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Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is recognized as the most toxic mycotoxin, widely present in nature and known to specifically target the liver, leading to severe consequences to animal and human health. The mechanisms underlying AFB1-induced hepatotoxicity involve oxidative stress and apoptosis. Radix Bupleuri (RB) and its extracts (RBE), traditional Chinese herbs with a rich history spanning over 2000 years, have been reported to possess hepatoprotective properties. Nevertheless, the impact of RBE on AFB1-induced liver injury remains to be fully elucidated. The current study utilized Pekin ducks as experimental models to explore the effects of RBE on AFB1-induced liver injury both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro findings indicated that RBE mitigated AFB1-induced cytotoxicity, improved primary duck hepatocytes (PDHs) morphology, and reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. In vivo experiments demonstrated that: I) RBE alleviated the growth inhibitory caused by AFB1, as evidenced by improved final body weight and weight gain. II) AFB1 led to significant alterations in serum biochemical parameters (AST, ALT, TP, and ALB) and liver lesions attenuated by RBE supplementation at 2.5 g/kg. III) RBE significantly mitigated oxidative stress induced by AFB1. IV) AFB1-induced changes in mRNA and protein levels associated with oxidative stress and apoptosis were counteracted by RBE. In conclusion, our results suggest that RBE offers protection against AFB1-induced liver injury in ducks, primarily through its antioxidative and anti-apoptotic properties. These findings indicate the potential of RBE in preventing and treating AFB1 poisoning.

Abstract In-sensor and near-sensor computing are becoming the next-generation computing paradigm for high-density and low-power sensory processing. To fulfil a high-density and efficient neuromorphic visual system with fully hierarchical emulation of the retina and visual cortex, emerging multimodal neuromorphic devices for multi-stage processing and a fully hardware-implemented system with versatile image processing functions are still lacking and highly desirable. Here we demonstrate an emerging multimodal-multifunctional resistive random-access memory (RRAM) device array based on modified silk fibroin protein (MSFP), exhibiting both optoelectronic RRAM (ORRAM) mode featured by unique negative and positive photoconductance memory and electrical RRAM (ERRAM) mode featured by analogue resistive switching. A full hardware implementation of the artificial visual system with versatile image processing functions is realised for the first time, including ORRAM mode array for the in-sensor image pre-processing (contrast enhancement, background denoising, feature extraction) and ERRAM mode array for near-sensor high-level image recognition, which hugely improves the integration density, and simply the circuit design and the fabrication and integration complexity.

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The fish louse Argulus japonicus, a branchiuran crustacean of the Argulidae family, is attracting increasing attention because of its parasitic tendencies and significant health threats to global fish farming. The mitogenomes can yield a foundation for studying epidemiology, genetic diversity, and molecular ecology and therefore may be used to assist in the surveillance and control of A. japonicus. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the complete mitogenome of A. japonicus to shed light on its genetic and evolutionary blueprint. Our investigation indicated that the 15,045-bp circular genome of A. japonicus encodes 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) with significant AT and GC skews. Comparative genomics provided an evolutionary scenario for the genetic diversity of 13 PCGs: all were under purifying selection, with cox1 and nad6 having the lowest and highest evolutionary rates, respectively. Genome-wide phylogenetic trees established a close relationship between species of the families Argulidae (Arguloida) and Armilliferidae (Porocephalida) within Crustacea, and further, A. japonicus and Argulus americanus were determined to be more closely related to each other than to others within the family Argulidae. Single PCG-based phylogenies supported nad1 and nad6 as the best genetic markers for evolutionary and phylogenetic studies for branchiuran crustaceans due to their similar phylogenetic topologies with those of genome-based phylogenetic analyses. To sum up, these comprehensive mitogenomic data of A. japonicus and related species refine valuable marker resources and should contribute to molecular diagnostic methods, epidemiological investigations, and ecological studies of the fish ectoparasites in Crustacea.

Abstract Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have gained considerable momentum in the past decade. Although at first the main task of the ANN paradigm was to tune the connection weights in fixed-architecture networks, there has recently been growing interest in evolving network architectures toward the goal of creating artificial general intelligence. Lagging behind this trend, current ANN hardware struggles for a balance between flexibility and efficiency but cannot achieve both. Here, we report on a novel approach for the on-demand generation of complex networks within a single memristor where multiple virtual nodes are created by time multiplexing and the non-trivial topological features, such as small-worldness, are generated by exploiting device dynamics with intrinsic cycle-to-cycle variability. When used for reservoir computing, memristive complex networks can achieve a noticeable increase in memory capacity a and respectable performance boost compared to conventional reservoirs trivially implemented as fully connected networks. This work expands the functionality of memristors for ANN computing.

Abstract Background Coccidiosis caused by Eimeria zuernii (Eimeriidae: Coccidia) represents a significant economic threat to the bovine industry. Understanding the evolutionary and genetic biology of E. zuernii can assist in new interaction developments for the prevention and control of this protozoosis. Methods We defined the evolutionary and genetic characteristics of E. zuernii by sequencing the complete mitogenome and analyzing the genetic diversity and population structure of 51 isolates collected from eight yak breeding parks in China. Results The 6176-bp mitogenome of E. zuernii was linear and encoded typical mitochondrial contents of apicomplexan parasites, including three protein-coding genes [PCGs; cytochrome c oxidase subunits I and III (cox1 and cox3), and cytochrome b (cytb)], seven fragmented small subunit (SSU) and 12 fragmented large subunit (LSU) rRNAs. Genome-wide comparative and evolutionary analyses showed cytb and cox3 to be the most and least conserved Eimeria PCGs, respectively, and placed E. zuernii more closely related to Eimeria mephitidis than other Eimeria species. Furthermore, cox1-based genetic structure defined 24 haplotypes of E. zuernii with high haplotype diversities and low nucleotide diversities across eight geographic populations, supporting a low genetic structure and rapid evolutionary rate as well as a previous expansion event among E. zuernii populations. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first study presenting the phylogeny, genetic diversity, and population structure of the yak E. zuernii, and such information, together with its mitogenomic data, should contribute to a better understanding of the genetic and evolutionary biological studies of apicomplexan parasites in bovines. Graphical Abstract

Objective: Despite being primary beneficiaries of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, female university students in China exhibit low vaccination rates. This study aimed to assess their preferences for HPV vaccination services and evaluate the relative importance of various factors to inform vaccination strategy development. Methods: Through a literature review and expert consultations, we identified five key attributes for study: effectiveness, protection duration, waiting time, distance, and out-of-pocket (OOP) payment. A D-efficient design was used to create a discrete choice experiment (DCE) questionnaire. We collected data via face-to-face interviews and online surveys from female students across seven universities in China, employing mixed logit and latent class logit models to analyze the data. The predicted uptake and compensating variation (CV) were used to compare different vaccination service scenarios. Results: From 1178 valid questionnaires, with an effective response rate of 92.9%, we found that effectiveness was the most significant factor influencing vaccination preference, followed by protection duration, OOP payment and waiting time, with less concern for distance. The preferred services included a 90% effective vaccine, lifetime protection, a waiting time of less than three months, a travel time of more than 60 min, and low OOP payment. Significant variability in preferences across different vaccination service scenarios was observed, affecting potential market shares. The CV analysis showed female students were willing to spend approximately CNY 5612.79 to include a hypothetical ‘Service 5’ (a vaccine with higher valency than the nine-valent HPV vaccine) in their prevention options. Conclusions: The findings underscore the need for personalized, need-based HPV vaccination services that cater specifically to the preferences of female university students to increase vaccination uptake and protect their health.

Abstract Background Coccidiosis caused by Eimeria is one of the most severe chicken diseases and poses a great economic threat to the poultry industry. Understanding the evolutionary biology of chicken Eimeria parasites underpins development of new interactions toward the improved prevention and control of this poultry disease. Methods We presented an evolutionary blueprint of chicken coccidia by genetically characterizing complete mitogenome assemblies of 33 isolates representing all seven known Eimeria species infecting chickens in China. Further genome- and gene-level phylogenies were also achieved to better understand the evolutionary relationships of these chicken Eimeria at the species level. Results 33 mitogenomes of chicken eimerian parasites ranged from 6148 bp to 6480 bp in size and encoded typical mitochondrial compositions of apicomplexan parasites including three protein-coding genes (PCGs), seven fragmented small subunit (SSU) and 12/13 fragmented large subunit (LSU) rRNAs. Comparative genomics provided an evolutionary scenario for the genetic diversity of PCGs-cytochrome c oxidase subunits 1 and 3 (cox1 and cox3) and cytochrome b (cytb); all were under purifying selection with cox1 and cox3 being the lowest and highest evolutionary rates, respectively. Genome-wide phylogenies classified the 33 Eimeria isolates into seven subgroups, and furthermore Eimeria tenella and Eimeria necatrix were determined to be more closely related to each other than to the other eight congenic species. Single/concatenated mitochondrial protein gene-based phylogenies supported cox1 as the genetic marker for evolutionary and phylogenetic studies for avain coccidia. Conclusions To our knowledge, these are the first population-level mitogenomic data on the genus Eimeria, and its comprehensive molecular characterization provides valuable resources for systematic, population genetic and evolutionary biological studies of apicomplexan parasites in poultry. Graphical Abstract

Microbial communities influence host phenotypes through microbiota-derived metabolites and interactions between exogenous active substances (EASs) and the microbiota. Owing to the high dynamics of microbial community composition and difficulty in microbial functional analysis, the identification of mechanistic links between individual microbes and host phenotypes is complex. Thus, it is important to characterize variations in microbial composition across various conditions (for example, topographical locations, times, physiological and pathological conditions, and populations of different ethnicities) in microbiome studies. However, no web server is currently available to facilitate such characterization. Moreover, accurately annotating the functions of microbes and investigating the possible factors that shape microbial function are critical for discovering links between microbes and host phenotypes. Herein, an online tool, CDEMI, is introduced to discover microbial composition variations across different conditions, and five types of microbe libraries are provided to comprehensively characterize the functionality of microbes from different perspectives. These collective microbe libraries include (1) microbial functional pathways, (2) disease associations with microbes, (3) EASs associations with microbes, (4) bioactive microbial metabolites, and (5) human body habitats. In summary, CDEMI is unique in that it can reveal microbial patterns in distributions/compositions across different conditions and facilitate biological interpretations based on diverse microbe libraries. CDEMI is accessible at http://rdblab.cn/cdemi/

Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has devastated global health. Identifying key host factors essential for SARS-CoV-2 RNA replication is expected to unravel cellular targets for the development of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs which have been quested for the preparedness of future viral outbreaks. Here, we have identified host proteins that associate with nonstructural protein 12 (nsp12), the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of SARS-CoV-2 using a mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomic approach. Among the candidate factors, CDK2 (Cyclin-dependent kinase 2), a member of cyclin-dependent kinases, interacts with nsp12 and causes its phosphorylation at T20, thus facilitating the assembly of the RdRp complex consisting of nsp12, nsp7 and nsp8 and promoting efficient synthesis of viral RNA. The crucial role of CDK2 in viral RdRp function is further supported by our observation that CDK2 inhibitors potently impair viral RNA synthesis and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Taken together, we have discovered CDK2 as a key host factor of SARS-CoV-2 RdRp complex, thus serving a promising target for the development of SARS-CoV-2 RdRp inhibitors.

The potential of nucleic acid therapeutics to treat diseases by targeting specific cells has resulted in its increasing number of uses in clinical settings. However, the major challenge is to deliver bio-macromolecules into target cells and/or subcellular locations of interest ahead in the development of delivery systems. Although, supercharged residues replaced protein 36 + GFP can facilitate itself and cargoes delivery, its efficiency is still limited. Therefore, we combined our recent progress to further improve 36 + GFP based delivery efficiency. We found that the penetration efficacy of 36 + GFP protein was significantly improved by fusion with CPP-Dot1l or treatment with penetration enhancer dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in vitro. After safely packaged with plasmid DNA, we found that the efficacy of in vitro and in vivo transfection mediated by 36 + GFP-Dot1l fusion protein is also significantly improved than 36 + GFP itself. Our findings illustrated that fusion with CPP-Dot1l or incubation with DMSO is an alternative way to synergically promote 36 + GFP mediated plasmid DNA delivery in vitro and in vivo.

The ethylene response factor (ERF) transcription factors, which is one of the largest transcription factor families in plants, are involved in biological and abiotic stress response and play an important role in plant growth and development. In this study, the GmABR1 gene from the soybean inbred line Zhonghuang24 (ZH24)×Huaxia 3 (HX3) was investigated its aluminum (Al) tolerance. GmABR1 protein has a conserved domain AP2, which is located in the nucleus and has transcriptional activation ability. The results of real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that the GmABR1 gene presented a constitutive expression pattern rich in the root tip, stem and leaf tissues of HX3. After Al stress, the GmABR1 transcript was significantly increased in the roots. The transcripts of GmABR1 in the roots of HX3 treated with 50 µM AlCl3 was 51 times than that of the control. The GmABR1 was spatiotemporally specific with the highest expression levels when Al concentration was 50 µM, which was about 36 times than that of the control. The results of hematoxylin staining showed that the root tips of GmABR1-overexpression lines were stained the lightest, followed by the control, and the root tips of GmABR1 RNAi lines were stained the darkest. The concentrations of Al3+ in root tips were 207.40 µg/g, 147.74 µg/g and 330.65 µg/g in wild type (WT), overexpressed lines and RNAi lines, respectively. When AlCl3 (pH4.5) concentration was 100 µM, all the roots of Arabidopsis were significantly inhibited. The taproot elongation of WT, GmABR1 transgenic lines was 69.6%, 85.6%, respectively. When treated with Al, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in leaves of WT increased to 3.03 µg/g, while that of transgenic Arabidopsis increased from 1.66-2.21 µg/g, which was lower than that of WT. Under the Al stress, the Al stress responsive genes such as AtALMT1 and AtMATE, and the genes related to ABA pathway such as AtABI1, AtRD22 and AtRD29A were up-regulated. The results indicated that GmABR1 may jointly regulate plant resistance to Al stress through genes related to Al stress response and ABA response pathways.

Abstract Nowadays, style transfer is used in a wide range of commercial applications, such as image beautification, film rendering etc. However, many existing methods of style transfer suffer from loss of details and poor overall visual effect. To address these problems, an edge feature and self‐attention based cycle‐consistent generative adversarial network (ESA‐CycleGAN) is proposed. The model architecture consists of a generator, a discriminator, and an edge feature extraction network. Both the generator and the discriminator contain a self‐attention module to capture global features of the image. The edge feature extraction network extracts the edge of the original image and feeds it into the network together with the original image, thereby allowing better processing of details. Besides, a perceptual loss term is added to optimize the network, resulting in better perceptual results. ESA‐CycleGAN is applied on four datasets, respectively. The experimental results show that the authors’ computed final IS and FID values have good results compared to the results of several other existing models, indicating the superiority of the model in style transfer, which can better preserve the details of the original images with better image quality.

Besides the genetic factors having tremendous influences on the regulations of the epigenome, the microenvironmental factors have recently gained extensive attention for their roles in affecting the host epigenome. There are three major types of microenvironmental factors: microbiota-derived metabolites (MDM), microbiota-derived components (MDC) and microbiota-secreted proteins (MSP). These factors can regulate host physiology by modifying host gene expression through the three highly interconnected epigenetic mechanisms (e.g. histone modifications, DNA modifications, and non-coding RNAs). However, no database was available to provide the comprehensive factors of these types. Herein, a database entitled 'Human Microbiome Affect The Host Epigenome (MIAOME)' was constructed. Based on the types of epigenetic modifications confirmed in the literature review, the MIAOME database captures 1068 (63 genus, 281 species, 707 strains, etc.) human microbes, 91 unique microbiota-derived metabolites & components (16 fatty acids, 10 bile acids, 10 phenolic compounds, 10 vitamins, 9 tryptophan metabolites, etc.) derived from 967 microbes; 50 microbes that secreted 40 proteins; 98 microbes that directly influence the host epigenetic modification, and provides 3 classifications of the epigenome, including (1) 4 types of DNA modifications, (2) 20 histone modifications and (3) 490 ncRNAs regulations, involved in 160 human diseases. All in all, MIAOME has compiled the information on the microenvironmental factors influence host epigenome through the scientific literature and biochemical databases, and allows the collective considerations among the different types of factors. It can be freely assessed without login requirement by all users at: http://miaome.idrblab.net/ttd/

In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Cladonia subulata (L.) FH Wigg was sequenced and assembled and then compared with those of other Cladonia species. The mitogenome of Cladonia subulata, the type species of Cladonia, consisted of a circular DNA molecule of 58,895 bp 44 genes (15 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 27 tRNA genes). The base composition had shown an obvious AT preference, and all 27 tRNA genes formed a typical clover structure. Comparison with other 7 Cladonia species indicated that the duplication/loss of tRNAs had occurred during evolution, and introns appeared to explain the variation in cox1 genes in Cladonia, the mitochondrial genome tends to be generally conservative and local dynamic changes. Repeat sequences were mainly located in gene intervals, which were mainly distributed among intergenic spacers and may cause rearrangement of the mitogenome. The phylogenetic results showed that Cladonia subulata and C. polycarpoides were assigned to the Cladonia Subclade. The results add to the available mitochondrial genome sequence information of Cladonia subulata, provide basic data for the systematic development, resource protection, and genetic diversity research in Cladonia subulata, and also provide theoretical support for further genomic research of lichens.

Resistive switching devices have great promise for a wide variety of technological applications. Here, Yang et al demonstrate that electrochemically induced tellurium filament can give rise to resistive switching, and show that devices based on this can provide a number of advantages compared to metallic filament-based devices.

Summary: Memristor-based Pavlov associative memory circuit presented today only realizes the simple condition reflex process. The secondary condition reflex endows the simple condition reflex process with more bionic, but it is only demonstrated in design and involves the large number of redundant circuits. A FeOx-based memristor exhibits an evolution process from battery-like capacitance (BLC) state to resistive switching (RS) memory as the I-V sweeping increase. The BLC is triggered by the active metal ion and hydroxide ion originated from water molecule splitting at different interfaces, while the RS memory behavior is dominated by the diffusion and migration of ion in the FeOx switching function layer. The evolution processes share the nearly same biophysical mechanism with the second-order conditioning. It enables a hardware-implemented second-order associative memory circuit to be feasible and simple. This work provides a novel path to realize the associative memory circuit with the second-order conditioning at hardware level.

Introduction The objective of the Comprehensive Intervention of Oral Disease for Children (CIODC) in China is to prevent dental decay for school-aged children and provide free prevention services in pilot areas beginning in 2008. It is a potentially affordable, acceptable and effective prevention strategy to use for more school-aged children in the future. There is a shortage of robust evidence regarding the cost-effectiveness, feasibility and scalability of prevention strategies for dental decay for school-aged children in China. This study aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation, including an economic evaluation and process evaluation, to better understand how and why the public health programme may be effective and economical.Methods and analysis Mixed methods will be used in this study. Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) will be conducted from a societal perspective, based on a modelling study over 6 years (from age 7 to 12) in terms of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios per dental decay averted. The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework informed the process evaluation. An estimated 48–80 semistructured interviews with service providers, patient parents/caregivers and decision-makers under the logic model will be used in the progress evaluation to describe the feasibility and sustainability of CIODC.Ethics and dissemination The study has all necessary ethical approvals from the Ethics Committee of Anhui Medical University (number 2021H030). All participants will provide informed consent prior to participation. Findings will be disseminated through conference presentations and scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Cylicocyclus spp. (Nematoda: Strongylida: Cyathostominae) are the common and important parasitic nematodes found in horses and donkeys worldwide. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Cylicocyclus auriculatus Looss 1900, a representative member of this genus from the donkey in Southwest China was determined using the next-generation DNA sequencing technology. The genome was 13,851 bp in size and consisted of 36 genes including 12 protein-coding genes (atp6, cox1-3, cytb, nad1-6 and nad4L), 22 transfer RNA genes and two ribosomal RNA genes (rrnL and rrnS), as well as two non-coding regions. Phylogenetic analysis showed that C. auriculatus and Cylicocyclus insigne Boulenger 1917 were closely related, and then both grouped with other congeneric species and formed a monophyletic relationship with either species of Cyathostomum, Coronocyclus, Cyathostomum, Cylicostephanus or Cylicodontophorus, demonstrating their phylogenetic stability within Cyathostominae. These cumulative mitochondrial DNA data provide novel and useful genetic markers for molecular diagnostic, systematic and evolutionary biological studies of Cyathostominae nematodes.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to elicit the stated job preferences of Chinese medical staff in the post-pandemic era and identify the relative importance of different factors in the practice environment.MethodsWe used an online discrete choice experiment (DCE) survey instrument to elicit the job preferences of medical staff (doctors and nurses) in tertiary hospitals in Anhui, China. Attributes and levels were generated using qualitative methods, and four attributes were considered: career development, workload, respect from society, and monthly income. A set of profiles was created using a D-efficient design. The data were analyzed considering potential preference heterogeneity, using the conditional logit model and the latent class logit (LCL) model.ResultsA total of 789 valid questionnaires were included in the analysis, with an effective response rate of 73.33%. Career development, workload, respect from society, and monthly income were significant factors that influenced job preferences. Three classes were identified based on the LCL model, and preference heterogeneity among different medical staff was demonstrated. Class 1 (16.17%) and Class 2 (43.51%) valued respect from society most, whereas Class 3 (40.32%) prioritized monthly income. We found that when respect from society was raised to a satisfactory level (50–75% positive reviews), the probability of medical staff choosing a certain job increased by 69.9%.ConclusionRespect from society was the most preferred attribute, while workload, monthly income, and career development were all key factors in the medical staff's job choices. The heterogeneity of the medical professionals' preferences shows that effective policy interventions should be customized to accommodate these drive preferences.

The signal transmission mechanism of the Resistor-Capacitor (RC) circuit is similar to the intracellular and extracellular signal propagating mechanism of the neuron. Thus, the RC circuit can be utilized as the circuit model of the neuron cell membrane. However, resistors are electronic components with the fixed-resistance and have no memory properties. A memristor is a promising neuro-morphological electronic device with nonvolatile, switching, and nonlinear characteristics. First of all, we consider replacing the resistor in the RC neuron circuit with a memristor, which is named the Memristor-Capacitor (MC) circuit, then the MC neuron model is constructed. We compare the charging and discharging processes between the RC and MC neuron circuits. Secondly, two models are compared under the different external stimuli. Finally, the synchronous and asynchronous activities of the RC and MC neuron circuits are performed. Extensive experimental results suggest that the charging and discharging speed of the MC neuron circuit is faster than that of the RC neuron circuit. Given sufficient time and proper external stimuli, the RC and MC neuron circuits can produce the action potentials. The synchronous and asynchronous phenomena in the two neuron circuits reproduce nonlinear dynamic behaviors of the biological neurons.

Viral vectors for vaccine delivery are challenged by recently reported safety issues like immunogenicity and risk for cancer development, and thus there is a growing need for the development of non-viral vectors. Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) are non-viral vectors that can enter plasma membranes efficiently and deliver a broad range of cargoes. Our bioinformatic prediction and wet-lab validation data suggested that peptide P1 derived from MARCKS protein phosphorylation site domain is a new potential CPP candidate. We found that peptide P1 can efficiently internalize into various cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner. Receptor-mediated endocytosis pathway is the major mechanism of P1 penetration, although P1 also directly penetrates the plasma membrane. We also found that peptide P1 has low cytotoxicity in cultured cell lines as well as mouse red blood cells. Furthermore, peptide P1 not only can enter into cultured cells itself, but it also can interact with plasmid DNA and mediate the functional delivery of plasmid DNA into cultured cells, even in hard-to-transfect cells. Combined, these findings indicate that P1 may be a promising vector for efficient intracellular delivery of bioactive cargos.

Bioactive therapeutic molecules are generally impermeable to the cell membrane, hindering their utility and efficacy. A group of peptides called cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) were found to have the capability of transporting different types of cargo molecules across the cell membrane. Here, we identified a short peptide named P2, which has a higher proportion of basic residues than the CDN1 (cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1) protein it is derived from, and we used bioinformatic analysis and experimental validation to confirm the penetration property of peptide P2. We found that peptide P2 can efficiently enter different cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner. The endocytosis pathway, especially receptor-related endocytosis, may be involved in the process of P2 penetration. Our data also showed that peptide P2 is safe in cultured cell lines and red blood cells. Lastly, peptide P2 can efficiently deliver self-labeling protein HaloTag into cells for imaging. Our study illustrates that peptide P2 is a promising imaging agent delivery vehicle for future applications.

The Izhikevich (IZH) spiking neuron model can display spiking and bursting behaviors of neurons. Based on the switching property and bio-plausibility of the memristor, the memristive Izhikevich (MIZH) spiking neuron model is built. Firstly, the MIZH spiking model is introduced and used to generate 23 spiking patterns. We compare the 23 spiking patterns produced by the IZH and MIZH spiking models. Secondly, the MIZH spiking model actively reproduces various neuronal behaviors, including the excitatory cortical neurons, the inhibitory cortical neurons, and other cortical neurons. Finally, the collective dynamic activities of the MIZH neuronal network are performed, and the MIZH oscillatory network is constructed. Experimental results illustrate that the constructed MIZH spiking neuron model performs high firing frequency and good frequency adaptation. The model can easily simulate various spiking and bursting patterns of distinct neurons in the brain. The MIZH neuronal network realizes the synchronous and asynchronous collective behaviors. The MIZH oscillatory network can memorize and retrieve the information patterns correctly and efficiently with high retrieval accuracy.

The leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) spiking model can successively mimic the firing patterns and information propagation of a biological neuron. It has been applied in neural networks, cognitive computing, and brain-inspired computing. Due to the resistance variability and the natural storage capacity of the memristor, the LIF spiking model with a memristor (MLIF) is presented in this article to simulate the function and working mode of neurons in biological systems. First, the comparison between the MLIF spiking model and the LIF spiking model is conducted. Second, it is experimentally shown that a single memristor could mimic the function of the integration and filtering of the dendrite and emulate the function of the integration and firing of the soma. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed MLIF spiking model is verified by the generation and recognition of Morse code. The experimental results indicate that the presented MLIF model efficiently performs good biological frequency adaptation, high firing frequency, and rich spiking patterns. A memristor can be used as the dendrite and the soma, and the MLIF spiking model can emulate the axon. The constructed single neuron can efficiently complete the generation and propagation of firing patterns.

Objective A number of factors contribute to the utilisation of family doctor contract services (FDCS) in China. This study aims to measure the preferences of the elderly for the FDCS and identify the key factors (and their relative importance) that may guide policymakers in more accurately providing the FDCS.Participants and methods A discrete choice experiment was performed to elicit the preferences for FDCS among the rural elderly in China. Attributes and levels were established based on qualitative methods. Four attributes were included: service type, service package, physician’s reputation and annual contract costs. A D-efficient design was used to create a set of profiles that represented FDCS. The survey was conducted face to face using a sample of participants aged 60 and above in rural areas of Anhui Province. The data were analysed using a latent class logit (LCL) model.Results A total of 545 valid questionnaires were included in the analysis. The average age of the participants was 69.44 (SD 5.80). Two latent classes were identified with the LCL model. All four attributes proved statistically significant at the level of both the population mean and the two classes. The rural elderly showed a preference for FDCS with a relatively good reputation, lower annual contract costs, the basic service with the add-on of chronic disease service and home visit. Age, gender, education, self-reported health status and the number of chronic diseases were found to be associated with latent class membership.Conclusion In this study, the physician’s reputation had the largest impact on the rural elderly’s choice of FDCS. Policy recommendations included the need to strengthen family doctor team training, devote greater attention to improving the family doctor’s medical skills and service approaches, and increased FDCS efficiency for the care of the rural elderly.

A dual-output CMOS voltage reference is presented for ultra-low power applications that require two or more different voltage references. The VREF1 is designed by employing the VTH difference between two devices to compensate the temperature coefficient (TC) of the thermal voltage. The VREF2 is generated by feeding a current mirrored from the first reference voltage's supply current into a diode-connected-transistor load. In such a way, two different voltage references can be generated in one compact and simple design to reduce the devices and chip area significantly, compared to two separate voltage references in a conventional design. Fabricated in a 0.18-μm CMOS process, the proposed CMOS voltage reference can provide two references of 331.8 and 660.3 mV with variation coefficients of 0.53% and 0.42%, respectively. The average TCs of VREF1 and VREF2 for a temperature range of -40 to 125°C are measured as 41.7 and 24.5 ppm/°C, respectively. The line sensitivity (LS) of VREF1 is 0.0505 %/V with 0.6-1.8 V supply, and the LS of VREF2 is 0.114 %/V with 0.8-1.8 V supply. The measured results show a competitive power supply ripple rejection, and the power consumption is only 4.12 nW with 0.8-V minimum supply at 25°C, while the active area is 0.0108 mm2.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by the cooccurrence of obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia, and hypertension. Red yeast rice (RYR) preparations might be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of MetS.Objective: To implement a systematic review and meta−analysis to determine whether RYR preparations improve clinical endpoints and reduce risk factors for MetS.Methods: The PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Scopus, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese VIP Information, and WanFang databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (published up to September 2020), and a meta−analysis was performed using fixed− or random−effects models. The primary outcome measures were mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), and the secondary outcome measures were biochemical parameters of blood glucose, blood lipids, and blood pressure. The registration number is CRD42020209186.Results: A total of 921 articles were identified, of which 30 articles were included in this article. RYR preparations group demonstrated significant improvements in MetS compared with control group. RYR preparations reduced the mortality and MACEs (RR = 0.62, 95% CI [0.49, 0.78]; RR = 0.54, 95% CI [0.43, 0.66]). In terms of blood glucose metabolism, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (MD = −0.46 mmol/L, 95% CI [−0.71, −0.22]), haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (MD = −0.49, 95% CI [−0.71, −0.26]) and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA−IR) (MD = −0.93, 95% CI [−1.64, −0.21]) were decreased. Regarding the lipid metabolism, total cholesterol (TC) (MD = −0.74 mmol/L, 95% CI [−1.02, −0.46]), triglycerides (TG) (MD = −0.45 mmol/L, 95% CI [−0.70, −0.21]), and low−density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) (MD = −0.42 mmol/L, 95% CI [−0.78, −0.06]) were decreased, while high−density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) (MD = 0.14 mmol/L, 95% CI [0.09, 0.20]) was increased. Regarding blood pressure, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) (MD = −3.79 mmHg, 95% CI [−5.01, −2.57]) was decreased. In addition, RYR preparations did not increase the incidence of adverse reactions (RR = 1.00, 95% CI [0.69, 1.43]).Conclusion: RYR preparations reduce mortality, MACEs, and multiple risk factors for MetS without compromising safety, which supports its application for the prevention and treatment of MetS. However, additional high−quality studies are needed to provide more evidence for the effect of RYR on MetS due to the heterogeneity in this study.Systematic Review Registration: www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier CRD42020209186

Toxocara vitulorum (Ascaridida: Nematoda) is one of the most common intestinal nematodes of cattle and buffalos and, therefore, represents a serious threat to their populations worldwide. Despite its significance in veterinary health the epidemiology, population genetics, and molecular ecology of this nematode remain poorly understood. The mitogenome can yield a foundation for studying these areas and assist in the surveillance and control of T. vitulorum. Herein, the first whole mitogenome of T. vitulorum was sequenced utilizing Illumina technology and characterized with bioinformatic pipeline analyses. The entire genome of T. vitulorum was 15,045 bp in length and contained 12 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs). The gene arrangement (GA) of T. vitulorum was similar to those of other Toxocara species under GA3. The whole genome showed significant levels of AT and GC skew. Comparative mitogenomics including sequence identities, Ka/Ks, and sliding window analysis, indicated a purifying selection of 12 PCGs with cox1 and nad6 having the lowest and highest evolutionary rate, respectively. Whole amino acid sequence-based phylogenetic analysis supported a novel sister-species relationship of T. vitulorum with the congeneric species Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati, and Toxocara malaysiensis in the family Toxocaridae. Further, 12 (PCGs) single gene-based phylogenies suggested that nad4 and nad6 genes shared same topological trees with that of the whole genome, suggesting that these genes were suitable as novel genetic markers for phylogenetic and evolutionary studies of Ascaridida species. This complete mitogenome of T. vitulorum refined phylogenetic relationships in Toxocaridae and provided the resource of markers for population genetics, systematics, and epidemiology of this bovine nematode.

Toxascaris leonina is a polyxenical parasite and commonly found in canids and felids. In this study, we used the Illumina high throughput sequencing and assembly to determine the complete mitogenome of a representative of this parasite from the Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica). The genome was 14,248 bp in size and encoded 12 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, and two ribosomal RNAs. Phylogeny showed that two canid (dog)-originated T. leonina were phylogenetically distinct from two felid-originated T. leonina (tiger isolate and cheetah isolate), suggesting at least two distinct subclades of T. leonina infecting these hosts and supporting once again that T. leonina represents a species complex. Furthermore, four isolates of T. leonina grouped together and were more closely related to other species from the family Ascarididae than species of families Toxocaridae, Anisakidae and Ascaridiidae, demonstrating phylogenetic stability of these paraphyletic groups characterized in this study. These cumulative mitochondrial DNA data provide a better understanding of phylogenetic relationships of this polyxenical and zoonotic roundworm species.

The Hodgkin-Huxley (HH) spiking neuron model reproduces the dynamic characteristics of the neuron by mimicking the action potential, ionic channels, and spiking behaviors. The memristor is a nonlinear device with variable resistance. In this paper, the memristor is introduced to the HH spiking model, and the memristive Hodgkin-Huxley spiking neuron model (MHH) is presented. We experimentally compare the HH spiking model and the MHH spiking model by applying different stimuli. First, the individual current pulse is injected into the HH and MHH spiking models. The comparison between action potentials, current densities, and conductances is carried out. Second, the reverse single pulse stimulus and a series of pulse stimuli are applied to the two models. The effects of current density and action time on the production of the action potential are analyzed. Finally, the sinusoidal current stimulus acts on the two models. The various spiking behaviors are realized by adjusting the frequency of the sinusoidal stimulus. We experimentally demonstrate that the MHH spiking model generates more action potential than the HH spiking model and takes a short time to change the memductance. The reverse stimulus cannot activate the action potential in both models. The MHH spiking model performs smoother waveforms and a faster speed to return to the resting potential. The larger the external stimulus, the faster action potential generated, and the more noticeable change in conductances. Meanwhile, the MHH spiking model shows the various spiking patterns of neurons.

The Ascaris roundworms (Ascaridida: Nematoda), one of the commonest soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), can cause ascariasis with significant socioeconomic and public health impact. In this study, the mitochondrial genome of Ascaris ovis, a representative of this genus from the sheep in Southwest China was determined using Illumina sequencing technology. The assembled genome was 14,205 bp in size and encoded 36 genes, including 12 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that A. ovis grouped with the congeneric Ascaris lumbricoides of humans, Ascaris spp. of non-human primates and Ascaris suum of pigs and together formed a monophyletic group relationship with either species of Baylisascaris/Toxascaris/Parascaris, species of Toxocara, species of Anisakis/Pseudoterranova or species of Ascaridia/Heterakis in the order Ascaridida, supporting its genetic similarity with A. lumbricoides, A. suum, and other congeneric species. The cumulative mitochondrial DNA data of this genus should contribute to a better understanding of the phylogenetic relationships among these roundworms.

The bovine hookworm Bunostomum phlebotomum (Nematoda: Bunostominae) is a blood-feeding nematode with important socioeconomic impact in the cattle breeding industry. In the present study, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of a representative individual of B. phlebotomum from beef cattle in Southwest China was determined using the next generation sequencing technology. The genome was 13,799 bp in size and encoded 12 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes and two rRNA genes. The phylogeny revealed that although B. phlebotomum from Chinese beef cattle and yaks were more closely related to each other than to that from Australian cows, these three bovine-originated B. phlebotomum grouped together and formed paraphyletic relationships with Bunostomum trigonocephalum (goat/sheep hookworm) and Necator americanus (human hookworm), supporting their sister-species relationships within Bunostominae. The cumulative mitochondrial DNA data provides a better understanding of phylogenetic relationships of this species in cattle.

Efficient identification of apple leaf diseases (ALDs) can reduce the use of pesticides and increase the quality of apple fruit, which is of significance to smart agriculture. However, existing research into identifying ALDs lacks models/methods that satisfy efficient identification in the wild environment, hindering the application of smart agriculture in the apple industry. Therefore, this paper explores an ACCURATE, LIGHTWEIGHT, and ROBUST convolutional neural network (CNN) called EfficientNet-MG, improving the conventional EfficientNet network by the multistage feature fusion (MSFF) method and gaussian error linear unit (GELU) activation function. The shallow and deep convolutional layers usually contain detailed and semantic information, respectively, but conventional EfficientNets do not fully utilize the different stage convolutional layers. Thus, MSFF was adopted to improve the semantic representation capacity of the last layer of features, and GELU was used to adapt to complicated tasks. Further, a comprehensive ALD dataset called AppleLeaf9 was constructed for the wild environment. The experimental results show that EfficientNet-MG achieves a higher accuracy (99.11%) and fewer parameters (8.42 M) than the five classical CNN models, thus proving that EfficientNet-MG achieves more competitive results on ALD identification.

The takin lungworm Varestrongylus eleguneniensis (Strongylida: Protostrongylidae) causes lethal bronchopneumonia and represents severe threats to captive and wild populations. However, until now there has been very limited information available concerning the molecular epidemiology and evolutionary biology of V. eleguneniensis. Mitochondrial genomes (mtDNAs) can provide resources for investigations in these areas and, therefore, can assist with the surveillance and control of this lungworm. Herein, the complete mtDNA of V. eleguneniensis was sequenced and characterized with Illumina pipeline analyses. This circular genome (13,625 bp) encoded twelve protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNAs, and twenty-two tRNAs, with notable levels of AT and GC skews. Comparative genomics revealed a purifying selection among PCGs, with cox1 and nad6 having the lowest and the highest evolutionary rate, respectively. Genome-wide phylogenies showed a close relationship between V. eleguneniensis and Protostrongylus rufescens in Strongylida. Single gene (PCGs or rRNAs)-based phylogenies indicated that cox1 and nad5 genes shared the same family-level topology with that inferred from genomic datasets, suggesting that both genes could be suitable genetic markers for evolutionary and phylogenetic studies of Strongylida species. This was the first mtDNA of any member of the genus Varestrongylus, and its comprehensive molecular characterization represents a new resource for systematic, population genetic and evolutionary biological studies of Varestrongylus lungworms in wildlife.

Abstract The negative photoconductance (NPC) effect, defined as an increase in resistance upon exposure to illumination, holds great potential for application in photoelectric devices. A prepared memristor with the structure of Ag|graphene quantum dots (GQDs)|TiOx|F‐doped SnO2 exhibits typical bipolar resistive switching (RS) memory behavior. The NPC effect is impressively observed in the high resistance state branch of the RS memory, enabling the memristor function to be extended to both memory logic display and multistate data storage. The observed NPC effect is attributed to the excitation, migration, and compensation of oxygen vacancy at the GQDs/TiOx interface, at which the electron transportation is efficiently restricted because of the variation in the charge distribution and electrostatic potential under illumination. Experiments, theoretical calculations, and physical models are used to provide engineer the interface with the aim of building the NPC effect in the memristive device. These results unveil a new horizon on extending the functionality of the memristor.

Haemaphysalis longicornis (Ixodida: Ixodidae) is a common blood-feeding ectoparasite of the giant panda and poses significant health burden to wild and captive populations. In the present study, the complete mitogenome of the giant panda tick H. longicornis was sequenced using Illumina sequencing technology. The entire mitogenome was 14,706 bp in length and encoded 37 genes including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs and two ribosomal RNAs. Phylogeny showed that four isolates of H. longicornis, regardless of host origins or locations, clustered together and had a closer relationship with Haemaphysalis hystricis than other Haemaphysalis species among the subfamily Haemaphysalinae of Ixodidae. The cumulative mitochondrial DNA resources provide insights into genetic and phylogenetic studies of Haemaphysalis ticks.

The bamboo aphids, Pseudoregma spp., are the commonest insect pests found in ornamental bamboos throughout southeastern Asia. In this study, the mitochondrial genome of a representative of Pseudoregma bambucicola isolated from the bamboo Bambusa multiplexcv in Guizhou of China was determined through Illumina MiSeq platform. The entire genome was 16,705 bp in length and encoded 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes. The phylogeneric analysis showed that the P. bambucicola (Guizhou isolate) clustered together with another two isolates from Sichuan and Fujian of China, respectively, and together formed a monophyletic relationship with Hormaphis betulae in Hormaphidinae. The mitochondrial DNA data presented here should contribute to future molecular identification, population genetic, and evolutionary biological studies of P. bambucicola.

The blood-sucking tick Haemaphysalis hystricis is a common ectoparasite of the giant panda and represents a significant threat to both wild and captive populations. Herein, the complete mitogenome of H. hystricis was sequenced using Illumina sequencing technology. The complete mitogenome sequence was 14,715 bp in size and encoded 37 genes including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, and two ribosomal RNAs. Phylogeny revealed that two isolates of H. hystricis, regardless of host origins and locations, grouped together and had a closer relationship with Haemaphysalis longicornis than other tick species among the genus Haemaphysalis. The cumulative mitochondrial DNA data provides novel resources for genetic and phylogenetic studies of Haemaphysalis ticks.

The tick Haemaphysalis flava (Acari, Ixodidae) is an obligatory blood-feeding ectoparasite of the giant panda and is also a vector for transmission of pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of this tick was sequenced through Illumina sequencing technology. The genome was 14,699 bp in length and encoded 37 genes including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs and two ribosomal RNAs. Phylogeny revealed that three isolates of H. flava, regardless of host origins and locations, clustered together and formed a monophyletic relationship with Haemaphysalis japonica, supporting their species validity among the genus Haemaphysalis. These cumulative mitochondrial DNA data provides insights into phylogenetic studies among Haemaphysalis ticks.

Abstract Constrained independent component analysis (ICA) is an effective method for solving the blind source separation with a prior knowledge. However, most constrained ICA algorithms are proposed for the real-valued sources. In this paper, a novel constrained noncircular complex fast independent component analysis (c-ncFastICA) algorithm based on the fixed-point learning is proposed to address the complex-valued sources. The c-ncFastICA algorithm uses the augmented Lagrangian method to obtain a new cost function and then utilizes the quasi-Newton method to search its optimal solution. Compared with other ICA and constrained ICA algorithms, c-ncFastICA has better separation performance. Simulations confirm the effectiveness and superiority of the c-ncFastICA algorithm.

Adversarial examples are the inputs to machine learning models that result in erroneous outputs, which are usually generated from normal inputs via subtle modification and seem to remain unchanged to human observers. They have severely threatened the applications of machine learning, especially in the areas with high-security requirements. Unfortunately, for this issue, there is neither unambiguous interpretation about the causes nor almighty defenses in spite of the increasing attention and discussions. Based on the distinguished statistical feature of Markov chain, an effective defense method is proposed in this paper by exploring the differences in the probability distributions of adjacent pixels between normal images and adversarial examples. Specifically, the concept of overall probability value (OPV) is defined to estimate the modification to an input, which can be used to preliminarily determine whether the input is an adversarial example or not. Furthermore, by calculating the OPV of an input and modifying its pixel value to destroy the potential adversarial characteristics, the proposed method can efficiently purify adversarial examples. A series of experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the defense method. When facing various attacks, it obtains excellent performance with accuracy over 92% for MNIST and 70% for ImageNet.

Abstract In this work, different structures based on electrodeposited n-type ZnO nanorods and p-type Cu2O, CuSCN, and NiO nanostructures are fabricated for the degradation of methyl orange (MO). The influence of materials, heterostructure, and orientation for nanohybrids on photocatalytic activity is discussed for the first time. The heterojunction structures show remarkable enhancement compared to the bare semiconductor. The morphology of nanostructure has mainly an influence on the photocatalytic activity. NiO has the highest catalytic activity among the four pristine semiconductor nanostructures of ZnO, Cu2O, CuSCN, and NiO. The greatest enhancement of the photocatalytic activity is obtained using a ZnO/NiO (1 min) heterostructure attributed to the heterojunction structure and extremely higher specific surface area, which can degrade MO (20 mg/L) into colorless within 20 min with the fastest photocatalytic speed among homogeneous heterojunction structures. Meanwhile, the methodology and data analysis described herein will serve as an effective approach for the design of hybrid nanostructures for solar energy application, and the appropriate nanohybrids will have significant potential to solve the environment and energy issues.

Glioma is characterized by rapid cell proliferation and extensive infiltration among brain tissues, but the molecular pathology has been still poorly understood. Previous studies found that DNA methylation modifications play a key role in contributing to the pathogenesis of glioma. On the other hand, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been discovered to be associated with some key tumorigenic processes of glioma. Moreover, genomic methylation can influence expression and functions of lncRNAs, which contributes to the pathogenesis of many complex diseases. However, to date, no systematic study has been performed to detect the methylation of lncRNAs and its influences in glioma on a genome-wide scale. Here, we selected the methylation data, clinical information, expression of lncRNAs, and DNA methylation regulatory proteins of 537 glioma patients from TCGA and TANRIC databases. Then, we performed a differential analysis of lncRNA expression and methylated regions between low-grade glioma (LGG) and glioblastoma multiform (GBM) subjects, respectively. Next, we further identified and verified potential key lncRNAs contributing the pathogenesis of glioma involved in methylation modifications by an annotation and correlation analysis, respectively. In total, 18 such lncRNAs were identified, and 7 of them have been demonstrated to be functionally linked to the pathogenesis of glioma by previous studies. Finally, by the univariate Cox regression, LASSO regression, clinical correlation, and survival analysis, we found that all these 18 lncRNAs are high-risk factors for clinical prognosis of glioma. In summary, this study provided a strategy to explore the influence of lncRNA methylation on glioma, and our findings will be benefit to improve understanding of its pathogenesis.

Cardiovascular risk factors and related disorders are common among older adults, and use of various classes of cardiovascular (CV) drugs could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, data are sparse with regard to the use of CV drugs among rural-dwelling older adults in China. Therefore, this population-based study aimed to describe use of CV drugs among older adults living in the rural communities in China, while taking into account the use of CV drugs for primary and secondary prevention of CVDs. This study included 5,246 participants (age ≥65 years; 57.17% women; 40.68% illiteracy) in the baseline examination of the MIND-China study. In March-September 2018, data on health-related factors, CVDs (ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and stroke), and CV drug use were collected via face-to-face survey, clinical examination, and laboratory tests. We classified CV drugs according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system for western medications and specific cardiovascular effects for the products of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). We conducted descriptive analysis. The overall prevalence of major cardiovascular risk factors ranged from 14.30% in diabetes and 23.81% in dyslipidemia to 66.70% in hypertension, and CVDs affected 35.07% of all participants (36.28% in women vs. 33.47% in men, p = 0.035). In the total sample, calcium channel blockers (C08) were most commonly used (10.39%), followed by TCM products (7.64%), hypoglycemic agents (A10, 4.73%), renin-angiotensin system (RAS)-acting agents (C09, 4.61%), and lipid-lowering agents (C10, 4.17%). The proportions of CV drugs for primary prevention (i.e., use of CV drugs among people without CVD) were 3.14% for antithrombotic agents (mainly aspirin), 1.38% for lipid-lowering agents, and 3.11% for RAS-acting agents; the corresponding figures for secondary prevention (i.e., use of CV drugs among people with CVD) were 13.97%, 9.35%, and 7.39%. In conclusion, despite highly prevalent cardiovascular risk factors and CVDs, a fairly low proportion of the rural-dwelling older adults take CV medications for primary and secondary prevention. Notably, TCM products are among the most commonly used CV drugs. These results call for additional efforts to promote implementation of the evidence-based recommendations for prevention of CVDs in the primary care settings.

Known colloquially as ‘dog-lichens’ or ‘pelt-lichens’, most species of Peltigera grow on soil and mosses. Some species contribute a significant amount of nitrogen to the environment and have been used as traditional medicines. We analyzed the complete mitochondrial genome of P. rufescens, which is a circular genome 65,199 bp in size and its CG content is 26.7%. It contains 15 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 27 transport RNAs (tRNAs), and 3 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs). Also, the atp9 gene is present in the genome. We used the complete mitochondrial genome to construct a phylogenetic tree by the Bayesian method, which was consistent with the phylogenetic relationship published for P. membranacea which is closely related to P. rufescens.

Functionally uncharacterized UPF0118 family has been re-designated as autoinducer-2 exporter (AI-2E) family since one of its members, Escherichia coli YdgG, was identified to function as an AI-2E. However, it’s very likely that AI-2E family members may exhibit significantly distinct functions due to low identities between them. Recently, we identified one member of this family designated as UPF0118 to represent a novel class of Na+(Li+)/H+ antiporters. In this study, we presented that UPF0118, together with its homologs, should represent an independent group of AI-2E family, designated as Na+/H+ Antiporter Group. Notably, this group shows five highly conserved motifs designated as Motifs A to E, which are not detected in the majority of AI-2E family members. Functional analysis established that polar or charged residues located in Motif A to D play a vital role in Na+(Li+)/H+ antiport activity or pH response of UPF0118. However, three basic residues located in Motif E are not involved in the function of UPF0118, although the truncation of C terminus resulted in the non-expression of this transporter. Therefore, we propose that E179-R182-K215-Q217-D251-R292-R293-E296-K298-S307 located in Motifs A to D can be used for signature functional motifs to recognize whether AI-2E family members function as Na+(Li+)/H+ antiporters. Current findings positively contribute to the knowledge of molecular mechanism of Na+, Li+ transporting and pH response of UPF0118, and the functional prediction of uncharacterized AI-2E family members.

ObjectiveThe Da Qing Diabetes Prevention program (DQDP) was a randomized lifestyle modification intervention conducted in 1986 for the prevention and control of type 2 diabetes in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance. The current study estimated long-term cost-effectiveness of the program based on the health utilities from the Chinese population.MethodsA Markov Monte Carlo model was developed to estimate the impact of the intervention from the healthcare system perspective. The analysis was run over 30-year and lifetime periods and costs were estimated respectively as health management service costs. Baseline characteristics and intervention effects were assessed from the DQDP. Utilities and costs were generated from relevant literature. The outcome measures were program cost per quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of the intervention. Sensitivity analyses and threshold analyses were performed.ResultsUsing a 30-year horizon, the intervention strategy was cost-saving and was associated with better health outcomes (increase of 0.74 QALYs per intervention participant). Using a lifetime horizon, the intervention strategy was cost-saving and was associated with additional 1.44 QALYs. Sensitivity analyses showed that the overall ICER was most strongly influenced by the hazard ratio of cardiovascular disease event.ConclusionsThe Da Qing lifestyle intervention in a Chinese population with impaired glucose tolerance is likely to translate into substantial economic value. It is cost-saving over a 30-year time and lifetime frame.

Abstract Objective Self-rated health represents a reliable and important health measure related to general health and quality of life. This study aimed to identify the differences of health states of rural residents in a lower middle income setting in China and its associated factors. Methods A descriptive study of a stratified random sample of 3870 individuals was conducted in rural Anhui during 2015. We investigated the influence of five independent variables: individual demographic characteristics, family factors, social capital traits, physical health conditions and healthy lifestyle habits of participants who self-related their health as good. A chi-square test and ordinal logistic regression analyses were used to identify the relationship of these variables and self-rated health. Results The study found that respondents who negatively rated their health often were female, elderly, poor, lived alone, had low levels of education, inadequate social support, poor physical health, used healthcare services and lived in the lower economic regions. We found no significant correlations between self-rated health and employment, marital status, medical insurance, or exercise frequency. Surprisingly, smoking and drinking also seemed to be unrelated to poor self-reported health. Conclusion Health differences based on region were apparent in rural China. We highlighted the possible impacts of income, age, physical health, education, advanced age, and social support on health. The results from this study could inform the delivery of appropriate health and social healthcare interventions to promote rural residents’ health and quality of life.

The bamboo aphid, Pseudoregma bambucicola, is a terrible insect pest of bamboos. Herein, the complete mitochondrial genome of a representative of this aphid from China was determined through next generation sequencing platform. The whole genome was 16,651 bp in size and encoded 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, and two rRNA genes. The phylogeny showed that two Chinese isolates of P. bambucicola clustered together and formed a monophyletic relationship with Hormaphis betulae in Hormaphidinae, supporting their species validity among the family Aphididae. The cumulative mitochondrial DNA data should contribute to a better understanding of the phylogenetic relationship of this aphid species.