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Climatic factors are closely associated with the occurrence of vector-borne diseases, and they also influence the distribution of vectors. The occurrence of plague is closely related to the population dynamics of fleas and their host animals, as well as climatic conditions. This study focused on Xilingol League, utilizing climatic and flea index data from 2012 to 2021. Spearman correlation and ''Boruta'' importance analysis were conducted to screen for climatic variables. A generalized additive model (GAM) was employed to investigate the influence of climatic factors and rodent density on the flea index. GAM analysis revealed distinct trends in flea index among different rodent hosts. For Meriones unguiculatus, the flea index declined with increased density and with higher humidity, yet rose with greater lagged sunshine duration. For Spermophilus dauricus, an initial increase in flea index with density was observed, followed by a decrease, and a rise in the index was noted when ground temperatures were low. This study reveals the nonlinear interactions and lag effects among climatic factors, density, and flea index. Climatic factors and density variably influence the flea index of two Yersinia pestis hosts. This research advances the prediction and early warning efforts for plague control, providing a theoretical basis for rodent and flea eradication strategies.

Abstract The intracellular bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila modulates host cell functions by secreting multiple effectors with diverse biochemical activities. In particular, effectors of the SidE family interfere with host protein ubiquitination in a process that involves production of phosphoribosyl ubiquitin (PR-Ub). Here, we show that effector LnaB converts PR-Ub into ADP-ribosylated ubiquitin, which is further processed to ADP-ribose and functional ubiquitin by the (ADP-ribosyl)hydrolase MavL, thus maintaining ubiquitin homeostasis in infected cells. Upon being activated by actin, LnaB also undergoes self-AMPylation on tyrosine residues. The activity of LnaB requires a motif consisting of Ser, His and Glu (SHxxxE) present in a large family of toxins from diverse bacterial pathogens. Thus, our study sheds light on the mechanisms by which a pathogen maintains ubiquitin homeostasis and identifies a family of enzymes capable of protein AMPylation.

Abstract There are hundreds of genes typically overexpressed in breast cancer cells and it's often assumed that their overexpression contributes to cancer progression. However, the precise proportion of these overexpressed genes contributing to tumorigenicity remains unclear. To address this gap, we undertook a comprehensive screening of a diverse set of seventy-two genes overexpressed in breast cancer. This systematic screening evaluated their potential for inducing malignant transformation and, concurrently, assessed their impact on breast cancer cell proliferation and viability. Select genes including ALDH3B1, CEACAM5, IL8, PYGO2, and WWTR1, exhibited pronounced activity in promoting tumor formation and establishing gene dependencies critical for tumorigenicity. Subsequent investigations revealed that CEACAM5 overexpression triggered the activation of signaling pathways involving β-catenin, Cdk4, and mTOR. Additionally, it conferred a growth advantage independent of exogenous insulin in defined medium and facilitated spheroid expansion by inducing multiple layers of epithelial cells while preserving a hollow lumen. Furthermore, the silencing of CEACAM5 expression synergized with tamoxifen-induced growth inhibition in breast cancer cells. These findings underscore the potential of screening overexpressed genes for both oncogenic drivers and tumor dependencies to expand the repertoire of therapeutic targets for breast cancer treatment.

Abstract Purpose To assess the efficacy and safety of various intraocular lenses (IOLs), including standard monofocal, bifocal, trifocal, extended depth of focus (EDOF), and enhanced monofocal IOLs, post-cataract surgery through a network meta-analysis. Methods A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science was conducted to identify relevant studies from the past 5 years. Parameters such as binocular visual acuities, spectacle independence, contrast sensitivity (CS), and optical quality were used to evaluate efficacy and safety. Data from the selected studies were analyzed using Review Manager 5.4 and STATA 17.0 software. Results Twenty-eight Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) comprising 2465 subjects were included. Trifocal IOLs exhibited superior uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA) compared to monofocal IOLs (MD: -0.35; 95% CI: -0.48, -0.22). Both trifocal (AcrySof IQ PanOptix IOLs group MD: -0.13; 95% CI: -0.21, -0.06) and EDOF IOLs (MD: -0.13; 95% CI: -0.17, -0.09) showed better uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA) than monofocal IOLs. Trifocal IOLs ranked highest in spectacle independence at various distances (AT LISAtri 839MP group: SUCRA 97.5% for distance, 80.7% for intermediate; AcrySof IQ PanOptix group: SUCRA 83.0% for near). Conclusions For cataract patients who want to treat presbyopia, trifocal IOLs demonstrated better visual acuity and spectacle independence at near distances. Different types of trifocal IOL characteristics differ. EDOF and enhanced monofocal IOLs have improved visual quality at intermediate distances.Therefore, It is very important to select the appropriate IOLs based on the lens characteristics and patient needs.

Abstract Background Using in vivo neuroimaging techniques, growing evidence has demonstrated that the choroid plexus (CP) volume is enlarged in patients with several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. However, although animal and postmortem findings suggest that CP abnormalities are likely important pathological mechanisms underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the third most common neurodegenerative disease, no available study has been conducted to thoroughly assess CP abnormalities and their clinical relevance in vivo in ALS patients to date. Thus, we aimed to determine whether in vivo CP enlargement may occur in ALS patients. We also aimed to identify the relationships of CP volume with clinical disabilities and blood-CSF barrier (BCSFB) permeability in ALS patients. Methods In this retrospective study, based on structural MRI data, CP volume was assessed using a Gaussian mixture model and underwent further manual correction in 155 ALS patients and 105 age- and sex-matched HCs from October 2021 to April 2023. The ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) was used to assess clinical disability. The CSF/serum albumin quotient (Qalb) was used to assess BCSFB permeability. Moreover, all the ALS patients completed genetic testing, and according to genetic testing, the ALS patients were further divided into genetic ALS subgroup and sporadic ALS subgroup. Results We found that compared with HCs, ALS patients had a significantly higher CP volume (p

Abstract Pulex simulans and Polygenis gwyni are vectors of many flea‐borne diseases. They were widely recorded in the United States and Mexico between 1970 and 2000. Maximum entropy models were used to explore the habitats of both fleas under different climate scenarios to provide the scientific basis for the surveillance and control of flea‐borne diseases. We screened climate variables by principal component analysis and Pearson's correlation test and evaluated model performance by ROC curve. ArcMap was used to visualize expressions. Under current climatic conditions, the medium and highly suitable areas for P. simulans are estimated to be 9.16 × 106 km2 and 4.97 × 106 km2, respectively. These regions are predominantly located in South America, along the Mediterranean coast of Europe, the southern part of the African continent, the Middle East, North China, and Australia. For P. gwyni, the medium and highly suitable areas under current climatic conditions are approximately 4.01 × 106 and 2.04 × 106 km2, respectively, with the primary distribution in North China extending to the Himalayas, near the Equator in Africa, and in a few areas of Europe. Under future climate scenarios, in the SSP3‐7.0 scenario for the years 2081–2100, the area of high suitability for P. simulans is projected to reach its maximum. Similarly, in the SSP2‐4.5 scenario for 2061–2080, the area of high suitability for P. gwyni is expected to reach its maximum. Under global climate change, there is a large range in the potential distribution for both fleas, with an overall upward trend in the area of habitat under future climate scenarios. Governments should develop scientific prevention and control measures to prevent the invasive alien species flea.

PurposeTo investigate potential differences in pregnancy outcomes among patients with regular menstruation who underwent frozen-thawed embryo transfer using natural cycle (NC) or hormone replacement therapy (HRT).MethodsThis study retrospectively analyzed 2672 patients with regular menstruation who underwent FET from November 2015 to June 2021 at the single reproductive medical center. A one-to-one match was performed applying a 0.02 caliper with propensity score matching. Independent factors influencing the live birth and clinical pregnancy rates were screened and developed in the nomogram by logistic regression analysis. The efficacy of live birth rate and clinical pregnancy rate prediction models was assessed with the area under the ROC curve, and the live birth rate prediction model was internally validated within the bootstrap method.ResultsThe NC protocol outperformed the HRT protocol in terms of clinical pregnancy and live birth rates. The stratified analysis revealed consistently higher live birth and clinical pregnancy rates with the NC protocol across different variable strata compared to the HRT protocol. However, compared to the HRT treatment, perinatal outcomes indicated that the NC protocol was related to a higher probability of gestational diabetes. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis demonstrated independent risk factors for live birth rate and clinical pregnancy rate. To predict the two rates, nomogram prediction models were constructed based on these influencing factors. The receiver operating characteristic curve demonstrated moderate predictive ability with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.646 and 0.656 respectively. The internal validation of the model for live birth rate yielded an average AUC of 0.646 implying the stability of the nomogram model.ConclusionThis study highlighted that NC yielded higher live birth and clinical pregnancy rates in comparison to HRT in women with regular menstruation who achieved successful pregnancies through frozen-thawed embryo transfer. However, it might incur a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes.

Abstract The mining of the protective coal seam usually produces different pressure relief effects on the different areas of protected coal seam, the reason is that the stress paths of protected seam coal body in different areas caused by mining effect are different. In order to explore the differential pressure relief damage effect of coal body under different pressure relief conditions, the stress evolution path of coal body in different areas of the protected coal seam is obtianed by using theoretical analysis and the macro–micro damage characteristics of coal body under different stress paths by using numerical simulation in this paper. The results show that: The damage characteristics of the sample models are basically the same in the in-situ stress recovery stage and the mining disturbance stage of the two stress paths. With ith the sequence of stress stages experienced by the sample model, the distribution of acoustic emission events concentrates in the high-intensity area and the porosity continues to decrease. The number of cracks increases slowly in the stage of in-situ stress recovery stage, most of which are tensile cracks, while the number of cracks increases sharply in the mining disturbance stage, most of which are shear cracks. The difference of the deformation and macro meso damage characteristics of the sample models under the two stress paths is mainly reflected in the post mining pressure relief stage. At the post mining pressure relief stage of path 1, the number of cracks in the sample has little growth, and most of them are small energy tensile cracks, and the porosity increases, which verifies its obvious pressure relief activation antireflection effect; At this stage of path 2, the crack growth of the sample is obvious, and most of them are high-energy shear cracks, and the porosity continues to decrease. Compared with path 1, the pressure relief expansion effect of the sample model is suppressed and the compression damage continues to develop in this stage of path 2.

Abstract Cancer etiology represents an intricate, multifactorial orchestration where metabolically associated insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and insulin foster cellular proliferation and growth throughout tumorigenesis. The insulin receptor (IR) exhibits two splice variants arising from alternative mRNA processing, namely IR-A, and IR-B, with remarkable distribution and biological effects disparities. This insightful review elucidates the structural intricacies, widespread distribution, and functional significance of IR-A and IR-B. Additionally, it explores the regulatory mechanisms governing alternative splicing processes, intricate signal transduction pathways, and the intricate association linking IR-A and IR-B splicing variants to breast and prostate cancer tumorigenesis. Breast cancer and prostate cancer are the most common malignant tumors with the highest incidence rates among women and men, respectively. These findings provide a promising theoretical framework for advancing preventive strategies, diagnostic modalities, and therapeutic interventions targeting breast and prostate cancer.

In recent years, a great deal of attention has been focused on the environmental impact of plastics, including the carbon emissions related to plastics, which has promoted the application of biodegradable plastics. Countries worldwide have shown high interest in replacing traditional plastics with biodegradable plastics. However, no systematic comparison has been conducted on the carbon emissions of biodegradable versus traditional plastic products. This study evaluates the carbon emissions of traditional and biodegradable plastic products (BPPs) over four stages and briefly discusses environmental and economic perspectives. Four scenarios—namely, the traditional method, chemical recycling, industrial composting, and anaerobic digestion—are considered for the disposal of waste BPPs (WBPPs). The analysis takes China as a case study. The results show that the carbon emissions of 1000 traditional plastic products (plastic bags, lunch boxes, cups, etc.) were 52.09–150.36 carbon emissions equivalent of per kilogram (kg CO2eq), with the stage of plastic production contributing 50.71%–50.77%. In comparison, 1000 similar BPPs topped out at 21.06–56.86 kg CO2eq, approximately 13.53%–62.19% lower than traditional plastic products. The difference was mainly at the stages of plastic production and waste disposal, and the BPPs showed significant carbon reduction potential at the raw material acquisition stage. Waste disposal plays an important role in environmental impact, and composting and anaerobic digestion are considered to be preferable disposal methods for WBPPs. However, the high cost of biodegradable plastics is a challenge for their widespread use. This study has important reference significance for the sustainable development of the biodegradable plastics industry.

Abstract Argonaute (Ago) proteins are ubiquitous across all kingdoms of life. Eukaryotic Agos (eAgos) use small RNAs to recognize transcripts for RNA silencing in eukaryotes. In contrast, the functions of prokaryotic counterparts (pAgo) are less well known. Recently, short pAgos in conjunction with the associated TIR or Sir2 (SPARTA or SPARSA) were found to serve as antiviral systems to combat phage infections. Herein, we present the cryo-EM structures of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-bound SPARSA with and without nucleic acids at resolutions of 3.1 Å and 3.6 Å, respectively. Our results reveal that the APAZ (Analogue of PAZ) domain and the short pAgo form a featured architecture similar to the long pAgo to accommodate nucleic acids. We further identified the key residues for NAD+ binding and elucidated the structural basis for guide RNA and target DNA recognition. Using structural comparisons, molecular dynamics simulations, and biochemical experiments, we proposed a putative mechanism for NAD+ hydrolysis in which an H186 loop mediates nucleophilic attack by catalytic water molecules. Overall, our study provides mechanistic insight into the antiphage role of the SPARSA system.

Solid-state electrolytes have been demonstrated immense potential with their high density and safety for Li, Na batteries. The discovery of novel crystals is of fundamental scientific and technological interest in solid-state chemistry. The discovery, synthesis and application of energetically favourable solid-state electrolytes has been bottlenecked by expensive trial-and-error approaches. Machine learning has brought breakthroughs to solid-state electrolytes. Numerous solid-state electrolyte candidates have been screened by different models at multiscale, i.e., interatomic potentials, molecular dynamics, ionic conductivity. Machine learning method also accelerate the synthesis prediction, mechanism discovery and interface design. This review would answer the question what can be done for solid-state electrolytes by machine learning, including descriptor, model, algorithm etc. This paper will promote fast integration between scientists in materials, software, computing discipline.

In order to address the issue of safe and efficient extraction of coalbed methane in H2S-containing coal mines, this study explored the impact of H2S on CH4 diffusion and displacement within coal. The molecular structure model of Guizhou Linhua (LH) coal was obtained based on the structural physical characterization experiment of coal such as 13C NMR, FTIR, XPS, we investigated the diffusion coefficient of CH4 in coal under different fixed adsorption amounts of H2S and examined the corresponding adsorption curves of mixed gas (H2S, CH4, CO2) under varying component proportions using the molecular simulation software Materials Studio. The results indicate that when H2S is present in the adsorption system, lower levels of absorbed H2S content by coal correspond to higher CH4 diffusion coefficients and improved diffusion effects. In other words, the presence of H2S inhibits CH4 diffusion within coal. Under identical temperature and pressure conditions, the adsorption capacity of coal for CH4, H2S, and CO2 follows this order: H2S > CO2 > CH4. When the mixture n(CO2)/n(CH4) is in the range of 0–150 % and there is H2S influence in the system, there is a significant reduction in CH4 adsorption capacity compared to two-component coals containing CO2/CH4, it becomes evident that H2S has an inhibitory effect on CO2 displacing CH4 within coal.

In the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, the emphasis is made on green and low-carbon initiatives, which has become a defining feature of China's development, and it is of great significance to help enterprises realize green and sustainable development under the guidance of environmental regulation to achieve the goal of “dual-carbon”. At first, this research analyzes the decision-making process between the government and enterprises under environmental regulation using the evolutionary game model. Moreover, using the TOPSIS method, this paper constructs the indicators of corporate green sustainable development performance, and empirically examines the impact of the intensity of environmental regulation on the green sustainable development performance of enterprises based on the data of Chinese A-share listed enterprises from 2010 to 2022. A noteworthy positive correlation between the intensity of environmental regulation and the sustainable green development performance of enterprises is unveiled by the results. Mechanism tests suggest that the intensity of environmental regulation has a positive impact on the green sustainable development performance of enterprises through enhancing green finance and green technological innovation. Moreover, this effect tends to be more pronounced for enterprises that are in the mature life cycle, with green executive team, and high media attention. The research presented in this study contributes to establishing a novel theoretical foundation for corporate sustainable development.

Abstract Background The epididymis is crucial for post-testicular sperm development which is termed sperm maturation. During this process, fertilizing ability is acquired through the epididymis-sperm communication via exchange of protein and small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs). More importantly, epididymal-derived exosomes secreted by the epididymal epithelial cells transfer sncRNAs into maturing sperm. These sncRNAs could mediate intergenerational inheritance which further influences the health of their offspring. Recently, the linkage and mechanism involved in regulating sperm function and sncRNAs during epididymal sperm maturation are increasingly gaining more and more attention. Methods An epididymal-specific ribonuclease T2 (RNase T2) knock-in (KI) mouse model was constructed to investigate its role in developing sperm fertilizing capability. The sperm parameters of RNase T2 KI males were evaluated and the metabolic phenotypes of their offspring were characterized. Pandora sequencing technology profiled and sequenced the sperm sncRNA expression pattern to determine the effect of epididymal RNase T2 on the expression levels of sperm sncRNAs. Furthermore, the expression levels of RNase T2 in the epididymal epithelial cells in response to environmental stress were confirmed both in vitro and in vivo. Results Overexpression of RNase T2 caused severe subfertility associated with astheno-teratozoospermia in mice caput epididymis, and furthermore contributed to the acquired metabolic disorders in the offspring, including hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hyperinsulinemia. Pandora sequencing showed altered profiles of sncRNAs especially rRNA-derived small RNAs (rsRNAs) and tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) in RNase T2 KI sperm compared to control sperm. Moreover, environmental stress upregulated RNase T2 in the caput epididymis. Conclusions The importance was demonstrated of epididymal RNase T2 in inducing sperm maturation and intergenerational inheritance. Overexpressed RNase T2 in the caput epididymis leads to astheno-teratozoospermia and metabolic disorder in the offspring.

Highly integrated information sharing among people, vehicles, roads, and cloud systems, along with the rapid development of autonomous driving technologies, has spurred the evolution of automobiles from simple “transportation tools” to interconnected “intelligent systems”. The intelligent cockpit is a comprehensive application space for various new technologies in intelligent vehicles, encompassing the domains of driving control, riding comfort, and infotainment. It provides drivers and passengers with safety, comfort, and pleasant driving experiences, serving as the gateway for traditional automobile manufacturing to upgrade towards an intelligent automotive industry ecosystem. This is the optimal convergence point for the intelligence, connectivity, electrification, and sharing of automobiles. Currently, the form, functions, and interaction methods of the intelligent cockpit are gradually changing, transitioning from the traditional “human adapts to the vehicle” viewpoint to the “vehicle adapts to human”, and evolving towards a future of natural interactive services where “humans and vehicles mutually adapt”. This article reviews the definitions, intelligence levels, functional domains, and technical frameworks of intelligent automotive cockpits. Additionally, combining the core mechanisms of human–machine interactions in intelligent cockpits, this article proposes an intelligent-cockpit human–machine interaction process and summarizes the current state of key technologies in intelligent-cockpit human–machine interactions. Lastly, this article analyzes the current challenges faced in the field of intelligent cockpits and forecasts future trends in intelligent cockpit technologies.

Abscisic acid (ABA) and polyamines (PAs) play an important role in plant stress responses; however, their cooperative mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, using the detached-, PEG 6000- and pot-drought strawberry leaves, we investigated the expression changes of genes key to ABA and PA homeostasis by a combination of qRT-PCR, western blotting, RNA-sequencing, physiological analyses, and pharmacological tests. The results showed that early drought may promote the production of both putrescine (Put) by FaADC1 and ABA by FaNCED1, then these productions could be further facilitated by the accumulated Put. Meanwhile, the high accumulation of ABA not only further accelerated ABA biosynthesis by FaNCED3, but also controlled PA homeostasis by a decrease in FaADC1 expression and an increase in FaSAMDC1 and FaPAO5 expression. Based on our RNA-seq data, Put was involved in photosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation, while ABA was implicated in sugar and flavonoid metabolism, both of which were linked to auxin (IAA). Altogether, in response to strawberry drought stress, FaNCED1/3 and FaADC1/FaSAMDC1 participated separately in ABA and PA accumulation, mostly FaNCED1/FaADC1 was induced by stress and FaNCED3/FaSAMDC1 was induced by ABA. Finally, a balance between ABA and PAs for the cooperative control of plant growth and adaptation is proposed through IAA, photosynthesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and flavonoid metabolism, among which ABA may act in a Put-dependent manner.

BackgroundPeanut is an important source of dietary protein for human beings, but it is also recognized as one of the eight major food allergens. Binding of IgE antibodies to specific epitopes in peanut allergens plays important roles in initiating peanut-allergic reactions, and Ara h 2 is widely considered as the most potent peanut allergen and the best predictor of peanut allergy. Therefore, Ara h 2 IgE epitopes can serve as useful biomarkers for prediction of IgE-binding variations of Ara h 2 and peanut in foods. This study aimed to develop and validate an IgE epitope-specific antibodies (IgE-EsAbs)-based sandwich ELISA (sELISA) for detection of Ara h 2 and measurement of Ara h 2 IgE-immunoreactivity changes in foods.MethodsDEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow anion-exchange chromatography combining with SDS-PAGE gel extraction were applied to purify Ara h 2 from raw peanut. Hybridoma and epitope vaccine techniques were employed to generate a monoclonal antibody against a major IgE epitope of Ara h 2 and a polyclonal antibody against 12 IgE epitopes of Ara h 2, respectively. ELISA was carried out to evaluate the target binding and specificity of the generated IgE-EsAbs. Subsequently, IgE-EsAbs-based sELISA was developed to detect Ara h 2 and its allergenic residues in food samples. The IgE-binding capacity of Ara h 2 and peanut in foods was determined by competitive ELISA. The dose-effect relationship between the Ara h 2 IgE epitope content and Ara h 2 (or peanut) IgE-binding ability was further established to validate the reliability of the developed sELISA in measuring IgE-binding variations of Ara h 2 and peanut in foods.ResultsThe obtained Ara h 2 had a purity of 94.44%. Antibody characterization revealed that the IgE-EsAbs recognized the target IgE epitope(s) of Ara h 2 and exhibited high specificity. Accordingly, an IgE-EsAbs-based sELISA using these antibodies was able to detect Ara h 2 and its allergenic residues in food samples, with high sensitivity (a limit of detection of 0.98 ng/mL), accuracy (a mean bias of 0.88%), precision (relative standard deviation < 16.50%), specificity, and recovery (an average recovery of 98.28%). Moreover, the developed sELISA could predict IgE-binding variations of Ara h 2 and peanut in foods, as verified by using sera IgE derived from peanut-allergic individuals.ConclusionThis novel immunoassay could be a user-friendly method to monitor low level of Ara h 2 and to preliminary predict in vitro potential allergenicity of Ara h 2 and peanut in processed foods.

As a crucial component of hierarchical diagnosis and treatment systems, medical alliances in China are responsible for promoting the downward allocation of high-quality medical resources. Remote consultation, as an essential means to achieve this goal, is of practical importance in the realization of resource sharing between hospitals within medical alliances in China. The existing research on the construction of remote consultations within medical alliances has achieved fruitful results in both theory and practice. However, the establishment of remote consultation involves many factors, and the current research mainly focuses on the influence of traditional economic profit and loss on the construction of remote consultation. In view of the practical problems existing in the operation of medical and health services in China, such as the need to improve the capacity of primary medical and health services and the poor sinking effect of high-quality medical resources, it is of great importance to systematically study the promotion strategy of the construction of remote consultation within the medical alliance to build a reasonable order of medical treatment. Therefore, by determining the logical path formed by the remote consultation channel and on the basis of traditional profit and loss parameters, this paper fully considers the relevant influence of the resource sinking utility caused by the remote consultation channel. The stability of the evolutionary system is analyzed, and a numerical simulation is used to explore the impact of key parameters on system evolution. The research results indicate that the establishment of a remote consultation system between hospitals at different levels is primarily influenced by factors such as the initial proportion of the establishment strategy chosen by both parties, the establishment cost, the distribution proportion of the government subsidy, the distribution proportion of the economic benefit, and the effectiveness proportion in the utility derived from the downward allocation of resources and reputational damage. The findings suggest that moderate to high levels of reputation loss do not significantly influence the final decision-making process for either party. Government subsidies can have an impact on hospital decision-making in the early stages, and in the long term, the resource sinking utility is more appealing than the economic benefits. To a certain extent, this study enriches the related research on remote consultation and the sinking of high-quality medical resources, provides reliable theoretical and method support for the sinking of high-quality medical resources, promotes the construction of remote consultation in medical alliances in China, and provides a decision-making reference and basis for the government and health administrative departments to formulate relevant policies.

With the continuous deepening of ocean exploration, submersibles have become essential tools that have garnered considerable attention in the academia. As of the 2020s, driven by advancements in materials and various disciplines, the development of submersibles has undergone important transformations compared to their initial state. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive review of the developments in submersible technology from a historical point of view. In particular, we emphasize the emergence of the robotic fish-type submersibles. This process is characterized by the fusion of biomimicry and advanced technologies, and represents the future direction of submersible developments. Thus, we also emphasize the key technological challenges that robotic fish-type submersibles should focus on. Finally, we outline a general procedure for developing biomimetic robotic fish-type submersibles by drawing insights from a recent 2,000-m biomimicry prototype study. We hope to pave a smoother path for the future advancement of submersibles.

BackgroundFreezing of gait (FOG) is a common and disabling phenomenon in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), but effective treatment approach remains inconclusive. Dysfunctional emotional factors play a key role in FOG. Since primary motor cortex (M1) connects with prefrontal areas via the frontal longitudinal system, where are responsible for emotional regulation, we hypothesized M1 may be a potential neuromodulation target for FOG therapy. The purpose of this study is to explore whether high-frequency rTMS over bilateral M1 could relieve FOG and emotional dysregulation in patients with PD.MethodsThis study is a single-center, randomized double-blind clinical trial. Forty-eight patients with PD and FOG from the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were randomly assigned to receive 10 sessions of either active (N = 24) or sham (N = 24) 10 Hz rTMS over the bilateral M1. Patients were evaluated at baseline (T0), after the last session of treatment (T1) and 30 days after the last session (T2). The primary outcomes were Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOGQ) scores, with Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) time, Standing-Start 180° Turn (SS-180) time, SS-180 steps, United Parkinson Disease Rating Scales (UPDRS) III, Hamilton Depression scale (HAMD)-24 and Hamilton Anxiety scale (HAMA)-14 as secondary outcomes.ResultsTwo patients in each group dropped out at T2 and no serious adverse events were reported by any subject. Two-way repeated ANOVAs revealed significant group × time interactions in FOGQ, TUG, SS-180 turn time, SS-180 turning steps, UPDRS III, HAMD-24 and HAMA-14. Post-hoc analyses showed that compared to T0, the active group exhibited remarkable improvements in FOGQ, TUG, SS-180 turn time, SS-180 turning steps, UPDRS III, HAMD-24 and HAMA-14 at T1 and T2. No significant improvement was found in the sham group. The Spearman correlation analysis revealed a significantly positive association between the changes in HAMD-24 and HAMA-14 scores and FOGQ scores at T1.ConclusionHigh-frequency rTMS over bilateral M1 can improve FOG and reduce depression and anxiety in patients with PD.

Habitat suitability analysis using species distribution models (SDMs) presents a valuable approach for determining appropriate land utilization strategies and crop planting decisions, which are vital to achieve optimal agricultural productivity and ensure environmental sustainability in the context of rapid global change. Aside abiotic conditions, pests emerge as the most important biological factor affecting crop growth. It can be an effective avenue to comprehensively assess land use suitability by building and integrating SDMs for both crops and their pests. Using the MaxEnt model and a bivariate map, we predicted and integrated the habitat suitability of tea (Camellia sinensis) and its primary insect herbivore (Empoasca onukii) in China. Our study explicitly revealed spatial heterogeneity in suitability between the two species, despite finding that they shared common environmental predictors (i.e., temperature, elevation, and soil pH). Results support South China and Southwest China as the most favorable areas for tea cultivation, while highlighting the adverse climatic challenges on tea growth in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and in the northern regions of the Yangtze River. Meanwhile, analyses emphasize the necessity of sustainable leafhopper management strategies in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and in regions along the southeast coast. These findings demonstrate the significance of comparative analysis on the habitat suitability of both crops and insect herbivores, providing valuable insights for agricultural production planning and sustainable pest management. Furthermore, the methods employed in this study hold potential for the application in diverse context, ranging from the control of invasive species to the conservation of endangered biodiversity.

Photocatalytic non-oxidative coupling of methane (PNOCM) is a mild and cost-effective method for the production of multicarbon compounds. However, the separation of photogenerated charges and activation of methane (CH4) are the main challenges for this reaction. Here, single crystal-like TiO2 nanotubes (VO-p-TNTs) with oxygen vacancies (VO) and preferential orientation were prepared and applied to PNOCM. The results demonstrate that the significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance is mainly related to the strong synergistic effect between preferential orientation and VO. The preferential orientation of VO-p-TNT along the [001] direction reduces the formation of complex centers at grain boundaries as the form of interfacial states and potential barriers, which improves the separation and transport of photogenerated carriers. Meanwhile, VO provides abundant coordination unsaturated sites for CH4 chemisorption and also acts as electron traps to hinder the recombination of electrons and holes, establishing an effective electron transfer channel between the adsorbed CH4 molecule and photocatalyst, thus weakening the C–H bond. In addition, the introduction of VO broadens the light absorption range. As a result, VO-p-TNT exhibits excellent PNOCM performance and provides new insights into catalyst design for CH4 conversion.

To address the low clearance rate issue of the anti-blocking mechanism for maize no-till planters in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China, experiments and simulations were conducted to analyze the individual and collective movements of straw under the action of the round roller-claw anti-blocking mechanism. A tracer-based measurement method for straw displacement was applied firstly. Experimental results showed that the straw forward displacement could be characterized by the average horizontal displacements of longitudinal and lateral tracers, while the straw side displacement could be characterized by the lateral displacement of the longitudinal tracer. The straw forward displacement was 58.95% greater than the side displacement. Forward, side, and total displacements of straw increased as the mechanism’s forward speed increased from 3 km/h to 7 km/h, with corresponding rates of increase at 233.98%, 43.20%, and 162.47%, respectively. Furthermore, a model of straw–soil–mechanism interaction was constructed in EDEM 2022 software. The relative error between experimental and simulated straw clearance rates was 11.20%, confirming the applicability of the simulation model for studying straw–soil–mechanism interaction. Based on the simulation model, three straw tracers of different lengths were selected to study the motion behavior of straw. It was inferred that despite differences in straw length, the movement behaviors of the three straw tracers under the influence of the anti-blocking mechanism were similar. Additionally, longer straws exhibited greater displacements in all directions. This paper serves as a reference for studying straw motion behavior influenced by anti-blocking mechanisms.

Human-level driving is the ultimate goal of autonomous driving. As the top-level decision-making aspect of autonomous driving, behavior decision establishes short-term driving behavior strategies by evaluating road structures, adhering to traffic rules, and analyzing the intentions of other traffic participants. Existing behavior decisions are primarily implemented based on rule-based methods, exhibiting insufficient generalization capabilities when faced with new and unseen driving scenarios. In this paper, we propose a novel behavior decision method that leverages the inherent generalization and commonsense reasoning abilities of visual language models (VLMs) to learn and simulate the behavior decision process in human driving. We constructed a novel instruction-following dataset containing a large number of image–text instructions paired with corresponding driving behavior labels, to support the learning of the Drive Large Language and Vision Assistant (DriveLLaVA) and enhance the transparency and interpretability of the entire decision process. DriveLLaVA is fine-tuned on this dataset using the Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) approach, which efficiently optimizes the model parameter count and significantly reduces training costs. We conducted extensive experiments on a large-scale instruction-following dataset, and compared with state-of-the-art methods, DriveLLaVA demonstrated excellent behavior decision performance. DriveLLaVA is capable of handling various complex driving scenarios, showing strong robustness and generalization abilities.

Diversified soil microbiomes are the key drivers of carbon fixation and plant residue decomposition in forest ecosystems. Revealing the elevation patterns of soil microbial carbon cycling in forests is essential for utilization of forest ecological resources. However, the soil microbial diversity and carbon cycle processes in Platycladus orientalis plantations across different elevations are still unclear. Here, we established a gradient with three elevations (118 m, 300 m, and 505 m) on the Beijing Ming Dynasty Tombs Forest Farm, which is located in Changping District, Beijing. The metagenomics method was applied to study the soil microbiome, with a special focus on the carbon cycle process at each elevation. We found the diversity and composition of the soil microbiomes significantly varied across the elevation gradients. The structure of bacteria and archaea was mainly driven by soil total potassium, pH and NH4+, but the eukaryota had no significant relationship with the environmental factors. The relative abundance of genes involved in microbial carbon fixation and decomposition of organic carbon were also significantly impacted by elevation, with the former showing increasing, u-shaped, or hump trends with increasing elevation, but the latter only showing hump trends. The rTCA cycle and 3-hydroxypropionate pathway were the dominant carbon fixation pathways in the Platycladus orientalis plantations. The elevation gradient shaped the microbial decomposition of plant-derived organic carbon by changing soil properties and, furthermore, led to soil organic carbon stock losses. These findings increase our understanding of soil microbial diversity and the carbon cycle across different elevations and provide a theoretical basis for the utilization of forest ecological resources to promote carbon sequestration.

The X-ray spectra of L-shell transitions in Neon-like Xenon ion (Xe44+) have been precisely measured at the Shanghai Electron-Beam Ion Trap using a high-resolution crystal spectrometer. Focusing on the line-intensity ratio of the 3F {2p6-(2p51/23s1/2)J=1} and 3D {2p6-(2p53/23d5/2)J=1} lines (3F/3D), our measurements have achieved remarkable precision improvements over the previous studies. These spectra have been simulated using the collisional-radiative model (CRM) within the Flexible Atomic Code, showing good agreement with the measurements. The previously reported discrepancies, approximately ranging from 10% to 20%, have been significantly reduced in this work to below 1.4% for electron-beam energies exceeding 6 keV and to around 7% for lower energies. Furthermore, our analysis of population fluxes of the involved levels reveals a very high sensitivity of the 3F line to radiation cascades. This suggests that the current CRM, which conventionally excludes interionic population transfer processes, may underestimate the population of the upper level of the 3F line and the cascade-related higher levels, thus explaining the remaining discrepancies. These findings provide a solid foundation for further minimizing these discrepancies and are crucial for understanding the atomic structure and plasma model of these ions.

Abstract Background Persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV), also known as persistent fetal vasculature (PFV), is a clinical entity that traditionally presents with leukocoria, microphthalmia, retinal dysplasia, or eyeball shrinkage which is associated with poor vision. However, there is a dearth of literature on cases of PHPV in adulthood or with asymptomatic occurrence. This report presents the clinical and pathological findings of a non-typical PHPV case and discuss the current knowledge for this condition. Case presentation A 68-year-old healthy male was referred to our outpatient department for evaluation of age-related cataract without other visual symptoms. Preoperative fundus examination occasionally detected an isolated stalk-like band extending to the posterior pole of the eye with normal central vitreous and retina. Other ocular examinations including b-mode ultrasonography, optical coherence tomography did not unveil any abnormalities, which caused diagnostic uncertainty. We referred to cataract surgery along with histopathological study, that revealed characteristics of PHPV including fibrous connective tissues mainly composed of fibrocyte proliferation and a very few capillary vessels. Thereafter, a definitive diagnosis of non-typical PHPV was established. Conclusion Our case is unique due to it was not discovered until adulthood, presence with only age-related cataract, and accompanied with normal central vitreous and retina. Histopathological explorations lead to an accurate diagnosis of the condition. Those results broaden the phenotype spectrums of PHPV and further provide clinical clues for the cognition of the disease.

Abstract Background More than 2 million anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur worldwide each year. Most surgeons suggest that athletes and active persons with significant knee functional demands, including cutting motions, require and should be offered ligament reconstruction surgery. Despite concentrated rehabilitation efforts, deficits in quadriceps size and strength can persist for years after surgery. Blood flow restriction (BFR) training can help overcome disuse muscular atrophy in the mid-term postoperative period after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of quadriceps training with different levels of blood flow restriction on quadriceps strength and thickness of participants after ACLR. Methods In this study, 30 post-ACL reconstruction participants were randomly divided into three groups (control, 40% Arterial Occlusion Pressure [AOP] and 80% AOP groups). All patients were subjected to different levels of BFR, combined with conventional quadriceps rehabilitation, for 8 weeks. Assessments included scaled maximal isokinetic knee extension strength at 60°/s and 180°/s, the sum of the thickness of the affected femoris rectus and vastus intermedius, Y-balance test performance, and International Knee Documentation Committee questionnaire responses before and after the intervention. Results In total, 23 participants completed the entire study. The 80% AOP compression group showed an increase in quadriceps femoris muscle strength and muscle thickness (p

Abstract Background After centuries of heavy reliance on fossil fuel energy, the world suffers from an energy crisis and global warming, calling for carbon emission reduction and a transition to clean energy. Microalgae have attracted much attention as a potential feedstock for biofuel production due to their high triacylglycerol content and CO2 sequestration ability. Many diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGAT) species have been characterized, which catalyze the final committed step in triacylglycerol biosynthesis. However, the detailed structure–function features of DGATs and the role of the interactions among DGAT proteins in lipid metabolism remained largely unknown. Results In this study, the three characterized DGATs of Auxenochlorella protothecoides 2341 showed distinct structural and functional conservation. Functional complementation analyses showed that ApDGAT1 had higher activity than ApDGAT2b in yeast and model microalgae, and ApDGAT2a had no activity in yeast. The N-terminus was not essential to the catalysis function of ApDGAT1 but was crucial to ApDGAT2b as its enzyme activity was sensitive to any N-terminus modifications. Similarly, when acyl-CoA binding proteins (ACBPs) were fused to the N-terminus of ApDGAT1 and ApDGAT2b, zero and significant activity changes were observed, respectively. Interestingly, the ApACBP3 + ApDGAT1 variant contributed to higher oil accumulation than the original DGAT1, and ApACBP1 + ApDGAT1 fusion boosted oleic acid content in yeast. Overexpression of the three DGATs and the variation of ApACBP3 + ApDGAT1 increased the content of C18:1 of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii CC-5235. Significantly, ApDGAT1 interacted with itself, ApDGAT2b, and ApACBP1, which indicated that these three lipid metabolic proteins might have been a part of a dynamic protein interactome that facilitated the enrichment of oleic acid. Conclusions This study provided new insights into the functional and structural characteristics of DGATs and elucidated the importance of these physical interactions in potential lipid channeling.

Graded permittivity materials have gained significant attention due to their exceptional ability to regulate electric fields. Multi-material stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing has opened up new possibilities for creating such materials. However, conventional SLA printers typically generate graded material using fixed printing parameters and multiple feedstocks with limited differences, resulting in a constrained capacity for modulating the electric field distribution. To address this limitation, we have developed a multi-material, parameter-controllable SLA strategy, enabling us to assign varying printing parameters for each building layer and switch between feedstocks with significant differences. Solid insulators with graded permittivity are optimised through electric field distribution simulations and subsequently manufactured using our innovative multi-material SLA approach. A 4-layered graded insulator effectively decreases the maximum electric field strength from 82.5–30.8 kV/mm. Both flashover tests and partial discharge signals confirm that graded insulators outperform homogeneous ones in electrical insulation.

ABSTRACTBovine αS1-casein (αS1-CN) is the main allergen in cow's milk, and immunoglobulin E (IgE) epitopes are the material basis to trigger allergic reactions. Thus, IgE epitopes could be as key targets for precise αS1-CN detection and allergenicity assessment. Here, we designed a tandem containing nine IgE linear epitopes of αS1-CN (tαS1-CN), expressed the recombinant tαS1-CN in Escherichia coli, and prepared the rabbit polyclonal antibody against recombinant tαS1-CN (pAb-tαS1-CN). The obtained recombinant tαS1-CN had a purity of 94.43% and retained the antigenicity and potential allergenicity of IgE epitopes. The pAb-tαS1-CN could recognize the nine IgE epitopes of αS1-CN, and also showed high specificity. The ability of pAb-tαS1-CN to evaluate the potential allergenicity of milk in foods was validated by sera from cow's milk allergy patients. These findings indicate that our prepared pAb-tαS1-CN may represents a valuable tool for the evaluation of milk allergenicity in processed foods.

Lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis contribute to morbidity and mortality, and, in particular, are characterized as leading cause on confirmed COVID-19 death. To date, efficient therapeutic approach for such lung diseases is lacking. N-Acetylglucosamine (NAG), an acetylated derivative of glucosamine, has been proposed as a potential protector of lung function in several types of lung diseases. The mechanism by which NAG protects against lung injury, however, remains unclear. Here, we show that NAG treatment improves pulmonary function in bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung injury model measured by flexiVent system. At early phase of lung injury, NAG treatment results in silenced immune response by targeting ARG1+ macrophages activation, and, consequently, blocks KRT8+ transitional stem cell in the alveolar region to stimulate PDGF Rβ+ fibroblasts hyperproliferation, thereby attenuating the pulmonary fibrosis. This combinational depression of immune response and extracellular matrix deposition within the lung mitigates lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis induced by BLM. Our findings provide novel insight into the protective role of NAG in lung injury.

Vegetation is an essential component of terrestrial ecosystems, and understanding the drivers of vegetation change is of great importance for ecological management. In recent years, vegetation growth has increased under the combined effect of global warming and human activities in Inner Mongolia. The net primary productivity (NPP) was used as an indicator to study the spatial and temporal changes in vegetation in the Qimeng Region (QR). The residual trend analysis method was used to analyze the relative contributions of climate variations (CV) and human activities (HA) to NPP changes across the QR, while their drivers were explored using a geographical detector approach to quantify the driving forces of NPP. The results show that (1) NPP exhibited a fluctuating growth trend from 2003 to 2020, with an overall growth rate of 2.91%/year. (2) Precipitation, GDP and population density were the dominant driving factors for the spatial distribution of NPP. The combined explanatory power of any two dominant factors exceeded the power of any dominant individual factor, and the interaction between climate and human factors had a significant effect on NPP. (3) The change in NPP was influenced by the combined effect of HA and CV, accounting for 37.69% of the total area, with the relative contribution of HA being 51.75%. Finally, the relative contribution of human activities was slightly higher than that of climate change, confirming the initial success of the Grain to Green Program as well as ecological conservation projects. This paper provides a scientific basis for the local government to carry out the conversion of cropland to forest.

With the aim to investigate the active chemical constituents for the roots of Indigofera stachyodes, the petroleum ether part of this plant was separated and purified using silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography, and recrystallization methods. The structures of obtained monomeric compounds were identified through modern spectral techniques by detail analysis of their electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, hydrogen and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectra data, as well as compared with the reported references. The results were as follows: twenty-two natural compounds were identified as β-sitostenone (1), stigmasta-3,6-di-one (2), 6β-hydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one (3), (22E)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (4), medicarpin (5), sativan (6), 2′,4′-dihydroxychaicone (7), 6,7-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-1-naphthoic acid (8), p-hydroxybenzoic acid ethyl ester (9), 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid ethyl ester (10), (9E,11E)-13-oxo-9,11-ocatadecadienoic acid (11), (9E,11E)-13-oxo-9,11-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester (12), 9-oxo-10E,12E-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester (13), 9-hydroxy-10E,12Z-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester (14), pinellic acid (15) and 9-oxo-10E,12E-octadecadienoic acid-(2S)-2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester (16), β-sitosterol (17), betulinic acid (18), 3β-hydroxyolean-12-en-11-one (19), maackiain (20), phellopterin (21), palmitic acid (22). Of these compounds, ten compounds (compounds 1-3, 7, 11-16) were isolated from the Fabaceae for the first time; sixteen compounds (compounds 1-16) were obtained from Indigofera plant for the first time; at the same time, compounds 1-16, 18, 19, 21 were obtained from the roots of Indigofera stachyodes for the first time. Thus, the results of this research enrich the chemical structure types of roots of I. stachyodes, and afford a scientific foundation for its further rational use.

In the context of anthropogenic global change, the study of landscape effects on species movement has garnered increasing attention. Landscape genetics offer indirect yet attractive means to capture species dispersal events across generations and their interaction with landscapes. However, landscape genetic patterns tend to exhibit significant variations across taxa and rely on the molecular makers adopted. Here, we investigated how landscapes influence population connectivity of an important tea pest, Empoasca onukii, using mitochondrial DNA sequences of 1,518 individuals from 57 locations in mainland China and offshore islands. We analyzed the inter-population genetic divergence and integrated multiple models to explicitly quantify their association with geographic distance, environmental heterogeneity, and landscape barriers. Analyses revealed a reduction in gene flow on islands, along the Yangtze River, and across mountainous regions of Western China. Models explicitly detected the predominant contributions of topographic complexity to population divergence and evidenced that mountains may serve as effective dispersal barriers for E. onukii. These results suggest that the limited gene exchange resulting from low population connectivity among mountains might generate the observed patterns of mitochondrial genetic variations, which contrasts the climate-related pattern previously observed on microsatellites. The findings enhance our comprehension of the evolutionary and epidemic dynamics of E. onukii, and highlight the demand of considering species-specific traits when studying population landscape genetic patterns. Moreover, the study emphasizes the necessity of employing multiple molecular markers to comprehensively elucidate landscape effects on population connectivity across diverse species for valuable insights into biodiversity conservation, pest control, and other management decisions.

Obesity is a disease commonly associated with urbanization and can also be characterized as a systemic, chronic metabolic condition resulting from an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified obesity as the most serious chronic disease that is increasingly prevalent in the world population. If left untreated, it can lead to dangerous health issues such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, atherosclerosis, and vulnerability to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. The specific mechanisms by which obesity affects the development of these diseases can be refined to the effect on immune cells. Existing studies have shown that the development of obesity and its associated diseases is closely related to the balance or lack thereof in the number and function of various immune cells, of which neutrophils are the most abundant immune cells in humans, infiltrating and accumulating in the adipose tissues of obese individuals, whereas NETosis, as a newly discovered type of neutrophil-related cell death, its role in the development of obesity and related diseases is increasingly emphasized. The article reviews the significant role that NETosis plays in the development of obesity and related diseases, such as diabetes and its complications. It discusses the epidemiology and negative impacts of obesity, explains the mechanisms of NETosis, and examines its potential as a targeted drug to treat obesity and associated ailments.

In practical engineering, concrete materials are mainly damaged by tension, especially for high-strength lightweight concrete (HSLC) whose tensile performance is not as satisfactory as ordinary concrete under the same compressive strength. Adding fibers is one of the most effective methods to improve the tensile properties of concrete. In this study, the tensile behavior of hybrid fiber reinforced HSLC was investigated through direct tensile test. The tensile stress-strain curve was obtained and the tensile toughness was calculated. Furthermore, the cracking process was measured and captured synchronously by digital image correlation (DIC) measurement. The results indicated that hybrid fibers enhanced the tensile properties of HSLC at both micro and macro levels. Polypropylene fibers increased the tensile toughness of HSLC by inhibiting the propagation of micro-cracks. Steel fibers improved the peak stress, peak strain, and tensile toughness of HSLC by extending the propagation path of macro-cracks and restraining the increase of the width of macro-cracks. According to the test results, an equation for the axial tensile stress-strain curve of the hybrid fiber reinforced HSLC related to fiber characteristic parameters was formulated, which can be used as a reference for engineering design.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a common complication of diabetes. DCM causes extensive lesions on cardiac microvasculature that is predominantly cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs). Reducing high glucose (HG)-induced damage such as oxidative damage and apoptosis could alleviate the development of DCM. The natural polyphenol resveratrol (RSV) is widely suggested as a cardioprotective agent that protect against DCM. However, limited evidence supports the protection of RSV against oxidative damage and apoptosis and study on the direct effects of RSV in CMEC is missing. Therefore, the current paper aimed to illustrate if RSV could attenuate oxidative stress and apoptosis in CMEC and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Our data showed that HG elevated reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, decreased superoxide dismutase activity, increased apoptotic cell percentage in CMEC, which were reversed by RSV administration. In addition, RSV demonstrated antioxidative and anti-apoptotic effects in CMEC through AMPK/Sirt1 activation, further confirmed by AMPK inhibition or Sirt1 silencing. This study provides new evidence to support RSV as a potential cardioprotective alternative in treating DCM.

Tea green leafhopper (TGL), Empoasca onukii, is of biological and economic interest. Despite numerous studies, the mechanisms underlying its adaptation and evolution remain enigmatic. Here, we use previously untapped genome and population genetics approaches to examine how the pest adapted to different environmental variables and thus has expanded geographically. We complete a chromosome-level assembly and annotation of the E. onukii genome, showing notable expansions of gene families associated with adaptation to chemoreception and detoxification. Genomic signals indicating balancing selection highlight metabolic pathways involved in adaptation to a wide range of tea varieties grown across ecologically diverse regions. Patterns of genetic variations among 54 E. onukii samples unveil the population structure and evolutionary history across different tea-growing regions in China. Our results demonstrate that the genomic changes in key pathways, including those linked to metabolism, circadian rhythms, and immune system functions, may underlie the successful spread and adaptation of E. onukii. This work highlights the genetic and molecular basis underlying the evolutionary success of a species with broad economic impacts, and provides insights into insect adaptation to host plants, which will ultimately facilitate more sustainable pest management.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—a congenital mental disorder accompanied by social dysfunction and stereotyped behaviors—has attracted a great deal of attention worldwide. A combination of genetic and environmental factors may determine the pathogenesis of ASD. Recent research of multiple ASD models indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a central role at the onset and progression of ASD by repressing the translation of key mRNAs in neural development and functions. As such, miRNAs show great potential to serve as biomarkers for ASD diagnosis or prognosis and therapeutic targets for the treatment of ASD. In this review, we discuss the regulatory mechanisms by which miRNAs influence ASD phenotypes through various in vivo and in vitro models, including necropsy specimens, animal models, cellular models, and, in particular, induced pluripotent stem cells derived from patients with ASD. We then discuss the potential of miRNA-based therapeutic strategies for ASD currently being evaluated in preclinical studies.

The optimal interval before receiving SARS-COV-2 vaccination for patients who have received anti-CD 20 monoclonal antibodies remains unclear. We considered original studies up to 29 October 2022 and conducted searches in Embase,Medrxiv, PubMed, and SSRN. We excluded search results that did not match our research question’s subject. Human immune response outcomes were analysed inpatients who had previously received anti-CD20 antibody therapy. We analyzed the collected results using sensitivity curves and forest plots. Twenty-eight studies with a total of 1455 subjects receiving anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies were included in the present analysis. The humoral immune response rates to the time between the last anti-CD20 treatment and vaccination for 3–6 months, 6 months,6–9 months, and 9–12 months were 0.23 (95% CI 0.14 to 0.36), 0.36 (95% CI 0.19 to 0.58), 0.49 (95% CI 0.35 to 0.64) and 0.64 (95% CI 0.48 to 0.77),respectively. The humoral immune response rates were.16 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.57) when B cell was 0/ul, and 0.49 (95% CI 0.38 to 0.61)when B cells were more than 5/ul. The humoral immune response rate for multiple sclerosis was 0.39 (95% CI 0.22 to 0.60) and 0.48 (95% CI 0.29 to 0.68) for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The area underneath the curve(AUC) was 0.69 with a cut-off value of 5.5 months. The present results suggested that the optimal interval for SARS-COV-2 vaccination after the final dose of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody was 5.5 months.

Abstract The process of blasting stress wave propagation and crack propagation is directly affected by the physical properties of the rock mass and internal joints in the rock. In soft and hard rock layers, the blasting process is more complicated since the blasting stress wave needs to penetrate two kinds of rocks with different physical properties and the interface between soft rock and hard rock. In this study, the modal transformation of stress waves at the interface of layered composite rock was analyzed, and the process was reproduced by finite element analysis. Furthermore, the development law of cracks was explored. The research results demonstrated that in the single blasting-hole model, a triangular crack area caused by reflected stress waves appeared at the rock interface of rock medium I near the blast hole. In rock medium II, the tensile crack generated by the interface wave appeared on the side away from the blast hole. Besides, the development of the tensile crack was associated with the incident mode of the blast stress wave and the incident angle. In the deep hole blasting model, the incidence of the detonation wave front from hard rock to soft rock promoted the fragmentation of the hard rock.

ABSTRACT Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is a globally emerging pathogen causing severe respiratory illnesses mainly in children. The protease from EV-D68 could impair type I interferon (IFN-I) production. However, the role of the EV-D68 structural protein in antagonizing host antiviral responses remains largely unknown. We showed that the EV-D68 structural protein VP3 interacted with IFN regulatory factor 7 (IRF7), and this interaction suppressed the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of IRF7 and then repressed the transcription of IFN. Furthermore, VP3 inhibited the TNF receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6)-induced ubiquitination of IRF7 by competitive interaction with IRF7. IRF7Δ305–503 showed much weaker interaction ability to VP3, and VP3Δ41–50 performed weaker interaction ability with IRF7. The VP3 from enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) and coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) was also found to interact with the IRF7 protein. These results indicate that the enterovirus structural protein VP3 plays a pivotal role in subverting host innate immune responses and may be a potential target for antiviral drug research. IMPORTANCE EV-D68 is a globally emerging pathogen that causes severe respiratory illnesses. Here, we report that EV-D68 inhibits innate immune responses by targeting IRF7. Further investigations revealed that the structural protein VP3 inhibited the TRAF6-induced ubiquitination of IRF7 by competitive interaction with IRF7. These results indicate that the control of IRF7 by VP3 may be a mechanism by which EV-D68 represses IFN-I production.

PurposePrevious studies have shown that DNA methylation in peripheral blood may be associated with breast cancer (BC). To explore the association between the methylation level of the Cathepsin Z (CTSZ) gene in peripheral blood and BC, we conducted a case–control study in the Chinese population.MethodsPeripheral blood samples were collected from 567 BC cases, 635 healthy controls, and 303 benign breast disease (BBD) cases. DNA extraction and bisulfite-specific PCR amplification were performed for all samples. The methylation levels of seven sites of the CTSZ gene were quantitatively determined by Mass spectrometry. The odds ratios (ORs) of CpG sites were evaluated for BC risk using per 10% reduction and quartiles analyses by logistic regression.ResultsOur analysis showed that five out of the seven CpG sites exhibited significant associations with hypomethylation of CTSZ and BC, compared to healthy controls. The highest OR was for Q2 of CTSZ_CpG_1 (OR: 1.62, P=0.006), particularly for early-stage breast cancer in the case of per 10% reduction of CTSZ_CpG_1 (OR: 1.20, P=0.003). We also found that per 10% reduction of CTSZ_CpG_5 (OR: 1.39, P=0.004) and CTSZ_CpG_7,8 (OR: 1.35, P=0.005) were associated with increased BC risk. Our study also revealed that four out of seven CpG sites were linked to increased BC risk in women under 50 years of age, compared to healthy controls. The highest OR was for per 10% reduction of CTSZ_CpG_1 (OR: 1.47, P

Five undescribed steroids and one sesquiterpene, named Aglaians A–F, along with sixteen known analogs, have been isolated from the branches and leaves of Aglaia lawii. Its structure was elucidated by IR, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, quantum-chemical calculations, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The cytotoxic and antibacterial activities of six human tumor cell lines were evaluated (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, Ln-cap, A549, HeLa, and HepG-2), and four strains of bacteria (Bacterium subtilis, Phytophthora cinnamomic, Acrogenic bacterium, and Ralstonia solanacearum). The bioassay results indicated that compounds 3 and 5 exhibited moderate antitumor activity with IC50 values ranging from 16.72 to 36.14 μM. Furthermore, compounds 3–5 possess antibacterial activities against four bacteria with MIC values of 25–100 μM.

Abstract Background Precision medicine aims to address the demand for precise therapy at the gene and pathway levels. We aimed to design software to allow precise treatment of osteoporosis (OP) with Chinese medicines (CMs) at the gene and pathway levels. Methods PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP database), and the Wanfang database were searched to identify studies treating osteoporosis with CMs. The TCMSP was used to identify bioactive ingredients and related genes for each CM. Gene expression omnibus (GEO) database and the limma package were used to identify differentially expressed genes in osteoporosis. Perl software was used to identify the shared genes between the bioactive components in CM and osteoporosis. R packages and bioconductor packages were used to define the target relationship between shared genes and their related pathways. Third-party Python libraries were used to write program codes. Pyinstaller library was used to create an executable program file. Results Data mining: a total of 164 CMs were included, but Drynariae Rhizoma (gusuibu) was used to present this process. We obtained 44 precise relationships among the bioactive ingredients of Drynariae Rhizoma, shared genes, and pathways. Python programming: we developed the software to show the precise relationship among bioactive ingredients, shared genes, and pathways for each CM, including Drynariae Rhizoma. Conclusions This study could increase the precision of CM, and could provide a valuable and convenient software for searching precise relationships among bioactive ingredients, shared genes, and pathways.

The processes and phenomena hidden in massive marine data importantly impact heat transportation, material transportation, and climate formation. Visualization can assist people in mining and understanding marine data to gain insight. Thus, oceanographers must study ocean processes and phenomena. However, one remaining challenge in the existing visualization methods is efficiently rendering marine data with large volumes and illustrating the internal structure of marine phenomena. To solve this problem, we propose a new visual analytics framework involving 4 parts for visualizing extensive marine scalar volume data. We first use a single box and double spheres separately as proxy geometries to draw a flat Earth and spherical Earth. Second, we design a new ray-casting algorithm based on graphics processing unit to reduce the volume of marine data. This algorithm accelerates volume rendering by using an adaptive texture sampling rate and step size. Third, we use a depth correction algorithm to accurately restore the ocean scale. Finally, we develop an internal roaming algorithm to observe the internal structure of marine data. In this way, users can dynamically observe the internal structure of marine phenomena. To illustrate the effectiveness of our algorithms, we use them to visualize Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model data and Argo data.