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Abstract Background Vegetable soybean is rich in nutrients and has a unique flavor. It is highly preferred by people because of its pharmacological activities, including those that regulate the intestines and lower blood pressure. The pod color of vegetable soybeans is an important quality that indicates their freshness and has a significant impact on their commercialization. Results In this study, pod color was evaluated in 301 vegetable soybean accessions collected from various regions. Genome-wide association analysis was carried out using the Mixed linear model (MLM), a total of 18 quantitative trait loci including 117 SNPs were detected. Two significant QTLs located on chromosomes 6 (qGPCL4 /qGPCa1/qGPCb2) and 18 (qGPCL10/qGPCb3) were consistently detected across different variables. Based on gene functional annotation, 30 candidate genes were identified in these two candidate intervals. Combined with transcriptome analysis, Glyma.18g241700 has been identified as a candidate gene for regulating pod color in vegetable soybeans. Glyma.18g241700 encodes a chlorophyll photosystem I subunit XI. which localizes to the chloroplast named GmPsaL, qRT-PCR analysis showed that GmPsaL was specifically highly expressed in developing pods. Furthermore, overexpression of GmPsaL in transgenetic Arabidopsis plants produced dark green pods. Conclusions These findings may be useful for clarifying the genetic basis of the pod color of vegetable soybeans. The identified candidate genes may be useful for the genetic improvement of the appearance quality of vegetable soybeans.

Abstract This study aims to objectively assess the effect of three surgical approaches for posterior uterine fibroid resection: transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS), vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) in prone position (vNOTES-P), and vNOTES in the lithotomy position (vNOTES-L). A retrospective analysis was conducted on data pertaining to all patients who underwent vNOTES and LESS for single posterior fibroids at our institution from January 2023 to July 2023. Patients were categorized into three groups based on the surgical approach: vNOTES-P group (n = 30), vNOTES-L group (n = 17), and LESS group (n = 32). Comparative analysis was performed on the demographic characteristics and perioperative outcomes among the three groups of patients. All 79 patients underwent surgery without the need for conversion to laparotomy. There were no statistically significant differences among the LESS group, vNOTES-P group, and vNOTES-L group in terms of operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and perioperative complication rates. In the vNOTES-L group, two patients required conversion to LESS during surgery. Patients had faster return of bowel function (less time to flatus) in the vNOTES group compared to the LESS group (P

The hybrids (BY) derived from blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala, BSB, ♀) and Bleeker's yellow tai (Xenocypris davidi Bleeker, YT, ♂) have a fast growth rate and body thickness. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the growth advantage of BY are still unclear. MSTN, a member of the TGF-β superfamily, is a negative regulator of muscle growth and development. MYOD, a member of the myogenic regulatory factor family (MRFs), is a positive regulator of muscle growth and development. MSTN and MYOD interact to co-regulate muscle growth and development. In this study, we cloned the full-length cDNAs of mstn and myod in BY, analyzed differential expression of the two genes in muscle of BY and its parents, and observed the localization of the two genes during embryonic development of BY. Multiple sequence alignment of amino acids and phylogenetic analysis showed that mstn and myod were highly conserved in BY, BSB, YT, and other carp family fishes. Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that mstn and myod were primarily expressed in muscle of BY, and there were significant differences in the expression of the two genes in the red and white muscles of BY, BSB, and YT at different age. The results of in situ hybridization of embryos showed an overlap in the temporal and spatial expression of mstn and myod in BY embryo development, suggesting that the two genes might interact to co-regulate embryo growth and development. This study provides a theoretical basis for further research on the mechanisms of mstn and myod in muscle growth of hybrid fishes.

The kisspeptin receptor (GPR54), a member of the G-protein-coupled receptors, plays a central role in regulating reproduction. However, research on GPR54 in allotriploid fish remains limited. In this study, we reported the full-length cDNAs, tissue expression, and localization of gpr54a and gpr54b in allotriploid crucian carp (ACC) and diploid red crucian carp (Carassius auratus red var., RCC). The full-length cDNAs of gpr54a in ACC and RCC were 2224 bp and 2218 bp, respectively. The full-length cDNAs of gpr54b in ACC and RCC were 1413 bp and 1182 bp, respectively. qRT-PCR revealed that ACC gpr54a and RCC gpr54a were highly expressed in the brain but had lower expression in peripheral tissues. Unlike gpr54a, ACC gpr54b and RCC gpr54b were highly expressed in the brain, liver, and muscle. During the breeding season, the expression of gpr54a in ACC was significantly lower than in RCC, but gpr54b had significantly higher expression in ACC than in RCC in the HPG axis. This finding suggested that gpr54a might promote ovarian development, while gpr54b might inhibit ovarian development. During the breeding season, ISH indicated abnormal ovarian development in ACC and found signals of gpr54a and gpr54b in several regions of the brain, pituitary, and ovary of ACC and RCC. These regions of the brain, pituitary, and ovary are associated with the secretion of several hormones related to reproductive regulation. Hence, we hypothesized that the lower expression of gpr54a and higher expression of gpr54b in ACC might be involved in sterility by regulating the secretion of reproductive hormones. This study suggested that gpr54a and gpr54b might function oppositely in regulating reproduction. In conclusion, these findings will aid in further investigating the functions of GPR54 and provide a theoretical basis for studying ACC sterility.

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a member of the interleukin-1 cytokine family. Its function in regulating microglial M1/M2 polarization in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is still unelucidated. To evaluate the role of IL-33 in NMOSD, we constructed NMOSD mice model by injecting purified serum IgG from AQP4-IgG seropositive NMOSD patients into experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice, and IL-33 was intraperitoneally injected into NMOSD mice 3 d before the model induction. We found that pretreatment of the NMOSD mice with IL-33 relieved brain neuron loss, and demyelination and improved the structure of axons, astrocytes, and mitochondria. In the neuronal and microglial coculture system, pretreatment with IL-33 in microglia alleviated NMOSD serum-induced inflammation and damaged morphology in cultured neurons. IL-33 transformed microglia to the M2 phenotype, and NMOSD serum promoted microglia to the M1 phenotype in cultured BV2 cells. Moreover, IL-33 influenced microglial polarity via the IL-33/ST2 pathway. IL-33 may be a novel insight useful for further developing NMOSD-targeted therapy and drug development.

Abstract Background Transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopy (vNOTES) is regarded as a challenging surgical technique to learn but is promising in reducing perioperative pain and significantly improves the cosmetic outcomes. Previous studies on the learning curve analysis of vNOTES mainly focuses on the hysterectomy approach, while the vNOTES ovarian cystectomy’s learning curve was merely reported though more frequently performed than vNOTES hysterectomy. Therefore, this study seeks to analyze the learning curve of three surgeons with varying levels of experience in performing endoscopic surgery and vaginal surgeries for the treatment of ovarian cysts using vNOTES. Methods A total of 127 patients with ovarian cysts of a variety of pathological types were treated by ovarian vNOTES performed by three surgeons of different levels of endoscopic and transvaginal surgical experience. Each surgeon’s learning curve was plotted using the Cumulative Sum method and divided into three or four phases of technique learning at the turning point of the learning curve. The sociodemographic and clinical features of patients in each phase were then compared and factors potentially associated with operation time were also screened. Results The learning curve was presented in four phases. The operation time (OT) was significantly shorter in phases II (53.66 ± 16.55 min) and IV (54.39 ± 23.45 min) as compared with phases I (68.74 ± 15.85) and III (75.93 ± 30.55) (p

This study investigated the efficacy of radial yield support as an active measure to mitigate stress and deformation in deep soft rock tunnels experiencing large deformation. Traditional support methods have shown limited success in addressing this challenge. Leveraging a three-dimensional geomechanical model, this study proposes an active support system centered around radial yield pressure. This system releases stress in the surrounding rock before resisting deformation, thereby improving the mechanical properties of the tunnel and effectively controlling displacement and deformation during excavation. Through analysis using the three-dimensional geomechanical model, this study evaluated the control effect of radial yield support on surrounding rock deformation and support bearing capacity, focusing on a typical large deformation section of a highway tunnel. The results demonstrate a significant reduction in relative deformation of the surrounding rock compared to conventional support methods, with a reduction of 75.8% in tensile strain and 67.6% in compressive strain as evidenced by bolt deformation. Additionally, the contact pressure between the surrounding rock and primary support is reduced by 80%, indicating the effective control of radial yield support on plastic zone development and stress release in the surrounding rock. These findings offer valuable insights for the application of similar technologies in controlling surrounding rock in deep soft rock tunnels.

Abstract One of the primary objectives of science education is to cultivate students’ science identity, and evidence points to the efficacy of inquiry-based learning in advancing this objective. Nevertheless, recent concerns have emerged regarding the effectiveness of information technology in supporting scientific research and its impact on students’ science identity. This study explores this domain through a comparative experiment conducted with fifth-grade students at a Chinese elementary school. Utilizing the Web-based Inquiry Science Environment (WISE) and the “Solar Oven” STEM learning unit, it scrutinizes the effects of web-based inquiry and traditional inquiry on students’ science identity development. The findings indicate that web-based inquiry is equally effective as traditional inquiry in fostering students’ science identity, especially in the two dimensions of “recognition” and “performance”. Notably, web-based inquiry surpasses traditional inquiry by significantly improving seven out of eleven assessed indicators, while traditional inquiry improves only four indicators. This research provides valuable insights into how integrating information technology within an inquiry-based learning environment can support Chinese elementary school students in developing their science identity. These results have significant implications for science education by demonstrating that web-based inquiry is a valuable approach for fostering science identity among elementary school students.

Abstract Objective Pulmonary papillary adenoma is an extremely rare benign tumor. It is derived from type II lung cells and club cells, suggesting that it may originate from stem cells with two-way differentiation. Only one case has been reported with FGFR2-IIIb overexpression. Methods Two cases of pulmonary papillary adenoma with available data on clinical features, histological morphology, immunophenotype and molecular characteristics were analyzed. Results Both tumors were well-circumscribed unencapsulated nodules composed of papillary structures with fibrovascular cores lined by a single layer of cuboidal or columnar epithelium without necrosis, nuclear atypia and mitoses, or invasion. But malignant transformation features include complex branching structures and significantly enlarged, irregular, and crowded malignant cells in one case. Immunohistochemistry showed that the tumor cells were strongly positive for TTF1, NapsinA, EMA and CK7 and negative for CEA and P63, with a low Ki-67 proliferation index. The EGFR somatic mutation exon19:c.2236_2256delinsATC (p.E746_S752delinsI) was found in one case by next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. Conclusion Pulmonary papillary adenoma is very rare. Virtually all papillary adenomas are clinically silent and discovered incidentally. They are benign tumors, and resection is curative. An EGFR 19 exon deletion mutation in a patient with this tumor type was detected for the first time by NGS, and our results suggest that the malignant transformation of pulmonary papillary adenoma may be mediated by EGFR mutation.

Summary: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exhibits an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) contributing to its therapeutic resistance. Following our previous studies, we report that mast cells infiltrating the PDAC TME foster this immunosuppression and desmoplasia. Mast cell infiltration correlated with human PDAC progression, and genetic or pharmacological mast cell depletion reduced tumor growth and desmoplasia while enhancing survival in mouse PDAC models. Mechanistically, mast cell-derived IL-10 promoted PDAC progression. Strikingly, combining an agonistic anti-OX40 immunotherapy with mast cell blockade synergistically elicited durable anti-tumor immunity, marked by increased infiltration of CD8+ T effector cells expressing granzyme B and dramatic survival benefit unachievable with either approach alone. An OX40-associated gene signature correlated with improved survival in human PDAC, supporting therapeutic translation. Our findings establish mast cells as promoters of the suppressive PDAC TME and rational targets for combination immunotherapy. Targeting this mast cell-mediated resistance mechanism could overcome immunotherapy failure in PDAC.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising and innovative approach for treating tumors. The synergistic effect of PDT and chemotherapy can enhance the anti-tumor efficacy by leveraging their complementing benefits. In this study, we created lipid vesicles to deliver a photosensitizer (chlorin e6, Ce6) and Regorafenib into tumors for the purpose of examining the effectiveness and mechanism of Lipo-Ce6@Rego-PDT (LCR-P) on Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) both in vitro and in vivo. We found that the cytotoxicity on HCC caused by LCR-P was significantly stronger than that caused by Lipo-Ce6-PDT (LC-P). Cellular ROS production in the LCR-P group was approximately higher than that in the LC-P group, and Regorafenib significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of JNK, ERK, and P38 of Lipo-Ce6-PDT group in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, Regorafenib significantly downregulated the expression of Bcl-2 and upregulated the expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 of LC-P group in vitro and in vivo. Compared with LC-P, LCR-P significantly increased cell apoptosis rate. The body weight and HE staining of normal organs primarily indicated the safety of this combined strategy. These results indicate that the combination of Regorafenib and Lipo-Ce6 can significantly enhance the anti-tumor efficiency of PDT for HCC and exhibits good biosafety.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of invasive pneumococcal isolates from children in Shenzhen, China, in the early stage of the pneumococcal 13-valent conjugated vaccine (PCV-13) era from 2018 to 2020. Methods: Invasive pneumococcal strains were isolated from hospitalized children with invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPDs) from January 2018 to December 2020. The serotype identification, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed on all culture-confirmed strains. Results: Sixty-four invasive strains were isolated mainly from blood (70.3%). Prevalent serotypes were 23F (28.1%), 14 (18.8%), 19F (15.6%), 6A/B (14.1%), and 19A (12.5%), with a serotype coverage rate of 96.9% for PCV13. The most common sequence types (STs) were ST876 (17.1%), ST271 (10.9%), and ST320 (7.8%). Half of the strains were grouped in clonal complexes (CCs): CC271 (21.9%), CC876 (20.3%), and CC90 (14.1%). Meningitis isolates showed a higher resistance rate (90.9% and 45.5%) to penicillin and ceftriaxone than the rate (3.8% and 9.4%) of non-meningitis isolates. The resistance rates for penicillin (oral), cefuroxime, and erythromycin were 53.13%, 73.4%, and 96.9%, respectively. The dual ermB and mefA genotype was found in 81.3% of erythromycin-resistant strains. The elevated minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of β-lactam antibiotics and dual-genotype macrolide resistance were related mainly to three major serotype-CC combinations: 19F-CC271, 19A-CC271, and 14-CC876. Conclusion: Invasive pneumococcus with elevated MICs of β-lactams and increased dual ermB and mefA genotype macrolide resistance were alarming. Expanded PCV13 vaccination is expected to reduce the burden of paediatric IPD and to combat antibiotic-resistant pneumococcus in Shenzhen.

Abstract Research highlights the significance of increased bursting in lateral habenula (LHb) neurons in depression and as a focal point for bright light treatment (BLT). However, the precise spike patterns of LHb neurons projecting to different brain regions during depression, their roles in depression development, and BLT's therapeutic action remain elusive. Here, LHb neurons are found projecting to the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), ventral tegmental area (VTA), and median raphe nucleus (MnR) exhibit increased bursting following aversive stimuli exposure, correlating with distinct depressive symptoms. Enhanced bursting in DRN‐projecting LHb neurons is pivotal for anhedonia and anxiety, while concurrent bursting in LHb neurons projecting to the DRN, VTA, and MnR is essential for despair. Remarkably, reducing bursting in distinct LHb neuron subpopulations underlies the therapeutic effects of BLT on specific depressive behaviors. These findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of depression and the antidepressant action of BLT.

ObjectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between circulating irisin levels and osteoporosis in women, exploring irisin’s potential role in the pathophysiology and management of osteoporosis.MethodWe searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang, and VIP databases up to January 2023. The inclusion criteria were observational studies reporting on circulating irisin levels in women. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and correlation coefficients with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were used as the main effect measures under a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the Cochrane Q statistic and the I2 statistics. Subgroup analysis and univariate meta-regression analysis were performed to identify the sources of heterogeneity. The quality of the included study was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Score. The quality of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE system. Publication bias was assessed using Begg’s and Egger’s test, and the trim-and-fill method. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the stability of the results.ResultsFifteen studies with a total of 2856 participants met the criteria. The analysis showed significantly lower irisin levels in postmenopausal osteoporotic women compared to non-osteoporotic controls (SMD = -1.66, 95% CI: -2.43 to -0.89, P < 0.0001; I2 = 98%, P < 0.00001) and in postmenopausal individuals with osteoporotic fractures than in non-fractures controls (SMD = -1.25, 95% CI: -2.15 to -0.34, P = 0.007; I2 = 97%, P < 0.00001). Correlation analysis revealed that irisin levels positively correlated with lumbar spine BMD (r = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.54), femoral BMD (r = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.42), and femoral neck BMD (r = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.47) in women. Despite significant heterogeneity, the robustness of the results was supported by using the random effects model and sensitivity analysis.ConclusionThe current evidence suggests that lower irisin levels are significantly associated with osteoporosis and fracture in postmenopausal women, suggesting its utility as a potential biomarker for early detection of osteoporosis and therapeutic target. However, further high-quality prospective research controlling for confounding factors is needed to clarify the relationship between irisin levels and osteoporotic outcomes.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier CRD42023410264.

Microplastics (MPs) and okadaic acid (OA) are known to coexist in marine organisms, potentially impacting humans through food chain. However, the combined toxicity of OA and MPs remains unknown. In this study, mice were orally administered OA at 200 μg/kg bw and MPs at 2 mg/kg bw. The co-exposure group showed a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) content and significant decreases in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) level compared to the control, MPs and OA groups (p < 0.05). Additionally, the co-exposure group exhibited significantly higher levels of IL-1β and IL-18 compared to other groups (p < 0.05). These results demonstrated that co-exposure to MPs and OA induces oxidative stress and exacerbates inflammation. Histological and cellular ultrastructure analyses suggested that this combined exposure may enhance gut damage and compromise barrier integrity. Consequently, the concentration of OA in the small intestine of the co-exposure group was significantly higher than that in the OA group. Furthermore, MPs were observed in the lamina propria of the gut in the co-exposure group. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the co-exposure led to increased expression of certain genes related to the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway compared to the OA and MPs groups. Overall, this combined exposure may disrupt the intestinal barrier, and promote inflammation through the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway. These findings provide precious information for the understanding of health risks associated with MPs and phycotoxins.

The risk of Legionella transmission in built environments remains a significant concern. Legionella can spread within buildings through aerosol transmission, prompting the exploration of airborne transmission pathways and proposing corresponding prevention and control measures based on building characteristics. To this end, a comprehensive literature review on the transmission risk of Legionella in built environments was performed. Four electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and CNKI) were searched from inception to March 2024 for publications reporting the risk of Legionella transmission in built environments. Relevant articles and gray literature reports were hand-searched, and 96 studies were finally included. Legionella pollution comes from various sources, mainly originates in a variety of built environments in which human beings remain for extended periods. The sources, outbreaks, national standards, regulations, and monitoring techniques for Legionella in buildings are reviewed, in addition to increases in Legionella transmission risk due to poor maintenance of water systems and long-distance transmission events caused by aerosol characteristics. Air and water sampling using various analytical methods helps identify Legionella in the environment, recognize sources in the built environments, and control outbreaks. By comparing the standard regulations of national organizations globally, the authors further highlight gaps and deficiencies in Legionella surveillance in China. Such advancements offer essential insights and references for understanding and addressing Legionella transmission risk in the built environment, with the potential to contribute to safeguarding public health and building environment safety.

ObjectiveIn this study, we collected perioperative and postoperative follow-up data from patients with endometrial cancer (EC) at different stages to evaluate the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in endometrial cancer surgery.MethodsA total of 186 endometrial cancer patients undergoing radical hysterectomy from January 2018 to April 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were classified into four groups. Group A comprised patients diagnosed with stage IA grade 1 and 2 endometrioid EC who underwent SLNB. Group B comprised patients with stage IA grade 1 and 2 endometrioid EC who did not undergo SLNB. Group C comprised patients with higher-grade endometrioid EC, wherein systematic lymph node dissection was performed based on SLNB results. Group D comprised patients with higher-grade endometrioid EC who did not undergo SLNB and instead underwent direct systematic lymph node dissection. Clinical, pathological data, and follow-up information for all patients were collected.ResultsIn Group A and B, SLNB was performed on 36 out of 67 patients with IA stage 1 and 2 endometrial cancer, yielding a SLN positivity rate of 5.6%. There were no significant differences observed between the two groups regarding perioperative outcomes and postoperative follow-up. Conversely, among 119 patients with higher-grade endometrial cancer, 52 underwent SLNB, with 20 patients exhibiting SLN positivity, resulting in a SLN positivity rate of 38.4%. However, the decision to undergo SLNB did not yield significant differences in perioperative outcomes and postoperative follow-up among these patients.ConclusionFor stage IA grade 1 and 2 endometrioid EC, the incidence of lymph node positivity is low, omitting SLNB in this subpopulation is a feasible option. In other stages of endometrioid EC, there is no significant difference in perioperative and postoperative follow-up data between patients undergoing routine systematic lymphadenectomy and those undergoing systematic lymphadenectomy based on SLNB results. Therefore, if SLNB is not available, the standard procedure of PLND remains an option to obtain information about lymph node status, despite the surgical complications associated with this procedure.

ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical and laboratory characteristics and to identify predictors of moderate to severe anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (ATB-DILI) in patients with tuberculosis.MethodsThis prospective study enrolled Tuberculosis (TB) patients treated with first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs at the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University between May 2022 and June 2023. The occurrence of ATB-DILI was monitored, and demographic and clinical data were gathered. We analyzed risk factors for the development of moderate to severe ATB-DILI.ResultsATB-DILI was detected in 120 (10.7%) of the patients, with moderate to severe ATB-DILI occurring in 23 (2.0%) of the 1,124 patients treated with anti-tuberculosis treatment. Multivariate cox regression analysis identified malnutrition (HR = 4.564, 95% CI: 1.029–20.251, p = 0.046) and hemoglobin levels

Summary: Biological nitrogen fixation catalyzed by nitrogenase contributes greatly to the global nitrogen cycle. Nitrogenase expression is subject to regulation in response to nitrogen availability. However, the mechanism through which the transcriptional activator NifA regulates nitrogenase expression by interacting with PII nitrogen regulatory proteins remains unclear in diazotrophic proteobacteria lacking NifL. Here, we demonstrate that in Rhodopseudomonas palustris grown with ammonium, NifA bound deuridylylated PII proteins to form an inactive NifA-PII complex, thereby inhibiting the expression of nitrogenase. Upon nitrogen limitation, the dissociation of uridylylated PII proteins from NifA resulted in the full restoration of NifA activity, and, simultaneously, uridylylation of the significantly up-regulated PII protein GlnK2 led to the increased expression of NifA in R. palustris. This insight into how NifA interacts with PII proteins and controls nitrogenase expression sets the stage for creating highly efficient diazotrophs, reducing the need for energy-intensive chemical fertilizers and helping to diminish carbon emissions.

In spite of the increasing popularity of project-based collaborative learning (PBCL) as a pedagogy, real successful collaboration cannot always be achieved due to the cognitive, motivational and social emotional challenges students encounter during collaboration. Recognizing the challenges and developing regulation strategies to cope with the challenges at both individual and group level is essential for successful collaboration. In the last decades, a growing interest has been developed around socially shared regulation of emotions and how it is interwoven with self-regulation and co-regulation. However, capturing the process of students’ emotional challenges and regulations in a long and dynamic project proves difficult and there remains a paucity of evidence on how co-regulation and socially-shared regulation co-occur with learners’ cognitive and emotional progress in project-based collaborative learning. The purpose of the present study is to investigate and identify what kind of social emotional challenges students encountered during PBCL and how they regulate themselves and the groups in order to finish the projects. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted in an academic English classroom, with thirty-eight students self-reporting their challenges and regulations three times after finishing each of the projects. The results of qualitative analysis plus a case study of two groups indicate that students encounter a variety of social emotional challenges and employed different levels of co-regulation and socially shared regulation in addition to self-regulation, leading to varying collaboration results and experiences. The findings of the study offer insights into the emotional regulation in PBCL and shed light for future design of pedagogical interventions aiming at supporting socially shared regulation.

Summary: In addition to its role in vision, light also serves non-image-forming visual functions. Despite clinical evidence suggesting the antipruritic effects of bright light treatment, the circuit mechanisms underlying the effects of light on itch-related behaviors remain poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that bright light treatment reduces itch-related behaviors in mice through a visual circuit related to the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN). Specifically, a subset of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) innervates GABAergic neurons in the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus and intergeniculate leaflet (vLGN/IGL), which subsequently inhibit CaMKIIα+ neurons in the LPBN. Activation of both the vLGN/IGL-projecting RGCs and the vLGN/IGL-to-LPBN projections is sufficient to reduce itch-related behaviors induced by various pruritogens. Importantly, we demonstrate that the antipruritic effects of bright light treatment rely on the activation of the retina-vLGN/IGL-LPBN pathway. Collectively, our findings elucidate a visual circuit related to the LPBN that underlies the antipruritic effects of bright light treatment.

Abstract Background Tandem C2 domains, nuclear (TC2N) is a C2 domain-containing protein that belongs to the carboxyl-terminal type (C-type) tandem C2 protein family, and acts as an oncogenic driver in several cancers. Previously, we preliminarily reported that TC2N mediates the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway to inhibit tumor growth of breast cancer (BC) cells. Beyond that, its precise biological functions and detailed molecular mechanisms in BC development and progression are not fully understood. Methods Tumor tissues of 212 BC patients were subjected to tissue microarray and further assessed the associations of TC2N expression with pathological parameters and FASN expression. The protein levels of TC2N and FASN in cell lines and tumor specimens were monitored by qRT-PCR, WB, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. In vitro cell assays, in vivo nude mice model was used to assess the effect of TC2N ectopic expression on tumor metastasis and stemness of breast cancer cells. The downstream signaling pathway or target molecule of TC2N was mined using a combination of transcriptomics, proteomics and lipidomics, and the underlying mechanism was explored by WB and co-IP assays. Results Here, we found that the expression of TC2N remarkedly silenced in metastatic and poorly differentiated tumors. Function-wide, TC2N strongly inhibits tumor metastasis and stem-like properties of BC via inhibition of fatty acid synthesis. Mechanism-wise, TC2N blocks neddylated PTEN-mediated FASN stabilization by a dual mechanism. The C2B domain is crucial for nuclear localization of TC2N, further consolidating the TRIM21-mediated ubiquitylation and degradation of FASN by competing with neddylated PTEN for binding to FASN in nucleus. On the other hand, cytoplasmic TC2N interacts with import proteins, thereby restraining nuclear import of PTEN to decrease neddylated PTEN level. Conclusions Altogether, we demonstrate a previously unidentified role and mechanism of TC2N in regulation of lipid metabolism and PTEN neddylation, providing a potential therapeutic target for anti-cancer.

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability in adults. The pathological process of TBI involves a multifactorial cascade in which kinases have been proven contribute to interactions between relevant factors and amplification of signaling cascades. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is a promising kinase that has been implicated in various brain disorders, including TBI. However, the mechanism by which Cdk5 induces neuronal damage remains unclear. Here, we show for the first time that Drosha, a key enzyme in microRNA biogenesis, is a pivotal substrate of abnormally activated Cdk5. Cdk5-mediated phosphorylation decreases Drosha expression and exacerbates nerve injury in TBI. We proved that maintaining Drosha expression via the administration of repurposed Cdk5 inhibitors that were previously studied in clinical trials is a promising approach for the early treatment of TBI. Together, our work identifies Drosha as a novel target for neuroprotective strategies after TBI and suggests Cdk5-mediated regulation of Drosha expression as a potential therapeutic strategy for early TBI intervention.

Abstract Rolling bearings working in oscillating applications often suffer from false brinelling and fretting corrosion that limit their service life. At present, the study of oscillation-induced failures is primarily dominated by a large number of sliding and bench tests. However, most of the previous work are not able to fully describe the two closely related but different failure mechanisms. In this study, the origin and evolution of the two failures are thoroughly investigated under strictly controlled oscillating rolling conditions. The results show that failure evolves from false brinelling to fretting corrosion under dry friction conditions regardless of the oscillation amplitude. This process is accompanied by a large area peeling and serious oxidation, and the oxygen content increases from 2.50 wt% to 21.22 wt%. Oxidation is a crucial factor in the evolution of false brinelling into fretting corrosion. However, the distribution of microwear and oxygen content depend on the oscillation amplitude. Under lubrication conditions, the friction coefficient (COF) is smaller in the initial stage and led to local slip or transient instability of rolling elements. Therefore, the size of the wear marks and COF increased and appeared to be larger than those under a dry friction condition. However, grease can separate the contact surfaces, only surface deformation owing to false brinelling and slight damage at the roughness level occurred. The evolution of false brinelling and fretting corrosion is also closely related to residual stress. False brinelling often occurrs with residual stress accomulation, meanwhile, the residual stress increases from 120 to 300 MPa. When peeling occurs, residual stress is released. The failure pattern transformed from false brinelling to fretting corrosion and is accompanied by oxidation. So far, none of investigation is able to show satisfactory evolution of oscillating-induced failures, this study may contribute to more scientific understanding of rolling bearings against long-run reciprocating oscillating wear.

AbstractRhododendron farrerae Tate ex Sweet 1831 is a species of ornamental plant found in southern China. In the present study, the complete chloroplast genome of R. farrerae was sequenced. The genome was 149,453 bp in length and lacked the typical quadripartite structure. The plastid genome contained 112 genes, including 74 protein-coding genes, 34 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. The overall GC content of the genome was 35.65%. Phylogenetic analysis of 25 chloroplast genomes revealed that R. farrerae was closely related to Rhododendron huadingense. This study could provide fundamental information for the distribution, utilization, and phylogenomics of Rhododendron.

Plastic film mulch in agricultural production becomes essential to maintaining crop yields in arid and semiarid areas. However, the presence of residual film in farmland soil has also drawn much attention. In this study, three experiments were conducted. The first two experimental designs included 0, 450, 1 350, and 2 700 kg ha−1 of residual film pieces of approximately 5 cm side length added to field soil (0–20 cm soil depth) for seven years and added to pots for four years. In the third experiment, 1 350 kg ha−1 of the residual film with different side lengths (2–5, 5–10, 10–15, and 15–20 cm) was added to field soil for six years to explore the effect of residual film fragment size on soil nutrients, soil microorganisms, crop growth and yields. The residual film had little effect on the soil moisture at a field depth of 0–2 (or 0–1.8) m. There were no significant effects on organic carbon, total nitrogen, inorganic nitrogen, total phosphorus or available phosphorus in the 0–20 cm soil layer. The presence of residual film decreased the richness and diversity of the bacterial community of the surface soil of the residual film, but it had no significant effect on the microbial community of the non-surface soil. The emergence rates of wheat and lentils occasionally decreased significantly with different amounts of residue fragments added to the field. At 450–2 700 kg ha−1, the residual film reduced the plant height and stem diameter of maize and significantly reduced the shoot biomass of harvested maize by 11–19%. The average yields of maize and potato over the seven years decreased, but there were almost no significant statistical differences among the treatments. These results provide important data for a comprehensive scientific understanding of the effects of residual film on soil and crops in dryland farming systems.

In order to investigate the mechanism of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) synthesis in Lactobacillus plantarum, a strain of Lactobacillus plantarum YZH81 with high EPS production was selected for the study of extracellular polysaccharide synthesis gene cluster (cps). After whole-genome sequencing, alignment and analysis, it was determined that the genome of YZH81 contained two cps gene clusters, one of which (cps1) had yet to be identified in terms of structure and function, while the other (cps2) was highly homologous to other reported Lactobacillus plantarum strains. The conclusions in this study, the cps1 gene cluster resulted 52.28% reduction in EPS production, accelerated self-aggregation, reduced adhesion and 32.42% reduction in the ability to generated 1,1-diphenyl-2-trinitrophenylhydrazine (DPPH·) in the YZH81∆cps1 strain compared to the wild-type YZH81 strain. The results suggested that the cps1 gene cluster of strain YZH81 was associated with EPS synthesis and established favorable conditions for further studies on the mechanism of EPS biosynthesis in this strain.

Soybean sprouts are a common culinary vegetable due to their high nutrition and tasty flavors. To select soybean varieties with excellent sprout quality, 101 soybean materials were collected from different regions of China, and eight sprout quality parameters were determined for overall evaluation. The results showed that eight sprout quality parameters achieved varying degrees of difference and correlation. Based on the principal component analysis (PCA), three principal components were extracted, with a cumulative contribution rate of 78.314%. Further, the comprehensive evaluation value (D) of soybean sprout quality was calculated by membership function analysis based on PCA, and the quality of soybean sprouts was ranked accordingly. Subsequently, a regression equation for the prediction of soybean sprout quality was established using a stepwise regression analysis, and the model showed a good prediction performance (correlation coefficient of prediction > 0.8; residual predictive deviation > 2.0). On these grounds, it was proposed that the quality of soybean sprouts could be comprehensively predicted by four parameters: hypocotyl length, edible rate, 100-seed weight, and total isoflavone content and saponin content. In conclusion, this study provides excellent varieties for soybean sprout production and new variety breeding, and it provides an important reference for the prediction of soybean sprout quality.

Objectives Despite the publication of hundreds of trials on obstetric anaesthesia, the management of these conditions remains suboptimal. We aimed to assess the quality and consistency of guidance documents for obstetric anaesthesia.Design This is a systematic review and quality assessment using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II methodology.Data sources Data sources include PubMed and Embase (8 June 2023), three Chinese academic databases, six guideline databases (7 June 2023) and Google and Google scholar (1 August 2023).Eligibility criteria We included the latest version of international and national/regional clinical practice guidelines and consensus statements for the anaesthetic management of pregnant patients during labour, non-operative delivery, operative delivery and selected aspects of perioperative monitoring, postpartum care and analgesia, published in English or Chinese.Data extraction and synthesis Two reviewers independently screened the searched items and extracted data. Four reviewers independently scored documents using AGREE II. Recommendations from all documents were tabulated and visualised in a coloured grid.Results Twenty-two guidance documents (14 clinical practice guidelines and 8 consensus statements) were included. Included documents performed well in the domains of scope and purpose (median 76.4%, IQR 69.4%–79.2%) and clarity of presentation (median 72.2%, IQR 61.1%–80.6%), but were unsatisfactory in applicability (median 21.9%, IQR 13.5%–27.1%) and editorial independence (median 47.9%, IQR 6.3%–73.2%). The majority of obstetric anaesthesia guidelines or consensus centred on different topics. Less than 30% of them specifically addressed the management of obstetric anaesthesia perioperatively. Recommendations were concordant on the perioperative preparation, and on some indications for the choice of anaesthesia method. Substantially different recommendations were provided for some items, especially for preoperative blood type and screen, and for the types and doses of neuraxial administration.Conclusions The methodological quality in guidance documents for obstetric anaesthesia necessitates enhancement. Despite numerous trials in this area, evidence gaps persist for specific clinical queries in this field. One potential approach to mitigate these challenges involves the endorsement of standardised guidance development methods and the synthesis of robust clinical evidence, aimed at diminishing difference in recommendations.

IntroductionFolliculogenesis and oligo/anovulation are common pathophysiological characteristics in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients, and it is also accompanied by gut microbiota dysbiosis. It is known that physical activity has beneficial effects on improving metabolism and promoting ovulation and menstrual cycle disorder in PCOS patients, and it can also modulate the gastrointestinal microbiota in human beings. However, the mechanism remains vague. Irisin, a novel myokine, plays a positive role in the mediating effects of physical activity.MethodsMice were randomly divided into the control group, PCOS group and PCOS+irisin group. PCOS model was induced by dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and high-fat diet (HFD). The PCOS+irisin group was given irisin 400μg/kg intraperitoneal injection every other day for 21 days. The serum sex hormones were measured by radioimmunoassay. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) Staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were conducted on ovarian tissue. The feces microbiota and metabolomic characteristics were collected by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS).ResultsIn this study, we demonstrated that irisin supplementation alleviated reproductive endocrine disorders of PCOS mice, including estrous cycle disturbance, ovarian polycystic degeneration, and hyperandrogenemia. Irisin also improved the PCOS follicles dysplasia and ovulation disorders, while it had no significant effect on the quality of oocytes. Moreover, irisin could mitigate the decreased bacteria of Odoribacter and the increased bacteria of Eisenbergiella and Dubosiella in PCOS mice model. Moreover, irisin could alleviate the increased fecal metabolites: Methallenestril and PS (22:5(4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z)/ LTE4).ConclusionThese results suggest that irisin may alleviate the status of PCOS mice model by modulating androgen-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis and fecal metabolites. Hence, our study provided evidence that irisin may be considered as a promising strategy for the treatment of PCOS.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the surgical outcomes and identify the conversion risk factors of Transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (vNOTES) in treating ovarian cyst. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 505 patients who underwent vNO TES for treating ovarian cyst from March 2019 to February 2022 wherein the patients were classified into “converted” or “nonconverted” groups. T-tests, χ2 tests, and logistic regression were used for statistical analyses. Results: There were 16 (3.17 %) surgical conversions and 12 (2.38 %) other surgical complications in our study cohort. Teratomas accounted for 56.8 % of complications in nonconverted cases and 18.8 % in converted cases. Adenocystomas were found in 12.3 % of nonconverted cases and 18.8 % of converted cases. Other types included paraovarian cysts (3.3 % and 0 %), fibroma, granulosa cell tumor, Brenner tumor (1.2 % and 0 %), corpus luteum cysts, follicular cysts (7.6 % and 6.3 %), old abscess (0.2 % and 0 %), and simple cysts (17.6 % and 12.5 %) in the nonconverted and converted groups, respectively. The converted group included more cases of endometriotic cysts (43.8 % vs 12.3 %, p = 0.023), bilateral cysts (37.5 % vs 8.2 %, p

BackgroundRight cardiac chamber remodeling is widespread in patients with connective tissue disease (CTD). Serum uric acid (SUA) is considered a potential independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and elevated SUA levels are often observed in patients with CTD. The correlation between SUA levels and right cardiac chamber remodeling remains unclear. This study investigated the association of SUA with right cardiac chamber remodeling as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance feature-tracking (CMR-FT) in CTD patients.Methods and resultsIn this cross-sectional study, a total of 104 CTD patients and 52 age- and sex-matched controls were consecutively recruited. All individuals underwent CMR imaging, and their SUA levels were recorded. The patients were divided into three subgroups based on the tertiles of SUA level in the present study. CMR-FT was used to evaluate the right atrial (RA) longitudinal strain and strain rate parameters as well as right ventricular (RV) global systolic peak strain and strain rate in longitudinal and circumferential directions for each subject. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were used to explore the association of SUA with RV and RA strain parameters. Compared with the controls, the CTD patients showed significantly higher SUA levels but a lower RV global circumferential strain (GCS) and RA phasic strain parameters (all p < 0.05), except the RA booster strain rate. RV GCS remained impaired even in CTD patients with preserved RV ejection fraction. Among subgroups, the patients in the third tertile had significantly impaired RV longitudinal strain (GLS), RV GCS, and RA reservoir and conduit strain compared with those in the first tertile (all p < 0.05). The SUA levels were negatively correlated with RV GLS and RV GCS as well as with RA reservoir and conduit strain and strain rates (the absolute values of β were 0.250 to 0.293, all P < 0.05). In the multivariable linear regression analysis, the SUA level was still an independent determinant of RA conduit strain (β = -0.212, P = 0.035) and RV GCS (β = 0.207, P = 0.019).ConclusionSUA may be a potential risk factor of right cardiac chamber remodeling and is independently associated with impaired RA conduit strain and RV GCS in CTD patients.

BackgroundHome-based exercise (HBE) represents an alternative to increase the accessibility of rehabilitation programs and relieve the burden on the health care system for people with knee osteoarthritis.ObjectivesTo summarize for the first time the effectiveness of HBE as compared to center-based exercise (CBE), both with and without HBE, on patient-reported and performance-based outcomes in people with KOA.MethodsSearches were conducted on PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus until March 10, 2023, without date or language restrictions. Randomized controlled trials investigating HBE versus CBE or HBE combined with CBE for people with KOA were eligible. The primary outcomes were patient-reported: pain, physical disability, and quality of life. The secondary outcomes were performance-based: walking ability, lower limb muscle strength, and balance function. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and quality of evidence according to the GRADE.ResultsEleven trials involving 956 participants were included. There was no difference in short-term pain (SMD, 0.22 [95% CI, −0.04 to 0.47], p = 0.09; I2 = 0%), physical disability (SMD, 0.17 [95% CI, −0.19 to 0.54], p = 0.35; I2 = 0%), walking ability (SMD, −0.21 [95% CI, −0.64 to 0.22], p = 0.33; I2 = 35%) and lower limb muscle strength (SMD, −0.24 [95% CI, −0.88 to 0.41], p = 0.47; I2 = 69%) between HBE and CBE. HBE combined with CBE has better benefits compared with HBE alone in short-term pain (SMD, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.60 to 1.17], p

Various strategies have been explored to mitigate the impact of harmful algal blooms (HABs). While chemical and physical methods have traditionally been employed to regulate microalgal growth, their prolonged adverse effects on the ecosystem are a cause for concern. Recognizing the integral role of macroalgae within the ecosystem, this study reveals the anti-algal properties of solvent-based extracts derived from the red macroalga Pyropia haitanensis as a means of preventing microalgal blooms. In our investigation, we initially assessed the growth-inhibitory effects of methanol and acetone extracts from P. haitanensis on five microalgae known to contribute to bloom-formation. Significantly reduced growth was observed in all microalgal species when inoculated with both methanol and acetone extracts. Further analysis revealed the effectiveness of the methanol extract (ME), and further fractionation with petroleum ether (PE), ethyl acetate (EA), and n-butanol (NB) for testing against Skeletonema costatum and Pseudo-nitzschia pungens. The methanol fractions exhibited strong inhibition, resulting in the complete elimination of both microalgae after 96 hours of exposure to PE, EA, and NB extracts. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis of the ME and its solvent fractions identified 49 confirmed compounds. These compounds are likely potential contributors to the observed inhibition of microalgal growth. In conclusion, our findings suggest that solvent extracts from P. haitanensis possess substantial potential for the control of HABs, offering a promising avenue for further research and application in ecosystem management.

Abstract Ephrin receptor A2 (EphA2) plays dual functions in tumorigenesis through ligand-independent tumor promotion or ligand-dependent tumor suppression. However, the regulation of EphA2 tumor-suppressive function remains unclear. Here, we showed that RNF5 interacts with EphA2 and induces its ubiquitination and degradation, decreases the stability and cell surface distribution of EphA2 and alters the balance of its phosphorylation at S897 and Y772. In turn, RNF5 inhibition decreases ERK phosphorylation and increases p53 expression through an increase in the EphA2 level in HER2-negative breast cancer cells. Consequently, RNF5 inhibition increases the adhesion and decreases the migration of HER2-negative breast cancer cells, and RNF5 silencing suppresses the growth of xenograft tumors derived from ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer cells with increased EphA2 expression and altered phosphorylation. RNF5 expression is inversely correlated with EphA2 expression in breast cancers, and a high EphA2 level accompanied by a low RNF5 level is related to better survival in patients with ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancers. These studies revealed that RNF5 negatively regulates EphA2 properties and suppresses its tumor-suppressive function in HER2-negative breast cancers.

Abstract All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), the retinoic acid receptors (RARs) agonist, regulates cell growth, differentiation, immunity, and survival. We report that ATRA-treatment repressed cancer growth in syngeneic immunocompetent, but not immunodeficient mice. The tumor microenvironment was implicated: CD8+ T cell depletion antagonized ATRA’s anti-tumorigenic effects in syngeneic mice. ATRA-treatment with checkpoint blockade did not cooperatively inhibit murine lung cancer growth. To augment ATRA’s anti-tumorigenicity without promoting its pro-tumorigenic potential, an RARγ agonist (IRX4647) was used since it regulates T cell biology. Treating with IRX4647 in combination with an immune checkpoint (anti-PD-L1) inhibitor resulted in a statistically significant suppression of syngeneic 344SQ lung cancers in mice—a model known for its resistance to checkpoints and characterized by low basal T cell and PD-L1 expression. This combined treatment notably elevated CD4+ T-cell presence within the tumor microenvironment and increased IL-5 and IL-13 tumor levels, while simultaneously decreasing CD38 in the tumor stroma. IL-5 and/or IL-13 treatments increased CD4+ more than CD8+ T-cells in mice. IRX4647-treatment did not appreciably affect in vitro lung cancer growth, despite RARγ expression. Pharmacokinetic analysis found IRX4647 plasma half-life was 6 h in mice. Yet, RARα antagonist (IRX6696)-treatment with anti-PD-L1 did not repress syngeneic lung cancer growth. Together, these findings provide a rationale for a clinical trial investigating an RARγ agonist to augment check point blockade response in cancers.

We conducted a questionnaire survey on heritage site managers to obtain the relationship between post disaster recovery and reconstruction strategies, protected area planning and value objects, and used the information model method to analyze and show the degree difference of this relationship. The research shows that i) cognitive correlation has been built between restoration strategies and all value objects, and the correlative identification complexities are different for different specific strategies. The specific strategy for “scenic spot restoration and industrial development” has the highest level of complexity of correlation identification, ii) the degrees of uncertainty for the value objects to be identified in the restoration strategies are different. The Tibetan villages are identified as the objects with the highest certainty and the lowest fluctuation, iii) the restoration strategies have responded the overall orders of the value object identification in the protected areas. The restoration strategy has more uncertainty and complexity fluctuation than identification of protected areas. Finally, the paper puts forward suggestions for sustainable restoration and development of the heritage sites, including strengthening the correlation between village evolution and heritage values, restoring the systematization of strategies, and planning the connection with overall value objects.

Fermented soybeans are popular among many for their rich soy sauce-like aroma. However, the precise composition of this aroma remains elusive, with key aroma compounds unidentified. In this study, we screened the candidate genes ilvA and serA in BJ3-2 based on previous multi-omics data, and we constructed three mutant strains, BJ3-2-ΔserA, BJ3-2-ΔilvA, and BJ3-2-ΔserAΔilvA, using homologous recombination to fermented soybeans with varying intensities of soy sauce-like aroma. Our objective was to analyze samples that exhibited different aroma intensities resulting from the fermented soybeans of BJ3-2 and its mutant strains, thereby exploring the key flavor compounds influencing soy sauce-like aroma as well analyzing the effects of ilvA and serA on soy sauce-like aroma. We employed quantitative descriptive sensory analysis (QDA), gas chromatography–olfactometry–mass spectrometry (GC-O-MS), relative odor activity value analysis (rOAV), principal component analysis (PCA), orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), and partial least squares regression analysis (PLSR). QDA revealed the predominant soy sauce-like aroma profile of roasted and smoky aromas. GC-MS detected 99 volatile components, predominantly pyrazines and ketones, across the four samples, each showing varying concentrations. Based on rOAV (>1) and GC-O, 12 compounds emerged as primary contributors to soy sauce-like aroma. PCA and OPLS-DA were instrumental in discerning aroma differences among the samples, identifying five compounds with VIP > 1 as key marker compounds influencing soy sauce-like aroma intensity levels. Differential analyses of key aroma compounds indicated that the mutant strains of ilvA and serA affected soy sauce-like aroma mainly by affecting pyrazines. PLSR analysis indicated that roasted and smoky aromas were the two most important sensory attributes of soy sauce-like aroma, with pyrazines associated with roasted aroma and guaiacol associated with smoky aroma. In addition, substances positively correlated with the intensity of soy sauce-like aroma were verified by additional experiments. This study enhances our understanding of the characteristic flavor compounds in soy sauce-like aroma ferments, provides new perspectives for analyzing the molecular mechanisms of soy sauce-like aroma formation, and provides a theoretical framework for the targeted enhancement of soy sauce-like aroma in various foods.

Prolonged exposure to high-intensity noise environments in urban rail transit systems can negatively impact the health and work efficiency of drivers. However, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the noise pattern and, therefore, effective mitigation strategies. To control the noise in urban rail transit systems, this study proposes a comprehensive noise assessment framework, including metrics such as average sound pressure level, peak sound pressure level, percentile sound pressure levels, dynamic range, main frequency component, and cumulative time energy to evaluate the noise characteristics. We also employ a density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) method to identify the noise patterns with the evaluation of their hazard to urban rail transit drivers. The results have revealed that: (1) The equivalent continuous sound pressure level (Leq) in the cab of Lanzhou Urban Rail Transit Line 1 averages 87.12 dB, with a standard deviation of 8.52 dB, which reveals a high noise intensity with substantial fluctuations. (2) Ten noise patterns were identified, with frequencies varying from 14.47 Hz to 69.70 Hz and Leq varying from 60 dB to 115 dB. (3) The major noise sources from these patterns are inferred to be the train’s mechanical systems, wheel–rail interaction, aerodynamic effects, and braking systems. Combined with the noise patterns and urban rail transit’s operation environment, this study proposes tailored mitigation strategies for applications aimed at protecting drivers’ hearing health, enhancing work efficiency, and ensuring driving safety.

This study aims to investigate the impact of different environmental conditions on the stability of RGB images in ecological sites and the anti-interference properties of vegetation images on different underlying surfaces. Three vegetation types including sugarcane, forest, and karst (mainly shrub and grass) are used to segment green vegetation using machine learning, and the RGB vegetation indices are calculated using color channel data. Then, The effect of weather, season, and time period on different types of vegetation indices are studied, which provide technical references for quantitative application of RGB image data. The results indicate the following: ① For the vegetation with high canopy density, the SVM machine learning segmentation algorithm used in this study is more applicable, as the RGB image segmentation accuracy of sugarcane and forest is significantly higher than karst. For different weather conditions, the segmentation accuracy of sugarcane and forest RGB images on sunny or cloudy days is higher than that on rainy or foggy days, but the effect on sparse vegetation in karst is not obvious. Additionally, the segmentation accuracy of different vegetation types has a small increase with NLM filter processing. ② Change in weather, season, and time can affect the stability of the image index. For different weather conditions, the vegetation indices of sugarcane and forest images on sunny or cloudy days are the more stable (ExGR, outlier proportion between 3.25% and 5.63%), while on rainy and foggy days they are less stable (ExR, outlier proportion between 17.60% and 21.59%). For different seasons, the stability of the sugarcane and karst image index obtained in spring is better (ExG, outlier proportion between 3.32% and 6.88%), while the stability of the forest image index obtained in summer is better (ExR, outlier proportion = 10.32%). For different times within a day, the sugarcane image index obtained in the morning is more stable (ExGR, outlier proportion = 4.62%), while the stability of the forest image index obtained in the afternoon is better (ExGR, outlier proportion = 9.24%). ③ The stability of the sugarcane image index is more affected by weather and season. For forest, the influence of the weather is more obvious than the season. But, for karst, the effect of season on the vegetation index is greater than that of weather.

We report a 2.8 μm all-fiber high-power and high-energy gain-switched Er3+:ZBLAN laser based on dielectric fiber mirror and fiber-tip protection. The fiber pigtail mirror, specifically designed for dichroic operation (i.e., anti-reflection at 976 nm pump wavelength and high-reflection around 2.8 μm laser wavelength), shows high damage density of >10 MW/cm2. An anti-reflection protective film is coated on the input tip of Er3+:ZBLAN fiber and an AlF3 endcap is spliced to the output tip of Er3+:ZBLAN fiber for mitigating the fiber-tip photodegradation and high-power catastrophic failure at 2.8 μm. The compact all-fiber cavity is formed by efficiently connecting the Er3+:ZBLAN fiber with dielectric fiber mirror using the standard FC/PC fiber adaptor. When the 976 nm pump operates in pulsed regime, the all-fiber mid-infrared gain-switched laser can be attained with two states of single-pulse and pulse-burst output. The extracted maximum pulse energy is 4.8 μJ in the single-pulse state, and the shortest pulse width is 426 ns. The pulse-burst mode can generate a maximum average power of 5.291 W and burst energy of 264.55 μJ. This work may offer a promising way to realize the low-cost, all-fiber, high-power and high-energy gain-switched laser at MIR wavelengths.

The continued advancement of organic electronic technology will establish organic electrochemical transistors as pivotal instruments in the field of biological detection. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art technology and advancements in the use of organic electrochemical transistors as biosensors. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the diverse modification materials, methods, and mechanisms utilized in organic electrochemical transistor-structured biosensors (OETBs) for the selective detection of a wide range of target analyte encompassing electroactive species, electro-inactive species, and cancer cells. Recent advances in OETBs for use in sensing systems and wearable and implantable applications are also briefly introduced. Finally, challenges and opportunities in the field are discussed.

Rhododendron plants have ornamental, commercial, and medicinal value to people. Flavonoids are one of the components used in traditional remedies, and Rhododendron plants are found to be rich in flavonoids. Flavonoids can reduce the risk of human disease and participate in the regulation of antioxidant defense systems in response to heat stress. Rhododendron prefers cold climates, so the relatively high temperatures of cities affect the extraction of medicinal ingredients and limit the cultivation environment. Recent studies found that the exogenous application of calcium acts to alleviate heat stress in Rhododendron plants. This study explores the mechanism by which exogenous calcium alleviates heat stress and the role of flavonoids in regulating the antioxidative system in Rhododendron × pulchrum Sweet using combined transcriptomic and metabolomic methods. The activities of peroxidase, catalase and superoxide enzymes were found to increase in response to heat stress and external CaCl2 in the leaves of R. × pulchrum. In total, 433 metabolic components and 370 DEGs were identified as being differentially expressed in response to heat stress and external calcium chloride (CaCl2) in the leaves of R. × pulchrum. These results illustrate that heat stress induces oxidative stress and that external CaCl2 can enhance the heat tolerance of Rhododendron. Flavonoid compounds are responsible for the antioxidant scavenging of reactive oxygen species in R. × pulchrum leaves exposed to heat stress and external calcium.

Abstract Background To evaluate the effect of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) on female sexual function. Methods: The trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100050887, 07/09/2021). In this prospective cohort study, we prospectively analyzed the data of the female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire of 130 patients who underwent laparoscopy in Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital due to gynecological benign diseases. The patients were assigned to the vNOTES group and the control group (underwent traditional laparoscopic surgery or transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery). Results: There were 4 cases dropout in the vNOTES group and 2 cases dropout in the control group. There was no difference in the ages (31.70 ± 5.02 vs. 30.37 ± 5.74, P>0.05), BMI (body mass index, 21.76 ± 3.16 vs. 23.30 ± 2.69, P>0.05), Education level, surgical types, and FSFI scores (22.31 ± 2.25 vs. 21.55 ± 3.38) between the vNOTES group and the control group before surgery. There was no difference in FSFI scores six months postoperation between the vNOTES group and the control group (21.61 ± 3.22 vs. 20.99 ± 3.26, P>0.05), and there was no difference in FSFI scores pre- and six months postoperation in vNOTES group (21.61 ± 3.22 vs. 22.31 ± 2.25, P>0.05). The time to start sexual life after surgery in the vNOTES group was later than that in the control group (39.34 ± 0.71 d versus 37.86 ± 0.69 d, P

Abstract Background Dermatophyte caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes is a global disease with a growing prevalence that is difficult to cure. Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. is an edible and medicinal plant. Ancient books of Traditional Chinese Medicine and modern pharmacological studies have shown that it has potential anti-fungi activity. This is the first study to explore the inhibitory effects of compounds from P. frutescens on Trichophyton mentagrophytes and its mechanism of action coupled with the antifungal activity in vitro from network pharmacology, transcriptomics and proteomics. Methods Five most potential inhibitory compounds against fungi in P. frutescens was screened with network pharmacology. The antifungal activity of the candidates was detected by a broth microdilution method. Through in vitro antifungal assays screening the compound with efficacy, transcriptomics and proteomics were performed to investigate the pharmacological mechanisms of the effective compound against Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Furthermore, the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to verify the expression of genes. Results The top five potential antifungal compounds in P. frutescens screened by network pharmacology are: progesterone, luteolin, apigenin, ursolic acid and rosmarinic acid. In vitro antifungal assays showed that rosmarinic acid had a favorable inhibitory effect on fungi. The transcriptomic findings exhibited that the differentially expressed genes of fungus after rosmarinic acid intervention were mainly enriched in the carbon metabolism pathway, while the proteomic findings suggested that rosmarinic acid could inhibit the average growth of Trichophyton mentagrophytes by interfering with the expression of enolase in the glycolysis pathway. Comparison of real-time PCR and transcriptomics results showed that the trends of gene expression in glycolytic, carbon metabolism and glutathione metabolic pathways were identical. The binding modes and interactions between rosmarinic acid and enolase were preliminary explored by molecular docking analysis. Conclusion The key findings of the present study manifested that rosmarinic acid, a medicinal compound extracted from P. frutescens, had pharmacological activity in inhibiting the growth of Trichophyton mentagrophytes by affecting its enolase expression to reduce metabolism. Rosmarinic acid is expected to be an efficacious product for prevention and treatment of dermatophytes.

Mitochondria are ubiquitous in eukaryotic cells. Normal maintenance of function is the premise and basis for various physiological activities. Mitochondrial dysfunction is commonly observed in a wide range of pathological conditions, such as neurodegenerative, metabolic, cardiovascular, and various diseases related to foetal growth and development. The placenta is a highly energy-dependent organ that acts as an intermediary between the mother and foetus and functions to maintain foetal growth and development. Recent studies have demonstrated that mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with placental disorders. Defects in mitochondrial quality control mechanisms may lead to preeclampsia and foetal growth restriction. In this review, we address the quality control mechanisms of mitochondria and the relevant pathologies of mitochondrial dysfunction in placenta-related diseases, such as preeclampsia and foetal growth restriction. This review also investigates the relation between mitochondrial dysfunction and placental disorders.

Beta-lactam antibiotics (BLAs) are not only important in animal husbandry but are also unavoidable contaminants in milk. The gradual accumulation of BLAs in the human body due to increased milk intake can cause direct harm to human health. Therefore, developing selective and sensitive methods for rapid BLA detection is essential. In this study, a specific electrochemical receptor sensor based on penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) was established. PBP1a and PBP2x, which have high affinity and specificity for the six BLAs, were used as the receptors and their performance was compared. The sensor was fabricated by sequentially immobilizing a graphene/chitosan nanocomposite, penicillin G (PENG), and Nafion on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode using a convenient casting approach. The mechanism of the electrochemical receptor sensor involved direct competitive inhibition of the binding of the graphene/chitosan/PENG composite to the PBPs by the free BLAs in the solution. The PENG-PBPs complex resisted the interaction between [Fe(CN)6]3−/4− ions and the glassy carbon electrode, thereby decreasing the current signal of the BLAs. The BLA concentration was quantified using differential pulse voltammetry mode. The graphene/PENG/chitosan/Nafion-based electrochemical assay demonstrated good selectivity against other antibiotic residues frequently detected in milk. Under optimized conditions, the detection limits of this method ranged from 0.24 to 1.39 ng·mL−1, which are much lower than the maximum residue limits set by China and the EU. Moreover, the sensor showed a satisfactory recovery rate of 98.8 ± 5.8%–103.2 ± 7.1%. The total analysis time involved only one incubation step, and the entire analysis could be completed within 35 min.

The rapid development of urbanization and urban land-use intensification have substantially reduced biodiversity and ecosystem services. Wildflower mixtures can improve regional biodiversity and habitat heterogeneity by establishing flower-rich habitats and providing multiple ecosystem services, which were considered one of the most favorable landscape ecological restoration technologies approaches. How to design wildflower mixtures to achieve optimal eco-efficiency is currently unclear. In China, wildflower mixture is one of landscape architecture’s most popular methods for establishing herbaceous vegetation. Currently, there is a notable lack of systematic research regarding species selection, and concerns have been raised about the design approach that introduces convergent species, which may potentially become invasive. This research integrated a wildflower mixture design database currently published in China and discovered community composition and construction methods. Based on this, we compared the species composition of wildflower mixtures in China and assessed the potential invasive species. Additionally, we attempted to explore the distribution over time and space, their potential invasion risk, and the main factors influencing species selection through modeling approaches. The results highlighted that species selection of mixture converged with different spatiotemporal attributes and design intentions, despite designed wildflower mixtures in China having gradually increased in recent years. A large number of species from North America and Europe have been causing an increase in potential invasion annually. Furthermore, the research confirmed that the convergence contributes to the homogenization of urban landscape vegetation communities, which leads to biological invasion from the design level, and revealed the possibility that ineffective ecological restoration techniques may cause adverse environmental impacts.