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Abstract Objective To explore the high-risk factors affecting the prognosis of pT1 − 2N1M0 patients after mastectomy, establish a nomogram prediction model, and screen the radiotherapy benefit population. Method The clinical data of 936 patients with pT1 − 2N1M0 who underwent mastectomy in the fourth hospital of Hebei Medical University from 2010 to 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 583 patients received postmastectomy radiotherapy(PMRT), and 325 patients without PMRT. Group imbalances were mitigated using the propensity score matching (PSM) method, and the log-rank test was employed to compare overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) between the cohorts. The efficacy of PMRT across various risk groups was evaluated using a nomogram model. Result The median follow-up period was 98 months, Patients who received PMRT demonstrated significantly improved 5-year and 8-year OS and DFS compared to those who did not (P 30% were the high-risk factors affecting the prognosis of this cohort of patients. In OS nomogram, patients with a risk score of 149 or higher who received PMRT exhibited improved OS. Similarly, in DFS nomogram, patients with a risk score of 123 or higher who received PMRT demonstrated enhanced DFS.

Abstract Unfavourable conditions, such as prolonged drought and high salinity, pose a threat to the survival and agricultural yield of plants. The phytohormone ABA plays a key role in the regulation of plant stress adaptation and is often maintained at high levels for extended periods. While much is known about ABA signal perception and activation in the early signalling stage, the molecular mechanism underlying desensitization of ABA signalling remains largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi network, the key regulators of ABA signalling, SnRK2.2/2.3, undergo N-glycosylation, which promotes their redistribution from the nucleus to the peroxisomes in Arabidopsis roots and influences the transcriptional response in the nucleus during prolonged ABA signalling. On the peroxisomal membrane, SnRK2s can interact with glucose-6-phosphate (G6P)/phosphate translocator 1 (GPT1) to maintain NADPH homeostasis through increased activity of the peroxisomal oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP). The resulting maintenance of NADPH is essential for the modulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation, thereby relieving ABA-induced root growth inhibition. The subcellular dynamics of SnRK2s, mediated by N-glycosylation suggest that ABA responses transition from transcriptional regulation in the nucleus to metabolic processes in the peroxisomes, aiding plants in adapting to long-term environmental stress.

Tillage methods play a crucial role in controlling rainwater partitioning and soil erosion. This study utilized rainfall simulation experiments to investigate the impact of four tillage methods (manual digging (MD), manual hoeing (MH), traditional ploughing (TP), and ridged ploughing (RP)) on runoff and soil erosion at the plot scale. The smooth slope (SS) was used as a benchmark. Rainfall intensities of 30, 60, 90, and 120 mm h−1 were considered. The study revealed that tillage altered rainwater distribution into depression storage, infiltration, and runoff. Tillage reduces runoff and increases infiltration. The four tillage methods (30–73%) increased the proportion of rainwater converted to infiltration to varying degrees compared to the SS (22–53%). Microrelief features influenced the role of tillage methods in soil erosion. Surface roughness and depression storage accounted for 79% of the variation in sediment yield. The four tillage methods reduced runoff by 2.1–64.7% and sediment yield by 2.5–77.2%. Moreover, increased rainfall intensity weakens the ability of tillage to control soil erosion. When rainfall intensity increased to 120 mm h−1, there was no significant difference in runoff yield among RP, TP, MH, and SS. Therefore, assessing the effectiveness of tillage in reducing soil erosion should consider changes in rainfall intensity. Additionally, the cover management (C) factor of the RUSLE was used to assess the effects of different tillage methods on soil loss. Overall, the C factor values for tilled slopes are in the order MH > TP > RP > MD with a range of 0.23–0.97. As the surface roughness increases, the C factor tends to decrease, and the two are exponential functions (R2 = 0.86). These studies contribute to our understanding of how different tillage methods impact runoff and soil erosion in sloped farmland and provide guidance for selecting appropriate local manual tillage methods.

Abstract Remora albescens, also known as white suckerfish, recognized for its distinctive suction-cup attachment behavior and medicinal significance. In this study, we produced a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of R. albescens through the integration of 23.87 Gb PacBio long reads, 64.54 Gb T7 short reads, and 88.63 Gb Hi-C data. Initially, we constructed a contig-level genome assembly totaling 605.30 Mb with a contig N50 of 23.12 Mb. Subsequently, employing Hi-C technology, approximately 99.68% (603.38 Mb) of the contig-level genome was successfully assigned to 23 pseudo-chromosomes. Through the integration of homologous-based predictions, ab initio predictions, and RNA-sequencing methods, we successfully identified a comprehensive set of 22,445 protein-coding genes. Notably, 96.36% (21,629 genes) of these were effectively annotated with functional information. The genome assembly achieved an estimated completeness of 98.1% according to BUSCO analysis. This work promotes the applicability of the R. albescens genome, laying a solid foundation for future investigations into genomics, biology, and medicinal importance within this species.

Abstract Echeneis naucrates, as known as live sharksucker, is famous for the behavior of attaching to hosts using a highly modified dorsal fin with oval-shaped sucking disc. Here, we generated an improved high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of E. naucrates using Illumina short reads, PacBio long reads and Hi-C data. Our assembled genome spans 572.85 Mb with a contig N50 of 23.19 Mb and is positioned to 24 pseudo-chromosomes. Additionally, at least one telomere was identified for 23 out of 24 chromosomes. Furthermore, we identified a total of 22,161 protein-coding genes, of which 21,402 genes (96.9%) were annotated successfully with functions. The combination of ab initio predictions and Repbase-based searches revealed that 15.57% of the assembled E. naucrates genome was identified as repetitive sequences. The completeness of the genome assembly and the gene annotation were estimated to be 97.5% and 95.4% with BUSCO analyses. This work enhances the utility of the live sharksucker genome and provides a valuable groundwork for the future study of genomics, biology and adaptive evolution in this species.

ABSTRACTIndustrial land status, encompassing quantity, distribution and efficiency, is pivotal in urban planning and sustainable development. However, obtaining detailed and up-to-date industrial land maps poses a significant challenge in many developing countries due to rapid urban expansion. Furthermore, the identification and efficiency assessment of industrial land at the parcel scale are rarely undertaken. To address these challenges, our study proposes an innovative approach to map industrial land, categorize its types and assess its efficiency at the parcel scale. We select Shenzhen, one of China’s largest industrial cities, as a case study to demonstrate the effectiveness of our method. Our results unveil several key findings: (1) Shenzhen’s urban area was meticulously segmented into 15,591 multi-size socio-economic parcels, of which 5,738 were identified as industrial parcels (IPs); (2) IPs were further categorized into three distinct types: office industrial parcels at 69.47%, manufacturing industrial parcels at (6.08%) and comprehensive industrial parcels at 24.45%; (3) Their efficiency was classified into four levels: low (20.30%), middle (35.73%), fine (35.97%) and high (8.00%). Efficient IPs were predominately concentrated in the southwest, whereas other IPs clustered in the northwest. Our findings can provide valuable insights into industrial land identification, classification and efficiency evaluation at parcel scale.

Abstract Sepsis is an infection‐triggered, rapidly progressive systemic inflammatory syndrome with a high mortality rate. Currently, there are no promising therapeutic strategies for managing this disease in the clinic. Heparanase plays a crucial role in the pathology of sepsis, and its inhibition can significantly relieve related symptoms. Here, a novel heparanase inhibitor CV122 is rationally designed and synthesized, and its therapeutic potential for sepsis with Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Cecal Ligation and Puncture (CLP)‐induced sepsis mouse models are evaluated. It is found that CV122 potently inhibits heparanase activity in vitro, protects cell surface glycocalyx structure, and reduces the expression of adhesion molecules. In vivo, CV122 significantly reduces the systemic levels of proinflammatory cytokines, prevents organ damage, improves vitality, and efficiently protects mice from sepsis‐induced death. Mechanistically, CV122 inhibits the activity of heparanase, reduces its expression in the lungs, and protects glycocalyx structure of lung tissue. It is also found that CV122 provides effective protection from organ damage and death caused by Crimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) infection. These results suggest that CV122 is a potential drug candidate for sepsis therapy targeting heparanase by inhibiting cytokine storm.

The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) is a cytoprotective response in response to cellular stress that is activated in response to mitochondrial stress to maintain intra-protein homeostasis, thereby protecting the cell from a variety of stimuli. The activation of this response has been linked to cardiovascular diseases. Here, we reviewed the current understanding of UPRmt and discussed its specific molecular mechanism, mainly in mammals, as well as addressing its protective role against cardiovascular diseases, so as to provide direction for further research on UPRmt and therapies targeting cardiovascular diseases in the future.

Acquiring a comprehensive understanding of cropping patterns and their spatiotemporal distribution is crucial for sustainable agricultural development and ecological environment protection. However, the similarity of crop spectra and the diversity of ecosystem types hinder the accurate mapping of cropping patterns, especially in agricultural landscape regions. Hence, taking Xinghua County as study area, this article proposed a novel method for integrating multidimensional feature indices and phenological windows, named phenological window feature (PWF), to achieve efficient and accurate mapping of cropping patterns. In this study, we adopt a two-step approach. First, time-series curves of feature indices were constructed using Sentinel-1/2 satellite data to determine the phenological windows of different cropping patterns and construct PWF sets. Then, the ruleset threshold method (RTM) and random forest (RF) algorithms were used to map cropping patterns including wheat-rice, crayfish-rice, vegetable-rice, rice-rapeseed, rapeseed-vegetable, and year-round vegetables. The results indicate that the phenological windows extracted from the cropping patterns in the study area were 30–120, 90–135, and 200–270 days, respectively. The overall accuracies of RTM and RF, based on PWF, were 85.91% and 89.50%, respectively, and the kappa coefficients for RTM and RF were 0.831 and 0.872, respectively. In terms of classification performance, RF slightly outperformed RTM. The study demonstrates that PWF proposed in this article can be effectively utilized for mapping cropping patterns in complex agricultural landscape regions.

Abstract Blind watermark extraction in discrete cosine transform (DCT) domain has a wide application prospect as well as a challenging subject. The imperceptibility of watermark signal makes watermark extraction a weak signal reception issue in essence. For DCT coefficients of host image generally disobey Gaussian distribution, at which the performance of linear correlated reception is no longer optimal. Aiming at this, a novel blind watermark extraction scheme combining the uncorrelated reception with adaptive bistable stochastic resonance (ABSR) technique is proposed. First, by block DCT transformation for host image, an additive watermark embedding algorithm is introduced, in which the watermarked image can be converted to one dimensional time domain weak signal (binary watermark image) reception under additive Laplacian noise (selected DCT coefficients). On this basis, through the key technology research on quantitatively cooperative resonance relationship under Laplacian noise, the ABSR system can be implemented by bistable system parameters self‐adaptive adjustment, in which the ABSR system output signal will be enhanced rather than be weakened by random noise. Finally, the ABSR‐based watermark extraction scheme is investigated, and both the visual effect, bit error ratio performance and robustness of proposed scheme are testified to be superior to that of traditional uncorrelated extraction.

Periodontitis, a common chronic inflammatory disease, is characterized by T cell responses leading to gradual alveolar bone loss and eventual tooth mobility or loss. Herein, polylysine-derived carbon quantum dots (PLL-CQDs) are synthesized via the pyrolysis method to facilitate the recovery of periodontal bone loss induced by periodontitis by modulating T cell phenotype. The PLL-CQDs, characterized by small particle size (2.31 ± 0.70 nm) and fluorescence properties, preserved the positive charge of PLL, affirming successful preparation. In vitro studies revealed that PLL-CQDs significantly increased T cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner, while effectively suppressing differentiation into CD4+ phenotype. Furthermore, they promoted alkaline phosphatase expression and calcium nodule formation in MC3T3-E1 cells, indicating potential for periodontal bone regeneration. In vivo experiments demonstrated that PLL-CQDs mitigated alveolar bone resorption and modulated periodontal tissue inflammation. Overall, PLL-CQDs exhibited the ability to regulate T cell differentiation and expedite periodontal bone healing, offering promising implications for periodontitis treatment and suggesting novel strategies for addressing immune-associated bone diseases using CQDs.

Introduction The subtransverse process interligamentary (STIL) plane block is an emerging interfascial plane block that has garnered attention for its potential to provide effective postoperative analgesia for breast and thoracic surgeries. However, a direct comparative assessment between the STIL plane block and the paravertebral block is currently lacking. Consequently, our study aims to assess the analgesic efficacy of the STIL block in comparison to paravertebral block for patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).Methods and analysis This study is a randomised, parallel-controlled, double-blind, non-inferiority trial, with the goal of enrolling 114 participants scheduled for uniportal VATS at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio through block randomisation to receive either the STIL plane block (n=57) or the paravertebral block (n=57). The primary outcome of the study is the area under the curve of Numerical Rating Scale(NRS) scores recorded over a 48-hour period following the surgical procedure. Secondary outcomes encompass the evaluation of Quality of Recovery-40, cumulative sufentanil consumption, serum inflammatory factors, rescue medication usage, the incidence of adverse events and the patient satisfaction scores.Ethics and dissemination This study has received approval from the Medical Ethics Committee of Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital (approval no. L22-329). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The findings will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration number ChiCTR2200066909.

Abstract Oral ulcer can be treated with diverse biomaterials loading drugs or cytokines. However, most patients do not benefit from these materials because of poor adhesion, short-time retention in oral cavity and low drug therapeutic efficacy. Here we report a self-stabilized and water-responsive deliverable coenzyme salt polymer poly(sodium α-lipoate) (PolyLA-Na)/coenzyme polymer poly(α-lipoic acid) (PolyLA) binary synergistic elastomer adhesive patch, where hydrogen bonding cross-links between PolyLA and PolyLA-Na prevents PolyLA depolymerization and slow down the dissociation of PolyLA-Na, thus allowing water-responsive sustainable delivery of bioactive LA-based small molecules and durable adhesion to oral mucosal wound due to the adhesive action of PolyLA. In the model of mice and mini-pig oral ulcer, the adhesive patch accelerates the healing of the ulcer by regulating the damaged tissue inflammatory environment, maintaining the stability of oral microbiota, and promoting faster re-epithelialization and angiogenesis. This binary synergistic patch provided a therapeutic strategy to treat oral ulcer.

As a traditional Chinese medicine with food and drug homology, Polygonati rhizoma is rich in the chemical components including polysaccharides, flavonoids, steroidalsaponins, alkaloids and so on. It has a variety of biological activities, such as anti-oxidation, immunoregulation, neuroprotection, etc. In recent years, the reports about the neuroprotection of Polygonati rhizoma have received wide attention. This paper reviews the research progress on improving cognition, anti-depressant and improving sleep of Polygonati rhizoma aqueous extracts, polysaccharides and saponins in the past decade. The mechanisms involve anti-inflammation, antioxidant, regulating neurotrophic factors, regulating neurotransmitters, regulating neuroplasticity, promoting the activity of the central cholinergic system, affecting the structure and function of the hippocampus and so on. At the same time, this paper also analyzes the development status of Polygonati rhizoma, which provide reference for the research and development of Polygonati rhizoma with the neuroregulatory functionalproducts.

The betel nut is one of the most widely consumed addictive substances in the world after nicotine, ethanol, and caffeine. Arecoline is an active ingredient from the areca nut. It has many pharmacological effects and can affect the central nervous system. In this study, we found that arecoline can relieve fatigue behavior. Objective: This research aims to estimate the anti-fatigue effects of arecoline and explore its underlying mechanisms using a murine model of central fatigue precipitated by sleep deprivation (SD). Methods: Seventy-two male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to six groups: a control group, an SD-induced fatigue model group, a group that received Rhodiola Rosea capsules (2.5 mg/kg), and three arecoline groups, which were administered at low, medium, and high doses (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, respectively). Following 28 days of continuous administrations, the effects of arecoline on mouse fatigue-related behaviors were assessed by behavioral tests, including grip strength, rotarod performance, and weight-bearing swimming endurance. The release levels of the related biochemical markers were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Western blotting was employed to quantify the expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2), Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), sequestosome-1 (p62), and NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) in the gastrocnemius muscle. Results: Arecoline administration notably enhanced grip strength, delayed the onset of fatigue as evidenced by extended latencies in rotarod tests, and increased the duration of weight-bearing swimming in mice. In the elevated plus maze, arecoline obviously decreased both the number of entries and the total distance traveled in the open arms. Arecoline markedly decreased the contents of creatine kinase, blood urea nitrogen, lactate dehydrogenase, triglycerides, and cholesterol in the serum, while it elevated the levels of total testosterone, lactate dehydrogenase, and immunoglobulin G. Furthermore, it significantly increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase in the gastrocnemius muscle, reduced malondialdehyde levels, augmented hippocampal SOD and CAT activity, and elevated glycogen stores in both liver and muscle tissues. Neurotransmitter levels showed significant increases, cytokine levels were markedly reduced, and the expressions of Nrf2, Keap1, NQO1, p62, and HO-1 in brain tissues were significantly upregulated. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that arecoline has anti-fatigue activity, and the specific mechanisms are associated with elevating glucose and lipid metabolism levels, relieving oxidative stress damage, inhibiting neuroinflammatory response, and regulating neurotransmitter levels and the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. The research provides a new direction for arecoline’s potential in preventing and improving fatigue.

Ethanol sensors have found extensive applications across various industries, including the chemical, environmental, transportation, and healthcare sectors. With increasing demands for enhanced performance and reduced energy consumption, there is a growing need for developing new ethanol sensors. Micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) devices offer promising prospects in gas sensor applications due to their compact size, low power requirements, and seamless integration capabilities. In this study, SnO2-TiO2 nanocomposites with varying molar ratios of SnO2 and TiO2 were synthesized via ball milling and then printed on MEMS chips for ethanol sensing using electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing. The study indicates that the two metal oxides dispersed evenly, resulting in a well-formed gas-sensitive film. The SnO2-TiO2 composite exhibits the best performance at a molar ratio of 1:1, with a response value of 25.6 to 50 ppm ethanol at 288 °C. This value is 7.2 times and 1.8 times higher than that of single SnO2 and TiO2 gas sensors, respectively. The enhanced gas sensitivity can be attributed to the increased surface reactive oxygen species and optimized material resistance resulting from the chemical and electronic effects of the composite.

Abstract Background Reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and excessive hypoxia play pivotal roles in the initiation and progression of ulcerative colitis (UC). Synergistic ROS scavenging and generating O2 could be a promising strategy for UC treatment. Methods Ceria nanozymes (PEG-CNPs) are fabricated using a modified reverse micelle method. We investigate hypoxia attenuating and ROS scavenging of PEG-CNPs in intestinal epithelial cells and RAW 264.7 macrophages and their effects on pro-inflammatory macrophages activation. Subsequently, we investigate the biodistribution, pharmacokinetic properties and long-term toxicity of PEG-CNPs in mice. PEG-CNPs are administered intravenously to mice with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced colitis to test their colonic tissue targeting and assess their anti-inflammatory activity and mucosal healing properties in UC. Results PEG-CNPs exhibit multi-enzymatic activity that can scavenge ROS and generate O2, promote intestinal epithelial cell healing and inhibit pro-inflammatory macrophage activation, and have good biocompatibility. After intravenous administration of PEG-CNPs to colitis mice, they can enrich at the site of colonic inflammation, and reduce hypoxia-induced factor-1α expression in intestinal epithelial cells by scavenging ROS to generate O2, thus further promoting disrupted intestinal mucosal barrier restoration. Meanwhile, PEG-CNPs can effectively scavenge ROS in impaired colon tissues and relieve colonic macrophage hypoxia to suppress the pro-inflammatory macrophages activation, thereby preventing UC occurrence and development. Conclusion This study has provided a paradigm to utilize metallic nanozymes, and suggests that further materials engineering investigations could yield a facile method based on the pathological characteristics of UC for clinically managing UC. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Using an adult female miniature pig model with diet-induced weight gain/weight loss, we investigated the regulatory mechanisms of three-dimensional (3D) genome architecture in adipose tissues (ATs) associated with obesity. We generated 249 high-resolution in situ Hi-C chromatin contact maps of subcutaneous AT and three visceral ATs, analyzing transcriptomic and chromatin architectural changes under different nutritional treatments. We find that chromatin architecture remodeling underpins transcriptomic divergence in ATs, potentially linked to metabolic risks in obesity development. Analysis of chromatin architecture among subcutaneous ATs of different mammals suggests the presence of transcriptional regulatory divergence that could explain phenotypic, physiological, and functional differences in ATs. Regulatory element conservation analysis in pigs and humans reveals similarities in the regulatory circuitry of genes responsible for the obesity phenotype and identified non-conserved elements in species-specific gene sets that underpin AT specialization. This work provides a data-rich tool for discovering obesity-related regulatory elements in humans and pigs.

Abstract Background Clinical tissue adhesives remain some critical drawbacks for managing emergency injuries, such as inadequate adhesive strength and insufficient anti-infection ability. Herein, a novel, self-healing, and antibacterial carboxymethyl chitosan/polyaldehyde dextran (CMCS/PD) hydrogel is designed as the first-aid tissue adhesive for effective trauma emergency management. Methods We examined the gel-forming time, porosity, self-healing, antibacterial properties, cytotoxicity, adhesive strength, and hemocompatibility. Liver hemorrhage, tail severance, and skin wound infection models of rats are constructed in vivo, respectively. Results Results demonstrate that the CMCS/PD hydrogel has the rapid gel-forming (~ 5 s), good self-healing, and effective antibacterial abilities, and could adhere to tissue firmly (adhesive strength of ~ 10 kPa and burst pressure of 327.5 mmHg) with excellent hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility. This suggests the great prospect of CMCS/PD hydrogel in acting as a first-aid tissue adhesive for trauma emergency management. The CMCS/PD hydrogel is observed to not only achieve rapid hemostasis for curing liver hemorrhage and tail severance in comparison to commercial hemostatic gel (Surgiflo ®) but also exhibit superior anti-infection for treating acute skin trauma compared with clinical disinfectant gel (Prontosan ®). Conclusions Overall, the CMCS/PD hydrogel offers a promising candidate for first-aid tissue adhesives to manage the trauma emergency. Because of the rapid gel-forming time, it could also be applied as a liquid first-aid bandage for mini-invasive surgical treatment. Graphical Abstract

Abstract This work introduces a novel method to construct Schottky junctions to boost the output performance of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Perovskite barium zirconium titanate (BZT) core/metal silver shell nanoparticles are synthesized to be embedded into electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene (PVDF‐HFP) nanofibers before they are used as tribo‐negative layers. The output power of TENGs with composite fiber mat exhibited >600% increase compared to that with neat polymer fiber mat. The best TENG achieved 1339 V in open‐circuit voltage, 40 µA in short‐circuit current and 47.9 W m−2 in power density. The Schottky junctions increased charge carrier density in tribo‐layers, ensuring a high charge transfer rate while keeping the content of conductive fillers low, thus avoiding charge loss and improving performance. These TENGs are utilized to power radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for backscatter communication (BackCom) systems, enabling ultra‐massive connectivity in the 6G wireless networks and reducing information communications technology systems’ carbon footprint. Specifically, TENGs are used to provide an additional energy source to the passive tags. Results show that TENGs can boost power for BackCom and increase the communication range by 386%. This timely contribution offers a novel route for sustainable 6G applications by exploiting the expanded communication range of BackCom tags.

Straw mulching is a key method for controlling soil and water losses. Mulching costs may be reduced by applying it in strips rather than over entire areas. However, the effect of different straw mulching methods on the effectiveness of reducing soil erosion is unclear. In this study, the effects of straw mulching strip length (covering 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 4/4 of the slope length) and coverage rate (0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 kg m−2) on interception, infiltration, runoff, and soil erosion were investigated at the plot scale using rainfall simulation experiments. The further complex correlations between these variables were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Bare slopes were used as a control group. The rainfall intensity was chosen to be 60 mm h−1. The results showed that (1) the modified Merriam interception model can describe the change in interception with time under straw mulching conditions well (R2 > 0.91, NSE > 0.75). (2) A total of 35.39–78.79% of the rainwater is converted into infiltration on straw-covered slopes, while this proportion is 36.75% on bare slopes. The proportion of rainwater converted to infiltration was greatest (78.79%) when the straw covered 3/4 of the slope length at a coverage rate of 0.5 kg m−2, which was the most conducive to rainwater harvesting on the slope. (3) Straw mulching protects the topsoil from the impact of raindrops and directly affects the sediment yield (direct effect = −0.44). Straw mulching can also indirectly affect sediment yield by increasing interception, reducing runoff, and decreasing the sediment carrying capacity of runoff (indirect effect = −0.83). Compared with bare slopes, straw covering at least 1/2 of the slope length can significantly reduce runoff yield, but straw covering only 1/4 of the slope length can significantly reduce sediment yield. Moreover, once the straw mulch slope length reaches 3/4 and the coverage rate reaches 0.5 kg m−2, further increases in mulch slope length and coverage rate will not significantly reduce the runoff and sediment yields. These results assessed the effectiveness of different straw mulching methods in controlling soil and water losses on sloping farmland.

BackgroundThe role of certain biomarkers in the development of single cardiometabolic disease (CMD) has been intensively investigated. Less is known about the association of biomarkers with multiple CMDs (cardiometabolic multimorbidity, CMM), which is essential for the exploration of molecular targets for the prevention and treatment of CMM. We aimed to systematically synthesize the current evidence on CMM-related biomarkers.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Ebsco for relevant studies from inception until August 31st, 2022. Studies reported the association of serum/plasma biomarkers with CMM, and relevant effect sizes were included. The outcomes were five progression patterns of CMM: (1) no CMD to CMM; (2) type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) followed by stroke; (3) T2DM followed by coronary heart disease (CHD); (4) T2DM followed by stroke or CHD; and (5) CHD followed by T2DM. Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS) was used to assess the quality of the included studies. A meta-analysis was conducted to quantify the association of biomarkers and CMM.ResultsA total of 68 biomarkers were identified from 42 studies, which could be categorized into five groups: lipid metabolism, glycometabolism, liver function, immunity, and others. Lipid metabolism biomarkers were most reported to associate with CMM, including TC, TGs, HDL-C, LDL-C, and Lp(a). Fasting plasma glucose was also reported by several studies, and it was particularly associated with coexisting T2DM with vascular diseases. According to the quantitative meta-analysis, HDL-C was negatively associated with CHD risk among patients with T2DM (pooled OR for per 1 mmol/L increase = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.77–0.82), whereas a higher TGs level (pooled OR for higher than 150 mg/dL = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.10–1.75) was positively associated with CHD risk among female patients with T2DM.ConclusionCertain serum/plasma biomarkers were associated with the progression of CMM, in particular for those related to lipid metabolism, but heterogeneity and inconsistent findings still existed among included studies. There is a need for future research to explore more relevant biomarkers associated with the occurrence and progression of CMM, targeted at which is important for the early identification and prevention of CMM.

Optical remote sensing satellites provide rapid access to regional topsoil salinization mapping. However, mapping topsoil salinization based on spectral reflectance is always affected by background material like vegetation cover, straw mulching and soil types. In light of these challenges, this study investigates the potential of image fusion, where images of original and bare soil pixels were combined, to minimize the impact of vegetation cover on topsoil salinity mapping. A case study was presented for the typical vegetation cover area using synchronized Sentinel-2 MSI image (named original image) and 255 ground-truth data collected in October 2020, aligning with periods of vegetation cover and salt return. Furthermore, to obtain novel bare soil pixels, multi-temporal Sentinel-2 MSI images were acquired during two distinct intervals: March to May and September to November, spanning the years from 2018 to 2021. The synthetic soil image (SYSI) was obtained by extracting bare soil pixels from multi-temporal images. Two images (original, SYSI) were fused with non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) method, named SYSIfused. Then, the stacking machine algorithm was used for soil salinity mapping under different soil types, with evaluating the impact of SYSIfused on the accuracy of soil salinity prediction. The results showed the SYSIfused outperformed the original image (the R2 of the best models increased by 0.054–0.242, RMSE and MAE decreased by 0.049–0.780 and 0.012–0.546, respectively). Based on the SYSIfused, the order of the effect of soil types was coastal bog solonchaks > alluvial soil > cinnamon soil > coral saline soil > overall samples, and their roles in improving the R2 of the model were 0.141, 0.085, 0.022, 0.012, respectively. Besides, stacking models with the SYSIfused provided the best prediction performances (R2 = 0.742, RMSE = 0.377, MAE = 0.362). This study introduces the concept of merging original images with SYSI, resulting in a significant improvement in the accuracy of soil salinity mapping in areas covered by vegetation.

Despite the advantages of electric field efficiency and miniaturization, the limited operating temperature range and mediocre cooling efficiency of electrocaloric thin films represent the key obstacles to their practical applications in cooling advanced electronics. In this review, we discussed the current efforts and challenges facing the development of high-performance electrocaloric thin films and explored universal approaches along with their physical mechanisms for optimizing the electrocaloric response in thin films. We first emphasize the significance of the indirect method for determining the electrocaloric effect (ECE) in thin films and restate the conditions for the application of Maxwell’s equations. Particularly, we flag a couple of common artifacts of the electrocaloric results induced by the indirect method in recent attempts at the optimization of the ECE. We then cover chemical modification, interface engineering, and strain engineering as effective routes to improve the adiabatic temperature change (ΔT), reduce the driving electric field (E), and widen the operating temperature range (Tspan). At last, we propose that slush relaxors can be exploited as the base system for simultaneously achieving large ΔT, broad Tspan, and low E. Furthermore, we also discuss that the employment of high-entropy oxide perovskites is a feasible approach for greatly raising the dipolar entropy change under low electric fields. At last, we stress the significance and pressing need to measure the EC parameters of thin films with reliable direct methods. We hope that the high-performance electrocaloric thin films and the design rationale discussed in this review could inspire more facile and novel methods to achieve a better electrocaloric response.

Abstract Deciphering variations in chromosome conformations based on bulk three‐dimensional (3D) genomic data from heterogenous tissues is a key to understanding cell‐type specific genome architecture and dynamics. Surprisingly, computational deconvolution methods for high‐throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi‐C) data remain very rare in the literature. Here, a deep convolutional neural network (CNN), deconvolve bulk Hi‐C data (deCOOC) that remarkably outperformed all the state‐of‐the‐art tools in the deconvolution task is developed. Interestingly, it is noticed that the chromatin accessibility or the Hi‐C contact frequency alone is insufficient to explain the power of deCOOC, suggesting the existence of a latent embedded layer of information pertaining to the cell type specific 3D genome architecture. By applying deCOOC to in‐house‐generated bulk Hi‐C data from visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues, it is found that the characteristic chromatin features of M2 cells in the two anatomical loci are distinctively bound to different physiological functionalities. Taken together, deCOOC is both a reliable Hi‐C data deconvolution method and a powerful tool for functional extraction of 3D genome architecture.

Abstract Background China has one of the fastest paces of the growing aging population, High-level policymakers have recently recognized the aging population presents significant challenges to the Chinese healthcare system. In this context, the healthcare-seeking behaviors of the elderly population have become an essential field of study. It is necessary to understand their access to health services and to improve their quality of life, as well as to help policymakers to formulate healthcare policy. The study empirically investigates the factors influencing the elderly population’s healthcare-seeking behaviors in Shanghai, China, especially in choosing the quality of healthcare facilities to visit. Methods We designed a cross-sectional study. The data of this study were derived from the “Shanghai elderly medical demand characteristics questionnaire” in the middle of November to early December 2017. A total of 625 individuals were included in the final sample. Logistic regression was adopted to investigate the differences in healthcare-seeking behaviors between elderly people when suffer from mild illness, severe illness and follow-up treatment. Next, the differences in gender were also discussed. Results Factors affecting the healthcare-seeking behaviors of the elderly differ in mild illness and severe illness situations. For mild illness, demographic factors (gender and age) and socioeconomic factors (income and employment) play an important role in elderly healthcare choices. Female and older elderlies are more likely to choose local, lower-quality facilities, whereas those with high income and private employment are more likely to choose higher-quality facilities. For severe illness, socioeconomic factors (income and employment) are important. Furthermore, individuals with basic medical insurance are more likely to choose lower-quality facilities. Conclusion This study has shown that the affordability of public health services should be addressed. Medical policy support may be an important way to reduce the gap in access to medical services. We should pay attention to the gender differences in the elderly’s choice of medical treatment behavior, consider the differences in the needs of male and female elderly. our findings are only for elderly Chinese participants in the greater Shanghai area.

We present a time-stable receiving system for broadband signals transmitted via a 25 km fiber optic link. The timing jitter of the signal induced by the transmission link is precisely eliminated after the signal is digitized with a dithered sample clock. The dithered clock is generated from the phase of a voltage-controlled oscillator, introducing the same transmission timing jitter of the link. Therefore, it can withstand an unlimited range of transmission delay variations without using any optical or electrical delay lines. Experimentally, binary phase-shift keying signals with bandwidths of several hundred MHz and different carrier frequencies are transmitted and received by the proposed system. The root mean square of the calculated timing jitters of the received signals is decreased to the order of picosecond. The simple remote end and immunity to environmental perturbations of the proposed scheme make it an ideal candidate for a large-scale distributed antenna system.

Abstract Background Icariin (ICA), a main active ingredient of Herba Epimedium, could promote bone formation, inhibit bone resorption and alleviate inflammatory responses. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ICA on the inhibition of bacteria associated with peri-implantitis, and fabricate a calcium phosphate cement (CPC) with ICA-loaded gelatin microspheres (GMs) as a local drug delivery system efficiently promoting bone formation and alleviating inflammation. Results In this study, ICA exhibited antibacterial activity against P. gingivalis with a MIC value of 1 × 10–4 mol/L. When the concentration of ICA was 0.5 mM, the encapsulation efficiency of GMs reached the maximum value of 76.26 ± 3.97%. GMs with ICA revealed a controlled release profile, 0.5 mM ICA exhibited a higher ICA release profile than the other groups during a 21 d monitoring span. The results of SEM and XRD demonstrated successful fabrication of a calcium phosphate cement with ICA-loaded GMs. ICA released from CPC/GMs (ICA) was slower than ICA released from GMs within 10 days. CPC/GMs (ICA) exhibited antibacterial activity against P. gingivalis, but the antibacterial rate of CPC/GMs (ICA) was only 17.15 ± 6.06%. In addition, CPC/GMs (ICA) promoted the proliferation of BMSCs and significantly stimulated the differentiation and maturation of BMSCs. In vivo, H&E and Masson staining experiments demonstrated that CPC/GMs (ICA) exhibited better capacity for bone regeneration than CPC/GMs and CPC, and the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β in the tissue around CPC/GMs (ICA) was significantly lower than CPC/GMs and CPC in IHC staining (P

Introduction: Teaching kitchens are being used to facilitate lifestyle changes with a focus on culinary and nutrition programs to improve health behaviors. Less is known regarding their use as a worksite wellness program and their influence on employees’ quality of life, body weight, and adoption of healthy behaviors. We evaluated changes in self-reported healthy behaviors, overall health, and weight during a one-year multidisciplinary teaching kitchen program. Methods: Thirty-eight benefits-eligible employees were recruited, screened based on a priori eligibility criteria that prioritized elevated body mass index (BMI), co-morbid conditions, and high levels of motivation to make lifestyle changes, and consented to participate in The Emory Healthy Kitchen Collaborative. This 12-month program included a 10-week didactic and experiential curriculum followed by continued support and access to health coaching implemented in an academic health system university hospital workplace between 2019 and 2020. Comparative statistics, paired t-test, Mcnemar’s tests, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to assess changes at four time points. Results: Participants improved diet quality (p ≤ 0.0001), increased confidence in tasting new foods (p = 0.03), and increased mindful eating habits (p = 0.00002). Significant changes were seen in physical activity levels; aerobic activities (p = 0.007), strength resistance activities (p = 0.02), and participation in yoga (p = 0.002). Most participants weighed within 5 lbs. of their starting weight at 3 months (p = 0.57). Conclusions: A teaching kitchen intervention is an innovative model for improving employee health behaviors and general health self-perception.

Polysaccharides are one of the main active ingredients of Polygonum sibiricum (PS), which is a food and medicine homolog used throughout Chinese history. The antidepressant-like effects of PSP and its underlying mechanisms remain elusive, especially the regulation of microglial polarization. The current study determined the chemical composition and structural characteristics of PSP. Then, the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) procedure was carried out on the zebrafish for 5 weeks, and PSP was immersed for 9 days (1 h/d). The body weight of zebrafish was monitored, and behavioral tests, including the novel tank test and light and dark tank test, were performed to evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of PSP. Then, the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis, the levels of peripheral inflammation, neuronal and blood–brain barrier damage in the mesencephalon and telencephalon, and the mRNA expression of M1/M2 phenotype genes in the brain were examined. PSP samples had the typical structural characteristics of polysaccharides, consisting of glucose, mannose, and galactose, with an average Mw of 20.48 kDa, which presented porous and agglomerated morphologies. Compared with untreated zebrafish, the depression-like behaviors of CUMS-induced zebrafish were significantly attenuated. PSP significantly decreased the levels of cortisol and pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased the levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokines in the body of CUMS-induced depressive zebrafish. Furthermore, PSP remarkably reversed the neuronal and blood–brain barrier damage in the mesencephalon and telencephalon and the mRNA expression of M1/M2 phenotype genes in the brain. These findings indicated that the antidepressant-like effects of PSP were related to altering the HPI axis hyperactivation, suppressing peripheral inflammation, inhibiting neuroinflammation induced by microglia hyperactivation, and modulating microglial M1/M2 polarization. The current study provides the foundations for future examinations of PSP in the functional foods of emotional regulation.

Polygonum sibiricum, with its medicinal and edibility dual properties, has been widely recognized and utilized throughout Chinese history. As a kind of its effective component, Polygonum sibiricum polysaccharides (PSP) have been reported to be a promising novel antidepressant agent. Meanwhile, the precise mechanisms underlying its action remain elusive. The polarization state transition of microglia is intricately linked to neuroinflammation, indicating its crucial involvement in the pathophysiology of depression. Researchers are vigorously pursuing the exploration of this potential treatment strategy, aiming to comprehend its underlying mechanisms. Hence, the current study was designed to investigate the antidepressant mechanisms of PSP via Microglial M1/M2 Polarization, based on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV2 cell activation model. The results indicate that PSP significantly inhibited NO and LDH release and reduced ROS levels in LPS-induced BV2 cells. PSP could significantly reduce the protein expression level of Iba-1, decreased the mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and increased the mRNA level of IL-10. PSP also significantly reduced the protein expression level of CD16/32 and increased that of CD206, reduced the mRNA level and fluorescence intensity of iNOS, and increased those of Arg-1. However, PSP pretreatment reversed the alterations of the BDNF/TrkB/CREB and Notch/Hes1 pathways in LPS-induced BV2 cells. These results suggested that PSP exerted the anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting M1 phenotype polarization and promoting microglia polarization toward the M2 phenotype, and its regulation of microglia M1/M2 polarization may be associated with modulating the BDNF/TrkB/CREB and Notch/Hes1 pathways.

With the advancement of research on m6A-related mechanisms in recent years, the YTHDF protein family within m6A readers has garnered significant attention. Among them, YTHDF1 serves as a pivotal member, playing a crucial role in protein translation, tumor proliferation, metabolic reprogramming of various tumor cells, and immune evasion. In addition, YTHDF1 also exerts regulatory effects on tumors through multiple signaling pathways, and numerous studies have confirmed its ability to assist in the reprogramming of the tumor cell-related metabolic processes. The focus of research on YTHDF1 has shifted in recent years from its m6A-recognition and -modification function to the molecular mechanisms by which it regulates tumor progression, particularly by exploring the regulatory factors that interact with YTHDF1 upstream and downstream. In this review, we elucidate the latest signaling pathway mechanisms of YTHDF1 in various tumor cells, with a special emphasis on its distinctive characteristics in tumor cell metabolic reprogramming. Furthermore, we summarize the latest pathological and physiological processes involving YTHDF1 in tumor cells, and analyze potential therapeutic approaches that utilize YTHDF1. We believe that YTHDF1 represents a highly promising target for future tumor treatments and a novel tumor biomarker.

Abstract Liver development is a complex process that is regulated by a series of signaling pathways. Three-dimensional (3D) chromatin architecture plays an important role in transcriptional regulation; nonetheless, its dynamics and role in the rapid transition of core liver functions during development and obesity-induced metabolic stress remain largely unexplored. To investigate the dynamic chromatin architecture during liver development and under metabolic stress, we generated high-resolution maps of chromatin architecture for porcine livers across six major developmental stages (from embryonic day 38 to the adult stage) and under a high-fat diet-induced obesity. The characteristically loose chromatin architecture supports a highly plastic genome organization during early liver development, which fundamentally contributes to the rapid functional transitions in the liver after birth. We reveal the multi-scale reorganization of chromatin architecture and its influence on transcriptional regulation of critical signaling processes during liver development, and show its close association with transition in hepatic functions (i.e., from hematopoiesis in the fetus to metabolism and immunity after birth). The limited changes in chromatin structure help explain the observed metabolic adaptation to excessive energy intake in pigs. These results provide a global overview of chromatin architecture dynamics associated with the transition of physiological liver functions between prenatal development and postnatal maturation, and a foundational resource that allows for future in-depth functional characterization.

Abstract Background The three-dimensional (3D) architecture of the genome has a highly ordered and hierarchical nature, which influences the regulation of essential nuclear processes at the basis of gene expression, such as gene transcription. While the hierarchical organization of heterochromatin and euchromatin can underlie differences in gene expression that determine evolutionary differences among species, the way 3D genome architecture is affected by evolutionary forces within major lineages remains unclear. Here, we report a comprehensive comparison of 3D genomes, using high resolution Hi-C data in fibroblast cells of fish, chickens, and 10 mammalian species. Results This analysis shows a correlation between genome size and chromosome length that affects chromosome territory (CT) organization in the upper hierarchy of genome architecture, whereas lower hierarchical features, including local transcriptional availability of DNA, are selected through the evolution of vertebrates. Furthermore, conservation of topologically associating domains (TADs) appears strongly associated with the modularity of expression profiles across species. Additionally, LINE and SINE transposable elements likely contribute to heterochromatin and euchromatin organization, respectively, during the evolution of genome architecture. Conclusions Our analysis uncovers organizational features that appear to determine the conservation and transcriptional regulation of functional genes across species. These findings can guide ongoing investigations of genome evolution by extending our understanding of the mechanisms shaping genome architecture.

Abstract In cases of extensive liver injury, biliary epithelial cells (BECs) dedifferentiate into bipotential progenitor cells (BPPCs), then redifferentiate into hepatocytes and BECs to accomplish liver regeneration. Whether epigenetic regulations, particularly DNA methylation maintenance enzymes, play a role in this biliary-mediated liver regeneration remains unknown. Here we show that in response to extensive hepatocyte damages, expression of dnmt1 is upregulated in BECs to methylate DNA at the p53 locus, which represses p53 transcription, and in turn, derepresses mTORC1 signaling to activate BEC dedifferentiation. After BEC dedifferentiation and BPPC formation, DNA methylation at the p53 locus maintains in BPPCs to continue blocking p53 transcription, which derepresses Bmp signaling to induce BPPC redifferentiation. Thus, this study reveals promotive roles and mechanisms of DNA methylation at the p53 locus in both dedifferentiation and redifferentiation stages of biliary-mediated liver regeneration, implicating DNA methylation and p53 as potential targets to stimulate regeneration after extensive liver injury.

The rotor loss of rare earth permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) affects the efficiency and reliability of the motor and is an important research direction of rare earth permanent magnet synchronous motors. In this paper, the influence of rotational speed on the loss of the rotor core and the permanent magnet is analyzed through the analysis of the motor magnetic field and rotor loss calculation. Specifically, with the increase in rotational speed, the weak magnetic current increases, the amplitude of flux density change in the rotor core decreases, and the loss of the rotor core also decreases. The greater the influence of the harmonic current magnetic field on the outside of the rotor, the greater the loss. The core loss on the rotor is mainly distributed on the outside of the rotor. For further engineering applications, this paper analyzes the loss composition of three kinds of motors with different rotor structures and judges the optimal scheme based on the minimum loss. Finally, the correctness of this research is verified by comparing the experimental and simulation results of two kinds of motors with different rotor structures. The research content of this paper can provide a reference for the loss analysis and optimization and rotor structure selection of rare earth permanent magnet synchronous motor rotor design.

The air compression ratio in a modern aero engine has been significantly increased to enhance the engine’s thermal efficiency, thereby leading to high-pressure combustion, with the combustor pressure exceeding the fuel’s critical pressure (~23 atm for the aviation kerosene). In this work, large eddy simulations are conducted to investigate the effect of two air swirling injections on the flow dynamics and turbulent combustion of kerosene–air in a dual-swirl model combustor at a supercritical pressure of 4 MPa. The flamelet progress variable (FPV) model is applied to handle turbulent/chemistry interaction, and the extended corresponding states (ECS) method is adopted to evaluate thermophysical property variations. The results indicate that the inner air swirler controls flow and chemical reactions inside the injector, while the outer air swirler exerts a strong impact on the flow and flame characteristics in the combustor. A precessing vortex core (PVC) is generated by the inner swirling flow, and its frequency increases significantly as the inner air swirler angle varies from 25° to 40°. A modified Strouhal number is proposed for PVC frequency analyses, which reveal that the PVC frequency is influenced by the inner swirl number and the maximum axial velocity in the inner injector. The results obtained herein should help in developing a fundamental understanding of swirling flow and flame dynamics at high pressures.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections have gained increasing attention due to the high incidence rates and high mortality, especially for the carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infection that can cause severe complications (e.g., pneumonia and sepsis) in multiple organs. Therefore, the development of new antibacterial agents against CRKP is imperative. Inspired by natural plant antibacterial agents with broad-spectrum antibacterial properties, the antibacterial/biofilm activity of eugenol (EG) on CRKP and their underlying mechanisms are investigated in our work. It is found that EG exhibits remarkable inhibitory effects on planktonic CRKP in a dose-dependent fashion. Meanwhile, the destruction of membrane integrity induced by the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione reduction results in the leakage of bacterial cytoplasmic components, including DNA, β-galactosidase, and protein. Moreover, when EG contacts with bacterial biofilm, the whole thickness of the dense biofilm matrix decreases, and the integrity is destroyed. Overall, this work verified that EG could eliminate CRKP via ROS-induced membrane rupture, which offers vital evidence to explain the antibacterial ability of EG against CRKP.

The purpose of this research is to clarify the protective effects of Notoginsenoside R1(R1)-Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) on myocardial microcirculatory ischemia–reperfusion injury（I/R injury） in mice, and to investigate whether its myocardial protective effect mechanism is related to FUNDC1-mediated mitochondrial autophagy. The experimental study found that R1-Rg1 could improve cardiac function, reduce structural damage, restore myocardial barrier function, systolic and diastolic function in mice with myocardial I/R, with significant cardioprotective effects, and its mechanism of action may be related to NR4A1-CK2α-FUNDC1-mediated mitochondrial autophagy. This article will discuss some of the important findings of this study and explore the implications of these results for clinical practice and the treatment of MIRI.

Tooth extraction commonly leads to postoperative wound bleeding, bacterial infection, and even the occurrence of dry socket. Therefore, developing a biomedical material with favorable antibacterial and excellent hemostatic properties to prevent the post-extraction dry socket is necessary. Herein, quaternary ammonium chitosan/ carboxymethyl starch/alginate (ACQ) sponges are developed via Ca2+ cross-linking, electrostatic interaction, and lyophilization methods. The results show that the bio-multifunctional sponges exhibit interconnected porous structures with significant fluid absorption rates and suitable water vapor transmission rates. In vitro cellular and hemolysis experiments indicate that the developed sponges have acceptable biocompatibility. Notably, the constructed sponges effectively inhibit the growth of E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans, as well as achieve rapid hemostasis in the mouse liver injury and mini-pig tooth extraction models by absorbing blood and promoting red blood cell adhesion. Thus, the created bio-multifunctional sponges show tremendous promise as a hemostatic material for wound management after tooth extraction.

Background: Sodium—glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors have proved to be extremely effective and reliable in reducing hyperglycemia, and have also been used for the treatment of cardiovascular and renal disease in patients with or without type 2 diabetes. Thousands of research articles on SGLT2 inhibitors have been published in the past, but few bibliometric analyses have systematically been studied this field. We aimed to visualize the global research hotspots and trends of SGLT2 inhibitors using a bibliometric analysis to provide new evidence and ideas for researchers and clinicians in this field.Methods: We retrieved publications from Science Citation Index Expanded of Web of Science Core Collection in 2004–2022 on 1 July 2022. Microsoft Excel, CiteSpace and VOSviewer were employed to collect publication data, analyze publication trends, and visualize relevant results.Results: We identified 4,419 original research articles on SGLT2 inhibitors published between 2004 and the first half of 2022. Global SGLT2 inhibitors-related research increased rapidly from 2004 to 2022, especially recently. United States made the greatest contribution to the topic, with (1,629, 36.86%) publications and citations (88,892). AstraZeneca was the most prolific institutions (272, 6.16%). Heerspink HJL published the most related articles (98), whereas Zinman B was cited the most frequently (1,784 citations). Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism was the journal with the most studies (406, 9.19%), and The New England Journal of Medicine was the most commonly cited journal (11,617 citations), with nine of the top 10 co-cited references published in this journal. The emerging keywords “heart failure,” “diabetic cardiomyopathy,” “ejection fraction,” “mortality,” “biomarker,” “fibrosis,” “ampk,” and “guideline” appeared the most recently as research frontiers.Conclusion: United States is the leader in SGLT2 inhibitor research. Recently, the research on SGLT2 inhibitors has focused on clinical trials, related mechanisms, and therapy. In the future, the research on SGLT2 inhibitors will delve into molecular mechanisms, especially those related to fibrosis and AMPK, revealing the link between SGLT2 inhibitors and heart failure and diabetic cardiomyopathy will be the next research hotspot.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the chronic gradual degradation of arteries in combination with inflammation. Currently, the main research focus has been on interactions between inflammatory cells, inflammatory mediators, and immune mechanisms, while some studies have reported natural drugs were exerting a critical role against AS, whereas the usage of natural drugs was always limited by various factors such as poor penetration across biological barriers, low bioavailability, and unclear mechanisms. Herein, we reviewed the potential targets for inflammation against AS, discussed the underlying mechanisms of natural drugs for AS, particularly highlighted the dilemma of current research, and finally, offered perspectives in this field.

Abstract The current approach to achieving superior energy storage density in dielectrics is to increase their breakdown strength, which often incurs heat generation and unexpected insulation failures, greatly deteriorating the stability and lifetime of devices. Here, a strategy is proposed for enhancing recoverable energy storage density (Wr) while maintaining a high energy storage efficiency (η) in glassy ferroelectrics by creating super tetragonal (super‐T) nanostructures around morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) rather than exploiting the intensely strong electric fields. Accordingly, a giant Wr of ≈86 J cm−3 concomitant with a high η of ≈81% is acquired under a moderate electric field (1.7 MV cm−1) in thin films having MPB composition, namely, 0.94(Bi, Na)TiO3‐0.06BaTiO3 (BNBT), where the local super‐T polar clusters (tetragonality ≈1.25) are stabilized by interphase strain. To the knowledge of the authors, the Wr of the engineered BNBT thin films represents a new record among all the oxide perovskites under a similar strength of electric field to date. The phase field simulation results ascertain that the improved Wr is attributed to the local strain heterogeneity and the large spontaneous polarization primarily is originated from the super‐T polar clusters. The findings in this work present a genuine opportunity to develop ultrahigh‐energy‐density thin‐film capacitors for low‐electric‐field‐driven nano/microelectronics.

BackgroundHyperuricemia is prevalent and associated with individual cardiometabolic diseases, highlighting the potential role of serum uric acid (SUA) in the development and progression of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM, the coexistence of diabetes, heart disease, or stroke). This study aimed to examine the role of SUA change in the progression of CMM.MethodsThis prospective cohort study used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, included 4,820 participants aged 45 years or above with three complete surveys at 2011 (baseline), 2015, and 2018. SUA level at survey 2011 and 2015 was used to measure SUA change as keeping or rising to hyperuricemia, and keeping or declining to non-hyperuricemia. CMM progression was defined as the first report of CMM or additional report of cardiometabolic diseases during survey 2015 and 2018. We used logistic regression models to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of SUA change on CMM progression.ResultsDuring the follow-up of around 7 years, 519 (10.8%) of the participants kept or rose to hyperuricemia from survey 2011 to 2015, and 311 (6.5%) experienced CMM progression from survey 2015 to 2018. Participants who kept or rose to hyperuricemia had 1.86 (95% CI, 1.29, 2.68) increased odds of CMM progression compared with those who kept or declined to non-hyperuricemia. Specifically, keeping or rising to hyperuricemia (vs. keeping or declining to non-hyperuricemia) was associated with 2.01 times higher odds (95% CI, 1.18, 3.43) of incident diabetes and 1.67 times higher odds (OR:1.67; 95% CI, 1.15, 2.43) of incident cardiovascular diseases following diabetes.ConclusionKeeping or rising to hyperuricemia was associated with CMM progression, particularly with incident cardiovascular diseases following diabetes. These findings suggest that monitoring SUA change may provide innovative insights into the prevention of CMM, especially in the secondary prevention of CMM (i.e., preventing further progression to cardiovascular diseases among patients with diabetes).

Endemic vertebrates are a crucial component of biodiversity, yet face disproportionally high extinction risk as climate and land-use changes drive habitat loss. Large protected areas are therefore deemed necessary to mitigate biodiversity loss. In 2021, China’s Giant Panda National Park (GPNP, 27,134 km2) was established in one of the global endemism hotspots. In this study we ask the question whether this large national park is able to conserve the many threatened endemic vertebrates occurring in the region in the face of climate and land-use changes, in order to assess the long-term effectiveness of the GPNP. We used species distribution modeling techniques to project the distributions of 40 threatened terrestrial (and freshwater) endemic vertebrates under land-use and climate change scenarios SSP2–4.5, SSP3–7.0 and SSP5–8.5 in 2081–2100, and assessed the extent to which their distributions are covered by the GPNP, now and in the future. We found that by 2081–2100, two thirds of the threatened endemic vertebrates are predicted to lose part (15–79%, N = 4) of or (nearly) their entire (80–100% loss, N = 23) range under all three climate and land-use change scenarios. Consequently, fewer species are predicted to occur in the GPNP than at present. Our findings confirm the high vulnerability of threatened endemic species to climate and land-use changes, despite protected areas. Habitat loss due to climate and land-use changes elevate extinction risk of species in endemism hotspots across the globe. Urgent, widespread and intensified mitigation measures and adaptation measures are required at a landscape scale for effective conservation efforts in the future.

The ecological indicators for the growth and restoration of A. mongolicus populations are important for grasping the regulatory mechanisms of the biogeochemistry cycle, and for providing basic data for the prediction and evaluation of the evolution characteristics of natural A. mongolicus populations. We conducted studies on the eco-stoichiometric characteristics of natural A. mongolicus in different shrub ages, in order to understand the nutrient limitations for the growth and development of A. mongolicus and the synergy between the soil, leaves and roots, and to explore the C, N and P stoichiometric characteristics on A. mongolicus. The results showed the following: (1) The response of C, N and P stoichiometric characteristics in the leaves, roots and soil to changes in shrub age was not completely consistent. The leaf C content was young shrub> mature shrub> middle age shrub. The C content in the root system and C and N content in the soil showed an upward trend with increasing shrub age. The N and P contents of the root system and the P content of the soil showed a downward trend with increasing shrub age. The stoichiometric ratios C:N, C:P and N:P in the leaves, roots and soil showed an upward trend, and the N:P ratios in the leaves and roots were similar. (2) Among the stoichiometric characteristics of the leaves, C, N and P, leaves P and C:P are the most sensitive to shrub age changes, and have ecological implications for the growth and population dynamics of A. mongolicus. The average N:P ratios of young A. mongolicus leaves in young, middle-aged and mature shrubs were 15.32, 18.23 and 21.76, respectively. It can be seen that with an increase in shrub age, the growth of A. mongolicus gradually shifted from being jointly restricted by N and P to being more restricted by P. (3) The N content and the C∶N and N∶P ratios of A. mongolicus are classified as “strictly homoeostasis “, which shows strong plant homoeostasis for environmental adaptability. The N supplemented by symbiotic nitrogen fixation makes A. mongolicus have strong N internal homoeostasis. Therefore, in a desert grassland with low N content, the growth process of A. mongolicus may be easily restricted by P due to the additional N absorbed by it. (4) The C, N and P contents of the leaves, roots and soils of the three shrubs were shown as leaf > root > soil, and the difference was significant (p < 0.05). The correlation analysis showed that the C, N and P contents of the soil, roots and leaves and their stoichiometric ratio characteristics of the three shrubs showed a certain correlation. Among them, the P content of the soil was significantly related to the N:P ratio of the leaves and roots. Therefore, P is likely to become a limiting factor in the plant growth and repair process of the plant ecosystem in the A. mongolicus population. In summary, during the growth of A. mongolicus, special attention should be paid to the balance of nutrients. In order to improve its productivity, it is recommended to reasonably apply P fertilizers in the process of tending management to enhance the soil nutrient status and improve plant nutrient utilization efficiency and homoeostasis.

Transposons are accepted as evolutionary catalysts but how they do so remains less clear. Analyzing 100 animal genomes finds that terminal inverted repeat-type transposable elements catalyze new gene structures and new genes in animals via both transposition-independent and -dependent mechanisms.

Fucoidan has sparked considerable interest in biomedical applications because of its inherent (bio)physicochemical characteristics, particularly immunomodulatory effects on macrophages, neutrophils, and natural killer cells. However, the effect of fucoidan on T cells and the following regulatory interaction on cellular function has not been reported. In this work, the effect of sterile fucoidan on the T-cell response and the subsequent modulation of osteogenesis is investigated. The physicochemical features of fucoidan treated by high-temperature autoclave sterilization are characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. It is demonstrated that high-temperature autoclave treatment resulted in fucoidan depolymerization, with no change in its key bioactive groups. Further, sterile fucoidan promotes T cells proliferation and the proportion of differentiated T cells decreases with increasing concentration of fucoidan. In addition, the supernatant of T cells co-cultured with fucoidan greatly suppresses the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 by downregulating the formation of alkaline phosphatase and calcium nodule compared with fucoidan. Therefore, our work offers new insight into the fucoidan-mediated T cell and osteoblast interplay.

BackgroundInfertile men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) have impaired spermatogenesis. Dilated and un-dilated atrophic seminiferous tubules are often present in the testes of these patients, with the highest likelihood of active spermatogenesis in the dilated tubules. Little is known about the un-dilated tubules, which in NOA patients constitute the majority. To advance therapeutic strategies for men with NOA who fail surgical sperm retrieval we aimed to characterize the spermatogonial stem cell microenvironment in atrophic un-dilated tubules.MethodsTestis biopsies approximately 3x3x3 mm3 were obtained from un-dilated areas from 34 patients. They were classified as hypospermatogenesis (HS) (n=5), maturation arrest (MA) (n=14), and Sertoli cell only (SCO) (n= 15). Testis samples from five fertile men were included as controls. Biopsies were used for histological analysis, RT-PCR analysis and immunofluorescence of germ and Sertoli cell markers.ResultsAnti-Müllerian hormone mRNA and protein expression was increased in un-dilated tubules in all three NOA subtypes, compared to the control, showing an immature state of Sertoli cells (p

Abstract 16S rRNA sequencing of human fecal samples has been tremendously successful in identifying microbiome changes associated with both aging and disease. A number of studies have described microbial alterations corresponding to physical frailty and nursing home residence among aging individuals. A gut-muscle axis through which the microbiome influences skeletal muscle growth/function has been hypothesized. However, the microbiome has yet to be examined in sarcopenia. Here, we collected fecal samples of 60 healthy controls (CON) and 27 sarcopenic (Case)/possibly sarcopenic (preCase) individuals and analyzed the intestinal microbiota using 16S rRNA sequencing. We observed an overall reduction in microbial diversity in Case and preCase samples. The genera Lachnospira, Fusicantenibacter, Roseburia, Eubacterium, and Lachnoclostridium—known butyrate producers—were significantly less abundant in Case and preCase subjects while Lactobacillus was more abundant. Functional pathways underrepresented in Case subjects included numerous transporters and phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis suggesting that protein processing and nutrient transport may be impaired. In contrast, lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis was overrepresented in Case and PreCase subjects suggesting that sarcopenia is associated with a pro-inflammatory metagenome. These analyses demonstrate structural and functional alterations in the intestinal microbiota that may contribute to loss of skeletal muscle mass and function in sarcopenia.