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Resource exploitation markedly alters land use and ecological carbon storage, posing risks to carbon sinks and food security. This study analyzes land-use change from 1990 to 2020 in the resource-based province of Shanxi, China. By introducing a mineral resource driver, the PLUS model was used to predict four scenarios: natural development (ND), cropland protection (CP), ecological protection (EP), and dual protection of ecology and cropland (DP). The spatial and temporal evolutions of carbon storage were then analyzed using the InVEST model. Forests were predominantly distributed in mountainous areas, with croplands in southerly and central flat areas, construction lands in and around cities, and mining lands sporadically distributed across Shanxi. From 1990 to 2020, croplands and grasslands decreased, while forest, construction, and mining lands increased. Carbon storage decreased continuously, with a total loss of 15.1 × 106 t. High-value carbon storage areas were in the Lüliang, Taihang, and Taiyue Mountains, and low-value areas were in the more populous central and southern regions. Carbon storage was predicted to decline by 2035 under the ND and CP scenarios and to exceed that of 2020 under the EP and DP scenarios. The DP scenario projected an increase of 4.93 × 106 t in carbon storage by 2035. The DP scenario realizes the protection of carbon sinks in resource-based areas and maintains food security, providing a theoretical reference for achieving carbon neutrality and high-quality sustainable development in Shanxi Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluid thrust vectoring (FTV) control has obvious advantages in structural quality and stealth performance because of its fast response and light weight. However, improving FTV vector performance will cause a loss in engine performance due to the need to draw airflow from the engine. In order to alleviate the above problems and further improve the vector performance of FTV, a nozzle combined with throat skewing and shock vector control is proposed, and the secondary flow of the nozzle comes from the throat and is injected into the nozzle divergence section. The numerical results indicate that compared with the original configuration, the vector angle and vector efficiency of the new configuration are more linear with the nozzle pressure ratio (NPR), and the vector angle and vector efficiency are improved by 163% and 218%, respectively, while experiencing a maximum reduction in the thrust coefficient of 1.4%. Compared with the only bypass-type shock vector nozzle, the new configuration utilizes the diversion of the two jets to eliminate the reattachment of the separation bubble after the jet and its resulting abrupt change in vector performance, improving the performance while having good control characteristics. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis of the spacing between two jets is also carried out. The spacing between two jets should be increased to make the flow pass through two weaker shock waves to improve the vector performance while ensuring that the separation after the jet is no longer attached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminosilicates, such as montmorillonite, kaolinite, halloysite, and diatomite, have a uniform bidimensional structure, a high surface-to-volume ratio, inherent stiffness, a dual charge distribution, chemical inertness, biocompatibility, abundant active groups on the surface, such as silanol (Si-OH) and/or aluminol (Al-OH) groups. These compounds are on the list of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved active compounds and excipients and are used for various medicinal products, such as wound healing agents, antidiarrheals, and cosmetics. This review summarizes the wound healing mechanisms related to the material characteristics and the chemical components. Numerous wound dressings with different active components and multiple forms have been studied. Then, medicinal mineral resources for use in hemostatic materials can be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence show a potential association between tuberculosis and COVID-19 disease severity. To further clarify the impact of tuberculosis on COVID-19 disease severity and viral shedding duration, a retrospective study was conducted on 223 COVID-19 patients, including 34 with tuberculosis and 189 without tuberculosis. Clinical information and viral load shedding time were collected. A higher percentage of severe/critical COVID-19 diagnosis and deaths was observed in patients with tuberculosis than in those without tuberculosis (8.8% vs. 3.2%, p = 0.142; 2.9% vs. 1.1%, p = 0.393), and COVID-19 patients with tuberculosis had longer viral shedding than those without tuberculosis (median: 15.0 days vs. 11.0 days; p = 0.0001). Having tuberculosis (HR = 2.21, 95% CI 1.37–3.00; p = 0.000), being of elderly age (HR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.03; p = 0.001) and being diagnosed with severe or critical COVID-19 (HR = 5.63, 95% CI 2.10–15.05; p = 0.001) were independent factors associated with prolonged virus time of SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 patients with tuberculosis receiving anti-tuberculosis therapy time (ATT) for <2 months had a significantly longer virus shedding duration than those receiving ATT for ≥ 4 months (17.5 vs. 11.5 days, p = 0.012). Our results demonstrated that COVID-19 patients with tuberculosis tend to have more severe disease and a worse prognosis, and tuberculosis prolonged viral shedding, highlighting special attention and/or care required for COVID-19 patients with tuberculosis receiving ATT for <2 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small wetlands provide crucial ecosystem services but are facing widespread loss and degradation. At present, small wetland complexes provide an alternative avenue for conservation; we used a dataset to illustrate how zeta diversity can be assessed in a small wetland complex. The small wetland complex studied consisted of nine hydrologically connected ponds, and all the ponds were connected by narrow ditches. Data collected included the composition of both zooplankton and phytoplankton communities, water physicochemical parameters, and hydrological connectivity. Two ways in which connectivity affects biodiversity, dispersal filtration (path distance-controlled biological diffusion) and environmental filtration (environment-selected species), were quantified. As a result, (1) 46 zooplankton and 119 phytoplankton species were identified, with species richness distribution significantly affected by water properties (explained variances of 68% and 39%, respectively), reflecting significant environmental filtration, and (2) both zooplankton and phytoplankton showed zeta diversity distance decay (p < 0.001), reflecting significant dispersal filtration, and (3) relatively rare species dominated community turnover, in which environmental filtration was far stronger than dispersal filtration. Overall, the small wetland complex in this study was characterized by hydrological connectivity, which not only allowed moderate biological connectivity but also promoted the coexistence of diverse habitats and communities. We emphasize the applicability of zeta diversity for assessing small wetland complexes, further demonstrating the value of small wetland complexes in promoting biodiversity such as species richness and species turnover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The montmorillonite-sodium alginate (MMT-SA) colon-targeting microcapsules have been designed as a WGX-50 encapsulation and controlled release vehicle used in oral administration. The MMT-SA microcapsule was formed from a cross-linking reaction, and the stable micropore in the microcapsule changed with a different MMT-SA mixed mass ratio. The MMT-SA microcapsule has a reinforced micropore structure and an enhanced swell–dissolution in SIF and SCF with alkaline environment, which is attributed to the incorporated MMT. The MMT-SA microcapsule exhibited a high WGX-50 encapsulation rate up to 98.81 ± 0.31% and an obvious WGX-50 controlled release in the simulated digestive fluid in vitro. The WGX-50 loaded with MMT-SA microcapsule showed a weak minimizing drug loss in SGF (Simulated Gastric Fluid) with an acidic environment, while it showed a strong maximizing drug release in SIF (Simulated Intestinal Fluid) and SCF (Simulated Colonic Fluid) with an alkaline environment. These features make the MMT-SA microcapsule a nominated vehicle for colon disease treatment used in oral administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) constitute a group of compounds that are challenging to break down and potentially pose risks to both ecosystems and human health when they accumulate in water bodies. This study established and operated small-scale constructed wetland–microbial fuel cells (CW-MFCs) continuously for 60 days, maintaining a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 3 days. The research aimed to assess the treatment efficiency of wastewater containing Ibuprofen (IBP) and Diclofenac (DCF) using different co-substrates (glucose, sucrose, and sodium acetate) and to analyze the impact of these co-substrates on the composition of bacterial communities within the CW-MFC. After 60 days of operation, CW-MFC achieved removal rates of 89.29% for IBP and 84.10% for DCF. The elimination of IBP was primarily dependent on co-metabolic degradation processes occurring in both the anode and cathode, while DCF removal relied on anodic co-metabolism. Additionally, various co-substrates have an influence on the bacterial community diversity of the anode and cathodes. The possible bacterial groups involved in PPCP degradation were identified. In summary, Glu was identified as a more suitable co-substrate for CW-MFC in the removal of IBP and DCF, while SA as a co-substrate favored the induction and enrichment of EAB in the anodes. These findings offer valuable insights into the potential of CW-MFC for mitigating emerging contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean waves typically consist of wind, sea, and swell trains. Conventionally, the treatment of multimodal waves has been to conceptualize them as a unified wave system and employ a single set of aggregate wave parameters for the representation of their collective characteristics. Nevertheless, a better understanding of multimodal waves is important when analyzing the interactions between waves and moored vessels, considering the pronounced sensitivity of a ship's responses to wave periods and directions. Many spectral partitioning methodologies have been proposed to discern and segregate multimodal waves into two or more distinct wave systems, providing fundamental information for investigating moored ship responses to multimodal waves. Utilizing the wave spectra data acquired from a specific water region in South America, a comprehensive numerical study was undertaken by employing the specialized ocean engineering software ORCAFLEX 11.2e. The primary objective of this investigation is to analyze the dynamic response of a moored liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessel in ballast conditions subjected to waves defined by distinct wave identification methods (i.e., overall method and spectral partition method). Furthermore, the waves are categorized into two groups: beam waves and head waves. Results show that beam waves induce a substantial ship response, whereas head waves pose a comparatively lower risk to maritime vessels. Furthermore, the conventional overall wave approach tends to neglect the roll motion generated by multimodal waves when they propagate as head waves. Nevertheless, when the wave direction aligns with beam waves, the overall wave approach tends to produce the roll motion. These findings indicate the importance of considering multimodal waves in quay layout and mooring configuration design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the water quality monitoring results from 2002 to 2018 in the coastal waters of Shantou City, this study used eight methods, including the single-factor index method, eutrophication index method, nutrient status quality method, comprehensive index method, organic pollution index method, nitrogen–phosphorus ratio method, potential eutrophication evaluation, and dissolved oxygen saturation parameter method, to evaluate the eutrophication and organic pollution status of the area. The applicability of the first-generation eutrophication model was assessed from the perspective of red tide occurrence, and a comparison was made among the various evaluation methods. The results indicate that the coastal waters of the study area were mostly in a phosphorus-limited state, with a few periods of nutrient deficiency and a very small portion of time in a moderately nutritious state with both nitrogen and phosphorus limitations. The overall N/P ratio showed an increasing trend primarily due to the gradual increase in inorganic nitrogen content. In terms of evaluating eutrophication based on red tide symptoms, the comprehensive index method showed better performance in reflecting eutrophication conditions, while the eutrophication index method and dissolved oxygen saturation parameter method highlighted problematic areas but often exaggerated their extent. The nutrient status quality method and organic pollution index method did not provide distinctive indications and could not verify red tide symptoms. The nitrogen–phosphorus ratio method and potential eutrophication evaluation could reflect certain nutrient structures and eutrophication characteristics but also failed to verify red tide symptoms. Furthermore, this study found a certain correlation between the occurrence of red tide and the ratio of nitrate nitrogen to ammonia nitrogen, which consistently ranged from 1.15 to 1.94 during red tide events. Therefore, whether this ratio can serve as a characteristic value for red tide occurrence and be used for early warning and monitoring still requires further validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By collecting surface sediment samples from 158 stations in the near-shore waters of eastern Guangdong, grain size analysis and grain size parameter calculations were performed to explore the characteristics and migration trends of surface sediments in the area. The analysis of the grain size results showed that the surface sediments in the nearshore waters of east Guangdong could be classified into nine sediment types, mainly including seven types of gravel sand ((g)S), gravel muddy sand ((g)mS), gravelly mud ((g)M), sand (S), silty sand (zS), sandy silt (sZ) and silt (Z). The relative percentages of gravel, sand, silt and mud were 0.7%, 40.56%, 46.7% and 12.04%, respectively. The average grain size varied from −2φ to 8φ, with an average of 4.94φ. The selection coefficient ranged from 0.44 to 3.78, with an average value of 1.8. The skewness distribution ranged from −0.34 to 0.67, with an average value of 0.07. By extracting and analyzing the spatial distribution information of grain size in the study area, using the Gao–Collins migration trend analysis method and incorporating dynamic factors such as tidal currents and waves, the transport direction and trend of surface sediments in the study area could be analyzed and inferred. The results show that the surface sediment migration trend was significant, migration on the north side of Nan'ao Island was in an east-to-west direction, and the sediment of Yifeng River was mainly deposited to the sand spout at the mouth of Lianyang River. After southward transport from the Houjiang waterway, the migration was mainly southeastward and the trend was quite significant until the 20 m isobath, where the trend gradually decreased. The sediments of the Rongjiang River were mainly deposited outside the mouth of Niutian Yang and Rongjiang River, and the surface sediments of Guang'ao Bay and Haimen Bay migrated in the northwest–southeast direction. After the 30 m isobath, the southeast corner of the study area migrated in the southeast–south direction. This sediment transport pattern revealed by the grain size migration trend is in good agreement with the physical and hydrodynamic conditions of the study area and provides an important reference for decisions regarding port dredging and waterway management in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose membranes have eco-friendly, renewable, and cost-effective features, but they lack satisfactory cycle stability as a sustainable separator for batteries. In this study, a two-step method was employed to prepare a sandwich-like composite membrane of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP)/cellulose/ PVDF-HFP (PCP). The method involved first dissolving and regenerating a cellulose membrane and then electrospinning PVDF-HFP on its surface. The resulting PCP composite membrane exhibits excellent properties such as high porosity (60.71%), good tensile strength (4.8 MPa), and thermal stability up to 160 °C. It also has exceptional electrolyte uptake properties (710.81 wt.%), low interfacial resistance (241.39 Ω), and high ionic conductivity (0.73 mS/cm) compared to commercial polypropylene (PP) separators (1121.4 Ω and 0.26 mS/cm). Additionally, the rate capability (163.2 mAh/g) and cycling performance (98.11% after 100 cycles at 0.5 C) of the PCP composite membrane are superior to those of PP separators. These results demonstrate that the PCP composite membrane has potential as a promising separator for high-powered, secure lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this research is to investigate strategies to increase the erosion resistance of the slope surface during the early stages of vegetation concrete construction, as well as to offer a scientific foundation for improving vegetation concrete formulation. Simulated rainfall experiments were carried out at 2 different slope gradients (50° and 60°), 2 different rainfall intensities (60 and 120 mm·h−1), and 4 treatments (CK-no additive, 0.4% P-polyacrylamide, 4% C-biochar, and 0.4% F-palm fiber). PAM, palm fiber, and biochar significantly reduced the initial runoff time of the vegetation concrete slope by an average of 47.03%, 46.41%, and 22.67%, respectively (p < 0.05). The runoff rate of each slope under different conditions increased with the expansion of rainfall duration and then fluctuated and stabilized, whereas the erosion rate decreased and then fluctuated and stabilized. PAM and palm fiber both increased runoff rates while decreasing erosion rates, but biochar increased both runoff rates and erosion rates. The runoff reduction benefits of PAM, palm fiber, and biochar were −69.84~−1.97%, −68.82~−14.28% and −63.70~−6.80%, respectively, while the sediment reduction benefits were 69.21~94.07%, −96.81~−50.35%, and 36.20~60.47%, respectively. PAM and palm fiber both have obvious sediment reduction benefits and can be used in the ecological restoration of high and steep slopes in areas with heavy rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing health problem that is closely associated with insulin resistance and hereditary susceptibility. Exercise is a beneficial approach to NAFLD. However, the relief mechanism of exercise training is still unknown. In this study, mice on a normal diet or a high-fat diet (HFD), combined with Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, hydrochloride (L-NAME) mice, were either kept sedentary or were subjected to a 12-week exercise running scheme. We found that exercise reduced liver steatosis in mice with diet-induced NAFLD. The hepatic adenosine deaminases acting on RNA 2 (ADAR2) were downregulated in NAFLD and were upregulated in the liver after 12-week exercise. Next, overexpression of ADAR2 inhibited and suppression promoted lipogenesis in HepG2 cells treated with oleic acid (OA), respectively. We found that ADAR2 could down-regulate mature miR-34a in hepatocytes. Functional reverse experiments further proved that miR-34a mimicry eliminated the suppression of ADAR2 overexpression in lipogenesis in vitro. Moreover, miR-34a inhibition and mimicry could also affect lipogenesis in hepatocytes. In conclusion, exercise-induced ADAR2 protects against lipogenesis during NAFLD by editing miR-34a. RNA editing mediated by ADAR2 may be a promising therapeutic candidate for NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FASN plays a critical role in lipid metabolism, which is involved in regulating ovarian follicular development. However, the molecular mechanisms of how FASN regulate the function of ovarian follicular cells still remain elusive. In this study, by overexpression or interference of FASN in pre-hierarchical follicle granulosa cells (phGCs) and hierarchical follicle granulosa cells (hGCs), we analyzed their effects on the granulosa cell transcriptome and metabolome profiles using RNA-Seq and LC-MS/MS, respectively. The results showed that overexpression of FASN promoted proinflammatory factors expression by activating TLR3/IRF7 and TLR3/NF-κB pathways in phGCs, but only by activating TLR3/IRF7 pathways in hGCs. Then, necroptosis and apoptosis were triggered through the JAK/STAT1 pathway (induced by inflammatory factors) and BAK/caspase-7 pathway, respectively. The combined analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome revealed that FASN affected the demand of GCs for 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) by activating the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway in two categorized GCs and only altering the metabolic pathway of tryptophan in phGCs, and ultimately participated in regulating the physiological function of geese GCs. Taken together, this study showed that the mechanisms of FASN regulating the physiological function of geese phGCs and hGCs were similar, but they also had some different characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African swine fever (ASF), the highly lethal swine infectious disease caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV), is a great threat to the swine industry. There is no effective vaccine or diagnostic method to prevent and control this disease currently. The p30 protein of ASFV is an important target for serological diagnosis, expressed in the early stage of viral replication and has high immunogenicity and sequence conservatism. Here, the CP204L gene was cloned into the expression vector pET-30a (+), and the soluble p30 protein was successfully expressed in the E. coli prokaryotic expression system and then labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to be the enzyme-labeled antigen. Using the purified recombinant p30 protein, a double-antigen sandwich ELISA for ASFV antibody detection was developed. This method exhibits excellent specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility in clinical sample detection with lower cost and shorter production cycles. Taken together, this study provides technical support for antibody detection for ASFV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant secondary succession is a very effective approach for the rejuvenation of degraded ecosystems. In order to comprehend alterations and driving mechanisms of soil bacterial communities under secondary succession of old-field and reveal their subsequent impacts on the decomposition and accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (SON), we investigated changes in soil bacterial communities following ~160 years of old-field succession on the Loess Plateau of China through analyses of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Illumina MiSeq DNA sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Our results revealed that subsequent to secondary succession of old-field, soil bacterial abundance progressively increased, while bacterial richness and diversity significantly decreased. Principal component analysis and Bray–Curtis similarity index showed that bacterial community composition gradually shifted following old-field succession. Specifically, the relative abundances of Proteobacteria, Rokubacteria, and Verrucomicrobia progressively increased, while Actinobacteria and Firmicutes slightly decreased following old-field succession. The most enriched of Proteobacteria (e.g., Rhizobiales, Xanthobacteraceae, Gammaproteobacteria, Bradyrhizobium, Rhizobiaceae, and Mesorhizobiur) were found in a climax forest, while Chloroflexi and Gemmatimonadetes had the lowest relative abundances. Further, the most enriched members of Actinobacteria, including Geodermatophilaceae, Frankiales, Blastococcus, Micrococcales, Micrococcacea, Propionibacteriales, Nocardioidaceae, Nocardioide, and Streptomycetaceae, were exhibited in the farmland stage. Our results suggested that secondary succession of old-field greatly modified soil bacterial communities via the transformation of soil nutrients levels, altering plant biomass and soil physiochemical properties. Soil bacterial community composition was transformed from oligotrophic groups to copiotrophic Proteobacteria following old-field succession, which may promote SOC and SON accumulation through increasing the utilization of labile organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), while decreasing decomposition of recalcitrant organic C and N from the early- to late-successional stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The current study identified microbial (including bacterial and viral) diagnostic models that could discriminate colorectal tumor patients from healthy controls, expanding the potential biomarkers for colorectal tumors. A combination of five colorectal cancer-associated gut bacteria was identified in this study for the discrimination of colorectal cancer patients from healthy controls, with verifiable performance in multiple cohorts. The gene pathways regulated by aberrant gut bacteria were also identified, providing possible directions for studying bacterial carcinogenesis mechanisms. Furthermore, this study revealed the potential interactions of gut bacteria with viruses and within bacteria in adenoma-carcinoma sequences, which may extend our understanding of dysbiosis in colorectal carcinogenesis. The alterations in gut bacteria are closely related to colorectal cancer. However, studies on adenoma are still scarce. Besides, the associations of gut viruses with colorectal tumor, and the interactions of bacteria with viruses in colorectal tumors are still under exploration. Therefore, a metagenomic sequencing of stool samples from patients with colorectal adenoma (CRA), colorectal cancer (CRC), and healthy controls was performed to identify changes in gut microbiome in patients with colorectal tumors. Five CRC-enriched bacteria (Peptostreptococcus stomatis, Clostridium symbiosum, Hungatella hathewayi, Parvimonas micra, and Gemella morbillorum) were identified as a diagnostic model to identify CRC patients, and the efficacy of the diagnostic model was verifiable in 1523 metagenomic samples from ten cohorts of eight different countries. We identified the positive association of Bacteroides fragilis with PD-L1 expression and PD-1 checkpoint pathway, providing a possible direction for studying bacterial carcinogenesis mechanisms. Furthermore, the increased interactions within the microbiome in patients may play roles in the development of CRC. In conclusion, this study identified novel microbiota combinations with discrimination for colorectal tumor, and revealed the potential interactions of gut bacteria with viruses in the adenoma-carcinoma sequence, which implies that the microbiome, but not only bacteria, should be paid more attention in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) is a key enzyme catalyzing the rate-limiting step in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) production. There may be a mechanism by which SCD is involved in lipid metabolism, which is assumed to be essential for goose follicular development. For this reason, a cellular model of SCD function in goose granulosa cells (GCs) via SCD overexpression and knockdown was used to determine the role of SCD in GC proliferation using flow cytometry. We found that SCD overexpression induced and SCD knockdown inhibited GCs proliferation. Furthermore, ELISA analysis showed that SCD overexpression increased the total cholesterol (TC), progesterone, and estrogen levels in GCs, while SCD knockdown decreased TC, progesterone, and estrogen levels (p < 0.05). Combining these results with those of related multi-omics reports, we proposed a mechanism of SCD regulating the key lipids and differentially expressed gene (DEGs) in glycerophospholipid and glycerolipid metabolism, which participate in steroidogenesis mediated by the lipid droplet deposition in goose GCs. These results add further insights into understanding the lipid metabolism mechanism of goose GCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown distinct associations between specific dietary fats and mortality. However, evidence on specific dietary fats and mortality among patients with cardiometabolic disease (CMD) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to estimate the association between consumption of specific fatty acids and survival of patients with CMD and examine whether cardiometabolic biomarkers can mediate the above effects. The study included 8537 participants with CMD, from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) and NHANES 1999–2014. Cox proportional hazards regression, restricted cubic spline regression, and isocaloric substitution models were used to estimate the associations of dietary fats with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality among participants with CMD. Mediation analysis was performed to assess the potential mediating roles of cardiometabolic biomarkers. During a median follow-up of 10.3 years (0–27.1 years), 3506 all-cause deaths and 882 CVD deaths occurred. The hazard ratios (HRs) of all-cause mortality among patients with CMD were 0.85 (95% confidence interval (CI), 95% CI, 0.73–0.99; p trend = 0.03) for ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-6 PUFA), 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75–1.00; p trend = 0.05) for linoleic acid (LA), and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75–0.98; p trend = 0.03) for docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). Isocalorically replacing energy from SFA with PUFA and LA were associated with 8% and 4% lower all-cause mortality respectively. The HRs of CVD mortality among CMD patients comparing extreme tertiles of specific dietary fats were 0.60 (95% CI, 0.48–0.75; p trend = 0.002) for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and 0.64 (95% CI, 0.48–0.85; p trend = 0.002) for DPA and above effects were mediated by levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). Restricted cubic splines showed significant negative nonlinear associations between above specific dietary fats and mortality. These results suggest that intakes of ω-6 PUFA, LA, and DPA or replacing SFA with PUFA or LA might be associated with lower all-cause mortality for patients with CMD. Consumption of EPA and DPA could potentially reduce cardiovascular death for patients with CMD, and their effects might be regulated by cardiometabolic biomarkers indirectly. More precise and representative studies are further needed to validate our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater science and technology is among the most rapidly developing branches of earth science globally. Interdisciplinarity poses both a challenge and a historical mission for graduate education in groundwater science and technology. This paper first analyzes the characteristics of domestic and international graduate education in groundwater science and technology. In addition, taking the China University of Geosciences (Beijing) as an example, it shows the history and development of the field in China. The results indicate that: (1) the graduate courses in groundwater science and technology in China are based on the characteristics of geoscientific research and closely integrate the advantages in environmental studies, ecology, and computer science to promote cross-fertilization across disciplines, departments, and universities; (2) after a few twists and turns in conferring master's and PhD degrees and in the construction of the discipline, groundwater science and technology has witnessed an increase in faculty members, expansion of the field of study, and the addition of modern educational and research facilities; (3) an increasing number of graduate students conduct research into the quality and safety of water supplies, rehabilitation technology of polluted water bodies, environment protection of river basin ecosystems, and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizoplane microbes are considered proxies for evaluating the assemblage stability of the rhizosphere in wetland ecosystems due to their roles in plant growth and ecosystem health. However, our knowledge of how microbial assemblage stability is promoted in the reed rhizosphere of wetlands undergoing recovery is limited. We investigated the assemblage stability, diversity, abundance, co-occurrence patterns, and functional characteristics of reed rhizosphere microbes in restored wetlands. The results indicated that assemblage stability significantly increased with recovery time and that the microbial assemblages were capable of resisting seasonal fluctuations after more than 20 years of restoration. The number of bacterial indicators was greater in the restoration groups with longer restoration periods. Most bacterial indicators appeared in the 30-year restoration group. However, the core taxa and keystone species of module 2 exhibited greater abundance within longer recovery periods and were well organized, with rich and diverse functions that enhanced microbial assemblage stability. Our study provides insight into the connection between the rhizosphere microbiome and recovery period and presents a useful theoretical basis for the empirical management of wetland ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) mainly causes severe diarrhea and intestinal pathological damage in piglets and poses a serious threat to pig farms. Currently, no effective reagents or vaccines are available to control PDCoV infection. Single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibodies can effectively inhibit virus infection and may be a potential therapeutic reagent for PDCoV treatment. In this study, a porcine phage display antibody library from the peripheral blood lymphocytes of piglets infected with PDCoV was constructed and used to select PDCoV-specific scFv. The library was screened with four rounds of biopanning using the PDCoV N protein, and the colony with the highest affinity to the PDCoV N protein was obtained (namely, N53). Then, the N53-scFv gene fragment was cloned into plasmid pFUSE-hIgG-Fc2 and expressed in HEK-293T cells. The scFv-Fc antibody N53 (namely, scFv N53) was purified using Protein A-sepharose. The reactive activity of the purified antibody with the PDCoV N protein was confirmed by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blot and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Finally, the antigenic epitopes that the scFv N53 recognized were identified by a series of truncated PDCoV N proteins. The amino acid residues 82GELPPNDTPATTRVT96 of the PDCoV N protein were verified as the minimal epitope that can be recognized by the scFv-Fc antibody N53. In addition, the interaction between the scFv-Fc antibody N53 and the PDCoV N protein was further analyzed by molecule docking. In conclusion, our research provides some references for the treatment and prevention of PDCoV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA) detection in drinking water and food packaging materials has attracted much attention since the discovery that BPA can interfere with normal physiological processes and cause adverse health effects. Here, we constructed a label-free aptamer fluorescent assay for selective and sensitive detection of BPA based on the rolling circle amplification (RCA)/Exonuclease III (Exo III)-combined cascade amplification strategy. First, the duplex DNA probe (RP) with anti-BPA aptamer and trigger sequence was designed for BPA recognition and signal amplification. Next, under the action of BPA, the trigger probe was liberated from RP to initiate RCA reaction as primary amplification. Subsequently, the RCA products were used to trigger Exo III assisted secondary amplification with the help of hairpin probes, producing plenty of “G-quadruplex” in lantern-like structures. Finally, the continuously enriched “G-quadruplex lanterns” were lightened by zinc(II)-protoporphyrin IX (ZnPPIX) generating enhanced fluorescence signals. By integrating the primary RCA and secondary Exo III mediated cascade amplification strategy, this method displayed an excellent sensitivity with the detection limits of 5.4 × 10−17 M. In addition, the anti-BPA aptamer exhibits high recognition ability with BPA, guaranteeing the specificity of detection. The reporter signal probe (G-quadruplex with ZnPPIX) provides a label-free fluorescence signals readout without complicated labeling procedures, making the method simple in design and cost-effective in operation. Moreover, environmental samples analysis was also performed, suggesting that our strategy was reliable and had a great potential application in environmental monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature is an extremely important environmental condition in the application of microbial denitrification for nitrate removal from groundwater. Understanding the nitrate removal efficiency of groundwater and the diversity, composition, and structure of microbial communities under different temperature conditions is of great significance for effective mitigation of groundwater nitrate pollution. This study investigated the effects of temperature on denitrification at 15 °C, 25 °C, 40 °C, and 45 °C. Moreover, the characteristics of microbial community structure and diversity were analyzed by combining high-throughput sequencing and polymerase chain reaction methods in order to fully clarify the denitrification efficiency under different temperature conditions. According to laboratory batch experiments and the findings of previous research, glucose was set as the carbon source and changes in "three nitrogen" indicators of the four temperature systems were mainly tested to clarify the effectiveness of nitrate removal. The maximum removal rates of nitrate nitrogen at 15 °C, 25 °C, 40 °C, and 45 °C were 44.05%, 87.03%, 99.26%, and 92.79%, respectively. Therefore, the most efficient nitrate removal can be achieved at 40℃. The Chao abundance indexes in the denitrification systems at 15 °C, 25 °C, 40 °C, and 45 °C were 1873, 352, 466, and 640, respectively. Therefore, the highest species richness was observed at 15 °C, but there were only a few dominant bacteria species. The composition of the bacterial community and the most dominant phylum varied at different temperatures. Among them, Gammaproteobacteria in Proteobacteria phylum plays an important role in the degradation of nitrate nitrogen. The relative abundance of Gammaproteobacteria at 15 °C, 25 °C, 40 °C, and 45 °C were 25.32%, 66.56%, 72.83%, and 3.47%. Tolumonas belongs to Gammaproteobacteria. The relative abundance of Tolumonas at 15 °C, 25 °C, 40 °C, and 45 °C were 9.41%, 65.47%, 62.49%, and 0.03%, respectively. The results of this study show that different temperature conditions affect the diversity, composition, and structure of the microbial community, thereby affecting the efficiency of denitrification for nitrate removal from groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has set up ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin as its national strategy. However, the fragile natural ecosystem and intensive human disturbances pose challenges to it. This study evaluates habitat quality change and analyzes its drivers in a representative county of this region, aiming to provide scientific basis for ecological protection and sustainable development. We took Liulin, a representative county of middle Yellow River Basin as the study area and evaluated the spatiotemporal variation of habitat quality from 2000 to 2020 with the InVEST model. Further, the influencing factors of habitat quality pattern were explored using GeoDetector, and their gradient ranges dominating the habitat quality change were determined by gradient analysis. The results showed that: (1) Areas of low and medium-low habitat quality grades were distributed interactively in the whole county; medium grade areas were scattered in the northeast and southwest parts of the county; and medium-high and high grades area were distributed sporadically along the Yellow River and its branches. (2) Habitat quality of the county almost unchanged from 2000 to 2010. However, from 2010 to 2020, with the rapid expansion of construction land (increased by 9.62 times), the area proportion of medium, medium-high, and high habitat quality grades decreased from 7.01% to 5.31%, while that of low and medium-low habitat quality grades increased from 92.99% to 94.69%. (3) The habitat quality was influenced by multiple natural-human factors. The main influencing factor was land use, followed by elevation. (4) Most changes of habitat quality occurred in areas with lower elevation, gentler slope, and higher vegetation coverage, which were affected by intensive human activities. These results suggest that in future land use policy making and the construction land expansion in Liulin County should be restricted, and differentiated ecological protection and restoration strategies should be implemented in areas with different habitat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorophyll fronts are important to monitor and map the oceanic front, especially in the season when sea surface temperature (SST) fronts weaken. In this study, surface chlorophyll-a (chl-a) fronts in the Yellow and Bohai seas were characterized for the first time using satellite data. Five distinct chl-a fronts (i.e., the Bohai Strait, Shandong Peninsula, Jiangsu, Liaodong Peninsula, and Korean Peninsula fronts) were observed in summer along the 40 m isobaths and faded in other seasons. Notably, these fronts coincided with SST fronts. Strong chl-a fronts emerged during summer due to chl-a blooms in eutrophic coastal waters paired with surface chl-a fading in strongly stratified offshore waters and coastal physical fronts. Although SST fronts were strong during winter, light limitation and strong vertical mixing in offshore waters led to low chl-a in both coastal and offshore waters, suppressing chl-a front formation. Both chl-a and SST fronts coincided with steep seabed slopes (slope ratio > 1), suggesting that seabed slope may be an indicator of oceanic front location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs are evolutionarily conserved, small non-coding RNAs that play critical post-transcriptional regulatory roles in skeletal muscle development. We previously found that miR-9-5p is abundantly expressed in chicken skeletal muscle. Here, we demonstrate a new role for miR-9-5p as a myogenic microRNA that regulates skeletal muscle development. The overexpression of miR-9-5p significantly inhibited the proliferation and differentiation of skeletal muscle satellite cells (SMSCs), whereas miR-9-5p inhibition had the opposite effect. We show that insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) is a target gene of miR-9-5p, using dual-luciferase assays, RT-qPCR, and Western Blotting, and that it promotes proliferation and differentiation of SMSCs. In addition, we found that IGF2BP3 regulates IGF-2 expression, using overexpression and knockdown studies. We show that Akt is activated by IGF2BP3 and is essential for IGF2BP3-induced cell development. Together, our results indicate that miR-9-5p could regulate the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts by targeting IGF2BP3 through IGF-2 and that this activity results in the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in skeletal muscle cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, we have investigated the apoptosis and autophagy of chondrocytes induced by the T-2 and HT-2 toxins. The viability of chondrocytes was measured by the MTT assay. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) kits were used to measure the oxidative stress of chondrocytes. The apoptosis of chondrocytes was measured using flow cytometry. Hoechst 33258 and MDC staining agents were introduced to analyze apoptosis and autophagy induction in chondrocytes, respectively. Protein expression of Bax, caspase-9, caspase-3, and Beclin1 was examined by western blotting analysis. The T-2 and HT-2 toxins significantly decreased the viability of chondrocytes in a time-dependent manner. The level of oxidative stress in chondrocytes induced by the T-2 toxin was significantly higher when compared with that of the HT-2 toxin. The apoptosis rate of chondrocytes induced by the T-2 toxin increased from 3.26 ± 1.03%, 18.38 ± 1.28%, 34.5 ± 1.40% to 49.67 ± 5.31%, whereas apoptosis rate of chondrocytes induced by the HT-2 toxin increased from 3.82 ± 1.03%, 11.61 ± 1.27%, 25.72 ± 2.95% to 36.28 ± 2.81% in 48 h incubation time. Hoechst 33258 staining confirmed that apoptosis of chondrocytes induced by the T-2 toxin was significantly higher than that observed when the chondrocytes were incubated with the HT-2 toxin. MDC staining revealed that the autophagy rate of chondrocytes induced by the T-2 toxin increased from 6.38% to 63.02%, whereas this rate induced by the HT-2 toxin changed from 6.08% to 53.33%. The expression levels of apoptosis and autophagy related proteins, Bax, caspase-9, caspase-3, and Beclin1 in chondrocytes induced by the T-2 toxin were significantly higher when compared with those levels induced by the HT-2 toxin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Separating productive green water from non-productive green water could determine the potential for improving green water use through water-to-vapor conversion and the optimization of green water resource management. This study selected three typical planted forests of Robinia pseudoacacia, Platycladus orientalis, and Pinus tabulaeformis in the Nanxiaohegou sub-basin, a typical small sub-basin located in the gully region of the Loess Plateau. A combination of field monitoring, hydrological models, and statistical tests was used to obtain the crop coefficient and to differentiate productive green water from non-productive green water, based on the hydrological, climatic, and ecological processes in the basin. The results demonstrated that the complementary relationship areal evapotranspiration (CRAE) model was the most effective complementary relationship-based model for the simulation. Based on the calibrated parameters, it could be used for the simulation of green water flux of different vegetation types in the studied region. In the Nanxiaohegou sub-basin, the amounts of productive green water, non-productive green water, and total green water flux of R. pseudoacacia were the highest among all three types of vegetation, followed by those of P. orientalis and P. tabulaeformis forests during the growing seasons between 2015 and 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wind energy utilization in Hong Kong is limited, although its potential has proven to be significant. The lack of effective policy for wind energy development is the main constraint. In this paper, the wind power potential in Hong Kong is analyzed, and the wind power potential assessment is conducted based on one-year field measured wind data using Light Detection & Ranging (LiDAR) technology in a proposed offshore wind farm. Results show that the offshore wind power potential in Hong Kong was 14,449 GWh which occupied 32.20% of electricity consumption in 2017. In addition, the electricity market and power structure in Hong Kong are also reviewed with the existing policies related to renewable energy development. Conclusions can be made that the renewable energy target in Hong Kong is out of date and until now there have been no specific effective policies on wind energy. In order to urge Hong Kong, catch up with other countries/regions on wind energy development, the histories and evolution of wind energy policies in other countries, especially in Denmark, are reviewed and discussed. Suggestions are provided in the aspects of economics, public attitude, and political factors which can stimulate wind power development in Hong Kong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel bio-adsorbent was fabricated via grafting an amino-terminated hyperbranched polymer (HBP-NH2) onto bagasse cellulose. The morphology and microstructure of the HBP-NH2-grafted bagasse cellulose (HBP-g-BC) were characterized and its adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) ions in aqueous solutions was investigated. The rough surface structure of HBP-g-BC that is beneficial for improving the adsorption capacity was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The grafting reaction was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The adsorbent performance was shown to be better with a lower pH value, a higher adsorbent dosage, or a higher initial Cr(VI) concentration. Moreover, the kinetics study revealed that the adsorption behavior followed a pseudo-second-order model. The isotherm results showed that the adsorption data could be well-fitted by the Langmuir, Freundlich, or Temkin models. Moreover, HBP-g-BC could maintain 74.4% of the initial removal rate even after five cycles of regeneration. Thus, the high potential of HBP-g-BC as a bio-adsorbent for heavy metal removal has been demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cohesive and adhesive bindings degrade during operation and maintenance even if contacting materials in a manufactured laminated structure are perfectly matched at the interfaces. Two modelling approaches for describing partially closed delaminations or imperfect contact zones, which often occurs at the interfaces, are examined and considered. To confirm the adequateness of the applicability of the effective spring boundary conditions for guided wave scattering by a finite length delamination, guided wave propagation through a damaged zone with a distribution of micro-cracks is compared with an equivalent cohesive zone model, where the spring stiffnesses for the effective boundary conditions are calculated using the properties of the considered crack distribution. Two kinds of local interfacial decohesion zones with an imperfect contact at the interfaces are considered: uniform partially closed delaminations and bridged cracks. The possibility of the employment of the effective spring boundary conditions to substitute a distribution of micro-cracks is analysed and discussed. Two algorithms of generation of a distribution of open micro-cracks providing characteristics equivalent to the effective boundary conditions are presented and examined. The influence of the characteristics of a delamination on wave characteristics (eigenfrequencies, eigenforms, transmission coefficient) is investigated for several kinds of partially closed delaminations.

In recent years, functional fluidic and gas electrohydrodynamic (EHD) pumps have received considerable attention due to their remarkable features, such as simple structure, quiet operation, and energy-efficient utilization. EHD pumps can be applied in various industrial applications, including flow transfer, thermal management, and actuator drive. In this paper, the authors reviewed the literature surrounding functional fluidic and gas EHD pumps regarding the following aspects: the initial observation of the EHD effect, mathematical modeling, and the choice of pump structure, electrode configuration, and working medium. Based on the review, we present a summary of the development and latest research on EHD pumps. This paper provides a critical analysis of the current limitations of EHD pumps and identifies potential areas for future research. Additionally, the potential application of artificial intelligence in the field of EHD pumps is discussed in the context of its cross-disciplinary nature. Many reviews on EHD pumps focus on rigid pumps, and the contribution of this review is to summarize and analyze soft EHD pumps that have received less attention, thus reducing the knowledge gap.

To date, research on poultry egg production performance has only been conducted within inter or intra-breed groups, while those combining both inter- and intra-breed groups are lacking. Egg production performance is known to differ markedly between Sichuan white goose ( Anser cygnoides ) and Landes goose ( Anser anser ). In order to understand the mechanism of egg production performance in geese, we undertook this study. Here, 18 ovarian stromal samples from both Sichuan white goose and Landes goose at the age of 145 days (3 individuals before egg production initiation for each breed) and 730 days (3 high- and low egg production individuals during non-laying periods for each breed) were collected to reveal the genome-wide expression profiles of ovarian mRNAs and lncRNAs between these two geese breeds at different physiological stages. Briefly, 58, 347, 797, 777, and 881 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 56, 24, 154, 105, and 224 differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (DElncRNAs) were found in LLD vs. HLD (low egg production Landes goose vs. high egg production Landes goose), LSC vs. HSC (low egg production Sichuan White goose vs. high egg production Sichuan white goose), YLD vs. YSC (young Landes goose vs. young Sichuan white goose), HLD vs. HSC (high egg production Landes goose vs. high egg production Sichuan white goose), and LLD vs. LSC (low egg production Landes goose vs. low egg production Sichuan white goose) groups, respectively. Functional enrichment analysis of these DEGs and DElncRNAs suggest that the "neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway" is crucial for egg production, and particularly, members of the 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor (HTR) family affect egg production by regulating ovarian metabolic function. Furthermore, the big differences in the secondary structures among HTR1F and HTR1B, HTR2B, and HTR7 may lead to their different expression patterns in goose ovaries of both inter- and intra-breed groups. These results provide novel insights into the mechanisms regulating poultry egg production performance.

Noncoding RNAs, especially microRNAs (miRNAs), have been reported to play important roles during skeletal muscle development and regeneration. Our previous sequencing data revealed that miR-99a-5p is one of the most abundant miRNAs in chicken breast muscle. The purpose of this study was to reveal the regulatory mechanism of miR-99a-5p in the proliferation and differentiation of chicken skeletal muscle satellite cells (SMSCs). Through the investigation of cell proliferation activity, cell cycle progression, and 5-ethynyl-29-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, we found that miR-99a-5p can significantly promote the proliferation of SMSCs. Moreover, we found that miR-99a-5p can inhibit myotube formation by decreasing the expression of muscle cell differentiation marker genes. After miR-99a-5p target gene scanning, we confirmed that miR-99a-5p directly targets the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of myotubularin-related protein 3 (MTMR3) and regulates its expression level during chicken SMSC proliferation and differentiation. We also explored the role of MTMR3 in muscle development and found that its knockdown significantly facilitates the proliferation but represses the differentiation of SMSCs, which is opposite to the effects of miR-99a-5p. Overall, we demonstrated that miR-99a-5p regulates the proliferation and differentiation of SMSCs by targeting MTMR3., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The filamentous fungi XLA and XLC isolated from Cd-contaminated soil were identified morphologically and phylogenetically as Paecilomyces lilacinus and Mucoromycote sp., respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Cd2+, Co2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cr3+ and Cr6+ in minimum mineral (MM) medium agar plates were 29,786, 2945, 9425, 5080, 1785 and 204 mg · L(-1) for XLA and 11,240, 884, 9100, 2540, 3060 and 51 mg · L(-1) for XLC, respectively. Favorable biosorption conditions for adsorption of Cd2+ by the tested fungi were investigated. Efficient performances of the biosorbents were described using Langmuir isotherm model, and the predicted maximum biosorption capacities for Cd2+ were 77.61 mg · g(-1) of XLA and 79.67 mg · g(-1) of XLC. Experiments on desorption potential of biosorbents validated their efficacy at a large scale. Results showed that XLA obtained a desorption rate of 84.7% by 2% EDTA and XLC gained a desorption rate of 78.9% by 0.1 M HCl. Analysis by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) suggested that groups of C-N, COO- for XLA and C-N, CH2 and phosphate for XLC were the dominant binding sites for Cd2+ biosorption. Our results indicated that the fungus XLA, rather than XLC, could potentially be used as an inexpensive, eco-friendly and effective bioremediation agent for the removal of Cd2+ from wastewater.