Search

Abstract Rational design of robust photocatalytic systems to direct capture and in-situ convert diluted CO2 from flue gas is a promising but challenging way to achieve carbon neutrality. Here, we report a new type of host-guest photocatalysts by integrating CO2-enriching ionic liquids and photoactive metal-organic frameworks PCN-250-Fe2M (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Mn) for artificial photosynthetic diluted CO2 reduction in gas-solid phase. As a result, [Emim]BF4(39.3 wt%)@PCN-250-Fe2Co exhibits a record high CO2-to-CO reduction rate of 313.34 μmol g−1 h−1 under pure CO2 atmosphere and 153.42 μmol g−1 h−1 under diluted CO2 (15%) with about 100% selectivity. In scaled-up experiments with 1.0 g catalyst and natural sunlight irradiation, the concentration of pure and diluted CO2 (15%) could be significantly decreased to below 85% and 10%, respectively, indicating its industrial application potential. Further experiments and theoretical calculations reveal that ionic liquids not only benefit CO2 enrichment, but also form synergistic effect with Co2+ sites in PCN-250-Fe2Co, resulting in a significant reduction in Gibbs energy barrier during the rate-determining step of CO2-to-CO conversion.

Shell and tube heat exchangers (STHE) are essential thermal equipment and widely used in daily life. A novel thermosyphon system called falling-film thermosyphon (FFTS) is introduced and integrated into STHE system, resulting in a better thermal performance. In this study, a rectangular solid tube bank of FFTS bundles with a baffle design is studied. The numerical simulation for heat and mass transfer of the FFTS heat exchanger is developed to predict the condensation rate of the vapor in the flue gas, and a lab-scale prototype is also built up in COMSOL. The prediction is validated with the experimental data from references, and the model's accuracy is verified within 10%-12% error. Also, the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm, version 2 (NSGA-II) is implemented to improve the thermal performance of rectangular tube banks in this paper. Several parameters, e.g., baffle number, tube number, and tube space, are optimized. As a result, compact configurations with more baffles are preferred to enhance the performance associated with a high-pressure drop correspondingly. The optimized layout for the lab-scale prototype can increase by 18 to 32% condensation with a pressure loss of less than 200 Pa.

Background and aim: Hepatic ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) is a significant challenge in liver transplantation, trauma, hypovolemic shock, and hepatectomy, with limited effective interventions available. This study aimed to investigate the role of leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2 (LECT2) in hepatic IRI and assess the therapeutic potential of Lect2-short hairpin RNA (shRNA) delivered through adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. Materials and methods: This study analyzed human liver and serum samples from five patients undergoing the Pringle maneuver. Lect2-knockout and C57BL/6J mice were used. Hepatic IRI was induced by clamping the hepatic pedicle. Treatments included recombinant human LECT2 (rLECT2) and AAV-Lect2-shRNA. LECT2 expression levels and serum biomarkers including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured. Histological analysis of liver necrosis and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction were performed. Results: Serum and liver LECT2 levels were elevated during hepatic IRI. Serum LECT2 protein and mRNA levels increased post reperfusion. Lect2-knockout mice had reduced weight loss; hepatic necrosis; and serum ALT, AST, creatinine, and BUN levels. rLECT2 treatment exacerbated weight loss, hepatic necrosis, and serum biomarkers (ALT, AST, creatinine, and BUN). AAV-Lect2-shRNA treatment significantly reduced weight loss, hepatic necrosis, and serum biomarkers (ALT, AST, creatinine, and BUN), indicating therapeutic potential. Conclusions: Elevated LECT2 levels during hepatic IRI increased liver damage. Genetic knockout or shRNA-mediated knockdown of Lect2 reduced liver damage, indicating its therapeutic potential. AAV-mediated Lect2-shRNA delivery mitigated hepatic IRI, offering a potential new treatment strategy to enhance clinical outcomes for patients undergoing liver-related surgeries or trauma.

A study on Platydracus species of Hainan Province, China is presented. Platydracus hainanensis sp. nov., Platydracus aureolus sp. nov. and Platydracus zhouchenglini sp. nov. are described as new species. Platydracus marmorellus Fauvel, 1895 and Platydracus subirideus Kraatz, 1859 are recorded from China for the first time. Habitus and diagnostic characters of all species are photographed, and a key to Platydracus species of Hainan is provided.

Five species of Apatetica Westwood, 1848 from China are recorded and illustrated: Apatetica angusticollis sp. nov. from Sichuan, A. confusa Assing, 2018 from Yunnan, A. intermedia Cameron, 1930 from Sichuan, A. laevicollis Fauvel, 1904 from Guangdong and Guangxi, and A. sikkimi Fauvel, 1895 from Xizang. The last four are new to China. The new species is described, and a photograph of a living specimen is presented. Apatetica intermedia and A. sikkimi are redescribed and diagnosed. A key to Chinese species of the genus is provided.

Abstract As the primary variable load of bridges, vehicle load is an important parameter for bridge health monitoring. However, traditional Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) systems and the commonly used method of placing sensors on the bridge are challenging to apply in load monitoring for many small and medium-sized bridges. Therefore, this paper proposes a bridge vehicle load identification method based on traffic surveillance video data. Leveraging the surveillance video data on the bridge, without introducing additional hardware devices, the displacement of target points is detected through sub-pixel level image detection algorithms, enabling non-contact measurement of bridge structural response through imaging. A spatiotemporal relationship model of structural displacement, vehicle load, and load distribution is established to solve for vehicle load. Finally, model bridge tests under various loading conditions and engineering practice experiments are conducted to validate the feasibility of the method. The results of the model bridge tests show that the structural displacement measured using traffic video measurement has a deviation of less than 10% compared to the measurements obtained using contact displacement sensors (LVDT), and it can accurately reflect the displacement characteristics of the structure. The results of the field tests demonstrate that the average estimation deviation for heavy vehicle loads ranging from 12 to 18 tons is approximately 18%, meeting the engineering requirements. The proposed method can provide load statistical information for the extensive health monitoring of small and medium-sized bridges and offer a new technical pathway for obtaining bridge load information.

Abstract Objective This study seeks to explore the impact of fast track surgery (FTS) with three-port in patients treated with laparoscopic radical cystectomy and ileal conduit on postoperative recovery, hospital stay and the complications. Methods This retrospective study analyzed 230 patients with invasive bladder cancer who underwent laparoscopic radical cystectomy at the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University between December 2011 to January 2023. 50 patients received conventional surgery (CS) and 180 patients received FTS with three-port. Patients were assessed for time to normal diet consumption, time to passing first flatus, number of postoperative recovery days and complications. Trends of serum C-reactive protein levels were monitored preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 3 and 7. Results Patients who underwent FTS with three-port had a shorter duration to first flatus (P

Abstract Stimulated by the recent experimental results on the fully-charm tetraquark states, we systematically calculate the mass spectra of the fully-charm tetraquark states in $$8_{[c\bar{c}]}\otimes 8_{[c\bar{c}]}$$ 8 [ c c ¯ ] ⊗ 8 [ c c ¯ ] color configuration via QCD sum rules. By constructing nine $$8_{[c\bar{c}]}\otimes 8_{[c\bar{c}]}$$ 8 [ c c ¯ ] ⊗ 8 [ c c ¯ ] type currents with quantum numbers $$J^{PC}=0^{-+},0^{--},1^{-+},1^{+-},1^{--}$$ J PC = 0 - + , 0 - - , 1 - + , 1 + - , 1 - - and $$2^{++}$$ 2 + + , we perform analytic calculation up to dimension six in the operator product expansion (OPE). We find the fully-charm tetraquark states with $$J^{PC}=1^{+-},2^{++}$$ J PC = 1 + - , 2 + + lie around 6.48 $$\sim $$ ∼ 6.62 GeV while the fully-charm tetraquark states with $$J^{PC}=0^{-+},0^{--},1^{--},1^{-+}$$ J PC = 0 - + , 0 - - , 1 - - , 1 - + are about 6.85 $$\sim $$ ∼ 7.02 GeV. Notably, the mass predictions for the $$c\bar{c}c\bar{c}$$ c c ¯ c c ¯ tetraquarks, specifically those with $$J^{PC}=2^{++}$$ J PC = 2 + + , align with the broad structure identified by LHCb. Moreover, the masses of fully-charm tetraquarks with $$J^{PC}=0^{-+}$$ J PC = 0 - + and $$1^{-+}$$ 1 - + are anticipated to match closely with the mass of X(6900), considering the margin of error. Such findings hint at the presence of some $$8_{[c\bar{c}]}\otimes 8_{[c\bar{c}]}$$ 8 [ c c ¯ ] ⊗ 8 [ c c ¯ ] components within the di- $$J/\psi $$ J / ψ structures observed by LHCb. The predictions for tetraquark states with $$J^{PC}=0^{--},1^{+-},1^{--}$$ J PC = 0 - - , 1 + - , 1 - - may be accessible in the future BelleII, Super-B, PANDA, and LHCb experiments.

BackgroundAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a degenerative brain disease without a cure. Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (LJF), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, possesses a neuroprotective effect, but its mechanisms for AD are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate potential targets and constituents of LJF against AD.MethodsNetwork pharmacology and bioinformatics analyses were performed to screen potential compounds and targets. Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets related to AD patients were used to screen core targets of differential expression. Gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA) was used to validate the correlation between core target genes and major causative genes of AD. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the predictive efficacy of core targets based on GEO datasets. Molecular docking and dynamics simulation were conducted to analyze the binding affinities of effective compounds with core targets.ResultsNetwork pharmacology analysis showed that 112 intersection targets were identified. Bioinformatics analysis displayed that 32 putative core targets were identified from 112 intersection targets. Only eight core targets were differentially expressed based on GEO datasets. Finally, six core targets of MAPK8, CTNNB1, NFKB1, EGFR, BCL2, and NFE2L2 were related to AD progression and had good predictive ability based on correlation and ROC analyses. Molecular docking and dynamics simulation analyses elucidated that the component of lignan interacted with EGFR, the component of β-carotene interacted with CTNNB1 and BCL2, the component of β-sitosterol interacted with BCL2, the component of hederagenin interacted with NFKB1, the component of berberine interacted with EGFR and BCL2, and the component of baicalein interacted with NFKB1, EGFR and BCL2.ConclusionThrough a comprehensive analysis, this study revealed that six core targets (MAPK8, CTNNB1, NFKB1, EGFR, BCL2, and NFE2L2) and six practical components (lignan, β-carotene, β-sitosterol, hederagenin, berberine, and baicalein) were involved in the mechanism of action of LJF against AD. Our work demonstrated that LJF effectively treats AD through its multi-component and multi-target properties. The findings of this study will establish a theoretical basis for the expanded application of LJF in AD treatment and, hopefully, can guide more advanced experimental research in the future.

Abstract Calcium oxalate (CaOx) kidney stones are common and recurrent, lacking pharmacological prevention. Randall's plaques (RPs), calcium deposits in renal papillae, serve as niduses for some CaOx stones. This study explores the role of osteogenic‐like cells in RP formation resembling ossification. CaP crystals deposit around renal tubules, interstitium, and blood vessels in RP tissues. Human renal interstitial fibroblasts (hRIFs) exhibit the highest osteogenic‐like differentiation potential compared to chloride voltage‐gated channel Ka positive tubular epithelial cells, aquaporin 2 positive collecting duct cells, and vascular endothelial cells, echoing the upregulated osteogenic markers primarily in hRIFs within RP tissues. Utilizing RNA‐seq, osteomodulin (OMD) is found to be upregulated in hRIFs within RP tissues and hRIFs following osteogenic induction. Furthermore, OMD colocalizes with CaP crystals and calcium vesicles within RP tissues. OMD can enhance osteogenic‐like differentiation of hRIFs in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, crystal deposits are attenuated in mice with Omd deletion in renal interstitial fibroblasts following CaOx nephrocalcinosis induction. Mechanically, a positive feedback loop of OMD/BMP2/BMPR1A/RUNX2/OMD drives hRIFs to adopt osteogenic‐like fates, by which OMD induces osteogenic‐like microenvironment of renal interstitium to participate in RP formation. We identify OMD upregulation as a pathological feature of RP, paving the way for preventing CaOx stones.

The spatial gradients of protein and starch in wheat grains affected the grain milling characteristics and flour utilization. The increase in compound heat stress and drought stress (HDS) due to global climate change threatens wheat grain yield and quality parameters, but the impacts of extreme climate events on the gradients of protein and starch in wheat grains remain unclear. In this study, two-year, environment-controlled experiments with four heat stress levels (17/27, 21/31, 25/35, and 29/39°C) and three drought stress levels (30 %, 55 %, and 75 % field capacity) were conducted to investigate the effects of HDS on the gradients of protein and starch concentrations within the five grain layers. The results showed that HDS resulted in significantly greater protein concentrations, while resulting in lower starch concentrations in the wheat grain layers. Among the five layers, the endosperm layers exhibited the greatest increase in protein concentration under HDS, but the starch concentration under HDS decreased in the order of husk > aleurone > endosperm layer. HDS unevenly altered the protein and starch concentrations of the five grain layers. There was significant linear relationship between relative protein and starch concentration with accumulated heat degree days (AHDD). With a 1°C·d increase in AHDD, the protein concentration in the five grain layers increased by 1.17–2.19 %, while the starch concentration decreased by 0.62–0.90 %, depending on the drought stress levels. A significant linear relationship was also observed between the relative protein and starch concentrations and evapotranspiration (ET). A 1 mm increase in ET led to a protein concentration decrease of 0.58–0.76 % in P1-P5, with a corresponding starch concentration increase of 0.28–0.46 %, depending on cultivar and treatment stages. Our results indicate that HDS significantly impacts the grain quality parameters for the flour milling process and human diet and will provide important insights into adapting wheat quality to climate change.

Abstract The risk for suffering immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)‐associated myocarditis increases in patients with pre‐existing conditions and the mechanisms remain to be clarified. Spatial transcriptomics, single‐cell RNA sequencing, and flow cytometry are used to decipher how anti‐cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen‐4 m2a antibody (anti‐CTLA‐4 m2a antibody) aggravated cardiac injury in experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) mice. It is found that anti‐CTLA‐4 m2a antibody increases cardiac fibroblast‐derived C‐X‐C motif chemokine ligand 1 (Cxcl1), which promots neutrophil infiltration to the myocarditic zones (MZs) of EAM mice via enhanced Cxcl1‐Cxcr2 chemotaxis. It is identified that the C–C motif chemokine ligand 5 (Ccl5)‐neutrophil subpopulation is responsible for high activity of cytokine production, adaptive immune response, NF‐κB signaling, and cellular response to interferon‐gamma and that the Ccl5‐neutrophil subpopulation and its‐associated proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines promoted macrophage (Mφ) polarization to M1 Mφ. These altered infiltrating landscape and phenotypic switch of immune cells, and proinflammatory factors synergistically aggravated anti‐CTLA‐4 m2a antibody‐induced cardiac injury in EAM mice. Neutralizing neutrophils, Cxcl1, and applying Cxcr2 antagonist dramatically alleviates anti‐CTLA‐4 m2a antibody‐induced leukocyte infiltration, cardiac fibrosis, and dysfunction. It is suggested that Ccl5‐neutrophil subpopulation plays a critical role in aggravating anti‐CTLA‐4 m2a antibody‐induced cardiac injury in EAM mice. This data may provide a strategic rational for preventing/curing ICIs‐associated myocarditis.

IntroductionHopea hainanensis Merrill & Chun is considered a keystone and indicator species in the tropical lowland rainforests of Hainan Island. Owing to its high-quality timber, H. hainanensis has been heavily exploited, leading to its classification as a first-class national protected plant in China and a plant species with extremely small populations (PSESPs).MethodsThis study analyzed genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms obtained through restriction site-associated DNA sequencing from 78 adult trees across 10 H. hainanensis populations on Hainan Island.Results and discussionThe nucleotide diversity of the sampled populations ranged from 0.00096 to 0.00138, which is lower than that observed in several other PSESPs and endangered tree species. Bayesian unsupervised clustering, principal component analysis, and neighbor-joining tree reconstruction identified three to five genetic clusters in H. hainanensis, most of which were geographically widespread and shared by multiple populations. Demographic history analysis based on pooled samples indicated that the decline in the H. hainanensis population began approximately 20,000 years ago, starting from an ancestral population size of approximately 10,000 individuals. The reduction in population size accelerated approximately 4,000 years ago and has continued to the present, resulting in a severely reduced population on Hainan Island. Intensified genetic drift in small and isolated H. hainanensis populations may contribute to moderate differentiation between some of them, as revealed by pairwise Fst. In conclusion, our conservation genomic study confirms a severe population decline and an extremely low level of nucleotide variation in H. hainanensis on Hainan Island. These findings provide critical insights for the sustainable management and genetic restoration of H. hainanensis on Hainan Island.

Abstract Due to the high degree of automation, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) have been widely used in many scenarios for transportation, and traditional computing power is stretched in large-scale AGV scheduling. In recent years, quantum computing has shown incomparable performance advantages in solving specific problems, especially Combinatorial optimization problem. In this paper, quantum computing technology is introduced into the study of the AGV scheduling problem. Additionally two types of quadratic unconstrained binary optimisation (QUBO) models suitable for different scheduling objectives are constructed, and the scheduling scheme is coded into the ground state of Hamiltonian operator, and the problem is solved by using optical coherent Ising machine (CIM). The experimental results show that compared with the traditional calculation method, the optical quantum computer can save 92% computation time on average. It has great application potential.

Abstract Background The objective of this research is to investigate the dynamic developmental trends between Age-Friendly Environments (AFE) and healthy aging in the Chinese population. Methods This study focused on a sample of 11,770 participants from the CHARLS and utilized the ATHLOS Healthy Aging Index to assess the level of healthy aging among the Chinese population. Linear mixed model (LMM) was used to explore the relationship between AFE and healthy aging. Furthermore, a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) and a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) were used to examine the dynamic developmental trends of healthy aging, taking into account both Between-Person effects and Within-Person effects. Results The results from LMM showed a positive correlation between AFE and healthy aging (β = 0.087, p

The vertically integrated emission rate, centroid altitude, peak emission rate, and peak height of the hydroxyl (OH) airglow were calculated from Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED)/Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) observations to study the seasonal and interannual variations in the intensity and location of the OH emission. The emission rate is inversely proportional to the height of the emission, with the semiannual oscillation dominating at low latitudes and the annual oscillation dominating at higher latitudes. The OH emission is modulated by the quasibiennial oscillation at the equator, and the quasibiennial oscillation signal is weak at other latitudes. We represented the vertical transport of atomic oxygen by using atomic oxygen concentrations obtained from a global atmospheric model, the Specified Dynamics Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model with thermosphere and ionosphere eXtension simulations. Compared with the amplitudes of the migrating diurnal tide (DW1) calculated from temperature data observed by TIMED/SABER, we found that both the vertical transport of atomic oxygen and DW1 amplitudes in the equatorial region exhibit semiannual oscillation and quasibiennial oscillation, which have a strong correlation with the variations in the amplitude and phase of semiannual oscillation and quasibiennial oscillation in OH emission. It is likely that the DW1 affects the vertical transport of atomic oxygen that is involved in the reaction to produce O3, thus affecting the OH emission. We analyzed the relationship between OH emission and solar activity by using the solar radio flux at 10.7 cm as a proxy for solar activity. The results showed that the OH emission is well correlated with solar activity, and the modulation of OH emission by solar activity has a significant latitudinal variation. The small correlation between emission height and solar activity indicates that solar activity modulates OH emission mainly through chemical rather than dynamic processes.

Abstract Background Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly detrimental occurrence associated with severe neurological disorders, lacking effective treatment currently. Proteolysis-targeting chimeric molecules (PROTACs) may provide new therapeutic avenues for treatment of podophyllotoxin derivatives-resistant SCLC with LM, warranting further exploration. Methods The SCLC cell line H128 expressing luciferase were mutated by MNNG to generate H128-Mut cell line. After subcutaneous inoculation of H128-Mut into nude mice, H128-LM and H128-BPM (brain parenchymal metastasis) cell lines were primarily cultured from LM and BPM tissues individually, and employed to in vitro drug testing. The SCLC-LM mouse model was established by inoculating H128-LM into nude mice via carotid artery and subjected to in vivo drug testing. RNA-seq and immunoblotting were conducted to uncover the molecular targets for LM. Results The SCLC-LM mouse model was successfully established, confirmed by in vivo live imaging and histological examination. The upregulated genes included EZH2, SLC44A4, VEGFA, etc. in both BPM and LM cells, while SLC44A4 was particularly upregulated in LM cells. When combined with PROTAC EZH2 degrader-1, the drug sensitivity of cisplatin, etoposide (VP16), and teniposide (VM26) for H128-LM was significantly increased in vitro. The in vivo drug trials with SCLC-LM mouse model demonstrated that PROTAC EZH2 degrader-1 plus VM26 or cisplatin/ VP16 inhibited H128-LM tumour significantly compared to VM26 or cisplatin/ VP16 alone (P

Abstract The spatiotemporal extension/expansion of mine areas is affected by multiple factors. So far, very little has been done to examine the interaction between mine areas and political or economic realities. The (ultra‐)mafic magmatic mines in China played a specific role in supporting national development and providing an ideal research subject for monitoring their interrelationship. In this study, remote sensing and mining‐related GIS data were used to identify and analyze 1233 (ultra‐)mafic magmatic mine area polygons in China, which covered approximately 322.96 km2 of land and included a V–Ti–Fe mine, a copper–nickel mine, a chromite mine, an asbestos mine, and a diamond mine. It was found that (1) the areal expansion of mines is significantly related to the mine types, perimeter, topography, and population density. (2) The mine area variation also reflects market and policy realities. The temporal expansion of the mine area from 2010 to 2020 followed an S‐shaped pattern (with the turning point occurring in 2014), closely related to iron overcapacity and tightened mining policies. (3) The complexity (D) of the mine area may reflect mine design and excavation practices. To be specific, lower D indicates early‐stage or artisanal/small‐scale mining, whereas higher D represents large‐scale mining. This study demonstrates that the detailed mapping of mine land can serve as an indicator to implement mining‐related market and policy changes. The (ultra‐)mafic mines area data set can be accessed at https://zenodo.org/record/7636616#.Y-p0uXaZOa0.

Abstract Background The aim of the study was to investigate whether the expression of CD27−CD38+ in interferon (IFN)-γ+CD4+ T cells stimulated by the specific antigen early secreted antigenic target-6 (ESAT-6)/culture filter protein-10 (CFP-10) could be a potential new therapeutic evaluation indicator for anti-tuberculosis (TB) treatment. Methods Newly diagnosed active pulmonary TB patients, latent TB infection (LTBI) and healthy controls were enrolled from January 2021 to December 2021. PTB patients were treated by standard anti-TB regimen 2HREZ/4HR (2 months of isoniazid (H), rifampin (R), ethambutol (E), and pyrazinamide (Z) followed by 4 months of isoniazid (H) and rifampin (R)). The difference of CD27−CD38+ expression in IFN-γ+CD4+ T cells before treatment, 2 months after treatment, and 6 months after treatment were compared. Results Total 45 PTB patients, 38 LTBI cases and 43 healthy controls were enrolled. The expression of CD27−CD38+ decreased significantly after anti-TB treatment and was comparable with that in LTBI and healthy controls when the 6-month anti-TB treatment course was completed. The decline rate of CD27−CD38+ between 6 months after treatment and baseline was positively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.766, P

Abstract Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) plays an important role in the biosynthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) via the nicotinamide (NAM) salvage pathway. While the structural biochemistry of eukaryote NAMPT has been well studied, the catalysis mechanism of prokaryote NAMPT at the molecular level remains largely unclear. Here, we demonstrated the NAMPT-mediated salvage pathway is functional in the Gram-negative phytopathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) for the synthesis of NAD+, and the enzyme activity of NAMPT in this bacterium is significantly higher than that of human NAMPT in vitro. Our structural analyses of Xcc NAMPT, both in isolation and in complex with either the substrate NAM or the product nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), uncovered significant details of substrate recognition. Specifically, we revealed the presence of a NAM binding tunnel that connects the active site, and this tunnel is essential for both catalysis and inhibitor binding. We further demonstrated that NAM binding in the tunnel has a positive cooperative effect with NAM binding in the catalytic site. Additionally, we discovered that phosphorylation of the His residue at position 229 enhances the substrate binding affinity of Xcc NAMPT and is important for its catalytic activity. This work reveals the importance of NAMPT in bacterial NAD+ synthesis and provides insights into the substrate recognition and the catalytic mechanism of bacterial type II phosphoribosyltransferases.

The critical nitrogen (Nc) dilution curve is considered an effective method for crop nitrogen (N) diagnosis, fertilization decision-making, and crop modeling. The Nc dilution curve is typically described using a power function curve (Nc = A1W−A2). This study established a universal Nc dilution curve and evaluated its potential application in flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) N diagnosis, yield, and quality regulation. Field experiments were conducted involving three tobacco varieties (Honghuadajinyuan, Yunyan87, and K326) and four N application rates (0 to > 90 kg N ha−1). The study was conducted in Southwest China from 2021 to 2022. The universal Nc curve obtained across all experimental data was 3.45 W−0.39. The parameter A2 was more susceptible to genotype and environment interactions than parameter A1. The uncertainty first rapidly decreased and then remained at a lower value as biomass increased. The relationship between leaf biomass and days after transplantation and accumulated growth degree was robust. The N nutrition index (NNI) and accumulated N deficiency effectively determined leaf N status and N demand, respectively. There was an inverse correlation between the NNI, leaf yield, and between the superior and medium leaf ratios. The quantitative relationship can be used to adjust the synergistic production of tobacco yield and leaf quality.

Flue-cured tobacco is a main economic crop, and leaves are the direct product of tobacco plant. Monitoring leaf area index (LAI) of tobacco plant is important to field management, yield prediction, and industry regulation. Hyperspectral data have hundreds of narrow spectral bands in continuous spectral ranges, significantly advancing monitoring of LAI. However, considering spectral responses of LAI vary with wavelength, the use of the full spectral range in estimation of LAI is redundant. To reduce spectral redundancy and improve estimation of LAI, spectral subsets were selected based on importance of spectral bands. Variable importance in the projection (VIP) score obtained by partial least squares regression (PLSR) was adopted to measure the importance. The study was conducted in Yunnan Province, China. Canopy reflectance spectra of tobacco plant were measured in two consecutive growth seasons. Genetic algorithm (GA) and PLSR were used for model calibration. The identified important spectral regions for estimation of LAI were red edge, near-infrared (NIR), and green regions. In estimation of LAI of tobacco plant, compared with the estimation using the full spectral range of VNIR reflectance spectra, normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) and coefficient of determination (R2) values were improved from 10.30% and 0.83 to 7.68% and 0.90 and from 18.78% and 0.43 to 7.65% and 0.90 by using the reflectance spectra in identified spectral regions in the growth seasons in 2021 and 2022 separately. In addition to the identified continuous spectral regions, central bands of the identified spectral regions also achieved estimation of LAI, with the highest R2 value reaching 0.72. The selected spectral subsets improved estimation accuracy and reduced model complexity. The results indicate that selected spectral subsets are effective and promising in estimation of LAI, providing an alternative for estimation of LAI using hyperspectral data.

Cemented carbide is often used as the pick-tip material for conical picks. The pick-tip often experiences premature failure due to insufficient toughness. This paper aims to improve the impact toughness of cemented carbide through electromagnetic coupled cryogenic treatment. A theoretical model between process parameters and impact toughness is established. The optimal parameters are determined as follows: a cryogenic temperature of −190 °C, cryogenic time of 24 h, magnetization intensity of 1.5 T, and magnetization time of 15 s. The treatment improves the impact toughness by 11.39% compared with the heat treatment. Microstructure analysis indicates a notable increase in dislocations and grain refinement within the Co phase, attributing to the enhanced toughness.

A vast amount of knowledge has been acquired through human activities such as farming, hunting, and fishing. Throughout history, humans have utilized living creatures for disease treatment, relying on the natural world's healing powers. The special “healers” may be able to treat patients via the power of nature. However, there was no systematic introduction or summary of these treatments. Therefore, we conducted a literature review based on PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, CNKI and WanFang DATA. Here, we defined this unique method as “animal healer” and six common kinds of animal healers were reviewed. These are fish therapy, pet therapy, worm therapy, leech therapy, maggot therapy, and bee therapy. According to the different characteristics of healers, treatment methods mainly included bite, parasitism, contact and communication. With the advantages of green and effectiveness, animal healers have great therapy potential against a variety of refractory diseases. The main purpose of this review is to draw people's attention to animal healer, promote it to become a possible clinical treatment strategy, and make further exploration in species cultivation, mechanism research, animal welfare, standard setting, safety evaluation and other aspects. In the future, animal healers will play an increasingly important role in medicine and hopefully solve more medical problems and dilemmas.

Background: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-NONMMUT020270.2 is downregulated and co-expressed with inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 2 (ITPR2) in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice. However, whether the expression of ITPR2 was regulated by lncRNA-NONMMUT020270.2 remains unclear. we aimed to investigate regulating relationship of lncRNA-NONMMUT020270.2 and ITPR2. Methods: HT22 cells were firstly transfected with the pcDNA3.1-lncRNA-NONMMUT020270.2 overexpression plasmid or with the lncRNA-NONMMUT020270.2 smart silencer, and then were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24h. The mRNA expression levels of lncRNA-NONMMUT020270.2 and ITPR2 were measured by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Cell viability was assessed using a Cell Counting Kit 8 assay. The expression of Aβ1-42 was detected by ELISA. The expression levels of p-tau, caspase-1, and inositol trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) proteins were detected by western-blotting. Nuclear morphological changes were detected by Hoechst staining. Flow cytometry and Fluo-3/AM were carried out to determine cell apoptosis and the intracellular Ca2+. Results: LPS significantly decreased cell viability, and ITPR2 mRNA and IP3R protein expression levels. While it markedly enhanced the expression levels of p-tau and Aβ1-42, cell apoptosis rate, as well as intracellular Ca2+ concentration (P

Abstract Dipterocarpoideae species form the emergent layer of Asian rainforests. They are the indicator species for Asian rainforest distribution, but they are severely threatened. Here, to understand their adaptation and population decline, we assemble high-quality genomes of seven Dipterocarpoideae species including two autotetraploid species. We estimate the divergence time between Dipterocarpoideae and Malvaceae and within Dipterocarpoideae to be 108.2 (97.8‒118.2) and 88.4 (77.7‒102.9) million years ago, and we identify a whole genome duplication event preceding dipterocarp lineage diversification. We find several genes that showed a signature of selection, likely associated with the adaptation to Asian rainforests. By resequencing of two endangered species, we detect an expansion of effective population size after the last glacial period and a recent sharp decline coinciding with the history of local human activities. Our findings contribute to understanding the diversification and adaptation of dipterocarps and highlight anthropogenic disturbances as a major factor in their endangered status.

Abstract Photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems have emerged as a prominent renewable energy-based technology for wastewater treatment, offering sustainable advantages such as eliminating dependence on fossil fuels or grid electricity compared to traditional electrochemical treatment methods. However, previous PEC systems often overlook the potential of ions present in wastewater as an alternative to externally applied bias voltage for enhancing carrier separation efficiency. Here we report a bias-free driven ion assisted photoelectrochemical (IAPEC) system by integration of an electron-ion acceptor cathode, which leverages its fast ion-electron coupling capability to significantly enhance the separation of electrons and holes at the photoanode. We demonstrate that Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) can serve as robust and reversible electron-ion acceptors that provide reaction sites for photoelectron coupling cations, thus driving the hole oxidation to produce strong oxidant free radicals at photoanode. Our IAPEC system exhibits superior degradation performance in wastewater containing chloride medium. This indicates that, in addition to the cations (e.g., Na+) accelerating the electron transfer rate, the presence of Cl– ions further enhance efficient and sustainable wastewater treatment. This work highlights the potential of utilizing abundant sodium chloride in seawater as a cost-effective additive for wastewater treatment, offering crucial insights into the use of local materials for effective, low-carbon, and sustainable treatment processes.

Controlling the ground settlement and building deformation triggered by shield tunnelling, particularly within water-rich strata, poses a significant engineering challenge. This study conducts a finite element (FE) analysis focusing on the ground settlement and deformation of adjacent structures (with a minimum distance of 2.6 m to the tunnel) due to earth pressure balance (EPB) shield tunnelling. The analysis incorporates the influence of groundwater through a 3D fluid–solid coupling model. This study assesses the effects of tunnelling on the behaviour of nearby buildings and introduces two mitigation strategies: the vertical partition method and the portal partition method. Their effectiveness is compared and evaluated. Our findings reveal that the deformation curves of the stratum and the building are influenced by the accumulation and dissipation of pore pressure. The vertical partition method reduced surface settlement by approximately 70%, while the portal partition method further minimized building deformation but required careful application to avoid issues like uplift. Both methods effectively mitigate the impacts of tunnel construction, with the portal partition method offering superior performance in terms of material use and cost efficiency. This research provides a scientific foundation and technical guidance for similar engineering endeavours, which is vital for ensuring the safety of metro tunnel construction and the stability of adjacent buildings.

BackgroundNewly identified as a radiological concept, interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) is emerging as a prognostic factor for lung cancer. Yet, debates persist regarding the prognostic significance of ILA in lung cancer. Our inaugural meta-analysis aimed to investigate the correlation between ILA and lung cancer outcomes, offering additional insights for clinicians in predicting patient prognosis.MethodsArticles meeting the criteria were found through PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science by February 29, 2024. The outcomes evaluated were the survival rates such as overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS).ResultsA total of 12 articles with 4416 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled results showed that lung cancer patients with interstitial lung abnormalities had an inferior OS (n=11; HR=2.22; 95% CI=1.68-2.95; P

Hopea reticulata Tardieu (Dipterocarpaceae) represents a critically endangered tree species primarily confined to the Ganza Ridge of Hainan Island, China, with a couple of additional records of populations in Thailand and Vietnam. Neither the species’ genetic diversity, which is essential for a species’ long-term survival in the face of changing climate and various biotic stresses, nor the demographic history, which directly affects genetic diversity, has been examined. In this study, we employed double-digest restriction site-associated sequencing to investigate the population structure and evolutionary history of H. reticulata on Hainan Island. Our analysis revealed that H. reticulata exhibits the lowest nucleotide diversity (π = 0.00091) when compared to other well-known endangered tree species in China that have been assessed using high-throughput sequencing data. Utilizing the software Stairway Plot 2 for demographic history inference, we identified a significant reduction in effective population size of H. reticulata, a result concordant with the species’ restricted geographic range and likely responsible for its low genetic diversity. Additionally, our research unveiled a weak genetic structure within geographically close H. reticulata populations, probably resulted from limited seed dispersal. These findings offer valuable insights into the conservation and management strategies required for the protection of H. reticulata on Hainan Island.

Background: The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is widely recognized by clinicians and trainers as a valuable tool for the prediction and prevention of training injuries in sports population. However, some studies suggested that FMS may not fully meet the needs of professional athletes. To address this, the Modified Functional Movement Screen (MFMS) has been specifically developed for athletes. Methods: A total of 527 male athletes in active service without prior training injuries 18.5 ± 1.2 years old) underwent the MFMS test, and their training injuries were monitored during a 2-year follow-up period. The ability of the MFMS to predict the risk of training injury was evaluated based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the total MFMS score. Binary logistic analysis was employed to examine the correlation between the 10 MFMS tests and the risk of training injury. Results: The injured group of athletes had significantly lower total MFMS scores compared to the healthy group (P

The seismic damage investigations indicated the high probability for the pile-supported structure to suffer further destruction due to the effects of strong aftershocks, but the seismic fragility assessment of pile-supported structures considering aftershocks rarely attracted notice. In this study, the seismic fragility of a pile-supported structure under the mainshock-aftershock sequence is systematically assessed through the simulation results based on a solid-fluid coupling finite element model. Firstly, the numerical model is validated by the test date got from a centrifuge model in order to check its effectiveness. Then the strong motion records recorded at liquefied sites are selected for synthesizing the seismic sequences through scaling and combination. And the Engineering Demand Parameter (EDP) is dertemined as the residual displacement, representing the cumulative damage caused by seismic sequences. Additionally, the quantitative limit states of EDP corresponding to four damage states considering pile-soil interaction is defined by a push-over analysis. Furthermore, since the choice of optimal Intensity Measures for seismic sequences is beneficial for enhancing the credibility, 24 sets of Intensity Measures are assessed from three sides including efficiency, practicality, and proficiency. Finally, the mainshock-aftershock fragility surfaces with two Intensity Measures are proposed, considering the random uncertainty. And the results indicate that mainshock aftershock sequences could induce higher exceedance probabilities of a limit state when comparing to under the excitation of mainshock only. The research results could offer a basis for the seismic performance evaluation of the kind of pile-supported structure.

Abstract Objective Our research was designed to figure out the influence and mechanism of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor on the improvement of elderly essential hypertension-induced vascular endothelial function impairment based on the JAK/STAT pathway. Methods Eighty-six elderly patients with essential hypertension were randomized into a control group (oral Amlodipine Besylate Tablets) and an observation group (oral Amlodipine Besylate Tablets + HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor atorvastatin calcium). Patients in both groups were treated with the drug for 12 weeks. Blood pressure, serum levels of inflammatory factors, and vascular endothelial function indicators, and levels of blood lipids were measured. The modeled rats were treated with atorvastatin calcium and a JAK/STAT pathway inhibitor (AG490), and the levels of cardiac function-related indices, left ventricular mass index, lipid levels, serum inflammatory factors and vascular endothelial function-related indices were detected in each group. Results HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor improved blood pressure levels, lipid levels, serum inflammatory factor levels and cardiac function in elderly patients with essential hypertension. Both HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor and AG490 improved blood pressure levels, lipid levels, serum inflammatory factor levels and cardiac function in SHR rats. Both HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor and AG490 decreased p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 expression levels. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor improves elderly essential hypertension-induced vascular endothelial function impairment by blocking the JAK/STAT pathway.

The machining residual stress produced in the cutting process of aluminum alloy parts can easily lead to a scrap of the processed parts. In order to reduce the residual stress of aluminum alloy in the milling process, based on the Taguchi-Grey relational approach, the effects of different milling parameters on the residual stress and surface roughness of 2A12 aluminum alloy were studied. To reduce the residual stress and surface roughness of 2A12 aluminum alloy, optimized milling parameters were obtained. To further reduce the milling residual stress of 2A12 aluminum alloy, the samples processed by the optimized milling parameters were treated by cryogenic treatment and artificial aging. The residual stress of the sample was measured by the blind hole drilling method, and the evolution mechanism of the microstructure to reduce the machining residual stress was revealed. The results show that the combination of deep cooling treatment and oil bath aging can effectively reduce the residual stress on the machined surface of the aluminum alloy and facilitate a more uniform distribution of the residual stress inside the specimen. The effect of the coarse second phase on the residual stress in the microstructure is not significant, and the fine and diffusely distributed precipitation phase is beneficial to the reduction of the residual stress in the aluminum alloy.

Abstract Xrv proteins are a group of regulators in Xanthomonas spp., belonging to the histone-like nucleoid-structuring (H-NS) proteins of Gram-negative bacteria. The rice bacterial leaf streak pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc) harbors three Xrv proteins, the XrvA, XrvB, and XrvC. Here, we report that in Xoc, the XrvB but not XrvA and XrvC is involved in negative regulation of the type III secretion system (T3SS) encoded by hrp genes. As with other Xanthomonas spp., the T3SS is an essential virulence determinant of Xoc and the expression of the hrp genes in Xoc is controlled by the HrpG/HrpX regulatory cascade. HrpG positively regulates the expression of HrpX, which in turn activates the transcription of the hrp genes. We provide evidences to demonstrate that the XrvB binds to the promoter region of hrpG and represses its transcription. Furthermore, we found that XrvB production was induced in the Xoc cells cultured in a nutrient-rich medium compared to a hrp-inducing minimal medium. We also found that in Xoc, the hrpG expression level is inversely correlated with the content of XrvB, and XrvB occupancy at hrpG promoter region is positively correlated with XrvB levels. Our data suggest that XrvB is a determinative factor controlling the expression levels of HrpG. In addition, mutation analysis revealed that the Xoc XrvB also plays positive roles in regulating bacterial growth, cell motility, and stress tolerance. Our findings provide important insights into the molecular mechanism of T3SS expression regulation in Xoc.

Abstract With the increase of marine activities in the Arctic area, the demand for reliable design of marine structures is growing. Numerous publications can be found regarding simulations of ice action on structures using cohesive element models of the ice. However, previous studies have rarely discussed the influence of structural form, that is, the form of ice-structure interaction interface, on the ice load. Thus, a more comprehensive understanding of the ice load on structures with different interface geometries needs to be explored. In the present paper, three-dimensional finite element models with the cohesive element method are developed to investigate the ice load on different structures. The numerical results are validated based on in-situ testing data and the results of the previous numerical model. Parametric studies considering structure widths, inclination angles, ice velocity as well as structure roughness are conducted to explore the horizontal force and failure process of the ice sheet. The process of ice-structure interaction and ice loads on different structural forms were discussed and simplified diagrams of ice load distribution on the interface were developed.

In Northeast China’s black soil rice cropping area, nitrogen (N) application is lower than in the south, yet excessive N fertilizer use persists, particularly in base fertilizers. This study aimed to assess the impact of reduced N and increased planting density on rice yields and photosynthetic matter production. From 2019 to 2020, a field split-plot experiment was conducted with two N rates (conventional N, CN: 120 kg ha−1 and reduced basal N, RN: 108 kg ha−1) and two planting densities (D1: 33.3 × 104 hills ha−1 and D2: 27.8 × 104 hills ha−1) using the rice varieties Kongyu131 (KY131) and Kendao24 (KD24). The results showed that RN increased the effective panicle formation rate but decreased the tiller numbers, dry matter accumulation, stems/sheaths transport capacity, leaf photosynthetic capacity, and yield by 2.67% compared to CN. D1 significantly boosted the dry matter accumulation, stems/sheaths transport, effective panicles, grains per square meter, and yield by 8.26% compared to D2. Interaction analysis revealed that RN under D2 conditions reduced the effective panicle percentage, harvest index, filled grain number, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), and net assimilation rate (NAR) but increased the seed setting rate and 1000-grain weight. Under D1, RN reduced the LAI, CGR, and NAR at the tillering and heading stages but increased the NAR post-heading. Compared to CND2, RND1 increased the biomass, stems/sheaths transport, LAI, CGR, NAR, seed setting rate, 1000-grain weight, panicle numbers, and filled grains per square meter, compensating for the lower harvest index and effective panicle rate, achieving a 5.36% yield increase. KD24 outperformed KY131 in yield improvement. In summary, using 108 kg ha−1 with a planting density of 33.3 × 104 hills ha−1 promotes tillering, enhances photosynthetic substance production stems/sheaths dry matter transport, and increases rice yields.

As a new type of backfill material, Self-compacting solidified soil (SCSS) takes the abandoned slurry of cast-in-place piles after dewatering and reduction as the main raw material, which brings a problem of coordinating the working performance with the mechanical property under the condition of high mobility. In this paper, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and metakaolin were introduced as additives to solve this problem. First, the workability and mechanical properties of SCSS were regulated and optimized by means of the water seepage rate test, the flowability test, and the unconfined compressive strength test. Second, this study also used X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate the effects of HPMC and metakaolin on the physical phase and microstructure of SCSS. In this way, the results showed that there was a significant impact on the flowability of SCSS, that is, when the dosage reached 0.3%, the water seepage rate of SCSS was reduced to less than 1%, and the compressive strength at 7 days reached its peak. At the same time, HPMC weakened the strength growth of SCSS in the age period of 7 days to 14 days. However, the addition of metakaolin promoted its compressive strength. XRD analysis showed that the additives had no significant effects on the physical phases. And, from the SEM results, it can be seen that although the water-retaining effect of HPMC makes hydration of cement more exhaustive, more ettringite (AFt) can be observed in the microstructure. In addition, it can be observed that the addition of metakaolin can generate more hydrated calcium silicate (C-S-H) due to the strong surface energy possessed by metakaolin. As a result of the above factors, SCSS filled the voids between particles and improved the interface structure between particles, thus enhanced the compressive strength.