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Soil microbes are the primary drivers of the material cycling of the forest ecosystem, and understanding how microbial structure and composition change across succession assists in clarifying the mechanisms behind succession dynamics. However, the response of soil microbial communities and assembly processes to succession is poorly understood in subtropical forests. Thus, through the "space instead of time" and high throughput sequencing method, the dynamics of the soil bacterial and fungal communities and assembly process along the succession were studied, where five succession stages, including Abandoned lands (AL), Deciduous broad-leaved forests (DB), Coniferous forests (CF), Coniferous broad-leaved mixed forests (CB), and Evergreen broad-leaved forests (EB), were selected in a subtropical forest on the western slope of Wuyi Mountain, southern China. The results demonstrated that succession significantly decreased soil bacterial α-diversity but had little effect on fungal α-diversity. The composition of soil bacterial and fungal communities shifted along with the succession stages. LEfSe analysis showed the transition from initial succession microbial communities dominated by Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Ascomycota, and Chytridiomycota to terminal succession communities dominated by Actinobacteriota and Basidiomycota. Distance-based redundancy analysis (db-RDA) revealed that soil total organic carbon (TOC) was the main factor explaining variability in the structure of soil bacterial communities, and multiple soil environmental factors such as the TOC, soil total nitrogen (TN), C:N ratio, and pH co-regulated the structure of fungi. The null models illustrated that deterministic processes were dominant in the soil bacterial communities, while the stochastic processes contributed significantly to the soil fungal communities during succession. Collectively, our results suggest that different patterns are displayed by the soil bacterial and fungal communities during the succession. These findings enhance our comprehension of the processes that drive the formation and maintenance of soil microbial diversity throughout forest succession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creativity plays a very crucial impact on our cultural life and has also been important to the improvement of human civilization. Numerous studies have indicated that family circumstance plays an important role in the development of individual creativity. However, little is known about the mediating mechanisms underlying the association between childhood maltreatment and creativity. This study intended to explore the serial multiple mediation model in which undergraduates' cognitive flexibility and self-efficacy were proposed to mediate the potential influence of childhood maltreatment on their creativity. Participants were 1069 undergraduates (573 males and 496 females, mean age was 20.57 ± 1.24 years ranging from 17 to 24) from a university in Shandong Province, China. Participants were required to complete an internet survey including the Short Form of Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-SF), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), and Williams Creativity Aptitude Test (WCAT). Serial multiple mediation analysis and the bootstrap method were used to investigate the mediation effects of cognitive flexibility and self-efficacy. The results showed that childhood maltreatment indirectly influenced undergraduates' creativity through three indirect paths: childhood maltreatment→cognitive flexibility→creativity, childhood maltreatment→self-efficacy→creativity, and childhood maltreatment→cognitive flexibility→self-efficacy→creativity. The ratios of the total indirect effects and branch-indirect effects to the total effects were 92.73%, 34.61%, 35.68%, and 22.44%, respectively. These results indicated that cognitive flexibility and self-efficacy could completely mediate the potential impact of childhood maltreatment on individuals creativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is a common secondary symptom in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) caused by the loss of neurons and glial cells. Recent research focuses on stem cell therapy to replace dead nerve cells, but the low efficiency of stem cell differentiation and short survival time are obstacles limiting the therapy's effectiveness. Clinically, patients with different diseases cannot obtain the same effect by using the same cell therapy. However, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) often uses syndrome differentiation to determine the treatment plan for NDs. Based on TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment, this article summarizes the advantages of Chinese herbal medicine combined with stem cell therapy, mainly for the effects of various herbs on diseases and stem cells, including prolonging the survival time of stem cells, resisting inflammation, and antidepressant-like effects. In particular, it analyzes the unique pathways of the influence of drugs and acupuncture on different therapies, seeking to clarify the scientific TCM system. This review mainly elaborates on the treatment of secondary depression in TCM and the advantages of a herbal combined stem cell therapy in various methods. We believe it can provide a new clinical concept for secondary depression to obtain good clinical effects and reduce the risks borne by patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hyperalgesic priming (HP) is a model of the transition from acute to chronic pain. Electroacupuncture (EA) could inhibit pain development through the peripheral dorsal root ganglia; however, it is unclear whether it can mitigate the transition from acute to chronic pain by attenuating protein expression in the p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)/tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) pathway in the spinal dorsal horn. Aims: We aimed to determine whether EA could prevent the transition from acute to chronic pain by affecting the p38 MAPK/TNF-α pathway in the spinal dorsal horn in a rat model established using HP. Methods: We first randomly subdivided 30 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats into 5 groups (n = 6 per group): control (N), sham HP (Sham-HP), HP, HP + SB203580p38 MAPK (HP+SB203580), and HP + Lenalidomide (CC-5013) (HP+Lenalidomide). We then randomly subdivided a further 30 male SD rats into 5 groups (n = 6 per group): Sham-HP, HP, sham EA (Sham EA), EA (EA), and EA + U-46619 p38 MAPK agonist (EA+U-46619). We assessed the effects of EA on the mechanical paw withdrawal threshold and p38 MAPK/TNF-α expression in the spinal dorsal horn of rats subjected to chronic inflammatory pain. Results: Rats in the EA group had reduced p38 MAPK and TNF-α expression and had significantly reduced mechanical hyperalgesia compared with rats in the other groups. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that EA could increase the mechanical pain threshold in rats and inhibit the transition from acute pain to chronic pain. This mechanism could involve reduced p38 MAPK/TNF-α expression in the spinal dorsal horn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phyllodiaptomus tunguidus and Heliodiaptomus falxus are dominant copepods species in drinking water processing plants in southern China. With a potential penetration risk, the breeding and leakage of copepods are drawing more and more attention in recent years. The current study provided a thermal treatment method to control copepods and their eggs. Results showed that: (1) the immediate death rates of P. tunguidus and H. falxus after heated to 34–40 °C for 5 min are positively correlated to the treatment temperatures (P < 0.01), and all individuals of the both species were eliminated after heated at 40 °C for 5 min; (2) overall hatching rates of P. tunguidus eggs were negatively correlated with treatment temperatures (P < 0.01) between 39–45 °C, with zero percent hatched after treatment at 45 °C for 5 min; (3) hatching rates of H. falxus were negatively correlated with treatment temperatures (P < 0.01) between 37–41 °C, with no nauplii hatched when treated at 41 °C for 5 min; (4) paraffin section histological examination indicated that thermal treatment caused severe damage to internal organs and egg structure. Finally, based on the experimental data, the application of the thermal treatment method was discussed in ozonation combined with biological activated carbon (O3/BAC) processing of drink water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Good knowledge of and attitudes toward hemodialysis and its complications might be expected to promote good practices and improve adherence. This study investigated, the knowledge, attitude, and practice of patients receiving hemodialysis regarding hemodialysis and its complications., Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled patients with uremia who were receiving hemodialysis at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (China) between January 9, 2023, and January 16, 2023. A questionnaire was designed that included the following dimensions: demographic/clinical information, knowledge, attitude, and practice. Correlations between knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis., Results: The analysis included 493 patients (305 males, 61.87%). The average knowledge, attitude, and practice score was 19.33 ± 7.07 (possible range, 0-31), 28.77 ± 3.58 (possible range, 8-40), and 43.57 ± 6.53 (possible range, 11-55) points, respectively. A higher knowledge score was associated with younger age (P < 0.001), a higher education level (P < 0.001), and not living alone (P < 0.001), while a higher practice score was associated with a shorter history of hemodialysis (P < 0.001). There were positive correlations between the knowledge and practice scores (r = 0.220, P < 0.001) and between the attitude and practice scores (r = 0.453, P < 0.001), although the knowledge and attitude scores were not significantly correlated., Conclusions: The results provide important insights into the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of patients with uremia in Nanjing (China) regarding hemodialysis and its complications. These findings may facilitate education programs to improve self-care practices in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis in Nanjing (China)., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Phyllodiaptomus tunguidus and Heliodiaptomus falxus are dominant copepods species in drinking water processing plants in southern China. With a potential penetration risk, the breeding and leakage of copepods are drawing more and more attention in recent years. The current study provided a thermal treatment method to control copepods and their eggs. Results showed that: (1) the immediate death rates of P. tunguidus and H. falxus after heated to 34-40 °C for 5 min are positively correlated to the treatment temperatures (P < 0.01), and all individuals of the both species were eliminated after heated at 40 °C for 5 min; (2) overall hatching rates of P. tunguidus eggs were negatively correlated with treatment temperatures (P < 0.01) between 39-45 °C, with zero percent hatched after treatment at 45 °C for 5 min; (3) hatching rates of H. falxus were negatively correlated with treatment temperatures (P < 0.01) between 37-41 °C, with no nauplii hatched when treated at 41 °C for 5 min; (4) paraffin section histological examination indicated that thermal treatment caused severe damage to internal organs and egg structure. Finally, based on the experimental data, the application of the thermal treatment method was discussed in ozonation combined with biological activated carbon (O 3 /BAC) processing of drink water treatment.

Three novel bisflavonol derivatives, Hovenianins A-C, along with 12 known flavonoids were isolated and identified from the seeds of Hovenia dulcis Thunb. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic methods (MS, UV, IR, 1D and 2D NMR) and electronic circular dichroism experiments. Hovenianin A (1) was the first dimer of flavonol linked dihydroflavonol via the B rings at C-2' and C-2″'positions to be found in nature. While Hovenianins BC (2-3) were a pair of diastereoisomeric bis-dihydroflavonols firstly reported in the Hovenia genus. The in vitro antiviral activity against respiratory syncytium virus (RSV) were evaluated by cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay. As a result, compounds 4, 5, and 10 displayed better antiviral effect against RSV A2 strains., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. sesami is an extremely destructive pathogen, causing sesame Fusarium wilt disease worldwide. To clarify the pathogenicity and the genetic characters of F. oxysporum f. sp. sesami , we systematically investigated 69 F. oxysporum isolates collected from major sesame-growing areas in China. Among these isolates, 54 isolates were pathogenic and 15 were nonpathogenic according to pathogenicity testing on sesame seedlings. For the pathogenic isolates, three F. oxysporum f. sp. sesami pathogenicity groups were defined based on the three differential sesame hosts for the first time. A translation elongation factor 1α gene tree was constructed to determine the genetic diversity of the F. oxysporum isolates but could not separate F. oxysporum f. sp. sesami isolates from the nonpathogenic isolates and other F. oxysporum formae speciales. Ten secreted-in-xylem ( SIX ) genes (one family of effectors) were identified in F. oxysporum f. sp. sesami isolates by a search with the genome data, and were subsequently screened in the 69 F. oxysporum isolates. Compared with the SIX gene profiles in other F. oxysporum formae speciales, the presence and sequence variations of the SIX gene homologs directly correlated with the specific pathogenicity of F. oxysporum f. sp. sesami toward sesame. Furthermore, eight of these F. oxysporum f. sp. sesami SIX genes were significantly expressed in sesame plants as infection of the F. oxysporum f. sp. sesami isolate. These findings have important significance for understanding the pathogenic basis of F. oxysporum f. sp. sesami isolates, and will contribute to improve the diagnostics to effectively control Fusarium wilt disease in sesame.

Background: The present study involves diversity and biological activities of the endophytic fungal community from Distylium chinense, a rare waterlogging tolerant plant endemic to the Three Gorges Reservoir. This study has been conducted hypothesizing that the microbial communities in the TGR area would contribute to the host plant tolerating a range of abiotic stress such as summer flooding, infertility, drought, salinity and soil erosion etc., and they may produce new metabolites, which may possess plentiful bioactive property, especially antioxidant activity. Therefore in the current study, the antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activities of 154 endophytes recovered from D. chinense have been investigated. Furthermore, the active metabolites of the most broad-spectrum bioactive strain have also been studied., Results: A total of 154 fungal endophytes were isolated from roots and stems. They were categorized into 30 morphotypes based on cultural characteristics and were affiliated with 27 different taxa. Among these, the most abundant fungal orders included Diaporthales (34.4%) and Botryosphaeriales (30.5%), which were predominantly represented by the species Phomopsis sp. (24.7%) and Neofusicoccum parvum (23.4%). Fermentation extracts were evaluated, screening for antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activities. Among the 154 isolates tested, 99 (64.3%) displayed significant antioxidant activity, 153 (99.4%) exhibited inclusive antimicrobial activity against at least one tested microorganism and 27 (17.5%) showed exclusive anticancer activity against one or more cancer cell lines. Specifically, the crude extract of Irpex lacteus DR10-1 exhibited note-worthy bioactivities. Further chemical investigation on DR10-1 strain resulted in the isolation and identification of two known bioactive metabolites, indole-3-carboxylic acid (1) and indole-3-carboxaldehyde (2), indicating their potential roles in plant growth promotion and human medicinal value., Conclusion: These results indicated that diverse endophytic fungal population inhabits D. chinense. One of the fungal isolate DR10-1 (Irpex lacteus) exhibited significant antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer potential. Further, its active secondary metabolites 1 and 2 also showed antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer potential.

A novel bacterial strain, designated MIMbqt9 T , was isolated from biological soil crusts collected in Erdos Plateau in Inner Mongolia. Cells were light pink, rod-shaped, aerobic, Gram-reaction-negative, motile by gliding, oxidase- and catalase-positive. Cell growth could be observed at 5-40 °C (optimum at 30 °C), at pH 4.0-6.0 (optimum at 6.0) and with 1 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain MIMbqt9 T was most closely related to the members of genus Larkinella, including L. bovis M2T2B15 T (92.06 %), L. arboricola Z0532 T (92.00 %) and L. insperata LMG 22510 T (91.94 %). The major cellular fatty acids of strain MIMbqt9 T were C16 : 1ω5c, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. Polar lipids of the strain MIMbqt9 T were mainly composed of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), two unidentified aminolipids (AL1 and AL2) and two unidentified phospholipids (PL1 and PL2). Menaquinone 7 (MK-7) was the major respiratory quinone. The G+C content of the chromosomal DNA was 57.63 mol%. On the basis of morphology, physiology, fatty acid composition, phylogeny and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolates are assigned to a novel species of the genus Larkinella, for which the name Larkinella soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MIMbqt9 T (=MCCC 1K01309 T =KCTC 42800 T ).