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Abstract ‘Boju’ and ‘Huaiju’ are cultivars of the Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) in the family Asteraceae, valued for their medicinal, tea, and ornamental properties, and valued by individuals. However, the yield and quality of medicinal chrysanthemums are limited by the characteristics of the germplasm resources, including the identification at the varieties and cultivation levels. Currently, research characterizing the chloroplast genomes of medicinal Chrysanthemum flowers is relatively limited. This study conducted chloroplast whole-genome sequencing on two cultivars of Chrysanthemum, ‘Boju’ and ‘Huaiju’, and compared them with the previously published chloroplast genomes of ‘Hangbaiju’ and ‘Gongju’. The study analyzed the chloroplast genome structures of these four medicinal Chrysanthemums, identifying mutation hotspots and clarifying their phylogenetic relationships. The chloroplast genome sizes of four medicinal Chrysanthemum cultivation products ranged from 151,057 to 151,109 bp, with GC content ranging from 37.45% to 37.76%. A total of 134 genes were identified, including 89 protein-coding genes, 37 ribosomal RNA genes, and 8 transfer RNA genes. Comparative genomic analysis revealed 159 large repeat sequences, 276 simple sequence repeats, 1 gene, and 8 intergenic regions identified as highly variable regions. Nucleotide diversity (Pi) values were high (≥ 0.004) for the petN-psbM, trnR-UCU-trnT-GGU, trnT-GGU-psbD, ndhC-trnV-UCA, ycf1, ndhI-ndhG, trnL-UGA-rpl32, rpl32-ndhF, and ndhF-ycf1 fragments, aiding in variety identification. Phylogenetic analysis revealed consistent results between maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference trees, showing that the four medicinal Chrysanthemum cultivars, along with their wild counterparts and related species, evolved as a monophyletic group, forming a sister clade to Artemisia and Ajania. Among the six Chrysanthemum species, the wild Chrysanthemum diverged first (Posterior probability = 1, bootstrap = 1,000), followed by Ajania, while C. indicum and C. morifolium clustered together (Bootstrap = 100), indicating their closest genetic relationship. The chloroplast whole-genome data and characteristic information provided in this study can be used for variety identification, genetic conservation, and phylogenetic analysis within the family Asteraceae.

Abstract The metaverse represents a transformative landscape for human interaction, promising an immersive digital ecosystem where users can create, share, and experience resources in novel ways. Within this context, the establishment of Beidou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) commons in the metaverse is an exciting prospect that could revolutionize knowledge sharing, governance, and sustainability. This paper explores the potential of the metaverse as a platform for building BDS commons, focusing on three key dimensions: resource sharing, collaborative governance, and sustainable development. We examine the current state of research, identify existing gaps, and propose directions for future inquiries to fully harness the potential of the metaverse for global resource sharing and collective action.

Abstract Neovaginas are surgically constructed to correct uterovaginal agenesis in women with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome or as part of gender-affirming surgery for transfeminine individuals. Understanding the assembly of the neovaginal microbiota is crucial for guiding its management. To address this, we conducted a longitudinal study on MRKH patients following laparoscopic peritoneal vaginoplasty. Our findings reveal that the early microbial assemblage exhibited stochastic characteristics, accompanied with a notable bloom of Enterococcus faecalis and genital Mycoplasmas. While both the pre-surgery dimple microbiota and the fecal microbiota constituted the primary species pool, the neovaginal microbiota developed into a microbiota that resembled that of a normal vagina at 6–12 months post-surgery, albeit with a bacterial vaginosis (BV)-like structure. By 2–4 years post-surgery, the neovaginal microbiota had further evolved into a structure closely resembling with the homeostatic pre-surgery dimple microbiota. This concords with the development of the squamous epithelium in the neovagina and highlights the pivotal roles of progressive selective forces imposed by the evolving neovaginal environment and the colonization tropism of vaginal species. Notably, we observed that strains of Lactobacillus crispatus colonizing the neovagina primarily originated from the dimple. Since L. crispatus is generally associated with vaginal health, this finding suggests potential avenues for future research to promote its colonization.

Abstract Accurate cropland map serves as the cornerstone of effective agricultural monitoring. Despite the continuous enrichment of remotely sensed cropland maps, pervasive inconsistencies have impeded their further application. This issue is particularly evident in areas with limited valid observations, such as southwestern China, which is characterized by its complex topography and fragmented parcels. In this study, we constructed multi-sourced samples independent of the data producers, taking advantage of open-source validation datasets and sampling to rectify the accuracy of ten contemporary cropland maps in southwestern China, decoded their inconsistencies, and generated a refined cropland map (CroplandSyn) by leveraging ten state-of-the-art remotely sensed cropland maps released from 2021 onwards using the self-adaptive threshold method. Validations, conducted at both prefecture and county scales, underscored the superiority of the refined cropland map, aligning more closely with national land survey data. The refined cropland map and samples are publicly available to users. Our study offers valuable insights for improving agricultural practices and land management in under-monitored areas by providing high-quality cropland maps and validation datasets.

Abstract Background Paraquat (PQ) -induced pulmonary fibrosis poses a significant medical challenge due to limited treatment options and high mortality rates. Consequently, there is an urgent need for early diagnosis and accurate staging to facilitate appropriate treatment strategies. In this study, we assessed the diagnostic potential of [18F]F-FAPI-42 PET/CT imaging for early detection and disease staging in a rat model of PQ-induced lung fibrosis. Methods After administering 80 mg/kg of PQ orally to Sprague-Dawley rats, we intravenously injected 3-3.5 MBq of [18F]F-FAPI-42 on day 7, 14, and 21 post-dosing. Dynamic PET/CT imaging was carried out for one hour immediately after the administration of [18F]F-FAPI-42. Subsequently, the lung tissues were collected for Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining, Masson’s trichrome staining, and NOTA-FAPI-04-MB fluorescent probe staining. Data analysis was performed using the Imalytics preclinical software, and the mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) was calculated. Results PET signals revealed that in areas with evident lesions on CT, the SUVmean on day 14 was significantly higher than on day 7 and 21, indicating that changes in fibrosis activity levels contribute to the staging of pulmonary fibrosis. Additionally, the NOTA-FAPI-04-MB fluorescent probe staining also demonstrated the most pronounced probe uptake on day 14. In regions without apparent lesions on CT, the SUVmean gradually increased from day 7 to day 21, reflecting ongoing fibrotic activity. Moreover, HE staining and Masson’s trichrome staining did not reveal pulmonary fibrosis, while PET imaging was able to detect it, serving the purpose of early diagnosis. At 30 min and 60 min, the target-to-background ratio (TBR) of the PQ groups on day 7, 14, and 21 was significantly higher than the control group, suggesting a high specificity of [18F]F-FAPI-42 binding to activated fibroblasts. Conclusion [18F]F-FAPI-42 PET/CT imaging enables early diagnosis and staging of PQ-induced pulmonary fibrosis, demonstrating its feasibility and potential for characterizing early disease stages.

Abstract Background We aimed to identify different Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) subtypes, demyelination, axonal degeneration, and reversible conduction failure (RCF) as early as possible by analyzing the initial clinical and electrophysiological examinations. Methods This study retrospectively collected GBS patients between October 2018 and December 2022 at Beijing Tiantan Hospital. The diagnostic criteria for the initial electrophysiological study were based on Rajabally's criteria, and the criteria for the serial electrophysiological study were based on Uncini's criteria. All subjects underwent clinical and electrophysiological evaluations at least twice within 8 weeks. Results A total of 47 eligible patients with GBS were included, comprising 19 acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP), 18 axonal degenerations, and 10 RCFs. In the RCF group, 40%, 30%, and 30% patients were diagnosed as AIDP, axonal, and equivocal at the initial study, respectively. The AIDP group had significantly higher cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein than the RCF (123.8 [106.4, 215.1] mg/dL vs. 67.1 [36.8, 85.6] mg/dL, p = 0.002) and axonal degeneration (123.8 [106.4, 215.1] mg/dL vs. 60.8 [34.8, 113.0] mg/dL, p

Background and purposeThe underlying basis of the blend sign on brain computed tomography (CT) in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is unclear. Few studies have examined the morphological alterations in the CT blend sign in ICH. Therefore, we assessed changes in the CT blend sign and their association with hematoma expansion (HE) and adverse outcomes in ICH patients.MethodsWe recorded the clinical and radiographic parameters of patients with ICH and blend sign on brain CT. The patients were categorized into two groups, with changes in the relatively hypoattenuating region of the blend sign (CHB group) and with no changes in the relatively hypoattenuating region of the blend sign (NHB groups). We performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to examine the correlations between CHB and HE and poor outcomes. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to confirm the predictive power of CHB.ResultsIn total, 183 patients were included in the study, of whom 74 (40.4%) demonstrated changes in the hypoattenuating region of the blend sign, whereas 109 (59.6%) did not. Compared with the NHB group, patients in the CHB group exhibited significantly higher levels of HE and adverse outcomes. After adjustment for confounding factors, CHB was independently associated with HE (odds ratio, 19.401 [95% CI, 7.217–52.163]; p

Avermectin (AVM), a compound derived from the fermentation of Avermectin Streptomyces, has insecticidal, acaricidal, and nematicidal properties. Widely employed in agriculture, it serves as an effective and broad-spectrum insecticide for pest control. Although the toxicity of AVM at low doses may not be readily apparent, prolonged and extensive exposure can result in poisoning. To investigate the toxic effects of AVM on the body, this study established rat models of AVM poisoning with both low and high concentrations of the compound. Fifteen male rats were randomly assigned to one of three groups (n=5 per group): a control group, a low-concentration group, and a high-concentration group. The low-concentration group was administered an oral dose of 2 mg/kg AVM once daily for a duration of seven days, while the high-concentration group received an oral dose of 10 mg/kg AVM once daily for the same period. This study examined the impact of AVM on liver function and gut microbiota in rats using weight monitoring, liver function indicator detection, liver metabolomics sequencing, colon barrier function testing, and gut microbiota sequencing. The findings of this study demonstrated that exposure to 2 or 10 mg/kg AVM for seven days can lead to a notable decrease in rat weight, as well as induce liver dysfunction and metabolic disturbances. Additionally, AVM exposure can disrupt the composition of the intestinal microbiota and impair the integrity of the colon mucosal barrier, causing downregulation of Occludin expression and upregulation of inflammation-related protein expression levels such as IL-1β, Myd88, and TLR4. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis revealed a significant association between liver dysfunction and dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. These findings have implications for the agricultural use of AVM and its potential contribution to environmental pollution. Consequently, individuals involved in AVM usage should prioritize safety precautions and monitor liver function.

IntroductionVarious genetic mutations have been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Some candidate genes for ASD are known to be related to signal transduction and may be involved in hand development as well as neurodevelopment. Therefore, although subtle, anatomical variations in hand configurations may be observed in individuals with ASD. However, except for research on the finger ratio, which has been suggested to be related to prenatal sex hormone exposure, only few studies have been conducted. Given the spectrum characteristics of ASD, we explored whether hand configurations are associated with ASD-related traits in the general population.MethodsPhotographs of the dorsal surface of each hand were obtained, and the distances between the metacarpophalangeal joints and finger lengths were measured. The Autism Spectrum Quotient, Empathy Quotient, and Systemizing Quotient were used to evaluate ASD-related traits.ResultsWe found a significant positive correlation between the aspect ratio of the right hand and the Systemizing Quotient score: individuals with a larger width relative to the finger length showed more systemizing traits.DiscussionThese findings suggest that gene polymorphisms or prenatal sex hormone exposure may underlie the relationship between systemizing traits and hand configurations.

Patients with gain-of-function mutations of Dyrk1b have higher fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels. However, the role of Dyrk1b in glucose metabolism is not fully elucidated. Herein, we found that hepatic Dyrk1b overexpression in mice impaired systemic glucose tolerance and hepatic insulin signaling. Dyrk1b overexpression in vitro attenuated insulin signaling in a kinase activity-dependent manner, and its kinase activity was required for its effect on systemic glucose homeostasis and hepatic insulin signaling in vivo. Dyrk1b ablation improved systemic glucose tolerance and hepatic insulin signaling in mice. Quantitative proteomic analyses showed that Dyrk1b downregulated WW domain-binding protein 2 (Wbp2) protein abundance. Mechanistically, Dyrk1b enhanced Wbp2 ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation. Restoration of hepatic Wbp2 partially rescued the impaired glucose homeostasis in Dyrk1b overexpression mice. In addition, Dyrk1b inhibition with AZ191 moderately improved systemic glucose homeostasis. Our study uncovers that hepatic Dyrk1b impairs systemic glucose homeostasis via its modulation of Wbp2 expression in a kinase activity-dependent manner.

Inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD) process may be an important antitumor strategy in ovarian cancer (OC). Metformin (Met) has been shown to have antitumor effects in OC, but whether it mediates the ICD to inhibit OC process is unclear. Human OC cell lines (SKOV3 and A2780) were treated with Met. Dendritic cell (DC) and CD8+ T cells were isolated from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of volunteers. Cell counting kit 8 assay was used to measure cell viability, and immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect the percentages of membrane and intracellular calreticulin (CRT). CRT level, DC maturation and effector cell activation were evaluated by flow cytometry. The levels of IL-10 and IFN-γ, as well as the releasements of HMGB1 and ATP, were detected using corresponding kits. The protein levels of heat shock protein 70/90 (HSP70/90) and AMPKα were tested by western blot analysis, and the mRNA levels of CD80, CD86, IL-10, and IFN-γ were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Colony formation assay was utilized for assessing cell cytotoxicity. Mice transplanted tumor model was constructed to assess the effect of Met on OC tumor growth, and immunohistochemistry staining was used to analyze CD80+ and CD86+ cells in mice tumor tissues. Our data showed that Met inhibited OC cell viability and induced CRT exposure. Besides, Met could promote the release of HMGB1 and ATP, as well as induce DC maturation. In vivo experiments suggested that Met restrained OC tumor growth via activating antitumor immune response. Moreover, Met activated AMPK pathway, and silenced AMPK pathway reversed the promoting effect of Met on CRT exposure and the releasements of HMGB1 and ATP in OC cells. In conclusion, Met induced ICD-mediated immune destruction in OC via activating AMPK pathway, indicating that Met might be used in the immunotherapy of OC.

Previous studies have delved into slope break zones in faulted basins, yet foreland basins, with their gentle slopes toward the forebulge, underdeveloped large-scale structures, and small terrain undulations, have received limited research on slope-fault belts. During the deposition periods of the 4th and 5th members of the Late Triassic Xujiahe Formation, a foreland basin developed in the Sichuan Basin. Scholars have noted the control exerted by the gentle slope break zone on the sedimentary lithofacies in the central and western Sichuan, particularly in the west of the Luzhou-Kaijiang Paleo-uplift, but related studies remain limited. By interpreting the tectonic slope break zones in seismic reflection profiles of the Sichuan Basin and incorporating existing regional geological data, this study employed particle flow numerical simulation to clarify the types of slope break zones in the central and western Sichuan regions, as well as their relationship with gravity sliding structures. It also analyzed the characte-ristics of new types of oil and gas traps associated with gravity-sliding structures. The findings are as follows: (1) The study area developed a fault slope break zone, with each side bounded by a "front squeezing and rear extension" tectonic combinations formed by gravity sliding. The tectonic deformation is weaker than those of gravity-sliding structures at passive continental margins. (2) The edge fault of the tectonic slope break zone controls the sedimentary facies and sand body types. (3) In the gentle slope zone, the stretching area of gravity-sliding structures lead to the uplift of the footwalls of normal faults, forming syndepositional anticlines with developed sandstones. These sandstones, juxtaposed with organic-rich mudstones within the contemporaneous fault depression, form "side-generated and lateral storage" hydrocarbon reservoirs. (4) In the steep slope zone, gravity sliding forms syndepositional anticlines in the 5th member of the Xujiahe Formation, which are bounded by flank mudstones and post-sliding deposited mudstones, forming in-source sand body reservoirs. (5) Syndepositional anticline hydrocarbon reservoirs related to gravity-sliding structures represent a new type of in-source hydrocarbon accumulation. The 5th member of the Xujiahe Formation in the study area likely contains such reservoirs, distributed in a NE-trending pattern parallel to the slope break zone.

Abstract Polaritons are well-established carriers of light, electrical signals, and even heat at the nanoscale in the setting of on-chip devices. However, the goal of achieving practical polaritonic manipulation over small distances deeply below the light diffraction limit remains elusive. Here, we implement nanoscale polaritonic in-plane steering and cloaking in a low-loss atomically layered van der Waals (vdW) insulator, α-MoO3, comprising building blocks of customizable stacked and assembled structures. Each block contributes specific characteristics that allow us to steer polaritons along the desired trajectories. Our results introduce a natural materials-based approach for the comprehensive manipulation of nanoscale optical fields, advancing research in the vdW polaritonics domain and on-chip nanophotonic circuits.

Abstract Sleep disorders increase the risk and mortality of heart disease, but the brain-heart interaction has not yet been fully elucidated. Cuproptosis is a copper-dependent type of cell death activated by the excessive accumulation of intracellular copper. Here, we showed that 16 weeks of sleep fragmentation (SF) resulted in elevated copper levels in the male mouse heart and exacerbated myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury with increased myocardial cuproptosis and apoptosis. Mechanistically, we found that SF promotes sympathetic overactivity, increases the germination of myocardial sympathetic nerve terminals, and increases the level of norepinephrine in cardiac tissue, thereby inhibits VPS35 expression and leads to impaired ATP7A related copper transport and copper overload in cardiomyocytes. Copper overload further leads to exacerbated cuproptosis and apoptosis, and these effects can be rescued by excision of the sympathetic nerve or administration of copper chelating agent. Our study elucidates one of the molecular mechanisms by which sleep disorders aggravate myocardial injury and suggests possible targets for intervention.

Abstract Persistent free radicals (PFRs) are emerging substances with diverse impacts in biochar applications, necessitating accurate prediction of their content and types prior to their optimal use and minimal adverse effects. This prediction task is challenging due to the nonlinearity and intricate variable relationships of biochar. Herein, we employed data-driven techniques to compile a dataset from peer-reviewed publications, aiming to systematically predict the PFRs by developing supervised machine learning models. Notably, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model exhibited the best predictive performance for both regression and classification tasks in predicting the PFRs, achieving a test R2 value of 0.95 for PFR content prediction, along with an Area Under the Receiver Operating Curve (AUROC) of 0.92 for PFR type prediction, respectively. Based on XGBoost model, a graphical user interface (GUI) was developed to access PFRs predictions. Analysis of feature importance revealed that the biochar properties, such as metal/non-metal doping, pyrolysis temperature, carbon content, and specific surface area were identified as the four most significant factors influencing PFRs contents. Regarding the types of PFRs in biochar, specific surface area, pyrolysis temperature, carbon content, and feedstock were top-ranked influencing factors. These findings provide valuable guidance for accurately predicting both the contents and types of PFRs in biochar, and also hold significant potential for highly efficient utilization of biochar across various applications. Graphical Abstract

Objectives To observe the therapeutic efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) combined with different pharmacological treatments for adenomyosis.Materials and methods A total of 126 patients with adenomyosis who underwent HIFU combined with pharmacological treatment were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were treated with either dienogest (DNG) (Group A, N = 38) or GnRH-a (Group B, N = 88) for three months after HIFU, and received levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine systems (LNG-IUS) at the end of the third month. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Chart (PBAC) scores were used for evaluating symptom improvement.Results After propensity score matching (1:2), 38 patients were included in Group A and 76 in Group B. All patients showed significant improvement in VAS and PBAC scores after HIFU, but the PBAC score of Group A was significantly higher than that of patients in Group B at 18 months [11.50 (1.00, 29.50) vs. 0.00 (0.00, 16.50), p

The public's health is gravely at risk due to the current global outbreak of emerging viruses, specifically SARS-CoV-2 and MPXV. Recent studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 mutants (such as Omicron) exhibit a higher capability to antagonize the host innate immunity, increasing their human adaptability and transmissibility. Furthermore, current studies on the strategies for MPXV to antagonize the host innate immunity are still in the initial stages. These multiple threats from emerging viruses make it urgent to study emerging virus-host interactions, especially the viral antagonism of host antiviral innate immunity. Given this, we selected several representative viruses that significantly threatened human public health and interpreted the multiple strategies for these viruses to antagonize the host antiviral innate immunity, hoping to provide ideas for molecular mechanism research that emerging viruses antagonize the host antiviral innate immunity and accelerate the research progress. The IAV, SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, EBOV, DENV, ZIKV, and HIV are some of the typical viruses. Studies have shown that viruses could antagonize the host antiviral innate immunity by directly or indirectly blocking antiviral innate immune signaling pathways. Proviral host factors, host restriction factors, and ncRNAs (microRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs, and vtRNAs) are essential in indirectly blocking antiviral innate immune signaling pathways. Furthermore, via controlling apoptosis, ER stress, stress granule formation, and metabolic pathways, viruses may antagonize it. These regulatory mechanisms include transcriptional regulation, post-translational regulation, preventing complex formation, impeding nuclear translocation, cleavage, degradation, and epigenetic regulation.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) can progress to severe SHPT (sSHPT), which affects the survival rate and quality of life of patients. This retrospective cohort study investigated risk factors for sSHPT and the association between SHPT and mortality (all-cause and infection-related) among 771 clinically stable patients (421 male patients; mean age, 51.2 years; median dialysis vintage, 28.3 months) who underwent >3 months of regular peritoneal dialysis (PD) between January 2013 and March 2021. The sSHPT and non-sSHPT groups comprised 75 (9.7%) (median progression, 35 months) and 696 patients, respectively. sSHPT was defined as a serum intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) level >800 pg/mL observed three times after active vitamin D pulse therapy. The influence of sSHPT on the prognosis of and risk factors for sSHPT progression were evaluated using logistic and Cox regression analyses. After adjusting for confounding factors, higher (each 100-pg/mL increase) baseline PTH levels (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.206–1.649, p

ABSTRACT Vibrio vulnificus (Vv) is known to cause life-threatening infections, particularly septicemia. These patients often exhibit elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. While it is established that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-interacting kinase (MNK) contributes to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the role of MNK in macrophages during Vv infection remains unclear. In this study, we investigate the impact of MNK on macrophages. We demonstrate that the inhibition of MNK in J774A.1 cells, when treated with lipopolysaccharide or Vv, resulted in decreased production of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6, without affecting their transcription. Interestingly, treatment with MNK inhibitor CGP57380 led to enhanced phosphorylation of MNK1 but decreased phosphorylation of eIF4E. Moreover, MNK1 knockout cells exhibited an increased capacity for phagocytosis and clearance of Vv, with more acidic phagosomes than the parental cells. Notably, CGP57380 did not impact phagocytosis, bacterial clearance, or phagosome acidification in Vv-infected J774A.1 cells. Considering the reported association between MNK and mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) activation, we investigated the mTORC1 signaling in MNK1 knockout cells infected with Vv. Our results revealed that attenuation of the mTORC1 signaling in these cells and treatment with the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin significantly enhanced bacterial clearance in J774A.1 cells following Vv infection. In summary, our findings suggest that MNK promotes the Vv-induced cytokine production in J774A.1 cells without affecting their transcription levels. MNK1 appears to impair the phagocytosis, bacterial clearance, and phagosome acidification in Vv-infected J774A.1 cells through the MNK1-mTORC1 signaling pathway rather than the MNK1-eIF4E signaling pathway. Our findings highlight the importance of the MNK1-mTORC1 pathway in modulating macrophage responses to Vv infection.IMPORTANCEMitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-interacting kinase (MNK) plays a role in promoting the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 in macrophages during Vibrio vulnificus (Vv) infection. Inhibition or knockout of MNK1 in J774A.1 cells resulted in reduced cytokine production without affecting their transcription levels. MNK1 also impairs phagocytosis, bacterial clearance, and phagosome acidification in Vv-infected cells through the MNK1-mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling pathway. The findings highlight the importance of the MNK1-mTORC1 pathway in modulating macrophage responses to Vv infection.

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder. Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) accounts for about one-third of epilepsy patients worldwide. Peimine, a main active component of Fritillaria, has been reported to show anti-inflammatory effects. However, its potential therapeutic role in DRE is not yet fully understood. In this work, a DRE rat model was established by injecting 1 μg kainic acid (KA), followed by a 250 mg/kg administration of valproic acid (VPA) from day 4–31. Rats were treated with different doses of peimine (2.5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) daily from day 32–62. In vitro, BV-2 microglia were exposed to different doses of peimine (7.5 μg/ml, 15 μg/ml, and 30 μg/ml) in presence of LPS. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of peimine on DRE. The results showed that peimine efficiently suppressed the KA-induced epileptic behaviors of rats in a dose-dependent manner, as recorded by electroencephalography. Furthermore, peimine ameliorated hippocampal neuron injury in DRE rats, and promoted an M1-to-M2 microglial phenotype shift in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistically, peimine inhibited the TLR4/NF-κB/HIF-1α signaling pathway both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, peimine suppressed the apoptosis of primary neurons induced by LPS-treated microglia. In conclusion, peimine augments the microglial polarization towards an M2 phenotype by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB/HIF-1α signaling pathway, thereby attenuating DRE.

Red color signals dominance in both animals and humans. This study investigated whether a red background color influences the perception of dominance in human faces and geometric shapes. The facial stimuli consisted of computer-generated faces, quantitatively morphed into nine levels of dominance, ranging from less dominant to more dominant. This included East-Asian female faces in Experiment 1 and male faces in Experiment 2. The face stimuli were presented against three background colors: red, green, and gray. Participants were instructed to categorize the faces as either obedient or dominant by pressing the corresponding labeled keys. The results showed that faces were more likely to be perceived as dominant when presented against a red background than against green or gray backgrounds, for both female and male faces. Additionally, two questionnaire surveys showed that the perception of dominance also increased for shapes presented against a red background. However the effect of red diminished in the absence of the actual perception of the color red. These results suggest that the perception of dominance in both human faces and objects is enhanced by the presence of red, possibly due to evolutionary factors related to the perception of red.

This study aimed to examine the influence of digital ostracism on remote work engagement and mental well-being of remote workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. It investigated the mediating roles of challenges in virtual work environments, including sense of virtual isolation, procrastination behaviors, blurred work-life boundaries, and communication barriers faced by remote employees. The hypotheses were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings revealed that experiences of digital ostracism significantly impacted remote workers’ engagement in their jobs and overall well-being from afar. Sense of virtual isolation, ineffective virtual communication, tendencies to procrastinate in remote settings, and blurred work-life boundaries were found to partially mediate the relationships between digital ostracism, remote work engagement levels, and mental well-being. In conclusion, implications and limitations of the study were discussed.

Total nitrogen concentration (CTN) enrichment is the primary cause of natural water eutrophication. Accurately estimating CTN and its spatiotemporal dynamics is crucial for formulating monitoring and control measures to alleviate lake eutrophication. A hybrid model was proposed for estimating CTN in optically complex inland waters by incorporating the relationship between CTN and water optical active components for Zhuhai-1 Orbita hyperspectral (OHS) imagery. Compared with other semi-analytical algorithms, the re-adjusted reference wavelength QAA716 shows the best performance in aph(λ) retrieval. The hybrid model for CTN estimation achieves an root mean square deviation (RMSD) of 0.20 mg/L, a mean absolute percentage deviation (MAPD) of 6.96 %, and a unbiased mean absolute percentage deviation (UMAPD) of 6.96 %, with aph(569) accuracy exerting the greatest influence. Ground-satellite synchronous validation demonstrates robust performance, with an RMSD of 0.28 mg/L, a MAPD of 14.49 %, and a UMAPD of 14.92 %. The hybrid model was applied to OHS observations of Lake Dianchi from April 2019 to September 2021. The analysis revealed a generally decreasing trend in CTN during this timeframe. The above results demonstrate that the robustness and applicability of the proposed CTN hybrid model for inland waters with complex optical properties. Furthermore, satellite-based data products provide valuable information for formulating lake management strategies.

Underground liquified natural gas (LNG) storage is essential in guaranteeing national energy strategic reserves, and its construction is being accelerated. The stability of surrounding rock of underground LNG storage caverns under stress-low temperature coupling effect is the key factor determining the feasibility of LNG storage. First, a mathematical model used for controlling the stress-low temperature coupling and the processes of rock damage evolution is given, followed by a 2-D numerical execution process of the mathematical model mentioned above described based on Comsol Multiphysics and Matlab code. Finally, a series of 2-D simulations are performed to study the influence of LNG storage cavern layout, burial depth, temperature and internal pressure on the stability of surrounding rocks of these underground storage caverns. The results indicate that all the factors mentioned above affect the evolution of deformation and plastic zone of surrounding rocks. The research results contribute to the engineering design of underground LNG storage caverns.

BackgroundLipodystrophy is a rare disease that is poorly diagnosed due to its low prevalence and frequent phenotypic heterogeneity. The main therapeutic measures for patients with clinical lipodystrophy are aimed at improving general metabolic complications such as diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, and hypertriglyceridemia. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find new biomarkers to aid in the diagnosis and targeted treatment of patients with congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL).MethodsDataset GSE159337 was obtained via the Gene Expression Omnibus database. First, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between CGL and control samples were yielded via differential expression analysis and were analyzed for Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment to explore the functional pathways. Next, protein–protein interaction analysis and the MCC algorithm were implemented to yield candidate genes, which were then subjected to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to identify biomarkers with an area under the curve value exceeding 0.8. Moreover, random forest (RF), logistic regression, and support vector machine (SVM) analyses were carried out to assess the diagnostic ability of biomarkers for CGL. Finally, the small-molecule drugs targeting biomarkers were predicted, and ibuprofen was further validated in lipodystrophy mice.ResultsA total of 71 DEGs in GSE159337 were sifted out and were involved in immune receptor activity, immune response-regulating signaling pathway, and secretory granule membrane. Moreover, CXCR2, TNFSF10, NLRC4, CCR2, CEACAM3, TLR10, TNFAIP3, and JUN were considered as biomarkers by performing ROC analysis on 10 candidate genes. Meanwhile, RF, logistic regression, and SVM analyses further described that those biomarkers had an excellent diagnosis capability for CGL. Eventually, the drug–gene network included ibuprofen–CXCR1, ibuprofen–CXCR1, cenicriviroc–CCR2, fenofibrate–JUN, and other relationship pairs. Ibuprofen treatment was also validated to downregulate CXCR1 and CXCR2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and improve glucose tolerance, hypertriglyceridemia, hepatic steatosis, and liver inflammation in lipodystrophy mice.ConclusionEight biomarkers, namely, CXCR2, TNFSF10, NLRC4, CCR2, CEACAM3, TLR10, TNFAIP3, and JUN, were identified through bioinformatic analyses, and ibuprofen targeting CXCR1 and CXCR2 in PBMCs was shown to improve metabolic disturbance in lipodystrophy, contributing to studies related to the diagnosis and treatment of lipodystrophy.

Macrocyclic polyamines constitute a significant class of macrocyclic compounds that play a pivotal role in the realm of supramolecular chemistry. They find extensive applications across diverse domains including industrial and agricultural production, clinical diagnostics, environmental protection and other multidisciplinary fields. Macrocyclic polyamines possess a distinctive cavity structure with varying sizes, depths, electron-richness degrees and flexibilities. This unique feature enables them to form specific supramolecular structures through complexation with diverse objects, thereby attracting considerable attention from chemists, biologists and materials scientists alike. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive summaries on the synthesis methods for macrocyclic polyamines. In this review article, we provide an in-depth introduction to the synthesis of macrocyclic polyamines while analysing their respective advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, we also present an overview of the recent 5-year advancements in using macrocyclic polyamines as non-viral gene vectors, fluorescent probes, diagnostic and therapeutic reagents as well as catalysts. Looking ahead to future research directions on the synthesis and application of macrocyclic polyamines across various fields will hopefully inspire new ideas for their synthesis and use.

In the mountainous regions of Xinjiang, traditional manual survey methods for dangerous rock masses are often restricted by the complex and steep terrain. To improve the efficiency and automation of dangerous rock masses surveys, this study proposes a semi-automatic technique using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for high and steep slopes. This methodology integrates close-range photogrammetry with precise terrain-following flight path planning to generate accurate 3D point cloud models of ultra-high steep slopes. Considering the distinctive shapes of dangerous rock masses protruding from the slope surfaces, this research leveraged CloudCompare software's point cloud segmentation tool to perform semantic segmentation of these profiled blocks. Furthermore, a qualitative assessment of dangerous rock masses is achieved through an analysis of their three-dimensional features. This methodology was applied to the ultra-high slope dam site on the left bank of the Yulong Kashi Hydropower Project. In the test area, four dangerous rock masses were identified (all with stability coefficients lower than 0.9, average around 2000 m³ in volume, with height differences ranging from 7-11m), aligning closely with manual field surveys. The research shows that high-precision slope point cloud models, integrated with rock body characteristics, can effectively detect dangerous rock masses, enhance survey efficiency, and mitigate the inaccuracies associated with manual data collection. This approach holds significant practical value for assessing dangerous rock masses on ultra-high steep slopes.

Abstract The α-bromination reaction of carbonyl compounds is a significant topic in the field of organic chemistry. However, due to the lack of suitable brominating reagents, the application of this reaction in undergraduate organic chemistry experiments is limited. In this study, three junior undergraduates successfully conducted an innovative experiment under the guidance of teachers. The bromination of various acetophenone derivatives was investigated by employing pyridine hydrobromide perbromide as the brominating agent, with a focus on exploring the effects of reaction time, reaction temperature, and dosage of the brominating agent. The results demonstrated that 4-chloro-α-bromo-acetophenone could be synthesized at 90 ℃ using 4-chloroacetophenone as a substrate and acetic acid as a solvent with a molar ratio of substrate to brominator being 1.0:1.1. Through the experimental teaching of 18 junior undergraduates, it was observed that all the students successfully completed the experiment within a time frame of 4–5 h, with a notable achievement yield exceeding 80% observed in 14 students. This innovative experiment exhibits significant advantages in terms of safety, high yield, cost-effectiveness, and repeatability. Furthermore, while reinforcing fundamental skills in chemistry experimentation among students, it enhances their scientific literacy levels and fosters innovation consciousness as well as practical aptitude. Consequently, this approach is highly suitable for widespread implementation and integration into undergraduate experimental pedagogy.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for postoperative delirium (POD) in elderly patients undergoing heart valve surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methods Elderly patients undergoing elective heart valve surgery with CPB in The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between March 2022 and March 2023 were selected for this investigation. They were divided into a POD group and a non-POD group. Their baseline information was collected and recorded, and the patients were subjected to neurocognitive function assessment using the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scales before surgery. We also recorded their intraoperative indicators such as duration of surgery, duration of CPB, duration of aortic cross-clamp, blood transfusion, and postoperative indicators such as duration of mechanical ventilation, postoperative 24-hour drainage volume, and pain score. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation was monitored intraoperatively by near-infrared spectroscopy based INVOS5100C Regional Oximeter. Patients were assessed for the occurrence of POD using Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit, and logistic regression analysis of risk factors for POD was performed. Results The study finally included 132 patients, with 47 patients in the POD group and 85 ones in the non-POD group. There were no significant differences in baseline information and preoperative indicators between the two groups. However, marked differences were identified in duration of surgery, duration of CPB, duration of aortic cross-clamp, duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation, postoperative length of stay in cardiac intensive care unit, postoperative length of hospital stay, intraoperative blood transfusion, postoperative pain score, and postoperative 24-hour drainage volume between the two groups (p 285 min (OR, 1.021 [95% CI, 1.008–1.035]; p = 0.002), duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation > 23.5 h (OR, 6.210 [95% CI, 1.619–23.815]; p = 0.008), and postoperative CCU stay > 3.5 d (OR, 3.927 [95% CI, 1.046–14.735]; p = 0.043) were independent risk factors of the occurrence of POD while change of rScO2 at T1>50.5 (OR, 0.832 [95% CI 0.736–0.941]; p = 0.003) was a protective factor for POD. Conclusion Duration of surgery duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation and postoperative CCU stay are risk factors for POD while change of rScO2 at T1 is a protective factor for POD in elderly patients undergoing heart valve surgery with CPB.

Abstract Recently, transformer‐based networks have been introduced for the classification of hyperspectral image (HSI). Although transformer‐based methods can well capture spectral sequence information, their ability to fuse different types of information contained in HSI is still insufficient. To exploit rich spectral, spatial and semantic information in HSI, a novel semantic and spatial‐spectral feature fusion transformer (S3FFT) network is proposed in this study. In the proposed S3FFT method, spatial attention and efficient channel attention (ECA) modules are employed for the extraction of shallow spatial‐spectral features. Then, a transformer‐based module is designed to extract advanced fused features and to produce the pseudo‐label and class probability of each pixel for semantic feature extraction. Finally, the semantic, spatial and spectral features are combined by the transformer for classification. Compared with traditional deep learning methods and recently transformer‐based methods, the proposed S3FFT shows relatively better results on three HSI datasets.

ABSTRACTSilibinin is a natural flavonoid with anti-diabetic activity. Glucagon-like peptide−1 (GLP−1), an intestinal hormone mainly secreted from L cells, which regulates insulin production and sensitivity, appears to be a potential therapeutic strategy for T2DM. The current study aims to determine the protective effect of silibinin against palmitic acid (PA)-induced damage in GLUTag cells. The results revealed that PA triggered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis in GLUTag cells, while silibinin attenuated PA-induced lipotoxicity. Based on the estrogen-like effects of silibinin and the role of estrogen receptors in regulating glycolipid metabolism, the involvement of estrogen receptors in the protective effects of silibinin in GLUTag cells was further investigated. The results showed that estrogen receptor α- and β-specific inhibitors reversed the inhibitory impact of silibinin on ER stress. Our study demonstrated that silibinin protects GLUTag cells from PA-induced injury by decreasing ER stress under the regulation of estrogen receptors α and β.

Objectives: This study investigated workplace violence (WPV) toward frontline health workers under comprehensive interventions to improve the occupational safety and health management system in a Chinese infectious disease hospital. Methods: The risk assessment of WPV using an international questionnaire was conducted in 2018 and 2021 to compare the perceived levels of exposure to WPV and intervention measures before and after the intensification of anti-violence measures in the hospital context. Additionally, qualitative data were collected in 2021 through semi-structured and unstructured interviews, providing complementary information about WPV toward frontline health workers (HWs). Results: After establishing the occupational safety and health management system (OSHMS), the total incidence rate of WPV decreased from 60.90% in 2018 to 34.44% in 2021. Psychological violence declined significantly from 60.90% in 2018 to 33.89% in 2021. The endorsement of precautionary measures increased significantly from 2018 to 2021, including patient screening recognition, patient protocol, shift or rota changes, etc. A thematic analysis of several subthemes shows that HWs had an in-depth understanding of WPV, recognizing its multifaceted consequences in the context of complex risk factors. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a significant decrease in WPV, psychological violence, verbal abuse, bullying/mobbing, and ethnic discrimination after implementing the comprehensive OSHMS.

Ti-based bulk metallic glass composites (BMGMCs) containing an in situ formed metastable β phase normally exhibit enhanced plasticity attributed to induced phase transformation or twinning. However, the underlying deformation micromechanism remains controversial. This study investigates a novel deformation mechanism of Ti-based BMGMCs with a composition of Ti42.3Zr28Cu8.3Nb4.7Ni1.7Be15 (at%). The microstructures after tension were analyzed using advanced electron microscopy. The dendrites were homogeneously distributed in the glassy matrix with a volume fraction of 55 ± 2% and a size of 1~5 μm. The BMGMCs deformed in a serrated manner with a fracture strength (σf) of ~1710 MPa and a fracture strain of ~7.1%, accompanying strain hardening. The plastic deformation beyond yielding was achieved by a synergistic action, which includes shear banding, localized amorphization and a localized BCC (β-Ti) to HCP (α-Ti) structural transition. The localized amorphization was caused by high local strain rates during shear band extension from the amorphous matrix to the crystalline reinforcements. The localized structural transition from BCC to HCP resulted from accumulating concentrated stress during deformation. The synergistic action enriches our understanding of the deformation mechanism of Ti-based BMGMCs and also sheds light on material design and performance improvement.

Chrysanthemum morifolium is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Asteraceae family that is used as a medicine and food owing to its superior pharmacological properties. Irrespective of its application, C. morifolium must be dried before use. Shade drying (YG) and heat drying (HG) are the two drying methods used in most origins. Given the abundance of flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenoids, the primary medicinal active constituents of C. morifolium, it is important to determine whether the composition and content of these compounds are altered during the drying processes. To test this, the changes in the chemical composition of C. morifolium flowers after YG and HG using full-spectrum, non-targeted LC/GC–MS−based metabolomics and, subsequently, the three indicator components of C. morifolium—chlorogenic acid, 3,5−dicaffeoylquinic acid, and luteolin−7−O−glucoside—were accurately quantified by HPLC. The results of the non-targeted metabolomics analysis revealed that YG- and HG-processed C. morifolium differed significantly with respect to chemical contents, especially flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenoids. The levels of the indicator components and their precursors also differed significantly between the YG and HG treatments. The contents of most of the flavonoids and key phenolic acids, terpenoids, and carbohydrates were higher with YG than with HG pre-treatment. These results revealed the changes in the chemical composition of C. morifolium during the YG and HG processes, thus providing a reference for the further optimization of the production and processing of chrysanthemums.

Moringa oleifera leaves (MOLs) have gained significant attention due to their nutritional and biological activity. Therefore, this study aimed to examine its flavor characteristics and underlying compositions. In this study, we used ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), electronic nose, electronic tongue, and molecular docking to comprehensively investigate the chemical properties and flavor profiles of MOLs. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and GC-MS were instrumental in identifying the 20 non-volatile and 19 volatile constituents of MOLs, respectively. The electronic nose and electronic tongue systems provided an objective evaluation of the sweet, bitter, and spicy attributes and flavor characteristics of MOLs. Concurrently, molecular docking was employed to elucidate the material basis of flavor profiles. It revealed that glucosinolates and flavonoids are probably the key components for the bitter taste of MOLs. The sweet taste may be attributed to glucosinolates and flavonoids. The spicy scent appears to be linked to the presence of glucosinolates and alkaloids. The integration of these techniques confers a thorough understanding of the chemical composition and sensory properties of MOLs. These findings have significant implications for innovative applications in the food industry as well as pharmaceuticals and agriculture sectors; furthermore, they contribute towards enhancing the perception of Moringa oleifera as a valuable natural resource.

Limited data exist on HPV prevalence and genotyping during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 130,243 samples from 129, 652 women and 591 men who visited the First People’s Hospital of Linping District between 2016 and 2022 were recruited. HPV genotypes were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and nucleic acid molecular hybridization. Then the prevalence characteristics of HPV genotypes and trends in HPV infection rates from 2016 to 2022 were analyzed. Results showed that among the study population, the overall prevalence of HPV infection was 15.29%, with 11.25% having single HPV infections and 4.04% having multiple HPV infections, consistent with previous findings. HPV genotypes exhibited similar distribution patterns in both male and female groups, with HPV16, HPV52, HPV58, HPV18, and HPV39 being the most prevalent. Age-related analysis unveiled a bimodal pattern in HPV prevalence, with peaks in infection rates observed in individuals below 20 and those aged 61–65 years. Comparing the pre- and during COVID-19 periods revealed significant disparities in HPV infections, with variations in specific HPV genotypes, including 16, 18, 35, 45, 52, 58, 59, and 68. This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence, distribution, and epidemiological characteristics of HPV infections in a large population. It also highlights the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HPV trends.

Solanum pinnatisectum exhibits strong resistance to late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans but only an incomplete genome assembly based on short Illumina reads has been published. In this study, we generated the first chromosome-level draft genome for the wild-type potato species S. pinnatisectum in China using Oxford Nanopore technology sequencing and Hi-C technology. The high-quality assembled genome size is 664 Mb with a scaffold N50 value of 49.17 Mb, of which 65.87% was occupied by repetitive sequences, and predominant long terminal repeats (42.51% of the entire genome). The genome of S. pinnatisectum was predicted to contain 34,245 genes, of which 99.34% were functionally annotated. Moreover, 303 NBS-coding disease resistance (R) genes were predicted in the S. pinnatisectum genome to investigate the potential mechanisms of resistance to late blight disease. The high-quality chromosome-level reference genome of S. pinnatisectum is expected to provide potential valuable resources for intensively and effectively investigating molecular breeding and genetic research in the future.

Background Platycodon grandiflorus belongs to the genus Platycodon and has many pharmacological effects, such as expectorant, antitussive, and anti-tumor properties. Among transcription factor families peculiar to eukaryotes, the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) family is one of the most important, which exists widely in plants and participates in many biological processes, such as plant growth, development, and stress responses. However, genomic analysis of the bZIP gene family and related stress response genes has not yet been reported in P. grandiflorus. Methods P. grandiflorus bZIP (PgbZIP) genes were first identified here, and the phylogenetic relationships and conserved motifs in the PgbZIPs were also performed. Meanwhile, gene structures, conserved domains, and the possible protein subcellular localizations of these PgbZIPs were characterized. Most importantly, the cis-regulatory elements and expression patterns of selected genes exposed to two different stresses were analyzed to provide further information on PgbZIPs potential biological roles in P. grandiflorus upon exposure to environmental stresses. Conclusions Forty-six PgbZIPs were identified in P. grandiflorus and divided into nine groups, as displayed in the phylogenetic tree. The results of the chromosomal location and the collinearity analysis showed that forty-six PgbZIP genes were distributed on eight chromosomes, with one tandem duplication event and eleven segmental duplication events identified. Most PgbZIPs in the same phylogenetic group have similar conserved motifs, domains, and gene structures. There are cis-regulatory elements related to the methyl jasmonate (MeJA) response, low-temperature response, abscisic acid response, auxin response, and gibberellin response. Ten PgbZIP genes were selected to study their expression patterns upon exposure to low-temperature and MeJA treatments, and all ten genes responded to these stresses. The real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) results suggest that the expression levels of most PgbZIPs decreased significantly within 6 h and then gradually increased to normal or above normal levels over the 90 h following MeJA treatment. The expression levels of all PgbZIPs were significantly reduced after 3 h of the low-temperature treatment. These results reveal the characteristics of the PgbZIP family genes and provide valuable information for improving P. grandiflorus’s ability to cope with environmental stresses during growth and development.

We determined RNA spectrum of the human RSK4 (hRSK4) gene (also called RPS6KA6) and identified 29 novel mRNA variants derived from alternative splicing, which, plus the NCBI-documented ones and the five we reported previously, totaled 50 hRSK4 RNAs that, by our bioinformatics analyses, encode 35 hRSK4 protein isoforms of 35–762 amino acids. Many of the mRNAs are bicistronic or tricistronic for hRSK4. The NCBI-normalized NM_014496.5 and the protein it encodes are designated herein as the Wt-1 mRNA and protein, respectively, whereas the NM_001330512.1 and the long protein it encodes are designated as the Wt-2 mRNA and protein, respectively. Many of the mRNA variants responded differently to different situations of stress, including serum starvation, a febrile temperature, treatment with ethanol or ethanol-extracted clove buds (an herbal medicine), whereas the same stressed situation often caused quite different alterations among different mRNA variants in different cell lines. Mosifloxacin, an antibiotics and also a functional inhibitor of hRSK4, could inhibit the expression of certain hRSK4 mRNA variants. The hRSK4 gene likely uses alternative splicing as a handy tool to adapt to different stressed situations, and the mRNA and protein multiplicities may partly explain the incongruous literature on its expression and comports.

Rational fertilization is the main measure to improve crop yield, but there are differences in the optimal effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) rationing exhibited by the same crop species in different regions and soil conditions. In order to determine the optimum fertilization ratio for high yield of Sapindus mukorossi in western Fujian to provide scientific basis. We carried out the experimental design with different ratios of N, P and K to investigate the effects of fertilization on the yield. and leaf physiology of Sapindus mukorossiand soil properties. Results showed that the yield of Sapindus mukorossi reached the highest value (1464.58 kg ha-1) at N2P2K2 treatment, which increased to 1056.25 kg ha-1 compared with the control. There were significant differences in the responses of soil properties and leaf physiological factors to fertilization treatments. Factor analysis showed that the integrated scores of soil factors and leaf physiological characteristic factors of Sapindus mukorossi under N2P2K2 fertilization treatment were the highest, which effectively improved the soil fertility and leaf physiological traits. The yield of Sapindus mukorossi showed a highly significant linear positive correlation with the integrated scores (r=0.70, p

Introduction: Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy is a novel autoimmune neurological disorder and is diagnosed by GFAP-IgG in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) measurement. Case report: Herein, we described a 10-year-old boy with abnormal neurological symptoms and signs. GFAP-IgG was detected in CSF using cell-based assay (CBA), and his CSF showed an increase in lymphocytes, a slight decrease in glucose and an increase in protein level in the early stage. The cranial MRI showed multiple strips of T2-FLAIR hyperintense signal changes on the surface of medulla oblongata, pons, and gyrus in bilateral cerebral hemispheres. He was treated with immunoglobulin (IVIG) and high-dose methylprednisolone pulse treatment, and his clinical presentations gradually improved. Conclusion: We highlight that patients with normal inflammatory markers in peripheral blood have obvious meningitis-like symptoms, and clinicians need to consider GFAP astrocytopathy. The early diagnosis and treatment of GFAP astrocytopathy are important for improving the prognosis.

The male reproductive dysfunction accounts for 50% of infertile couples in the world. Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most harmful heavy metals to both the environment and inhabitants. Accumulating data suggest that Cd could cause male infertility. Sertoli cell (SC) is a somatic cell of testis and a key regulator of spermatogenesis by providing physical and nutritional support for developing sperm. Many studies showed that Cd induced dysfunction of SCs was directly related to male reproductive damage. However, the mechanism of SCs injury caused by Cd remains to be clarified. We found that Cd treatment caused a significant increase of apoptosis in SCs cells, accompanied by a marked increase in the production of ROS. These results were associated with the formation of mitochondria-containing autophagosomes and increased expression of LC3-II in vitro. Interestingly, our results showed that Cd did not promote but inhibited the fusion of mitochondria-containing autophagosomes with lysosomes by reducing the function of lysosomes. Together, this study provides insight into the negative effects of Cd, which interferes with autophagic flux and induces the apoptosis of SCs.

Abstract Concerning the problems that the traditional Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) ignores contextual semantic information, and the traditional Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) has information memory loss and vanishing gradient, this paper proposes a Bi‐directional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT)‐based dual‐channel parallel hybrid neural network model for text sentiment analysis. The BERT model is used to convert text into word vectors; the dual‐channel parallel hybrid neural network model constructed by CNN and Bi‐directional Long Short‐Term Memory (BiLSTM) extracts local and global semantic features of the text, which can obtain more comprehensive sentiment features; the attention mechanism enables some words to get more attention that highlights important words and improves the model's sentiment classification ability. Finally, the dual‐channel output features are fused for sentiment classification. The experimental results on the hotel review datasets show that the Accuracy of the proposed model in sentiment classification reaches 92.35% and the F1 score reaches 91.59%.

Abstract Microbial communication can drive coordinated functions through sensing, analyzing and processing signal information, playing critical roles in biomanufacturing and life evolution. However, it is still a great challenge to develop effective methods to construct a microbial communication system with coordinated behaviors. Here, we report an electron transfer triggered redox communication network consisting of three building blocks including signal router, optical verifier and bio-actuator for microbial metabolism regulation and coordination. In the redox communication network, the Fe3+/Fe2+ redox signal can be dynamically and reversibly transduced, channeling electrons directly and specifically into bio-actuator cells through iron oxidation pathway. The redox communication network drives gene expression of electron transfer proteins and simultaneously facilitates the critical reducing power regeneration in the bio-actuator, thus enabling regulation of microbial metabolism. In this way, the redox communication system efficiently promotes the biomanufacturing yield and CO2 fixation rate of bio-actuator. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that this redox communication strategy is applicable both in co-culture and microbial consortia. The proposed electron transfer triggered redox communication strategy in this work could provide an approach for reducing power regeneration and metabolic optimization and could offer insights into improving biomanufacturing efficiency.

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. One of the main causes of colorectal cancer is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), intestinal mesenchymal cells (IMCs), immune cells, and gut microbiota construct the main body of the colon and maintain colon homeostasis. In the development of colitis and colitis-associated carcinogenesis, the damage, disorder or excessive recruitment of different cells such as IECs, IMCs, immune cells and intestinal microbiota play different roles during these processes. This review aims to discuss the various roles of different cells and the crosstalk of these cells in transforming intestinal inflammation to cancer, which provides new therapeutic methods for chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and microbial therapy.

Abstract. Background:. Women comprise more than half of people living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) worldwide and incomplete immune recovery and metabolic abnormalities affect them deeply. Studies of HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) have a low female representation in China. We aimed to investigate immune reconstitution and metabolic changes of female HIV-positive cohort in China longitudinally. Methods:. HIV-positive women who initiated ART from January 2005 to June 2021 and were followed up regularly at least once a year were included in this study. Immunological indicators (cluster of differentiation 4 [CD4] counts and CD8 counts), viral load (VL), and metabolic indicators were collected at follow-up. All data were collected from the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System (CDPCIS). VL was tested half a year, 1 year after receiving ART, and every other year subsequently according to local policy. CD4/CD8 ratio normalization was considered as the primary outcome and defined as a value ≥1. Incidence rate and probability of CD4/CD8 ratio normalization were estimated through per 100 person-years follow-up (PYFU) and Kaplan-Meier curve, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression was used to identify independent risk factors associated with CD4/CD8 ratio normalization. We further studied the rate of dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, diabetes, liver injury, and renal injury after ART initiation with the chi-squared tests or Fisher's exact probability tests, and a generalized estimating equation model was used to analyze factors of dyslipidemia and hyperuricemia. Results:. A total of 494 female patients with HIV/AIDS started ART within 16 years from January 2005 to June 2021, out of which 301 women were enrolled with a median duration of ART for 4.1 years (interquartile range, 2.3-7.0 years). The overall incidence rate of CD4/CD8 ratio normalization was 8.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.4-10.6) per 100 PYFU, and probabilities of CD4/CD8 normalization after initiating ART at 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years follow-up were 11.7%, 23.2%, 44.0%, and 59.0%, respectively. Independent risk factors associated with CD4/CD8 normalization were baseline CD4 cell counts 1000 cells/μL, and more than 6 months from the start of combined ART (cART) to first virological suppression. Longitudinally, the rate of hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol [TC]) and high triglyceride (TG) showed an increasing trend, while the rate of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) showed a decreasing trend. The rate of hyperuricemia presented a downtrend at follow-up. Although liver and renal injury and diabetes persisted during ART, the rate was not statistically significant. Older age and protease inhibitors were independent risk factors for increase of TC and TG, and ART duration was an independent factor for elevation of TC and recovery of HDL-C. Conclusions:. This study showed that women were more likely to normalize CD4/CD8 ratio in comparison with findings reported in the literature even though immune reconstruction was incomplete.

The rise of antibiotic-resistant strains demands new alternatives in antibacterial treatment. Bacteriophages, with their precise host specificity and ability to target and eliminate bacteria safely, present a valuable option. Meanwhile, hydrogels, known for their excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility, serve as ideal carriers for bacteriophages. The combination of bacteriophages and hydrogels ensures heightened phage activity, concentration, controlled release, and strong antibacterial properties, making it a promising avenue for antibacterial treatment. This article provides a comprehensive review of different crosslinking methods for phage hydrogels, focusing on their application in treating infections caused by various drug-resistant bacteria and highlighting their effective antibacterial properties and controlled release capabilities.

In this paper, we investigate the impact of classical optical communications in quantum key distribution (QKD) over hollow-core fiber (HCF), multi-core fiber (MCF) and single-core fiber (SCF) and propose wavelength allocation schemes to enhance QKD performance. Firstly, we theoretically analyze noise interference in QKD over HCF, MCF and SCF, such as spontaneous Raman scattering (SpRS) and four-wave mixing (FWM). To mitigate these noise types and optimize QKD performance, we propose a joint noise suppression wavelength allocation (JSWA) scheme. FWM noise suppression wavelength allocation and Raman noise suppression wavelength allocation are also proposed for comparison. The JSWA scheme indicates a significant enhancement in extending the simultaneous transmission distance of classical signals and QKD, reaching approximately 100 km in HCF and 165 km in MCF under a classical power per channel of 10 dBm. Therefore, MCF offers a longer secure transmission distance compared with HCF when classical signals and QKD coexist in the C-band. However, when classical signals are in the C-band and QKD operates in the O-band, the performance of QKD in HCF surpasses that in MCF. This research establishes technical foundations for the design and deployment of QKD optical networks.

Abstract Characterization of regrowing forests is vital for understanding forest dynamics to assess the impacts on carbon stocks and to support sustainable forest management. Although remote sensing is a key tool for understanding and monitoring forest dynamics, the use of exclusively remotely sensed data to explore the effects of different variables on regrowing forests across all biomes in Brazil has rarely been investigated. Here, we analyzed how environmental and human factors affect regrowing forests. Based on Brazil's secondary forest age map, 3060 locations disturbed between 1984 and 2018 were sampled, interpreted and analyzed in different biomes. We interpreted the time since disturbance for the sampled pixels in Google Earth Engine. Elevation, slope, climatic water deficit (CWD), the total Nitrogen of soil, cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soil, surrounding tree cover, distance to roads, distance to settlements and fire frequency were analyzed in their importance for predicting aboveground biomass (AGB) and tree cover derived from global forest aboveground biomass map and tree cover map, respectively. Results show that time since disturbance interpreted from satellite time series is the most important predictor for characterizing AGB and tree cover of regrowing forests. AGB increased with increasing time since disturbance, surrounding tree cover, soil total N, slope, distance to roads, distance to settlements and decreased with larger fire frequency, CWD and CEC of soil. Tree cover increased with larger time since disturbance, soil total N, surrounding tree cover, distance to roads, distance to settlements, slope and decreased with increasing elevation and CWD. These results emphasize the importance of remotely sensing products as key opportunities to improve the characterization of forest regrowth and to reduce data gaps and uncertainties related to forest carbon sink estimation. Our results provide a better understanding of regional forest dynamics, toward developing and assessing effective forest‐related restoration and climatic mitigation strategies.