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[Abstract: Objective: To identify the main components in the extracts of different parts of Juandan Baihe (Lilium lancifolium) by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) technology and investigate their hypoglycemic activities. Methods: The MS fragmentation pathways of the main types of compounds in Juandan Baihe (Lilium lancifolium) were studied, and the main components in the extracts were systematically identified using MS fragmentation pathways combined with MS mining technology. Based on the hyperglycemia male mouse model [specific pathogen free (SPF)-grade Kunming mice] induced by streptozotocin (intragastric administration of 80 mg/kg for 3 d), the hypoglycemic effects of extracts of Juandan Baihe (Lilium lancifolium) roots, stems, corms, leaves, and flowers were evaluated by measuring the changes of blood glucose, daily water consumption, daily food intake, and body weight. Results: The MS fragmentation pathways of regalosides, dioscins, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, and chlorogenic acids in Juandan Baihe (Lilium lancifolium) were clarified, and a mining method for compounds in this plant was constructed. A total of 58 compounds, including 6 chlorogenic acids, 14 regalosides, 13 phenylpropanoids, 5 flavonoids, and 20 dioscins, were identified from the roots, stems, corms, leaves, and flowers of Juandan Baihe (Lilium lancifolium). Among them, 30 compounds were reported for the first time from this plant. The root and corm extracts demonstrated significant hypoglycemic activities by reducing blood glucose levels from 23.76 ± 1.21 and 24.29 ± 1.35 mmol/L to 17.21 ± 1.23 and 18.78 ± 1.49 mmol/L, respectively (P < 0.05). The roots and corms extracts could also attenuate the symptoms of polydipsia (P < 0.01), polyphagia (P < 0.05), and weight loss caused by diabetes. Conclusion: This study clarifies that the roots of Juandan Baihe (Lilium lancifolium) are rich in regalosides and dioscins for the first time, and have significant hypoglycemic activities, providing the foundation for the comprehensive utilization of this plant and the development of hypoglycemic drugs.

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome caused by hantaviruses has long been a serious public health issue in Yunnan Province. Hantaviruses exhibit a high extent of biodiversity in their natural hosts, particularly in mammalian hosts. This study was conducted to screen for hantaviruses in bats and rodents in Yunnan Province and elucidate their genetic characteristics and possible zoonotic disease risk. Hantaviruses were detected in 202 bats and 372 rodents with the positive rates 27.49% and 1.25% respectively. A novel lineage (named Lineage 10) of the Seoul virus (SEOV) from rodents and the geographic clustering of hantavirus in bats were identified using phylogenetic analyses of the full-length M- and S-segments. Our study suggest a high cross-species transmissibility of hantaviruses in bats and existence of a new lineage of SEOV in rodents differing significantly from other SEOVs. These results provide data to support the prevention and control of hantavirus-associated diseases in Yunnan Province. Author summary: Hantavirus is an important pathogen that can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS). HFRS has long been a serious public health problem in Yunnan Province. However, the molecular epidemiology and host characteristics of hantavirus in Yunnan Province are still unclear. Therefore, we screened hantaviruses in bats and rodents in selected areas of Yunnan from 2018 to 2022 and found the 10th SEOV lineage in rodents, as well as new geographic clusters of Xuan son virus (XSV) and novel hantavirus in bats. We proposed the possibility of the 10th SEOV lineage in rodents as an ancestral lineage and explained the related host-switching events in bat hantaviruses. These results provide data to reveal a greater risk of zoonotic disease and support the prevention and control of hantavirus-associated diseases and in Yunnan Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand porosity is an important compactness parameter that influences the mechanical properties of sand. In order to evaluate the temporal variation in sand porosity, a new method of sand porosity evaluation based on the statistics of target sand particles (which refers to particles within a specific particle size range) is presented. The relationship between sand porosity and the number of target sand particles at the soil surface considering observation depth is derived theoretically, and it is concluded that there is an inverse relationship between the two. Digital image processing and the k-means clustering method were used to distinguish particles in digital images where particles may mask each other, and a criterion for determining the number of particles was proposed, that is, the criterion of min(Dao). The execution process was implemented by self-written codes using Python (2021.3). An experiment on a simple case of Go pieces and sand samples of different porosities was conducted. The results show that the sum of the squared error (SSE) in the k-means method can converge with a small number of iterations. Furthermore, there is a minimum value between the parameter Dao and the set value of a single-particle pixel, and the pixel corresponding to this value is a reasonable value of a single-particle pixel, that is, the min(Dao) criterion is proposed. The k-means method combined with the min(Dao) criterion can analyze the number of particles in different particle size ranges with occlusion between particles. The test results of sand samples with different densities show that the method is reasonable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife serve as potential microbial reservoirs, accounting for approximately 70% of emerging infectious diseases. Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), which causes Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in humans, is a highly pathogenic tick-borne virus prevalent in several parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe with high case fatality rates. Several CCHFV cases have been reported in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Southern and Eastern Europe. The disease is endemic in several parts of western China, particularly Xinjiang. Ticks of the genus Hyalomma have been identified as a principal vector and reservoir for CCHFV, although other tick species may also have a crucial role in maintaining CCHFV in endemic regions. On infection, CCHF begins as a nonspecific febrile illness that can progress to severe hemorrhagic manifestations with a higher case fatality due to the unavailability of vaccines or other therapeutic agents. In this study, we collected tissue samples from a wild dead Chinese serow (Capricornis milneedwardsii) and three Naemorhedus griseuses from Deqin County, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan, China, to investigate for contagious viruses that could be transmitted to humans. We identified a novel CCHFV strain, YNDQL-415G, in the liver tissue of a dead C. milneedwardsii. We performed nucleotide and amino acid sequence homology on the full-length viral genome. The results revealed significant homology between the viral S segment to that of the Africa1 strain, while the M and L segments showed similarity with the Asia CCHFV strain, indicating potential gene reassortment in the YNDQL-415G strain. The genetic characterization of a novel CCHFV strain from a dead C. milneedwardsii raises concerns about the possibility of a new zoonotic infection. A regular survey program is recommended to track the distribution of wild animals as well as the viruses they may transmit to humans and other domestic mammals in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Audio description (AD) enables access to blind/low vision audiences by translating visual content into narrated descriptions. This study examines AD translation approaches for the Oscar-winning animated short Feast.Methods: Chinese and English AD scripts from Feast were analyzed to compare priorities in content selection and patterns in translation techniques.Results: Both versions prioritized graphics and dynamic symbols when deciding what to translate. Shared translation techniques included compensation, iconic description, and substitution. Differences emerged with more reduction, adaptation, and technical descriptions in the Chinese AD, versus more generalization in the English AD.Discussion: Disparities highlight the linguistic and cultural factors integral to effective AD translation.Implications: This analysis offers practical customization guidelines for AD providers and theoretical insights into intersemiotic translation complexity. Further comparative research could support tailored AD practices and accessibility for diverse global audiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, steel slag was added into the marine silt to improve its dynamic properties. The characteristics of marine silt that can be studied by XRD, BET surface area, SEM, and FTIR were first described. Then, the influence of the sample density, water content, waste steel slag content, and the confining pressure on the dynamic shear modulus G and damping ratio λ was discussed by conducting resonant column tests. The results illustrated that the dynamic characteristics of the marine silt-steel slag admixtures were considerably improved. Additionally, G increased with the increasing steel slag content and λ increased with the decreasing steel slag content. Moreover, a dynamic model of the admixtures was developed based on the Hardin–Drnevich model. Furthermore, by comparing the dynamic characteristics of the admixtures with Nanjing sand, Fujian sand, Kiyohoro silty clay, and Wenzhou marine clay, it was found that the improved admixtures may be a more suitable geofiller in geotechnical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducted experimental investigations into the effects of electrode material and potential gradient on the effectiveness of electro-osmotic consolidation (EO) in strengthening soft soils. Seven laboratory tests were conducted on high-water-content marine clayey soils through EO. In these experimental tests, four different types of electrodes made of steel, copper, aluminum, and composite carbon fiber (CCF) were employed in four tests each to evaluate the consolidation effectiveness. Additionally, four tests, one was the comparitive study for different eletrode materials, were carried out to determine the optimal gradient for the EO using CCF electrode. Several critical properties of the tested soils were examined and evaluated in this study, including the effective voltage utilization, potential distribution, water discharge, discharge rate, energy consumption, and soil bearing capacity. The test results indicated that the CCF electrode had superior performance in water discharge, discharge rate, and average soil water content compared to metal electrodes. Furthermore, CCF led to uniform enhancement of soil strength, with treated soil bearing capacities 6.3 to 12 times higher than initial values, and 1.9 to 2.5 times higher than those attained with metal electrodes. Additionally, an effective potential gradient of 1 V/cm was identified for the EO with the CCF electrode, providing a higher discharge rate and a larger soil strength in a uniform distribution. Moreover, the use of CCF electrode significantly reduced corrosion compared to metal electrodes during the consolidation process, further contributing to improved consolidation efficiency. This study offers valuable insights and recommendations for the utilization of CCF in marine clayey soils, effectively addressing the challenges posed by electrode corrosion and high energy consumption in EO applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many zoonotic disease emergencies are associated with RNA viruses in rodents that substantially impact public health. With the widespread application of meta-genomics and meta-transcriptomics for virus discovery over the last decade, viral sequences deposited in public databases have expanded rapidly, and the number of novel viruses discovered in rodents has increased. As important reservoirs of zoonotic viruses, rodents have attracted increasing attention for the risk of potential spillover of rodent-borne viruses. However, knowledge of rodent viral diversity and the major factors contributing to the risk of zoonotic epidemic outbreaks remains limited. Therefore, this study analyzes the diversity and composition of rodent RNA viruses using virus records from the Database of Rodent-associated Viruses (DRodVir/ZOVER), which covers the published literatures and records in GenBank database, reviews the main rodent RNA virus-induced human infectious diseases, and discusses potential challenges in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban rats serve as reservoirs for several zoonotic pathogens that seriously endanger public health, destroy stored food, and damage infrastructure due to their close interaction with humans and domestic animals. Here, we characterize the core microbiomes of R. norvegicus's stomach, gut, and lung using 16S rRNA next-generation Illumina HiSeq sequencing. The USEARCH software (v11) assigned the dataset to operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The alpha diversity index was calculated using QIIME1, while the beta diversity index was determined using the Bray–Curtis and Euclidean distances between groups. Principal component analyses visualized variation across samples based on the OTU information using the R package. Linear discriminant analysis, effect sizes (LEfSe), and phylogenetic investigation were used to identify differentially abundant taxa among groups. We reported an abundance of microbiota in the stomach, and they shared some of them with the gut and lung microbiota. A close look at the microbial family level reveals abundant Lactobacillaceae and Bifidobacteriaceae in the stomach, whereas Lactobacillaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae were more abundant in the gut; in contrast, Alcaligenaceae were abundant in the lungs. At the species level, some beneficial bacteria, particularly Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus johnsonii, and some potential pathogens, such as Bordetella hinzii, Streptococcus parauberis, Porphyromonas pogonae, Clostridium perfringens, etc., were identified in stomach, gut, and lung samples. Moreover, the alpha and beta diversity indexes revealed significant differences between the groups. Further analysis revealed abundant differential taxonomic biomarkers, i.e., increased Prevotellaceae and Clostridia in the lungs, whereas Campylobacteria and Lachnospirales were richest in the stomachs. In conclusion, we identified many beneficial, opportunistic, and highly pathogenic bacteria, confirming the importance of urban rats for public health. This study recommends a routine survey program to monitor rodent distribution and the pathogens they carry and transmit to humans and other domestic mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue virus (DENV) infection is one of the most serious threats to public health in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide (1). Southeast Asia is the most seriously affected region, with [...]

In the process of measuring the resistivity of calcareous sand by the two-electrode method, the contact resistance between calcareous sand and electrodes is an unavoidable problem. In this paper, the effects of the particle size, relative density, current frequency, and saturation on the contact resistance of calcareous sand samples with different electrode spacings were studied. The results show that the larger the particle size and relative density are, the greater the contact resistance. The contact resistance decreases with an increasing current frequency, and the decreasing amplitude decreases with an increasing saturation. The contact resistance decreases with an increasing saturation. The relationship between the contact resistance and current frequency and saturation is established in this paper. When the two-electrode method is used to study the resistivity of calcareous sand, the influence of contact resistance should be considered, especially for samples with low saturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of research on neuromorphic computing is exploring artificial neuron and synaptic devices with high performance. In this context, two-dimensional (2D) materials have received broad attention due to their advantages of low power consumption and high electrostatic controllability. Here, we demonstrated an artificial synaptic transistor based on the 2D SnS2/T-layer van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure, where the T-layer refers to the 2D h-BN treated by O2 plasma. Relying on the charge trapping mechanism of the T-layer, synaptic characteristics such as the excitatory postsynaptic current, short-term plasticity, and long-term potentiation (LTP) are emulated. Moreover, these synaptic characteristics can be further modulated by light stimulation. Under the illumination of 820 nm wavelength, the nonlinearity of LTP is as low as −0.19, and the symmetricity is 39.4, which is superior to most of the 2D artificial synaptic devices reported to date. Our results demonstrate the great prospects of plasma-treated 2D vdW heterostructures for neuromorphic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) is a tick-borne segmented positive-sense ssRNA virus that can cause human disease. This virus has been confirmed to be widespread, having a wide host range. In human it can cause fever, headache, lymphadenopathy, and asthenia. Therefore, JMTV poses a threat to public health. In this study, we collected 478 ticks from imported cattle on three quarantine farms near the Yunnan border to detect medically significant tick-borne viruses. Our findings show that JMTV was the only detected virus, with an incidence rate of 56.67%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that our JMTV is more closely related to previously reported JMTV strains from Yunnan Province and neighboring Laos, implying that the tick-borne virus was most likely imported from Laos. In conclusion, we identified and characterized a novel JMTV strain in tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) from Yunnan imported cattle, emphasizing the importance of arbovirus quarantine of livestock imports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chiral Brønsted acid‐catalysed asymmetric hydrophosphinylation of 2‐vinylazaarenes by secondary phosphine oxides is described. A variety of P‐chiral 2‐azaaryl‐ethylphosphine oxides are synthesized with high yields and ees, of which both the substituents of phosphines and azaarenes can be flexibly modulated, underscoring an exceptionally broad scope of substrates. These adducts are valuable to asymmetric metal catalysis since the resultant P‐chiral tertiary phosphines from the reduction of them are verified as a kind of effective C1‐symmetric chiral 1,5‐hybrid P,N‐ligands. Importantly, this catalysis platform enables the generic and efficient kinetic resolution of P‐chiral secondary phosphine oxides. It thus provides an expedient approach to access the enantiomers of the P‐chiral tertiary phosphine oxides derived from asymmetric hydrophosphinylation, further improving the utility of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asphalt rubber shows good road performance. However, the compatibility and aging problems of asphalt rubber limit its application. The improvement of the solubility of crumb rubber in asphalt was investigated in this research, and the mechanism of its aging effect on the rheological properties of activated asphalt rubber was studied. First, the crumb rubber was activated by using a sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) solution, and the pore characteristics and microstructure of the activated crumb rubber were analyzed. Second, the influence of the crumb rubber's activation characteristics on the rheological properties of the asphalt rubber before and after aging was analyzed. Finally, the aging mechanism of the activated asphalt rubber was revealed at a microscopic level. The results showed that with the increase in the activation degree, the pore characteristics of the crumb rubber decreased first and then increased. The surface stacking structure of the crumb rubber increased, and a dense gel film gradually formed. The asphalt rubber prepared by the activated crumb rubber had better rheological properties and had a more significant effect under higher stress conditions. This may have been due to the activation of the crumb-rubber surface, forming oxygen-containing functional groups, which, in turn, increased the combination of the crumb rubber and the asphalt. In addition, the activation degree and aging effect of crumb rubber can reduce the large-particle-size molecule (LMS) content of activated asphalt rubber. There is a significant correlation between LMS content and rheological properties, and LMS content can be used to predict the rheological properties of asphalt rubber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low‐power wideband self‐biased phase‐locked loop (SPLL) is proposed for multi‐protocol SerDes applications in this letter. With the proposed adaptive fast‐locking current circuit (AFLCC) and self‐biased charge pump (CP), the settling time is reduced significantly, and no extra power and jitter contribution. In addition, a start‐up module is adopted to reset the system to an optimal initial operating frequency quickly. The proposed 1‐3‐GHz SPLL, fabricated in TSMC 28‐nm CMOS process, occupies a compact 0.028 mm2 area. It achieves a roughly constant settling time of 5 μs over all frequencies and division ratios range. Only 0.96 mW is consumed at 1 GHz frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astroviruses (AstVs) are single-stranded RNA viruses, including two main genera: Mamastroviruses (MAstVs) and Avastroviruses (AAstVs). AstVs have been detected in more than 80 different mammals and birds, with the characteristics of multiple cross-species transmission and gene recombination. All these have accelerated the process of virus mutation and posed a potential threat to human beings and animal husbandry. Yunnan province is a global hotspot with rich biodiversity and abundant animal resources and an important area with significance for public health and security because it neighbors a few Southeast Asian countries. This study collected 860 samples from 13 species of animals in Yunnan province for AstVs detection. The results showed that the positive rate of AstVs was 6.05%, and its extremely high genetic diversity was observed in different animal species. Potential cross-species transmission events were also detected from rodents to birds. Therefore, AstVs, which are widely distributed with highly diverse genes and the risk of cross-species transmission to people, deserve more attention in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of Moore’s law, the future trend of devices will inevitably be shrinking and integration to further achieve size reduction. The emergence of new two-dimensional non-layered materials (2DNLMs) not only enriches the 2D material family to meet future development, but also stimulates the global enthusiasm for basic research and application technologies in the 2D field. Van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures, in which two-dimensional layered materials (2DLMs) are physically stacked layer by layer, can also occur between 2DLMs and 2DNLMs hybrid heterostructures, providing an alternative platform for nanoelectronics and optoelectronic applications. Here, we outline the recent developments of 2DLMs/2DNLMs hybrid heterostructures, with particular emphasis on major advances in synthetic methods and applications. And the categories and crystal structures of 2DLMs and 2DNLMs are also shown. We highlight some promising applications of the heterostructures in electronics, optoelectronics, and catalysis. Finally, we provide conclusions and future prospects in the 2D materials field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Up to 80% of pancreatic cancer patients suffer from cachexia. White adipose tissue (WAT) browning caused by the tumorigenicity and progression aggravates the cancer-associated cachexia (CAC). Cancer-initiated changes in the protein-38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAPK) pathway are likely involved in the development of CAC. Methods: p38 MAPK inhibitors, VCP979 or SB203580, were used in the in vitro and in vivo models of pancreatic cancer cachexia. Expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in the p38 MARK pathway and the properties and level of white adipocytes were analyzed and correlated to browning, followed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting validations. Changes in the volume and fat fraction of WAT in animals were monitored by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results: The size of white adipocytes was increased after being treated with the p38 MAPK inhibitors, along with increase in the MRI-measured volume and fat fraction of WAT. Comparing two p38 MAPK inhibitors, the p38α subunit-specific inhibitor VCP979 had a better therapeutic effect than SB203580, which targets both p38α and β subunits. Conclusions: Blockade of p38 MAPK reduced the WAT browning that contributes to CAC. Thus, p38 MARK inhibitors can potentially be used as a therapy for treating CAC. Non-invasive MRI can also be applied to assess the progression and treatment responses of CAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]