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The effects of blueberry anthocyanins against perfluorooctane sulfonate on antioxidant-related gene expression levels, antioxidase activities, malondialdehyde content, glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratios, mitochondrial metabolic enzyme activities, and mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening rates were examined in the planarian Dugesia japonica. Glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase gene expression levels were up-regulated on day 1 and then down-regulated following exposure to 5 mg/L perfluorooctane sulfonate with those of the control. The activities of the three corresponding enzymes were inhibited by perfluorooctane sulfonate and activated by anthocyanins. Malondialdehyde contents and mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening rates as well as the activities of mitochondrial metabolic enzymes, also increased and the glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio decreased. Anthocyanin treatments have an alleviating effect on the disorder caused by perfluorooctane sulfonate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) increasingly utilize social media for strategic stakeholder engagement. This study proposes a network-oriented theoretical framework to understand how NGOs' engagement with complex networks of stakeholders on the global refugee issue varies as the issue moves from low to high public attention stages. We draw from research on multistakeholder issue networks and issue niche theory and analyze a large-scale Twitter data set containing tweets from hundreds of organizations from more than 30 countries. This cross-national, longitudinal study tracks issue evolution and NGOs' tie formation patterns among themselves and with complex stakeholders (i.e., government and media) as public attention to the refugee issue increases. The results of our exponential random graph models (ERGMs) show how cross-sector stakeholders interact dynamically and how different issue identities position NGOs uniquely in issue niches as the issue evolves. We also find that organizations' country-level homophily influences tie formation. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In times of public health emergencies, health agencies need to engage and communicate with the public in real-time to share updates and accurate information. This is especially the case for the COVID-19 pandemic where public engagement can potentially save lives and flatten the curve. This paper considers how the use of interactive features and strategic network positions of health agencies on social media influenced their public engagement outcomes. Specifically, we analyzed 203 U.S. public health agencies' Twitter activity and the public engagement they received by extracting data from a large-scale Twitter dataset collected from January 21st to May 31st, 2020. Results show that health agencies' network position in addition to their two-way communication strategy greatly influenced the level of public engagement with their COVID-19 related content on Twitter. Findings highlight the benefits of strategic social media communication of public health agencies resides not only in how agencies use social media but also in their formation of network position to amplify their visibility. As official sources of health and risk information, public health agencies should coordinate their social media communication efforts to strategically position themselves in advantageous network positions to augment public engagement outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pretreatment process can be simplified by ferromagnetic nanomaterials, then Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 @Ag@MIPs selectively adsorbing DMP can be achieved by molecular imprinting technology, and SERS can be applied for DMP detection with high sensitivity. The DMP concentrations were linearly related to the its Raman intensities of the corresponding characteristic peak, with a detection limit of 8.7 × 10−9 M. As a result of the testing artificial water samples, the recovery rate ranged from 87.9 % to 117 %. [Display omitted] • We synthesized ferromagnetic nanomaterials suitable for selectively adsorbing DMP. • A linear correction was found between DMP concentrations and Raman intensities. • The material is reusable with adsorption capacity loss of 9.8 % after seven cycles. • The recovery rate ranged from 87.9 % to 117 % for DMP in artificial water samples. To overcome the complicated pretreatment, low selectivity and low sensitivity detection associated with the detection of dimethyl phthalate (DMP), this study synthesized ferromagnetic nanomaterials that coupled with surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and molecular imprinting polymers (MIPs). The pretreatment process can be simplified by ferromagnetic nanomaterials, then Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 @Ag@MIPs selectively adsorbing DMP can be achieved, and SERS can be applied for DMP detection with high sensitivity. As a control, the non-imprinted polymers (NIPs) Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 @Ag@NIPs were synthesized. Adsorption experiments results showed that the saturation adsorption amounts of Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 @Ag@MIPs is 36.74 mg/g with 40 mg/L DMP and Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 @Ag@NIPs is 17.45 mg/g. For DMP, Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 @Ag@MIPs have a greater affinity. In addition, after seven adsorption-desorption cycles the Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 @Ag@MIPs are reusable with approximately a 9.8 % loss in adsorption capacity. With an 8.7 × 10−9 M detection limit, DMP detection was performed by SERS, which revealed that the Raman intensities of the associated characteristic peak were linearly proportional to the DMP concentrations. As a result, the recovery rate of the testing artificial water varied from 87.9 % to 117 %. These outcomes show that the suggested technique for finding DMP in actual water samples is practical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the requirements of the Sustainable Development Goals, the study of China's energy development is an important reference for other countries to plan their energy policies. China is facing the problem of slow energy transformation processes and a continuously widening gap between supply and demand. Using panel data for 2012–2021, this study analyzes the characteristics of energy in China's 30 provinces, and clarifies the problems faced by each province. GM (1,1) model is employed to forecast the level of energy development from 2023 to 2030. The LMDI (Logarithmic mean Divisia index) model is utilized to analyze factors impacting energy demand in each province, according to which the design of energy development direction in each region is completed. The study finds that: (1) Overall, energy supply and demand in China are marked by "high in the west, low in the east" and "low in the west, high in the east," respectively. The energy structure of each region is continuously optimized, but coal still has a high share. (2) The pace of clean energy development is satisfactory. However, natural gas's increase in share is relatively slight on both supply and demand sides. The substitution effect is not in line with the expectations of the transition policy. (3) Economic and investment effect are major contributing factors to increase energy demand, while the technical effect plays a significant part in reducing energy demand. A few insights from this study are provided for the formulation of transition policies in China. • This study examines the energy supply and demand characteristics of each province from a provincial perspective. • The imbalance between energy supply and demand will continue to grow in all provinces. • The main contributor to energy demand in economically developed provinces is energy investment. • This study makes recommendations to control energy demand in each province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abrus cantoniensis Hance (ACH) is an ancient Chinese medicine herb known for its therapeutic effects. This study investigated the potential protective effect of ACH against carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4)-induced liver damage in mice. Fifty (n= 50) ICR mice were grouped into five groups. CCl 4 was intraperitoneally injected into different mice groups: AM (CCl 4 induced), AD (ACH-treated with 25 mg/kg), AZ (ACH-treated with 50 mg/kg), and AG (ACH-treated with100mg/kg) after every three days for a total of 31 days. The control group was denoted as AC. Additionally, groups AD, AZ, and AG received daily doses of ACH via gavage throughout the study period. According to our findings, ACH administration prominently mitigated liver pathological lesions and the increased liver index induced by CCl 4 in mice (p < 0.05). Treatment with ACH resulted in a dose-dependent recovery of GSH-px, SOD, and CAT activities (p < 0.001). Moreover, the levels of TNF-α, MDA, and ALT showed significanlty decreasing trends with various doses of ACH (p < 0.001). Furthermore, 16 S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated that ACH increased the abundance of beneficial genera of Comoclathris , Aureobasidium , and Kazachstania while decreased the presence of pathogenic genera such as Sporobolomyces and Filobasidium. Additionally, ACH treatment ameliorated the changes in liver metabolism due to CCl 4 and enhanced the beneficial liver metabolites. In conclusion, ACH shows potential in protecting the liver against oxidative stress and inflammation caused by CCl 4 exposure, possibly through its effects on gut microbiota and liver metabolism. Therefore, the use of ACH may offer an effective approach for alleviating CCl 4 -induced liver injury. • Rapid and effective treatment becomes especially vital when the liver is damaged. • Abrus cantoniensis Hance reduced denatured cells, inflammatory cells, and collagenous fibers in the liver. • Abrus cantoniensis Hance increased the abundance of beneficial genera while decreased the presence of pathogenic genera. • Metabolomics analysis identified numerous differentially abundant metabolites in mice treated with Abrus cantoniensis Hance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]