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[Objective] Expansion of construction land is a direct manifestation of urbanization in geographical space. Analyzing the characteristics of the spatial and temporal changes of construction land in shrinking cities is an important reference for optimizing the allocation of land resources in shrinking cities. [Methods] This study constructed a multi-indicator model with “one subject, two subsets, and three dimensions” to identify shrinking cities in Northeast China in 2000-2020. On this basis, it used the common edge measure method and PLUS model to explore the characteristics, patterns, and driving mechanisms of construction land expansion in shrinking cities in Northeast China during the study period. [Results] (1) The Northeast area experienced a significant increase in the number and extent of shrinking cities between 2010 and 2020. From 2000 to 2010, only four demographically and one demographically-economically shrinking cities were identified. From 2010-2020, the region identified three demographically-economically, one demographic-vitality, and 17 full-dimensional shrinking cities. Spatially, it was characterized by a greater presence in the eastern and northern regions than in the western and southern regions. (2) More than 70.59% of the shrinking cities’ construction land showed a continuous growth trend from 2010 to 2020. Among these cities, those with the fastest expansion rate were mostly centered in the Harbin-Dalian economic belt. (3) The proportion of infill expansion of new construction land in shrinking cities has gradually increased, and the pattern of expansion has tended to agglomerate from diffusion. (4) The evolution of construction land in shrinking cities is a comprehensive result of the interaction of the natural environment, population-economic and infrastructure factors, and the core driving factors of shrinking cities across various study periods and types have both commonality and uniqueness. [Conclusion] Of the shrinking cities in Northeast China, 70% showed the paradoxical development pattern of continued expansion of construction land. We recommend that shrinking cities should form a reasonable order of construction land expansion, fully explore the potential for utilizing the cities’ stock of construction land, and ultimately achieve “smart growth” in shrinking cities.

This study establishes and refines a social-landscape ecological security pattern that integrates the demand and supply of ecosystem services, providing a substantial foundation for the ecological restoration of territorial spaces. This foundation is crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of "social–ecological" systems in achieving sustainable development. Jilin Province, serving as a national ecological security buffer and experiencing rapid economic growth, exhibits a significant spatial imbalance between social and economic progress and ecological conservation. The balance of ecosystem service demand and supply is pivotal in this context, making Jilin Province an ideal study area. We employed a multifaceted approach, including MSPA, the InVEST model, landscape connectivity assessment, circuit theory, and ecological network integrity evaluation, to elucidate the spatial disparities between the demand and supply of ecosystem services. We then developed and optimized social and landscape ecological security patterns to meet human demands and safeguard ecological integrity, thereby promoting the sustainable development of "social–ecological" systems. The key findings are as follows: (1) The supply of ecosystem services shows a clear spatial gradient, with lower values in the west and higher in the east, while demand is concentrated in the central region with lower values in the east and west, indicating a pronounced spatial mismatch in Jilin Province. (2) The landscape ecological security pattern includes 18 barrier points, 33 pinch points, 166 ecological corridors, and 101 ecological sources. (3) The social–ecological security pattern comprises 119 demand sources and 150 supply–demand corridors. (4) The study introduces 14 supply–demand nodes and 47 optimization corridors, proposing zoning schemes for the eastern core protection area, the central ecological demand area, and the western core restoration area. Additionally, recommendations are concerning the optimization of the "social–ecological" system pattern. This research advances the theoretical understanding of "social–ecological" system development in Jilin Province and offers insights for more harmonized development strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many animal experiments and clinical trials showed that probiotics are effective for the treatment of alcoholic liver disease. Alcohol disrupts the composition of intestinal flora; probiotics modulate the gut microbiota and reverse alcohol-associated intestinal barrier dysfunction by decreasing intestinal mucosal permeability and preventing intestinal bacteria from translocating. Probiotics enhance immune responses and reduce the levels of alcohol-induced inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the liver and intestine. Probiotics also increase fatty acid β-oxidation and reduce lipogenesis, combating alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the mechanism of action of probiotics for reducing the effects of alcoholic liver disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the discovery and rationale to devise bright single optical eigenmodes that feature quantum-optical mode volumes of about 1  nm^{3}. Our findings rely on the development and application of a quasinormal mode theory that self-consistently treats fields and electron nonlocality, spill-out, and Landau damping around atomistic protrusions on a metallic nanoantenna. By outpacing Landau damping with radiation via properly designed antenna modes, the extremely localized modes become bright with radiation efficiencies reaching 30% and could provide up to 4×10^{7} times intensity enhancement.