, the hemorrhagic strokes, right hemisphere strokes, as well as in the cardioembolism group and the total anterior circulation syndrome (TACS) group. Hemorrhagic strokes [OR: 2.111 (95% CI 1.781-2.503)], the CARDIOEMBOLISM GROUP [OR: 1.531 (95% CI 1.381-1.698)], and TACS group [OR: 2.895 (95% CI 1.495-5.607)] were associated with higher risk of PSD., Conclusions: We found that various factors, including spatial, temporal, demographic characteristics, and stroke-related factors, all influence the prevalence of PSD. More high-quality epidemiological research is needed to explore the links between PSD, demographic characteristics, and stroke-related factors. Caution is advised when interpreting our study results due to the included studies' heterogeneity., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. This review did not enroll any participant or use any raw data of our hospital, so it did not need to be reviewed by an ethics committee. Consent for publication: All the authors have read, approved, and agreed to send the manuscript for publication. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Since hydrogels are conductive, easily engineered, and sufficiently flexible to imitate the mechanical properties of human skin, they are seen as potential options for wearable strain sensors. However, it is still a great challenge to prepare a hydrogel through simple and straightforward methods that integrate excellent stretchability, ionic conductivity, toughness, self-adhesion, and self-healing. Herein, an acrylamide/3-acrylamide phenylboronic acid cross-linked network is modified to produce a semi-interpenetrating cross-linked hydrogel in just one easy step by adding starch. The prepared hydrogel contains dynamic boronic ester bonds and hydrogen bonds, which endow the exceptional stretchability (5769-13,976 %, 20-50 wt%), ideal transmittance (>90 %), self-adhesiveness (0.636 ± 0.060 kPa, 30 wt%), and self-healing properties. Notably, the self-healing process is completed instantly, achieving a healing strength of up to 81.21 %. Additionally, the aforementioned hydrogel exhibits a broad working strain range (≈ 500 %) and high sensitivity (gauge factor = 1.99) as a strain sensor, allowing it to record and track human actions precisely. This work provides a novel approach to synthesizing hydrogels with optimal overall mechanical characteristics, with the potential to facilitate the development of wearable strain sensing system based on hydrogels for real-world applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Yanyan Li reports financial support was provided by Youth Science Foundation of Shanxi Province (202203021222012). Jian Zhang reports financial support was provided by Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi Province (20210302123458). If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Investigating how the interaction between the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and various brain regions/functional networks in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients with a history of suicide attempt (SA) holds importance for understanding the neurobiology of this population., Methods: We employed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to analyze the OFC's functional segregation in 586 healthy individuals. A network analysis framework was then applied to rs-fMRI data from 86 MDD-SA patients and 85 MDD-Control patients, utilizing seed mappings of OFC subregions and a multi-connectivity-indicator strategy involving cross-correlation, total interdependencies, Granger causality, and machine learning., Results: Four functional subregions of left and right OFC, were designated as seed regions of interest. Relative to the MDD-Control group, the MDD-SA group exhibited enhanced functional connectivity (FC) and attenuated interaction between the OFC and the sensorimotor network, imbalanced communication between the OFC and the default mode network, enhanced FC and interaction between the OFC and the ventral attention network, enhanced interaction between the OFC and the salience network, and attenuated FC between the OFC and the frontoparietal network., Limitations: The medication and treatment condition of patients with MDD was not controlled, so the medication effect on the alteration model cannot be affirmed., Conclusion: The findings suggest an imbalanced interaction pattern between the OFC subregions and a set of cognition- and emotion-related functional networks/regions in the MDD-SA group., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The near-infrared electrochemiluminescence (NIR-ECL) has excellent penetration and near zero background interference, and has shown unique advantages in clinical medicine and bioimaging. Among various types of NIR-ECL emitters, NIR organic dyes have arouse the concern of researchers due to their adjustable structure and diverse optical properties. However, the currently available NIR dyes usually have inherent self-quenching effect and poor photostability, so their ECL efficiency is low, and it is a great challenge to improve their ECL performance., Result: Conjugated polymer-boosted NIR-ECL strategy was creatively developed to overcome ECL performance limitations of NIR dyes. IR 783, as one of heptamethine cyanine dyes, was performed a nanoprecipitation in the presence of poly[(9,9-dlhexyfluoren-2,7-dlyl)-co-(anthracen-9,10-dlyl)] (PFAD) to prepare IR polymer nanoparticles (IR PNPs). Due to resonance energy transfer (RET) from PFAD to IR 783 and encapsulation of IR 783 by PFAD, the resulting IR PNPs exhibited a strong and stable NIR-ECL emission with a maximum ECL wavelength of 802 nm under coreactant tripropylamine (TPrA) and H 2 O 2 can effectively quench it. IR PNPs coupled proximity ligation assay (PLA)-induced DNA walker to achieve acetamiprid (ACE) analysis. ACE triggered PLA to form bipedal DNA walker, and further release G-rich secondary target (ST). With ST and hemin being captured on IR PNPs modified electrode, hemin/G-quadruplex was assembled to consume H 2 O 2 , thereby restoring ECL signal for ACE detection with a limit of detection of 4.74 × 10 -15  M., Significance: This work opens up a new and simple way to boost NIR-ECL of organic dyes, and IR PNPs create a promising NIR-ECL platform for pesticide detection., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Synergistic photothermal/immunotherapy has garnered significant attention for its potential to enhance tumor therapeutic outcomes. However, the fabrication of an intelligent system with a simple composition that simultaneously exerts photothermal/immunotherapy effect and imaging guidance function still remains a challenge. Herein, a glutathione (GSH)-responsive theranostic nanoprobe, named HA-MnO 2 /ICG, was elaborately constructed by loading photothermal agent (PTA) indocyanine green (ICG) onto the surface of hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified manganese dioxide nanosheets (HA-MnO 2 ) for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-guided synergetic photothermal/immuno-enhanced therapy. In this strategy, HA-MnO 2 nanosheets were triggered by the endogenous GSH in tumor microenvironment to generate Mn 2+ for MR imaging, where the longitudinal relaxation rate of HA-MnO 2 /ICG was up to 14.97 mM -1 s -1 (∼24 times than that found in a natural environment), demonstrating excellent intratumoral MR imaging. Moreover, the HA-MnO 2 /ICG nanoprobe demonstrates remarkable photothermal therapy (PTT) efficacy, generating sufficient heat to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) within tumor cells. Meanwhile the released Mn 2+ ions from the nanosheets function as potent immune adjuvants, amplifying the immune response against cancer. In vivo experiments validated that HA-MnO 2 /ICG-mediated PTT was highly effective in eradicating primary tumors, while simultaneously enhancing immunogenicity to prevent the growth of distal metastasis. This hybrid HA-MnO 2 /ICG nanoprobe opened new avenues in the design of MR imaging-monitored PTT/immuno-enhanced synergistic therapy for advanced cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Urban waterfront areas, which are essential natural resources and highly perceived public areas in cities, play a crucial role in enhancing urban environment. This study integrates deep learning with human perception data sourced from street view images to study the relationship between visual landscape features and human perception of urban waterfront areas, employing linear regression and random forest models to predict human perception along urban coastal roads. Based on aesthetic and distinctiveness perception, urban coastal roads in Xiamen were classified into four types with different emphasis and priorities for improvement. The results showed that: 1) the degree of coastal openness had the greatest influence on human perception while the coastal landscape with a high green visual index decreases the distinctiveness perception; 2) the random forest model can effectively predict human perception on urban coastal roads with an accuracy rate of 87% and 77%; 3) The proportion of low perception road sections with potential for improvement is 60.6%, among which the proportion of low aesthetic perception and low distinctiveness perception road sections is 10.5%. These findings offer crucial evidence regarding human perception of urban coastal roads, and can provide targeted recommendations for enhancing the visual environment of urban coastal road landscapes., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2025 Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

In recent years, the regulation of anion-mediated chiral assemblies has gained significant interest. This study investigated the modulation of supramolecular chiroptical signals and chiral assembled structures in a triarylamine system containing a urea moiety through fluoride ion-urea bond interactions, aiming to understand the chiral sense amplification in supramolecular assemblies. Chiral triarylamine derivatives containing urea or amide units were synthesized and the self-assemblies were examined in the absence and presence of fluoride ions. The results revealed that the addition of F - led to an increase in the circular dichroism (CD) intensity for the triarylamine compounds containing urea, accompanied by a transformation of the nanofiber structure into chiral twists. Comparative studies with other anions confirmed the selective specificity for F - . Additionally, the combination of photo-induced triarylamine anion radicals allowed the F - in the system to be visualized through photoirradiation, resulting in distinct colour changes that were detectable by the naked eye. The research demonstrates that F - can selectively amplify supramolecular chirality through urea-F - interactions, which may have promising applications in the fields of sensing and chiroptical devices.

Impaired autophagy is reported to promote osteoarthritis (OA). However, the mechanism by which autophagy in regulating meniscus degeneration and OA remains unclear. Here, unconvered aberrant energetic metabolism pattern in meniscus cells with OA is uncovered first, which results in lower adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. And these phenomena are induced by impaired autophagy in meniscus cells with OA. It is further revealed that the suppression of m 6 A demethylase fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) inhibits autophagy and causing lower ATP production by reducing oxidative phosphorylation. Specific deletion of FTO in meniscus cells by generating FTO flox/flox ; COL1A1-Cre ERT2 (FTO cko ) mice impair autophagy and promote meniscus degeneration and OA, while intra-articular injection of adeno-associated virus of FTO (AAV-FTO) restores autophagy and alleviates meniscus degeneration and OA. Mechanistically, FTO regulates the mRNA stability of ATG16L1 by targeting the m 6 A methylation sites on ATG16L1 in a YTHDF2-dependent manner, thereby inhibiting the formation of autophagosomes and causing an imbalance in energetic metabolism. Intra-articular injection of AAV-FTO reverses the catabolic phenotype of meniscus degeneration and OA in FTO cko mice. In summary, these findings reveal FTO orchestrates autophagy and energetic metabolism by regulating ATG16L1 in a m 6 A-dependent manner. Therefore, targeting FTO might be a potential therapeutic strategy for meniscus degeneration and early-stage OA., (© 2025 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The ladybirds Coccinella septempunctata and Harmonia axyridis are important biocontrol agents for the small walnut aphid Chromaphis juglandicola , a key walnut pest. C. juglandicola outbreaks occur in walnut orchards, and walnut yields have declined. Intraguild predation (IGP) is prevalent among natural enemies that coexist in shared habitats and prey upon the same extraguild prey. We designed laboratory experiments to evaluate the potential for IGP between these two ladybirds at different temperatures and extraguild (EG) prey densities, and the ability of IGP to control EG prey under different conditions. We measured IGP rates in first instar larvae, female adults, and male adults (both starved for 24 h) in the vulnerable immature life stages of two ladybird eggs. Intraguild (IG) prey ( H. axyridis eggs or C. septempunctata eggs) and EG prey ( C. juglandicola ) consumption were tallied after 24 h. Temperature and EG prey density influenced IGP rates, with temperature contributing the most to the variance. IGP increased with increasing temperature (15-35 °C), with both factors interactively influencing the EG prey consumption rate and exhibiting highly significant effects. EG prey consumption increased with temperature and density. This research provides theoretical support for the rational use of H. axyridis and C. septempunctata in the joint biological control of C. juglandicola .

Culm strength is crucial for rice growth, nutrition transportation, and structural resilience, which are essential for lodging resistance and stable production. In this study, we identified a rice thin culm mutant tc4, characterized by thinner culms and thicker cavity walls, resulting in weakened culm mechanical strength. Using map-based cloning, the candidate gene was isolated, and complementation and CRISPR/Cas9 experiments confirmed that a single nucleotide substitution in TC4 is responsible for the thin and brittle culm phenotype. TC4, a homolog of the FLORICAULA/LEAFY gene, localizes to the nucleus and cytoplasm. Further research revealed that TC4 regulates culm development by influencing plant hormones and sugar transport. This research not only advances our understanding of rice culm regulation, but also provides valuable insights for breeding lodging-resistant rice varieties., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This mini-review provides an overview of recent developments in AEMS supporting hit identification in drug discovery, emphasizing its potential to enhance the quality and efficiency of label-free HTS. Future advancements that may further expand the role of AEMS in the drug discovery process will also be discussed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: The internet + nursing service is an important initiative for implementing the strategy of healthy China and actively responding to the aging of the population. However, the current literature on residents' awareness and willingness to participate is insufficient and presents large variations and limitations. Therefore, this study aims to systematically evaluate the awareness and willingness of Chinese residents to participate in internet + nursing service to comprehensively understand the level of awareness and acceptance of this emerging service model among Chinese residents and to provide strong support for relevant policy formulation and service optimization., Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, SinoMed, and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect cross-sectional studies related to the awareness and willingness of Chinese residents to participate in internet + nursing service from inception to January 2024. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies., Results: A total of 27 cross-sectional studies involving 11,761 subjects were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the percentage of Chinese residents willing to participate in internet + nursing service was 76.3% (95% CI [71.2%, 81.3%]). The results of the subgroup analysis showed that residents who lived in Western regions (82.1%), had employee medical insurance (85.9%), were suffering from other diseases (89.2%), were under the age of 60 (87.8%), were not married (78.9%), and had an undergraduate degree or above (85.5%) had a relatively high willingness to participate in internet + nursing service. The rate of awareness of internet + nursing service among Chinese residents was 48.6% (95% CI [24.1%, 73.2%]), which shows a downwards trend over time (67.4% in 2019, 56.1% in 2020, and 45.1% in 2021)., Conclusion: The willingness to participate in internet + nursing service among Chinese residents is high, but the awareness rate is low. It is necessary to improve the awareness and willingness of Chinese residents to use internet + nursing service through various channels and aspects of publicity and promotion to achieve the goal of innovating the health service model, accurately connecting with the diverse health needs of people, and actively responding to the aging population., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2025 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Shuangdan Jiedu Decoction (SJD) is a formula composed of six Chinese herbs with heat-removing and detoxifying, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects, which is clinically used in the therapy of various inflammatory diseases of the lungs including COVID-19, but the therapeutic material basis of its action as well as its molecular mechanism are still unclear., Aim of the Study: The study attempted to determine the therapeutic effect of SJD on LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI), as well as to investigate its mechanism of action and assess its therapeutic potential for the cure of inflammation-related diseases in the clinical setting., Materials and Methods: We established an ALI model by tracheal drip LPS, and after the administration of SJD, we collected the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues of mice and examined the expression of inflammatory factors in them. In addition, we evaluated the effects of SJD on the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase -stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) and inflammasome by immunoblotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR)., Results: We demonstrated that SJD was effective in alleviating LPS-induced ALI by suppressing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the BALF, improving the level of lung histopathology and the number of neutrophils, as well as decreasing the inflammatory factor-associated gene expression. Importantly, we found that SJD could inhibit multiple stimulus-driven activation of cGAS-STING and inflammasome. Further studies showed that the Chinese herbal medicines in SJD had no influence on the cGAS-STING pathway and inflammasome alone at the formulated dose. By increasing the concentration of these herbs, we observed inhibitory effects on the cGAS-STING pathway and inflammasome, and the effect exerted was maximal when the six herbs were combined, indicating that the synergistic effects among these herbs plays a crucial role in the anti-inflammatory effects of SJD., Conclusions: Our research demonstrated that SJD has a favorable protective effect against ALI, and its mechanism of effect may be associated with the synergistic effect exerted between six Chinese medicines to inhibit the cGAS-STING and inflammasome abnormal activation. These results are favorable for the wide application of SJD in the clinic as well as for the development of drugs for ALI from herbal formulas., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work, there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in, or the review of the manuscript entitled., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of cartilage and extracellular matrix (ECM). The degradation of ECM in chondrocytes plays a crucial role in OA pathogenesis, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unclear., Methods: A sodium monoiodoacetate (MIA) mouse model was used to mimic OA. ECM integrity was accessed by Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining, Safranin O/fast green staining, and microcomputerized tomography. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay measured circulating proinflammatory cytokines. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting analyzed mRNA and protein expression levels. RNA and chromatin immunoprecipitation evaluated RNA-protein and DNA-protein interactions., Results: MIA mice showed significant upregulation of the RNA m 6 A demethylase ALKBH5 (alkylated DNA repair protein AlkB homolog 5), the transcription factor Runx2 (runt-related transcription factor 2), and matrix-degrading enzymes Mmps (matrix metallopeptidase) and Adamts(s) (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs). In vitro, proinflammatory cytokines induced these proteins in chondrocytes. Mechanically, Alkbh5 cooperated with Ythdf1 (YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA binding protein 1) in the inflammatory microenvironment to regulate the expression and stability of RUNX2 mRNA. Runx2, in turn, activated the expression of MMPs and ADAMTSs, promoting ECM degradation in chondrocytes, thereby contributing to OA progression. Notably, inhibition of Alkbh5 and Runx2 in MIA-treated mice significantly alleviated the pathological progression of OA., Conclusion: Our results reveal a novel mechanism of OA pathogenesis and suggest that targeting Alkbh5 and Runx2 may represent a new therapeutic strategy for OA treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The occurrence of hypofibrinogenemia after tocilizumab treatment has attracted increasing attention, which may cause bleeding and even life-threatening. This study aims to explore the risk factors for tocilizumab-induced hypofibrinogenemia (T-HFIB) and construct a risk prediction model., Methods: A total of 221 inpatients that received tocilizumab from 2015 to 2023 were retrospectively collected and divided into T-HFIB group or control group. The risk factors for T-HFIB were obtained by logistic regression equation and used to establish the nomogram., Results: T-HFIB was observed in 121 of 221 patients (54.75%). Multifactorial logistic regression analysis revealed that infection (OR = 2.002, 95%CI:1.018 ~ 3.935), COVID-19 (OR = 3.752, 95%CI:1.264 ~ 11.139), CAR-T therapy (OR = 4.409, 95%CI:2.017 ~ 0.894), and concomitant glucocorticoids (OR = 5.303, 95%CI:0.227 ~ 0.894) were identified as independent risk factors for T-HFIB, while high baseline fibrinogen level (OR = 0.813, 95%CI:0.670 ~ 0.988) and concomitant antirheumatic drugs (OR = 0.451, 95%CI:0.227 ~ 0.894) were identified as protective factors. A nomogram was established, and area under the curve (AUC) of prediction model was 0.772 (95%CI:0.709 ~ 0.836). Calibration curve showed a good prediction accuracy for the occurrence of T-HFIB., Conclusion: The infection, COVID-19, CAR-T therapy, and concomitant glucocorticoids were independent risk factors for T-HFIB, while high baseline fibrinogen and concomitant antirheumatic drugs were protective factors. This nomogram can help early identify the patients at potential high risk of developing T-HFIB., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study involving humans was approved by the Ethics Committee of Chinese PLA General Hospital with a waiver of the requirement for informed consent (S2024-247-01). Consent for publication: Not applicable. Clinical trial number: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Morinda officinalis polysaccharide (MOP) is a major active component of Morinda officinalis, known for its roles in supporting bone health and reducing oxidation and inflammation. However, no studies to date have specifically examined the effects of MOP on interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-stimulated chondrocyte inflammation or the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). To investigate, cell counting kit-8 assays were performed to evaluate MOP's impact on the viability of human chondrocytes (C28/I2 c...

cis-regulatory elements (CREs) control gene transcription dynamics across cell types and in response to the environment. In asthma, multiple immune cell types play an important role in the inflammatory process. Genetic variants in CREs can also affect gene expression response dynamics and contribute to asthma risk. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying control of transcriptional dynamics across different environmental contexts and cell types at single-cell resolution remain to be elucidated. To resolve this question, we performed single-cell ATAC-seq (scATAC-seq) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 16 children with asthma. PBMCs were activated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and treated with dexamethasone (DEX), an anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid. We analyzed changes in chromatin accessibility, measured transcription factor motif activity, and identified treatment- and cell-type-specific transcription factors that drive changes in both gene expression mean and variability. We observed a strong positive linear dependence between motif response and their target gene expression changes but a negative relationship with changes in target gene expression variability. This result suggests that an increase of transcription factor binding tightens the variability of gene expression around the mean. We then annotated genetic variants in chromatin accessibility peaks and response motifs, followed by computational fine-mapping of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) from a pediatric asthma cohort. We found that eQTLs were 5-fold enriched in peaks with response motifs and refined the credible set for 410 asthma risk genes, with 191 having the causal variant in response motifs. In conclusion, scATAC-seq enhances the understanding of molecular mechanisms for asthma risk variants mediated by gene expression., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests J.R.’s contribution to this manuscript was completed during her PhD before joining AbbVie., (Copyright © 2024 American Society of Human Genetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)