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Abstract Given the escalating issue of global climate change, it is imperative to comprehend and quantify the effects of land use change on carbon storage (CS), which pertains not only to the preservation of ecosystem functions but also directly influences the equilibrium and stability of the global carbon cycle. This study examines the correlation between CS and land use change, forecasts the future spatial distribution of CS, and offers a reference for the rational planning of watershed space. Focusing on the Bosten Lake Basin of Xinjiang in China, employing the land use simulation (PLUS) model and the integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade-offs (InVEST) model to forecast the spatial distribution of carbon stocks across three developmental scenarios, while also examining the shift in the center of gravity of CS and the autocorrelation of their spatial distribution. The findings derived from the study are as follows: (1) From 1990 to 2020, the predominant land use type in the Bosten Lake Basin was grassland, while there was an upward trend in the areas of cropland, forest land, built-up land, and wetland, alongside a downward trend in the areas of grassland, water, and unused land. (2) In the long term, the regional CS exhibits an upward trend, with the most significant increase anticipated in the EPS scenario. Grassland constitutes the most extensive carbon reservoir in the Bosten Lake Basin, while wetlands exhibit the highest carbon sequestration potential. (3) The alteration in the center of gravity of CS is associated with the expansion or reduction of the major regional carbon reservoirs and types characterized by significant carbon sequestration potential. (4) In the long term, the spatial correlation of CS in the Bosten Lake Basin exhibits a consistent upward trend, with the most pronounced spatial correlation observed under EPS.

Abstract Background An increase in upper-ocean thermal stratification is being observed worldwide due to global warming. However, how ocean stratification affects the vertical profile of plankton communities remains unclear. Understanding this is crucial for assessing the broader implications of ocean stratification. Pelagic ciliates cover multiple functional groups, and thus can serve as a model for studying the vertical distribution and functional strategies of plankton in stratified oceans. We hypothesize that pelagic ciliate communities exhibit vertical stratification caused by shifts in functional strategies, from free-living groups in the photic zone to parasitic groups in deeper waters. Results 306 samples from the surface to the abyssopelagic zone were collected from 31 stations in the western Pacific and analyzed with environmental DNA (the V4 region of 18 S rDNA) metabarcoding of pelagic ciliates. We found a distinct vertical stratification of the entire ciliate communities, with a boundary at a depth of 200 m. Significant distance-decay patterns were found in the photic layers of 5 m to the deep chlorophyll maximum and in the 2,000 m, 3000 m and bottom layers, while no significant pattern occurred in the mesopelagic layers of 200 m – 1,000 m. Below 200 m, parasitic Oligohymenophorea and Colpodea became more prevalent. A linear model showed that parasitic taxa were the main groups causing community variation along the water column. With increasing depth below 200 m, the ASV and sequence proportions of parasitic taxa increased. Statistical analyses indicated that water temperature shaped the photic communities, while parasitic taxa had a significant influence on the aphotic communities below 200 m. Conclusions This study provides new insights into oceanic vertical distribution, connectivity and stratification from a biological perspective. The observed shift of functional strategies from free-living to parasitic groups at a 200 m transition layer improves our understanding of ocean ecosystems in the context of global warming. Graphical Abstract

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant central nervous system tumor in children. The current treatment approach primarily consists of surgery combined with adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Postoperative precision treatment plans based on risk stratification effectively prevent overtreatment in low-risk patients while addressing the therapeutic needs of high-risk groups. Traditional clinical risk stratification primarily considers factors such as age, clinical stage, and extent of surgical resection. In recent years, advances in understanding the key molecular markers of medulloblastoma have led to the integration of molecular subtypes and molecular and genetic characteristics into the risk stratification framework. It has resulted in the development of a revised molecular risk stratification system, which makes it possible to distinguish children in different risk groups more efficiently and guides subsequent precision treatment. This paper intends to summarize the pathological characteristics of medulloblastoma, risk stratification based on clinical features and the revised molecular risk stratification which integrates clinical and molecular genetic characteristics, so as to provide a guideline for the formulation of subsequent comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plans.

Abstract Background Asthma is an airway inflammatory disease driven by multiple factors with a high incidence in children and adolescents. Environmental tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) and diet are inducing factors for asthma. The potential of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to alleviate asthma symptoms by their anti-inflammatory effects has been explored. However, to date, no studies have explored the effect of dietary PUFAs intake on the asthma in children and adolescents exposed to tobacco smoke. Objective We aimed to examine the effect of dietary PUFAs intake on the current asthma in children and adolescents exposed to tobacco smoke. Methods Data of this cross-sectional were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2018. Children and adolescents with serum cotinine concentration ≥ 0.05 ng/mL were defined to exposed to tobacco smoke. Dietary PUFAs intake information were obtained from 24 h recall interview. The weighted univariate and multivariate were utilized to explore the effect of PUFAs on the association of asthma and TSE, with adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). These moderating effects were further explored based on the age, gender and body mass index (BMI) and sedentary time. Results Totally, 7981 eligible children and adolescents were included, with the mean age of 11.96 ± 0.06 years old. Of whom, 1.024 (12.83%) had current asthma. After adjusted all covariates, we found children and adolescents with TSE had high occurrence of current asthma (AOR = 1.2, 95% CI 1.03–1.63); We also found omega-3 PUFAs intake (P for interaction = 0.010), not omega-6 PUFAs (P for interaction = 0.546), has a moderating effect on the association of TSE and current asthma. Moreover, we further observed that children and adolescents with TSE and low omega-3 PUFAs intake had high occurrence of current asthma (AOR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.19–2.10), while no significant association was found in children and adolescents with high omega-3 PUFAs intake (all P > 0.05). This moderating effect was more prominent in children and adolescents aged ≤ 12 years old (AOR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.06–2.47), girls (AOR = 2.14, 95% CI 1.15–3.98), overweight (AOR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.01–3.47) and sedentary time > 6 h (AOR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.00–3.86). Conclusion We found dietary omega-3 PUFAs plays a moderating effect on the association of asthma and TSE in children and adolescents, especially in children and adolescents aged ≤ 12 years, girls, overweight or sedentary time > 6 h. This moderating effect suggested higher omega-3 intake has potential benefits in decreasing the occurrence of asthma in children and adolescents who exposed to tobacco smoke.

Abstract Recently, several studies have reported that the survival benefit of wedge resection might not be inferior to that of lobectomy in early-stage NSCLC patients, but there is no unified definition of the details or cutoff value. Patients with early-stage NSCLC with a tumour size ≤ 2.0 cm were chosen from the SEER database. The influence of confounding factors was minimized by 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM). Kaplan‒Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the overall survival (OS) and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) of patients undergoing lobectomy and wedge resection. A total of 3891 patients with early-stage NSCLC with tumour size ≤ 2.0 cm were enrolled, of whom 2839 underwent lobectomy and 1052 underwent wedge resection. Both before and after PSM, lobectomy significantly improved OS and LCSS compared with wedge resection in the unstratified study population. In the tumour size ≤ 1 cm group, lobectomy had better OS and LCSS than wedge resection (P

The nervous and immune systems are crucial in fighting infections and inflammation and in maintaining immune homeostasis. The immune and nervous systems are independent, yet tightly integrated and coordinated organizations. Numerous molecules and receptors play key roles in enabling communication between the two systems. Transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily member 1 (TRPV1) is a non-selective cation channel, recently shown to be widely expressed in the neuroimmune axis and implicated in neuropathic pain, autoimmune disorders, and immune cell function. TRPV1 is a key bridge in neuroimmune interactions, allowing for smooth and convenient communication between the two systems. Here, we discuss the coordinated cross-talking between the immune and nervous systems and the functional role and the functioning manner of the TRPV1 involved. We suggest that TRPV1 provides new insights into the collaborative relationship between the nervous and immune systems, highlighting exciting opportunities for advanced therapeutic approaches to treating neurogenic inflammation and immune-mediated diseases.

The Yangtze River is the mother river of China. To promote the aquatic ecosystem protection of the great river, the Project of Yangtze Fisheries Resources and Environment Investigation (2017–2021) supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, P. R. China carried out by 24 institutes and universities that located in the Yangtze River basin surveys the status of (1) fish species composition and spatial distribution, (2) current fish abundance, (3) endangered fishes, (4) Yangtze finless porpoise, (5) aquatic eco-environments, (6) water-level fluctuation areas, (7) capture fisheries and recreational fisheries of the Yangtze River mainstream and 10 of its main tributaries, including Yalong River, Heng River, Min River (including Dadu River), Chishui River, Tuo River, Jialing River, Wu River, Han River, Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake. The results showed that there were 443 fish species (belonging to 163 genus, 37 families, and 18 orders) before 2017, but only 323 fish species (including 15 new recorded exotic species) were recorded in the project of 2017–2021. Among them, Cyprinus carpio, Carassius auratus, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Pelteobagrus fulvidraco, Coilia brachygnathus, Silurus asotus, Saurogobio dabryi, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Pelteobagrus nitidus, Hemiculter leucisculus, Siniperca chuatsi, Coreius heterodon, Culter alburnus, Parabramis pekinensis, and Aristichthys nobilis were the dominant species across the whole Yangtze River system. It is estimated that there were 886 million individuals weighing 124.8 million kg, merely equivalent to 27.3% of the resources in 1950s, 30.9% of the resources in 1960s, or 58.7% of the resources in 1980s. In the new list of protected fishes that recorded in the Yangtze River system, only 15 of 29 were collected in this project of 2017–2021. Psephurus gladius has been affirmed to be Extinct by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The wild individuals of Tenualosa reevesii and Luciobrama macrocephalus have disappeared for many years and maybe have been extinct already. Acipenser dabryanus has been affirmed to be Extinct in the Wild by IUCN. The natural propagations of A. sinensis, Myxocyprinus asiaticus and Trachidermus fasciatus have been interrupted for many years. The populations of Yangtze finless porpoise in the Yangtze River mainstream, Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake have steadily rising sizes and expanding distributions in 2017–2021. Parts of them migrate from one region to another with the seasons, which would result in the fluctuation of Yangtze finless porpoise population within some regions. The conventional indicators of water quality in the Yangtze River system were good and conformed to the water quality criteria of fishery in 2017–2021. In the last 40 years, the maximum surface water area in the Yangtze River basin extended to approximately 63,360 km2, the minimum surface water area covered approximately 26,396 km2, and the seasonal water-level fluctuation areas occupied approximately 36,964 km2. Compared with 1984–2000 period, the 2001–2020 period witnessed an overall decreasing trend in the frequency of surface water occurrence within about 25,869 km2 of aquatic areas. From 1984 to 2000 period to 2001–2020 period, permanent surface water has decreased by nearly 8,750 km2. In 2017, the fishermen were mainly 40–60 years old and their educational levels were mainly lower than junior high school. In 2017, most anglers were older than 40 and used hand rod and/or sea rod. Their average catch of each time was mainly less than 1 kg. Results suggested that the fishing ban in key waters of the Yangtze River basin is not only an ecological project of aquatic ecosystem conservation, but also a livelihood project for the fisherman to embrace industrial transformation and improve their living conditions. After the implementation of the fishing ban, the fisheries resources would gradually recover, and the Yangtze finless porpoise population size would also see a steady increase. However, the endangered species would remain threatened for a long time. The degraded waterbodies and water-level fluctuation areas would be the key restrictive factors for future aquatic ecosystem recovery in the Yangtze River basin. Since this survey was carried out before the fishing ban, the current results could provide a baseline for future evaluation of the effect of the Yangtze River fishing ban.

Objectives: To address the lack of research on the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CREs) in Xinjiang, China, and elucidate the genomic characteristics of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) ST11-KL30. Methods: CREs were collected in Xinjiang from 2021 to 2023. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing of carbapenems was performed via agar dilution method. Whole-genome sequencing was completed on the Illumina platform, and subsequent genomic analyses of CRKP, such as sequencing typing, K-locus and O-locus identification, virulence score assessment, and phylogenetic analysis, were performed. The virulence of CRKP isolates was determined in vitro and in vivo, and biofilm formation was assessed by crystal violet staining. Additionally, the virulence plasmid was reconstructed, and the formation of CRKP ST11-KL30 was revealed based on genome data from public database. Results: Eighty-five CRE isolates were collected, among which CRKP was most prevalent (68/85). KPC was the most dominant carbapenemase (60/68) in CRKP, while NDM-type carbapenemase was more prevalent in other species. ST11 was the dominant CRKP clone and was phylogenetically divided into three clusters: ST11-KL64, ST11-KL47 and ST11-KL30. CRKP ST11-KL30 is a novel recombinant clone that harbours a pK2044-like virulence plasmid and can be derived from ST11-KL64 by obtaining an ∼57 kb region from ST29-KL30. Compared to ST11-KL47 and ST11-KL64, ST11-KL30 had lower virulence, but had enhanced biofilm formation. Conclusions: We describe the prevalence of CRE prevalence southern Xinjiang and report the emergence of a region-specific clone. Our findings underscore the potential dissemination of ST11-KL30, which warrants increased monitoring in the future.

Abstract Spatial–temporal data is widely available in intelligent transportation systems, and accurately solving non-stationary of spatial–temporal regression is critical. In most traffic flow prediction research, the non-stationary solution of deep spatial–temporal regression tasks is typically formulated as a spatial–temporal graph modeling problem. However, there are several issues: (1) the coupled spatial–temporal regression approach renders it unfeasible to accurately learn the dependencies of diverse modalities; (2) the intricate stacking design of deep spatial–temporal network modules limits the interpretation and migration capability; (3) the ability to model dynamic spatial–temporal relationships is inadequate. To tackle the challenges mentioned above, we propose a novel unified spatial–temporal regression framework named Generalized Spatial–Temporal Regression Graph Convolutional Transformer (GSTRGCT) that extends panel model in spatial econometrics and combines it with deep neural networks to effectively model non-stationary relationships of spatial–temporal regression. Considering the coupling of existing deep spatial–temporal networks, we introduce the tensor decomposition to explicitly decompose the panel model into a tensor product of spatial regression on the spatial hyper-plane and temporal regression on the temporal hyper-plane. On the spatial hyper-plane, we present dynamic adaptive spatial weight network (DASWNN) to capture the global and local spatial correlations. Specifically, DASWNN adopts spatial weight neural network (SWNN) to learn the semantic global spatial correlation and dynamically adjusts the local changing spatial correlation by multiplying between spatial nodes embedding. On the temporal hyper-plane, we introduce the Auto-Correlation attention mechanism to capture the period-based temporal dependence. Extensive experiments on the two real-world traffic datasets show that GSTRGCT consistently outperforms other competitive methods with an average of 62% and 59% on predictive performance.

Smoke aerosols contain many harmful substances and have become one of the major sources of indoor pollutants. The smoke aerosols released into the environment are easy to react with various oxidants presented in the room, namely the aging process of the smoke aerosol, which can produce secondary organic aerosols. The chemical composition of smoke aerosol is an important factor affecting its indoor aging process, but so far, the change behavior of the composition and particle size distribution of smoke aerosol during the aging process remains to be studied, and the aging analysis of novel tobacco products has not been reported. Therefore, the present study applied a house-made vacuum ultraviolet photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer to detect the chemical composition of the smoke aerosols produced by combustion cigarette, and new tobacco products, e.g., heat-not-burn tobacco products and e-cigarette, achieving the in-situ online characterization of their gas-phase and particulate-phase components. The results showed that the chemical composition of the smoke aerosols generated by the three types of tobacco products is significantly different, among which the component content and species abundance of the combustion cigarette are much greater than those of the novel tobacco products, and the overall signal intensity of combustion cigarette in the gas-phase and the particulate-phase is about 100 times and 10 times that of novel tobacco products, respectively. In addition, it was found that the particulate-phase mass spectra of novel tobacco products contain a large amount of glycerol, which is almost absent in combustion cigarette, and its intensity is even more than nicotine. The detected aerosol components contain many unsaturated compounds, which are easily oxidized in the environment and generate new ultrafine particles (UFPs). The Teflon chamber was used to simulate the aging process of the above three smoke aerosols with different O3 concentrations. The results of scanning mobility particle sizer showed that UFPs are generated in all of them. Corresponding to the results of photoionization mass spectrometry, the aging processes of the three smoke aerosols are completely different, in which the formation conditions of UFPs are related to the content and composition distribution of precursors. Specifically, the indoor concentration of O3 (observed in this experiment was 40 μg/m3) can promote the formation of UFPs with a geometric mean diameter of about 26 nm in the combustion cigarette, while the UFPs formation of novel tobacco products requires a higher concentration of O3 or a longer aging time. This is mainly facts that the whole composition concentration of the novel tobacco products is much lower than that of combustion cigarette, and the particulate-phase components contain a lot of glycerol. Due to the strong viscosity and encapsulation, glycerol may exist in the particulate-phase of the smoke aerosol in the form of coating other substances, such as nicotine, and further prevents the aging process of other substances, resulting in differences in particle size distribution. This study explains the reason of difference in UFPs formation of various smoke aerosols during the aging process and provides a basis for tobacco exposure risk assessment, which is expected to reveal the aging mechanism of smoke aerosols in the future.

Abstract Background Stroke is a type of acute brain damage that can lead to a series of serious public health challenges. Demonstrating the molecular mechanism of stroke-related neural cell degeneration could help identify a more efficient treatment for stroke patients. Further elucidation of factors that regulate microglia and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 1 (Nrf1) may lead to a promising strategy for treating neuroinflammation after ischaemic stroke. In this study, we investigated the possible role of pterostilbene (PTS) in Nrf1 regulation in cell and animal models of ischaemia stroke. Methods We administered PTS, ITSA1 (an HDAC activator) and RGFP966 (a selective HDAC3 inhibitor) in a mouse model of middle cerebral artery occlusion–reperfusion (MCAO/R) and a model of microglial oxygen‒glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R). The brain infarct size, neuroinflammation and microglial availability were also determined. Dual-luciferase reporter, Nrf1 protein stability and co-immunoprecipitation assays were conducted to analyse histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3)/Nrf1-regulated Nrf1 in an OGD/R-induced microglial injury model. Results We found that PTS decreased HDAC3 expression and activity, increased Nrf1 acetylation in the cell nucleus and inhibited the interaction of Nrf1 with p65 and p65 accumulation, which reduced infarct volume and neuroinflammation (iNOS/Arg1, TNF-α and IL-1β levels) after ischaemic stroke. Furthermore, the CSF1R inhibitor PLX5622 induced elimination of microglia and attenuated the therapeutic effect of PTS following MCAO/R. In the OGD/R model, PTS relieved OGD/R-induced microglial injury and TNF-α and IL-1β release, which were dependent on Nrf1 acetylation through the upregulation of HDAC3/Nrf1 signalling in microglia. However, the K105R or/and K139R mutants of Nrf1 counteracted the impact of PTS in the OGD/R-induced microglial injury model, which indicates that PTS treatment might be a promising strategy for ischaemia stroke therapy. Conclusion The HDAC3/Nrf1 pathway regulates the stability and function of Nrf1 in microglial activation and neuroinflammation, which may depend on the acetylation of the lysine 105 and 139 residues in Nrf1. This mechanism was first identified as a potential regulatory mechanism of PTS-based neuroprotection in our research, which may provide new insight into further translational applications of natural products such as PTS.

Abstract Background Football, as a global phenomenon, intertwines team quality and fan attachment. This study, centered on Changchun Yatai Football Club (CYFC) fans, explores how emotional satisfaction acts as a mediator in this intricate relationship, providing nuanced perspectives crucial for understanding and optimizing the dynamics of fan-team connections in football culture. Objectives The primary objective of this research is to examine the influence of team quality on emotional satisfaction and fans’ attachment. Additionally, it aims to investigate the mediating role of emotional satisfaction in the relationship between team quality and fans’ attachment. By achieving these objectives, the study seeks to contribute valuable insights into the dynamics of fan-team relationships in the context of football. Methodology The research adopts an applied approach in terms of its purpose, aiming to provide practical implications for football clubs. The data collection method is descriptive, utilizing electronic questionnaires voluntarily completed by 396 fans of CYFC. The research tool comprises three questionnaires: the team quality questionnaire adapted from Zhan et al. (1997), the emotional satisfaction questionnaire developed by Reynold and Bettie (1999), and a researcher-made attachment questionnaire. Structural equation modeling is employed to analyze the gathered data. Results The results obtained through structural equation modeling reveal a significant impact of team quality on both emotional satisfaction and fans’ attachment. Furthermore, a positive and significant relationship is identified between emotional satisfaction and fans’ attachment. The study also confirms the positive mediating role of emotional satisfaction in the connection between team quality and fans’ attachment. Conclusions In conclusion, the research suggests that football clubs can influence fans’ attachment by strategically enhancing team quality. This improvement can be achieved through measures such as acquiring high-quality players and stars. Understanding and addressing the mediating role of emotional satisfaction can be a key strategy for clubs looking to strengthen their connection with fans. The findings provide practical insights for football clubs seeking to optimize their strategies for fan engagement and attachment.

Tumor metastasis, the apex of cancer progression, poses a formidable challenge in therapeutic endeavors. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), resilient entities originating from primary tumors or their metastases, significantly contribute to this process by demonstrating remarkable adaptability. They survive shear stress, resist anoikis, evade immune surveillance, and thwart chemotherapy. This comprehensive review aims to elucidate the intricate landscape of CTC formation, metastatic mechanisms, and the myriad factors influencing their behavior. Integral signaling pathways, such as integrin-related signaling, cellular autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and interactions with platelets, are examined in detail. Furthermore, we explore the realm of precision nanomedicine design, with a specific emphasis on the anoikis‒platelet interface. This innovative approach strategically targets CTC survival mechanisms, offering promising avenues for combatting metastatic cancer with unprecedented precision and efficacy. The review underscores the indispensable role of the rational design of platelet-based nanomedicine in the pursuit of restraining CTC-driven metastasis.

In order to solve the problem of scientificity and efficiency of force grouping in joint operational planning, a nonlinear method of generating polymeric operational capability from combative element capability is proposed, and a force grouping relationship of "operational subtasks to polymeric operational capability to combative meta-capabilities to battalion combative units" is established. And a modular force grouping model at the joint operational level with multiple optimized targets and multiple constraints is constructed based on the matching of supplying and demanded vectors of operational capability. A model solving framework based on genetic algorithm is proposed, and the processes and methods of coding decided variable, calculating adaptive value and decoding chromosome of the force grouping are explained. Experiments show that the modular force grouping model based on the matching of operational capability can accurately and efficiently group battalion combative units to meet the needs of operational tasks.

Nonaqueous flow batteries hold promise given their high cell voltage and energy density, but their performance is often plagued by the crossover of redox compounds. In this study, we used permselective lithium superionic conducting (LiSICON) ceramic membranes to enable reliable long-term use of organic redox molecules in nonaqueous flow cells. With different solvents on each side, enhanced cell voltages were obtained for a flow battery using viologen-based negolyte and TEMPO-based posolyte molecules. The thermoplastic assembly of the LiSICON membrane realized leakless cell sealing, thus overcoming the mechanical brittleness challenge. As a result, stable cycling was achieved in the flow cells, which showed good capacity retention over an extended test time.

The Yangtze River Estuary is the traditional habitat of fishery resources in China and also one of the crab fishing sites, but nowadays the crab resources have been seriously affected by high-intensity anthropogenic disturbance. To understand the composition and diversity of crab community following the fishing ban, six surveys were conducted from August 2022 to November 2023 using the single-bag trawl method. This study examined the crab community composition, biodiversity, resource density, spatiotemporal distribution patterns, and main influencing factors. Results indicated that a total of 14 crab species lived in the Yangtze River Estuary. Matuta planipes and Portunus trituberculatus were dominant crabs in summer 2022. P. trituberculatus, Eriochier leptognathus, and Charybdis japonica were dominant crabs in autumn 2022. Then, E. leptognathus and Eriocheir sinensis were dominant crabs in winter 2023. Notably, the largest numbers of dominant crabs appeared in spring 2023, including M. planipes, P. trituberculatus, E. leptognathus, C. japonica, and E. sinensis. Three same dominant crabs (M. planipes, P. trituberculatus, C. japonica) were identified in the summer and autumn of 2023. Thereinto, P. trituberculatus was the most dominant crab. The abundance and biomass trends of estuary crabs were winter< spring< autumn< summer. The community diversity index, evenness index, and richness index were winter< summer< autumn< spring, indicating the seasonal changes in abundance, biomass, and biodiversity. Correlation and redundancy analysis revealed that dissolved oxygen and salinity were the most critical environmental factors, which affect the changes in crab community in the estuary. This study revealed the changing characteristics of crab resources in the Yangtze River Estuary after the fishing ban, and provided the essential data and scientific basis for resource conservation and management decisions.

Recently the applications of remotely sensed Solar-Induced chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF) in the study of photosynthesis, stress conditions, and gross primary production have increased significantly. The full SIF spectrum spans over a spectral region of 650 ∼ 850 nm with two characteristic peaks around 685 nm and 740 nm. Over recent decades, many retrieval algorithms have been developed to estimate SIF at Top-Of-Canopy (TOC) using in-situ measurements of solar irradiance and canopy radiance spectra. Although the majority of retrieval methods retrieve SIF at a narrow spectral window, there exists a potential for retrieval of SIF in the full emission spectrum. Moreover, solar irradiance and canopy radiance spectra should ideally be measured at the same time but are usually measured sequentially with a certain time lag, raising potential errors in SIF retrieval. In this study, an enhanced retrieval algorithm of the full SIF spectrum at TOC is proposed. The proposed algorithm attempts to minimize the errors owing to time mismatch in measurements of solar irradiance and canopy radiance spectra. As an improvement to the previous algorithm (advanced Fluorescence Spectrum Reconstruction, aFSR), this proposed algorithm (aFSR-SVE) models the SIF-free contribution with principal components using the singular value decomposition technique. The optimal parameter settings in the forward model were determined for the experimental data collected by spectrometers used in the study. Firstly, the proposed algorithm was used to reconstruct full SIF spectrum for simulated data. The results were compared with known reference SIF values. After achieving satisfying results from simulated data, the proposed algorithm was compared with retrievals from established algorithms using experimental data. The results show improved SIF retrieval accuracy, without the need to simultaneously measure solar irradiance and canopy radiance spectra. The retrieval values comply with the results of previous algorithms in terms of spectral shape, diurnal trend, and temporal variations. The induced errors in SIF retrievals due to non-simultaneous measurements of solar irradiance and canopy radiance spectra were also investigated and the proposed algorithm was found to be less prone to such errors. Hence, the proposed algorithm is an improvement in reconstructing the full SIF spectrum with near-ground measurements. With the help of the proposed algorithm, field measurements using sequential systems and automated measurements of multiple targets can be performed effectively as it relaxes the requirement of concurrent measurement of solar irradiance and canopy radiance spectra. For future work, the applicability of this method can be investigated under more variable illumination conditions, like high cirrus clouds, passing clouds or persistent thin clouds.

Analyzing the types of neurons based on morphological characteristics is pivotal for understanding brain function and human development. Existing analysis approaches based on 2D view images fully use complementary information across images. However, these methods ignore the redundant information caused by similar images and the effects of different views on the analysis results during the fusion process. Considering these factors, this paper proposes a Multi-gate Weighted Fusion Network (MWFNet) to characterize neuronal morphology in a hierarchical manner. MWFNet mainly consists of a Gated View Enhancement Module (GVEM) and a Gated View Measurement Module (GVMM). GVEM enhances view-level descriptors and eliminates redundant information by mining the relationships among different views. GVMM calculates the weights of view images based on the salient activated regions to assess their influence on the analysis results. Furthermore, the enhanced view-level features are fused differentially according to the view weight to generate a more discriminative instance-level descriptor. In this way, the proposed MWFNet not only eliminates unnecessary features but also maps the representation differences of views into decision-making. This can improve the accuracy and robustness of MWFNet for the identification of neuron type. Experimental results show that our method achieves accuracies of 91.73 and 98.18% on classifying 10 types and five types of neurons, respectively, outperforming other state-of-the-art methods.

BackgroundsGastric cancer (GC) remains a global health threat due to frequent treatment failures caused by primary or acquired resistance. Although cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been implicated in this process, it is still unclear which specific subtype(s) of CAFs hinder T-cell infiltration and promote resistance to immunotherapy.MethodsWe analyzed the GC fibroblast atlas in detail by combining 63,955 single cells from 14 scRNA-seq datasets. We also performed RNA-seq data in a local GC cohort and examined 13 bulk RNA-seq datasets to understand the biological and clinical roles of different CAF subsets. Additionally, we conducted in vitro experiments to study the role of specific proteins in GC development.ResultsWe identified a total of 17 fibroblast subsets in gastric cancer, nine of which did not fit into the existing CAFs classification. These subsets exhibited significant heterogeneity in distribution and biological characteristics (metabolism, cell-cell interactions, differentiation state), as well as clinical functions such as prognosis and response to immunotherapy. In particular, cluster 6 stood out for its high expression of MFAP5, CFD, and PI16; it was found to be negatively associated with both overall survival and response to immunotherapy in GC. This association was linked to an immunosuppressive microenvironment characterized by an increase in M2 macrophages but higher levels of T cell dysfunction and exclusion—a feature shared by tumors expressing MFAP5. Furthermore, the addition of human recombinant MFAP5 promoted proliferation and migration of HGC-27 cells by inducing the MFAP5/NOTCH1/HEY1 signaling pathway.ConclusionWe introduce a high-resolution GC fibroblast atlas. The 17 identified fibroblast clusters provide valuable opportunities for gaining deeper biological insights into the relationship between fibroblasts and GC development. Particularly, cluster 6 and its specific marker MFAP5 could serve as prognostic factors in GC and form a foundation for personalized therapeutic combinations to address primary resistance to ICIs.

Neuronal morphology can be represented using various feature representations, such as hand-crafted morphometrics and deep features. These features are complementary to each other, contributing to improving performance. However, existing classification methods only utilize a single feature representation or simply concatenate different features without fully considering their complementarity. Therefore, their performance is limited and can be further improved. In this paper, we propose a multi-level feature fusion network that fully utilizes diverse feature representations and their complementarity to effectively describe neuronal morphology and improve performance. Specifically, we devise a Multi-Level Fusion Module (MLFM) and incorporate it into each feature extraction block. It can facilitate the interaction between different features and achieve effective feature fusion at multiple levels. The MLFM comprises a channel attention-based Feature Enhancement Module (FEM) and a cross-attention-based Feature Interaction Module (FIM). The FEM is used to enhance robust morphological feature presentations, while the FIM mines and propagates complementary information across different feature presentations. In this way, our feature fusion network ultimately yields a more distinctive neuronal morphology descriptor that can effectively characterize neurons than any singular morphological representation. Experimental results show that our method effectively depicts neuronal morphology and correctly classifies 10-type neurons on the NeuronMorpho-10 dataset with an accuracy of 95.18%, outperforming other approaches. Moreover, our method performs well on the NeuronMorpho-12 and NeuronMorpho-17 datasets and possesses good generalization.

Insomnia and depression are psychiatric disorders linked to substantial health burdens. The gut microbiome and metabolomic pathways are increasingly recognized as key contributors to these conditions’ pathophysiology. Suanzaoren Decoction (SZRD), a traditional Chinese herbal formulation, has demonstrated significant therapeutic benefits for both insomnia and depression. This study aims to elucidate the mechanistic effects of SZRD on insomnia and depression by integrating gut microbiome and metabolomic analyses and to assess the differential impacts of SZRD dosages. Using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS), we identified 66 chemical constituents within SZRD. Behavioral assays indicated that low-dose SZRD (LSZRD) significantly ameliorated insomnia symptoms in rat models, whereas high-dose SZRD (HSZRD) markedly improved depressive behaviors. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that SZRD modulated gut microbiome dysbiosis induced by insomnia and depression, characterized by an increased abundance of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing genera. Metabolomic profiling demonstrated reduced plasma amino acid metabolites and disrupted γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and L-glutamic acid metabolism in the hippocampus of affected rats. SZRD administration restored fecal SCFA levels and ameliorated metabolic imbalances in both plasma and hippocampal tissues. These findings underscore the pivotal role of gut microbiome modulation and metabolic regulation in the therapeutic effects of SZRD, providing a scientific basis for its use in treating insomnia and depression.

The global growth of the aging population has resulted in an increased prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, characterized by the progressive loss of central nervous system (CNS) structure and function. Given the high incidence and debilitating nature of neurodegenerative diseases, there is an urgent need to identify potential biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets thereof. Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1), has been implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases, as having a significant role. Abnormal APE1 expression has been observed in conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and epilepsy. However, whether this dysregulation is protective or harmful remains unclear. This review aims to comprehensively review the current understanding of the involvement of APE1 in neurodegenerative diseases.

The effect of the antimicrobial mechanism of ultrasound (US) in combination with heat (T) and potassium sorbate (PS) treatment on Pichia membranifaciens (P. membranifaciens) is investigated in this study. It is found that ultrasound combined with heat (thermoultrasound [TS]) exhibits a synergistic inactivation efficiency, and the combinations of US, T, and TS with PS also improve inactivation efficacy through reductions of 0.32 ± 0.02 log, 0.73 ± 0.04 log, and 4.50 ± 0.04 log in P. membranifaciens achieved using US + PS, T + PS, and TS + PS, respectively. Further, use of the TS + PS treatment leads to cytoplasmic leakage and a decrease in dehydrogenase activity, as well as a significant increase in cell membrane permeability, causing membrane depolarization and the inward flow of extracellular calcium ions. In addition, the cell membrane composition is detected by infrared spectroscopy, demonstrating that TS + PS treatment results in a decrease in lipid and protein content and an increase in phospholipid content in the cell membrane. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy reveals a deformed cell structure and damage to cell membrane integrity after TS + PS treatment. In addition, the expression of heat shock protein (Hsp82 and Hsp70) genes is shown to decrease after TS and TS + PS treatment compared to the T and T + PS treatment groups, indicating cellular homeostasis has been broken and cells are responding to the damage by activating the protective gene expression program.

Abstract Promising synaptic behaviour has been exhibited by memristors based on natural organic materials. Such memristor‐based neuromorphic systems offer notable benefits, including environmental sustainability, low production and disposal costs, non‐volatile storage capability, and bio/Complementary Metal‐Oxide‐Semiconductor (CMOS) compatibility. Here, a 256‐level honey memristor‐based neuromorphic system is experimentally evaluated for image recognition. In detail, first, 256‐level honey memristors are manufactured and tested based on in‐house technology; next, the non‐linear characteristics and inherent variation of honey memristor devices, which lead to imprecise weight updates and limit the inference accuracy, are investigated. Experimental results indicate that the inference accuracy of the 256‐level honey memristor‐based neuromorphic system is greater than 88% without cycle‐to‐cycle variations and 87% with cycle‐to‐cycle variations for different optimization algorithms. The overall performance of optimization algorithms with and without variation is compared in terms of energy and latency, where the momentum algorithm consistently outperforms the rest of the algorithms. This 256‐level honey memristor is a promising alternative enabling sustainable neuromorphic systems, encouraging further research into natural organic materials for neuromorphic computing.

Summary: Background: The accurate evaluation of axillary lymph node (ALN) response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer holds great value. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence system utilising multiregional dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) and clinicopathological characteristics to predict axillary pathological complete response (pCR) after NAC in breast cancer. Methods: This study included retrospective and prospective datasets from six medical centres in China between May 2018 and December 2023. A fully automated integrated system based on deep learning (FAIS-DL) was built to perform tumour and ALN segmentation and axillary pCR prediction sequentially. The predictive performance of FAIS-DL was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. RNA sequencing analysis were conducted on 45 patients to explore the biological basis of FAIS-DL. Findings: 1145 patients (mean age, 50 years ±10 [SD]) were evaluated. Among these patients, 506 were in the training and validation sets (axillary pCR rate of 40.3%), 127 in the internal test set (axillary pCR rate of 37.8%), 414 in the pooled external test set (axillary pCR rate of 48.8%), and 98 in the prospective test set (axillary pCR rate of 43.9%). For predicting axillary pCR, FAIS-DL achieved AUCs of 0.95, 0.93, and 0.94 in the internal test set, pooled external test set, and prospective test set, respectively, which were also significantly higher than those of the clinical model and deep learning models based on single-regional DCE-MRI (all P

Due to significant anatomical variations in medical images across different cases, medical image segmentation is a highly challenging task. Convolutional neural networks have shown faster and more accurate performance in medical image segmentation. However, existing networks for medical image segmentation mostly rely on independent training of the model using data samples and loss functions, lacking interactive training and feedback mechanisms. This leads to a relatively singular training approach for the models, and furthermore, some networks can only perform segmentation for specific diseases. In this paper, we propose a causal relationship-based generative medical image segmentation model named GU-Net. We integrate a counterfactual attention mechanism combined with CBAM into the decoder of U-Net as a generative network, and then combine it with a GAN network where the discriminator is used for backpropagation. This enables alternate optimization and training between the generative network and discriminator, enhancing the expressive and learning capabilities of the network model to output prediction segmentation results closer to the ground truth. Additionally, the interaction and transmission of information help the network model capture richer feature representations, extract more accurate features, reduce overfitting, and improve model stability and robustness through feedback mechanisms. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed GU-Net network achieves better segmentation performance not only in cases with abundant data samples and relatively simple segmentation targets or high contrast between the target and background regions but also in scenarios with limited data samples and challenging segmentation tasks. Comparing with existing U-Net networks with attention mechanisms, GU-Net consistently improves Dice scores by 1.19%, 2.93%, 5.01%, and 5.50% on ISIC 2016, ISIC 2017, ISIC 2018, and Gland Segmentation datasets, respectively.

Aiming at the large aspect ratio characteristics of large wind turbines, it is easy to cause irreversible damage due to flutter during operation. A two-degree-of-freedom (plunge and pitch) flutter test bench was built using the time domain and frequency domain analysis methods of dynamic signals. The influence of different centroid positions on the flutter boundary was studied. The test shows that the closer the centroid position is to the leading edge of the wing segment, the better the aeroelastic stability of the wing segment is. Under the linear condition, the forward movement of the centroid position has a more significant influence on the flutter. In addition, the main reason for the wing flutter is related to the decrease of net damping and the coupling of the aeroelastic natural frequency of the pitching and plunging motions. The pitch motion is dominant in the two-degree-of-freedom motion. The farther the centre of mass is from the torsion axis, the greater the pitch and plunge motion displacement. The pitch motion has a more significant impact on the system than the plunge motion. Therefore, the study of flutter suppression should focus on pitch motion.

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) has become a reliable phase change material (PCM) and is increasingly utilized in multifunctional metasurface design. This study introduces designs of bilayer anisotropic VO2 meta-atoms in simulation for multifunctional wavefront modulation in the terahertz band. By leveraging the phase change property of VO2 and incident wave polarization, a reconfigurable metasurface composing anisotropic meta-atoms is proposed with four distinct functions. When VO2 is in its insulating state, the metasurface serves as a hologram generator for the x-polarized wave and a focusing reflector for the y-polarized wave. Upon the transition of VO2 into the metallic state, the metasurface functions as a generator of vortex beam for the x-polarized wave, while as an anomalous reflector for the y-polarized wave. The proposed metasurface showcases an outstanding broadband performance, delivering impressive four-channel wavefront modulation within a frequency range of 2.2–3.0 THz. Depending on the compact structure and integrated multi-functionalities, our design may have immense potential across a wide range of terahertz applications, including communication exchange and multiplexing utilization.

Abstract Drug-eluting stents are a commonly used treatment for coronary artery disease. However, the coatings used in drug-eluting stents have some limitations such as poor biocompatibility and drug loading capacity. In recent years, self-assembly methods have emerged as a promising alternative for stent coatings. Self-assembled coatings employ biomaterials and offer several advantages over traditional coatings, including thinner thickness, stronger binding capacity, and better biocompatibility. This review discusses the latest research on self-assembled biomaterial-based coatings for drug-eluting stents. We explore how layer-by-layer coatings and composite coating films have been utilized to load and release drugs with high drug loading capacity and biocompatibility, as well as how they promote endothelial adhesion and growth. Additionally, we examine how self-assembled coatings have been used to release active molecules for anti-coagulation and deliver gene therapy. Moreover, we discuss the potential of self-assembled coatings for future development, including intelligent targeted drug delivery, bionic stent coatings, and 3D printed stent coatings. These advancements have the potential to further improve the effectiveness of drug-eluting stents in treating coronary artery disease.

Abstract Background The study aims were to evaluate the species distribution and antimicrobial resistance profile of Gram-negative pathogens isolated from specimens of intra-abdominal infections (IAI), urinary tract infections (UTI), respiratory tract infections (RTI), and blood stream infections (BSI) in emergency departments (EDs) in China. Methods From 2016 to 2019, 656 isolates were collected from 18 hospitals across China. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined by CLSI broth microdilution and interpreted according to CLSI M100 (2021) guidelines. In addition, organ-specific weighted incidence antibiograms (OSWIAs) were constructed. Results Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) were the most common pathogens isolated from BSI, IAI and UTI, accounting for 80% of the Gram-negative clinical isolates, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) was mainly isolated from RTI. E. coli showed

Abstract Adverse perinatal factors can interfere with the normal development of the brain, potentially resulting in long-term effects on the comprehensive development of children. Presently, the understanding of cognitive and neurodevelopmental processes under conditions of adverse perinatal factors is substantially limited. There is a critical need for an open resource that integrates various perinatal factors with the development of the brain and mental health to facilitate a deeper understanding of these developmental trajectories. In this Data Descriptor, we introduce a multicenter database containing information on perinatal factors that can potentially influence children’s brain-mind development, namely, periCBD, that combines neuroimaging and behavioural phenotypes with perinatal factors at county/region/central district hospitals. PeriCBD was designed to establish a platform for the investigation of individual differences in brain-mind development associated with perinatal factors among children aged 3–10 years. Ultimately, our goal is to help understand how different adverse perinatal factors specifically impact cognitive development and neurodevelopment. Herein, we provide a systematic overview of the data acquisition/cleaning/quality control/sharing, processes of periCBD.

Abstract In order to safeguard the surface structures from mining damage while optimizing the liberation of coal resources under the dense surface buildings of the Cedi River coal mine. Considering that the analysis of the structure and type of surface buildings and the geological mining conditions of the mine, a wide strip mining design with a retention width of 70 m and a mining width of 50 m was finally determined by using the pressure arch theory and Wilson’s theory, combined with the actual layout of working faces 51,002, 51,004 and 51,006 at the site.The strip mining design is verified by probability integral method and FLAC3D numerical simulation calculation respectively, The findings indicate that the highest value of earth surface subsidence created by the mining of the wide strip is 210 mm, the surface horizontal deformation value is 1.0 to − 1.4 mm/m, the damage to surface buildings is less than Level I, which satisfying the prerequisites of the surface building protection level, and can realize the continuous advancement of mine 51,002, 51,004 and 51,006 working faces, The coal pillars of the retained strip have sufficient support strength and long-term consistency, and the movement and deformation of the overburden after mining will not cause undulating subsidence of the surface, which effectively solve the mine's technical difficulties in safely coal mining under surface buildings.

Abstract Rough fuzzy clustering algorithms have received extensive attention due to the excellent ability to handle overlapping and uncertainty of data. However, existing rough fuzzy clustering algorithms generally consider single view clustering, which neglects the clustering requirements of multiple views and results in the failure to identify diverse data structures in practical applications. In addition, rough fuzzy clustering algorithms are always sensitive to the initialized cluster centers and easily fall into local optimum. To solve the above problems, the multi-view and transfer learning are introduced into rough fuzzy clustering and a robust multi-view knowledge transfer-based rough fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm (MKT-RFCCA) is proposed in this paper. First, multiple distance metrics are adopted as multiple views to effectively recognize different data structures, and thus positively contribute to clustering. Second, a novel multi-view transfer-based rough fuzzy clustering objective function is constructed by using fuzzy memberships as transfer knowledge. This objective function can fully explore and utilize the potential information between multiple views and characterize the uncertainty information. Then, combining the statistical information of color histograms, an initialized centroids selection strategy is presented for image segmentation to overcome the instability and sensitivity caused by the random distribution of the initialized cluster centers. Finally, to reduce manual intervention, a distance-based adaptive threshold determination mechanism is designed to determine the threshold parameter for dividing the lower approximation and boundary region of rough fuzzy clusters during the iteration process. Experiments on synthetic datasets, real-world datasets, and noise-contaminated Berkeley and Weizmann images show that MKT-RFCCA obtains favorable clustering results. Especially, it provides satisfactory segmentation results on images with different types of noise and preserves more specific detail information of images.

To improve the machining effect of cemented carbide ball valves, pore-forming agents were introduced into resin diamond wheels. The mechanical properties, microstructures, and grinding performances of the wheels were analyzed, and the effects of hollow glass ball pore-forming agent and plastic ball pore-forming agent on the performances of resin diamond wheels were studied. The results show that the bending strength of the grinding wheel decreases gradually with the increase in the content of pore-forming agent, and the influence of the two pore-forming agents on bending strength is basically the same. The hardness of the grinding wheel also decreases with the increase in pore-forming agent content, but the influence of the hollow glass ball pore-forming agent on the hardness of the grinding wheel is significantly greater than that of the plastic ball. The addition of pore-forming agent significantly improves the sharpness of the grinding wheel. The comprehensive performance of the grinding wheels is best when the volume fraction of hollow glass balls is 15% and the volume fraction of plastic balls is 20%, but the latter has better overall performance than the former.

Abstract Background Pancreatic cancer is the foremost contributor to cancer-related deaths globally, and its prevalence continues to rise annually. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms behind its development remain unclear and necessitate comprehensive investigation. Methods In this study, a total of 29 fresh stool samples were collected from patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The gut microbial data of healthy controls were obtained from the SRA database (SRA data number: SRP150089). Additionally, 28 serum samples and diseased tissues were collected from 14 patients with confirmed pancreatic cancer and 14 patients with chronic pancreatitis. Informed consent was obtained from both groups of patients. Microbial sequencing was performed using 16s rRNA. Results The results showed that compared with healthy controls, the species abundance index of intestinal flora in patients with pancreatic cancer was increased (P

Abstract The chemical transformations of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) greenhouse gases typically have high energy barriers. Here we present an approach of strategic coupling of CH4 oxidation and CO2 reduction in a switched microbial process governed by redox cycling of iron minerals under temperate conditions. The presence of iron minerals leads to an obvious enhancement of carbon fixation, with the minerals acting as the electron acceptor for CH4 oxidation and the electron donor for CO2 reduction, facilitated by changes in the mineral structure. The electron flow between the two functionally active microbial consortia is tracked through electrochemistry, and the energy metabolism in these consortia is predicted at the genetic level. This study offers a promising strategy for the removal of CH4 and CO2 in the natural environment and proposes an engineering technique for the utilization of major greenhouse gases.

Abstract Background Epigenetic marks are reprogrammed during sexual reproduction. In flowering plants, DNA methylation is only partially remodeled in the gametes and the zygote. However, the timing and functional significance of the remodeling during plant gametogenesis remain obscure. Results Here we show that DNA methylation remodeling starts after male meiosis in rice, with non-CG methylation, particularly at CHG sites, being first enhanced in the microspore and subsequently decreased in sperm. Functional analysis of rice CHG methyltransferase genes CMT3a and CMT3b indicates that CMT3a functions as the major CHG methyltransferase in rice meiocyte, while CMT3b is responsible for the increase of CHG methylation in microspore. The function of the two histone demethylases JMJ706 and JMJ707 that remove H3K9me2 may contribute to the decreased CHG methylation in sperm. During male gametogenesis CMT3a mainly silences TE and TE-related genes while CMT3b is required for repression of genes encoding factors involved in transcriptional and translational activities. In addition, CMT3b functions to repress zygotic gene expression in egg and participates in establishing the zygotic epigenome upon fertilization. Conclusion Collectively, the results indicate that DNA methylation is dynamically remodeled during male gametogenesis, distinguish the function of CMT3a and CMT3b in sex cells, and underpin the functional significance of DNA methylation remodeling during rice reproduction.

Aiming to address power consumption issues of various equipment in metro stations and the inefficiency of peak shaving and valley filling in the power supply system, this study presents an economic optimization scheduling method for the multi-modal “source-network-load-storage” system in metro stations. The proposed method, called the Improved Gray Wolf Optimization Algorithm (IGWO), utilizes objective evaluation criteria to achieve economic optimization. First, construct a mathematical model of the “sourcenetwork- load-storage” joint system with the metro station at its core. This model should consider the electricity consumption within the station. Secondly, a two-layer optimal scheduling model is established, with the upper model aiming to optimize peak elimination and valley filling, and the lower model aiming to minimize electricity consumption costs within a scheduling cycle. Finally, this paper introduces the IGWO optimization approach, which utilizes meta-models and the Improved Gray Wolf Optimization Algorithm to address the nonlinearity and computational complexity of the two-layer model. The analysis shows that the proposed model and algorithm can improve the solution speed and minimize the cost of electricity used by about 5.5% to 8.7% on the one hand, and on the other hand, it improves the solution accuracy, and at the same time effectively realizes the peak shaving and valley filling, which provides a proof of the effectiveness and feasibility of the new method.

Highland barley is the main food of Tibetan people, which is rich in starch, fat, protein, vitamins, dietary fiber, β-glucan, polyphenol, amino acid, etc. Highland barley has widely healthy functions such as hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, cholesterol lowing, antioxidation, and gastrointestinal regulation, etc. Due to the special characteristics including bran thickness, taste bad, and indigestible of the crude material, as a result that highland barley could be edible after processing. Superheated steam, baking, frying, steaming, boiling, and other hot processing methods as well as germination are common processing methods for highland barley. Different processing steps of highland barley would have a certain impact on the contents and structures of its nutritional compositions, and the biological activities such as hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic are also varied. Therefore, this paper reviews the effects of different processing methods on nutrients and bioactivities of highland barley in recent 10 years, and its variable regular and influencing factors are also discussed. Finally, the development of functional food products of highland barley is prospected. It has certain reference value for the in-depth digging, quality improvement, technological innovation and new product development of highland barley.

Recently, medium and high-entropy alloys with heterogeneous features have exhibited excellent synergistic effects of strength and toughness. In this work, we have produced a series of cast CrCoNi medium entropy alloys with various heterogeneous microstructures through Al and Ti elements micro-alloying. The heterogeneous microstructure and deformation mechanism are systematically analyzed. The result showed that Al/Ti ratio ranging from 0.5 to 2 has a significant influence on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the CrCoNi-based alloy. The present findings provided efficient guidance for developing of microstructure tailoring method in high and medium-entropy alloys.

The objective of this study was to compare the properties of small intestinal fluid (SIF) from white- and yellow-feathered broilers fed variable dietary CP to test the hypothesis that digestive enzymes sourced from the SIF of yellow-feathered broilers could serve as a viable alternative for preparing in vitro SIF specifically for white-feathered broilers. Ten Arbor Acres Plus broilers (32 days of age) and 20 Chinese yellow chickens (51 days of age) were fitted with jejunal cannulas and assigned to dietary treatments as follows: 1) white-feathered broilers (BW of 4.08 ± 0.39 kg) fed diet 1 with CP of 19.88 %, 2) yellow-feathered broilers (BW of 2.89 ± 0.27 kg) fed diet 1, and 3) yellow-feathered broilers (BW of 2.84 ± 0.20 kg) fed diet 2 with CP of 16.32 %. Each treatment contained 10 replicates with 1 broiler in each replicate. Digestive enzyme activities, ion concentrations, pH, 16 amino acid (AA, excluding Tyr and Trp) contents, molecular weight distribution (MWD) of protein, hydrolysis rates on wheat starch, corn starch, casein, and soybean protein concentrate, and in vitro digestible energy of corn, soybean meal, and corn gluten meal were evaluated for SIF. Activities of chymotrypsin and amylase, pH, concentrations (mg/mL) of total amino acid (TAA) and 13 AA (excluding Pro, Cys, and Glu), and hydrolysis rates in casein or soybean protein concentrate were greater (P < 0.05), whereas MWD of protein from 19 to 23 kDa was lower (P < 0.05) in the SIF of yellow compared to white-feathered broilers fed diet 1. Furthermore, activities of chymotrypsin and amylase, concentrations of Na+, and Cl−, MWD of protein from 15 to 18 kDa were greater, while concentrations of K+ were lower in the SIF of yellow-feathered broilers fed diet 2 compared to white feathered broilers fed diet 1. Activities of chymotrypsin and amylase, K+ concentration, pH, TAA and 13 AA (excluding Pro, Cys, and Glu), hydrolysis rates in casein or soybean protein concentrate increased (P < 0.05), while concentrations of Na+ and Cl− (P < 0.05) decreased with dietary CP in SIF from yellow-feathered broilers. This experiment demonstrated diet composition and breed modulate digestive enzyme activities, ions (Na+, K+, Cl−), pH, and AA concentrations in the SIF. Our findings revealed no substantial difference in the hydrolytic characteristics of SIF from white-feathered broilers fed diet 1 and yellow-feathered broilers fed diet 2. Consequently, it is feasible to use digestive enzymes extracted from the SIF of yellow-feathered broilers to prepare simulated SIF for in vitro digestion of white-feathered broilers.

Prior research has reported mixed findings regarding the relationship between diversification and firm performance, because a diversification strategy produces not only synergies but also anti-synergies. We argue that information technology (IT) can help unlock the potential of diversification to enhance firm performance by maximising its synergistic effect while minimising its anti-synergistic effect. Using a sample of publicly listed Chinese firms on the Shanghai or Shenzhen Stock Exchange, we find that IT investment positively moderates the relationship between diversification and firm performance. Investing in IT contributes to greater coordination, control, information exchange, and cross-business knowledge sharing, which can enhance the synergistic effect of diversification and mitigate its anti-synergistic effect. Furthermore, we find that the moderating effect of IT investment on the relationship between diversification and firm performance is stronger for related diversification than unrelated diversification, indicating a greater need for IT when undertaking related (vs unrelated) diversification. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between diversification and firm performance. Moreover, we advance research by showing that the moderating effect of IT on the relationship between diversification and firm performance varies according to diversification strategy.

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic joint disease that significantly affects an individual’s quality-of-life and frailty has become one of the common complications in OA patients as the disease progresses. The relationship between dietary patterns is not clear.Methods All participants are from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and have been diagnosed with OA. The dietary inflammation index (DII) is calculated based on the dietary intake reported by the participants. Logistic regression analysis is used to investigate the relationship between DII and frailty. Restricted cubic splines are utilised to explore their nonlinear relationship. Mediation analysis is conducted to explore the role of inflammation in this relationship.Results A total of 2,530 OA patients were included in the study, with an average age of 64.46 (12.67) years. After adjusting for covariates, for each one standard deviation increase in DII, the risk of frailty increased by 15% (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.03–1.28). Compared to patients with DII < –1, patients with DII > 1 had a significantly higher risk of frailty (OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.05-2.14).Conclusions The findings of this study indicate a positive association between DII and the risk of frailty in OA patients. These results underscore the potential impact of dietary interventions in improving the quality-of-life for OA patients.

Microplastics (MPs) are of increasing concern due to their role as reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and pathogens. To date, few studies have explored the influence of anthropogenic activities on ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) within various riverine MPs, in comparison to their natural counterparts. Here an in-situ incubation was conducted along heavily anthropogenically-impacted Houxi River to characterize the geographical pattern of antibiotic resistome, mobilome and pathogens inhabiting MPs- and leaf-biofilms. The metagenomics result showed a clear urbanization-driven profile in the distribution of ARGs, MGEs and pathogens, with their abundances sharply increasing 4.77 to 19.90 times from sparsely to densely populated regions. The significant correlation between human fecal marker crAssphage and ARG (R2 = 0.67, P=0.003) indicated the influence of anthropogenic activity on ARG proliferation in plastisphere and natural leaf surfaces. And mantel tests and random forest analysis revealed the impact of 17 socio-environmental factors, e.g., population density, antibiotic concentrations, and pore volume of materials, on the dissemination of ARGs. Partial least squares-path modeling further unveiled that intensifying human activities not only directly boosted ARGs abundance but also exerted a comparable indirect impact on ARGs propagation. Furthermore, the polyvinylchloride plastisphere created a pathogen-friendly habitat, harboring higher abundances of ARGs and MGEs, while polylactic acid are not likely to serve as vectors for pathogens in river, with a lower resistome risk score than that in leaf-biofilms. This study highlights the diverse ecological risks associated with the dissemination of ARGs and pathogens in varied MPs, offering insights for the policymaking of usage and control of plastics within urbanization.

ABSTRACT To monitor the resistance rate and gain a deeper understanding of the resistance mechanisms, we conducted over a 2-year surveillance focusing on the Klebsiella pneumoniae associated with the clinical usage of ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) in a teaching hospital. A total of 4,641 K. pneumoniae isolates were screened to identify the CZA resistance through antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Comprehensive analyses, including homology analysis, conjugation experiments, clone assays, and whole genome sequencing, were furtherly performed on the CZA-resistant strains. In total, four CZA-resistant K. pneumoniae (CZA-R-Kp) strains were separated from four patients, in which three of them received CZA treatment during the hospitalization, accounting for a 4% (3/75) resistance development rate of K. pneumoniae under CZA stress. All CZA-R-Kp isolates were found to possess variants of blaKPC-2. The identified mutations included blaKPC-33, blaKPC-86, and a novel variant designated as blaKPC-129, all of which were located in the Ω loop of the KPC enzyme. These mutations were found to impact the amino acid sequence and spatial structure of the enzyme’s active center, consequently affecting KPC carbapenemase activity. This study underscores the importance of active surveillance to monitor the emergence of resistance to CZA, highlighting the need for ongoing research to develop effective strategies for combating antimicrobial resistance. Understanding the mechanisms behind resistance is crucial in maintaining the efficacy of CZA, a vital tool in the battle against multidrug-resistant infections.IMPORTANCEAs an effective drug for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) began to develop resistance in recent years and showed an increasing trend. In order to effectively monitor the resistance rate of CZA and understand its resistance mechanism, we monitored K. pneumoniae for more than 2 years to find CZA-resistant strains. Through comprehensive analysis of the selected CZA-resistant strains, it was found that all the CZA-resistant strains had mutation, which could affect the activity of KPC carbapenemase. This study highlights the importance of proactive surveillance to monitor the emergence of CZA resistance, which highlights the need for ongoing research to develop effective strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance. Understanding the mechanisms behind resistance is critical to maintaining the effectiveness of CZA, an important tool in the fight against multidrug-resistant infections.

ABSTRACT: This study determined metabolizable energy (ME) and developed ME prediction equations for broilers based on chemical composition of soybean meal (SBM) and rapeseed meal (RSM) using a 2 × 10 factorial arrangement of age (11 to 14 or 25 to 28 d of age) and 10 sources of each ingredient. Each treatment contained 6 replicates of 8 broilers. The ME values were determined by total collection of feces and urine. Principal components analysis (PCA) of the chemical composition clearly revealed distinct differences in SBM and RSM based on a principal components (PC) score plot. The nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) of SBM was higher in broilers from 25 to 28 than 11 to 14 d of age (P = 0.013). Interactions between broiler age and ingredient source affected apparent metabolizable energy (AME) of SBM and ME of RSM (P < 0.05). The ME of SBM in 11 to 14 and 25 to 28-day-old broilers were estimated by crude protein (CP) content (R2≥ 0.782; SEP ≤ 83 kcal/kg DM; P < 0.001). The AME and AMEn of RSM in 11 to 14-day-old broilers were estimated by ether extract (EE), ash and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (R2 = 0.897, SEP = 106 kcal/kg DM; P = 0.002), and by EE and ash (R2 = 0.885, SEP = 98 kcal/kg DM; P = 0.001), respectively. The AME and AMEn of RSM in 25 to 28-day-old broilers were estimated by ash and ADF (R2 = 0.925, SEP = 104 kcal/kg DM; P < 0.001) and by ash and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (R2 = 0.921, SEP = 91 kcal/kg DM; P < 0.001), respectively. These results indicate that ME of these 2 plant protein ingredients are affected interactively by chemical composition and age of broilers. This study developed robust, age-specific prediction equations of ME for broilers based on chemical composition for SBM and RSM. Overall, ME values can be predicted from CP content for SBM, or EE, ash, ADF, and NDF for RSM.

HPP-1S is a new polysaccharide that was isolated and purified from the gonads of sea urchins in our laboratory. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of the polysaccharide HPP-1S on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The results showed that HPP-1S suppressed lipid accumulation in oleic acid (OA)-treated HepG2 cells. In vivo experiments shown that treatment with HPP-1S can reduce lipid accumulation and inhibit liver damage. Further mechanistic investigation indicated that HPP-1S treatment increased the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Additionally, the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP1) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) decreased. After treatment with HPP-1S, the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) increased. These results reveal the promising role of HPP-1S in the prevention and treatment of NAFLD. These findings contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies for the clinical treatment of NAFLD.

Study region: The Daliang Mountain region, characterized by its widespread debris flow-pone catchments, is the primary sediment source area for the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, and has experienced intensive human activity over the past half-century. Study focus: Here, we combined lake deposits with sediment source areas to quantify the sediment source and corresponding sediment yield (SY) in response to recent human impacts in a typical debris flow-prone catchment located in the Daliang Mountain region, Southwest China. The fingerprinting techniques, incorporating geochemical elements and their specific ratios, were used to characterize the sediment provenances and corresponding SY. New hydrological insight for the region: The results indicated that gully erosion was the major sediment provenance (90.10 %) in the catchment, followed by cultivated land (6.76 %) and forested land (3.14 %) for the studied period. The temporal variations of SY showed two distinctive erosional stages in response to different human activities over the past 70 years, namely 1950−2004 and 2004−2020. Greater SY values, dominated by gully erosion, occurred from 1950 to 2004, implying that both critical national activities and revegetation projects have limited effects on surface sediment generation. In contrast, gully activity and resulting SY have sharply decreased since 2004 following the implementation of check dams. These comparisons indicate a central role of the check dam in reducing gully activity. The findings have important implications for policymakers to optimize the spatial layout of future soil conservation strategies in the region.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) fabricated using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-derived cardiac fibroblasts (hiPSC-CFs) could serve as a completely biological scaffold for an engineered cardiac patch, leveraging the unlimited source and outstanding reproducibility of hiPSC-CFs. Additionally, hiPSC-CF-derived ECM (hiPSC-CF-ECM) holds the potential to enhance maturation of exogenous cardiomyocytes, such as hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), by providing a microenvironment rich in cardiac-specific biochemical and signaling cues. However, achieving sufficient robustness of hiPSC-CF-ECM is challenging. This study aims to achieve appropriate ECM deposition, scaffold thickness, and mechanical strength of an aligned hiPSC-CF-ECM by optimizing the culture period, ranging from 2 to 10 weeks, of hiPSC-CFs grown on micro-grated substrates, which can direct the alignment of both hiPSC-CFs and their secreted ECM. The hiPSC-CFs demonstrated a production rate of 13.5 µg ECM per day per 20,000 cells seeded. An anisotropic nanofibrous hiPSC-CF-ECM scaffold with a thickness of 20.0 ± 2.1 µm was achieved after 6 weeks of culture, followed by decellularization. Compositional analysis through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) revealed the presence of cardiac-specific fibrillar collagens, non-fibrillar collagens, and matricellular proteins. Uniaxial tensile stretching of the hiPSC-CF-ECM scaffold indicated robust tensile resilience. Finally, hiPSCs-CMs cultured on the hiPSC-CF-ECM exhibited alignment following the guidance of ECM nanofibers and demonstrated mature organization of key structural proteins. The culture duration of the anisotropic hiPSC-CF-ECM was successfully refined to achieve a robust scaffold containing structural proteins that resembles cardiac microenvironment. This completely biological, anisotropic, and cardiac-specific ECM holds great potential for cardiac patch engineering.