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Abstract. Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor (LILR) B4 (also known as ILT3/CD85k) is an immune checkpoint protein that is highly expressed in solid tumors and hematological malignancies and plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of cancer. LILRB4 is highly expressed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and this phenotype is associated with adverse patient outcomes. Its differential expression in tumors compared to normal tissues, its presence in tumor stem cells, and its multifaceted roles in tumorigenesis position it as a promising therapeutic target in AML. Currently, several immunotherapies targeting LILRB4 are undergoing clinical trials. This review summarizes advancements made in the study of LILRB4 in AML, focusing on its structure, ligands, expression, and significance in normal tissues and AML; its protumorigenic effects and mechanisms in AML; and the application of LILRB4-targeted therapies in AML. These insights highlight the potential advantages of LILRB4 as an immunotherapeutic target in the context of AML.

Abstract Carboxy-terminal domain small phosphatase like 2 (CTDSPL2), one of the haloacid dehalogenase phosphatases, is associated with several diseases including cancer. However, the role of CTDSPL2 and its regulatory mechanism in lung cancer remain unclear. Here, we aimed to explore the clinical implications, biological functions, and molecular mechanisms of CTDSPL2 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). CTDSPL2 was identified as a novel target of the tumor suppressor miR-193a-3p. CTDSPL2 expression was significantly elevated in NSCLC tissues. Database analysis showed that CTDSPL2 expression was negatively correlated with patient survival. Depletion of CTDSPL2 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of NSCLC cells, as well as tumor growth and metastasis in mouse models. Additionally, silencing of CTDSPL2 enhanced CD4+ T cell infiltration into tumors. Moreover, CTDSPL2 interacted with JAK1 and positively regulated JAK1 expression. Subsequent experiments indicated that CTDSPL2 activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through the upregulation of JAK1, thereby promoting the progression of NSCLC. In conclusion, CTDSPL2 may play an oncogenic role in NSCLC progression by activating PI3K/AKT signaling via JAK1. These findings may provide a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC.

Abstract High-voltage transmission lines are susceptible targets for lightning strikes. It is an interesting topic how the trip event of transmission line is related to the area, location, and intensity of thunderstorms occurring at that time and that place. Based on total lightning observation containing intra-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning, and transmission line trip information from relaying system of power system, 8 thunderstorms associated with the lightning strike trip of local transmission lines were selected in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. Analysis was conducted on the total lightning activity of each thunderstorm process, including the characteristics of total lightning counts and density, followed by the variations in total lightning activity before and after lightning strike trips. Further, our investigation encompassed the spatial and temporal evolution, charge structure, and kinematic parameters of thunderstorms. It was revealed that almost all lightning trips in this area emerged in close proximity to bodies of water, accompanied by a discernible reduction in thunderstorm cloud altitude during line trip occurrences. This paper aims to enhance the understanding of total lightning and thunderstorm activity behavior, thereby providing valuable insights for lightning disaster prevention and mitigation in the meteorological bureau and power system.

This study aims to elucidate the mechanism underlying the reduced jejunal injury in PEDV-challenged piglets after oral administration of puerarin and poria cocos polysaccharides combination (PR + PCP, PP). Results showed that the PEDV challenge caused damage to the small intestine by injuring the villi and inducing redox imbalance which exacerbated the diarrhea of piglets, while PP administration trended to reduce the PEDV infection-caused diarrhea in piglets by alleviating the jejunal injury and restoring the redox balance. Further proteomics and qPCR results showed that PP could significantly reduce the decline of the protein and mRNA levels of gene SDSL inhibiting cellular autophagy in PEDV-infected jejunum of piglets. The immunofluorescence results showed that the autophagy levels of the jejunum expressing low SDSL caused by PEDV infection in the PEDV group were significantly higher than those of the jejunum expressing higher levels of SDSL caused by PP administration in the PP + PEDV group. These results showed that PEDV infection caused jejunal excessive autophagy in piglets by reducing the expression level of SDSL. However, the restoration of the expression level of SDSL significantly reduced the PEDV infection-caused jejunal excessive autophagy in piglets, leading to a decrease in jejunal injury. Therefore, PP administration can alleviate the excessive autophagy-caused jejunal injury by increasing SDSL levels in PEDV-infected piglets. This result suggests that PP can be used as a potential feed additive to prevent PEDV infection.

The damage of rock joints or fractures upon shear includes the surface damage occurring at the contact asperities and the damage beneath the shear surface within the host rock. The latter is commonly known as off-fault damage and has been much less investigated than the surface damage. The main contribution of this study is to compare the results of direct shear tests conducted on saw-cut planar joints and tension-induced rough granite joints under normal stresses ranging from 1 MPa to 50 MPa. The shear-induced off-fault damages are quantified and compared with the optical microscope observation. Our results clearly show that the planar joints slip stably under all the normal stresses except under 50 MPa, where some local fractures and regular stick-slip occur towards the end of the test. Both post-peak stress drop and stick-slip occur for all the rough joints. The residual shear strength envelopes for the rough joints and the peak shear strength envelope for the planar joints almost overlap. The root mean square (RMS) of asperity height for the rough joints decreases while it increases for the planar joint after shear, and a larger normal stress usually leads to a more significant decrease or increase in RMS. Besides, the extent of off-fault damage (or damage zone) increases with normal stress for both planar and rough joints, and it is restricted to a very thin layer with limited micro-cracks beneath the planar joint surface. In comparison, the thickness of the damage zone for the rough joints is about an order of magnitude larger than that of the planar joints, and the coalesced micro-cracks are generally inclined to the shear direction with acute angles. The findings obtained in this study contribute to a better understanding on the frictional behavior and damage characteristics of rock joints or fractures with different roughness.

Abstract Medium-sized-ring compounds have been recognized as challenging synthetic targets in organic chemistry. Especially, the difficulty of synthesis will be augmented if an E-olefin moiety is embedded. Recently, photo-induced dearomative cycloaddition reactions that proceed via energy transfer mechanism have witnessed significant developments and provided powerful methods for the organic transformations that are not easily realized under thermal conditions. Herein, we report an intramolecular dearomative [5 + 4] cycloaddition of naphthalene-derived vinylcyclopropanes under visible-light irradiation and a proper triplet photosensitizer. The reaction affords dearomatized polycyclic molecules possessing a nine-membered-ring with an E-olefin moiety in good yields (up to 86%) and stereoselectivity (up to 8.8/1 E/Z). Detailed computational studies reveal the origin behind the favorable formation of the thermodynamically less stable isomers. Diverse derivations of the dearomatized products have also been demonstrated.

Abstract Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multifaceted metabolic disorder, whose global prevalence is rapidly increasing. Acetyl CoA carboxylases 1 (ACACA) is the key enzyme that controls the rate of fatty acid synthesis. Hence, it is crucial to investigate the function of ACACA in regulating lipid metabolism during the progress of NAFLD. Methods Firstly, a fatty liver mouse model was established by high-fat diet at 2nd, 12th, and 20th week, respectively. Then, transcriptome analysis was performed on liver samples to investigate the underlying mechanisms and identify the target gene of the occurrence and development of NAFLD. Afterwards, lipid accumulation cell model was induced by palmitic acid and oleic acid (PA ∶ OA molar ratio = 1∶2). Next, we silenced the target gene ACACA using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) or the CMS-121 inhibitor. Subsequently, experiments were performed comprehensively the effects of inhibiting ACACA on mitochondrial function and lipid metabolism, as well as on AMPK- PPARα- CPT1A pathway. Results This data indicated that the pathways significantly affected by high-fat diet include lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function. Then, we focus on the target gene ACACA. In addition, the in vitro results suggested that inhibiting of ACACA in vitro reduces intracellular lipid accumulation, specifically the content of TG and TC. Furthermore, ACACA ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction and alleviate oxidative stress, including MMP complete, ATP and ROS production, as well as the expression of mitochondria respiratory chain complex (MRC) and AMPK proteins. Meanwhile, ACACA inhibition enhances lipid metabolism through activation of PPARα/CPT1A, leading to a decrease in intracellular lipid accumulation. Conclusion Targeting ACACA can reduce lipid accumulation by mediating the AMPK- PPARα- CPT1A pathway, which regulates lipid metabolism and alleviates mitochondrial dysfunction.

The Asia-Pacific region has gradually become a driver of global economic growth, with economic integration agreements (EIAs) and climate distance playing increasingly important roles in the agri-food trade in the 21st century. The recent signing and implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) have garnered global attention. This study examines the roles of different types of regional trade agreements and climate distance in the agri-food trade in the Asia-Pacific region and constructs a trade system involving 19 member countries of the RCEP and the CPTPP by analyzing panel data from 2003 to 2022. The Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood estimator is employed to estimate an augmented gravity model that considers domestic trade flows, endogeneity issues, reverse causality, globalization effects, long-term effects, and overlapping membership. The empirical findings demonstrate that partial scope agreements and EIAs significantly promote bilateral agri-food trade, whereas temperature distance acts as a barrier and precipitation distance has a negligible effect. Overlapping members of the RCEP and CPTPP exhibit cumulative positive effects three years after the implementation of EIAs, resulting in an approximately 52.1% increase in the bilateral agri-food trade after ten years. Additionally, overlapping membership mitigates the long-term negative impact of temperature distance. This study reveals that the seven overlapping members of the RCEP and CPTPP in the Asia-Pacific region achieve greater benefits more quickly through EIAs, suggesting that overlapping membership can be an effective adaptive strategy for dealing with climate change.

Summary: This study systematically reviewed the application of large language models (LLMs) in medicine, analyzing 550 selected studies from a vast literature search. LLMs like ChatGPT transformed healthcare by enhancing diagnostics, medical writing, education, and project management. They assisted in drafting medical documents, creating training simulations, and streamlining research processes. Despite their growing utility in assisted diagnosis and improving doctor-patient communication, challenges persisted, including limitations in contextual understanding and the risk of over-reliance. The surge in LLM-related research indicated a focus on medical writing, diagnostics, and patient communication, but highlighted the need for careful integration, considering validation, ethical concerns, and the balance with traditional medical practice. Future research directions suggested a focus on multimodal LLMs, deeper algorithmic understanding, and ensuring responsible, effective use in healthcare.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of different residual meniscus volume on the biomechanics of tibiofemoral joint after discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) surgery by finite element analysis. Methods A knee joint model was established based on CT and MRI imaging data. The DLM model was divided into five regions according to conventional meniscectomy, with volumes of 15%, 15%, 15%, 15%, 15%, and 40% for each region. Additionally, the DLM model was divided into anterior and posterior parts to obtain ten regions. The DLM was resected according to the design scheme, and together with the intact discoid meniscus, a total of 15 models were obtained. Finite element analysis was conducted to assess shear and pressure trends on the knee joint. Results The study observed significant changes in peak shear stress and compressive stress in the lateral meniscus and lateral femur cartilage. As the meniscus volume decreased, there was an increase in these stresses. Specifically, when the meniscus volume reduced to 40%, there was a sharp increase in shear stress (302%) and compressive stress (152%) on the meniscus, as well as shear stress (195%) and compressive stress (157%) on the lateral femur cartilage. Furthermore, the model grouping results showed that preserving a higher frontal volume in the meniscus model provided better biomechanical advantages. Conclusion The use of finite element analysis has demonstrated that preserving more than 55% of the meniscus volume is necessary to prevent a significant increase in joint stress, which can potentially lead to joint degeneration. Additionally, it is crucial to preserve the front volume of the DLM in order to achieve improved knee biomechanical outcomes.

In this study, a homogeneous polysaccharide fraction was extracted and purified from the rhizome of Polygonatum sibiricum, its physicochemical properties and protective effect against oxidative damage were analyzed, and its potential protective mechanism was initially explored. The homogeneous polysaccharide (PSP) was obtained by water extraction, alcohol precipitation, and separation on DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-100 columns. The phenol sulfate method, m-hydroxybiphenyl method, high performance gel permeation chromatography and Fourier infrared spectroscopy were used to analyze the physicochemical properties of PSP. The in vivo antioxidant effects of PSP were investigated in a mouse model of D-galactose induced oxidative damage. The results showed that the carbohydrate content of PSP was 94.42%±14.73% and its molecular weight was 5566.41 Da. PSP was also found to contain β-type furan or pyran fructose, as well as longer branched chains with more branches. Compared with the model group, the levels of SOD, GSH-Px and T-AOC significantly increased (P

Abstract The Wide-Lane (WL) and Narrow-Lane (NL) Uncalibrated Phase Delays (UPDs) are the prerequisites in the traditional Precise Point Positioning (PPP) Ambiguity Resolution (AR). As the generation mechanism of various biases becomes more complex, we systematically studied the impact factors of four satellite systems WL and NL UPDs from the perspective of parameter estimation. Approximately 100 stations in a global network are used to generate the UPDs. The results of different satellite systems show that the estimation method, update frequency, and solution mode need to be treated differently. Two regional networks with different receiver types, JAVAD, and Trimble, are also adopted. The results indicate that the receiver-dependent bias has an influence on UPD estimation. Also, the hardware delays can inhibit the satellite-side UPDs if these receiver-specific errors are not fully deployed or even misused. Furthermore, the temporal stability and residual distribution of NL UPDs are significantly enhanced by utilizing a regional network, with the improvements by over 68% and 40%, respectively. It demonstrates that different network scales exhibit the different implication of unmodeled errors, and the unmodeled errors cannot be ignored and must be handled in UPD estimation.

Abstract Background Stressors across the lifespan are associated with the onset of major depressive disorder (MDD) and increased severity of depressive symptoms. However, it is unclear how lifetime stressors are related to specific MDD subtypes. The present study aims to examine the relationships between MDD subtypes and stressors experienced across the lifespan while considering potential confounders. Methods Data analyzed were from the Zone d’Épidémiologie Psychiatrique du Sud-Ouest de Montréal (N = 1351). Lifetime stressors included childhood maltreatment, child–parent bonding, and stressful life events. Person-centered analyses were used to identify the clusters/profiles of the studied variables and multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships between stressors and identified MDD subtypes. Intersectional analysis was applied to further examine how distal stressors interact with proximal stressors to impact the development of MDD subtypes. Results There was a significant association between proximal stressors and melancholic depression, whereas severe atypical depression and moderate depression were only associated with some domains of stressful life events. Additionally, those with severe atypical depression and melancholic depression were more likely to be exposed to distal stressors such as childhood maltreatment. The combinations of distal and proximal stressors predicted a greater risk of all MDD subtypes except for moderate atypical depression. Conclusions MDD was characterized into four subtypes based on depressive symptoms and severity. Different stressor profiles were linked with various MDD subtypes. More specific interventions and clinical management are called to provide precision treatment for MDD patients with unique stressor profiles and MDD subtypes.

Abstract Background Traumatic aortic pseudoaneurysms (PSAs) classified as grade III aortic injuries are conventionally repaired as procedural emergencies, generally within 24 h of arrival. These patients typically require adequate resuscitation and treatment of multiple traumatic injuries, which complicate optimal management strategies of aortic PSAs. This study reviews the experience of an Asian single center to evaluate the efficacy and safety of delayed (> 24 h) endovascular repair for PSAs. Methods Twenty-seven patients with blunt aortic injury (BTAI) were brought to our institution between February 2014 and May 2020. Patients with other grades of aortic injuries (grade I, II, or IV) were excluded from the study, and the remaining patients with grade III aortic injuries were placed into the early ( 24 h) groups according to the timing of repair. Medical records and follow-up computed tomography (CT) scans were reviewed to document the outcomes of the procedures. Primary outcomes included mortality and complications. Results During this period, there were 14 patients (13 males and 1 females) with aortic PSAs, and each patient received thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Of these 14 patients, 1 underwent emergent TEVAR, and 13 underwent delayed repair (median 7 days, range, 3–14 days). Over a period of 8 years, the overall survival of our series was 100%. No paraplegia, stroke, ischemia of limb or other serious procedural complications were observed during the duration of follow-up. Conclusion The experience of our center indicates that delayed repair for selected PSAs could be permissible, which enables a repair in more controlled circumstances.

Summary: Even though the discovery of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) has fundamentally shifted our understanding of biomass degradation, most of the current studies focused on their roles in carbohydrate oxidation. However, no study demonstrated if LPMO could directly participate to the process of lignin degradation in lignin-degrading microbes. This study showed that LPMO could synergize with lignin-degrading enzymes for efficient lignin degradation in white-rot fungi. The transcriptomics analysis of fungi Irpex lacteus and Dichomitus squalens during their lignocellulosic biomass degradation processes surprisingly highlighted that LPMOs co-regulated with lignin-degrading enzymes, indicating their more versatile roles in the redox network. Biochemical analysis further confirmed that the purified LPMO from I. lacteus CD2 could use diverse electron donors to produce H2O2, drive Fenton reaction, and synergize with manganese peroxidase for lignin oxidation. The results thus indicated that LPMO might uniquely leverage the redox network toward dynamic and efficient degradation of different cell wall components.

Hydraulic fracturing is the main means for developing low-permeability shale reservoirs. Whether to produce artificial fractures with sufficient conductivity is an important criterion for hydraulic fracturing evaluation. The presence of clay and organic matter in the shale gives the shale creep, which makes the shale reservoir deform with time and reduces the conductivity of the fracture. In the past, the influence of shale creep was ignored in the study of artificial fracture conductivity, or the viscoelastic model was used to predict the conductivity, which represents an inaccuracy compared to the actual situation. Based on the classical Perzyna viscoplastic model, the elasto-viscoplastic constitutive model was obtained by introducing isotropic hardening, and the model parameters were obtained by fitting the triaxial compression creep experimental data under different differential stresses. Then, the constitutive model was programmed in a software platform using the return mapping algorithm, and the model was verified through the numerical simulation of the triaxial creep experiment. Then, the creep calculation results of the viscoplastic constitutive model and the power law model were compared. Finally, the viscoplastic constitutive model was applied to the simulation of the long-term conductivity of the fracture to study the influence of creep on the fracture width, and sensitivity analysis of the influencing factors of the fracture width was carried out. The results show that the numerical calculation results of the viscoplastic model were in agreement with the experimental data. The decrease in fracture width caused by pore pressure dissipation and reservoir creep after 72 h accounts for 32.07% of the total fracture width decrease.

The psychrotroph Pseudomonas fragi D12, which grew strongly under low temperatures, was screened from tundra soil collected from the permanent alpine zone on Changbai Mountain. To mine the genes critical for cold tolerance and to investigate the cold-adaptation mechanism, whole-genome sequencing, comparative genomic analysis, and transcriptome analysis were performed with P. fragi. A total of 124 potential cold adaptation genes were identified, including nineteen unique cold-adaptive genes were detected in the genome of P. fragi D12. Three unique genes associated with pili protein were significantly upregulated at different degrees of low temperature, which may be the key to the strong low-temperature adaptability of P. fragi D12. Meanwhile, we were pleasantly surprised to find that Pseudomonas fragi D12 exhibited different cold-adaptation mechanisms under different temperature changes. When the temperature declined from 30°C to 15°C, the response included maintenance of the fluidity of cell membranes, increased production of extracellular polymers, elevation in the content of compatibility solutes, and reduction in the content of reactive oxygen species, thereby providing a stable metabolic environment. When the temperature decreased from 15°C to 4°C, the response mainly included increases in the expression of molecular chaperones and transcription factors, enabling the bacteria to restore normal transcription and translation. The response mechanism of P. fragi D12 to low-temperature exposure is discussed. The results provide new ideas for the cold-adaptation mechanism of cold-tolerant microorganisms.

In flowering plants, fertilization triggers auxin synthesis in the endosperm to promote seed and fruit development. Here the authors show that an MADS-box transcription factor AGL62 is required to activate auxin synthesis in the endosperms of Fragaria vesca, a diploid strawberry, and Arabidopsis.

In order to ensure the reliable operation of oil transmission stations and improve the lightning protection performance of their power supply lines, the lightning accidents occurred to power supply lines in the Anshun Station in the southern mountainous area of China during 2018 to 2020 were counted by category, and comprehensive analysis was performed for the lightning accidents. On this basis, the poles and towers requiring transformation for lightning protection were determined by considering the four influencing factors of line corridor, i.e., ground flash density, topography, grounding resistance of poles and towers, and lightning withstand level. In view of the lightning protection measures of improving the insulation level, reducing the grounding resistance, and installing lightning arresters, analysis was conducted for the poles and towers one by one, and transformation measures for differentiated lightning protection were put forward on the basis of ensuring the lightning protection capability, with reference to the on-site construction of the lines and the economic conditions of line transformation. Upon completion of the line transformation, the trip rate and equipment damage rate caused by lightning are significantly reduced, which proves the scientificity and effectiveness of the transformation plan.

Abstract The present study aims to explore the trends and patterns of life satisfaction in Canada from 2009 to 2018 and to examine changes in the associations between social support and life satisfaction over time. Data were from ten annual Canadian Community Health Surveys (CCHS). Each survey represents 97% of the Canadian population. Point estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of life satisfaction were calculated at the population level. Generalized linear regression was used to explore the relationship between life satisfaction and social support both nationally and in different population subgroups. The annual life satisfaction score gradually increased both at national and provincial levels from 2009 to 2018. Individuals who were women, aged between 12 and 19 years, living in rural areas, were most satisfied with their lives. There was a positive correlation between social support and life satisfaction for the provinces and the study years for which information on social support was available. Our findings suggest strengthening social support could be a public health target for promoting greater life satisfaction. Timely availability and analysis of life satisfaction and social support data could better inform policy and promote wellbeing at a population level.

[O ii ] emission maps obtained with the Keck Cosmic Web Imager are presented for four galaxies centered in cooling X-ray cluster atmospheres. Nebular emission extending over tens of kiloparsecs is found in systems covering a broad range of atmospheric cooling rates, cluster masses, and dynamical states. A262's central galaxy hosts a kiloparsec-scale disk. The nebular gas in RX J0820.9+0752 is offset and redshifted with respect to the central galaxy by 10–20 kpc and 150 km s ^−1 , respectively. The nebular gases in PKS 0745−191 and A1835 are being churned to higher velocity dispersion by X-ray bubbles and jets. The churned gas is enveloped by larger-scale, lower-velocity-dispersion (quiescent) nebular emission. The mean line-of-sight speeds of the churned gas, quiescent gas, and the central galaxy each differ by up to ∼150 km s ^−1 ; nebular speeds upward of 800 km s ^−1 are found. Gases with outwardly rising speeds upward of several hundred kilometers per second are consistent with being advected behind and being lifted by the rising bubbles. The peculiar motion between the galaxy, nebular gas, and perhaps the hot atmosphere from which it presumably condensed is affecting the bubble dynamics and may strongly affect thermally unstable cooling, the dispersal of jet energy, and the angular momentum of gas accreting onto the galaxies and their nuclear black holes.

Based on the NTRU trapdoor used in NIST’s Falcon, a signcryption scheme following the sign-then-encrypt paradigm is constructed. The existing partitioning technique based on Waters hash over the lattice can not complete the security reduction in the standard model for the signature part due to the “partiality” of the pre-image generated with the NTRU trapdoor. To address this, a variant of Waters hash over small integers is proposed and, the probability of the successful reduction is analyzed. The resulting signcryption achieves existential unforgeability under the adaptive chosen-message attacks. By utilizing the uniqueness of the secret and the noise in an NTRU instance, the tag used in encryption is eliminated. Furthermore, a method to construct tamper-sensitive lattice public key encryption is proposed. This approach implants the ciphertext-sensitive information into the lattice public key encryption and binds it to the encrypted information. The malleability to the public key ciphertext triggers the change of the message–signature pair so that the IND-CCA2 security of the entire ciphertext can be guaranteed by the signature for the message. Thanks to the rational design and the efficiency of the NTRU trapdoor, the computational overhead of the proposed scheme is reduced significantly compared to the existing lattice-based signcryption scheme, reaching orders of magnitude improvement in efficiency. The experiment shows that the proposed scheme is efficient.

Due to the effect of climate changes and human activities, groundwater over-exploitation and aquifer depletion have become global issues of concern. Artificial recharge of groundwater through a river has been paid more attention among a variety of artificial intervention measures. It is found that not all rivers or river reaches are suitable for artificial recharge of groundwater owing to the limitations of recharge potential by infiltration and storage capacity of the vadose zone. At present, there is still a lack of widely accepted suitability assessment methods. In this study, the Yongding River in the Beijing Plain section and the underlying aquifer are taken as the study area and the case study is carried out. Moreover, the measured data are used to verify the results. The suitability assessment model (LMBGITSC model) constructed by the index system method includes eight indexes: land use types of riverbed, sediment types of riverbed, channel width, channel topographic slope, medium types of the vadose zone, thickness of the vadose zone, specific yield of the vadose zone and horizontal permeability of the vadose zone. The results show that the suitability of groundwater recharge in the Yongding River changes from good degree to medium degree along the river flow direction (except the reaches carried out anti-seepage engineering), presenting a "step-type" evolution law. The proposed method is of good applicability and can also provide reference for similar regions.

(1) Background: As a natural carbohydrate, sialic acid (SA) is helpful for brain development, cognitive ability, and the nervous system, but there are few reports about the effect of SA on Alzheimer’s disease (AD). (2) Method: The present study evaluated the effect of SA on cognitive ability, neuronal activity, Aβ formation, and tau hyperphosphorylation in a double transgenic AD (2×Tg-AD) mice model. The 2×Tg-AD mice were randomly divided into four groups: the AD control group, 17 mg/kg SA-treated AD group, 84 mg/kg SA-treated AD group, and 420 mg/kg SA-treated AD group. Mice from all four groups were fed to 7 months of age for the behavioral test and to 9 months of age for the pathological factors investigation. (3) Results: In the Morris water maze, the escape latency significantly decreased on the fifth day in the SA-treated groups. The number of rearing and crossing times in the open field test also increased significantly, compared with the control group. SA treatment significantly reduced amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) and nerve fibers and increased the number of Nissl bodies in the brain of AD mice. (4) Conclusions: SA reduced the neuron damage by reducing Aβ and inhibited tau protein hyperphosphorylation, which improved the cognitive ability and mobility of AD mice.

The C2H2 zinc finger gene cucoid establishes anterior-posterior (AP) polarity in the early embryo of culicine mosquitoes. This gene is unrelated to genes that establish embryo polarity in other fly species (Diptera), such as the homeobox gene bicoid, which serves this function in the traditional model organism Drosophila melanogaster. The cucoid gene is a conserved single copy gene across lower dipterans but nothing is known about its function in other species, and its evolution in higher dipterans, including Drosophila, is unresolved. We found that cucoid is a member of the ZAD-containing C2H2 zinc finger (ZAD-ZNF) gene family and is orthologous to 27 of the 91 members of this family in D. melanogaster, including M1BP, ranshi, ouib, nom, zaf1, odj, Nnk, trem, Zif, and eighteen uncharacterized genes. Available knowledge of the functions of cucoid orthologs in Drosophila melanogaster suggest that the progenitor of this lineage specific expansion may have played a role in regulating chromatin. We also describe many aspects of the gene duplication history of cucoid in the brachyceran lineage of D. melanogaster, thereby providing a framework for predicting potential redundancies among these genes in D. melanogaster.

This study aimed to explore the latent profiles across perceived parental marital conflict and family cohesion, as well as the transition patterns within-person and within-sample profiles over time. We conducted a 1-year follow-up study with a sample of first-year high school students from China. A total of 453 participants were included in the present analysis. We identified the following three latent profiles: high parental conflict and poor family cohesion profile, moderate parental conflict and family cohesion profile, and low parental conflict and good family cohesion profile. Female students and those who not lived with parents together were more likely to perceive more parental marital conflict and less cohesion in the family. The majority of students with high transition probability remained in the same profiles over time. The counts of latent transition pattern also demonstrated that students remaining in the primary profile over time accounted for the large proportion. The present study advances empirical bases for confirming the family system theory’s notion that the family is not static, but dynamic. Findings provide the optimal timing of interventions toward healthy transition.

Abstract Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) is generally added to the improve pregnancy outcomes of hormone replacement therapy cycles among patients with adenomyosis. We aimed to investigate whether adding GnRH-a can result in better pregnancy outcomes. This retrospective analysis included 341 patients with adenomyosis who underwent frozen embryo transfer (FET) after in vitro fertilization (IVF). The control group was treated only with hormone replacement therapy cycles to prepare the endometrium, and GnRH-a was added to the study group before hormone administration to adjust the menstruation cycle. Based on the similar baseline values and embryological data, there was no significant difference in the clinical pregnancy rates (40.63% vs. 42.54%, P = 0.72) and live birth rates (23.75% vs. 23.75%, P = 0.74) of the control and study groups. Other secondary outcomes, including the rates of clinical miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, preterm birth and term birth, were not significantly different between the two groups. Compared with the hormone replacement therapy cycle alone, GnRH-a downregulation based on a hormone replacement therapy cycle may not increase the rate of clinical pregnancy or live birth of IVF-ET with FET among infertile patients with adenomyosis.

Abstract Background Metacaspases are multifunctional proteins found in plants, fungi and protozoa, and are involved in processes such as insoluble protein aggregate clearance and cell proliferation. Our previous study demonstrated that metacaspase-1 (MCA1) contributes to parasite apoptosis in Toxoplasma gondii. Deletion of MCA1 from T. gondii has no effect on the growth and virulence of the parasites. Three metacaspases were identified in the ToxoDB Toxoplasma Informatics Resource, and the function of metacaspase-2 (MCA2) and metacaspase-3 (MCA3) has not been demonstrated. Methods In this study, we constructed MCA1, MCA2 and MCA1/MCA2 transgenic strains from RHΔku80 (Δku80), including overexpressing strains and knockout strains, to clarify the function of MCA1 and MCA2 of T. gondii. Results MCA1 and MCA2 were distributed in the cytoplasm with punctuated aggregation, and part of the punctuated aggregation of MCA1 and MCA2 was localized on the inner membrane complex of T. gondii. The proliferation of the MCA1/MCA2 double-knockout strain was significantly reduced; however, the two single knockout strains (MCA1 knockout strain and MCA2 knockout strain) exhibited normal growth rates as compared to the parental strain, Δku80. In addition, endodyogeny was impaired in the tachyzoites whose MCA1 and MCA2 were both deleted due to multiple nuclei and abnormal expression of IMC1. We further found that IMC1 of the double-knockout strain was detergent-soluble, indicating that MCA1 and MCA2 are associated with IMC1 maturation. Compared to the parental Δku80 strain, the double-knockout strain was more readily induced from tachyzoites to bradyzoites in vitro. Furthermore, the double-knockout strain was less pathogenic in mice and was able to develop bradyzoites in the brain, which formed cysts and established chronic infection. Conclusion MCA1 and MCA2 are important factors which participate in IMC1 maturation and endodyogeny of T. gondii. The double-knockout strain has slower proliferation and was able to develop bradyzoites both in vitro and in vivo. Graphic abstract

In recent years, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted increasing attention in cancer therapy, because they can enhance the anticancer efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), photoacoustic imaging, and drug delivery. Owing to stable chemical adjustability, MOFs can be used as carriers to provide excellent loading sites and protection for small-molecule drugs. In addition, MOFs can be used to combine with a variety of therapeutic drugs, including chemotherapeutics drugs, photosensitizers, and radiosensitizers, to efficiently deliver drugs to tumor tissue and achieve desired treatment. There is hardly any review regarding the application of MOFs in hepatocellular carcinoma. In this review, the design, structure, and potential applications of MOFs as nanoparticulate systems in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma are presented.Systematic Review Registration: website, identifier registration number

Catalytic amide bond-forming methods is important because they could potentially address the existing limitations of classical methods using superstoichiometric activating reagents. Here the authors show an Umpolung amidation reaction of carboxylic acids with nitroarenes and nitroalkanes enabled by FeI2, P(V)/P(III) and photoredox catalysis that avoids the production of byproducts.

Interaction between surface water and groundwater has always been a hot topic in hydrogeological researches. Previous studies focused on the hyporheic zone of rivers, but the hypolentic zone of lakes with relatively static water bodies was seldom examined. The Baiyangdian Wetlands is taken as a pilot area in this study, and a monitoring system of water table and temperature is set up. The vertical interaction fluxes between surface water and groundwater is quantified by using a heat tracing method. According to the Darcy’s Law, the vertical coefficient of permeability is calculated inversely. Based on the heat tracing method and the Darcy’s Law, a way of quantifying vertical interaction between surface water and groundwater is summarized. The results show that infiltration from surface water to groundwater around the banks of the Baiyangdian Wetlands is dominant in the interaction procedure. The total infiltration velocity from surface water to groundwater during the monitoring period ranges from 0.2 to 1.1 cm/d, and the vertical hydraulic conductivity, from 0.038 to 0.912 m/d. The conclusions in this paper can provide data support for strategy of water diversion and protection of eco-environment in the Baiyangdian Wetlands.

Improving the growth and immune responses are important to enhance the production efficiency of cultured juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. Here, 300 sea cucumbers (2.31 ± 0.01 g) were fed artificial diets with four concentrations of dietary chromium picolinate (Cr-Pic) supplementation (0, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 mg/kg) for 56 days. The growth performance, digestive enzyme activity (lipase, amylase and pepsin), expressions of growth-related genes (MAPK-7 and c-myc), and immune and antioxidant capacity were subsequently assessed. The present study found that final body weight, body weight gain and specific growth rate first increased and then declined with the increase of dietary Cr-Pic supplementation, while the highest values were observed in group 0.6 mg/kg. Consistently, significantly greater feed intake and significantly lower feed conversion ratio occurred in group 0.6 mg/kg than those in control group. Significantly better activities of lipase and amylase, and significantly higher expressions of genes MAPK-7 and c-myc were detected in group 0.6 mg/kg than those in control group. These results suggest that dietary Cr-Pic supplementation greatly improves the food utilization and expressions of growth-related genes, which consequently promotes the growth of sea cucumbers. Further, the activities of immune enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and lysozyme) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity) in group 0.6 mg/kg were all significantly higher than those in control group. This indicates that dietary Cr-Pic supplementation significantly facilitates the immune and antioxidant capacity of sea cucumbers. In conclusion, we suggest dietary Cr-Pic supplementation with 0.6 mg/kg is the optimal level contributing to the growth and non-specific immune responses in the juvenile sea cucumber.

Compared to many other countries, China offers fewer pediatric vaccines. Future attempts to add mandatory vaccines may run counter to parents’ preferences for shot-limiting. The aim of this study was to assess Chinese parents’ preferences and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for programmatic attributes of vaccination services. Parents of young infants ≤3 months of age presenting at immunization clinics in Shanghai, China, in 2017 completed a discrete choice experiment (DCE) on vaccination program attributes: waiting time at the clinic, number of shots before 7 months, number of injections per visit, cost per visit, and location of the shot. We estimated preference utilities and WTP using logistic regression. In total, 590 completed the DCE. Caregivers expressed greater utility for less waiting time, fewer office visits, lower cost of vaccines, and fewer injections co-administered. Over the course of their child’s first 6 months, parents were willing to pay 113 RMB ($17) to avoid an additional 10 minutes of waiting at each appointment (95% confidence interval [CI]: 213, 929), 474 RMB ($70) to avoid an additional office visit (95% CI: 241, 707), and 703 RMB ($104) to avoid an additional injection at each appointment (95% CI: 337, 1068). As China expands its list of publicly funded vaccines, public health officials will have to counter Chinese parents’ strong preferences for limiting the total number of office visits and the number of injections administered at each visit, potentially through the use of combination vaccines.