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Background: The aim of this study was to establish and validate a Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI)-based predictive model for neonatal intracranial haemorrhage (ICH). Methods: A total of 1190 neonates suspected of ICH after cranial ultrasound screening in a tertiary hospital were retrospectively enrolled. The neonates were randomly divided into a training cohort and a internal validation cohort by a ratio of 7:3. Univariate analysis was used to analyze the correlation between risk factors and ICH, and the prediction model of neonatal ICH was established by multivariate logistic regression based on minimum Akaike information criterion (AIC). The nomogram was externally validated in another tertiary hospital of 91 neonates. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated in terms of discrimination by the area under the curve (AUC), calibration by the calibration curve and clinical net benefit by the decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: Univariate analysis and min AIC-based multivariate logistic regression screened the following variables to establish a predictive model for neonatal ICH: Platelet count (PLT), gestational diabetes, mode of delivery, amniotic fluid contamination, 1-min Apgar score. The AUC was 0.715, 0.711, and 0.700 for the training cohort, internal validation cohort, and external validation cohort, respectively. The calibration curve showed a good correlation between the nomogram prediction and actual observation for ICH. DCA showed the nomogram was clinically useful. Conclusion: We developed and validated an easy-to-use nomogram to predict ICH for neonates. This model could support individualized risk assessment and healthcare.

Abstract Background The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare and evaluate the stress distribution of maxillary first premolar residual crowns restored with post-core crowns, endocrowns and inlay crowns after deep margin elevation, to explore the fitting restoration for residual crowns using finite element analysis. Methods A healthy complete right maxillary first premolar from a male adult was scanned by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The finite element model of the tooth was established by reverse engineering software such as Mimics, Geomagic and Hypermesh. On this basis, the residual crown model after deep margin elevation was made, and the experimental group models were divided into three groups, those restored with post core crowns, endocrowns and inlay crowns. Vertical and oblique static loads were applied to the experimental models to simulate the force on the tooth during mastication (the loading position was located in the central fossa of the occipital surface, and the load was 100 N) using Abaqus software. Results The peak value and distribution of von Mises stress in each part of the experimental model were observed. After deep margin elevation, the peak dentin von Mises stresses were lower than the tensile strength of normal dentin in the post-core crown, endocrown, and inlay crown groups; the lowest stress results were found in the post-core crown group for the dentin, restoration, enamel, and deep margin elevation (DME) layers under vertical and oblique loading. In terms of stress distribution clouds, the peak stresses in the dentin tissue were located in the apical 1/3 of the root after postcore crown restorations for both loads, while stress concentrations were evident in the cervical and root areas after endocrown and inlay crown restorations; regardless of the load and restoration method, the corresponding stress concentration areas appeared at the junction of the DME and dentin tissue at the loading site of the restorations; Conclusions Post-core crowns, endocrowns and inlay crowns can be used to restore residual crowns after deep margin elevation, and post-core crowns can better protect the residual tooth tissue.

Abstract Red rice is a kind of whole grain with health benefits. Probiotic fermentation is widely applied to promote nutrient release from cereals and improve bioactivity. The study aims to investigate the impact of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) dy‐1 fermentation on the bioactivities, bioaccessibility, and lipid‐lowering activities of red rice. Results indicated that fermentation significantly increased the protein and total phenolic content by 1.7 and 1.4 times of red rice, as well as the content of essential and nonessential amino acids. Fermentation remarkably increased the bioaccessibility of phenolics and the antioxidant capacity of red rice during in vitro digestion. Additionally, Caenorhabditis elegans study revealed that fermented red rice extract reduced the triglyceride content, alleviated fat deposition, and regulated lipid metabolism by altering the genes in the fatty acid oxidation and synthesis, such as daf‐16, mdt‐15, nhr‐49, fat‐5, fat‐7, and hosl‐1. Therefore, L. plantarum dy‐1 fermentation was beneficial for improving bioaccessibility and lipid‐lowering activities of red rice, which will provide a reference for utilization of red rice as a functional food.

Abstract Transcription factor (TF) residence on chromatin translates into quantitative transcriptional or structural outcomes on genome. Commonly used formaldehyde crosslinking fixes TF-DNA interactions cumulatively and compromises the measured occupancy level. Here we mapped the occupancy level of global or individual zinc finger TFs like CTCF and MAZ, in the form of highly resolved footprints, on native chromatin. By incorporating reinforcing perturbation conditions, we established S-score, a quantitative metric to proxy the continuum of CTCF or MAZ retention across different motifs on native chromatin. The native chromatin-retained CTCF sites harbor sequence features within CTCF motifs better explained by S-score than the metrics obtained from other crosslinking or native assays. CTCF retention on native chromatin correlates with local SUMOylation level, and anti-correlates with transcriptional activity. The S-score successfully delineates the otherwise-masked differential stability of chromatin structures mediated by CTCF, or by MAZ independent of CTCF. Overall, our study established a paradigm continuum of TF retention across binding sites on native chromatin, explaining the dynamic genome organization.

Abstract Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), caused by the PRRS virus (PRRSV), has caused substantial economic losses to the global swine industry due to the lack of effective commercial vaccines and drugs. There is an urgent need to develop alternative strategies for PRRS prevention and control, such as antiviral drugs. In this study, we identified ursonic acid (UNA), a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid from medicinal herbs, as a novel drug with anti-PRRSV activity in vitro. Mechanistically, a time-of-addition assay revealed that UNA inhibited PRRSV replication when it was added before, at the same time as, and after PRRSV infection was induced. Compound target prediction and molecular docking analysis suggested that UNA interacts with the active pocket of PTPN1, which was further confirmed by a target protein interference assay and phosphatase activity assay. Furthermore, UNA inhibited PRRSV replication by targeting PTPN1, which inhibited IFN-β production. In addition, UNA displayed antiviral activity against porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV) and Seneca virus A (SVA) replication in vitro. These findings will be helpful for developing novel prophylactic and therapeutic agents against PRRS and other swine virus infections.

ABSTRACT Aims This research aimed to investigate the specific mechanism of methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) in the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Materials and Methods The model of diabetic kidney disease was established with HK‐2 cells and mice in vitro and in vivo. The N6 methyladenosine (m6A) contents in the cells and tissues were detected with a commercial kit and the m6A levels of PTEN induced putative kinase 1 (PINK2) were detected with a MeRIP kit. The mRNA and protein levels were determined with RT‐qPCR and western blot. The ROS, TNF‐α, and IL‐6 levels were assessed with ELISA. The cell proliferative ability was measured by a CCK‐8 assay and cell apoptosis was determined with TUNEL staining. The HE and Masson staining was performed to observe the renal morphology. The RIP assay was conducted to detect the interaction between METTL3/YTHDF2 and PINK1. Results The m6A content and METTL3 levels were prominently elevated in diabetic kidney disease. METTL3 silencing promoted the cell growth and the expression of LC3 II, PINK1, and Parkin, while inhibiting the cell apoptosis and the expression of LC3 I and p62 in the high glucose (HG) stimulated HK‐2 cells. METTL3 silencing also decreased the ROS, TNF‐α, and IL‐6 levels in diabetic kidney disease. PINK1 silencing neutralized the function of sh‐METTL3 in the HG stimulated HK‐2 cells. The HE and Masson staining showed that METTL3 silencing alleviated the kidney injury induced by DKD. METTL3 silencing decreased the m6A levels of PINK1, while increased the mRNA levels of PINK1 which depended on YTHDF2. Conclusions METTL3 silencing could inhibit the progression of diabetic nephropathy in vivo and in vitro by regulating the m6A modification of PINK1, which depends on YTHDF2. Our research lays the theoretical foundation for the precise treatment of diabetic kidney disease and the development of targeted drugs in the future.

Abstract Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection has caused huge economic losses in global swine industry over the last 37 years. PRRSV commercial vaccines are not effective against all epidemic PRRSV strains. In this study we performed a high-throughput screening (HTS) of an FDA-approved drug library, which contained 2339 compounds, and found vidofludimus (Vi) could significantly inhibits PRRSV replication in Marc-145 cells and primary porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs). Compounds target prediction, molecular docking analysis, and target protein interference assay showed that Vi interacts with dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), a rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo pyrimidine synthesis pathway. Furthermore, PRRSV infection was restored in the presence of excess uridine and cytidine which promote pyrimidine salvage, or excess orotate which is the product of DHODH in the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway, thus confirming that the antiviral effect of Vi against PRRSV relies on the inhibition of DHODH. In addition, Vi also has antiviral activity against Seneca virus A (SVA), encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), and pseudorabies virus (PRV) in vitro. These findings should be helpful for developing a novel prophylactic and therapeutic strategy against PRRSV and other swine viral infections.

Lactic acid bacteria fermentation is a beneficial bioprocessing method that can improve the flavor, transform nutrients, and maintain the biological activity of foods. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum dy-1 fermentation on the nutritional components, flavor and taste properties, and composition of saponin compounds and their hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities. The results suggested that the total polyphenol content increased, and the soluble polysaccharides and total saponin contents decreased in fermented bitter melon juice (FJ) compared with those in non-fermented bitter melon juice (NFJ). The determination of volatile flavor substances by GC-MS revealed that the response values of acetic acid, n-octanol, sedumol, etc., augmented significantly, and taste analysis with an electronic tongue demonstrated lower bitterness and higher acidity in FJ. Furthermore, UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS testing showed a significant decrease in bitter compounds, including momordicines I and II, and a significant increase in the active saponin momordicine U in the fermented bitter melon saponin group (FJBMS). The in vitro assays indicated that FJBMS exhibited similar antioxidant activities as the non-fermented bitter melon saponin group (NFBMS). The in vitro results show that both NFBMS and FJBMS, when used at 50 μg/mL, could significantly reduce fat accumulation and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and increased the catalase (CAT) activity, while there was no significant difference in the bioactivities of NFBMS and FJBMS. In conclusion, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum dy-1 fermentation is an effective means to lower the bitterness value of bitter melon and preserve the well-known bioactivities of its raw materials, which can improve the edibility of bitter melon.

Background:Psoriasis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease, and hyperuricemia is a common comorbidity in patients with psoriasis. However, the exact relationship between uric acid levels and psoriasis remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the association between uric acid levels and psoriasis.Methods:Observational study participant data (≥16 years, n = 23,489) from NHANES 2003–2014. We conducted analyses using a weighted multiple logistic regression model. Genetic data sets for uric acid levels and psoriasis were obtained from the IEU database. We selected genetically independent loci closely associated with serum uric acid levels as instrumental variables and performed Mendelian randomization analyses using five complementary methods: inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode.Results:After adjusting for other covariates, the results revealed no significant association between serum uric acid levels and psoriasis (b = 0.999, 95% CI: 0.998, 1.001, p = 0.275). Subgroup analyses stratified by gender and ethnicity showed no significant association between sUA and psoriasis in any of the subgroups. Furthermore, the MR analysis involved the selection of 227 SNPs that were associated with both sUA and psoriasis. IVW results demonstrated no causal relationship between sUA and psoriasis (OR = 0.282, 95% CI: -0.094–0.657, p = 0.142).Conclusion:Our study suggests that uric acid levels are not significantly causally related to psoriasis. This finding provides valuable insights for the treatment and prevention of psoriasis, indicating that merely reducing uric acid levels may not be an effective strategy to reduce the risk of psoriasis onset.

Aims:This study aimed to synthesize the evidence of the comparative effectiveness and safety of Ophiocordyceps sinensis (OS) preparations combined with renin–angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi) for diabetic kidney disease (DKD).Methods:Eight databases were searched from their inception to May 2023. Systematic reviews (SRs) of OS preparations combined with RASi for DKD were identified. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from the included SRs and additional searching were performed for data pooling. Cochrane risk-of-bias 2 (RoB 2) tool and AMSTAR 2 were used to evaluate the methodological quality of RCTs and SRs, respectively. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed to compare the add-on effect and safety of OS preparations for DKD. The certainty of evidence was graded using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.Results:Fourteen SRs were included, whose methodological quality was assessed as high (1/14) or critically low (13/14). After combining additional searching, 157 RCTs were included, involving 13,143 participants. The quality of the RCTs showed some concerns (155/157) or high risk (2/157). Jinshuibao capsules and tablets, Bailing capsules and tablets, and Zhiling capsules were evaluated. Compared to RASi, adding either of the OS capsular preparations resulted in a decreased 24-h urinary total protein levels. OS preparations ranked differently in each outcome. Jinshuibao capsules plus RASi were beneficial in reducing urinary protein, serum creatinine, serum urea nitrogen, and blood glucose levels, with moderate-certainty evidence. No serious adverse events were observed after adding OS to RASi.Conclusion:Combining OS capsular preparations with RASi appeared to be associated with decreased urinary total protein levels in DKD patients. Further high-quality studies are needed to confirm.Systematic Review Registration:INPASY202350066.

Summary: Cultivating drought-tolerant tea varieties enhances both yield and quality of tea plants in northern China. However, the mechanisms underlying their drought tolerance remain largely unknown. Here we identified a key regulator called CsREV, which differentially regulates xylem patterns between leaves and stems, thereby conferring drought tolerance in tea plants. When drought occurs, upregulation of CsREV activates the CsVND7a-dependent xylem vessel differentiation. However, when drought persists, the vessel differentiation is hindered as CsVND7a is downregulated by CsTCP4a. This, combined with the CsREV-promoted secondary-cell-wall thickness of xylem vessel, leads to the enhanced curling of leaves, a characteristic closely associated with plant drought tolerance. Notably, this inhibitory effect of CsTCP4a on CsVND7a expression is absent in stems, allowing stem xylem vessels to continuously differentiate. Overall, the CsREV-CsTCP4-CsVND7 module is differentially utilized to shape the xylem patterns in leaves and stems, potentially balancing water transportation and utilization to improve tea plant drought tolerance.

Arabinoxylans (AXs) are non-starch polysaccharides with complex structures naturally occurring in grains (i.e., barley, corn, and others), providing many health benefits, especially as prebiotics. AXs can be classified as water-extractable (WEAX) and water-unextractable (WUAX) based on their solubility, with properties influenced by grain sources and extraction methods. Numerous studies show that AXs exert an important health impact, including glucose and lipid metabolism regulation and immune system enhancement, which is induced by the interactions between AXs and the gut microbiota. Recent research underscores the dependence of AX physiological effects on structure, advocating for a deeper understanding of structure-activity relationships. While systematic studies on WEAX are prevalent, knowledge gaps persist regarding WUAX, despite its higher grain abundance. Thus, this review reports recent data on WUAX structural properties (chemical structure, branching, and MW) in cereals under different treatments. It discusses WUAX applications in baking and the benefits deriving from gut fermentation.

Lakes are essential components of the terrestrial water cycle. Their size and quantity reflect natural climate change and anthropogenic activities in time. Lakes on the Inner-Mongolian Plateau (IMP) have experienced significant changes in recent decades, but the current situation remains elusive. In this study, we conducted multi-decadal intensive monitoring of lake area and performed comprehensive variation analysis on the IMP. The study involved pre-processing, lake area extraction, post-processing, and lake area analysis procedures using multi-source satellite images. The results reveal the detailed variation in the lake from various aspects. The temporal analysis indicates that the lake area has undergone two distinct periods of decline followed by subsequent increase, and the variation pattern from January to December was diverse. The spatial analysis suggests that the lake area expanded slightly in the western and southern parts, while the area shrank in the other two. Variations in lakes of different sizes exhibited spatial heterogeneity. To some extent, effective actions have led to lake rehabilitation, but it has not yet reached or surpassed the level of 2000. This study provides a substantial data basis and technological guidance for conducting lacustrine surveys. The results can play important roles in fostering further analyses of the water cycle and the carbon cycle.

Abstract Epidemiological studies have shown that excessive consumption of meat may cause memory loss and cognitive decline, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Here, a high‐chicken‐protein diet but not a high‐pork diet was found to have a markedly negative impact on the enteric nervous system and hippocampal function. Higher serine, glutamate, and proline levels in the high‐chicken‐protein diet inhibited the absorption capacity of amino acids, reduced the levels of neurotransmitters, and further increased hippocampal β‐secretase levels. Alzheimer's disease mouse model and cell studies confirmed that high‐chicken diet‐induced changes in the intestinal function further resulted in metabolic disorders with a reduction in L‐serine and niacinamide in serum, accumulation of hippocampal β‐amyloid, and eventually aggravated memory and cognitive decline. Our findings highlight the importance of serine, glutamate, and proline as systemic mediators of diet–gut–brain axis homeostasis against memory and cognitive dysfunctions associated with excessive intake of chicken.

In this study, different concentrations of 17-β estradiol silk fibroin (SF)porous scaffolds (SFPS) were prepared using freeze-drying technique, with a hope for optimal concentration and apply it locally to the bone defect area. In this study, the porous scaffold morphology structure was characterized by SEM, FTIR and universal capacity testing machines, and the in vitro cytocompatibility and biological activity of scaffold materials were studied by cell adhesion, viability and proliferation experiments. The results showed that SFPS boasts better physicochemical properties, while 17-β estradiol SF scaffolds with low concentrations of 10−10 mol/L and 10−12 mol/L had more growth and proliferation of SF scaffolds with higher concentrations, and 10−10 mol/L was the optimal concentration of 17-β estradiol SFPS, which was more conducive to cell adhesion and proliferation. On the other hand, after osteogenesis induction of BMSCs inoculated on 17-β estradiol SFPS at different concentrations, it was found that the expression of alkaline phosphatase in BMSCs on different concentrations of 17-β estradiol porous scaffolds was not large. No conflict of interest exits in the submission of this manuscript.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the efficacy of moxibustion in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) model rats.Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, VIP, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from their inception to June 30, 2023. Relevant animal experiments investigating moxibustion for treating IBS-D in model rats were included. Two independent researchers screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias in the selected studies. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software.Results: In total, 21 animal studies comprising 680 model rats were included. The meta-analysis results demonstrated that moxibustion enhanced the threshold capacity of the abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 1.84; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09, 2.60; p < 0.00001], ameliorated the rate of loose stool (SMD = −4.03; 95% CI: –5.76, −2.30; p < 0.00001), and decreased the colon 5-hydroxytryptamine (SMD = −3.67; 95% CI: –5.33, −2.01; p < 0.00001), serum interleukin-1β (SMD = −3.24, 95% CI: –4.06, −2.41; p < 0.00001), serum tumor necrosis factor-α (SMD = −2.35, 95% CI: –4.12, −0.58; p < 0.00001), and serum substance P (SMD = −5.14, 95% CI: –8.45, −1.83; p = 0.002) concentrations. Moxibustion did not affect the blood calcitonin gene-related peptide level compared to the blank model group (p = 0.15).Conclusion: Moxibustion modulated the brain-gut interaction, reduced visceral hypersensitivity, inhibited intestinal inflammation, and regulated the immune balance, improving the rate of loose stool and increasing the AWR threshold capacity in IBS-D model rats, achieving good analgesic and antidiarrheal effects. However, these conclusions require further validation due to limitations in the quantity and quality of the included studies.

Glutathione (GSH), a robust endogenous antioxidant, actively participates in the modulation of the redox status of cysteine residues in proteins. Previous studies have indicated that GSH can prevent β-cell failure and prediabetes caused by chronic oscillating glucose (OsG) administration. However, the precise mechanism underlying the protective effect is not well understood. Our current research reveals that GSH is capable of reversing the reduction in Nrf2 levels, as well as downstream genes Grx1 and HO-1, in the islet β-cells of rats induced by chronic OsG. In vitro experiments have further demonstrated that GSH can prevent β-cell dedifferentiation, apoptosis, and impaired insulin secretion caused by OsG. Additionally, GSH facilitates the translocation of Nrf2 into the nucleus, resulting in an upregulation of Nrf2-targeted genes such as GCLC, Grx1, HO-1, and NQO1. Notably, when the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 is employed, the effects of GSH on OsG-treated β-cells are abrogated. Moreover, GSH enhances the S-glutathionylation of Keap1 at Cys273 and Cys288, but not Cys151, in OsG-treated β-cells, leading to the dissociation of Nrf2 from Keap1 and facilitating Nrf2 nuclear translocation. In conclusion, the protective role of GSH against OsG-induced β-cell failure can be partially attributed to its capacity to enhance Keap1 S-glutathionylation, thereby activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway. These findings provide novel insights into the prevention and treatment of β-cell failure in the context of prediabetes/diabetes, highlighting the potential of GSH.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a highly pathogenic swine coronavirus that causes diarrhea and high mortality in piglets, resulting in significant economic losses within the global swine industry. Nonstructural protein 3 (Nsp3) is the largest in coronavirus, playing critical roles in viral replication, such as the processing of polyproteins and the formation of replication-transcription complexes (RTCs). In this study, three monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), 7G4, 5A3, and 2D7, targeting PEDV Nsp3 were successfully generated, and three distinct linear B-cell epitopes were identified within these mAbs by using Western blotting analysis with 24 truncations of Nsp3. The epitope against 7G4 was located on amino acids 31-TISQDLLDVE-40, the epitope against 5A3 was found on amino acids 141-LGIVDDPAMG-150, and the epitope against 2D7 was situated on amino acids 282-FYDAAMAIDG-291. Intriguingly, the epitope 31-TISQDLLDVE-40 recognized by the mAb 7G4 appears to be a critical B-cell linear epitope due to its high antigenic index and exposed location on the surface of Nsp3 protein. In addition, bioinformatics analysis unveiled that these three epitopes were highly conserved in most genotypes of PEDV. These findings present the first characterization of three novel linear B-cell epitopes in the Nsp3 protein of PEDV and provide potential tools of mAbs for identifying host proteins that may facilitate viral infection.

Abstract Typically, airway remodeling caused by migration and proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) plays a crucial role in the pathophysiological characteristics of asthma development. Cystatin 1 (CST1), a protein‐coding gene referred to as Cystatin SN, is highly expressed in asthma patients. However, the role of CST1 and related molecular mechanisms in the development of asthma remains to be explored. This study aims to investigate the role of CST1 in asthma progression and present related molecular mechanisms. To explore these aspects, human ASMCs with platelet‐derived growth factor BB (PDGF‐BB) are initially stimulated and applied as a cellular model of asthma. Further, CST1 is knocked down with small interfering ribose nucleic acid (siRNA) overexpressed with plasmids. Then, 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine (EdU) and Cell Count Kit (CCK)‐8 assays are applied to assess the cell proliferation rates. Further, Transwell and Western blot analyses for migration of cells and expression of MMP1 and MMP9 proteins are assessed, respectively. Under PDGF‐BB stimulation, human ASMCs showed an increased CST1 expression, enhanced proliferation, and migration abilities, as well as up‐regulated PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Further, knockdown or overexpression of CST1 presented the declined or enhanced proliferation, migration, and up‐regulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway of human ASMCs. Inhibiting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway displayed the reduced migration and proliferation of human ASMCs. In summary, these findings indicated that CST1 played an essential role in the progression of asthma by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and promoting the migration and proliferation abilities of human ASMCs treated with PDGF‐BB.

Cellulose acetate oleate (CAO)-reinforced poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) composites were prepared by the solvent casting method. The influence of the addition of CAO on the mechanical property, thermal property, disintegration property, compatibility, and hydrophobicity of PBAT/CAO composites was investigated. Compared with PBAT, the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of PBAT/CAO with 4 wt% CAO were increased by 9.5% and 25.7%, and the disintegration rate was also increased by 2.8 times. The results of morphological property, contact angle, and water vapor transmission indicated that the PBAT/CAO composites had good interfacial interaction and compatibility, and the hydrophobicity was improved. PBAT/CAO was applied to strawberry preservation, and it showed excellent freshness retention performance. Moreover, a possible degradation pathway for PBAT/CAO composite was proposed. This work provided a way for the preparation and performance improvement of biodegradable materials, which is expected to be applied in the packaging field.

Background: Bimekizumab is a monoclonal IgG1 antibody that selectively inhibits both interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F, and is a promising drug for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in treating patients with psoriasis and to determine the optimal maintenance dosing schedules of bimekizumab. Methods and design: Eligible trials were identified from PubMed, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Chinese medical databases. Only double-blind, randomized, active comparator, or placebo-controlled trials of bimekizumab treatment on patients with psoriasis were included in this study. Results: Five studies were identified, which included 2473 patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The results indicated that bimekizumab had better efficacy than placebo or active comparator for Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 90 [risk ratio (RR) = 29.29, 1.52; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 10.30–83.30, 1.06–2.19], PASI 100 (RR = 59.87, 2.06; 95% CI = 15.06–237.99, 1.12–3.79), and Investigator’s Global Assessment scores of 0 or 1 (IGA 0/1) (RR = 21.55, 1.36; 95% CI = 9.25–50.19, 1.02–1.81). Faster onset of clinically meaningful responses was observed with bimekizumab compared with both active comparators (RR = 2.59; 95% CI = 1.32–5.10) and placebo (RR = 40.46; 95% CI = 13.19–124.13), with PASI 75 response observed at week 4 after one dose. Subgroup analysis showed no significant difference in the reduction of PASI scores between 320 mg q4w dosage and q8w dosage (RR = 1.00; 95% CI = 0.96–1.03). Rates of patients with adverse events (AEs) were comparable in the bimekizumab and active comparator groups (RR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.01–1.26), and oral candidiasis was one of the most common treatment-emergent AEs. Conclusion: The results of this meta-analysis suggest that bimekizumab is more efficacious and has a rapid onset of action than active comparators and placebo in the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. After 16 weeks of initial maintenance treatment, both bimekizumab maintenance dosing schedules (320 mg every 4 and 8 weeks) had similar efficacy.

Calcium (Ca2+), a ubiquitous second messenger, plays a crucial role in many cellular functions. Viruses often hijack Ca2+ signaling to facilitate viral processes such as entry, replication, assembly, and egress. Here, we report that infection by the swine arterivirus, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), induces dysregulated Ca2+ homeostasis, subsequently activating calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-II (CaMKII) mediated autophagy, and thus fueling viral replication. Mechanically, PRRSV infection induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and forms a closed ER-plasma membrane (PM) contacts, resulting the opening of store operated calcium entry (SOCE) channel and causing the ER to take up extracellular Ca2+, which is then released into the cytoplasm by inositol trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) channel. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of ER stress or CaMKII mediated autophagy blocks PRRSV replication. Notably, we show that PRRSV protein Nsp2 plays a dominant role in the PRRSV induced ER stress and autophagy, interacting with stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) and the 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78). The interplay between PRRSV and cellular calcium signaling provides a novel potential approach to develop antivirals and therapeutics for the disease outbreaks.

Water cycle in a basin is constantly changing. It is an important basis for the allocation of water resources to survey the state of water cycle and analyze the water balance. The significant hydrological change period of the basin from 2000 to 2019 is taken as the research period in this study, and the data, including TRMM and GPM satellite precipitation, remote sensing evapotranspiration, in situ data of meteorological and hydrological gauges, are synthetically used to analyze the water cycle balance of the watershed. The results show that (1) the Qilian mountain area is the main runoff producing area, with an average annual discharge of about 45.11×108 m3 to the middle reaches, and the middle reaches is the main consumption area of the runoff water resources. About 66% (29.92×108 m3) of the upstream incoming water is used in the middle reaches, and about 34% (15.19×108 m3) is used to supplement the downstream area. (2) The Minle-Zhangye basin is the main consumption area of water resources in the middle reaches, with an average annual consumption of about 43.97×108 m3 including water from upper reaches and precipitation at local area (accounting for 75% of the consumption in the middle reaches), and the evapotranspiration consumption of farmland in the middle reaches is about 20.3×108 m3 (accounting for 35% of the evapotranspiration water in the middle reache areas). (3) The increase in precipitation of the upper reach is the main reason for the increase in runoff in the upper reaches of the main stream of the Heihe River. The contribution rate of precipitation to the increase of runoff is 96%, resulting in an average increase of runoff of 0.35×108 m3/a, and potential evapotranspiration has little contribution to the increase of the runoff. (4) According to the current water resource consumption, if the upstream runoff decreases in the future, there will be a risk of prominent contradiction between water used for agricultural development in the middle reaches and water used for ecological protection in the downstream area. Remote sensing observation of the surface water cycle can be used as one of the technologies of the basin water balance analysis to analyze the spatial distribution of basin surface water resources, reveal the temporal change trend and the causes, and support the rational allocation of water resources. The actual evapotranspiration on the land surface is the main source of the analysis uncertainty, and the key to improve the reliability of water balance analysis is to accurately estimate the actual evapotranspiration of different types of landcover. The estimation method of land actual evapotranspiration based on complementary correlation is relatively simple, but the multiplicative empirical coefficient in the Priestley-Taylor formula, which is used to calculate evapotranspiration in wet environment, is greatly affected by terrain, and the use of same value across the region will have a significant impact on the results.

Abstract The activation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) is the key mechanism of pancreatic fibrosis, which can lead to β-cell failure. Oxidative stress is an important risk factor for PSC activation. There is no direct evidence proving if administration of glutathione can inhibit fibrosis and β-cell failure. To explore the role of glutathione in pancreatic fibrosis and β-cell failure induced by hyperglycaemia, we established a rat model of pancreatic fibrosis and β-cell failure. The model was founded through long-term oscillating glucose (LOsG) intake and the setup of a sham group and a glutathione intervention group. In vitro, rat PSCs were treated with low glucose, high glucose, or high glucose plus glutathione to explore the mechanism of high glucose-induced PSC activation and the downstream effects of glutathione. Compared with sham rats, LOsG-treated rats had higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in peripheral leukocytes and pancreatic tissue while TGFβ signalling was upregulated. In addition, as the number of PSCs and pancreatic fibrosis increased, β-cell function was significantly impaired. Glutathione evidently inhibited the upregulation of TGFβ signalling and several unfavourable outcomes caused by LOsG. In vitro treatment of high glucose for 72 h resulted in higher ROS accumulation and potentiated TGFβ pathway activation in PSCs. PSCs showed myofibroblast phenotype transformation with upregulation of α-SMA expression and increased cell proliferation and migration. Treatment with either glutathione or TGFβ pathway inhibitors alleviated these changes. Together, our findings suggest that glutathione can inhibit PSC activation-induced pancreatic fibrosis via blocking ROS/TGFβ/SMAD signalling in vivo and in vitro.

Abstract Physicochemical properties of three types of barley flour, whole barley flour (BF), electromagnetic stir‐frying whole barley flour, and extruded whole barley powder (EBF), and their potential application in emulsion type sausage were evaluated in this study. The water solubility index, water absorption index, and pasting properties of barley flour treated by different processing technologies were significantly different. The EBF has the highest water solubility index (12.67%) and water absorption index (503.20%), and with the minimum peak viscosity (2593.67 cp) and pasting temperature (50.20°C). The water‐holding capacity and cooking loss of emulsified sausage improved significantly after adding the barley flour processed by different methods, especially the 9%BF substitution, the pressure water loss rate and cooking loss rate were reduced to 5.32% and 14.52%, respectively. The emulsified sausage added with BF indicated better color quality and texture properties comparable with the control. Scanning electron microscopy also showed that the addition of three kinds of barley flour in sausage formation led to a difference in the microstructure of the sausages. This study suggested that barley flour improved the physicochemical and textural properties of the emulsified sausage.

The African swine fever virus (ASFV) is one of the most important pathogens that causes huge damage to worldwide swine production. The pI215L protein is found within the virion and expressed at a high level in infected porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs), indicating a possible role of pI215L protein in ASFV detection and surveillance. In the present study, female BALB/c mice (5–6-week-old) were immunized with rpI215L protein, and six hybridomas, 1C1, 2F6, 2F10, 3C8, 5E1 and 5B3, steadily secreted anti-pI215L monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Among them, 1C4, 5E1, and 5B3 had the IgG1 isotype with a Lambda light chain, 2F10 and 3C8 had the IgG1 isotype with a Kappa light chain, and 2F6 had the IgG2a isotype with a Kappa light chain. Western blot showed a good reactivity of the six mAbs against ASFV. Eight truncated polypeptides were produced for epitope mapping. Two novel B cell epitopes, 67LTFTSEMWHPNIYS80 and 167IEYFKNAASN176, were identified by the mAbs. Further analysis revealed that 2F6 mAb could be widely used in ASFV surveillance and 5B3 mAb might serve as a tool in the distinguishment of different ASFV genotypes. This study provides tools of monoclonal antibodies for further study of I215L function and contributes to the development of serological diagnosis and vaccine research.

Saponins from bitter melon (BMS) are well-known to have various biological activities, especially in the field of fat-lowering. However, many gaps remain in our knowledge of BMS-induced fat reduction and health benefits. Here, we aimed to investigate the precise mechanism of BMS in alleviating fat accumulation in C. elegans and HepG2 cell line. Results indicated that BMS showed strong fat-lowering and lifespan-extension properties. Lipidomic analysis illustrated that BMS could alter the lipid profile, especially represented by phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) increase, which plays an essential role in autophagy. Furthermore, we applied gene-deficient mutants and RNAi technology to confirm that BMS largely depended on daf-16/FoxO1 and hlh-30/TFEB mediated lipophagy to reduce fat deposition. In addition, BMS could ameliorate oil acid (OA)-induced fat accumulation in HepG2 cells by induction of autophagy-related proteins, such as the phosphorylated AMPK and LC3B. In conclusion, our results elucidated the underlying mechanism of bitter melon saponins interfering with lipid metabolism from the autophagy point of view, which provide new insights into a nutraceutical to mitigate obesity.

This article explored the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 (L. plantarum dy-1) fermentation on the basic physicochemical properties and associated in vitro antioxidant activity of barley β-glucan, including its molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, characteristic structure and rheology. Its DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity, and ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) were measured at different fermentation times. The results showed that the molecular weight of barley β-glucan was decreased from 1.052 × 105 Da to 4.965 × 104 Da within 0–24 h by L. plantarum dy-1 fermentation, but there was no effect on its characteristic structure. The water- and oil-holding properties of barley β-glucan were significantly enhanced with increased fermentation time, and the fluid viscous behavior of barley β-glucan was enhanced at 6% concentration, while elastic characteristics were weakened. The fermentation had no significant effect on the scavenging effect of DPPH and ABTS radicals of barley β-glucan, but the hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and total antioxidant capacity of FRAP were enhanced with increased fermentation time. Fermentation time may change the physicochemical properties and enhance antioxidant activity of barley β-glucan by reducing its molecular weight.

Objective: Our objective was to retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics and outcome of adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) patients with elderly onset. Methods: Retrospective data of patients diagnosed with AOSD in our institute during 2013–2021 were analyzed. The diagnoses were based on the Yamaguchi criteria for AOSD. All long-term follow-up data were collected from medical records and phone calls. Results: In total, 281 AOSD patients were enrolled in this study, with the median follow-up interval of 47 months. Thirty-two (11.4%, ≥65 years) AOSD patients were classified into the elderly onset groups. Compared to the younger onset group, the percentage of patients with skin rash (p = 0.047), sore throat (p = 0.001), myalgia (p = 0.001), splenomegaly (p = 0.039), hepatosplenomegaly (p = 0.002) and the Pouchot's score (p = 0.002) were significantly lower in the elderly onset group. The death rate (p = 0.014) of elderly onset group is higher than younger onset group, and the independent risk factors of mortality in all AOSD patients were age at onset (HR: 1.115, p = 0.044), disseminated intravascular coagulation (HR: 391.576, p = 0.001) and pleuritis (HR: 23.162, p = 0.033). The probability of relapse was significantly increased in the patients with macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) compared with the patients without MAS (p

Objectives: Behcet's disease (BD) is a multi-systemic inflammatory vasculitis which may be life-threatening if combined with cardiovascular problems. The aim of the study was to identify potential risk factors associated with cardiovascular involvement in BD. Methods: We reviewed the medical databases of a single center. All BD patients identified as fulfilling the 1990 International Study Group criteria or the International Criteria for Behcet's Disease criteria. Cardiovascular involvement, clinical manifestations, laboratory features, and treatments were recorded. The relationship between parameters and cardiovascular involvement was analyzed. Results: 111 BD patients were included: 21 (18.9%) had documented cardiovascular involvement (CV BD group) and 99 (81.1%) had no cardiovascular involvement (non-CV BD group). Compared with non-CV BD, the proportion of males and smokers were significantly increased in CV BD (p = 0.024 and p

Abstract Background Gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-ECS) is a rate-limiting enzyme in glutathione biosynthesis and plays a key role in plant stress responses. In this study, the endogenous expression of the Caragana korshinskii γ-ECS (Ckγ-ECS) gene was induced by PEG 6000-mediated drought stress in the leaves of C. korshinskii. and the Ckγ-ECS overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants was constructed using the C. korshinskii. isolated γ-ECS. Results Compared with the wildtype, the Ckγ-ECS overexpressing plants enhanced the γ-ECS activity, reduced the stomatal density and aperture sizes; they also had higher relative water content, lower water loss, and lower malondialdehyde content. At the same time, the mRNA expression of stomatal development-related gene EPF1 was increased and FAMA and STOMAGEN were decreased. Besides, the expression of auxin-relative signaling genes AXR3 and ARF5 were upregulated. Conclusions These changes suggest that transgenic Arabidopsis improved drought tolerance, and Ckγ-ECS may act as a negative regulator in stomatal development by regulating the mRNA expression of EPF1 and STOMAGEN through auxin signaling.

In order to study the hydrodynamic characteristics of the karst aquifers in northern China, time series analyses (correlation and spectral analysis in addition with hydrograph recession analysis) are applied on Baotu Spring and Heihu Spring in Jinan karst spring system, a typical karst spring system in northern China. Results show that the auto-correlation coefficient of spring water level reaches the value of 0.2 after 123 days and 117 days for Baotu Spring and Heihu Spring, respectively. The regulation time obtained from the simple spectral density function in the same period is 187 days and 175 days for Baotu Spring and Heihu Spring. The auto-correlation coefficient of spring water level reaches the value of 0.2 in 34–82 days, and regulation time ranges among 40–59 days for every single hydrological year. The delay time between precipitation and spring water level obtained from cross correlation function is around 56 days for the period of 2012–2019, and varies among 30–79 days for every single hydrological year. In addition, the spectral bands in cross amplitude functions and gain functions are small with 0.02, and the values in the coherence functions are small. All these behaviors illustrate that Jinan karst spring system has a strong memory effect, large storage capacity, noticeable regulation effect, and time series analysis is a useful tool for studying the hydrodynamic characteristics of karst spring system in northern China.© 2021 China Geology Editorial Office.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is a swine pathogen that causes postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome, associated with a number of other disease symptoms in pigs. It has caused high economic losses for pig industries in China and worldwide. Vimentin is a cytoskeletal protein involved in the lifecycle of numerous viruses. In this study, the role of Vimentin in PCV2 replication in pig alveolar macrophage (3D4/21) cells was studied. A 3D4/21 cell line overexpressing Vimentin was established using a lentivirus expression system, in which PCV2 replication was significantly enhanced. Meanwhile, in the Vimentin silenced 3D4/21 cells, PCV2 replication was significantly reduced. Furthermore, we found that PCV2 infection in 3D4/21 cells promoted Vimentin phosphorylation and rearranged Vimentin distribution in cells. By inhibition of CaMKII pathway, Vimentin phosphorylation was significantly suppressed and PCV2 replication was significantly inhibited. The results in this study indicated that in 3D4/21 cells, PCV2 promoted CaMKIIγ-medicated Vimentin phosphorylation and altered its cellular distributions to accomplish its own replication.

In this study, multiple remote sensing data were used to quantitatively evaluate the contributions of surface water, soil moisture and groundwater to terrestrial water storage (TWS) changes in five groundwater resources zones of Inner Mongolia (GW_I, GW_II, GW_III, GW_IV and GW_V), China. The results showed that TWS increased at the rate of 2.14 mm/a for GW_I, while it decreased at the rate of 4.62 mm/a, 5.89 mm/a, 2.79 mm/a and 2.62 mm/a for GW_II, GW_III, GW_IV and GW_V during 2003–2021. Inner Mongolia experienced a widespread soil moisture increase with the rate of 4.17 mm/a, 2.13 mm/a, 1.20 mm/a, 0.25 mm/a and 1.36 mm/a for the five regions, respectively. Significant decreases were detected for regional groundwater storage (GWS) with the rate of 2.21 mm/a, 6.76 mm/a, 6.87 mm/a, 3.01 mm/a, and 4.14 mm/a, respectively. Soil moisture was the major contributor to TWS changes in GW_I, which accounted 58% of the total TWS changes. Groundwater was the greatest contributor to TWS changes in other four regions, especially GWS changes, which accounted for 76% TWS changes in GW_IV. In addition, this study found that the role of surface water was notable for calculating regional GWS changes.

Abstract Background The occurrence of chemoresistance is a common problem in tumor treatment. Circular RNA (circRNA) has been confirmed to be related to tumor chemoresistance. However, the role and the underlying molecular mechanism of hsa_circ_0004674 in the chemoresistance of osteosarcoma (OS) are still unclear. Methods The expression of hsa_circ_0004674, miR-342-3p, and fibrillin-1 (FBN1) was determined by qRT-PCR. Cell counting kit 8 assay was used to evaluate the doxorubicin (DXR) resistance of cells. The proliferation and apoptosis of cells were measured using colony formation assay and flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was utilized to examine the protein levels of resistance markers, Wnt/β-catenin pathway markers and FBN1. The interaction between miR-342-3p and hsa_circ_0004674 or FBN1 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay. Moreover, animal experiments were performed to assess the effect of hsa_circ_0004674 silencing on the DXR sensitive of OS in vivo. Results The upregulated hsa_circ_0004674 was found in DXR-resistant OS tissues and cells. Knockdown of hsa_circ_0004674 could inhibit the DXR resistance of OS cells in vitro and promote the DXR sensitive of OS tumors in vivo. In addition, we discovered that hsa_circ_0004674 could sponge miR-342-3p, and miR-342-3p could target FBN1. MiR-342-3p inhibitor could reverse the inhibition effect of hsa_circ_0004674 knockdown on the DXR resistance of OS cells. Similarly, the suppressive effect of miR-342-3p on the DXR resistance of OS cells also could be reversed by FBN1 overexpression. Furthermore, we revealed that hsa_circ_0004674 silencing inhibited the activity of Wnt/β-catenin pathway by the miR-342-3p/FBN1 axis. Conclusion Hsa_circ_0004674 facilitated the DXR resistance of OS through Wnt/β-catenin pathway via regulating the miR-342-3p/FBN1 axis, suggesting that hsa_circ_0004674 was a promising target for the chemoresistance of OS.

Melanoma is a commonly malignant cutaneous tumor in China. Astragalus propinquus Schischkin and Pinellia pedatisecta Schott (A&P) have been clinically used as adjunctive drugs in the treatment of malignant melanoma. However, the effect and mechanism of A&P on melanoma have yet to be explored. The current investigation seeks to characterize the active components of A&P and their potential roles in treating malignant melanoma using network pharmacology and in vitro and in vivo experiments. We first used the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology (TCMSP) database and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) to identify a total of 13 effective compounds within A&P. 70 common genes were obtained by matching 487 potential genes of A&P with 464 melanoma-related genes, and then we built up protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of these 70 genes, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. The results revealed that A&P might influence the pathobiology of melanoma through the PI3K/Akt pathway. Molecular docking also confirmed that higher content of ingredients in A&P, including hederagenin, quercetin, beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol, had a strong binding activity (affinity < −5 kcal/mol) with the core targets AKT1, MAPK3 and ESR1. Furthermore, we confirmed A&P could inhibit melanoma cells proliferation and induce cells apoptosis through suppressing the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by in vitro and in vivo xenograft model experiments. These findings indicate that A&P may function as a useful therapy for melanoma through the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Drought stress poses severe threat to the development and even the survival status of plants. Plants utilize various methods responding to drought, among which the forming of more well-developed xylem in leaf vein in woody plants deserves our attention. Herein, we report a transcription factor CkREV from HD-ZIP III family in Caragana korshinskii, which possesses significant functions in drought response by regulating xylem vessel development in leaf vein. Research reveal that in C. korshinskii the expression level of CkREV located in xylem vessel and adjacent cells will increase as the level of drought intensifies, and can directly induce the expression of CkLAX3, CkVND6, CkVND7, and CkPAL4 by binding to their promoter regions. In Arabidopsis thaliana, CkREV senses changes in drought stress signals and bidirectionally regulates the expression of related genes to control auxin polar transport, vessel differentiation, and synthesis of cell wall deposits, thereby significantly enhancing plant drought tolerance. In conclusion, our findings offer a novel understanding of the regulation of CkREV, a determinant of leaf adaxial side, on the secondary development of xylem vessels in leaf vein to enhance stress tolerance in woody plants.

Abstract Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a new arm of gene regulatory mechanism as discovered by sequencing techniques and follow-up functional studies. The lncRNAs regulation of pseudorabies virus (PRV) infection has rarely been reported so far. Using RNA sequencing analysis, 225 lncRNAs with significant altered expressions in 3D4/21 cells infected with PRV (ZJ01) were identified. Five lncRNAs upregulated in PRV-infected cells were verified in cells infected with different PRV strains by qRT-PCR. By down- and up-regulation of lnc641, the accelerating effect of lnc641 on PRV replication was confirmed. Furthermore, we found that lnc641 regulated PRV replication by inhibiting the JAK-STAT1 pathway. This study suggests that lnc641 could be a new host factor target for developing antiviral therapies against PRV infection.

Sparse arrays are of deep concern due to their ability to identify more sources than the number of sensors, among which the hole-free difference co-array (DCA) with large degrees of freedom (DOFs) is a topic worth discussing. In this paper, we propose a novel hole-free nested array with three sub-uniform line arrays (NA-TS). The one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) representations demonstrate the detailed configuration of NA-TS, which indicates that both nested array (NA) and improved nested array (INA) are special cases of NA-TS. We subsequently derive the closed-form expressions for the optimal configuration and the available number of DOFs, concluding that the DOFs of NA-TS is a function of the number of sensors and the number of the third sub-ULA. The NA-TS possesses more DOFs than several previously proposed hole-free nested arrays. Finally, the superior direction of arrival (DOA) estimation performance based on the NA-TS is supported by numerical examples.

The aboveground dry biomass (AGDB) of winter wheat can reflect the growth and development of winter wheat. The rapid monitoring of AGDB by using hyperspectral technology is of great significance for obtaining the growth and development status of winter wheat in real time and promoting yield increase. This study analyzed the changes of AGDB based on a winter wheat irrigation experiment. At the same time, the AGDB and canopy hyperspectral reflectance of winter wheat were obtained. The effect of spectral preprocessing algorithms such as reciprocal logarithm (Lg), multiple scattering correction (MSC), standardized normal variate (SNV), first derivative (FD), and second derivative (SD); sample division methods such as the concentration gradient method (CG), the Kennard–Stone method (KS), and the sample subset partition based on the joint X–Y distances method (SPXY); sample division ratios such as 1:1 (Ratio1), 3:2 (Ratio2), 2:1 (Ratio3), 5:2 (Ratio4), and 3:1 (Ratio5); dimension reduction algorithms such as uninformative variable elimination (UVE); and modeling algorithms such as partial least-squares regression (PLSR), stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR), artificial neural network (ANN), and support vector machine (SVM) on the hyperspectral monitoring model of winter wheat AGDB was studied. The results showed that irrigation can improve the AGDB and canopy spectral reflectance of winter wheat. The spectral preprocessing algorithm can change the original spectral curve and improve the correlation between the original spectrum and the AGDB of winter wheat and screen out the bands of 1400 nm, 1479 nm, 1083 nm, 741 nm, 797 nm, and 486 nm, which have a high correlation with AGDB. The calibration sets and validation sets divided by different sample division methods and sample division ratios have different data-distribution characteristics. The UVE method can obviously eliminate some bands in the full-spectrum band. SVM is the best modeling algorithm. According to the universality of data, the better sample division method, sample division ratio, and modeling algorithm are SPXY, Ratio4, and SVM, respectively. Combined with the original spectrum and by using UVE to screen bands, a model with stable performance and high accuracy can be obtained. According to the particularity of data, the best model in this study is FD-CG-Ratio4-Full-SVM, for which the R2c, RMSEc, R2v, RMSEv, and RPD are 0.9487, 0.1663 kg·m−2, 0.7335, 0.3600 kg·m−2, and 1.9226, respectively, which can realize hyperspectral monitoring of winter wheat AGDB. This study can provide a reference for the rational irrigation of winter wheat in the field and provide a theoretical basis for monitoring the AGDB of winter wheat by using hyperspectral remote sensing technology.

Senecavirus A (SVA) is an emerging pathogen that negatively affects the pig industry in China. Affected animals present vesicular lesions which are indistinguishable from other vesicular diseases. To date, there is no commercial vaccine that can be used to control SVA infection in China. In this study, recombinant SVA 3AB, 2C, 3C, 3D, L and VP1 proteins are expressed by using a prokaryotic expression system. The kinetics of the presence and levels of SVA antibodies with SVA-inoculated pig serum show that 3AB has the best antigenicity. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is developed with the 3AB protein, exhibiting a sensitivity of 91.3% and no cross-reaction with serum antibodies against PRRSV, CSFV, PRV, PCV2 or O-type FMDV. Given the high sensitivity and specificity of this approach, a nine-year (2014–2022) retrospective and prospective serological study is conducted to determine the epidemiological profile and dynamics of SVA in East China. Although SVA seropositivity declined markedly from 2016 (98.85%) to 2022 (62.40%), SVA transmission continues in China. Consequently, the SVA 3AB-based indirect ELISA has good sensitivity and specificity and is suitable for viral detection, field surveillance and epidemiological studies.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is an alphacoronavirus (α-CoV) that causes high mortality in suckling piglets, leading to severe economic losses worldwide. No effective vaccine or commercial antiviral drug is readily available. Several replicative enzymes are responsible for coronavirus replication. In this study, the potential candidates targeting replicative enzymes (PLP2, 3CLpro, RdRp, NTPase, and NendoU) were screened from 187,119 compounds in ZINC natural products library, and seven compounds had high binding potential to NTPase and showed drug-like property. Among them, ZINC12899676 was identified to significantly inhibit the NTPase activity of PEDV by targeting its active pocket and causing its conformational change, and ZINC12899676 significantly inhibited PEDV replication in IPEC-J2 cells. It first demonstrated that ZINC12899676 inhibits PEDV replication by targeting NTPase, and then, NTPase may serve as a novel target for anti-PEDV.

Abstract Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes lethal diarrhea in suckling piglets, leading to severe economic losses worldwide. There is an urgent need to find new therapeutic methods to prevent and control PEDV. Not only is there a shortage of commercial anti-PEDV drugs, but available commercial vaccines fail to protect against highly virulent PEDV variants. We screened an FDA-approved library of 911 natural products and found that tomatidine, a steroidal alkaloid extracted from the skin and leaves of tomatoes, demonstrates significant inhibition of PEDV replication in Vero and IPEC-J2 cells in vitro. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics analysis predicted interactions between tomatidine and the active pocket of PEDV 3CL protease, which were confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The inhibiting effect of tomatidine on 3CL protease was determined using cleavage visualization and FRET assay. Tomatidine-mediated blocking of 3CL protease activity in PEDV-infected cells was examined by western blot detection of the viral polyprotein in PEDV-infected cells. It indicates that tomatidine inhibits PEDV replication mainly by targeting 3CL protease. In addition, tomatidine also has antiviral activity against transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), encephalo myocarditis virus (EMCV) and seneca virus A (SVA) in vitro. These results may be helpful in developing a new prophylactic and therapeutic strategy against PEDV and other swine disease infections.

The result of radar signal sorting directly affects the performance of electronic reconnaissance equipment. Sorting method based on intra-pulse features has become a research focus in recent years. However, as the number of extracted features increases, the dimension of the feature vector becomes higher and higher. And too many dimensional feature vectors would make the complexity of the sorting algorithm increase geometrically. In this way, feature selection becomes more and more necessary. Combining the latest research on fuzzy rough sets, this paper proposes two feature selection methods, namely two-steps attribute reduction based on fuzzy dependency (TARFD) algorithm and fuzzy rough artificial bee colony (FRABC) algorithm. The TARFD method uses the candidate attribute set as starting point, according to the definition of the redundant attribute set. Then the less important attributes are successively eliminated. The FRABC method starts from the dependence degree of fuzzy rough set, and constructs a fitness function that reflects the importance of the attribute subset and the reduction rate. Based on this function, the artificial bee colony algorithm is used to reduce the attributes of the dataset. Using the TARFD and FRABC algorithms, the extracted feature sets, including entropy feature set, Zernike moment feature set, pseudo Zernike feature set, gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) feature set, and Hu-invariant moment feature set are processed, then an optimal feature subset was obtained and a sorting test was performed. The results show the effectiveness of the extracted intra-pulse features and the efficiency of the feature selection algorithm.

Barley bran has potential bioactivities due to its high content of polyphenols and dietary fiber, etc. Fermentation has been considered as an effective way to promote the functional activity of food raw materials. In this study, polysaccharides from barley bran extract fermented by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum dy-1 (FBBE-PS) were analyzed, and its effects on lipid accumulation and oxidative stress in high-fat HepG2 cells induced by sodium oleate were evaluated. The results showed that the molecular weight decreased and monosaccharide composition of polysaccharides changed significantly after fermentation. In addition, 50 μg/mL FBBE-PS could reduce the triglyceride (TG) content and reaction oxygen species (ROS) level in high-fat HepG2 cells by 21.62% and 30.01%, respectively, while increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) represented by 64.87% and 22.93%, respectively. RT-qPCR analysis revealed that FBBE-PS could up-regulate the lipid metabolism-related genes such as ppar-α, acox-1 and cpt-1α, and oxidation-related genes such as nrf2, ho-1, nqo-1, sod1, cat, etc. The metabolomics analysis indicated that FBBE-PS could alleviate lipid deposition by inhibiting the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, which is consistent with the downregulation of scd-1 expression. It is demonstrated that fermentation can alter the properties and physiological activities of polysaccharides in barley bran, and FBBE-PS exhibited an alleviating effect on lipid deposition and oxidative stress in high-fat cells.

To address the weakness that the difference co-array (DCA) only enhances the degrees of freedom (DOFs) to a limited extent, a new configuration called the generalized nested array via difference–sum co-array (GNA-DSCA) is proposed for direction of arrival (DOA) estimation. We consider both the temporal and spatial information of the array output to construct the DSCA model, based on which the DCA and sum co-array (SCA) of the GNA are systematically analyzed. The closed-form expression of the DOFs for the GNA-DSCA is derived under the determined dilation factors. The optimal results show that the GNA-DSCA has a more flexible configuration and more DOFs than the GNA-DCA. Moreover, the larger dilation factors yield significantly wider virtual aperture, which indicates that it is more attractive than the reported DSCA-based sparse arrays. Finally, a hole-filling strategy based on atomic norm minimization (ANM) is utilized to overcome the degradation of the estimation performance due to the non-uniform virtual array, thus achieving accurate DOA estimation. The simulation results verify the superiority of the proposed configuration in terms of virtual array properties and estimation performance.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), a highly pathogenic enteric coronavirus, is regarded as one of the most severe porcine pathogens. To date, there are still no commercial vaccines or drugs that can provide full protection against the epidemic strains. A better understanding of the subcellular location of individual proteins could benefit from studying the protein functions and mechanisms of how the virus regulates key cellular processes, finally leading to the development of antiviral agents. In this study, we characterized the subcellular localization of PEDV proteins using multi-labeled fluorescent immunocytochemistry. As a result, 11 proteins showed cytoplasmic distribution and 10 proteins showed both cytoplasmic and nuclear distribution. Furthermore, we demonstrated that four proteins (Nsp3, Nsp4, Nsp6, and S1) were co-localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), while four proteins (Nsp2, S2, N, and ORF3) were partially observed in the ER, two proteins (E and M) were co-localized in the Golgi apparatus, and two proteins (Nsp2 and E) were partially co-localized with the mitochondria. These viral proteins may perform specific functions at specific cellular locations. Together, these results describe a subcellular localization map of PEDV proteins, which will help to characterize the functions of these proteins in the future.

Quantitative assessment of the terrestrial water storage (TWS) changes and the major driving factors have been hindered by the lack of direct observations in Inner Mongolia, China. In this study, the spatial and temporal changes of TWS and groundwater storage (GWS) in Inner Mongolia during 2003–2021 were evaluated using the satellite gravity data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and the GRACE Follow On combined with data from land surface models. The results indicated that Inner Mongolia has experienced a widespread TWS loss of approximately 1.82 mm/yr from 2003–2021, with a more severe depletion rate of 4.15 mm/yr for GWS. Meteorological factors were the driving factors for water storage changes in northeastern and western regions. The abundant precipitation increased TWS in northeast regions at 2.36 mm/yr. Anthropogenic activities (agricultural irrigation and coal mining) were the driving factors for water resource decline in the middle and eastern regions (especially in the agropastoral transitional zone), where the decrease rates were 4.09 mm/yr and 3.69 mm/yr, respectively. In addition, the severities of hydrological drought events were identified based on water storage deficits, with average severity values of 17 mm, 18 mm, 24 mm, and 33 mm for the west, middle, east, and northeast regions, respectively. This study established a basic framework for water resource changes in Inner Mongolia and provided a scientific foundation for further water resources investigation.

Aims: Long-term salt diet induces the oxidative stress in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and increases the blood pressure. Extracellular superoxide dismutase (Ec-SOD) is a unique antioxidant enzyme that exists in extracellular space and plays an essential role in scavenging excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the underlying mechanism of Ec-SOD in the PVN remains unclear.Methods: Sprague–Dawley rats (150–200 g) were fed either a high salt diet (8% NaCl, HS) or normal salt diet (0.9% NaCl, NS) for 6 weeks. Each group of rats was administered with bilateral PVN microinjection of AAV-Ec-SOD (Ec-SOD overexpression) or AAV-Ctrl for the next 6 weeks.Results: High salt intake not only increased mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and the plasma noradrenaline (NE) but also elevated the NAD(P)H oxidase activity, the NAD(P)H oxidase components (NOX2 and NOX4) expression, and ROS production in the PVN. Meanwhile, the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)–dependent inflammatory proteins (ASC, pro-cas-1, IL-β, CXCR, CCL2) expression and the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in the PVN with high salt diet were higher, but the GSH level, Ec-SOD activity, GAD67 expression, and GABA level were lower than the NS group. Bilateral PVN microinjection of AAV-Ec-SOD decreased MAP and the plasma NE, reduced NAD(P)H oxidase activity, the NOX2 and NOX4 expression, and ROS production, attenuated NLRP3-dependent inflammatory expression and TH, but increased GSH level, Ec-SOD activity, GAD67 expression, and GABA level in the PVN compared with the high salt group.Conclusion: Excessive salt intake not only activates oxidative stress but also induces the NLRP3-depensent inflammation and breaks the balance between inhibitory and excitability neurotransmitters in the PVN. Ec-SOD, as an essential anti-oxidative enzyme, eliminates the ROS in the PVN and decreases the blood pressure, probably through inhibiting the NLRP3-dependent inflammation and improving the excitatory neurotransmitter release in the PVN in the salt-induced hypertension.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes one of the most devastating diseases affecting pigs and wild suids, a worldwide epizootic situation exacerbated in recent years due to the lack of vaccine or effective treatment. ASFV has a restricted cell tropism, and is prone to replicate in porcine monocytes and alveolar macrophages with high efficiency. Here, the replication capabilities of ASFV were examined in swine pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) and compared with 3D4/21, PK-15, MA-104 and Marc-145 cell lines using PCR, qPCR and Western blot with monoclonal antibodies against the viral p30 and p72 proteins. The results showed that ASFV has a variety of infection characteristics in PAMs and showed four cell lines with distinct defects during virus early transcription-translation, genome replication and late protein synthesis. Furthermore, an antiviral role of the stress granule pathway was revealed against ASFV, and ASFV infection inhibited stress granule formation in PAMs but not 3D4/21. These results will help to deepen our knowledge on ASFV infection and to develop ASFV susceptible cell lines.