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Background Accessory breast plasma cell mastitis (PCM) is uncommon in clinical practice with rare reports. Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods and the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical efficacy of accessory breast PCM. Methods The clinical diagnosis and treatment data of 15 patients with accessory breast PCM admitted to Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University from January 2017 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively, the general information, diagnostic methods, treatment methods and outcomes of 15 cases with accessory breast PCM were summarized. Results A total of 15 female patients of childbearing age with accessory breast PCM were included in this paper, with onset within 2-5 years after pregnancy. The etiology was complex and the course of accessory breast PCM was protracted, which was similar to breast PCM in pathogenetic characteristics, using pathological examination results as gold standard for diagnosis. After the combination of internal and external treatment of TCM, the symptoms of 15 patients were relieved, local lesions disappeared, and there was no recurrence after six months of follow-up. Conclusion Accessory breast PCM is rare in clinical practice, which is easy to be misdiagnosed or missed, and difficult to be treated clinically. The combination of internal and external treatment of TCM has a significant effect on accessory breast PCM.

The Gibberellic Acid-stimulated Arabidopsis (GASA) gene family is involved in the regulation of gene expression and plant growth, development, and stress responses. To investigate the function of loquat GASA genes in the growth and developmental regulation of plants, a loquat EjGASA6 gene homologous to Arabidopsis AtGASA6 was cloned. EjGASA6 expression was induced by gibberellin, and ectopic transgenic plants containing this gene exhibited earlier bloom and longer primary roots since these phenotypic characteristics are related to higher gibberellin content. Transcriptome analysis and qRT-PCR results showed that the expression levels of GA3ox1 and GA20ox1, which encode key enzymes in gibberellin biosynthesis, were significantly increased. Furthermore, we confirmed that EjGASA6 could promote the expression of GA20ox1 via the luciferase reporter system. Overall, our results suggest that EjGASA6 promotes blooming and main-root elongation by positively regulating gibberellin biosynthesis. These findings broaden our understanding of the role of GASAs in plant development and growth, and lay the groundwork for future research into the functions of EjGASA6 in regulating loquat growth and development.

Abstract Background HIF-1α is thought to be a novel regulator which contributes to carcinogenesis. However, the mechanism underlying the effect of HIF-1α in gliomas remains largely unknown. Methods In the research, we demonstrate that HIF-lα mRNA and protein levels are elevated in glioma cells. The colony formation assays, transwell assays, and wound-healing assays showed that overexpression of HIF-1α promoted proliferation and invasion of glioma cells. Results Overexpression of HIF-lα also increased the expression of inflammatory factors related to pyrolysis (TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-1β) and protein related to pyrolysis signal pathway (NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, GSDMD, and GSDME). Conclusions Therefore, we speculate that HIF-1α promotes the proliferation and invasion of glial cells by regulating pyrolysis pathway. These results might provide a novel strategy and target for treatment of glioma.

Abstract Nano-graphene lubricating oil with appropriate concentration shows excellent performance in reducing friction and wear under different working conditions of diesel engines, and has been widely concerned. Lubricating oil has a significant impact on particulate matter (PM) emissions. At present, there are few studies on the impact of nano-graphene lubricating oil on the physicochemical properties of PM. In order to comprehensively evaluate the impact of nano-graphene lubricating oil on diesel engines, this paper mainly focused on the effects of lubricating oil nano-graphene additives on the particle size distribution and physicochemical properties of PM. The results show that, compared with pure lubricating oil, the total number of nuclear PM and accumulated PM of nano-graphene lubricating oil is significantly increased. The fractal dimension of PM of nano-graphene lubricating oil increases and its structure becomes more compact. The average fringe separation distance of basic carbon particles decreases, the average fringe length increases. The degree of ordering and graphitization of basic carbon particles are higher. The fringe tortuosity of basic carbon particles decreases, and the fluctuation of carbon layer structure of basic carbon particles decreases. Aliphatic substances in PM are basically unchanged, aromatic components and oxygen functional groups increase. The initial PM oxidation temperature and burnout temperature increase, the maximum oxidation rate temperature and combustion characteristic index decrease, and the activation energy increases, making it more difficult to oxidize. This was mainly caused by the higher graphitization degree of PM of nano-graphene lubricating oil and the increased content of aromatic substances.

Abstract Background In this retrospective case investigation, we analysed the data of patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) to reveal demographic and clinical diagnostic features of ONFH in three northeastern provinces of China and provide a reference for its prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Methods We collected data from patients in Beijing Orthopaedic Hospital of Liaoning, focusing on the aetiology and diagnosis of ONFH. Medical records and self-designed questionnaires were used to collect information for statistical analysis, including age, aetiology, reason for glucocorticoid use, hospital level at first visit, and diagnosis. Results In total, 906 patients with complete medical records were included in the analysis. The mean patient age was 47.65 ± 12.12 years. The peak age distribution was in the 40s for men and the 50s for women. Among the total cohort, 72 patients (7.95%; 40 men and 32 women) had traumatic ONFH, 198 (21.85%; 131 men and 67 women) had steroid-induced ONFH, 230 (25.39%; 121 men and 109 women) had idiopathic ONFH, and 406 (44.81%; 397 men and 9 women) had alcohol-induced ONFH. Six hundred and twenty patients were diagnosed with ONFH at the first visit, while 286 patients were misdiagnosed, with a diagnosis rate of 68.43%. The diagnosis rate at the first visit in tertiary hospitals was 76.14%. The diagnosis rate at the first visit in second-class hospitals was 52.07%.ONFH was most likely to be misdiagnosed as lumbar disc herniation. Conclusions Most patients with ONFH in three northeastern provinces of China were middle-aged, male, and had alcohol-induced ONFH. The misdiagnosis rate of ONFH at the first visit was very high, especially for misdiagnosis of lumbar disc herniation, indicating that the diagnosis of ONFH requires further improvement.

Abstract Background Rotator cuff tendinopathy (RCT) is a widespread musculoskeletal disorder and a primary cause of shoulder pain and limited function. The resulting pain and limited functionality have a detrimental impact on the overall quality of life. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review of the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for RCT. Methods The literature search was conducted on the following databases from inception to February 20, 2024: PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, MEDLINE, EMBASE, EBSCO, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were checked to identify the potential studies exploring the effect of ESWT for the treatment of Rotator cuff tendinopathy (Calcification or non-calcification), control group for sham, other treatments (including placebo), without restriction of date, language. Two researchers independently screened literature, extracted data, evaluated the risk of bias in the included studies, and performed meta-analysis using RevMan 5.3 software. Results A total of 16 RCTs with 1093 patients were included. The results showed that compared with the control group, ESWT for pain score Visual Analogue Scale/Score (VAS) (SMD = -1.95, 95% CI -2.47, -1.41, P

Purposes: This study determined the synergy of polymyxin B (POLB) and colistin (COL) with 16 other tested antimicrobial agents in the inhibition of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB). Methods: We used chequerboard assays to determine synergy between the drugs against 50 clinical MDR-AB from a tertiary hospital in the Zhejiang province in 2019, classifying combinations as either antagonistic, independent, additive, or synergistic. The efficacy of hit combinations which showed highest synergistic rate were confirmed using time-kill assays. Results: Both POLB and COL displayed similar bactericidal effects when used in combination with these 16 tested drugs. Antagonism was only observed for a few strains (2%) exposed to a combination of POLB and cefoperazone/sulbactam (CSL). A higher percentage of synergistic combinations with POLB and COL were observed with rifabutin (RFB; 90%/96%), rifampicin (RIF; 60%/78%) and rifapentine (RFP; 56%/76%). Time-kill assays also confirmed the synergistic effect of POLB and rifamycin class combinations. 1/2 MIC rifamycin exposure can achieve bacterial clearance when combined with 1/2 MIC POLB or COL. Conclusion: Nearly no antagonism was observed when combining polymyxins with other drugs by both chequerboard and time-kill assays, suggesting that polymyxins may be effective in combination therapy. The combinations of POLB/COL with RFB, RIF, and RFP displayed neat synergy, with RFB showing the greatest effect.

Understanding the mechanical properties and multiscale failure mechanism of frozen soft rock is an important prerequisite for the construction safety of tunnels, artificially frozen ground and other infrastructure in cold regions. In this study, the triaxial compression test are performed on mudstone in the weakly cemented soft rock strata in the mining area of western China, and the mechanical characteristics and failure mechanism of weakly cemented mudstone are systematically investigated under the combined action of freezing and loading. Furthermore, the quantitative relationship between the microstructural parameters and the macroscopic strength and deformation parameters is established based on fractal theory. Thus, the failure mechanism of frozen weakly cemented mudstone is revealed on both micro- and macro-scales. The results show that temperature and confining pressure significantly affects the elastic modulus and peak strength of weakly cemented mudstone. With decreasing temperature, the compressive strength increases, while the corresponding peak strain decreases gradually. On the deformation curve, the plastic deformation stage is shortened, and the brittle fracture feature at the post-peak stage is more prominent, and the elastic modulus correspondingly increases with decreasing temperature. Under low-temperature conditions, most of the weakly cemented mudstone undergoes microscopic shear failure along the main fracture surface. The micro-fracture morphology characteristics of weakly cemented mudstone under different temperatures are quantified via the fractal dimension, and an approximately exponential relationship can be obtained among the fractal dimension and the temperature, compressive strength and elastic modulus.

Exploring the factors influencing farmers' water conservation intentions under the water rights transfer policy is crucial for developing equitable water rights systems and safeguarding farmers' interests. Leveraging data from 608 respondents in the Yellow Irrigation District of Inner Mongolia, China, integrating the theory of planned behavior and the theory of perceived value, we present an analytical framework to investigate the factors affecting farmers' water conservation intentions through structural equation modeling. Our findings reveal the following: firstly, farmers' water conservation intentions are predominantly influenced by subjective norms, behavioral attitudes, perceived behavioral control, perceived benefits, and perceived risks; secondly, perceived behavioral control exerts the most significant impact on farmers' water conservation intention, whereas subjective norms have the weakest influence. This implies that farmers’ water conservation intention is not closely related to subjective norms in the context of mandatory water-saving interventions; lastly, the paths leading to farmers' water conservation intention include ‘perceived benefits/perceived risks → behavioral intention,’ and an indirect path through ‘perceived benefits/perceived risks → behavioral attitudes → behavioral intention’. Consequently, reducing the water-saving technology complexity, harnessing the influence of neighboring communities and water user associations, and enhancing farmers' compensation are effective strategies to bolster farmers' intention to engage in water conservation. HIGHLIGHTS Through agricultural water conservation and the transfer of water rights, governments can re-allocate the scarce water resources to industries.; The water rights transfer policy represents an institutional shift and involves a cognitive adjustment process for farmers on a psychological level.; By integrating TPB and TPV, this paper unravels the logic behind the formation of farmers’ intentions to save water.;

Abstract The morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of leaves result from the long-term adaptation of plants to their environment and are closely related to plant growth and development. In this study, 37 prickly ash germplasm resources from 18 production areas were utilized as the subjects of research. Logistic equations, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis were employed to comprehensively evaluate the leaf traits of prickly ash germplasm resources, with an analysis of their correlation with ecological and geographical factors in the production areas. The results showed that the leaf traits of prickly ash germplasms of different origins are substantially different and diverse. The coefficient of variation for the 14 leaf traits was greater than 10%. The coefficient of variation of the compound leaflet number was the highest among all the considered leaf traits, and the coefficient of variation of leaf thickness was the lowest, at 49.86% and 11.37%, respectively. The leaf traits of the prickly ash germplasm originating from Chongqing in Yongchuan, Chongqing in Rongchang, and Yunnan in Honghe ranked highest, whereas the leaf traits of the prickly ash germplasm from Henan in Jiaozuo, Gansu in Tianshui, and Shanxi in Yuncheng ranked lowest. The results of the correlation analysis showed that among the ecological and geographical factors of the origins, latitude had the strongest correlation with the leaf traits of the prickly ash germplasm. As latitude increased, the leaves of prickly ash gradually decreased in size, weight, and leaf shape index. The factor with the second strongest correlation was temperature. The leaves of the prickly ash germplasm originating from warmer climate areas were larger and heavier than those from areas with colder climates. Altitude and longitude did not significantly affect the leaf traits of the prickly ash germplasm, but at similar latitudes, the leaves of the prickly ash germplasm in high-altitude areas were smaller, and the leaves of the prickly ash germplasm in low-altitude areas were larger. These findings can provide valuable references for breeding and the sustainable utilization of new varieties of prickly ash resources.

To address the limited wear resistance attributed to the insufficient initial mechanical properties observed in high manganese steel (HM) wear behavior, we introduced nitrogen (N) to modulate precipitation behavior, thereby elevating material mechanical properties and wear resistance, and this was further enhanced through aging treatments. Due to the nitrogen addition, the precipitates transformed from MC to M(C, N), concurrently triggering a substantial increase and refinement in precipitates. As a result, nitrogenous high manganese steel (NHM) exhibited improved strength, toughness, and work-hardening capacity. The enhancements amounted to 67–77 MPa in yield strength and 5.3–9.3 % in elongation, with these improvements becoming more pronounced after extending the aging treatment. Under impact abrasive wear conditions, the NHM demonstrated the development of a stable work-hardened layer. The NHM hardened layer rapidly reached a depth of 4–6 mm, effectively resisting abrasive embedding and suppressing matrix abrasion. This transitioned the primary wear mechanisms from cutting and plowing to plastic deformation and micro-spalling. Additionally, NHM's great uniformity and toughness-plasticity played a crucial role in preventing the initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks and fatigue sheds.

This study explores a sustainable recycling technique for converting coal gangue, an abundant industrial waste, into high-value porous ceramics, aiming to mitigate environmental hazards while contributing to materials science. By characterising the waste's composition, the research outlines a detailed methodology for ceramic synthesis, which includes calcination, grinding, and sintering at varying temperatures with the incorporation of chemical additives. The findings reveal that a sintering temperature of 1250 °C is optimal for producing ceramics with desirable porosity and strength. Additionally, additives, such as NaOH, KOH, and Ca(OH)₂, are shown to enhance the formation of mullite, gehlenite, and calcium silicate phases, thus improving the mechanical properties of the final product. The study concludes with a successful demonstration of a scalable process for manufacturing porous ceramics from coal gangue, providing a new application for waste utilisation and a new pathway to produce advanced materials with significant industrial applications.

Purpose: Cancer is the second leading cause of human mortality and has rapidly become a major global issue. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, the primary pathogenesis of cancer is the deficiency of ''vital Qi''. Licorice (Gancao in Chinese, GC) one of the oldest and the most frequently used herbs for tonifying Qi, is commonly integrated with other Chinese medicines to treat cancer in TCM clinical practice. GC extract, or its chemical components, are often utilized in cancer treatment. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying GC's therapeutic effects on cancer remain unclear. Our current study aimed to elucidate these mechanisms from the perspective of network pharmacology and experimental validation. Methods: We employed network pharmacology and bioinformatics to explore the anti-cancer mechanism, crucial targets, and kernel ingredients of GC. The significant targets and key ingredients (quercetin, glycyrrhetinic acid, and glucyrin) were substantiated using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) viability assay, respectively. Results: Our findings identified eight critical targets and key ingredients (quercetin, glycyrrhetinic acid, glucyrin) and suggested that GC's anti-cancer effects are primarily associated with modulation of the immune system, signal transduction, cell cycle, and gene expression. The efficacy of quercetin, glycyrrhetinic acid, glucyrin against Human A549 lung cancer cells was confirmed. Conclusion: This study comprehensively elucidates the mechanisms through which GC addresses cancer, leveraging network pharmacology and experimental validation. These insights contribute to identifying principal compounds and developing innovative drugs for cancer therapy.

Addressing the challenges of complex structure, limited modularization capability, and insufficient responsiveness in traditional hydraulically driven inter-plant mechanical weeding equipment, this study designed and developed an electric swing-type opening and closing intra-row weeding control system. The system integrates deep learning technology for accurate identification and localization of cabbage, enabling precise control and dynamic obstacle avoidance for the weeding knives. The system’s performance was comprehensively evaluated through laboratory and field experiments. Laboratory experiments demonstrated that, under conditions of low speed and large plant spacing, the system achieved a weeding accuracy of 96.67%, with a minimum crop injury rate of 0.83%. However, as the operational speed increased, the weeding accuracy decreased while the crop injury rate increased. Two-way ANOVA results indicated that operational speed significantly affected both weeding accuracy and crop injury rate, whereas plant spacing had a significant effect on weeding accuracy but no significant effect on crop injury rate. Field experiment results further confirmed that the system maintained high weeding accuracy and crop protection under varying speed conditions. At a low speed of 0.1 m/s, the weeding accuracy was 96.00%, with a crop injury rate of 1.57%. However, as the speed increased to 0.5 m/s, the weeding accuracy dropped to 81.79%, while the crop injury rate rose to 5.49%. These experimental results verified the system’s adaptability and reliability in complex field environments, providing technical support for the adoption of intelligent mechanical weeding systems. Future research will focus on optimizing control algorithms and feedback mechanisms to enhance the system’s dynamic response capability and adaptability, thereby advancing the development of sustainable agriculture and precision field management.

Childhood obesity presents a serious health concern associated with gut microbiota alterations. Dietary interventions targeting the gut microbiota have emerged as promising strategies for managing obesity in children. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of stachyose (STS) supplementation on the gut microbiota composition and metabolic processes in obese children. Fecal samples were collected from 40 obese children (20 boys and 20 girls) aged between 6 and 15 and in vitro fermentation was conducted with or without the addition of STS, respectively, followed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and analysis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and gases. Notably, our results revealed that STS supplementation led to significant alterations in gut microbiota composition, including an increase in the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium, and a decrease in harmful bacteria including Escherichia-Shigella, Parabacteroides, Eggerthella, and Flavonifractor. Moreover, STS supplementation resulted in changes in SCFAs production, with significant increases in acetate levels and reductions in propionate and propionate, while simultaneously reducing the generation of gases such as H2S, H2, and NH3. The Area Under the Curve (AUC)-Random Forest algorithm and PICRUSt 2 were employed to identify valuable biomarkers and predict associations between the gut microbiota, metabolites, and metabolic pathways. The results not only contribute to the elucidation of STS’s modulatory effects on gut microbiota but also underscore its potential in shaping metabolic activities within the gastrointestinal environment. Furthermore, our study underscores the significance of personalized nutrition interventions, particularly utilizing STS supplementation, in the management of childhood obesity through targeted modulation of gut microbial ecology and metabolic function.

BackgroundTunneling technique has shown preliminary promise in lung segmentectomy which requires the use of staplers in specific procedures. However, the obstacle when staples pass is the most obvious factor hindering the implementation and development of this technique. This study investigated whether the obstacle of the technology could be addressed by using an innovative self-designed stapler tractor and analyzed the combined and respective advantages of them.MethodsThe clinical data of patients with lung nodules located near anatomical sites with potential tunnel creation treated by segmentectomy were analyzed in this retrospective case-control study. The data were divided into four groups according to four distinct surgical strategies: In Group A, the tunneling technique was performed with a stapler tractor; in Group B, the tunneling technique was performed without a stapler tractor; in Group C, didn’t perform the tunneling technique but using stapler tractor in a normal approach; and in Group D, neither performed the technique nor used the stapler tractor. The general linear data, operation times, intraoperative adverse events, postoperative recovery and complications were compared.ResultsCompared with other groups, Group A exhibited the best surgical outcomes in comprehensive aspects. Separately, the tunnel groups (Group A&B) had better outcomes in the macro implementation of operation, including resection margin, the number of sampled intrapulmonary lymph nodes and resected subsegments, while the staple tractor groups (Group A&C) performed better on details of the procedure, including operation time, conversion to thoracotomy, and intraoperative bleeding (p < 0.05). Both of them were beneficial for shorter hospital stay, and the tunnel group was more advantageous.ConclusionThe tunneling technique is an advanced and beneficial surgical strategy for performing precise resection of lung segments while a stapler tractor can promote and facilitate it as a supplementary instrument. They show more combined benefits in effectively minimizing the occurrence of erroneous injuries and enhancing the operational efficacy.

Abstract Controlling the growth of bacterial biofilms in a specific pattern greatly enhances the study of cell‐to‐cell interactions and paves the way for expanding their biological applications. However, the development of simple, cost‐effective, and highly resolved biopatterning approaches remains a persistent challenge. Herein, a pioneering photodynamic biopatterning technique for the creation of living bacterial biofilms with customized geometries at high resolutions is presented. First of all, an outstanding aggregation‐induced emission photosensitizer is synthesized to enable efficient photodynamic bacterial killing at a low concentration. By combining with custom‐designed photomasks featuring both opaque and transparent patterns, the viability of photosensitizer‐coated bacteria is successfully manipulated by controlling the degree of light transmittance. This process leads to the formation of living bacterial biofilms with specific patterns replicated from the photomask. Such an innovative strategy can be employed to generate living bacterial biofilms composed of either mono‐ or multispecies, with a spatial resolution of approximately 24 µm. Furthermore, its potential applications in information storage/encryption and antibiotic screening are explored. This study provides an alternative way to understand and investigate the intricate interactions among bacteria within 3D biofilms, holding great promise in the controlled fabrication of dynamic biological systems for advanced applications.

This work introduced a facile method for fabricating heterostructures in a medium Mn steel via a direct warm rolling process. The heavy warm rolling promoted the transformation of metastable austenite (∼12.2 vol%) into hard domain α’ martensite, which formed a heterogeneous microstructure with the untransformed γ (soft domain). After 600 °C re-annealing, the hard domain α’ re-reversed to α + γ, and the heterostructure disappeared. Compared to the homogeneous structure, the heterostructure exhibited the synergistic enhancement of strength-ductility (yield strength (YS): 782 → 1113 MPa; ultimate tensile strength (UTS): 1099 → 1304 MPa; total elongation (TEL): 20.8 % → 21.7 %). Quantitative analysis showed that the heterogeneous deformation induced (HDI) strengthening (∼261 MPa) was the primary contributor to the increased ΔYS (782 → 1113 MPa) value, rather than the traditional strengthening mechanisms. Transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) and twinning induced plasticity (TWIP) effect were the main deformation mechanisms of both homogeneous/heterogeneous structures. However, compared to the homogeneous microstructure, the heterogeneous structure possessed the more pronounced TRIP and HDI hardening effects as well as L-C locks, the cooperative effect of these three factors further improved the strain hardening ability to break through the strength-ductility trade-off dilemma.

BackgroundObservational studies have indicated that obesity is a risk factor for anorectal abscess (ARB). However, it remains unclear whether a causal genetic relationship exists between obesity and ARB.MethodsUnivariate and multivariate Mendelian randomization (MR) were conducted using data from a large, published genome-wide association study (GWAS) of European ancestry to infer a causal relationship between obesity and ARB. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) analysis served as the primary analysis method, with results reported as odds ratios (OR).ResultsMR analysis revealed that body mass index (BMI) positively affects ARB (OR 1.974, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.548–2.519, p = 4.34 × 10−8). The weighted median method (OR = 1.879, 95% CI 1.248–2.829, p = 0.002) and Bayesian model averaging (BMA) (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.477–2.392, p = 2.85 × 10−7) also demonstrated consistent results. Subsequently, the impact of several obesity-related characteristics on ARB was assessed. Body fat percentage (BF), whole body fat mass (FM), waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC) were found to be causally associated with an increased risk of ARB. However, these associations vanished after adjusting for BMI effects.ConclusionThe study confirms a positive causal effect of obesity on ARB, highlighting that reasonable weight control is an important strategy to reduce the incidence of ARB.

Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is reproduced by bud grafting for commercial planting, but significant intraclonal variations exist in bud-grafted clones. DNA methylation changes related to grafting may be partly responsible for intraclonal variations. In the current study, whole-genome DNA methylation profiles of grafted rubber tree plants (GPs) and their donor plants (DPs) were evaluated by whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. Data showed that DNA methylation was downregulated and DNA methylations in CG, CHG, and CHH sequences were reprogrammed in GPs, suggesting that grafting induced the reprogramming of DNA methylation. A total of 5,939 differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were identified by comparing fractional methylation levels between GPs and DPs. Transcriptional analysis revealed that there were 9,798 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the DP and GP comparison. A total of 1,698 overlapping genes between DEGs and DMGs were identified. These overlapping genes were markedly enriched in the metabolic pathway and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Global DNA methylation and transcriptional analyses revealed that reprogramming of DNA methylation is correlated with gene expression in grafted rubber trees. The study provides a whole-genome methylome of rubber trees and an insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the intraclonal variations existing in the commercial planting of grafted rubber trees.

Abstract Pyrogen, often as a contaminant, is a key indicator affecting the safety of almost all parenteral drugs (including biologicals, chemicals, traditional Chinese medicines and medical devices). It has become a goal to completely replace the in vivo rabbit pyrogen test by using the in vitro pyrogen test based on the promoted ‘reduction, replacement and refinement’ principle, which has been highly considered by regulatory agencies from different countries. We used NF-κB, a central signalling molecule mediating inflammatory responses, as a pyrogenic marker and the monocyte line THP-1 transfected with a luciferase reporter gene regulated by NF-κB as an in vitro model to detect pyrogens by measuring the intensity of a fluorescence signal. Here, we show that this test can quantitatively and sensitively detect endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide from different strains) and nonendotoxin (lipoteichoic acid, zymosan, peptidoglycan, lectin and glucan), has good stability in terms of NF-κB activity and cell phenotypes at 39 cell passages and can be applied to detect pyrogens in biologicals (group A & C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine; basiliximab; rabies vaccine (Vero cells) for human use, freeze-dried; Japanese encephalitis vaccine (Vero cells), inactivated; insulin aspart injection; human albumin; recombinant human erythropoietin injection (CHO Cell)). The within-laboratory reproducibility of the test in three independent laboratories was 85%, 80% and 80% and the interlaboratory reproducibility among laboratories was 83.3%, 95.6% and 86.7%. The sensitivity (true positive rate) and specificity (true negative rate) of the test were 89.9% and 90.9%, respectively. In summary, the test provides a novel alternative for pyrogen detection.

Highlights A stable Zn anode was obtained by patterning Zn foil surfaces and endowing a zincphilic interface in microchannels. The accumulation of electrons in the microchannel and the zincphilic interface promoted preferential heteroepitaxial Zn deposition in the microchannel region and subsequent homoepitaxial Zn deposition on the array surface. The Zn symmetrical cells could undergo repeated plating/stripping for more than 25,000 cycles at the current densities of 10 and 20 mA cm−2.

Significance Cobalt is an important strategic mineral resource and plays an irreplaceable role in aerospace, battery and other industries. Cobalt is mainly concentrated in few countries around the world and is one of the scarcest mineral resources in China. The cobalt ore resources in China are heavily dependent on imports. Therefore, research on cobalt ore resources is vital to reduce the bottleneck risk and to sustain the economic development. Progress This paper systematically reviewed geochemical properties and mineral types of cobalt and the genetic types, formation mechanisms, and spatiotemporal distribution of cobalt deposits in the world and China. Conclusions and prospects The existing problems of cobalt deposits are comprehensively summarized in the study and future research should be focused on the ore-forming age and the dynamic background of cobalt deposits, the source, migration and enrichment mechanism, and the occurrence of cobalt. This study aims to provide a new reference for the study of cobalt deposits and the exploration and development of cobalt resources in China.

Abstract Quinoline‐based fibroblast activation protein (FAP) inhibitor (FAPI)‐based positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and radioligand therapy (RLT) are being investigated for use in a wide variety of diseases, and recent results have been promising. This review summarizes the current status of FAPI radiopharmaceuticals in PET imaging of malignant tumors and benign conditions and compares their diagnostic efficacy with 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose. In addition, we summarize the previously published FAP‐targeted RLT data and discuss its current clinical use and future potential. Our qualitative summary can inform future research directions, medical guidelines, and optimal clinical decision‐making.

Medicarpin is an important bioactive compound with multiple medicinal activities, including anti-tumor, anti-osteoporosis, and anti-bacterial effects. Medicarpin is associated with pterocarpans derived from medicinal plants, such as Sophora japonica, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., and Glycyrrhiza glabra L. However, these medicinal plants contain only low amounts of medicarpin. Moreover, the planting area for medicarpin-producing plants is limited; consequently, the current medicarpin supply cannot meet the high demands of medicinal markets. In this study, eight key genes involved in medicarpin biosynthesis were identified using comparative transcriptome and bioinformatic analyses. In vitro and in vivo enzymatic reaction confirmed the catalytic functions of candidate enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of medicarpin and medicarpin intermediates. Further engineering of these genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae achieved the heterologous biosynthesis of medicarpin using liquiritigenin as a substrate, with a final medicarpin yield of 0.82 ± 0.18 mg/L. By increasing the gene copy numbers of vestitone reductase (VR) and pterocarpan synthase (PTS), the final medicarpin yield was increased to 2.05 ± 0.72 mg/L. This study provides a solid foundation for the economic and sustainable production of medicarpin through a synthetic biology strategy.

We investigate the topological phases and corresponding edge states in silicene with fixed intrinsic and extrinsic Rashba spin-orbit couplings. The results show that silicene can exhibit four distinct topological phases, such as two types of valley-polarized quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) and two types of QAHE that can be effectively controlled by the exchange field and electric field. In addition, these topological phases only correspond to the valley edge states distributed at the boundary of silicene. In particular, when the off-resonant circularly polarized (ORCP) light is further considered, silicene can host richer topological phases that are characterized by the Chern numbers from C=−3 to C=3, where the corresponding mixed edge states—where the valley and nonvalley edge states could coexist—can remarkably appear. More interestingly, the special higher Chern numbers C=±3 determine two valley edge states and one nonvalley edge state, with the right-moving or left-moving direction. These peculiar edge states are attributed to the ORCP light destroying the collapse of the Dirac cones that the valley edge states bridge. Additionally, silicene can experience multiple edge-state transitions for identical Chern numbers C=±2 between the valley edge state, nonvalley edge state, and two types of mixed edge state, under the ORCP light. This work may provide a platform and point of view for investigating other forms of topological edge state and is beneficial for designing multifunctional topological devices.

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To investigate the effects of replacing fish meal with fermented Antarctic krill meal on growth performance, body color, and serum biochemical indexes of koi carp, 450 koi carp with an average body weight of (4.92±0.22) g were randomly divided into five groups with three replicates per group and 30 fish per replicate. In the control group, we added unfermented defatted Antarctic krill meal, and in the experimental groups, we added defatted Antarctic krill meal fermented by Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Clostridium butyricum, and compound bacteria (1:1:1), which were termed as ES (control group), EF, LP, CB, and MIX, respectively. The addition amount of Antarctic krill meal in each group was 200 g/kg, and the experiment lasted for 70 days. The results showed the following: Compared with those in the control group, the replacement of fish meal with fermented Antarctic krill meal significantly improved final body weight (FBW), weight gain rate (WGR), and specific growth rate (SGR) (P0.05). Based on the above results, using complex bacteria to ferment krill meal in the koi carp feed is recommended with a 20% addition level of defatted krill meal, which can effectively improve the absorption and conversion utilization rate of krill meal.

ObjectiveTo examine the effects of an intervention with fructooligosaccharides (FOS), Saccharomyces boulardii, and their combination in a mouse model of colitis and to explore the mechanisms underlying these effects.MethodsThe effects of FOS, S. boulardii, and their combination were evaluated in a DSS-induced mouse model of colitis. To this end, parameters such as body weight, the disease activity index (DAI), and colon length were examined in model mice. Subsequently, ELISA was employed to detect the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Histopathological analysis was performed to estimate the progression of inflammation in the colon. Gas chromatography was used to determine the content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the feces of model mice. Finally, 16S rRNA sequencing technology was used to analyze the gut microbiota composition.ResultsFOS was slight effective in treating colitis and colitis-induced intestinal dysbiosis in mice. Meanwhile, S. boulardii could significantly reduced the DAI, inhibited the production of IL-1β, and prevented colon shortening. Nevertheless, S. boulardii treatment alone failed to effectively regulate the gut microbiota. In contrast, the combined administration of FOS/S. boulardii resulted in better anti-inflammatory effects and enabled microbiota regulation. The FOS/S. boulardii combination (109 CFU/ml and 107 CFU/ml) significantly reduced the DAI, inhibited colitis, lowered IL-1β and TNF-α production, and significantly improved the levels of butyric acid and isobutyric acid. However, FOS/S. boulardii 109 CFU/ml exerted stronger anti-inflammatory effects, inhibited IL-6 production and attenuated colon shortening. Meanwhile, FOS/S. boulardii 107 CFU/ml improved microbial regulation and alleviated the colitis-induced decrease in microbial diversity. The combination of FOS and S. boulardii significantly increased the abundance of Parabacteroides and decreased the abundance of Escherichia–Shigella. Additionally, it promoted the production of acetic acid and propionic acid.ConclusionCompared with single administration, the combination can significantly increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria and effectively regulate the gut microbiota composition. These results provide a scientific rationale for the prevention and treatment of colitis using a FOS/S. boulardii combination. They also offer a theoretical basis for the development of nutraceutical preparations containing FOS and S. boulardii.

A scientific, comprehensive and integrated assessment of urban energy development is of great significance for the establishment of a clean, low-carbon and efficient urban modern energy system. From the perspective of carbon neutrality, this paper sets 25 evaluation indicators in seven dimensions: energy supply, energy consumption, energy efficiency improvement, clean and low-carbon, safety and reliability, low-carbon transport, and scientific and technological innovation, and constructs a secondary indicator system for evaluating the strategic development of urban energy. The system adopts the hierarchical analysis method to determine the weights of the indicators, the double-baseline progression method to standardize the indicator scores, and finally the weighted composite index method to calculate the level of urban energy strategy development. This paper applies the index system to evaluate the current energy development status of Wenzhou city in 2020 and 2022, and to predict the energy strategy development in 2025 and 2030. The scores of Wenzhou city's urban energy strategy development level in the corresponding four periods are 63.56, 70.59, 77.87 and 85.06, indicating that by 2023, Wenzhou city's urban energy development level will go from medium development to high development. Wenzhou City should accelerate the proportion of renewable energy in the future. It is necessary to complement multiple energy sources and improve the integration of heat, electricity, gas and cold. In terms of end consumption, it is necessary to improve the efficiency of energy use, reduce energy intensity, implement electric energy substitution and form an energy consumption pattern centered on electricity.

This research reviews the global development status of gender equality and green development, and analyzes the impact of gender equality on green development and its influencing mechanism. In addition, this research also explores the impact of digital technology on this relationship. We found that gender equality and green development have made significant progress globally since the 20th century, but they still face difficulties and challenges. We also found that gender equality have a positive impact on green development through three potential mechanisms. Moreover, digital technology has the potential to contribute to this impact. Based on these findings, we propose relevant policy recommendations to improve gender equality and green development.

BackgroundAutoimmune nodopathy (AN) has emerged as a novel diagnostic category that is pathologically different from classic chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. Clinical manifestations of AN include sensory or motor neuropathies, sensory ataxia, tremor, and cranial nerve involvement. AN with a serum-positive contactin-1 (CNTN1) antibody usually results in peripheral nerve demyelination. In this study, we reported a rare case of AN with CNTN1 antibodies characterized by the presence of CNTN1 antibodies in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid, which is associated with cerebellar dysarthria.MethodsA 25-year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to progressive dysarthria with limb tremors. The patient was initially diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy at a local hospital. Three years after onset, he was admitted to our hospital due to dysarthria, apparent limb tremor, and limb weakness. At that time, he was diagnosed with spinocerebellar ataxia. Eight years post-onset, during his second admission, his condition had notably deteriorated. His dysarthria had evolved to typical distinctive cerebellar characteristics, such as tremor, loud voice, stress, and interrupted articulation. Additionally, he experienced further progression in limb weakness and developed muscle atrophy in the distal limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nerve conduction studies (NCS), and autoimmune antibody tests were performed.ResultsThe results of the NCS suggested severe demyelination and even axonal damage to the peripheral nerves. MRI scans revealed diffuse thickening of bilateral cervical nerve roots, lumbosacral nerve roots, cauda equina nerve, and multiple intercostal nerve root sheath cysts. Furthermore, anti-CNTN1 antibody titers were 1:10 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and 1:100 in the serum. After one round of rituximab treatment, the patient showed significant improvement in limb weakness and dysarthria, and the CSF antibodies turned negative.ConclusionApart from peripheral neuropathies, cerebellar dysarthria (central nervous system involvement) should not be ignored in AN patients with CNTN1 antibodies.

IntroductionTranssphenoidal surgery (TSS) is the preferred surgical method for most pituitary adenomas owing to high efficacy and low mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on postoperative outcomes of TSS for pituitary adenoma.MethodsThis population-based, retrospective observational study extracted data of adults 20-79 y receiving TSS for pituitary adenoma from the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) between 2005-2018. Primary outcomes were pituitary-related complications, poor outcomes (i.e., in-hospital mortality or unfavorable discharge), prolonged length of stay (LOS), and patient safety indicators (PSIs). Univariate and multivariate regressions were performed to determine the associations between study variables and outcomes.Results19,076 patients (representing a 93,185 US in-patient population) were included, among which 2,109 (11.1%) patients had MetS. After adjustment, pre-existing MetS was not significantly associated with presence of pituitary-related complications and poor outcomes. In contrast, MetS was significantly associated with an increased risk for prolonged LOS (adjusted OR (aOR) = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.05-1.34), PSIs (aOR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.07-1.59) and greater hospital costs (adjusted β = 8.63 thousand USD; 95% CI: 4.98-12.29). Among pituitary-related complications, MetS was independently associated with increased risk of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea (aOR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.47) but lowered diabetes insipidus (aOR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.71, 0.97).DiscussionMetS does not pose excessive risk of in-hospital mortality or unfavorable discharge. However, MetS independently predicted having PSIs, prolonged LOS, greater hospital costs, and CSF rhinorrhea. Study findings may help clinicians achieve better risk stratification before TSS.