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Alkaptonuria (AKU) is an autosomal recessive disorder of tyrosine metabolism, which is caused by a defect in the enzyme homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase (HGD) with subsequent accumulation of homogentisic acid. Presently, more than 100 HGD mutations have been identified as the cause of the inborn error of metabolism across different populations worldwide. However, the HGD mutation is very rarely reported in Asia, especially China. In this study, we present mutational analyses of HGD gene in one Chinese Han child with AKU, which had been identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry detection of organic acids in urine samples. PCR and DNA sequencing of the entire coding region as well as exon-intron boundaries of HGD have been performed. Two novel mutations were identified in the HGD gene in this AKU case, a frameshift mutation of c.115delG in exon 3 and the splicing mutation of IVS5+3 A>C, a donor splice site of the exon 5 and exon-intron junction. The identification of these mutations in this study further expands the spectrum of known HGD gene mutations and contributes to prenatal molecular diagnosis of AKU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The DGF at arbitrary view angles can be obtained from TLS data. • A power function models the relationship between nadir- and non-nadir-oriented DGF. • Sloped terrain weakens the dependence of DGF on the VZA. • Low density, low tree height, and small crown diameter strengthen the dependence. • VAA is as important as VZA in DGF estimation for forests on sloped terrain. Determining how the view angle relates to the directional gap fraction (DGF) of natural forests with varying canopy structure and terrain is beneficial for assessing the radiation transfer and understory growth. However, it remains challenging to determine how DGF depends on the view angle due to the limitation to obtain the DGF at arbitrary view angles. This study verifies a point number-based method based on terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data to estimate the DGF at arbitrary view angles for subtropical forests on either sloped or flat terrain. We then explore how the vertical DGF in the non-nadir direction relates to that in the nadir direction, and analyze the effects of forest canopy structure and terrain on the relationship. Finally, we quantify the dependence of DGF on both view zenith angle (VZA) and view azimuthal angle (VAA). The results show that the TLS-based method captures over 67% of the variations (root mean square error≤0.12) of the optically measured DGF. The vertical DGF in the non-nadir direction is related by a power function model to that in the nadir direction. Sloped terrain weakens the dependence of DGF on the VZA especially when VZA is large than 60° in this study, and the low forest density, low average tree height, and small crown diameter strengthen the dependence of DGF on the VZA. The DGF depends on the VZA more than the VAA for forests on flat terrain. However, the VAA also plays a key role in DGF estimation for forests on sloped terrain. This study proves that TLS is a useful tool to acquire reference data of DGF which can help to understand aerial and satellite estimation analyses in subtropical forested areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For quantum on‐demand storage and retrieval of nonclassical light, the memory noise at shot noise limit is a necessary condition. And an optical filter is widely used to filter out the strong control mode when the signal mode is maintained. Thus we construct and analyze an etalon filter with the planar monolithic geometry. The signal mode resonant with the etalon is selected and the unwanted modes are filtered out by precisely controlling the etalon temperature. The noise suppression factor for control mode is 0.053 while the transmissivity for signal mode is 97% with a fluctuation of 1.7% within 30 min. Our analysis can provide a direct reference for optimizing the performance of quantum memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Filter, wrapper, embedded and ensemble feature selection approaches (FS) were evaluated. • The proposed ensemble FS incorporates ten individual selectors to identify top significant variables. • Ensemble FS produced the highest predictive variable subset for mapping SOM. • XGBoost outperformed RF in mapping SOM in subtropical restored forests. Mapping Soil organic matter (SOM) over a complex forest landscape is challenging due to the difficulty in selecting the most insightful variables from high-dimensional datasets in the recent explosion of geospatial-data. Feature selection (FS) is necessary to reduce data redundancy and noise as well as to achieve more reliable SOM spatial predictions. However, it is still unclear that which is most effective among various FS methods in mapping SOM. Therefore, four types of FS approaches (i.e., filter, wrapper, embedded and ensemble) were adopted to generate optimum variable subsets from an original variable dataset of 60 candidates, respectively, for mapping SOM of restored forest land in a typical subtropical region of southern China. The most used methods for each type of FS approaches were selected in this study, including three filters (Chi-square, InfoGain and pearson correlation analysis), three wrappers (genetic algorithm, simulated annealing algorithm and support vector machine-recursive feature elimination) and three embedded methods (Boruta, random forest (RF) and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost)), as well as an ensemble method (robust rank aggreg algorithm (RRA)). Meanwhile, the RF and XGBoost models were applied with a 10-fold cross-validation method to compare the relative advantages of the different FS methods in SOM mapping, by utilizing the correlation coefficients R2 between observed and predicted values and predicting errors of root mean square error (RMSE). The results show that the SOM prediction accuracies with optimized variable subsets generated by the different FS methods are better than those with full variables, yet the improvements of prediction performance are different among the four types of FS approaches. The ensemble method (RRA) is superior to the other three types of approaches with an average RMSE reduction of 9.16% comparing to that without using FS methods, followed by wrapper and embedded methods which obtained the average RMSE reduction by 7.81%, 7.32%, respectively, and the filter methods are the weakest in the RMSE reduction with slight decreases of 4.32%. The XGBoost model achieved a better performance in predicting SOM than the RF model regardless of input variables, and the XGBoost model combined with RRA FS method shows the greatest potential to map SOM in the restored forest land. This study provides a reference for obtaining more parsimonious and robust variable sets from the available big geo-data freely for soil mapping in other areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) provides a green and sustainable way to produce ammonia at ambient conditions. The key to realize highly efficient NRR is the catalysts. To design highly active electrocatalysts for NRR, the multistep mechanism involved in NRR must be clearly unraveled. Herein, single V atoms anchored on g-C 3 N 4 is identified to be an efficient electrocatalyst for NRR by screening single 3d transition metal (TM = Sc to Zn) atoms anchored by g-C 3 N 4 (TM@g-C 3 N 4) through density functional theory calculations. NRR takes place on V@g-C 3 N 4 preferentially through distal path with a relatively low limiting potential of −0.55 V. The outstanding NRR performance of V@g-C 3 N 4 is found from the peculiar electronic structure of V after anchored in the six-fold cavity of g-C 3 N 4 and the good transmitter role of V for electron transfer between N x H y species and g-C 3 N 4. Moreover, the formation energy and dissolution potential indicate that V@g-C 3 N 4 is thermodynamically and electrochemically stable and the aggregation of V atoms is unfavorable thermodynamically, signifying that the synthesis of V@g-C 3 N 4 is feasible in experiments. Our work screens out a superior noble metal-free NRR electrocatalyst and will be helpful for the development of ambient artificial nitrogen fixation. • Single V atom anchored on g-C 3 N 4 is beneficial to the adsorption of N 2 and the inhibition of hydrogen evolution reaction. • The mechanism of high activity of V@g-C 3 N 4 nitrogen reduction reaction catalyst was systematically studied. • The maximum stretching of N–N bond imply good catalytic activity, but it does not mean strong adsorption of N 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaf area index (LAI) is a key indicator of the status of forest ecosystems that is important for understanding global carbon and water cycles as well as terrestrial surface energy balances and the impacts of climate change. Machine learning (ML) methods offer promising ways of generating spatially explicit LAI data covering large regions based on optical images. However, there have been few efforts to analyze the LAI in heterogeneous subtropical forests with complex terrain by fusing high-resolution multi-sensor data from the Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Sentinel-2 Multi Spectral Instrument (MSI), and Advanced Land Observing Satellite-1 digital elevation model (DEM). Here, forest LAI mapping was performed by integrating the MSI, SAR, and DEM data using a stacking learning (SL) approach that incorporates distinct predictions from a set of optimized individual ML algorithms. The method's performance was evaluated by comparison to field forest LAI measurements acquired in Xingguo and Gandong of subtropical China. The results showed that the addition of the SAR and DEM images using the SL model compared to the inputs of only optical images reduced the mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) by 26% and 18%, respectively, in Xingguo, and by 12% and 8%, respectively, in Gandong. Furthermore, the combination of all images had the best prediction performance. SL was found to be more robust and accurate than conventional individual ML models, while the MAE and RMSE were decreased by 71% and 64%, respectively, in Xingguo, and by 68% and 59%, respectively, in Gandong. Therefore, the SL model using the three-source data combination produced satisfied prediction accuracy with the coefficients of determination (R2), MAE, and RMSE of 0.96, 0.17, and 0.28, respectively, in Xingguo and 0.94, 0.30, and 0.47, respectively, in Gandong. This study revealed the potential of the SL algorithm for retrieving the forest LAI using multi-sensor data in areas with complex terrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts with low cost, high activity, and long‐term durability are highly desired for rechargeable zinc‐air batteries (RZABs). However, the design of such catalysts is a significant challenge. Herein, a new bifunctional electrocatalyst composed of atomically dispersed Fe‐N4 sites bridged with MoOx clusters (FeN4/MoOx) on carbon black substrate is designed for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) involved in liquid and flexible RZABs. The FeN4/MoOx is prepared by pyrolyzing hematin porcine adsorbed on carbon black, followed by hydrothermal growth of MoOx. In the FeN4/MoOx catalyst, the Fe atoms are atomically dispersed and penta‐coordinated with four pyrrolic N atoms and one O atom of MoOx clusters. Such a structure produces strong electronic interactions between the Fe and Mo atoms. The FeN4/MoOx electrocatalyst exhibits excellent ORR and OER activities, with an ORR half‐wave potential of 0.902 V, an OER overpotential of 337 mV at 10 mA cm−2, and an ultrasmall potential gap of 0.665 V. Liquid and flexible RZABs based on the FeN4/MoOx catalyst show a high energy and power density, as well as excellent cycling stability and rechargeability. This work introduces a novel type of bifunctional catalysts consisting of connected single atoms and clusters for energy storage devices and wearable electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prognosis of patients diagnosed with relapsed or refractory (R/R) T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL/LBL) has consistently been unsatisfactory, with limited treatment options. As reports, the CAG regimen can serve as a salvage treatment for R/R T-ALL/LBL, but there remains a subset of patients who do not benefit from it. Recent studies have indicated that daratumumab (Dara) and venetoclax (Ven) may offer promising therapeutic benefits for T-ALL/LBL. In light of these findings, we conducted a safety and efficacy evaluation of the enhanced treatment regimen, combining Dara and Ven with aclarubicin, cytarabine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and etoposide (CAGE), in patients suffering from R/R T-ALL/LBL. The participants in this phase I trial were patients with R/R T-ALL/LBL who fail to standard treatment regimens. During each 28-day cycle, the patients were treated by Dara, Ven, cytarabine, aclarubicin, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, etoposide. The primary endpoint of this study was the rate of remission. This report presents the prospective outcomes of 21 patients who received the salvage therapy of Dara and Ven combined with the CAGE regimen (Dara + Ven + CAGE). The objective remission rate (ORR) was determined to be 57.1%, while the complete remission (CR) rate was 47.6%. Notably, patients with the early T-cell precursor (ETP) subtype exhibited a significantly higher remission rate in the bone marrow compared to non-ETP patients (100% vs. 44.4%, p = 0.044). The Dara + Ven + CAGE regimen demonstrated a favorable remission rate in patients with R/R T-ALL/LBL. Moreover, the treatment was well-tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TNW700 is a newly developed near-α high temperature titanium alloy and has great application potential in the aerospace industry owing to excellent creep strength and short-term service temperature up to 700 °C. The superplastic tensile deformation behavior and constitutive model of TNW700 alloy in the temperature range of 900–975 °C and strain rate range of 0.0005–0.01s−1 were investigated. Results indicated that TNW700 alloy exhibits significant work hardening behavior, which may be related to dynamic growth of β grains, dislocation evolution, and silicide precipitates. In addition, work hardening coefficient (n) as well as the critical strain between flow hardening and softening increases with decreasing strain rate, and first increases and then decreases with increasing deformation temperature. TNW700 alloy exhibits excellent superplasticity at 900 °C–950 °C corresponding to strain rate sensitivity exponent (m) greater than 0.3, and expresses poor superplasticity at 975 °C with lower m value. The m value decreases monotonously with strain owing to decrease of grain boundary sliding contribution caused by dynamic grain growth of β grains. The deformation activation energy increases with decreasing strain rate due to the change of deformation mechanism. A phenomenological constitutive model considering strain hardening, strain rate hardening and temperature softening was proposed and material constants were calibrated by true stress-strain data. The constitutive model was implemented into Abaqus code by UHARD subroutine to simulate the superplastic forming of cone parts, and thickness distribution and bulging heights under different forming time were used to verify the validity of constitutive model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A method is proposed to estimate forest 3-D PAR distribution using TLS data. • The incident solar direct and diffuse PAR are treated separately in the method. • The effects of leaf orientations and LAIe on forest PAR are investigated. • When NPD≤20cm, lidar data are able to estimate the vertical PAR distribution. The three-dimensional (3-D) spatiotemporal distribution of forest canopy photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is a major determinant of within-crown variations of leaf photosynthesis and transpiration. However, it remains challenging to map the 3-D spatiotemporal distribution of PAR within and under the forest canopy due to the limited ability to capture the detailed 3-D structures of forest canopies.This study proposes a simple approach to estimate the 3-D spatiotemporal distribution of forest canopy PAR at a fine spatial resolution based on terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) data by characterizing difference in transfer of incident solar direct PAR and diffuse PAR and by considering the effect of the orientation angles of foliage elements on the 3-D distribution of direct PAR. Estimated PAR was validated using 10-minute PAR measurements from pyranometers at different locations within four forest plots, at which effective leaf area index (LAIe) ranged from 0.83–4.25. It showed that the proposed method captured 85% (N=2831, p<0.001) of the variations in the field pyranometer measurements. Furthermore, the proposed method was also applicable for estimating the vertical distribution of PAR (R2=0.95, N=15, p<0.001). Direct, diffuse, and total PAR exhibited similar vertical distributions changing with LAIe. It was shown that without differentiation of direct and diffuse PAR or ignoring effects of orientation angles of foliage elements may cause errors of about 20% in the estimated 3-D PAR distribution. Furthermore, the results indicated that the proposed method can be used to estimate the vertical distribution of PAR when the average neighbor point distance (NPD) is ≤20 cm. This proposed method will be usable for accurate separation of sunlit and shaded leaves and estimation of vertical distribution of PAR, which will benefit to reduce uncertainties in the estimation of terrestrial carbon fluxes and retrieval of vegetation structural and biochemical parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hot tensile tests of a metastable β alloy, Ti–15Mo–3Al-2.7Nb-0.2Si, were conducted in the wide temperature range of 750–950 °C with strain rates from 0.01 to 0.00005s−1. The flow behavior, constitutive modeling, strain rate sensitivity exponent (m), processing map and microstructural evolution were investigated. The results showed that the flow stress decreases with increasing temperature and decreasing strain rate. Discontinuous yielding was observed in the flow stress curves at high strain rates. The apparent activation energy under different discrete true strains was much higher than the self-diffusion activation energy of pure α or β-Ti. A constitutive model considering the strain effect is proposed with an average relative error of 8%. The m -value distribution and processing maps show that the stability region corresponds to a higher m value (>0.2) or higher power dissipation efficiency (η > 0.33), and the deformation mechanism relates to dynamic recrystallization (DRX), grain boundary sliding (GBS) and dynamic recovery (DRV). An instability region appeared at temperatures of 800–825 °C and high strain rates of 0.01–0.001s−1. The microstructural observations demonstrate that DRV with the formation of subgrains is the main deformation mechanism in the β field, accompanied by DRX and rotation of the β grains. When the testing temperatures were lower than T β , DRV was the main deformation mechanism of the deformed region. Static recovery was the primary mechanism for the grip regions. • The constitutive equation considering strain effect is established. • The magnitude and distribution of the strain-rate sensitivity exponent are given. • Construct 3D power dissipation efficiency maps and processing map. • Observe the microstructure to confirm the deformation mechanism. • Dynamic recovery is the main deformation mechanism in the β field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A kind of functional polysiloxane containing pendent γ-chloropropyl groups, α, ω-trimethylsiloxy-poly(methylchloropropyl)siloxane (PMCPS), was synthesized. Its thermal stability and thermal degradation kinetics were studied through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in nitrogen atmosphere. The effect of the introduced γ-chloropropyl units on the thermal degradation behavior of PMCPS was discussed. The TGA revealed that PMCPS exhibited three degradation stages in the temperature range of 30–800 °C. The depolymerization of the main chain of polysiloxane was accelerated by introducing the γ-chloropropyl groups. Two isoconversional methods, the Friedman and the modified Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) by Starink, were chosen to investigate the thermal degradation kinetics of PMCPS. The average activation energies of the thermal degradation of PMCPS obtained from the two methods were compared and found to be in good agreement with each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To establish a HPLC fingerprints evaluation method for Angelica Sinensis Radix (ASR) based on traditional decoction process of Ancient Classical Prescriptions of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACPTCM). Methods: The fingerprints of 10 batches of ASR were further evaluated by chemometrics methods. The similarity analyzed with “Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2004A,” and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed by SPSS (version 22.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: There were 12 common peaks, and the similarity degrees of 10 batches of samples were more than 0.923 and showed that all the samples from different origins were of good consistency. The samples were divided into 4 clusters by HCA. The results of PCA showed that the 3 factors were chosen, the quality of samples could be evaluated basically. The comprehensive score results show that the ASR with Lot.Nos.DG-18007, DG-18008 in Weiyuan County, Gansu and DG-18009 produced in Minle County, Gansu Province rank among the top 3 in all samples. Conclusions: These results demonstrated that the combination of HPLC chromatographic fingerprint and chemometrics offers an efficient and reliable approach for quality evaluation of ASR from different sources as Ancient Classical Prescriptions ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Return to work following myocardial infarction (MI) represents an important indicator of recovery. However, MI can cause patients to feel pressure, loneliness and inferiority during work and even detachment from employment after returning to work, which may affect their quality of life. The aims of this study were to identify the influencing factors of Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with MI after returning to work and explore the correlations between these factors and HRQoL.Method: This was a cross-sectional study. All participants were recruited from tertiary hospitals in China from October 2017 to March 2018. The general data questionnaire, Short-Form Health Survey-8 (SF-8), Health Promoting Lifestyle ProfileII (HPLPII), Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ) and Social Supporting Rating Scale (SSRS) were used to assess 326 patients with myocardial infarction returned to work after discharge. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to explore factors related to HRQoL in patients with MI after returning to work.Results: The sample consisted of 326 patients. The mean total score of quality of life was 28.03 ± 2.554. According to the multiple linear regression analysis, next factors were associated with better HRQoL: younger age (B = - 0.354, P = 0.039), higher income (B = 0.513, P = 0.000), less co-morbidity (B = - 0.440, P = 0.000), the longer time taken to return to work (B = 0.235, P = 0.003), fewer stents installed (B = - 0.359, P = 0.003), participation in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) (B = - 1.777, P = 0.000), complete CR (B = - 1.409, P = 0.000), better health behaviors such as more health responsibility (B = 0.172, P = 0.000) and exercise (B = 0.165, P = 0.000), better nutrition (B = 0.178, P = 0.000) and self-realization (B = 0.165, P = 0.000), stress response (B = 0.172, P = 0.000), more social support such as more objective support (B = 0.175, P = 0.000), subjective support (B = 0.167, P = 0.000) and better utilization of social support (B = 0.189, P = 0.028), positive copping strategies such as more coping (B = 0.133, P = 0.000) and less yield (B = - 0.165, P = 0.000).Conclusions: HRQoL of MI patients after returning to work is not satisfactory. Health behavior, coping strategies, social support are factors which can affect HRQoL. A comprehensive and targeted guide may be a way to improve HRQoL and to assist patients' successful return to society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sealants are easily subjected to microbial attachment, colonization, and deterioration in humid environment. Developing antimicrobial sealants have become an extremely imperative strategy to solve this problem. A kind of antimicrobial sealant was prepared with silane-modified polyether (SMPE) as a matrix and 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyldimethyloctadecylammoniumchloride (TPOAC) as an antimicrobial agent in a room-temperature curing system. The tack-free time testing indicated that the introduction of TPOAC can significantly accelerate the curing rate of sealants. The effects of TPOAC on the mechanical, bonding, and thermal properties and surface wettability of the antimicrobial SMPE sealants were investigated through mechanical testing, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and water contact angle measurement. The mechanical properties of sealants were improved with an appropriate content of TPOAC, and the sealant exhibits optimal mechanical properties with the TPOAC content of 1.5%. Furthermore, TGA results indicated that the thermal behavior of SMPE sealants displayed a one-step weight loss process by heating in a nitrogen atmosphere and the introduction of TPOAC has little effect on the thermal stability of SMPE sealants in a nitrogen atmosphere. Moreover, the sealants exhibit more and more hydrophobic with the amount of TPOAC increased. The findings of this investigation indicated that using TPOAC as an antimicrobial agent is a practical way to obtain antimicrobial SMPE sealants with favorable properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium-tantalum (Ti-Ta) alloy has excellent biomechanical properties with high strength and low Young's modulus, showing great application potential in the biomedical industry. In this study, Ti-Ta alloy samples were prepared by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology with mixed pure 75 wt.% Ti and 25 wt.% Ta powders as the feedstock. The maximum relative density of Ti-Ta samples prepared by LPBF reached 99.9%. It is well-accepted that four nonequilibrium phases, namely, α′, α″ and metastable β phase exist in Ti-Ta alloys. The structure of α′, α″ and β are hexagonal close-packed (HCP), base-centered orthorhombic (BCO) and body-centered cubic (BCC), respectively. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the α′ phase transformed to the α″ phase with the increase of energy density. The lamellar α′/α″ phases and the α″ twins were generated in the prior β phase. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the Ti-Ta alloy were optimized with different LPBF processing parameters. The samples prepared by LPBF energy density of 381 J/mm3 had a favorable ultimate strength (UTS) of 1076 ± 2 MPa and yield strength of 795 ± 16 MPa. The samples prepared by LPBF energy density of 76 had excellent ductility, with an elongation of 31% at fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to estimate healthy life expectancy (HLE) regarding anxiety, depression and their comorbidity among rural older adults.Methods: A total of 12,851 subjects (5790 men and 7061 women) enrolled from the Henan Rural Cohort Study were used to evaluate healthy status expectancy (HSE), and 10,096 (4475 men and 5621 women) of them were used to estimate health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE). The life expectancy was calculated using period life table, and HSE and HALE indicators were calculated via the Sullivan method.Results: For participants aged 60, the depression-free life expectancy (DFLE), anxiety-free life expectancy (AFLE), and depression- and anxiety-free life expectancy (DAFLE) were 23.0993, 23.3314, and 22.7206 years, respectively. The quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE) of those with neither anxiety nor depression, with anxiety, with depression, and with comorbidity was 22.0727, 20.8751, 18.1484, and 17.0823 years, respectively. The ratio of DFLE (AFLE) to LE increased with age among both genders, while the DAFLE/LE showed a decreasing trend. Regardless of HSE or HALE indicators, women tended to have higher HLE, while HLE/LE was lower than men. Furthermore, all HLE indicators associated with anxiety were the largest in both genders compared to indicators regarding depression.Limitations: The HLE may be overestimated ignoring institutional population in the study.Conclusion: Anxiety and depression played essential roles in the quality of life among rural older adults, especially depression. Comorbidity would intensify the adverse effect in rural areas, especially for older men. More attention should be paid to the psychological problems among rural older population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The status and associated factors of the health-related quality of life of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients under targeted anti-cancer therapy have not been investigated. Self-management and coping style have been proven to be closely related to patients' health-related quality of life. Based on these observations, this study was designed to firstly assess the status of health-related quality of life, and then explore the relationships among coping styles, self-management, and health-related quality of life of NSCLC patients with skin adverse drug reactions under targeted therapy.Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study including 536 NSCLC patients with skin adverse drug reactions under targeted therapy in cancer clinics of three hospitals in China between May 2020 and May 2021. Structured questionnaires, including the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor 18, Cancer Patient Self-management Evaluation Scale, and Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire, were used to collect data. Relationships among coping style, self-management, and health-related quality of life were identified by Pearson correlation analysis and a multiple linear regression algorithm.Results: The total score of health-related quality of life was 46 ± 12.84 in 536 NSCLC patients with skin adverse drug reactions undergoing targeted therapy. Health-related quality of life was positively correlated with self-management (r = 0.785, P < 0.01) and facing (r = 0.807, P < 0.01) and negatively correlated with yield (r =  - 0.718, P < 0.01), avoidance (r =  - 0.711, P < 0.01), and the severity of skin adverse reactions (r =  - 0.722, P = 0.000). Via multiple linear regression analysis, we identified some significant factors associated with health-related quality of life, including age, education level, combination of medicine, Charlson Comorbidity Index, stages of disease, facing, yield, symptom management, daily activity management, psychological and emotional management, self-efficacy, and self-management (P < 0.05).Conclusions: NSCLC patients with skin adverse drug reactions undergoing targeted therapy generally had a compromised health-related quality of life. The critical factors that were associated with the status of health-related quality of life were age, education level, comorbidity, the combinatorial application of drugs, stage of disease, self-management, and coping styles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High medication literacy is the basis of rational medication application and is essential for the management of severe adverse drug reactions. The objective of the present study was to assess the level of medication literacy and determine the association between medication literacy and skin adverse drug reactions in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing targeted epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted from May to September 2020. In total, 296 NSCLC patients undergoing targeted EGFR-TKI therapy were recruited from hospitals in Henan, China. Structured questionnaires were used to evaluate skin adverse drug reactions and medication literacy. Pearson correlation analysis and binary logistic regression analysis were carried out to identify the correlations between medication literacy and the severity of skin adverse drug reactions in the recruited patients.Results: The research sample consisted of 296 patients with a response rate of 92.5%. The mean score of skin adverse drug reactions and the mean score of medication literacy were 1.83 ± 0.91 and 6.54 ± 2.78, respectively. In total, 188 patients (63.5%) were considered to have moderate medication literacy. According to the binary logistic regression analysis, the following factors were associated with severe skin adverse drug reactions: age (B =  - 3.929, P = 0.000), sex (B = -4.062, P = 0.000), educational level (B = 2.712, P = 0.002), comorbidity (B = 3.297, P = 0.001), eczema history (B = 2.996, P = 0.001), nutritional status (B = -4.891, P = 0.000), blood interleukin-6 level (B = -2.143, P = 0.013), blood high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level (B = -4.015, P = 0.000), combination of drugs (B = -3.183, P = 0.048) and medication literacy (B =  - 1.503, P = 0.000). Subgroup analysis showed that in addition to medication literacy, some other factors including education level, comorbidity, nutritional status, blood interleukin-6 level and combined drug application were common factors that contributed to various adverse skin drug reactions in NSCLC patients under targeted EGFR-TKI therapy.Conclusion: The low medication literacy of the investigated NSCLC patients undergoing targeted EGFR-TKI therapy was correlated with a high proportion of severe skin adverse drug reactions. In addition, factors other than medication literacy including education level, comorbidity, nutritional status, blood interleukin-6 level and the combinatorial application of drugs were also related to the severity of various adverse skin drug reactions. A comprehensive and targeted intervention may be beneficial to improve medication literacy and control severe skin adverse drug reactions in NSCLC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The human health risk probability of pesticide sites prediction model was quantified. • The human health risk probability of un-surveyed pesticide sites was predicted. • The spatial distribution characteristics of human health risks from pesticide sites in China were revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) is a subtle but informative probe of plant photosynthesis. Quantifying the three-dimensional (3D) distribution of SIF benefits a better understanding of photosynthesis variations over heterogeneous canopies. Although radiative transfer models (RTMs) provide a solid theoretical basis for simulating the 3D SIF distribution, most RTMs use virtual scenes with complex reconstruction processes. This study aims to develop a 3D SIF simulation model (FluorLiDAR) directly driven by terrestrial light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data using leaf and canopy RTMs, including a 3D PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) simulation model, the Fluspect model, the atmosphere radiative transfer module in SCOPE , and the multiple scattering coefficients of sunlit and shaded leaves from the 4-scale model. The results show that (1) the simulated and measured SIF patterns were consistent, with R2 (RMSE) values of 0.73 (0.17 mW/nm/m2/sr) and 0.76 (0.12 mW/nm/m2/sr) for 1-min sampling and 10-min averages, respectively. Moreover, the R2 between FluorLiDAR and the DART simulation reached 0.94. The R2 of FluorLiDAR and DART were both higher than 1D mSCOPE using every 10-min sampling data. (2) Point density, denoted by average NPD (nearest point distance), influenced the performance of our model mainly when it was smaller than 0.1 m. Chlorophyll content had less influence on the model accuracy (R2 and rRMSE), and the bias between simulation and measurement decreased as chlorophyll content increased. (3) The simulated 3D SIF distribution pattern closely resembled PAR within the canopy. Besides, FluorLiDAR can simulate the hot spot effect like DART and mSCOPE though the effect was not as obvious as the other two models. This study highlights the potential of a LiDAR-driven SIF model for 3D SIF simulation over a heterogeneous canopy, which may benefit the understanding of the structural impacts on forest photosynthesis in real forest scenes. • A LiDAR-driven 3D SIF model (FluorLiDAR) is developed at the canopy scale. • FluorLiDAR simulation is consistent with field observation and DART simulation. • The simulation performances of FluorLiDAR and DART are both better than mSCOPE. • The nearest point distance affects model accuracy mainly when it is less than 0.1 m. • Chlorophyll content has less influence on the model accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fe-TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x photoanode is prepared by depositing Ti 3 C 2 T x on Fe-TiO 2 nanorods. • Ti 3 C 2 T x greatly accelerates the water-oxidation kinetics on Fe-TiO 2 photoanodes. • The PEC current density of Fe-TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x can reach 1.23 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE. • The IPCE of 92.8% is obtained on the well-designed Fe-TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x at 380 nm. • The underlying PEC enhancement mechanism of the deposited Ti 3 C 2 T x is unveiled. As a promising photoanode material, TiO 2 confronts two challenges, weak visible light absorption and low catalytic activity for water oxidation, which limit its photoelectrochemical performance toward water oxidation. Doping and co-catalyst deposition provide effective ways to extending the light-absorption spectral range and accelerating the water-oxidation kinetics, respectively. Herein, an efficient TiO 2 -based photoelectrode for water oxidation is prepared by Fe doping and electrophoretic Ti 3 C 2 T x deposition. The Fe doping effectively extends the light absorption of TiO 2 toward visible region. Owing to the excellent water oxidation activity of Ti 3 C 2 T x , its deposition greatly accelerates the water-oxidation kinetics, which in turn enhances the photocarrier separation and injection efficiencies. The well-designed Fe-TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x exhibits a photoelectrochemical current density of 1.23 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE, which is much higher than those of Fe-TiO 2. The maximum IPCE value is enhanced from 64.7% of Fe-TiO 2 to 92.8% of Fe-TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x at 380 nm. Our findings provide an effective way to fabricate efficient photoanode for water oxidation and are helpful to understanding the photoelectrochemical performance of hybrid nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, water soluble Cu-doped CdS quantum dots (Cu:CdS QDs) were synthesized by one-pot method. The effect of reaction conditions on the Cu:CdS QDs were studied systematically, and the Cu:CdS QDs synthesized under optimizing condition possessed a small size (∼4 nm), high luminance and good self-fluorescence performance. Compared with CdS QDs, the fluorescence emission was redshifted from 627 nm to 720 nm. To reduce cytotoxicity of Cu:CdS QDs, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) molecules were selected to be grafting onto the surface of Cu:CdS QDs through amide bonds and the CMCS modification would greatly impede the release of cadmium ions. Both in vitro cellular cytotoxicity and hemolysis assay demonstrated that the CMCS/Cu:CdS QDs were highly biocompatible and the CMCS/Cu:CdS QDs as fluorescent probes were successfully applied in vivo imaging of small animals and this QDs can be easily metabolized by mice over time without adverse reactions. This new nanoprobes open up exciting opportunities for future biomedical applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of efficient glycosylation methods is important for gaining better insight into biological processes of significance to medicinal chemistry. Herein, we describe an In(NTf 2 ) 3 -catalyzed Koenigs-Knorr glycosylation based on the activation of an alcoholic hydroxyl group. A catalytic amount of In(NTf 2 ) 3 enables effective glycosylation of diverse alcohols with peracylated aldosyl bromides as donors, leading to the stereoselective formation of a series of glycosides in satisfactory yields. The protocol is characterized by mild reaction conditions and good functional-group tolerance, while obviating any need for any additive. Moreover, the potential utility of this transformation is demonstrated by the convenient syntheses of key building blocks for biomolecules of medicinal relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orientation characteristics of the defect dipoles formed by acceptor ions ( Cu Nb ″ ′ ) and oxygen vacancies ( V O • • ) in CuO-doped (K 0.48 Na 0.52 ) 0.96 Li 0.04 Nb 0.805 Ta 0.075 Sb 0.12 O 3 piezoceramics were investigated. The ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of the ceramics were obviously affected by the defect dipoles which are oriented along with the domains when poled under a dc electrical field of 3.5 kV/mm at the temperature near T C . The poled ceramics with 1.0–3.0 mol% CuO displayed strong asymmetric P - E loops and a large internal bias field ( E i ), 3.89–4.57 kV/cm, when polarized at the temperature near T C . The enhanced piezoelectric coefficient d 33 , 186–192 pC/N, was obtained for the ceramics poled near T C when 0.02 ≤  x  ≤ 0.03. The ceramics with oriented defect dipoles showed a relatively good thermal stability of d 33 until 180 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorescent “turn-off” sensors based on double quantum dots (QDs) has attracted increasing attention in the detection of many materials due to their properties such as more useful information, higher fluorescence efficiency and stability compared with the fluorescent “turn-off” sensors based on single QDs. In this work, highly sensitive and specific method for recognition of 53 different famous green teas was developed based on the fluorescent “turn-off” model with water-soluble ZnCdSe-CdTe double QDs. The fluorescence of the two QDs can be quenched by different teas with varying degrees, which results in the differences in positions and intensities of two peaks. By the combination of classic partial least square discriminant analysis (PLSDA), all the green teas can be discriminated with high sensitivity, specificity and a satisfactory recognition rate of 100% for training set and 100% for prediction set, respectively. The fluorescent “turn-off” sensors based on the single QDs (either ZnCdSe QDs or CdTe QDs) coupled with PLSDA were also employed to recognize the 53 famous green teas with unsatisfactory results. Therefore, the fluorescent “turn-off” sensors based on the double QDs is more appropriate for the large-class-number classification (LCNC) of green teas. Herein, we have demonstrated, for the first time, that so many kinds of famous green teas can be discriminated by the “turn-off” model of double QDs combined with chemometrics, which has largely extended the capability of traditional fluorescence and chemometrics, as well as exhibits great potential to perform LCNC in other practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the presence and possible role of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), its co-infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), or their association with clinical characteristics of patients with NPC in Central China, where NPC is non-endemic. A total of 45 NPC formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues were retrospectively analyzed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and a nested PCR combined with DNA sequencing to detect the presence of P. gingivalis, and using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR to detect the presence of EBV. Clinical data including EBV and P. gingivalis status were associated with overall survival (OS). All tumors were undifferentiated, non-keratinizing carcinomas, of which 40/45 (88.9%) were positive for EBV (EBV+), 26/45 (57.8%) were positive for P. gingivalis (by IHC), and 7/45 (15.6%) were positive for P. gingivalis DNA (P. gingivalis+). All seven P. gingivalis DNA-positive NPCs were co-infected with EBV. The 5-year survival rates of the patients with EBV-/P. gingivalis-, EBV+/P. gingivalis-, and EBV+/P. gingivalis+ tumors were 60.0% (3/5), 39.4% (13/33) and 42.9% (3/7), respectively. No significant difference was found between the OS of NPC patients among the different infection groups (P=0.793). In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to describe and confirm the presence of P. gingivalis in FFPE tissues from patients with NPC. P. gingivalis was found to co-exist with EBV in NPC tumor tissues, but is not etiologically relevant to NPC in non-endemic areas, such as Central China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterizing the wide range of light availability and photosynthetic properties throughout a plant canopy is important for modeling the exchanges of carbon, water, and nutrients between the biosphere and the atmosphere. Such characterization could be especially important in one of the world's most rapidly changing biomes – the Arctic tundra – where further warming-induced increases in the size, abundance and complexity of small arctic shrubs are projected. An improved understanding of their canopy organization could provide insights into associated climate feedbacks since multifaceted interactions between 3D canopy structure, environmental conditions, leaf physiology, and light availability affect the potentials and limitations of vegetation carbon assimilation and storage. The aim of this study was to explore new methods to elucidate evidence for photosynthetic partitioning according to light availability within a short canopy (<1 m tall) of Salix pulchra exposed to near continuous sunlight at low solar angles in the Arctic tundra. Instantaneous photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and daily integrated quantum flux density ( Q int ) were modeled from a ray-tracing algorithm for voxels (edge-length .01 m) within the canopy that were each assigned a physically based directional gap fraction (DGF) and extinction coefficient ( k ) from which each voxel's effective leaf area index (LAI e ) was calculated. Voxel parameters for the ray-tracing model were derived from the x , y , and z locations of high spatial resolution (<1 mm) three-dimensional (3D) maps of shrub canopies from terrestrial LiDAR point clouds. Two LiDAR-derived light quantification variables – modeled Q int and path-length (determined as the accumulated photon travel distance from the canopy-edge) were compared with two variables derived from traditional light quantification techniques – ceptometer derived leaf-area index (LAI), and manually measured vertical canopy depth. Insignificant relationships were observed between traditional measurements of light environment (LAI and vertical canopy depth) and TLS derived measurements ( Q int and path length), suggesting wide variability among these methods. When each of four light quantification variables were compared against leaf-level variables classically associated with photosynthetic partitioning (percent nitrogen (N%), chlorophyll a to b ratio (Chl a / b ), and photosynthetic capacity ( A max )), patterns suggesting photosynthetic partitioning emerged only when the LiDAR-derived 3D locations of the leaf samples were considered ( Q int and path length). Statistically significant ( p < 0.05) trends that follow the theoretical response of leaves to light availability were observed between all three photosynthetic variables and LiDAR-derived Q int ( r = 0.31, 0.46, 0.49 for N%, Chl a / b , and A max , respectively), while 2 of 3 showed a statistically significant response to LiDAR derived path length. Only 1 of 3 photosynthetic variables showed a statistically significant response to manually measured canopy depth or ceptometer derived LAI. Results from this study suggest that LiDAR-based techniques for quantifying the 3D light environment of small shrubs exposed to low solar angles reveal patterns of photosynthetic partitioning that may otherwise be overlooked using more traditional techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• It is a practical guidance for application of laser welding of AHSSs. • Both the similar and dissimilar joints of TWIP steel showed poor weldability. • Shrinkage porosities and segregation in fusion zone were the main weld defects. • Solidification cracks leaded to the brittle fracture of corresponding joints. Twinning induced plasticity steel (TWIP980) was fiber laser welded with dual phase steel (DP980), hot stamping boron steel (B1500HS), and quenching & partitioning steel (QP980). The microstructures, segregation behaviors and mechanical properties of similar or dissimilar joints were characterized. All the joints exhibited poor weldability because of the segregation of Mn and C in fusion zone, especially in dissimilar joints of TWIP980/DP980, TWIP980/B1500HS, and TWIP980/QP980. The microstructure in fusion zone of TWIP980/TWIP980 and TWIP980/B1500HS joints consisted of austenite, while fully martensite was found in TWIP980/DP980 and TWIP980/QP980 fusion zone. The solidification cracks in fusion zone of TWIP980/DP980 and TWIP980/QP980 joints embrittled corresponding joints, which contributed to the lower tensile strength and elongation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimization of electromagnetic microwave absorbing (EMA) materials for radar stealth has been a continuous endeavor. However, meeting the defense requirements across multiple-frequency bands in increasingly complex and variable environments remains challenging. Drawing inspiration from the cytoskeleton-organelle structure, we designed and prepared a hierarchical MXene/NiFe 2 O 4 /calcined melamine foam (MNC) composite. The composite exhibits efficient and adjustable microwave absorption, infrared stealth, and solar absorption performance through the synergistic interaction of the components and the spatial effect of its novel microstructure. The composite achieves a minimum reflection loss of -58.57 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 7.00 GHz, both of which can vary with the thickness. MNC also offers stable infrared stealth performance for heat sources ranging from 37 to 300 °C and high solar absorptivity up to 96.2%, promoting ambient-temperature-adaptive infrared stealth through electricity-sunlight cooperative regulation. With exceptional environmental adaptability characteristics such as photothermal conversion, lightness, elasticity, and hydrophobicity, the MNC composite holds promise as a multispectrum defense material for radar, infrared, and visible light for various forms of equipment, clothing, and wearables in harsh conditions.

Ischemic stroke, a common neurological disorder caused by impaired blood supply to the brain, presents a therapeutic challenge. Conventional treatments like thrombolysis and neuroprotection drugs lack ideal drug delivery systems, limiting their effectiveness. Selectively delivering therapies to the ischemic cerebral tissue holds great potential for preventing and/or treating ischemia-related pathological symptoms. The unique pathological microenvironment of the brain after ischemic stroke, characterized by hypoxia, acidity, and inflammation, offers new possibilities for targeted drug delivery. Pathological microenvironment-responsive nanosystems, extensively investigated in tumors with hypoxia-responsive systems as an example, could also respond to the ischemic cerebral microenvironment and achieve brain-targeted drug delivery and release. These emerging nanosystems are gaining traction for ischemic stroke treatment. In this review, we expound on the cerebral pathological microenvironment and clinical treatment strategies of ischemic stroke, highlight various stimulus-responsive materials employed in constructing ischemic stroke microenvironment-responsive nano delivery systems, and discuss the application of these microenvironment-responsive nanosystems in microenvironment regulation for ischemic stroke treatment., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

Electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction via 2e- pathway is a safe and friendly route for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) synthesis. In order to achieve efficient synthesis of H2O2, it is essential to accurately control the active sites. Here, fragmented polymetric carbon nitride with rich defects (DCN) is designed for H2O2 electrosynthesis. The multi-type defects, including the sodium atom doping in six-fold cavities, the boron atom doping at N-B-N sites and the cyano groups, are successfully created. Owing to the synergistic effect of these defects, the fragmented DCN achieves a high H2O2 yield of 2.28 mol gcat.-1 h-1 and a high Faradic efficiency of nearly 90% in alkaline media at 0.4 V vs. RHE in H-type cell. In neutral media, the H2O2 concentration produced by DCN can reach 1815 mM within 6 h at a potential of 0.2 V vs. RHE, and the H2O2 production rate of DCN is 0.23 mol gcat.-1 h-1. In addition, DCN shows excellent long-term durability in alkaline and neutral media. This study provides a new approach for the design and development of the boron, nitrogen doped carbon-based electrocatalysts for H2O2 electrochemical synthesis., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Background and Aims: Patients with relapsed/refractory aggressive B-cell lymphoma(r/r aBCL)who progressed after CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CD19CART) had a poor prognosis. Application of CAR T-cells targeting a second different antigen (CD20) expressed on the surface of B-cell lymphoma as subsequent anti-cancer salvage therapy (CD20-SD-CART) is also an option. This study aimed to evaluate the survival outcome of CD20-SD-CART as a salvage therapy for CD19 CART treatment failure., Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled patients with aBCL after the failure of CD19 CART treatment at Beijing Gobroad Boren Hospital from December 2019 to May 2022. Patients were subsequently treated with CD20CART therapy or non-CART therapy (polatuzumab or non-polatuzumab)., Results: A total of 93 patients were included in the study, with 54 patients receiving CD20-SD-CART therapy. After a median follow-up of 18.54 months, the CD20-SD-CART group demonstrated significantly longer median progression-free survival (4.04 months vs. 2.27 months, p=0.0032) and median overall survival (8.15 months vs. 3.02 months, p<0.0001) compared to the non-CART group. The complete response rate in the CD20-SD-CART group (15/54, 27.8%) was also significantly higher than the non-CART group (3/38, 7.9%, p=0.03). Multivariate analysis further confirmed that CD20CART treatment was independently associated with improved overall survival (HR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.16-0.51; p<0.0001) and progression-free survival (HR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.27-0.8; p=0.005)., Conclusion: CD20-SD-CART could serve as an effective therapeutic option for patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive B-cell lymphoma after CD19CART treatment failure., Competing Interests: Author JZ was employed by company Gobroad Medical Group. Author QZ was employed by company GoBroad Healthcare Group. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Xue, Zheng, Yang, Liu, Feng, Guo, Shi, Ma, Deng, Xu, Zhang, Zhou, Ke and Hu.)

Here, we report the complete genome sequences of three Porphyromonas gingivalis , one from patient with esophageal cancer (LyEC01), and the other two from periodontally healthy individuals (LyG-1 and LyG-2) in 2021 and 2023. The genome sizes of LyEC01, LyG-1, and LyG-2 were 2,408,275, 2,411,440, and 2,411,481 bp, respectively., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias. Myocardial fibrosis is closely associated with atrial remodeling, which leads to heightened risk of atrial fibrillation. This study aimed to explore whether forkhead box protein O3 (FOXO3a) impacts myocardial fibrosis incidence by regulating mitophagy., Methods: Cell viability was assessed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays. The expression of vimentin and cytochrome C was detected by immunofluorescence assays. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to analyze the relative mRNA level of FOXO3a. Expression of FOXO3a, phosphorylated FOXO3a, Collagen I, Collagen III, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP9), light chain 3 (LC3), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)-induced kinase 1 (PINK1), Parkin, and sequestosome-1 (p62) proteins were determined by western blotting. 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EDU) incorporation was employed to measure cell proliferation. Changes in mitochondrial membrane potential were determined by 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethyl-imidacarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) staining. A wound healing assay was used to examine cell migration, and the levels of reactive oxygen species were determined by flow cytometry., Results: The expression of FOXO3a was upregulated in cardiac fibroblasts treated with angiotensin II (AngII), while the expression of phosphorylated FOXO3a was downregulated under these conditions. FOXO3a knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and collagen secretion of cardiac fibroblasts treated with AngII. The ratio of LC3 II/I as well as expression of PINK1 and Parkin was increased, and the expression of p62 was decreased, in cardiac fibroblasts treated with AngII. Moreover, these effects were limited by FOXO3a knockdown. Finally, the mitophagy inducer everolimus (RAD001) attenuated the suppressive effect of FOXO3a knockdown on cardiac fibroblast activation., Conclusions: FOXO3a promotes the progress of myocardial fibrosis by triggering mitophagy in cardiac fibroblasts., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.)

In recent decades, China's rapid urbanization has produced numerous economic benefits while simultaneously creating substantial risks to ecological security. China's 14th Five-Year Plan and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have recently explicitly called for the coordinated development of ecological security and urbanization. Given this context, it is important to explore the mechanism by which ecological security and urbanization are coupled and coordinated to promote sustainable development. In this study, an index of the relationship between ecological security and urbanization was established via high-resolution data, and a "Computation-Verification-Coupling" (CVC) framework was constructed. The accuracy of the ecological security index was verified using a linear regression model, and the coordination level between ecological security and urbanization was analyzed via a coupled coordination model (CCM). The results revealed a steady increase in the ecological security index from 2010 to 2020; the proportion of the area above the medium level increased from 63.1 % to 74.1 %. The urbanization index in core counties exhibited rapid growth, with level V urbanized areas expanding from 5.5 % to 9.9 %. The ecological security verification model produced a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.75685, indicating a satisfactory degree of predictive capability. From 2010-2020, the coupled coordination improved, with the high coordination area accounting for 48.8 % and the extreme discoordination area decreasing from 1.8 % to 1.0 %. Coordinated development exhibited a stable progression, characterized by a cyclical evolution from initial coupling to antagonistic coupling and finally to coordinated development. This framework can be used not only to investigate the relationship between ecological security and urbanization but also to provide a quantifiable measure of progress toward achieving the SDGs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)