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Abstract Background N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and 5-methylcytosine (m5C) play a role in modifying long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) implicated in tumorigenesis and progression. This study was performed to evaluate prognostic value of m6A- and m5C-related lncRNAs and develop an efficient model for prognosis prediction in cervical cancer (CC). Methods Using gene expression data of TCGA set, we identified m6A- and m5C-related lncRNAs. Consensus Clustering Analysis was performed for samples subtyping based on survival-related lncRNAs, followed by analyzing tumor infiltrating immune cells (TIICs). Optimal signature lncRNAs were obtained using lasso Cox regression analysis for constructing a prognostic model and a nomogram to predict prognosis. Results We built a co-expression network of 23 m6A-related genes, 15 m5C-related genes, and 62 lncRNAs. Based on 9 m6A- and m5C-related lncRNAs significantly associated with overall survival (OS) time, two molecular subtypes were obtained, which had significantly different OS time and fractions of TIICs. A prognostic model based on six m6A- and m5C-related signature lncRNAs was constructed, which could dichotomize patients into two risk subgroups with significantly different OS time. Prognostic power of the model was successfully validated in an independent dataset. We subsequently constructed a nomogram which could accurately predict survival probabilities. Drug sensitivity analysis found preferred chemotherapeutic agents for high and low-risk patients, respectively. Conclusion Our study reveals that m6A- and m5C-related lncRNAs are associated with prognosis and immune microenvironment of CC. The m6A- and m5C-related six-lncRNA signature may be a useful tool for survival stratification in CC and open new avenues for individualized therapies.

Abstract Exposure to mercury has been associated with adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes. However, there is limited literature on mercury exposure and pregnancy outcomes in Chinese pregnant women. Our study was to investigate the possible association between maternal mercury exposure and spontaneous preterm birth and birth weight. This study was a nested case-control study. The association between blood mercury concentration and both spontaneous preterm birth and birth weight was analyzed using conditional logistic regression and linear regression adjusted for the potential confounding factors, respectively. The dose-response relationship between mercury concentration and birth outcomes was estimated using restricted cubic spline regression. The mean concentration of mercury was 2.8 ± 2.2 µg/L. A positive relationship was observed between maternal blood mercury concentration and SPB when analyzed as a continuous variable. However, it was not found to be statistically significant (adjusted OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.95–1.26, P = 0.202). Moderate mercury exposure was associated with a higher risk of SPB (Q3 vs. Q1: crude OR = 2.50, 95% CI = 1.16–5.41, P = 0.02; adjusted OR = 3.49, 95% CI = 1.33–9.11, P = 0.011). After considering the combined effects of chemicals other than mercury exposure (including lead, selenium, and cadmium), the results remained consistent. There was no statistically significant association between blood mercury levels and birth weight (adjusted coefficient = 18.64, P-value = 0.075). There were no statistically significant dose-response associations between mercury concentration and birth outcomes (SPB: P = 0.076; birth weight: P = 0.885). Public health policies should focus on reducing environmental releases of mercury, improving food safety standards, and providing education to pregnant women about the risks of mercury exposure and preventive measures.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different types of inulin on acute alcoholic intoxication (AAI) in mice and prepare its hangover beverage. Basic physical and chemical properties of different types of inulin (short‐chain inulin, long‐chain inulin, and phosphorylated long‐chain inulin) were analyzed and given by gavage at a dose of 400 mg kg−1 day−1 for a continuous period of 7 days through animal behavior experiments, and the inebriation percentage, mortality rate, duration of inebriation, and sobering time were recorded with the righting reflex as the judgment criterion. The results showed that, compared with the control group, the drunkenness and mortality rates of short‐chain inulin decreased by 12% and 100%, respectively, and the sober time decreased by 18%, while alcohol tolerance was also improved. The best formula for a short‐chain inulin hangover drink was determined to be: 0.4% granulated sugar, 0.5% citric acid, and 0.5% pectin. These suggest that short‐chain inulin may have potential in preventing AAI.

In order to improve the quality of frozen dough, a calcium alginate-coated sodium alginate/trehalose/wheat starch ternary complex was designed in this paper. The ternary complex was added to dough, and the dough quality were measured after 0–30 d of frozen storage. The XRD and FT-IR results showed the ternary complex was mainly starchy crystal. The TGA curves showed the starting (To), peak (Tp) and termination temperature (Tc) were increased. The interaction between sodium alginate and trehalose enhanced the thermal performance of ternary complex. As the ternary complex addition to dough increased, the maximum ice crystal formation zone of the frozen dough passed faster, resulting in more uniform and smaller ice crystals. The dough with 0.8% addition contained more bound water and had better hardness, springiness and cohesiveness. In conclusion, the study provides a novel insight and understanding for the development of ternary complex as food additives in frozen food industry.

Abstract In this paper, we explored the influence of lipase on cuticle wax and anthocyanin metabolism in blueberries. The results demonstrated a progressive alteration in wax crystal structure, transitions from rod‐like to short rod‐like and flaky, and even disappearance of the cuticle wax. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis revealed a reduction in esters, aldehydes, long‐chain alkanes, and total wax content following lipase treatment of blueberry fruits. Additionally, ultra high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis showed significant decreases in peonidin, petunidin, cyanidin, and delphinidin, accompanied by an increase in malvidin content due to lipase treatment. Subsequent investigations uncovered that lipase treatment inhibited the activities of key anthocyanin synthetic enzymes, namely phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL), chalcone isomerase (CHI), and dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR). Moreover, lipase treatment downregulated the expression of synthesis‐related genes, including PAL, 4‐coumarate: CoA ligase, chalcone synthase (CHS), CHI, and DFR. In summary, our findings indicate that lipase disrupts the integrity of cuticle wax structure, inhibits anthocyanin synthesis, and reduces anthocyanin content. Accordingly, our studies suggest that inhibiting lipase could offer a novel approach to preserving the freshness and anthocyanin concentration of blueberries.

Abstract Background Few studies have utilized whole blood samples to investigate the association between metal mixture exposure during early pregnancy and spontaneous preterm birth (SPB). We conduct this nested case–control study to investigate both the independent and joint effect of each metal, and identify critical metals in the metal mixture. Results A total of 120 pregnant women with SPB and 120 pregnant women with full-term delivery were selected from the prospective birth cohort. We measured 14 metal concentrations in maternal blood collected during 10–13 weeks gestation. Conditional logistic regression showed that high concentrations of vanadium (V), magnesium, and copper were positively associated with SPB (Adjusted OR = 5.76 (95% CI 2.46–13.53), 3.64 (95% CI 1.64–8.09), 2.88 (95% CI 1.29–6.41), respectively). Moderate manganese (Mn) concentration (50th–75th percentile) group had the lowest estimated OR (Adjusted OR = 0.32 (95% CI 0.13–0.76)). The high level of strontium (Sr) was negatively associated with SPB (Adjusted OR = 0.39 (95% CI 0.17–0.91)). The BKMR model showed a significant positive joint effect of metal mixture exposure on SPB, while V was the most important metal. The non-linear effects of V and lead (Pb) on SPB, and the interaction effects between V–Pb, Sr–Mn were also revealed. Conclusions Maternal blood metal mixtures in the first trimester were found to be positively associated with SPB, with V exhibiting the strongest independent association. Mn had a potential U-shaped association with SPB. Elimination of metal contamination in the environment has a positive impact on maternal and child health.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries have great development and application prospects due to the low cost and environmental friendliness. Vanadium-based materials with high specific surface area and layered or fast ionic conductor structures are among the most promising cathode materials for zinc-ion batteries. Layered vanadium pentoxide cathodes have higher capacity and adjustable interlayer spacing, which have been extensively examined. As a layered vanadium pentoxide, V2O5·nH2O is widely evaluated because of its high theoretical capacity, simple synthesis process, etc. However, the practical application of layered V2O5·nH2O is still hindered by structural collapse during cycling and slow Zn2+ diffusion in the V2O5·nH2O cathode. How to improve the long-cycle performance of V2O5·nH2O remains to be solved. In this study, V2O5·1.6H2O xerogel was successfully prepared by the sol-gel method combined with the freeze-drying technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to characterize the phase composition and morphology. The results showed that the prepared material was primarily V2O5·1.6H2O with good crystallinity, and little V2O5 still existed. V2O5·1.6H2O grew like macroporous lamellar fibers of approximately 100 nm thick. Compared with commercialized V2O5, V2O5·1.6H2O has larger interlayer space, which benefits the diffusion of Zn2+, and the crystal H2O may help stabilize the structure. Electrochemical performance results revealed that the fibrous V2O5·1.6H2O cathode material showed an initial discharge capacity of 388.4 mA·h·g–1 at a constant current of 0.1 A·g–1 and it still maintained at 129.7 mA·h·g−1 after 1000 cycles, with nearly no capacity decay. At 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 A·g−1, the fibrous V2O5·1.6H2O xerogel show capacities of 388.4, 338.5, 282.9, 239.1, 194.4, and 165.9 mA·h·g−1, respectively. The capacity was much higher than that of commercialized V2O5, which only showed 279.5, 251.0, 205.5, 174.5, 144.6, and 125.1 mA·h·g−1, respectively, at the same discharge current density. The good electrochemical performance was mainly attributed to the large layer spacing, combined with the supporting effect of H2O, which contributed to the good structural stability of the material during the cycle and avoided the degradation of material properties. In addition, the fibrous structure shortened the Zn2+ diffusion path and increased the electronic conductivity also contributed to the enhanced electrochemical performance. The mechanism of the charge and discharge process was examined by ex-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and XRD. The results showed that the formation and disappearance of basic zinc sulfate are accompanied by the embedding and removal of zinc ions, and the process is reversible.

Abstract Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients face an almost certain 100% risk of developing colorectal cancer, necessitating prophylactic colectomy to prevent disease progression. A crucial goal is to hinder this progression. In a recent clinical trial involving 14 FAP patients, half received 60 g of black raspberry (BRB) powder orally and BRB suppositories at bedtime, whereas the other half received only BRB suppositories at bedtime over 9 months. This intervention led to a notable reduction in rectal polyps for 11 patients, although 3 showed no response. In this study, we delved into the metabolic changes induced by BRBs in the same patient cohort. Employing mass spectrometry–based non‐targeted metabolomics, we analyzed pre‐ and post‐BRB urinary and plasma samples from the 11 responders. The results showed significant alterations in 23 urinary and 6 plasma metabolites, influencing various pathways, including polyamine, glutathione metabolism, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, inositol metabolism, and benzoate production. BRBs notably elevated levels of several metabolites associated with these pathways, suggesting a potential mechanism through which BRBs facilitate rectal polyp regression in FAP patients by modulating multiple metabolic pathways. Notably, metabolites derived from BRB polyphenols were significantly increased post‐BRB intervention, emphasizing the potential therapeutic value of BRBs in FAP management.

A M8.5 earthquake struck the Haiyuan area in 1920 and resulted in a 240-km long surface rupture zone along the Haiyuan fault (HYF). In this study, to determine the spatial relationship between soil gases and fault activity on a regional scale, radon (Rn) and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in soil gas were measured in situ with a grid spacing of 5 ∼ 10 km along the Haiyuan surface rupture zone (HYSRZ). Ordinary Kriging (OK) and Inverse Distance Weight (IDW) interpolation were used to investigate spatial variations in Rn and CO2 concentrations. Synchronous soil gas anomalies were identified in southern Haiyuan County and at the southern end of the HYSRZ, and were correlated with higher slip rate, larger deformation, and larger degree rupture size than other segments. Moreover, soil gas anomalies were spatially highly coupled with seismically active zones and low b value areas, suggesting that the permeability and porosity of gas emissions are enhanced by higher stress. Two seismic velocity profiles across the gas anomaly area confirmed that low-velocity bodies exist at 0 ∼ 10 km below the surface, as revealed by magnetotelluric (MT) sounding results, indicating that gas emissions are associated with the migration of deep fluids. Our results provide new insight into the source of fluids in the HYSRZ and offer support for the design of a continuous geochemical measurement network in this area.

Considering the constraints of inputs and angle of attack (AOA), the trajectory tracking control of a flexible air-breathing hypersonic vehicle (FAHV) is investigated. To solve the problem, the Lyapunov-based model predictive control (LMPC) is presented. Firstly, the virtual controller is designed by nonlinear backstepping control (BSC), and it is integrated into the Lyapunov contraction constraint in LMPC to ensure the stability of the closed-loop system. Secondly, LMPC law is obtained by optimizing the weighted summation performance index of the tracking error and the control. Within the LMPC framework, the input constraints and AOA constraints can be handled simply, and by designing the appropriate parameters of the virtual controller, closed-loop stability is achieved. The effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method are verified by comparing it with the BSC and traditional model predictive control.

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), a nonprotein amino acid, can accumulate in plants in response to abiotic stresses. The effects of postharvest treatments on endogenous GABA concentrations and exogenous GABA on whole horticulture product quality has recently received attention. However, knowledge of the effects of mechanical damage events such as peeling and cutting on GABA concentrations of fresh-cut products is limited. In this study, concentrations of GABA and antioxidants including total phenolics and ascorbic acid in fresh-cut cantaloupe, pineapple, and cauliflower during storage at 5 °C for 9 days were investigated. We found that GABA accumulated in fresh-cut pineapple and cauliflower during storage, but that the increase in cantaloupe was not significant. Total phenolics, total ascorbic acid, and dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) remained stable in fresh-cut cantaloupe and cauliflower. In pineapple, however, total phenolics and total ascorbic acid concentrations decreased, whereas the DHA concentration increased. No correlation was found between GABA and antioxidants in fresh-cut cauliflower and cantaloupe; however, GABA was negatively related to antioxidants, including total phenolics and total ascorbic acid, in fresh-cut pineapple. The results show that GABA accumulation may represent a stress response to damage that occurs during the preparation of fresh cut products, but that the degree of response is affected by the specific product. Further research of GABA metabolism in response to minimal processing, including GABA biosynthesis, in a wider range of horticultural products and relationships with antioxidants is warranted.

Abstract During postharvest storage, the metabolism of cell wall components greatly affects the quality of fruits and vegetables. Utilizing 1‐methylcyclopropene (1‐MCP) as an ethylene receptor inhibitor and modified atmosphere (MA) separately or in combination (1‐MCP+MA) were investigated for their impact on Zizania latifolia quality during postharvest storage. The treatments effectively controlled firmness increase, color degradation, and reductions in soluble protein, reducing sugar, total phenol, and ascorbic acid content, with the combined 1‐MCP+MA showing the most significant effect. These treatments also moderately changed soluble pectin, protopectin, cellulose, and hemicellulose content, preserving the activities of essential enzymes and the expression of enzyme genes. The combined treatment particularly demonstrated superior preservation capabilities, holding promise for reducing postharvest losses and maintain the storage quality of edible produce, offering insights for efficient postharvest storage and freshness maintenance of fruits and vegetables.

Abstract The lotus seed embryo, known as “Plumula nelumbinis,” holds significance in Chinese culture as a traditional medicinal and edible herb rich in beneficial bioactive compounds like flavonoids, alkaloids, and polyphenols. Using ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography‐quadrupole‐exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry, we meticulously analyzed the total flavonoids in Plumula nelumbinis (PNF) sourced from Hangzhou's West Lake. Our investigation preliminarily identified 29 flavonoid compounds, including 21 flavonoid O‐glycosides, five flavonoid C‐glycosides, and three aglycones, through comparisons with standards and literature references. Subsequent cellular anti‐inflammatory experiments using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced RAW264.7 cells demonstrated that treatment with 300 μg/mL of lotus seed flavonoids significantly reduced inflammatory factors' production, such as nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor, interleukin‐6, and interleukin‐1β. Additionally, PNF effectively lowered intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, mitigated LPS‐induced cell apoptosis, and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) p65 protein, collectively suppressing the NF‐κB p65 inflammatory pathway and demonstrating potent anti‐inflammatory properties. Crucially, the observed gene expression patterns of inflammatory factors aligned with their respective protein secretion levels. This study provides a comprehensive exploration of lotus seed flavonoids' anti‐inflammatory potential, highlighting their significance in potential therapeutic applications and laying the groundwork for future advancements in related functional foods.

Abstract To investigate the impact of abscisic acid (ABA) on the postharvest flavor and quality of blueberries, this study employed different concentrations of ABA (400 μM ABA, 600 μM ABA, and 800 μM ABA) to treat the blueberries. The treated blueberries were then stored at 4°C (~80% relative humidity) for 35 day. Subsequently, genes associated with the metabolism of volatile aromatic substances and fatty acids in postharvest blueberries were assessed using real‐time PCR. Our results revealed that the treatment of ABA could maintain a high level of nutrient and aromatic substances in blueberries. Particularly, 600 μM ABA caused most significant changes in fatty acid metabolism‐related enzyme activities, such as lipoxygenase, hydroperoxide lyase, alcohol dehydrogenase, as well as related gene expressions, like VcLOX2S, VcHPL, VcADH1‐1, VcADH1‐2, VcADH1‐3, and VcADH1‐4. In addition, Furthermore, the blueberries treated with 600 μM ABA exhibited a superior quality when compared to the control group. This superior quality included higher levels of total acid, ascorbic acid, total phenol, anthocyanin, soluble sugar contents, and so forth. In conclusion, postharvest ABA treatment decelerated the decrease in volatile aroma substances and effectively maintained the flavor of blueberries.

Abstract The importance of fostering a thriving green economy is emphasized as a key strategy for mitigating the threats posed by climate change. This study aims to assess the influence of social inclusion and green finance on the sustainable growth of 31 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations between 2010 and 2021. The results obtained using the fully modified OLS (FMOLS) methodology indicate that social factors such as poverty reduction and social inclusion do not impact the green economic prosperity of OECD countries with an industry-focused economic structure. Furthermore, the expansion of green finance markets and the attraction of foreign direct investment with an environmental focus can contribute to the advancement of green development in OECD countries. As a recommendation, it is advisable for OECD nations to place greater emphasis on developing the green digital finance market, exploring blockchain-based green finance solutions, fostering green foreign direct investment, and promoting early warning economic systems.

The coarsening of strengthening phases, phase transformations, and interface stability between these phases and the matrix play a crucial role in determining the strength, ductility, and heat resistance of aluminum alloys fabricated through additive manufacturing (AM). In this study, a heat exposure experiment at 400 °C for 1 h was conducted on the laser powder bed fused Al–Ce–Mg alloy. A comprehensive analysis of the microstructural evolution, phase composition, interfacial bonding strength, and mechanical properties before and after heat exposure was performed using synchrotron X-ray diffraction techniques, first-principles calculations, transmission electron microscopy, and mechanical testing. For the first time, a phase transformation from Al11Ce3 to Al4Ce was discovered. Some semi-coherent relationships of [301]Al11Ce3//[011]Al, (060)Al11Ce3//(00)Al were transformed into coherent relationships of [001]Al4Ce//[001]Al, (200)Al4Ce//(00)Al, and the interfacial energy was reduced by 4.385 J m−2. In-situ Al11Ce3 nano-networks after heat exposure were retained and Al4Ce nanoparticles contribute to the thermal stability of the alloy by hindering dislocation motion and grain coarsening. The strength of the heat exposure alloy reached up to 416 MPa, which is about 95 % of the strength of the as-fabricated state and the elongation increased from 9.3 % to 13.8 %. These results provide a new approach for the design of high strength-ductility synergy and heat-resistant aluminum alloys via AM.

Abstract Cognitive disorders, including dementia, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, pose significant public health issues. Preventing/delaying their onset is essential as effective medical treatments are unavailable. Nuts contain bioactive compounds, including fatty acids, macronutrients such as proteins and dietary fibers, micronutrients, and polyphenols; these act synergistically preventing age‐related diseases. Epidemiological investigations have established that high nut consumption reduces cognitive impairment risk, suggesting it is useful for cognitively impaired individuals; however, clinical data on the effects of nut consumption on cognitive function are lacking. This review summarized nut consumption effects on oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and gut microbiota. Nuts reduce oxidative stress; their active substances, including glansreginin A, proanthocyanidins, quercetin, and nut oil, have significant anti‐inflammatory effects. Furthermore, they comprise complex mixtures, which synergistically induce beneficial changes in the intestinal microbial community.

In this work, the effects of edible alkali additions on the quality of different frozen grain doughs (wheat, buckwheat, corn, and mung bean) were studied, the frozen doughs were prepared by adding different amounts (0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%) of edible alkali into raw materials, which were based on 100 g of frozen grain dough, respectively. And the doughs were frozen at −30 ℃ for 8 h and freezing at −18°C for 1 d, then thawed at 25 ℃ for 30 min. The water loss rate, water retention rate, pH, textural properties, water distribution were measured, respectively. And changes in the surface network structure and protein structure of the frozen doughs were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the additions of edible alkali were negatively correlated with the water loss rate of frozen doughs, it could significantly (P

To determine the characteristic taste substances of different varieties of fresh lotus seeds, the taste substances of 'Guolian 1', 'Guolian 2', 'Guolian 3' and 'Mantianxing' were measured and electronic tongue was applied. Dynamic factor analysis (DFA) was used to distinguish the taste of different varieties of lotus seeds and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was adopted to find out the characteristic taste substances. The correlation between amylose and other taste substances were determined by grey correlation analysis. Results showed that taste difference existed in different varieties of lotus seeds and the distinction about umami taste was the most obvious. The umami intensity of 'Guolian 2', 'Guolian 3' and 'Mantianxing' was greater than that of 'Guolian 1', which was equivalent to the umami intensity of 0.55 mg/mL sodium glutamate solution. Amylose, free amino acids and flavonoids were the characteristic taste substances that distinguish different varieties of lotus seeds. The VIP score of amylose was close to 2.0, so it was the most critical characteristic taste substance. Amylose content had a greater correlation with soluble sugar and water content (over 0.8). In summary, the characteristic taste of different varieties of lotus seeds was umami, and the characteristic taste substance was amylose.

In order to increase the utilization rate of shiitake mushroom by-products, the shiitake mushroom stem was crushed after superfine grinding with a jet mill, with coarse powder and 40 mesh powder as the control. The effect of jet milling on the physicochemical properties of shiitake mushroom stem powder and the dissolution amount of functional components represented by ergosterol and polysaccharides were studied. The cumulative dissolution rate of ergosterol and polysaccharides was fitted by the Weibull model. The results showed that after superfine grinding by jet milling, the average particle size (D50) of powder decreased to 3.21 μm, bulk density, tap density and L* value increased from 0.15 g/mL to 0.25 g/mL, 0.23 g/mL to 0.42 g/mL, 65.31 to 73.49, respectively. The superfine powder fluidity, water holding capacity and swelling capacity were significantly enhanced (P

In order to develop soft fruit candy products with hypoglycemic function, the preparation method was optimized by single-factor and response surface studies. The texture profile analysis and sensory score was regarded as the evaluation indices, while bayberry juice was used as the main raw material, carrageenan and gelatin as the gelling agent, and xylitol as the sweetener. Additionally, the hypoglycemic effect of bayberry soft candy extract was evaluated by in vitro study, and the components of bayberry juice was detected by using UPLC-MS/MS assay. Finally, the hypoglycemic components and related pathways of action were predicted by network pharmacology. The results showed that in the 100 mL bayberry soft candy gel solution system, the optimal formulation of bayberry soft candy obtained by response surface methodology was as follows: 89.37% bayberry juice for swelling and constant volume, with 9.90% gelatin, 1.41% carrageenan, and 30.86% xylitol addition. The sensory score of bayberry soft candy produced under this process was 87.30, which was close to the theoretical value. The in vitro hypoglycemic study showed that the inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase by 4 mg/mL of bayberry soft candy extract reached 98.58% and 86.89%, respectively. The network pharmacological analysis postulated that 3,5-diacetyltambrin (YM16), azaleatin (YM17) and raspberry ketone glucoside (YM1) were the key hypoglycemic components in bayberry juice, in addition, the human cancer pathway and PI3K-Akt pathway were important pathways of their action. The soft candy prepared under the optimal process condition showed good elasticity, fantastic taste and certain hypoglycemic effects. These results provide a certain theoretical basis for the development of fruit-flavored functional soft candy.

Abstract Starch is the most important component in potato tubers, whose structure and composition play key roles in properties of potato storage, processing, and applications. This review identifies the biodiversity of starch content, structure, and physiochemical properties, particularly the amylose and amylopectin content, molecular and granular structure, gelatinization, retrogradation, swelling power, solubility, and digestibility of potato in the past decade. Various functions of major potato starch biosynthesis‐related enzymes, such as AGPase, starch synthase, starch branching enzyme, debranching enzyme, and glucan/water dikinase, are also summarized. The potential utilization of native and modified potato starch in food and medicine fields owing to its high pasting viscosity is also analyzed. This review will contribute to a better understanding of the genetics–structure–functions of potato starch and may provide insights into potential potato starch utilization and further genetic improvement of starch quality.

Abstract In this study, the hepatoprotective effect of alkali extract (NE) of water bamboo shoot (WBS) against acute alcoholic liver injury (ALI) in mice was evaluated, and its underlying mechanisms were explored. Animal experiment demonstrated that NE exhibited hepatoprotective effect on alcoholic intake‐induced ALI via significantly enhancing the hepatic activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), and catalase (CAT), whereas significantly attenuated hepatic levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α). The potential molecular mechanism and bioactive compounds of NE against ALI were explored by bioinformatics analysis and isosinensetin was found to be the major bioactive compounds in NE against ALI. The western blot analysis showed that NE inhibited phosphorylation of p65 and IκBα to suppress the NF‐κB pathway. Overall our result indicated that WBS possesses potential hepatoprotective effects against ALI.

Abstract Background Advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is associated with poor prognosis; new first‐line systemic treatment options are needed. Combining immuno‐oncology therapies with standard chemotherapy may represent a promising approach for the treatment of solid tumors. Results from a Phase Ib study evaluating durvalumab with tremelimumab and chemotherapy in patients with advanced or metastatic ESCC are reported. Methods Adults with advanced or metastatic ESCC who were candidates for first‐line platinum‐based chemotherapy received durvalumab 1500 mg (Day 1), tremelimumab 75 mg (Day 1), cisplatin 80 mg/m2 (Day 1) and 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) 800 mg/m2 (Days 1–5) in 28‐day cycles until disease progression or discontinuation due to toxicity. The study consisted of safety run‐in (Part A) and expansion (Part B) periods. The primary endpoint was safety. Antitumor activity was an exploratory endpoint. Results Sixteen patients were enrolled, 6 in Part A and 10 in Part B, and received a median of 4.0 treatment cycles. All patients were Asian; median age was 65.0 years. All patients experienced adverse events (AEs) related to cisplatin and 5‐FU, and 8 (50.0%) patients experienced AEs related to durvalumab and tremelimumab. Grade ≥3 treatment‐related AEs occurred in 7 (43.8%) patients. There were no deaths associated with AEs. Six (37.5%) patients achieved an objective response. Median progression‐free survival was 3.75 months, and median overall survival was 9.69 months. Conclusions Durvalumab with tremelimumab and chemotherapy demonstrated manageable safety and antitumor activity in patients with advanced or metastatic ESCC, warranting further investigation in randomized trials. Registered with ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02658214.

Abstract Objective Multiple myeloma is a heterogeneous disorder and the intratumor genetic heterogeneity contributes to emergency of drug resistance. Dexamethasone has been used clinically for decades for MM. Nevertheless, their use is severely hampered by the risk of developing side effects and the occurrence of Dex resistance. LncRNA NEAT1 plays a oncogenic role and participates in drug resistance in many solid tumors. Therefore, we investigated a potential usefulness of this molecular as a biomarker for diagnosis of MM and possible correlations of NEAT1 expression with drug resistance and prognosis. Methods Bone marrow and peripheral blood mononuclear cells samples were collected from 60 newly diagnosed MM patients. The expression of NEAT1expression level were detected by quantitative real-time PCR analyses. The relationship about the expression levels of lncRNA with other clinical and cytogenetic features was analyzed. In addition, we measured to analysis the correlation between the expression of NEAT1 and Dex resistance in MM patients. Results It was found that the expression of NEAT1 is significantly higher in multiple myeloma patients compared to controls and does not change with other clinical features and cytogenetic features. We further discovered that overexpression of NEAT1 was associated with Dex resistance and a poor prognosis in MM patients. Conclusion LncRNA NEAT1 has a significant value that might act as a promoting factor in the development of MM and may be severed as a diagnostic factor in MM. NEAT1 invovled in Dex resistance, which provide a new interpretation during the chemotherapy for MM.

The pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass with acid generates phenolic and furanyl compounds that function as toxins by inhibiting microbial growth and metabolism. Therefore, it is necessary to detoxify acid-pretreated lignocellulosic biomass for better utilization. Among the various detoxification methods that are available, biodetoxification offers advantages that include mild reaction conditions and low energy consumption. In this study, a newly isolated Rhodococcus aetherivorans strain, N1, was found to effectively degrade various lignin-derived aromatic compounds, such as p-coumarate, ferulate, syringaldehyde, furfural, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. Furthermore, the metabolic pathway and genes responsible for this degradation were also identified. In addition, the overexpression of a demethylase (DesA) and 3,4-dioxygenase (DesZ) in strain N1 generated a recombinant strain, N1-S, which showed an enhanced ability to degrade syringaldehyde and 80.5% furfural, 50.7% 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, and 71.5% phenolic compounds in corn cob hydrolysate. The resulting detoxified hydrolysate was used directly as a feedstock for succinate production by Escherichia coli suc260. This afforded 35.3 g/l succinate, which was 6.5 times greater than the concentration afforded when nondetoxified hydrolysate was used. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate that strain N1-S is a valuable microbe for the biodetoxification of lignocellulosic biomass.

An input shaper-based model predictive control scheme is proposed for an overhead crane to suppress the swing of the payload. A control-oriented mathematical model of the crane is firstly derived based on the small angle hypothesis. Furthermore, three kinds of commonly used shapers are discussed and a zero vibration derivative shaper is selected for the crane. Then, a model predictive swing suppression controller is designed for the crane based on the selected shaper. Constraints on the control input and its slew rate are respected. Besides, the constraint on the swing angle of the payload is also respected as an output constraint. The constrained solution is given in the form of standard quadratic programming. The designed control scheme combines open-loop and closed-loop control techniques, achieving accurate positioning of the trolley and good swing suppression of the payload. A series of simulation demonstrates the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed scheme.

Cuticular wax plays a major role in the growth and storage of plant fruits. The cuticular wax coating, which covers the outermost layer of a fruit’s epidermal cells, is insoluble in water. Cuticular wax is mainly composed of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs); their derivatives, including esters, primary alcohols, secondary alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones; and triterpenoids. This complex mixture of lipids is probably biosynthesized in the epidermal cells of most plants and exuded onto the surface. Cuticular wax not only makes the fruit less susceptible to microbial infection but also reduces mechanical damage to the fruit, thereby maintaining the fruit’s commodity value. To date, research has mostly focused on the changes, function, and regulation of fruit wax before harvest, while ignoring the changes and functions of wax in fruit storage. This paper reviews on the composition, structure, and metabolic regulation of cuticular wax in fruits. It also focuses on postharvest factors affecting wax composition, such as storage temperature, relative humidity (RH), gas atmosphere, and as exogenous hormones; and the effects of wax on fruit postharvest quality, including water dispersion, fruit softening, physiological disorders, and disease resistance. These summaries may be of assistance in better understanding the changes in cuticular wax in postharvest fruit and the resulting effects on fruit quality.

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly reactive gaseous small molecule that regulates plant growth. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was used as an NO donor to study the effects of NO treatment on browning and antioxidant activity of button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus). The findings revealed that exogenous NO treatment alleviated the browning, decreased hardness, and increased weight loss of mushrooms stored at 4°C for 15 days, and reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and membrane lipid peroxidation. Moreover, exogenous NO treatment dramatically increased the anabolism of endogenous NO, maintained the content of antioxidant substances including flavonoids and total phenols, and kept catalase and superoxide dismutase activities at a high level. Further studies revealed that exogenous NO treatment inhibited the activities of enzymes that are involved in browning, which including polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and tyrosinase (TYR), and increased phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL) activity, with SNP treatment at 0.05 mM being the most effective. Furthermore, SNP treatment at 0.05 mM also inhibited PPO and TYR gene expressions while increasing PAL gene expression. Therefore, our findings suggest that exogenous NO has the potential for development in delaying postharvest browning and maintaining the quality of mushrooms.

Abstract Postharvest handling is an important approach to reduce loss and ensure the global supply of fresh fruits and vegetables (FVs). Recently, nanomaterials are increasingly recognized for their great potentials in extending shelf life and maintaining the quality of postharvest FVs owing to their unique properties and outstanding functions with extremely small sizes. This study reviews critically applications of nanotechnology in shelf life extension and quality maintenance of postharvest FVs via nano‐packaging, nano‐coatings, and micro/nano‐bubbles. The advantages of these nanotechnologies to effectively compensate for the shortcomings of the traditional methods are highlighted alongside future research directions at a large low‐cost scale. Generally, nano‐packaging, nano‐coatings, and micro/nano‐bubbles have the functions to modify gas or solvent permeability, inhibit pathogens infection, enhance antimicrobial capacity, and regulate the physiological activity of postharvest FVs. With the development of nanotechnology and quality control measures, it can be expected that green nano‐preservation technology will be an important and novel alternative for the storage and transportation of postharvest FVs.

Abstract Background Recurrent wheezing is a common clinical problem in early childhood, which is associated with significant morbidity. There is no international consensus on the management and prevention of recurrent wheezing; therefore, identifying the risk factors associated with recurrent wheezing is crucial to prevent episodes of wheezing in young children. Methods In this retrospective study, we collected the data of 24,737 patients who were admitted to our hospital between 27th April 2012 and 11th September 2019. After screening for patients with wheezing, we identified 8572 patients with a primary diagnosis of pneumonia with wheezing. Patients’ clinical data were collected from the hospital medical records. Patients were stratified for age in the groups of 12 months. Results Among the 8569 pediatric pneumonia patients with wheezing, there were 343 patients with recurrent wheezing. Most enrolled patients were under 6 months of age (45.17%) and had a normal birth weight (86.95%). Winter was the most common onset season for the first episode of wheezing, while spring was the most common season for the second episode of wheezing for those with recurrent wheezing. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis for the risk factor associated with recurrent wheezing showed that male gender, past history of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, low birth weight, development of severe pneumonia, and PICU admission were significantly associated with recurrent wheezing. Conclusion Male gender, past history of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, low birth weight, severe pneumonia, and PICU admission are independent risk factors of recurrent wheezing in the pediatric population.

BackgroundHashimoto thyroiditis (HT), a prevalent autoimmune disorder, is not yet thoroughly understood, especially when it comes to the influence of epigenetics in its pathogenesis. The primary goal of this research was to probe the DNAm profile across the genome in the whole blood derived from patients suffering from HT.MethodUsing the Illumina 850K BeadChip, we conducted a genome-wide DNAm assessment on 10 matched pairs of HT sufferers and healthy individuals. Genes with differential methylation (DMGs) were identified and underwent functional annotation via the databases of Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. The transcriptional significance of potential epigenetic biomarker genes was corroborated through qRT-PCR.ResultsThe DNAm profiling across the genome indicated an overall reduction in methylation in HT subjects in comparison with their healthy counterparts. We detected 283 DMPs (adjusted P < 0.05 and |Δβ| > 0.1), among which 152 exhibited hypomethylation and 131 demonstrated hypermethylation. Further analysis exposed a noteworthy concentration of hypermethylated DMPs in the 3´UTR, North Shore, and CpG islands, while there was a significant decrease in the Open Sea (all P < 0.001). The 283 DMPs were broadly distributed from chromosome 1 to 22, with chromosome 6 harboring the most DMPs (n = 51) and chromosome 12 carrying the most DMGs (n = 15). The SLFN12 gene, which presented with extreme hypomethylation in its promoter DMPs among HT patients, was identified as the epigenetic marker gene. Consequently, the SLFN12 mRNA expression was markedly upregulated in HT, displaying a negative relationship with its methylation levels. The area under curve (AUC) value for the SLFN12 gene among HT patients was 0.85 (sensitivity: 0.7, specificity: 0.7), a significant difference compared with healthy controls. The methylation levels of all DMPs in SLFN12 gene were negatively correlated with TSH and one CpG site (cg24470734) was positively assocciated with FT4.ConclusionThis investigation presents an initial comprehensive DNAm blueprint for individuals with HT, which permits clear differentiation between HT subjects and normal controls through an epigenetic lens. The SLFN12 gene plays a pivotal role in the onset of HT, suggesting that the methylation status of this gene could serve as a potential epigenetic indicator for HT.

Water and land resources (WLR) are the fundamental resources for social and economic growth, and there is a complicated interaction association between WLR. The rational utilization and coordinated development of WLR are related to the sustainable development of human society. Innovatively combing the comprehensive assessment index (CAI) methodology, the regional centre of gravity method, the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model, and the panel model, the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of the relationship between WLR and the relationship’s influencing factors from 2004 to 2020 was investigated in the wind-sand region of the upper Yellow River (WSUYR). The results show that: (1) Nevertheless, the WLR system CAI for the WSUYR demonstrated steady growth, and the regions with a favourable WLR system CAI were concentrated in the middle and east of the area. (2) The WSUYR represents the point where the CCD of the WLR system exponentially transitioned from the discoordination degree to the coordination stage, establishing a favourable overall trend. In the WSUYR, there are wide geographical variances in the CCD of the WLR system, but even though the divergence throughout cities has steadily closed to a growth trajectory. The two underlying variables that limit the CCD of local WLR are the scarcity of water resources and the destabilization of the water resources subsystem. (3) The CCD of the WLR system in the WSUYR is significantly influenced by factors such as population density, total water resources per capita, vegetation index, the green coverage rate of built-up areas, per capita GDP, and science and technology expenditure. This study can offer a scientific justification and pertinent recommendations for the sensible utilization and effective management of WLR in the WSUYR.

In this study, 'Xuxiang' kiwifruit was used as the research object, and vacuum drying, hot air drying and freeze drying were used to process kiwifruit. The effects of several drying methods on the color, texture, nutritional quality and volatile compounds of kiwifruit were studied to determine the appropriate drying methods for kiwifruit, which would provide theoretical support for the deep processing of kiwifruit. The results showed that the freeze-dried kiwifruit could maintain the original color to the maximum extent, and it's a* value was −7.24, which was closest to the fresh sample. The firmness, toughness and chewiness of freeze-dried kiwifruit were significantly lower than the other two groups (P

Reducing the fluctuation of slurry concentration is the key to improve the quality of mine filling. This study aims to develop a novel sliding mode control strategy to improve the accuracy of slurry concentration. A mathematical model of a slurry preparation process is firstly established by using the system response method. Secondly, the preview information is integrated into the model by constructing an augmented system. Then, a sliding mode controller is designed by using an improved exponential reaching law. Besides, the uncertainty of the system is estimated and compensated. The results show that the designed control system has excellent dynamic performance, high accuracy and strong robustness. The problem of the large fluctuation range of the slurry con-centration has been preliminarily solved. Finally, the effectiveness of the developed control strategy is verified by the numerical and experimental results.

SspABCD–SspE is a phosphorothioation-sensing bacterial defence system. Here, authors find that SspE exploits DNA phosphorothioation-binding preference to modulate its biochemical activities for the self/nonself discrimination and phage resistance.

To reduce the waste of resources, kiwifruit residue was fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum to prepare the beverage. The effects of solid-liquid ratio, inoculation volume, initial TSS and fermentation time on sensory score and viable count of the product were investigated by single-factor experiments. On these grounds, the fermentation process was optimized by response surface methodology with the sensory score as the response value. Furthermore, the changes in its nutritional quality, antioxidant activity and flavor during fermentation were analyzed. Results showed that, the optimal fermentation process of kiwifruit residue beverage was as follows: Initial TSS 12.4%, inoculation volume 3.3%, fermentation time 36 h, and the sensory score of the product was 87.17 scores. The nutritional quality assay showed that, as time fermentation, the viable count and the contents of soluble protein and total acid increased, total phenol content initially decreased and then increased, flavonoids content had no significant difference, and the contents of total sugar and ascorbic acid decreased. Under the optimum process, ABTS+· scavenging rate, DPPH· scavenging rate as well as iron reduction increased by 9.59%, 6.89%, and 4.08%, respectively. After 36 h fermentation, the product reached the best comprehensive nutritional quality. In addition, the assay of headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectroscopy (HS-GC-IMS) showed that the first 24 h of fermentation was the transformation stage of flavor compounds, and 36 h was an important node in the flavor formation, while the compounds with pungent odor were over-accumulated after 48 h fermentation. Among them, the relative contents of ketones and esters increased, while the relative contents of aldehydes and alcohols decreased. Further study found that, during fermentation, the fruit aroma and caramel aroma decreased first and then increased, the fermentation aroma increased, and the characteristic aroma as well as green aroma decreased. The olfactory sensory score (31.00) was the highest at 36 h, and the main aroma changed from green aroma to fermented aroma. To sum up, the product under the optimal process conditions (fermentation 36 h) had excellent sensory and was rich in nutrition and flavor, while the fermentation process had a great impact on the overall quality of the product and was required to be strictly controlled.

An extracellular cutinase in Botrytis cinerea was isolated and its biochemical properties and effects on the penetration of pathogens were evaluated. This cutinase had a specific activity of 6.03 U/μg of protein after 22.33-fold purification, and yielded a recovery of 50.5%. The optimum pH and temperature for the enzymatic activity of cutinase were 9 and 45 °C, respectively. The cutinase was stable between 30 and 80 °C and pH 4.0–10.0. Fe3+ and Cu2+ strongly increased cutinase activity while Mn2+ completely inhibited it. The enzyme could maintain its activity in the presence of methanol, ethanol and isopropanol, but was significantly inhibited in acetonitrile, n-hexane and acetone. Kinetic parameters KM, Vmax and kcat were 0.21 mM, 303 μmol•min−1•mg−1 protein and 303.03 s−1 respectively. The purified cutinase could also destroy blueberry wax crystal and decrease the cuticle, indicating a positive role on the penetration of pathogens for blueberry fruits. This study provides useful information for fruit postharvest preservation.

Intelligent packaging was prepared and evaluated to determine the quality of shiitake mushrooms using colorimetric sensing. Bromothymol blue/methyl red composite dyes were incorporated into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to form a porous indicator via freeze-drying. The PVA indicator was then modified with polylactic acid (PLA). The porous structure of the indicator was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging, and it was found that the hydrophobicity of the PVA/PLA indicator was significantly improved following modification. A sensitive colorimetric response toward the presence of CO2 in packaging was achieved using the naked eye. During investigations into the potential application of this system, the ΔE value of the indicator was found to correlate significantly with the quality indices (i.e., the browning index, firmness value, malondialdehyde content, and sensory score) of shiitake mushrooms during storage. Based on these correlations, qualitative identification of the freshness of shiitake mushrooms was studied using principal component analysis, while a prediction model of this freshness was obtained by partial least squares regression. This indicator, therefore, shows potential for application in intelligent packaging for the detection of CO2 due to the clear visualization of color changes by the naked eye.

In this paper, Agaricus bisporus stipe was used as the raw material, Lactobacillus plantarum inoculation amount, sugar addition amount and fermentation time were the main factors, and the total phenol content was used as the evaluation index. Based on single factor experiments, the Agaricus bisporus stipe enzyme was optimized by response surface experiments. Fermentation process, and the antioxidant capacity of the enzyme products before and after fermentation and storage at 4 ℃ and 25 ℃ for 5 d were studied. The results showed that the optimal process conditions for fermentation of Agaricus bisporus stipe enzyme were: Lactobacillus plantarum inoculation amount was 3%, 9.50% of sugar added, and fermentation time was 24 h. The total phenol content of the enzyme product could reach 2.20 mg/mL, which was equal to the predicted value of 2.19 mg/mL. The study found that the contents of total phenol and ascorbic acid in the Agaricus bisporus stipe enzyme were 2.20 mg/mL and 44.40 µg/mL, respectively. The DPPH free radical scavenging capacity, ABTS free radical scavenging capacity, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power and total antioxidant capacity were 51.93%, 52.11%, 0.70, 28.09 U/mL, respectively, which were significantly higher than those before fermentation. Further analysis of the antioxidant activity of the enzymes under the storage conditions of 4 ℃ and 25 ℃ showed that the enzymes stored at 4 ℃ had stronger DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging ability, iron ion reducing ability and antioxidant ability at 0 d storage. After 1 d storage, the antioxidant capacity of the enzyme began to decline sharply, and the antioxidant capacity of the enzyme stored at 25 °C was significantly lower than that stored at 4 °C (P

Flours obtained from 12 different wheat cultivars were employed as materials, the characteristics of protein, the farinographic and tensile properties of wheat flour were measured. Simultaneously, the quality of crusts from deep-fried and battered pork slices (CDBPS) containing wheat flour was explored. Subsequently, the correlations between properties of different wheat flour and quality of CDBPS were analyzed. Result indicated that, the contents of protein and its main fraction in wheat flour were significantly different among different test cultivars. The coefficient of variation of total protein and wet gluten content was 15.14% and 16.56%, respectively, while that of globulin reached 62.81%. The variation coefficients of formation time, dough stability time, weakening degree and farinogram quality number were much larger, and those of each index of extensograph properties was more than 20%. Significantly negative correlations were observed between oil content of CDBPS and total content of protein, gluten index, content of gliadin, water absorption, tensile curve area, tensile resistance, and extensibility (r=−0.739, −0.833, −0.833, −0.797, −0.736, −0.709 and −0.722, respectively, P

Al–Ce eutectic alloy has attracted much attention due to its excellent heat resistance and castability. A large number of interfaces are contained in the Al–Ce eutectic alloy. As an intermediary connecting the aluminum matrix and the Al11Ce3 reinforcement phase, the interfaces play an important role in enhancing the strength and toughness of the alloy. In this paper, eutectic Al–Ce alloy was prepared, the orientation relationship at the Al11Ce3/Al interface and the interface structure were investigated. Classification of orientation relationship was proposed, and three orientation relationships were observed: OR1, [010]Al11Ce3//[001]Al, (00 1¯)Al11Ce3//(010)Al, (100)Al11Ce3//(1¯ 00)Al; OR2, [5 2¯ 0]Al11Ce3//[1 2¯ 1]Al, (001)Al11Ce3//(111)Al; OR3, [1¯ 13]Al11Ce3//[011]Al, (110)Al11Ce3//(100)Al, of which OR3 is a new orientation relationship reported for the first time. First-principle calculations suggest that Al11Ce3 is combined with Al through a Ce-terminated surface of (001)Al11Ce3. The electronic structure indicates that the interface between Al and Al11Ce3 are chemical adsorptions, and the two-phase interface has strong interaction. The strong interface between the reinforcing phase and Al matrix can effectively enhance the load transfer, thereby improving the strength of the material.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant psychological consequences among the public, especially for people in the epicenter. This study examined the ‘bull's eye’ model by comparing the level of psychological distress and the effect of different stressors in Wuhan (the original epicenter) with that in the surrounding areas in Hubei Province during the pandemic. Data were obtained from a cross-national survey of 10 478 respondents between the ages of 18 and 80 years in Hubei Province during the peak of the pandemic. Results of the ordinary least squares regression models showed that Wuhan residents experienced more psychological distress than those in the surrounding areas. Social and economic problems caused by the pandemic, risk exposure, perceived discrimination, and information-seeking behaviors were positively associated with distress. Social assistance was negatively associated with distress. Findings were consistent with the bull's eye model by revealing both a higher level of psychological distress and a stronger effect of stressors among the Wuhan residents than with those in low-risk areas. Thus, policymakers and psychological workers should provide adequate psychological services in high-risk areas. Lowering risk exposure, reducing discrimination against people in the epicenter, and improving information quality are essential to alleviate their psychological distress.

The novel extreme learning machine (ELM) neural network disturbance observer (NNDO) -based sliding mode control (SMC) strategy is proposed for the precise tracking control of a hypersonic vehicle (HV) under various disturbance situations. By converting nonlinear dynamics into state-dependent linear model, the control law design process is simplified, and the sliding mode control law based on the power function reaching rate is designed to suppress the chattering effect. Considering the disturbances, the ELM-NNDO is designed based on the single-hidden layer feedforward network (SLFN). Different from conventional ELM using least square optimization approach, the output weight here is updated based on the Lyapunov synthesis approach. In addition, the influences of the disturbances on the velocity and altitude are attenuated by the direct feedback compensation (DFC), and the offset-free tracking control is realized for the output reference signal. Comparison of simulation results verify the superior control performance of the proposed method.

ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect and influencing factors of post-surgical radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy for patients with low- and intermediate-risk differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Subjects and methods: A retrospective analysis of 423 low- and intermediate-risk DTC patients admitted to the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital from January 2005 to December 2020 was performed. All patients were treated with surgery, had a postoperative pathological diagnosis, and were treated with RAI, including 89 males and 334 females. Recurrence risk stratification: 143 cases were low-risk, and 280 cases were intermediate-risk. Results: The excellent response (ER) rate for low- and intermediate-risk were 93.7% and 78.2%, respectively (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in age, cumulative dose of [131I], and pretreatment stimulated-Tg (pre-Tg) levels between the low- and intermediate-risk groups (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in the cumulative dose of 131I and pre-Tg levels between ER and the non-ER group (P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) values were 0.799 in the low-risk group, and 0.747 in the intermediate-risk group for the ROC curve by ER status of pre-Tg. The ER rate with RAI treatment decreased with an increase in pre-Tg levels. Conclusion: Pre-Tg was an important factor for RAI treatment decision-making and prognostic evaluation and differed between low-risk and intermediate-risk DTC. Aggressive RAI therapy was recommended for low-risk DTC with pre-Tg ≥ 20.0 ng/mL and in intermediate-risk group with pre-Tg ≥ 10.0 ng/mL.

The human-water system synergy in Northwest China has become more significant as the ecological civilization construction continues and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in China proceeds. In this study, taking the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region as a typical research region, the human–water system coevolution model was established by coupling SD (System Dynamics) model and coevolution model from the theoretical perspective of complex system synergies, to simulate the human-water system’s coevolution trends from 2010 to 2030 in this region. Five regulation schemes were then designed to enhance the synergy of the human-water system by adjusting sensitive decision variables. The results revealed that the supply to demand ratio of water and the synergy index of the human-water system obtained by the status continuation scheme would decline from 1.02 and 0.39 in 2020 to 0.81 and 0.35 in 2030, respectively, indicating the growing gap between water supply and demand and revealing the worsening human-water relationship. Under the comprehensive optimization scheme, the supply to demand ratio of water and the synergy index of the human-water system would be higher than under the other schemes, demonstrating a substantially improved human-water relationship. Hence, a comprehensive optimization regulation scheme is proposed. This scheme combines improving pro-environmental water consumption, adapting industrial structures, and carrying out water conservation and pollution prevention. This research renders a decision-making basis for regulating regional water resources and finding paths to developing a harmonious relationship between humans and water.

ObjectivesLotus root (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) is a common medicinal-food dual-use vegetable. In this study, the effects of lotus root extract on acute alcoholism were investigated.MethodsThe Walle-Hoch method was used to determine the ADH activity of lotus root extracts in vitro. Lotus root methanol extract were identified by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS based metabolomics analysis. Then 109 active ingredients with achievable oral doses and drug-like properties were explored using the TCMSP platform. SwissTargetPrediction Database to predict lotus root treatment targets for acute alcoholismSTRING database (https://www.string-db.org/) was used to construct protein-protein interaction network graphs. Gene ontology (GO) functional, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of genes common to lotus root and alcoholism by Metascap database. Molecular docking simulations were performed using AutoDock 1.5.6 software. Animal experiments verified the relieving effect of lotus root extract on acute alcoholism after intervention.ResultsResults indicated the methanol extract of lotus root showed the highest activation rate of ethanol dehydrogenase in vitro (18.87%). The 433 compounds of lotus root methanol extract were identified by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS based metabolomics analysis. Bioinformatics analysis indicate that there were 224 intersectioning targets between lotus root extract and acute alcoholism. KEGG enrichment analysised shows that lotus root extract may play a role in treating acute alcoholism by intervening with the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway. The protein-protein interaction network (PPI) analysis found that HSP90AA1, MAPK1 and STAT3 played a key role in lotus root extract-modulated PPI networks. Molecular docking showed that (7R, 8S)-dihydrodihydrodipine cypressol had the best binding ability with MAPK1. Experiments in mice indicate that lotus root extract improved the activity of liver alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), increase glutathione (GSH) and reduce malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, decrease glutamate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) in the serum of mice with acute alcoholism, and accelerate the metabolic rate of alcohol after drinking. This study reveals the mechanism of lotus root to alleviate acute alcoholism, which provides a basis for further research on functional foods using lotus root and offers new possibilities for the treatment of acute alcoholism.ConclusionsThe results of the current study showed that the methanolic extract of lotus root had the highest activation rate of ethanol dehydrogenase. Network pharmacology results suggest that lotus root extract may play a role in the treatment of alcoholism by regulating signaling pathways, such as neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, as well as biological processes, such as regulation of secretion, regulation of ion transport, response to lipopolysaccharides, and response to alcohol. Animal experiments confirmed the therapeutic effect of lotus root on acute alcoholism mechanistically through activation of alcohol catabolic enzyme, reduction of oxidative stress and protection of liver function.