Search

Purposes It aims to discuss how to effectively carry out the ecological governance of the coastline of Qionghai City, Hainan Province under the concept of One Health [1] to promote the sustainable development of residents’ income and provide practical cases and theoretical references for the ecological governance of the Hainan Coastline. Methods Use field research and random interview methods to obtain relevant data and conduct quantitative analysis. Results and shortcomings Residents’ income has stable growth, water pollution control effects are outstanding, and the governance of air pollution is obvious. However, there are still problems such as serious degradation of coral reef ecosystems and lack of effective funding for ecological compensation, mainly due to the threat of insufficient capital investment and human activities. Conclusions It is recommended to improve the sustainable development capacity of the township governments, build a reasonable ecological compensation mechanism, accelerate the transformation of the township governments to the ecological government, increase the implementation of green GDP, form a virtuous circle of compared to achieve ecological environmental protection and economic development. Department decision -making provides a scientific basis.

Osteoporosis commonly occurs in the older people and severe patients, with the main reason of the imbalance of bone metabolism (the rate of bone resorption exceeding the rate of bone formation), resulting in a decrease in bone mineral density and destruction of bone microstructure and further leading to the increased risk of fragility fracture. Recent studies indicate that protein nutritional support is beneficial for attenuating osteoporosis and improving bone health. This review summarized the classical mechanisms of protein intervention for alleviating osteoporosis on both suppressing bone resorption and regulating bone formation related pathways (promoting osteoblasts generation and proliferation, enhancing calcium absorption, and increasing collagen and mineral deposition), as well as the potential novel mechanisms via activating autophagy of osteoblasts, altering bone related miRNA profiles, regulating muscle-bone axis, and modulating gut microbiota abundance. Protein nutritional intervention is expected to provide novel approaches for the prevention and adjuvant therapy of osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau is the main permafrost area in China. Concrete structures constructed on permafrost are affected by the early negative-temperature environment. In particular, the negative-temperature environment seriously affects the strength growth process and the frost resistance of concrete (FRC). Therefore, this study considered the influence of the gas content, water–binder ratio (w/b), age, and other factors on the strength variation law and FRC under −3 °C curing conditions. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to analyze the pore structure of concrete before and after freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs). The results showed that the compressive strength of the concrete (CSC) under −3 °C curing was only 57.8–86.4% of that cured under standard conditions. The CSC under −3 °C curing showed an obvious age-lag phenomenon. The FRC under −3 °C curing was much lower than that under standard curing. The porosity of the concrete under −3 °C curing was greater, with a higher percentage of harmful and multi-harmful pores than that under standard curing. The concrete properties deteriorated primarily because curing at −3 °C hindered the hydration reaction compared with standard methods. This hindrance resulted in diminished hydration development, weakening the concrete's structural integrity. Under both curing conditions, when the gas content was between 3.2% and 3.8%, the frost resistance was the best. This is because a gas content within this range effectively enhances the internal pore structure, therefore relieving the swelling pressure caused by FTCs. Based on the freeze–thaw damage (FTD) model proposed by previous authors, a new model for the CSC under −3 °C curing reaching that of the concrete under standard curing for 28 d was established in this study. This advanced model was capable of accurately assessing the FTD of concrete structures in permafrost regions. Finally, the life expectancy of concrete in Northwest China was predicted. The life of the concrete reached 46.9 years under standard curing, while the longest life of the concrete under −3 °C curing was only 12.9 years. Therefore, attention should be paid to constructing and curing concrete structures in cold environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese steamed bread (CSB) is a traditional food of the Chinese nation, and the preservation of its quality and freshness during storage is very important for its industrial production. Therefore, it is necessary to study the storage characteristics of CSB. Non-destructive CT technology was utilized to characterize and visualize the microstructure of CSB during storage, and also to further study of quality changes. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional images of CSBs were obtained through X-ray scanning and 3D reconstruction. Morphological parameters of the microstructure of CSBs were acquired based on CT image using image processing methods. Additionally, commonly used physicochemical indexes (hardness, flexibility, moisture content) for the quality evaluation of CSBs were analyzed. Moreover, a correlation analysis was conducted based on the three-dimensional morphological parameters and physicochemical indexes of CSBs. The results showed that three-dimensional morphological parameters of CSBs were negatively correlated with moisture content (Pearson correlation coefficient range−0.86~−0.97) and positively correlated with hardness (Pearson correlation coefficient range−0.87~0.99). The results indicate the inspiring capability of CT in the storage quality evaluation of CSB, providing a potential analytical method for the detection of quality and freshness in the industrial production of CSB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The dangerous inducers of muscle atrophy are inflammatory reaction, oxidative stress, and cachexia, etc. β‐Glucan, an important food derived active ingredient, has been reported to exert anti‐inflammatory effects, however, its effects on regulating myoblast differentiation and protein degradation are unclear. This study is aimed to investigate the mechanism of oat β‐glucan on alleviating muscle atrophy. RESULTS: The results showed that oat β‐glucan treatment reversed tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) induced abnormal myoblast differentiation and reduced muscle atrophy related MuRF‐1 and Atrogin‐1 protein expression. The similar phenomenon was observed after using MCC950 (NLRP3 specific inhibitor) or AS1842856 (FoxO1 specific inhibitor) to suppress NLRP3 and FoxO1 expression, respectively. Exposure to β‐glucan or AS1842856 also inhibited TNF‐α induced the activation of TLR4/NF‐κB pathway by inactivating FoxO1, and subsequently suppressed the expression of NLRP3. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that oat β‐glucan exerts essential roles in promoting myoblast differentiation and alleviating muscle atrophy via inactivating FoxO1 and NLRP3 inflammasome signal pathway. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preterm infants presented a high prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH), while the optimal screening pattern is still under debate. This study aimed at evaluating the characteristics of thyroid function by conducting weekly screening during the first month of life in very preterm infants (VPIs) to achieve timely diagnosis and treatment of CH. Methods: A prospective cohort study was carried out on VPIs born with gestational age (GA) <32 weeks (w) and admitted to the participating institutes from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2022. Serial serum thyroid hormone levels were measured weekly within the first month after birth, and at 36 w of corrected age, or before discharge. Datasets for serial thyroid hormone levels and general information were obtained. Results: A total of 5992 VPIs were enrolled in this study, of which 456 (7.6%) [95% confidence interval (CI), 6.9–8.3%] were diagnosed with CH. The incidence of CH increased with lower GA, moving from 4.8% [CI, 3.4–6.1%] at GA 31 w to 16.9% [CI, 8.3–25.4%] at GA <26 w. Among the CH subjects, 57.7% [CI, 53.1–62.2%] were identified after the first screening and classified as delayed thyrotropin elevation (dTSH). With the decrease of GA, the proportion of dTSH also increased, moving from 38.1% [CI, 27.5–48.7%] at GA 31 w to 82.6% [CI, 65.8–99.4%] at GA <26 w. Through conducting weekly screening of thyroid function, it was remarkable that only 42.3% [CI, 37.8–46.9%] of CH subjects were diagnosed during the first screening. The cumulative rate of CH identified by rescreening performed at the second, third, and fourth week was 76.1% [CI, 72.2–80.0%], 90.6% [CI, 87.9–93.3%], and 98.9% [CI, 97.9–99.9%], respectively. Conclusion: The incidence of CH and dTSH both increase with lower GA in VPIs. Dynamic screening of thyroid function by weeks within the first month of life is crucial for the timely diagnosis and treatment of CH in VPIs, and it might effectively reduce the implications of missed diagnosis and delayed treatment. Clinical Trials Registration: ChiCTR1900025234 and ChiCTR2000037918 (Registration number). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the influence of major events on urban development and change across two city contexts (i.e. Guangzhou and Birmingham). Considering cities as new international actors, a theoretical modal was proposed, and qualitative evidence was gathered to examine the cities' decision to bid for the hosting of the 2010 Asian Games and the 2022 Commonwealth Games respectively, the urban development–related pressures faced, and the ways in which urban development occurred as a result of event production. In response to intercity competition and globalisation, both cities fought for development opportunities and actively sought international and national attention through major events. However, urban governance becomes complicated, in terms of managing city–market–society relations; as such, particularly for Guangzhou, it led the city government to adopt an entrepreneurial approach to urban governance. This study suggests future research interrogating whether major events provide a sustainable means to achieve urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An insufficient intracellular H2O2 level and overexpressed glutathione (GSH) are still the major challenges for effective chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Inspired by the unique glutamine metabolism pathway in cancer cells, herein, intelligent nanocatalytic theranostics is used to enhance intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation via the production of H2O2 by a biomimetic nanozyme, and simultaneously reduce ROS consumption via the depression of GSH synthesis by the glutamine metabolic inhibitor. In this reactor, nano-sized Au and Fe3O4 coloaded dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DMSN-Au-Fe3O4) serve as the bifunctional nanozyme, where intracellular glucose is catalyzed into H2O2 by the glucose oxidase-mimicking Au nanoparticles and then immediately transformed into ˙OH by the peroxidase-like Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Then, CB839, the glutaminase (GLS) inhibitor, is grafted on the nanozyme, blocking the glutamine pathway and GSH biosynthesis. As a result, the as-designed nanoplatform with a three-pronged integration of Au-mediated H2O2 self-supply, Fe3O4-triggered Fenton-like reaction, and glutamine pathway-mediated GSH depletion significantly boosts the CDT efficacy, achieving remarkable and specific antitumor properties both in vitro and in vivo. This work not only paves a new way for rationally designing multi-functional nanozymes for achieving high therapeutic efficacy, but also provides new insights into the construction of bioinspired synergetic therapy by combining CDT and a key anticancer pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetically modified (GM) technology is of great significance for increasing crop production, protecting biodiversity, and reducing environmental pollution. However, with the frequent occurrence of safety events regarding GM foods, more and more disputes have arisen over the potential safety of transgenic technology. It is particularly necessary to find a fast and accurate method for transgenic product identification. In this research, mid-infrared spectroscopy, coupled with chemometric methods, was applied to discriminate GM maize from its non-GM parent. A total of 120 GM maize and 120 non-GM maize samples were prepared, and the spectral information in the range of 400–4000 cm−1 was collected. After acquiring the spectra, wavelet transform (WT) was used to preprocess the data, and k-means was carried out to split all samples into calibration and prediction sets in the ratio of 2:1. Principal component analysis (PCA) was then conducted to qualitatively distinguish the two types of samples, and an apparent cluster was observed. Since the full spectrum covered a large amount of data and redundant information, we adopted the successive projections algorithm (SPA) to select optimal wavelengths for further analysis. Chemometrics, including partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), the k-nearest neighbor algorithm (KNN), and the extreme learning machine (ELM), were performed to establish classification models based on full spectra and optimal wavelengths. The overall results indicated that ELM models based on full spectra and optimal spectra showed better accuracy and reliability, with a 100% recognition rate in the calibration set and a 98.75% recognition rate in the prediction set. It has been confirmed that mid-infrared spectroscopy, combined with chemometric methods, can be a novel approach to identify transgenic maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice bran protein (RBP) is a plant protein obtained from rice bran, a byproduct produced during rice milling process. It has been proved to be a high quality protein due to containing all of the essential amino acids and the content closing to the FAO/WHO recommended ideal pattern. Recent studies indicated that RBP and rice bran protein hydrolysates (RBPH) served variety biological functions. In this review, we summarized the classical functions of RBP and RBPH mediating antioxidant activity, chronic diseases prevention (such as antihypertensive effect, anti-diabetic effect, cholesterol-lowering activity), and anti-cancer effect. We also proposed their potential novel functions on anti-obesity effect, attenuating sarcopenia, promoting wound healing. Furthermore, the potential benefit to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients was put forward, which might provide new strategy for development and utilization of RBP and RBPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite–2 (ICESat–2) carries the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS), enabling global canopy height measurements from forest canopy height models (CHMs). Topographic slope is a crucial factor affecting the accuracy of canopy height estimates from ICESat–2 CHMs, but it has not been sufficiently studied. This paper aims to eliminate the influence of slope on canopy height estimates from ICESat–2 data and establishes a method for correcting forest canopy heights based on high spatial resolution digital orthophoto maps (DOM). The cross-track photons are corrected horizontally to eliminate the estimation error. Multi-resolution segmentation is used to segment tree crowns in the DOM, and the distance and relative position between the top of canopy (TOC) photons and the center point of the crown are calculated. TOC photon correction rules are established for different terrains, and the vertical error of the TOC photons is corrected. The results indicate that the vertical error increases exponentially with the slope. The cross-track photon correction and the TOC photon correction method eliminate the effect of slope on canopy height estimates. The cross-track photon correction method reduces the mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) of the canopy height estimates by 35.71% and 35.98%, respectively. The TOC photon correction approach further reduces the MAE and RMSE by 23% and 19.23%, respectively. The proposed method has significantly higher accuracy for forest canopy height estimation using ICESat–2 data than the traditional method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coxiella burnetii is the etiological agent of the zoonotic disease Q fever, which is featured by its ability to replicate in acid vacuoles resembling the lysosomal network. One key virulence determinant of C. burnetii is the Dot/Icm system that transfers more than 150 effector proteins into host cells. These effectors function to construct the lysosome-like compartment permissive for bacterial replication, but the functions of most of these effectors remain elusive. In this study, we used an affinity tag purification mass spectrometry (AP-MS) approach to generate a C. burnetii-human protein-protein interaction (PPI) map involving 53 C. burnetii effectors and 3480 host proteins. This PPI map revealed that the C. burnetii effector CBU0425 (designated CirB) interacts with most subunits of the 20S core proteasome. We found that ectopically expressed CirB inhibits hydrolytic activity of the proteasome. In addition, overexpression of CirB in C. burnetii caused dramatic inhibition of proteasome activity in host cells, while knocking down CirB expression alleviated such inhibitory effects. Moreover, we showed that a region of CirB that spans residues 91–120 binds to the proteasome subunit PSMB5 (beta 5). Finally, PSMB5 knockdown promotes C. burnetii virulence, highlighting the importance of proteasome activity modulation during the course of C. burnetii infection. Author summary: As the causative agent of Q fever, C. burnetii colonizes host cells by transferring effector proteins into the host cytoplasm through its Dot/Icm secretion system to construct a replicative vacuole. The function of effectors remains largely unknown. Here, we performed a large-scale AP-MS screen to analyze the interactions among C. burnetii effectors and human proteins. These analyses found that CirB functions as an inhibitor of host proteasome activity, revealing that proteasome activity is important for intracellular survival of C. burnetii. Our data have laid the foundation for future exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying the roles of C. burnetii effectors in its virulence and for the identification of novel potential drug targets for the development of novel therapeutic treatment for C. burnetii infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlamydia psittaci is the causative agent of psittacosis, a worldwide zoonotic disease. A rapid, specific, and sensitive diagnostic assay would be benefit for C. psittaci infection control. In this study, an assay combining recombinase-aided amplification and a lateral flow strip (RAA-LF) for the detection of active C. psittaci infection was developed. The RAA-LF assay targeted the CPSIT_RS02830 gene of C. psittaci and could be accomplished in 15 min at a single temperature (39°C). The analytical sensitivity of the assay was as low as 1 × 100 copies/μl and no cross-reaction with some other intracellular pathogens was observed. Moreover, all feces samples from mice infected with C. psittaci at day-1 post-infection were positive in the RAA-LF assay. In conclusion, the RAA-LF assay provides a convenient, rapid, specific and sensitive method for detection of active C. psittaci infection and it is also suitable for C. psittaci detection in field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Significant antibiotic overuse due to prolonged antibiotic duration has not draw enough attention in developing countries with high antibiotic consumption. We aimed to describe the current status of prolonged early antibiotic duration in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants in a large regional multicenter cohort in China. Patients and Methods: Institution-based prospective cohort study was conducted in all VLBW infants admitted to 16 Grade A tertiary hospitals between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020. Early antibiotic use was defined as antibiotic initiation within the first 3 days of life. Prolonged early antibiotic course was defined as early antibiotic initiation for more than 7 days in infants with early-onset sepsis (EOS) or more than 3 days in infants with unlikely EOS. Antibiotic use was described as days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 patient days (PD). Results: Among 1684 eligible VLBW infants, 1544 (91.7%) infants were prescribed with prolonged early antibiotic course, including 618 infants with EOS and 926 infants with unlikely EOS. The median duration of early antibiotic course was 13 (IQR 8;20) days, with 78.0% of courses > 7 days and 43.6% of courses > 14 days. Total early antibiotic use was 408.3DOT/1000Pd, of which prolonged antibiotic courses accounted for 98.2% of all antibiotic use days. More than three antibiotics used, escalation antibiotic therapy, antibiotics for special use and the use of third generation cephalosporins and carbapenems were significantly common in prolonged courses compared to short courses in both infants with EOS and unlikely EOS group (P< 0.05). Conclusion: A large proportion of VLBW infants had excessively prolonged early antibiotic durations in the regional multicenter in China. Timely discontinuation of antibiotics in VLBW infants according to standardized guidelines and limit on the use of third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems may be key drivers in reducing the antibiotic overuse in developing countries like ours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To investigate whether hUC-MSCs attenuated severe burn-induced ALI and the effects were based on TSG-6 secreted from hUC-MSCs. Method. A rat model was established and evaluated as follows: cytokine expression was measured by ELISA, and both inflammatory cell infiltration and lung injury were assessed by immunohistochemistry assay. Results. In vitro, TSG-6 levels in serum from the burn group were significantly increased compared with those from the sham group. In vivo, TSG-6 levels of lung tissues and serum in the burn+hUC-MSC group were significantly increased compared with those in the burn group. Both in lung tissues and in serum, increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) were remarkably decreased, but the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 increased after hUC-MSC administration (p < 0.05). These significant positive effects after hUC-MSC transplantation did not occur in the burn+siTSG-6 group. Conclusion. The intratracheal implantation of hUC-MSCs has been an effective treatment for severe burn-induced ALI via promoting TSG-6 secretion and inhibiting inflammatory reaction in lung tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhipicephalus microplus , a vector that can transmit many pathogens to humans and domestic animals, is widely distributed in Yunnan province, China. However, few reports on the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in Rh. microplus in Yunnan are available. The aim of this study was to detect TBPs in Rh. microplus in Yunnan and to analyze the phylogenetic characterization of TBPs detected in these ticks. The adult Rh. microplus (n = 516) feeding on cattle were collected. The pooled DNA samples of these ticks were evaluated using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and then TBPs in individual ticks were identified using genus- or group-specific nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with DNA sequencing assay. As a result, Candidatus Rickettsia jingxinensis (24.61%, 127/516), Anaplasma marginale (13.18%, 68/516), Coxiella burnetii (3.10%, 16/516), and Coxiella- like endosymbiont (CLE) (8.33%, 43/516) were detected. The dual coinfection with Ca. R. jingxinensis and A. marginale and the triple coinfection with Ca. R. jingxinensis , A. marginale , and CLE were most frequent and detected in 3.68% (19/516) and 3.10% (16/516) of these ticks, respectively. The results provide insight into the diversity of TBPs and their coinfections in Rh. microplus in Yunnan province of China, reporting for the first time that C. burnetii had been found in Rh. microplus in China. Multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis with 6 loci (MLVA-6) discriminated the C. burnetii detected in Rh. microplus in Yunnan into MLVA genotype 1, which is closely related to previously described genotypes found primarily in tick and human samples from different regions of the globe, indicating a potential public health threat posed by C. burnetii in Rh. microplus in Yunnan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food has three main properties: nutritional, sensory, and health-related functions. Nutrients, which provide components of the body and energy to maintain basic life activity, are very important. At present and in the future, the sensory function of food, especially its effects on health, will be given increasing attention. Moreover, miRNAs, small noncoding single-stranded RNA molecules first identified in 1993, play essential roles in post-transcriptional regulation. This review summarizes the regulation of the biological function of nutrients, including carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. We further elucidated the effects of nutrients on modulating the physiological function of the body via altering miRNA profiles. Increasing evidence has revealed that dietary nutritional regulation plays an important role in embryonic development, postnatal growth and development, and senescence. Deficiency or excess of certain nutrients is closely correlated with disease occurrence and development. Current studies have indicated that nutrient treatments exert variable biological effects by modulating miRNA expression. In summary, nutrient-regulated miRNAs might be novel mediators of nutrient-modulating biological functions and play irreplaceable roles in regulating physiological functions, suggesting a new approach for revealing the molecular mechanism of nutritional regulation. [Display omitted] • Nutrients exert crucial roles in regulating physiological functions. • Nutrients including carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber alter miRNA profile. • miRNA is the novel mediator of nutrients modulating biological functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]