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Abstract Introduction Cognitive dysfunction is believed to be among the core features of Bipolar Depression(BD-D). However, its evaluation and available treatments are limited. Here, we conducted a longitudinal follow-up clinical trial using the THINC-it tool to evaluate temporal sensitivity to change over time in cognitive function among patients with bipolar depression from a Chinese cohort. It is helpful to verify whether the scale can continuously and reliably measure cognitive function in different time points and reduce the measurement error caused by time factors. Hope our findings could provide insights into the significance of the THINC-it tool as an iterative clinical cognitive evaluation tool. Methods A total of 120 patients with bipolar depression(40 males and 80 females, respectively) alongside 100 healthy controls(23 males and 77 females, respectively) were recruited in the study. All participants were interviewed for 8 weeks, using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) and the Young Mania Rating Scale(YMRS). The primary dependent measure was the previously validated THINC-it tool, followed by psychometric analysis. Results Repeated measures of the THINC-it tool at baseline, one-week, and eight-week periods were conducted after controlling for age, gender, and education effects. Results from the general linear model revealed no significant time differences in variances(P > 0.05). Similarly, adjusting for confounding factors (age, gender, education, and HAMD-17 scores), results from the longitudinal analysis showed that there were no significant differences in cognitive impairment over time(P > 0.05). However, we found significant differences between BD-D and Healthy Control(HC) groups with regards to Spotter, Codebreaker, Trails, Perceived Deficits Questionnaire for Depression-5-items(PDQ-5-D), and THINC-it Total composite(P

Abstract This study investigated the influence of different temperatures (35℃ High temperature and average indoor ambient temperature of 25℃) and lactic acid bacterial additives (Lactiplantibacillus plantarym, Lentilactobacillus buchneri, or a combination of Lactiplantibacillus plantarym and Lentilactobacillus buchneri) on the chemical composition, fermentation quality, and microbial community of alfalfa silage feed. After a 60-day ensiling period, a significant interaction between temperature and additives was observed, affecting the dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of the silage feed (p < 0.05). Temperature had a highly significant impact on the pH value of the silage feed (p 0.05), while the inoculation of additives had a significant effect on lactic acid, acetic acid, and butyric acid (p > 0.05). As for the dynamic changes of microbial community after silage, the addition of three kinds of bacteria increased the abundance of lactobacillus. Among all treatment groups, the treatment group using complex bacteria had the best fermentation effect, indicating that the effect of complex lactic acid bacteria was better than that of single bacteria in high temperature fermentation. In summary, this study explained the effects of different temperatures and lactic acid bacterial additives on alfalfa fermentation quality and microbial community, and improved our understanding of the mechanism of alfalfa related silage at high temperatures.

Abstract Currently, the relationship between axial rotation of the vertebrae and bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT) remains controversial. The aim of this study is to quantitatively assess the effect of vertebral rotation on volumetric bone mineral density (v-BMD) and areal bone mineral density (a-BMD), further to propose the corrected strategies. To achieve this, a phantom, which was rotated from 0° to 25° in 5° increments, was utilized. Bone mineral content (BMC), a-BMD, v-BMD, and projected area (p-AREA) were measured. The Kruskal–Wallis non-parametric test or one-way ANOVA was used to examine the differences in variables between the different groups. The Pearson and Spearman correlation was used to test the relationships between quantitative parameters and rotated angles. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between angles and quantitative parameters. The findings indicate that, as the angle increased, a-BMD and v-BMD decreased (P

Penaeus vannamei is an important shrimp species that is farmed globally, owing to its fast growth and good environmental adaptability. However, vibriosis outbreaks, such as acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease and translucent post-larva disease, have become a considerable constraint on the development of the shrimp aquaculture industry globally in recent years. Due to the negative consequences associated with the use of antibiotics to control bacterial diseases, alternative technologies, such as improving shrimp immunity, the nutrition level of shrimp diets, and the ecological environment of shrimp ponds by using probiotics, have been developed. Owing to the limitations related to the sourcing and cost of fish meal, a large amount of vegetable protein is often used as a fish meal substitute in shrimp artificial feed, which is not only difficult for the shrimp to digest and absorb but can also lead to nutritional antagonism. In order to improve the health status of aquaculture animals by providing high-quality feed, the development and optimization of fermented feed have received extensive attention. Probiotics in fermented feed can produce exogenous cellulase, protease, amylase, and other digestive enzymes in the digestive tract of farmed animals, which can improve the feed utilization rate, promote growth performance, and enhance the immunity of shrimp.In this study, in order to explore the application effects of shrimp feed fermented by different probiotic bacteria, probiotic strains, including Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Lactobacillus acidophilus, were used individually and in combination for the fermentation of commercial feed and fed to shrimp (P. vannamei) for 28 days. The survival, body length growth, specific growth, and feed conversion rates of the shrimp were analyzed, and the density of Vibrio in vitro and in vivo, as well as relevant immune indicators in the serum, were analyzed. Furthermore, ammonia nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen concentrations in the water column were compared between the groups.The results demonstrated that the survival rates of shrimp in the fermented feed groups of B. subtilis, L. acidophilus, and complex bacteria were 8.54%, 8.54%, and 9.76%, respectively, which were significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The body length growth rates in the B. subtilis and L. acidophilus groups were significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05), while the feed conversion rate in the L. acidophilus group was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the specific growth rate of shrimp between the experimental groups and the control group (P > 0.05). Fermented feed can affect the composition of bacteria in the hepatopancreas of shrimp. The density of Vibrio in the hepatopancreas of shrimp in each experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group on days 14 and 21 of the experiment (P < 0.05). The feeding of different fermented feed in the short term (within 14 days) had no significant effect on reducing the total density of Vibrio in the water. However, feeding B. subtilis and L. acidophilus fermented feed significantly reduced the Vibrio density in the water body on day 21 (P < 0.05). In addition, the serum total protein concentration in each experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The activities of serum peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and phenoloxidase in the L. acidophilus fermented feed group increased significantly compared with those of the other experimental and control groups (P < 0.05). The activities of serum peroxidase and phenoloxidase in the serum of shrimp fed S. cerevisiae fermented feed were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). Complex bacteria-fermented feed could significantly increase the activities of serum lysozyme, peroxidase, and phenoloxidase (P < 0.05). However, the activity of the detected immune-related enzymes in the B. subtilis group did not increase significantly compared with that of the control group (P > 0.05), except for the activity of total serum protein, which was higher than that of the control group. The results also revealed that the concentration of ammonia nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen in the water group of each experimental group at the end of the experiment was significantly lower compared to that of the control group. S. cerevisiae and L. acidophilus groups had the best effect in reducing the concentration of ammonia nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen in the water, respectively.In summary, shrimp feed fermented by B. subtilis, S. cerevisiae, and L. acidophilus singly or in combination could improve the survival rate, growth performance, and immunity of shrimp to a degree, and reduce the concentration of ammonia nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen in aquaculture water. Moreover, L. acidophilus shows great potential as a candidate probiotic for shrimp feed fermentation. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the development of shrimp fermentation feed, which can improve the feed utilization and survival rates of shrimp in aquaculture.

The traditional evaporator of water source heat pump system is easy to freeze when the water source temperature is too low in winter. A novel ice source heat pump system is proposed, which can use low temperature surface water to supply heat to buildings. One of the key problems for safe transportation is velocity range of ice slurry in ice outlet pipeline. In order to study the critical flow velocity of ice slurry in the pipe, an Euler model of horizontal straight pipe and 90° elbow pipe were established by Fluent software. The influence of five factors on the critical flow velocity of two kinds of pipes, including initial ice packing fraction, ice particle size, pipe diameter, length of straight pipe and radius curvature of elbow was studied. It found that the initial ice content should be controlled from 10% to 15%. The inlet flow rate was 20% higher than the critical flow rate under the most unfavorable condition. Ice particle size was less than 0.2 mm. The total length of ice discharge pipeline was less than 50 m. Curvature radius of the bend should be met the minimum requirements of the specification of the pipe used.

Abstract Background Nurses' nursing competence and nutritional care literacy directly affect patients' health and safety. Self-directed learning ability was pervasive throughout the entire work process of nursing work and was the basis for improving both. However, there are few studies has explored the mechanism from the perspective of nutritional care literacy. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between self-directed learning ability and nursing competence, and to explore the mediating role of nutritional care literacy between self-directed learning and nursing competence among clinical nurses in China. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 805 clinical nurses recruited from seven general hospitals in Hunan Province, China, between January 25 and March 6, 2022. The self-directed learning ability, nutritional care literacy and nursing competence of nurses were evaluated through investigation. A total of 799 questionnaires were received, resulting in an response rate of 99.25%.We performed an intermediary modeling to examine the mediating roles of nutritional care literacy on the relationship between self-directed learning ability and nursing competence in clinical nurses. Results Self-directed learning ability was positively correlated with nutritional care literacy (r=0.792, P

Abstract Melanoma is one of the most prevalent skin cancers, with high metastatic rates and poor prognosis. Understanding its molecular pathogenesis is crucial for improving its diagnosis and treatment. Integrated analysis of multi-omics data from 207 treatment-naïve melanomas (primary-cutaneous-melanomas (CM, n = 28), primary-acral-melanomas (AM, n = 81), primary-mucosal-melanomas (MM, n = 28), metastatic-melanomas (n = 27), and nevi (n = 43)) provides insights into melanoma biology. Multivariate analysis reveals that PRKDC amplification is a prognostic molecule for melanomas. Further proteogenomic analysis combined with functional experiments reveals that the cis-effect of PRKDC amplification may lead to tumor proliferation through the activation of DNA repair and folate metabolism pathways. Proteome-based stratification of primary melanomas defines three prognosis-related subtypes, namely, the ECM subtype, angiogenesis subtype (with a high metastasis rate), and cell proliferation subtype, which provides an essential framework for the utilization of specific targeted therapies for particular melanoma subtypes. The immune classification identifies three immune subtypes. Further analysis combined with an independent anti-PD-1 treatment cohort reveals that upregulation of the MAPK7-NFKB signaling pathway may facilitate T-cell recruitment and increase the sensitivity of patients to immunotherapy. In contrast, PRKDC may reduce the sensitivity of melanoma patients to immunotherapy by promoting DNA repair in melanoma cells. These results emphasize the clinical value of multi-omics data and have the potential to improve the understanding of melanoma treatment.

Abstract Background Social alienation refers to the state of feeling isolated, helpless, and unsatisfied due to maintaining distance from others or avoiding social interaction and activities. This phenomenon is caused by a lack of social skills, social anxiety, physical health problems, and other reasons. Older maintenance hemodialysis patients are exposed to a higher risk of social alienation. However, previous studies have been performed using the total score of the scale, which does not allow the identification of the characteristics of various patient groups with different levels of social alienation. In contrast, latent profile analysis can classify individuals into different categories based on continuous observational indicators, which improves accuracy and provides a more objective assessment by accounting for the uncertainty of variables. Given the concealed nature of social alienation and the differences in characteristics and treatment measures between different profiles, developing a predictive model for social alienation in older maintenance hemodialysis patients holds significance. Objective To explore the latent profile analysis of social alienation in older maintenance hemodialysis patients and to develop and validate a predictive model for social alienation in this population. Methods A total of 350 older maintenance hemodialysis patients were selected as the study subjects using convenience sampling. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a general information questionnaire, the Generalized Alienation Scale, and the Self-Perceived Burden Scale. Based on the results of the Generalized Alienation Scale, a latent profile analysis was performed, followed by univariate analysis and multinomial logistic regression to develop a predictive model. The effectiveness of the predictive model was evaluated in terms of its authenticity, reliability, and predictive ability. Results Three hundred nineteen valid questionnaires were collected. The social alienation of older maintenance hemodialysis patients based on latent profile analysis were divided into three profiles, which were named the low/medium/high-symptom groups, comprising 21%, 38.9%, and 40.1% of participants, respectively. Based on male, monthly social activity hours, Age-Adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index, dialysis age, and Self-Perceived Burden Scale, a predictive model of social alienation for older maintenance hemodialysis patients was developed, and the Hosmer–Lemeshow tests showed no statistical significance (P > 0.05). The model has high predictive efficiency in authenticity, reliability and predictability. Conclusion Older maintenance hemodialysis patients exhibited moderate to high levels of social alienation. The latent profile analysis based method was used to divide patients into low/medium/high-symptom profiles, and the predictive model demonstrates excellent authenticity, reliability, and predictability.

Both selenium (Se) and anthocyanins are crucial for maintaining human health. Preharvest Se treatments could promote anthocyanin biosynthesis and augment Se levels in vegetables, helping to combat Se deficiencies in dietary intake. However, it remains unknown whether preharvest Se treatment could balance growth and anthocyanin biosynthesis in plants and what the appropriate treatment concentration is. In this study, preharvest treatments with sodium selenite at varying concentrations (0, 5, 10, and 30 mg/kg) affect the growth and nutritional quality of purple leaf mustard (Brassica juncea) with abundant anthocyanins. Lower Se concentrations (≤10 mg/kg) of preharvest treatments enhanced photosynthesis, facilitated root system development, consequently elevated the biomass. Conversely, higher Se levels (≥30 mg/kg) reduced photosynthesis and biomass. The dosage-dependent effects of Se treatments were corroborated through seedlings cultivated in hydroponic conditions. Moreover, nearly all Se treatments elevated the contents of various nutrients in leaf mustard, particularly anthocyanin and organic se. These results suggest an overall enhancement in nutritional quality of leaf mustard plants. Furthermore, the application of 10 mg/kg Se significantly enhanced the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and upregulated the expression of 12 genes pivotal for anthocyanin biosynthesis, further demonstrating the fortified effects of Se enrichment on anthocyanins in leaf mustard. Low-level Se treatments resulted in heightened antioxidant activity (APX, CAT, and POD), mitigating reactive oxygen species induced by increasing Se content in tissues. The enhanced antioxidant activities may be beneficial for the normal growth of leaf mustard under Se stress conditions. In conclusion, our study demonstrated preharvest Se treatment at 10 mg/kg could balance the growth and anthocyanin biosynthesis in purple leaf mustard. This study offers valuable insights into anthocyanin fortification through Se enrichment methods in agricultural practices, ensuring that such fortification does not compromise leafy vegetable yield.

The C6orf120 gene is a novel gene whose function has not been fully defined. Previous studies have associated it with various liver pathologies, but its specific role in hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of C6orf120 in LIHC, as well as its potential biological functions. In this preliminary research, we utilized data from various databases and bioinformatics tools, including TCGA, GEO, TIMER2, HPA, GEPIA, Linkeomics, Metascape, CIBERSORT, TargetScan, DIANA-microT, RNAinter, and ENCORI, to analyze the expression patterns and mechanisms of C6orf120 in LIHC. Our bioinformatics analysis revealed that C6orf120 is upregulated in LIHC and may serve as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. The aberrant expression of C6orf120 in LIHC was further supported by clinical samples and cell lines. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the knockdown of C6orf120 in HepG2 cells significantly reduced migration capacity without affecting proliferation. Additionally, the downregulation of C6orf120 in LIHC cells appeared to inhibit endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis, which are critical in tumorigenesis and development. In conclusion, our findings suggest that C6orf120 could serve as a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for LIHC and is expected to be a prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target in the clinical management of LIHC.

Abstract Background Balanced propofol sedation is extensively used in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), but sedation-related adverse events (SRAEs) are common. In various clinical settings, the combination of dexmedetomidine with opioids and benzodiazepines has provided effective sedation with increased safety. The aim of this investigation was to compare the efficacy and safety of dexmedetomidine and propofol for sedation during ERCP. Methods Forty-one patients were randomly divided into two groups: the dexmedetomidine (DEX) group and the propofol (PRO) group. Patients in the DEX group received an additional bolus of 0.6 μg kg−1 dexmedetomidine followed by a dexmedetomidine infusion at 1.2 μg kg−1 h−1, whereas the PRO group received 1–2 mg kg−1 of propofol bolus followed by a propofol infusion at 2–3 mg kg−1 h−1. During ERCP, the primary outcome was the incidence of hypoxemia (SpO2 10 s). Other intraoperative adverse events were also recorded as secondary outcomes, including respiratory depression (respiratory rate of

Abstract The hippocampus creates a cognitive map of the external environment by encoding spatial and self-motion-related information. However, it is unclear whether hippocampal neurons could also incorporate internal cognitive states reflecting an animal’s exploratory intention, which is not driven by rewards or unexpected sensory stimuli. In this study, a subgroup of CA1 neurons was found to encode both spatial information and animals’ investigatory intentions in male mice. These neurons became active before the initiation of exploration behaviors at specific locations and were nearly silent when the same fields were traversed without exploration. Interestingly, this neuronal activity could not be explained by object features, rewards, or mismatches in environmental cues. Inhibition of the lateral entorhinal cortex decreased the activity of these cells during exploration. Our findings demonstrate that hippocampal neurons may bridge external and internal signals, indicating a potential connection between spatial representation and intentional states in the construction of internal navigation systems.

Abstract Carbon fibers (CFs) have attracted attention in the automotive, aviation, and aerospace industries. However, the coloration of CFs is challenging due to their brittleness, inertness, complexity, and time/energy-intensive processes. Herein, inspired by the naturally grown protrusive nanostructures on the green central surface of peacock back feathers, we report an in-situ self-growing strategy for developing carbon spheres (CSs) on the CFs surface to achieve color tuning. This is achieved via the dynamic growth of CSs using glucose as the feeding material. Combined with the coloration process, the interaction between CSs and CFs promotes stable interfacial forces in integrated molding. This strategy allows the coloring system to continuously vary its color in a designated manner, thereby, endowing it with satisfactory mechanical robustness, acid durability, and light fastness. We anticipate this developed approach can be potentially competitive in the color construction of CFs with multi-colors due to its low-cost manufacturing.

Objective Explainable machine learning (XAI) was introduced in this study to improve the interpretability, explainability and transparency of the modelling results. The survex package in R was used to interpret and compare two survival models – the Cox proportional hazards regression (coxph) model and the random survival forest (rfsrc) model – and to estimate overall survival (OS) and its determinants in heart failure (HF) patients using these models. Methods We selected 1159 HF patients hospitalised at the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University. First, the performance of the two models was investigated using the C-index, the integrated C/D AUC, and the integrated Brier score. Second, a global explanation of the whole cohort was carried out using the time-dependent variable importance and the partial dependence survival profile. Finally, the SurvSHAP(t) and SurvLIME plots and the ceteris paribus survival profile were used to obtain a local explanation for each patient. Results By comparing the C-index, the C/D AUC, and the Brier score, this study showed that the model performance of rfsrc was better than coxph. The global explanation of the whole cohort suggests that the C-reactive protein, lg BNP (brain natriuretic peptide), estimated glomerular filtration rate, albumin, age and blood chloride were significant unfavourable predictors of OS in HF patients in both the cxoph and the rfsrc models. By including individual patients in the model, we can provide a local explanation for each patient, which guides the clinician in individualising the patient's treatment. Conclusion By comparison, we conclude that the model performance of rfsrc is better than that of coxph. These two predictive models, which address not only the whole population but also selected patients, can help clinicians personalise the treatment of each HF patient according to his or her specific situation.

Food security and diet diversity is essential to sustainable food system all over the world. As the income of rural residents achieves great increase, the structure of food consumption and food diversification face significant change. Rural residents' food consumption and nutrients intake worth more attention. Chinese government has been striving to achieve sustainable development in rural areas. We conducted this study to explore area-level practices aiming at achieving food and nutrition security in rural China. In order to search for the change principle and main influencing factors of residents' food consumption, three rural areas in Henan Province were selected. According to the data obtained from the Henan Province Bureau of Statistics, changes in food consumption from 2012 to 2021 in three rural areas were analyzed in this study. This study led to the following remarkable results: (1) The per capita consumption of poultry, meat, sugar, and eggs of the three rural residents has increased much more than that of other food items. (2) In the three rural areas, the proportions of grains, vegetables, liquor, and edible oils have decreased overall. The proportions of other categories, such as poultry, meat, and fruits, have increased. (3) The rural residents’ per capita nutrition intake has increased remarkably. The results provide some empirical foundation for local government who need suggest that rural residents should control their intake of high-energy food, such as poultry, meat, and sugar. This study has significant policy implication for achieving sustainable goals in rural areas of China.

Background: While numerous studies have examined the influence of perineural dexamethasone on nerve block duration, its potential impact on postoperative nerve injury has not been adequately addressed. Objective: This study aims to elucidate the effect of perineural dexamethasone on nerve injury and nerve function recovery after surgery. Design: A prospective randomized double-blinded trial. Setting: The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China. The study was conducted between 14 June and 30 December 2022. Participants: Patients aged 18 – 80 years, ASA I - II, scheduled for elective orthopedic or burn and plastic surgery. Interventions: Patients were randomized to receive either perineural dexamethasone (D group) or no dexamethasone (ND group). Main outcome measures: Primary outcomes were the incidence and recovery of nerve injury. Secondary outcomes included postoperative pain scores, analgesic consumption, and adverse events. Results: Initial postoperative nerve injury rates were similar between groups (D: 30.4 %, ND: 33.3 %, P > 0.05). At 12 weeks post-discharge, significantly more patients in the ND group recovered from nerve deficits (78.8 % vs 60.3 %; OR = 2.45, 95 % CI = 1.05 – 5.72, P

Summary: Human cortical neurons (hCNs) exhibit high dendritic complexity and synaptic density, and the maturation process is greatly protracted. However, the molecular mechanism governing these specific features remains unclear. Here, we report that the hominoid-specific gene TBC1D3 promotes dendritic arborization and protracts the pace of synaptogenesis. Ablation of TBC1D3 in induced hCNs causes reduction of dendritic growth and precocious synaptic maturation. Forced expression of TBC1D3 in the mouse cortex protracts synaptic maturation while increasing dendritic growth. Mechanistically, TBC1D3 functions via interaction with MICAL1, a monooxygenase that mediates oxidation of actin filament. At the early stage of differentiation, the TBC1D3/MICAL1 interaction in the cytosol promotes dendritic growth via F-actin oxidation and enhanced actin dynamics. At late stages, TBC1D3 escorts MICAL1 into the nucleus and downregulates the expression of genes related with synaptic maturation through interaction with the chromatin remodeling factor ATRX. Thus, this study delineates the molecular mechanisms underlying human neuron development.

Hydrogenation and fluorination is a significant method to tune the electronic properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials. This paper theoretically predicted and analyzed the effects and regulatory mechanisms of surface functionalization on the electronic properties of 2D semiconductor tetrahex Boron/Aluminium Nitride (th-BN/th-AlN). The density-functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to study various trends of band structure, effective mass, and work function. The results show that the electronic properties of 2D th-BN/th-AlN are susceptible to the surface adsorption atom species and coverage. Interconversions between semiconductor and metal properties or indirect and direct band structures in 2D th-XN (X = B, Al) can be realized by hydrogen and fluorine surface adsorption. The band gap expands and the work function decreases after H atom is adsorbed on the surface, while the band gap first increases and then decreases and the work function expands after F is adsorbed on the surface. After functionalization, the effective mass of the hole will be reduced to even lighter than that of an electron in certain directions. The change mechanisms of electronic properties in th-BN/AlN is surface adsorbed atoms will cause sp2-hybridized atoms to turn into sp3-hybridized atoms, which leads to the polarized double bonds between adjacent atoms becoming a single σ bond. The chemical bond changing will result in the band near the Fermi level gradually disappearing.

Abstract Heterotopic ossification (HO), the pathological formation of bone within soft tissues such as tendon and muscle, is a notable complication resulting from severe injury. While soft tissue injury is necessary for HO development, the specific molecular pathology responsible for trauma‐induced HO remains a mystery. The previous study detected abnormal autophagy function in the early stages of tendon HO. Nevertheless, it remains to be determined whether autophagy governs the process of HO generation. Here, trauma‐induced tendon HO model is used to investigate the relationship between autophagy and tendon calcification. In the early stages of tenotomy, it is observed that autophagic flux is significantly impaired and that blocking autophagic flux promoted the development of more rampant calcification. Moreover, Gt(ROSA)26sor transgenic mouse model experiments disclosed lysosomal acid dysfunction as chief reason behind impaired autophagic flux. Stimulating V‐ATPase activity reinstated both lysosomal acid functioning and autophagic flux, thereby reversing tendon HO. This present study demonstrates that autophagy‐lysosomal dysfunction triggers HO in the stages of tendon injury, with potential therapeutic targeting implications for HO.

IntroductionFusarium oxysporum is a significant soil-borne fungal pathogen that affects over 100 plant species, including crucial crops like tomatoes, bananas, cotton, cucumbers, and watermelons, leading to wilting, yellowing, growth inhibition, and ultimately plant death. The root rot disease of A. macrocephala, caused by F. oxysporum, is one of the most serious diseases in continuous cropping, which seriously affects its sustainable development.MethodsIn this study, we explored the interaction between A. macrocephala and F. oxysporum through integrated small RNA (sRNA) and degradome sequencing to uncover the microRNA (miRNA)–mediated defense mechanisms.ResultsWe identified colonization of F. oxysporum in A. macrocephala roots on day 6. Nine sRNA samples were sequenced to examine the dynamic changes in miRNA expression in A. macrocephala infected by F. oxysporum at 0, 6, and 12 days after inoculation. Furthermore, we using degradome sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), validated four miRNA/target regulatory units involved in A. macrocephala–F. oxysporum interactions.DiscussionThis study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying A. macrocephala's early defense against F. oxysporum infection, suggesting directions for enhancing resistance against this pathogen.

Background: Previous studies have shown that serotonin and its receptors are widely distributed in mammalian reproductive tisssues and play an important role in embryonic development. However, the specific effects of the serotonergic system on embryonic arrest (EA) and the underlying mechanism require further investigation. Methods: Chorionic villi were collected from patients with EA and healthy pregnant women. Western blotting (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to detect serotonin receptor 1B (HTR1B) levels and evaluate mitochondrial function. Additionally, HTR-8/SVneo cells were transfected with an HTR1B overexpression plasmid. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR), Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), and wound healing assays were utilized to evaluate mitophagy level, cell proliferation and cell migration, respectively. Results: We discovered elevated HTR1B levels in the chorionic villi of the patients with EA compared to controls. Concurrently, we observed enhanced levels of nucleus-encoded proteins including mitofilin, succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit A (SDHA), and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 4 (COXIV), along with the mitochondrial fusion protein optic atrophy 1(OPA1), fission proteins mitochondrial fission protein 1(FIS1) and mitochondrial fission factor (MFF) in the EA group. Additionally, there was an excessive mitophagy levels in EA group. Furthermore, a notable activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway proteins including extracellular regulating kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and P38 was observed in the EA group. By overexpressing HTR1B in HTR-8/SVneo cells, we observed a significant reduction in cell proliferation and migration. HTR1B overexpression also caused an increase in levels of SDHA and FIS1, as well as an upregulation of mitophagy. Notably, the ERK inhibitor U0126 effectively mitigated these effects. Conclusion: These findings show that HTR1B influences mitochondrial homeostasis, promoting excessive mitophagy and impairing cell proliferation and migration by activating the MAPK signalling pathway during post-implantation EA. Therefore, HTR1B may serve as a potential therapeutic target for patients with EA.

Broodiness in egg-laying hens (EHs) leads to ovarian atrophy, resulting in reduced egg-laying performance. However, the ovarian regulatory mechanisms in broody hens (BCs) remain elusive. Therefore, ovaries were removed from 300-day-old BCs and EHs for RNA sequencing. Ovarian morphology and histological characteristics of the BC and EH groups were compared and analyzed. The EH group had significantly more hierarchical follicles (HFs) and small yellow follicles (SYFs) than that of the BC group. Although several secondary follicles (SFs) and primary follicles were observed in the ovaries of the EH group, only a few SFs were observed in the ovaries of the BC group. Subsequently, RNA-sequencing analysis was conducted to determine the ovarian expression profiles of the two groups. Transcriptome sequencing identified 259 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the BC and EH groups. Of the 259 DEGs, 136 were upregulated and 123 were downregulated. The DEGs were mapped to 22 gene ontology terms and 4 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways for ovarian tissue. The analysis showed that matrix metalloproteinases 11/13 (MMP11/MMP13) were enriched in the extracellular matrix. The extracellular matrix mediated by MMP13 is affected by follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, and estrogen, which are critical signaling pathways that may affect ovarian follicle development to regulate the large yellow follicle reserve process and the ovulation cycle of broody Chahua chickens. These findings indicate that understanding differences in gene expression between the ovarian tissues of BCs and EHs could serve as a valuable reference point for enhancing egg-laying performance in Chahua chickens.

Photosynaptic transistors based on amorphous oxide semiconductors are a potential device to break von Neumann bottleneck due to their low consumption and integration of sensing, storage, and computing. Till now, there has been a lack of studies on the photosynaptic transistors based on zinc oxide (ZnO) under two dimensional optoelectronic controls. In this work, through size modulation, high-performance and back-end of line compatible 16-nm-thick ZnO thin film transistors (TFTs) by atomic layer deposition is fabricated with channel length and width of 10 and 30 μm, respectively. The device possesses outstanding electrical and photoelectric properties with a subthreshold swing of 273 mV/dec, a mobility of 28.0 cm2 (V s) 1, an on/off current ratio of 3.7 × 108, high responsivity of 2.9 × 105 A/W, and photo-to-dark-current ratio of 2.3 × 1010%. Moreover, three different trends of paired-pulse ratios under different Vg are exhibited with illustrations. This work demonstrates the potential of scaled down ZnO TFTs for the artificial neural networks.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of walnut oligopeptides (WOPs) on digestive function-related gastric secretion and blood/serum indicators in rats and on small intestinal propulsion in mice.MethodsTotally 130 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and 70 male ICR mice were included in the study. The SD rats were first randomly divided into two subgroups (70 in subgroup Ⅰ and 60 in subgroup Ⅱ). The 70 SD rats of subgroup I and the 70 ICR mice were then randomly assigned into three control groups (normal, model, and whey protein control), three WOPs treatment groups (at dosages of 220, 440 and 880 mg/kg·bw), and a WOPs plus bovine collagen oligopeptides (BCOPs), with 10 rats or mice in each group respectively. The group-specific treatment was conclucted by intragastric administration of once a day for 30 days for the rats and 7 days for the mice; the grouping and treatments in 60 SD rats of subgroup II were the same as those of subgroup I, except for the absence of model control group. By the end of the treatments, the rats of subgroup I underwent pyloric ligation and collection of gastric fluid for detecting gastric acid and gastric tissue pepsin and serum gastrointestinal-associated regulatory hormones were also measured; while, the rats of subgroup II had choledochal cannula for bile collection. After 7-day′s treatment, the mice had another gavage of loperamide hydrochloride for examination of small intestinal propulsive function. ResultsCompared with those in the model control group, the free acid, total acid and total acid excretion of gastric juice were significantly higher and the pepsin activity was significantly lower in the WOPs dose groups (all P < 0.05). The content of growth inhibitory hormone in high WOPs dose (880 mg/kg·bw) group was significantly lower than that in the model control group; the rats with medium (440 mg/kg·bw) and high (880 mg/kg·bw) WOPs treatment and combined treatment of WOPs and BCOPs had significantly higher motilin, substance P, and gastrin than those in the rats of model control group. The small intestinal propulsion rates of the mice in WOPs dose groups were significantly higher than that of model control mice (P < 0.05 for all). ConclusionWOPs can exert pro-digestive effect by regulating the secretions of gastric acid, pepsin, gastrointestinal hormone in rats and by promoting gastrointestinal peristalsis in mice.

Fusarium oxysporum is a widespread soil-borne fungal pathogen that can infect various plants, causing wilt and root rot diseases. The root rot disease of Atractylodes macrocephala caused by F. oxysporum is among the most serious diseases associated with continuous cropping, significantly hindering its sustainable development. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of exogenous application of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) on silencing the F. oxysporum Tup1 gene to reduce its virulence and to evaluate its potential application in controlling root rot disease in A. macrocephala. The Tup1 gene was amplified from the F. oxysporum genome, and different lengths of Tup1-dsRNA were designed and synthesized. The uptake of dsRNA by the fungus was verified using Tup1-dsRNA labeled with fluorescein, and in vitro dsRNA treatment experiments were conducted to assess its impact on the growth and virulence of F. oxysporum. Additionally, Tup1-dsRNA was applied to the roots of A. macrocephala to evaluate its effectiveness in controlling root rot disease. The experimental results showed that F. oxysporum could effectively uptake exogenously applied Tup1-dsRNA, significantly reducing Tup1 gene expression. All lengths of Tup1-dsRNA inhibited fungal growth and caused morphological changes in the fungal hyphae. Further plant experiments and Reverse Transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis indicated that Tup1-dsRNA treatment significantly reduced the incidence of root rot disease in A. macrocephala, which was supported by the reduction in peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and proline (Pro) levels in treated root tissues. This study demonstrated that exogenous dsRNA could reduce the virulence of F. oxysporum by silencing the Tup1 gene and effectively mitigate the root rot disease it causes in A. macrocephala. The successful application of Tup1-dsRNA provided strong evidence for the potential of RNA interference (RNAi) technology in plant disease control. Future research could further optimize the design and application of dsRNA to enhance its practical value in agriculture.

RNA interference (RNAi) shows great potential in plant defense against pathogens through RNA-mediated sequence-specific gene silencing. Among RNAi-based plant protection strategies, spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) is considered a more promising approach because it utilizes the transfer of exogenous RNA between plants and microbes to silence target pathogen genes. The application of nanovesicles significantly enhances RNA stability and delivery efficiency, thereby improving the effectiveness of SIGS and further enhancing plant resistance to diseases and pathogens. This review explores the role of RNAi in plant protection, focusing on the cross-kingdom transport of small RNAs (sRNAs) via extracellular vesicles. It also explores the potential of nanotechnology to further optimize RNA-based plant protection, offering innovative tools and methods in modern plant biotechnology.

BackgroundImproving the young college students’ national identity is crucial for ensuring social stability and fostering development during public health critical events such as COVID-19. Young college students’ recognition of national COVID-19 crisis governance capabilities can influence their national identity, and online participation in public health criticalevents may serve as a crucial role in shaping this intricate relationship. To investigate this possibility, the present study established an intermediary model to examine the impact of online participation in public health critical events on young college students’ recognition of national COVID-19 crisis governance capabilities and improvement of national identity.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey study employed a convenience sampling method to investigate a total of 3041 young college students in China. The correlations between study variables were analyzed using Spearman’s rank correlation. The mediation model was established using PROCESS Model 4 with 5000 bootstrap samples in SPSS. The bias-corrected bootstrap method provided statistical efficacy and identification interval estimation.ResultsYoung college students’ recognition of national COVID-19 crisis governance capabilities (r=0.729, P

Abstract Background This study was undertaken to explore the predictive value of the advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) combined with the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) for all-cause mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). Methods and results We enrolled 1123 patients with HF admitted to our cardiology department from January 2017 to October 2021. Patients were divided into four groups, according to the median ALI and GNRI. From the analysis of the relationship between the ALI and GNRI, we concluded that there was a mild positive linear correlation (r = 0.348, p

Abstract Bassoon (BSN) is a component of a hetero-dimeric presynaptic cytomatrix protein that orchestrates neurotransmitter release with Piccolo (PCLO) from glutamatergic neurons throughout the brain. Heterozygous missense variants in BSN have previously been associated with neurodegenerative disorders in humans. We performed an exome-wide association analysis of ultra-rare variants in about 140,000 unrelated individuals from the UK Biobank to search for new genes associated with obesity. We found that rare heterozygous predicted loss of function (pLoF) variants in BSN are associated with higher BMI with p-value of 3.6e-12 in the UK biobank cohort. Additionally, we identified two individuals (one of whom has a de novo variant) with a heterozygous pLoF variant in a cohort of early onset or extreme obesity and report the clinical histories of these individuals with non-syndromic obesity with no history of neurobehavioral or cognitive disability. The BMI association was replicated in the All of Us whole genome sequencing data. Heterozygous pLoF BSN variants constitute a new etiology for obesity.

Abstract The immunonutritional status has important effects on outcomes for cancer patients. Albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) and the prognostic nutrition index (PNI) are often used to assess the immunonutritional status of cancer patients. However, the clinical significance of these factors in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of the AGR and PNI in CRC. We reviewed the clinical data of 511 patients with CRC in two hospitals. Data from one institution was used as the training cohort. The optimal cutoff values for AGR and PNI in the training cohort were 1.4 and 48.65, respectively. Patients in both the low AGR and low PNI groups had poor overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), while those in the low AGR-low PNI group had the lowest OS and PFS. Multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative AGR, preoperative PNI, gross type, and TNM stage were independent prognostic factors influencing OS in patients with CRC. Preoperative AGR, preoperative PNI, and TNM stage were independently associated with PFS in patients with CRC. According to the results of multivariate analysis in the training cohort, we developed the nomograms for OS and PFS and performed internal and external validation, which showed good prediction ability of the nomograms. In conclusion, preoperative AGR and PNI can be used as effective indicators to predict survival for patients with CRC. AGR and PNI may help develop effective adjuvant-therapy schedules.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are vesicle-like structures composed of lipid bilayers, which can be divided into apoptotic bodies, microbubbles and exosomes. They are nanoparticles used for the exchange of information between cells. EVs contains many substances, including protein. With the development of proteomics, we know more about the types and functions of protein in vesicles. The potential functions of proteins in the envelope are mainly discussed, including cell wall construction, fungal virulence transmission, signal transmission and redox reactions, which provides a new perspective for studying the interaction mechanism between fungi and other organisms. The fungal protein markers of EVs are also summarized, which provided an exploration tool for studying the mechanism of vesicles. In addition, the possible role of immune protein in the EVs in the treatment of human diseases is also discussed, which provides new ideas for vaccine development.

As the most abundant group of mammals, rodents possess a very rich ecotype, which makes them ideal for studying the relationship between diet and host gut microecology. Zokors are specialized herbivorous rodents adapted to living underground. Unlike more generalized herbivorous rodents, they feed on the underground parts of grassland plants. There are two species of the genus Myospalax in the Eurasian steppes in China: one is Myospalax psilurus, which inhabits meadow grasslands and forest edge areas, and the other is M. aspalax, which inhabits typical grassland areas. How are the dietary choices of the two species adapted to long-term subterranean life, and what is the relationship of this diet with gut microbes? Are there unique indicator genera for their gut microbial communities? Relevant factors, such as the ability of both species to degrade cellulose, are not yet clear. In this study, we analyzed the gut bacterial communities and diet compositions of two species of zokors using 16S amplicon technology combined with macro-barcoding technology. We found that the diversity of gut microbial bacterial communities in M. psilurus was significantly higher than that in M. aspalax, and that the two species of zokors possessed different gut bacterial indicator genera. Differences in the feeding habits of the two species of zokors stem from food composition rather than diversity. Based on the results of Mantel analyses, the gut bacterial community of M. aspalax showed a significant positive correlation with the creeping-rooted type food, and there was a complementary relationship between the axis root-type-food- and the rhizome-type-food-dominated (containing bulb types and tuberous root types) food groups. Functional prediction based on KEGG found that M. psilurus possessed a stronger degradation ability in the same cellulose degradation pathway. Neutral modeling results show that the gut flora of the M. psilurus has a wider ecological niche compared to that of the M. aspalax. This provides a new perspective for understanding how rodents living underground in grassland areas respond to changes in food conditions.

The skin, serving as the body’s primary defense against external elements, plays a crucial role in protecting the body from infections and injuries, as well as maintaining overall homeostasis. Skin aging, a common manifestation of the aging process, involves the gradual deterioration of its normal structure and repair mechanisms. Addressing the issue of skin aging is increasingly imperative. Multiple pieces of evidence indicate the potential anti-aging effects of exogenous nucleotides (NTs) through their ability to inhibit oxidative stress and inflammation. This study aims to investigate whether exogenous NTs can slow down skin aging and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. To achieve this objective, senescence-accelerated mouse prone-8 (SAMP8) mice were utilized and randomly allocated into Aging, NTs-low, NTs-middle, and NTs-high groups, while senescence-accelerated mouse resistant 1 (SAMR1) mice were employed as the control group. After 9 months of NT intervention, dorsal skin samples were collected to analyze the pathology and assess the presence and expression of substances related to the aging process. The findings indicated that a high-dose NT treatment led to a significant increase in the thickness of the epithelium and dermal layers, as well as Hyp content (p < 0.05). Additionally, it was observed that low-dose NT intervention resulted in improved aging, as evidenced by a significant decrease in p16 expression (p < 0.05). Importantly, the administration of high doses of NTs could improve, in some ways, mitochondrial function, which is known to reduce oxidative stress and promote ATP and NAD+ production significantly. These observed effects may be linked to NT-induced autophagy, as evidenced by the decreased expression of p62 and increased expression of LC3BI/II in the intervention groups. Furthermore, NTs were found to upregulate pAMPK and PGC-1α expression while inhibiting the phosphorylation of p38MAPK, JNK, and ERK, suggesting that autophagy may be regulated through the AMPK and MAPK pathways. Therefore, the potential induction of autophagy by NTs may offer benefits in addressing skin aging through the activation of the AMPK pathway and the inhibition of the MAPK pathway.

Objective: PEMF is an emerging technique in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) due to its potential improvement of movement speed. The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic profiles of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) in an SH-SY5Y cell model of PD. Methods: The SH-SY5Y cell model of PD was induced by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC‒MS)-based untargeted metabolomics was performed to examine changes in the PD cell model with or without PEMF exposure. We conducted KEGG pathway enrichment analysis to explore the potentially related pathways of the differentially expressed metabolites. Results: A total of 275 metabolites were annotated, and 27 significantly different metabolites were found between the PEMF treatment and control groups (VIP >1, P

Abstract Environmental stressors and disturbances can cause changes in an ecosystem's community structure, which can be reflected in its functional diversity. As grazing intensity increases, this causes changes in the environment that inevitably lead to changes in the community structure, which can especially affect rodents due to their sensitivity to the environment. The effects of grazing prohibition and overgrazing on the functional diversity of desert rodent communities in Alxa were studied in April, July, and October of 2018–2020. The trap‐day method was used to study rodent communities in disturbed habitats. Five functional traits were selected and quantified: nutrition, life history, physiology, morphology, and activity rhythm. The results showed that: (1) The species composition of rodent communities in the Alxa Desert in spring and autumn was significantly correlated with the functional traits of the hibernation, reproductive cycle, and feeding habits. The species composition in the summer was only significantly correlated with the functional traits of reproductive cycle and diet. (2) The effects of overgrazing on the functional diversity of rodents in desert areas have significant temporal and spatial characteristics. (3) In spring and summer, overgrazing made the Functional Richness index of the rodent community lower than that of areas where grazing is prohibited, but the Functional Evenness index was higher than that of grazing‐prohibition areas. In autumn, overgrazing increased the Functional Richness index of the rodent community and decreased the Functional Evenness index. The Functional Divergence index was higher in overgrazing areas than in grazing‐prohibited ones. These results suggest that, in spring and summer, overgrazing reduced the ecological space utilization ability of rodent communities; however, the impact on the degree of utilization of community resources is more comprehensive. In autumn, overgrazing increases the ability of rodent communities to use ecological space but reduces resource efficiency. Overgrazing makes the niche differentiation of rodent communities higher, the degree of overlap lower, and the competition between species weaker. Therefore, overgrazing will affect the functional diversity of the community through the utilization of ecological space, resource utilization, interspecific competition, and niche.

ObjectiveHuman identical sequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) promoted the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) progression by upregulating hyaluronic acid (HA) via NamiRNA-enhancer network, based on previous experimental research. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of HA for the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the post-COVID-19 era.MethodsA total of 217 consecutive patients with COVID-19 were enrolled at Beijing Ditan Hospital between July 2023 and October 2023. HA levels were analyzed using biochemical detector. Logistic regression analysis was used to screen independent factors for severe COVID-19. The predictive performance of HA for severe infection was assessed by ROC curve. Furthermore, the relationship between HA levels and COVID-19 severity was investigated using multivariate logistic regression models after adjustment for potential confounders.ResultsAccording to the cut-off value of HA, COVID-19 patients were divided into HA < 90 ng/mL group (80 cases) and HA ≥ 90 ng/mL group (137 cases). High HA levels were positively associated with the severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, including elevated inflammatory indicators, severe lung involvement, prolonged clinical course, and higher incidence of respiratory failure and death (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis suggested that HA was an independent predictor of severe COVID-19 (OR = 4.540, 95% CI = 2.105-9.790, P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of HA for severe infection was 0.724. HA levels were significantly higher in COVID-19 cases compared to the healthy population (123.9 (82.6, 174.1) vs. 50.5 (37.8, 66.8), P < 0.001), but similar to those with non-SARS-CoV-2 lung infection (121.6 (78.5, 175.6) vs. 106.0 (66.5, 149.7), P = 0.244). We also found that the first COVID-19 infections had higher HA levels (118.8 (79.5, 174.3) vs. 85.0 (61.1, 128.8), P < 0.001) and a higher proportion of severe infection (37.1% vs. 21.3%, P = 0.043) than re-infections. However, HA expression failed to fully return to normal levels with infection recovery (204.7 (152.9, 242.2) vs. 97.0 (69.3, 137.3), P < 0.001).ConclusionHA was associated with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and could be used as a novel serum biomarker to predict the risk of COVID-19 progression in the post-COVID-19 era.

Embryonic development is a critical period for phenotype formation. Environmental variation during embryonic development can induce changes in postnatal phenotypes of animals. The thyroxine secretion and aerobic metabolic activity of small birds are important phenotypes closely related to their winter survival. In the context of climate change, it is necessary to determine whether temperature variation during incubation in birds leads to developmental plasticity of these cold responsive phenotypes. We incubated Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) eggs at 36.8 °C, 37.8 °C, and 38.8 °C, and raised the chicks to 35-day old at 22 °C with same raising conditions, then all the quails were exposed to gradually temperature dropping environment (from 15 °C to 0 °C). After cold treatment, serum T3 level, resting metabolic rate, skeletal muscle and liver metabolomes of the birds were measured. The serum T3 levels were significantly lower in the 38.8 °C group and significantly higher in the 36.8 °C group compared to the 37.8 °C group. The metabolic rate in the 38.8 °C group was significantly lower compared to the 37.8 °C group. Compared with the 37.8 °C group, metabolites involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle in the liver were significantly lower in the 38.8 °C group, and metabolites related to lipid oxidation metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis were significantly lower in the skeletal muscles in the 38.8 °C group but significantly higher in the 36.8 °C group. These results indicate that incubation temperature variation can lead to developmental plasticity in cold responsive physiological phenotypes. Higher incubation temperature may impair the capacity of birds coping with cold challenge.

Abstract Metallic lithium (Li) is considered the “Holy Grail” anode material for the next‐generation of Li batteries with high energy density owing to the extraordinary theoretical specific capacity and the lowest negative electrochemical potential. However, owing to inhomogeneous Li‐ion flux, Li anodes undergo uncontrollable Li deposition, leading to limited power output and practical applications. Carbon materials and their composites with controllable structures and properties have received extensive attention to guide the homogeneous growth of Li to achieve high‐performance Li anodes. In this review, the correlation between the behavior of Li anode and the properties of carbon materials is proposed. Subsequently, we review emerging strategies for rationally designing high‐performance Li anodes with carbon materials, including interface engineering (stabilizing solid electrolyte interphase layer and other functionalized interfacial layer) and architecture design of host carbon (constructing three‐dimension structure, preparing hollow structure, introducing lithiophilic sites, optimizing geometric effects, and compositing with Li). Based on the insights, some prospects on critical challenges and possible future research directions in this field are concluded. It is anticipated that further innovative works on the fundamental chemistry and theoretical research of Li anodes are needed.

Gastric cancer (GC) is characterized by high tumor heterogeneity, increased surgical difficulty, and limited chemotherapy efficacy, and it is associated with a poor prognosis. The abnormal proliferation of cells involves abnormal activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Inhibition of this signaling pathway can inhibit tumor cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis. This study evaluated the effect of PF-04979064, a dual inhibitor of PI3K and mTOR, on human GC cells. PF-04979064 significantly inhibited the proliferation of human gastric adenocarcinoma AGS cells and the undifferentiated GC cell line HGC-27, promoting cell apoptosis. Combination treatment with PF-04979064 and the GC first-line clinical drug 5-FU showed synergistic effects, and PF-04979064 markedly increased the sensitivity of GC cells to chemotherapy drugs. Western blot results showed that PF-04979064 significantly inhibited the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in GC cells, whereas RNA seq results demonstrated substantial alterations in gene expression profiles upon treatment with PF-04979064. This study provides insight into the effects of PF-04979064, thereby establishing a solid foundation for its potential clinical application in the treatment of GC.

Abstract Background Patients diagnosed withmajor depressive disorder (MDD) usually experience impaired cognitive functioning, which might negatively impact their clinical and functional outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the association of specific clinical factors with cognitive dysfunction in a group of MDD patients. Methods A total of 75 subjects diagnosed with recurrent MDD were evaluated during the acute stage. Their cognitive functions were assessed using the THINC-integrated tool (THINC-it) for attention/alertness, processing speed, executive function, and working memory. Clinical psychiatric evaluations, such as the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI), were used to assess patients’ levels of anxiety, depression and sleeping problems. The investigated clinical variables were age, years of education, age at onset, number of depressive episodes, disease duration, presence of depressive and anxiety symptoms, sleep problems, and number of hospitalizations. Results The results revealed that significant differences were observed between the two groups in the THINC-it total scores, Spotter, Codebreaker, Trails, and PDQ-5-D scores (P

[Objective] The factors affecting landscape ecological risk in karst watersheds were determined in order to formulate ecological risk prevention and control measures and landscape management planning in mountain watersheds. [Methods] This study was conducted in the Guizhou section of the Hongshui River basin (a typical karst basin). The study utilized the perspective of “productive-living-ecological” space, and used GIS spatial analysis, landscape ecological risk index, and other methods to explore the temporal and spatial change mechanism of landscape ecological risk in the study area. The relationship between the temporal and spatial distributions of landscape ecological risk and topography was analyzed by means of the distribution index method. [Results] ① Since 2000, land use transformation based on the productive-living-ecological space in the Hongshui River basin was characterized by a reduction in the production and ecological space and a rapid increase in the living space. The contribution rates of regional landscape ecological risk changes caused by the transfer of different land use types were different. ② During the period from 2000 to 2020, the overall landscape ecological risk showed a moderate trend, and the landscape ecological risk in the southern part of the Hongshui River basin was generally better than in the northern part. ③ From the distribution of landscape ecological risk on the terrain gradient, the degree of landscape ecological risk was inversely proportional to the terrain gradient. In addition, the landscape ecological risk in the non-karst area and pure karst area was lower than that in the subkarst area. [Conclusion] Although the landscape ecological risk in the Hongshui River basin has improved, some landscape ecological problems are still prominent, and it will be necessary to strengthen the management and protection of the ecological environment.

The application of contemporary artificial intelligence techniques to address geometric problems and automated deductive proofs has always been a grand challenge to the interdisciplinary field of mathematics and artificial intelligence. This is the fourth article in a series of our works, in our previous work, we established a geometric formalized system known as FormalGeo. Moreover, we annotated approximately 7000 geometric problems, forming the FormalGeo7k dataset. Despite the fact that FGPS (Formal Geometry Problem Solver) can achieve interpretable algebraic equation solving and human-like deductive reasoning, it often experiences timeouts due to the complexity of the search strategy. In this paper, we introduced FGeo-TP (theorem predictor), which utilizes the language model to predict the theorem sequences for solving geometry problems. The encoder and decoder components in the transformer architecture naturally establish a mapping between the sequences and embedding vectors, exhibiting inherent symmetry. We compare the effectiveness of various transformer architectures, such as BART or T5, in theorem prediction, and implement pruning in the search process of FGPS, thereby improving its performance when solving geometry problems. Our results demonstrate a significant increase in the problem-solving rate of the language model-enhanced FGeo-TP on the FormalGeo7k dataset, rising from 39.7% to 80.86%. Furthermore, FGeo-TP exhibits notable reductions in solution times and search steps across problems of varying difficulty levels.

Human-like automatic deductive reasoning has always been one of the most challenging open problems in the interdisciplinary field of mathematics and artificial intelligence. This paper is the third in a series of our works. We built a neural-symbolic system, named FGeo-DRL, to automatically perform human-like geometric deductive reasoning. The neural part is an AI agent based on deep reinforcement learning, capable of autonomously learning problem-solving methods from the feedback of a formalized environment, without the need for human supervision. It leverages a pre-trained natural language model to establish a policy network for theorem selection and employ Monte Carlo Tree Search for heuristic exploration. The symbolic part is a reinforcement learning environment based on geometry formalization theory and FormalGeo, which models geometric problem solving (GPS) as a Markov Decision Process (MDP). In the formal symbolic system, the symmetry of plane geometric transformations ensures the uniqueness of geometric problems when converted into states. Finally, the known conditions and objectives of the problem form the state space, while the set of theorems forms the action space. Leveraging FGeo-DRL, we have achieved readable and verifiable automated solutions to geometric problems. Experiments conducted on the formalgeo7k dataset have achieved a problem-solving success rate of 86.40%.

Geometric problem solving (GPS) has always been a long-standing challenge in the fields of automated reasoning. Its problem representation and solution process embody rich symmetry. This paper is the second in a series of our works. Based on the Geometry Formalization Theory and the FormalGeo geometric formal system, we have developed the Formal Geometric Problem Solver (FGPS) in Python 3.10, which can serve as an interactive assistant or as an automated problem solver. FGPS is capable of executing geometric predicate logic and performing relational reasoning and algebraic computation, ultimately achieving readable, traceable, and verifiable automated solutions for geometric problems. We observed that symmetry phenomena exist at various levels within FGPS and utilized these symmetries to further refine the system’s design. FGPS employs symbols to represent geometric shapes and transforms various geometric patterns into a set of symbolic operation rules. This maintains symmetry in basic transformations, shape constructions, and the application of theorems. Moreover, we also have annotated the formalgeo7k dataset, which contains 6981 geometry problems with detailed formal language descriptions and solutions. Experiments on formalgeo7k validate the correctness and utility of the FGPS. The forward search method with random strategy achieved a 39.71% problem-solving success rate.

Extensive in vivo investigations have demonstrated the antioxidant properties of fish collagen oligopeptides (FCOPs). One of the main causes of aging and chronic non-communicable diseases is oxidative stress. Therefore, FCOPs have a broad range of applications in illness prevention and delaying aging from the standpoint of the “food is medicine” theory. However, the mechanisms that underpin the antioxidant activity of FCOPs are not completely understood. The specific objective of this essay was to investigate the antioxidant effect of FCOPs and its possible mechanism at the cellular level. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts NIH/3T3 and human vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to 200 µM hydrogen peroxide containing different concentrations of FCOPs for 4 h and were supplemented with different concentrations of FCOPs for 24 h. Normal growth medium without FCOPs was applied for control cells. An array of assays was used to evaluate the implications of FCOPs on cellular oxidative stress status, cellular homeostasis, inflammatory levels, and mitochondrial function. We found that FCOPs exerted a protective effect by inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, enhancing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activities and cell viability, inhibiting cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase, suppressing interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) secretion, downregulating nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity, protecting mitochondrial membrane potential, and increasing ATP synthesis and NAD+ activities in both cells. FCOPs had a stronger antioxidant impact on NIH/3T3 than on HUVECs, simultaneously increasing glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) content in NIH/3T3. These findings indicate that FCOPs have antioxidant effects on different tissue cells damaged by oxidative stress. FCOPs were therefore found to promote cellular homeostasis, inhibit inflammation, and protect mitochondria. Meanwhile, better health outcomes will be achieved by thoroughly investigating the effective dose and intervention time of FCOPs, as the absorption efficiency of FCOPs varies in different tissue cells.

Cell fate instability is a crucial characteristic of aging and appears to contribute to various age-related pathologies. Exploring the connection between bioactive substances and cell fate stability may offer valuable insights into longevity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the potential beneficial effects of ginseng oligopeptides (GOPs) isolated from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer at the cellular level. Disruption of homeostasis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and PC-12 was achieved by culturing them in the growth medium supplemented with 200 µM of H2O2, and 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL GOPs for 4 h. Then, they were cultured in a H2O2-free growth medium containing different concentration of GOPs. We found that GOP administration retards the oxidative stress-induced cell instability in HUVECs by increasing cell viability, inhibiting the cell cycle arrest, enhancing telomerase (TE) activity, suppressing oxidative stress and an inflammatory attack, and protecting mitochondrial function. Furthermore, we hypothesized that GOPs may promote mitochondrial biosynthesis by upregulating PGC-1α expression. Similarly, GOPs positively regulated cell stability in PC-12; notably, the protective effect of GOPs on PC-12 mainly occurred through the inhibition of autophagic cell death of neuronal cells, while the protective effect on mitochondria was weak. In conclusion, it is evident that GOPs demonstrate potential beneficial effects in maintaining cell fate stability, thereby potentially contributing to an enhanced health span and overall well-being.

Composites of amorphous ZrP and N-doped carbon were prepared in a one-step pyrolysis process instead of general post-loading technique. Owing to their mesoporous structure (6–10 nm) and Zr content (up to 41 wt%), the amphoteric materials have potential use in the cycloaddition of CO2 to epoxides, which is an acid‒base tandem process including the ring opening of epoxides and the addition of CO2. Substantial work has been done on how starting materials impact the structure and performance of composite materials. The coordination between metal and melamine has been confirmed, and it can be implanted in the melamine-polymer initiation of formation of porous metal-carbon materials. The composite catalysts exhibit amphoteric properties, present broad-spectrum adsorption, and finally produce carbonates via cycloaddition of CO2 to epoxides. It is remarkable that the multiple characteristics of porous solids are stabilized, and no significant loss of catalytic performance is observed after four cycles.