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This study aims to assess the global progress in research on the impact of forest therapy on mental health by using bibliometric analysis. We analyzed the relevant literature from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database by utilizing software tools such as Bibliometrix (Version 4.1), VOSviewer (Version 1.6.19), and CiteSpace (Version 6.3.R1). There appears to be a growing trend in annual publication volumes from 2006 to 2023. Miyazaki was identified as the most prolific author in this field. Japan and South Korea lead in research contributions, while China has the highest number of publications. The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is the journal with the most publications and citations in this area. Recent keyword clustering reveals an increasing frequency of studies on anxiety and urban green spaces. Research findings suggest that exposure to negative air ions and compounds released by plants can stimulate the five human senses, reduce cortisol levels, and improve mental health. Although studies have demonstrated significant effects of forest therapy in alleviating stress, anxiety, and depression, more large-scale and long-term studies are needed for further evidence. Additionally, it is crucial to explore the impact of different forest types, terrains, altitudes, climates, and air conditions on the effectiveness of forest therapy on mental health.

Sensitive skin is a prevalent syndrome, characterized by discomfort in response to mild stimuli, which impacts on quality of life. Pruritus is one of the major symptoms of sensitive skin. However, the pathomechanism of sensitive skin is insufficiently understood. As an experimental model for pruritus, the cowhage skin prick test might provide insight into the understanding of sensitive skin. This study aimed to specify the characteristics of cowhage-induced pruritus in sensitive skin. Female volunteers, 20 with sensitive skin and 20 controls, were recruited. Self-report questionnaires were distributed and the responses evaluated; moreover, alongside assessments by dermatologists, skin physiology assessments, lactic acid sting test, capsaicin test and cowhage skin challenge were performed. Pruritus in sensitive skin was perceived as more intense and longer-lasting than in normal skin, with different qualities of accompanying sensations. Cowhage skin challenge results showed moderate consistency with clinical assessments. The results suggest that cowhage skin challenge could be a new tool for the assessment of sensitive skin.

Abstract Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a major cause of discogenic pain, and is attributed to the dysfunction of nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus, and cartilaginous endplate (CEP). Osteopontin (OPN), a glycoprotein, is highly expressed in the CEP. However, little is known on how OPN regulates CEP homeostasis and degeneration, contributing to the pathogenesis of IDD. Here, we investigate the roles of OPN in CEP degeneration in a mouse IDD model induced by lumbar spine instability and its impact on the degeneration of endplate chondrocytes (EPCs) under pathological conditions. OPN is mainly expressed in the CEP and decreases with degeneration in mice and human patients with severe IDD. Conditional Spp1 knockout in EPCs of adult mice enhances age-related CEP degeneration and accelerates CEP remodeling during IDD. Mechanistically, OPN deficiency increases CCL2 and CCL5 production in EPCs to recruit macrophages and enhances the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB signaling by facilitating assembly of IRAK1-TRAF6 complex, deteriorating CEP degeneration in a spatiotemporal pattern. More importantly, pharmacological inhibition of the NF-κB/NLRP3 axis attenuates CEP degeneration in OPN-deficient IDD mice. Overall, this study highlights the importance of OPN in maintaining CEP and disc homeostasis, and proposes a promising therapeutic strategy for IDD by targeting the NF-κB/NLRP3 axis.

Polyketides are a major class of natural products, including bioactive medicines such as erythromycin and rapamycin. They are often rich in stereocenters biosynthesized by the ketoreductase (KR) domain within the polyketide synthase (PKS) assembly line. Previous studies have identified conserved motifs in KR sequences that enable the bioinformatic prediction of product stereochemistry. However, the reliability and applicability of these prediction methods have not been thoroughly assessed. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis of 1,762 KR sequences from cis-AT PKSs to reevaluate the residues involved in conferring stereoselectivity. Our findings indicate that the previously identified fingerprint motifs remain valid for KRs in β-modules from actinobacteria, but their reliability diminishes for KRs from other module types or taxonomic origins. Additionally, we have identified several new motifs that exhibit a strong correlation with the stereochemical outcomes of KRs. These updated fingerprint motifs for stereochemical prediction not only enhance our understanding of the enzymatic mechanisms governing stereocontrol but also facilitate accurate stereochemical prediction and genome mining of polyketides derived from modular cis-AT PKSs.

Codonopsis pilosula (known as dangshen) is experiencing a serious replant disease caused by continuous monoculture in its main and endemic cultivation region in Dingxi, China. In this study, changes in physicochemical properties, fungal microbiomes, and isolated strains were investigated in the rhizosphere soil of 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year continuous monoculture natural fields. It was observed that wilted seedlings and a variety of root rot diseases occurred after the third year of continuous monoculture in the field. The soil-available potassium content and the pH value decreased significantly in the 3- and 5-year fields. Using Illumina sequencing, it was demonstrated that the 3- and 5-year fields had a higher diversity of fungal communities compared with the 1- and 2-year fields. At the genus level, abundance of some potentially pathogenic fungal taxa also increased. A total of 33 isolated strains belonging to the Fusarium species complexes Plectosphaerella cucumerina, Paraphoma ledniceana, Alternaria alstroemeriae, Mucor hiemalis, and Clonostachys rosea were obtained from the roots in 3- and 5-year fields. The correlation analysis revealed that the abundance of the fungal community at the genus level was positively correlated with the available phosphorus, total nitrogen, and soil organic matter. The results revealed that continuous monoculture has a negative impact on the fungal community and enriches potential pathogenic fungi in the rhizosphere of C. pilosula.

Abstract The study examines the digital finance (DF) and regional sustainable development (RSD) across 90 cities within six major city clusters in China over the period from 2011 to 2020. By constructing an evaluation index system for DF and RSD, we employed the entropy value method to assess their levels, and the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model to evaluate their interplay. Our analysis extended to temporal and spatial disparities, distribution dynamics, and the convergence of CCD through kernel density estimation, Markov chain analysis, $$\sigma$$ σ -convergence, and $$\beta$$ β -convergence techniques. The results indicate a consistent upward trend in CCD, yet it remains at a low level with pronounced regional disparities and temporal characteristics. The kernel density distribution’s central tendency has shifted rightward progressively, albeit with a decelerating pace annually. The Markov transition probability matrix suggests a stable CCD across various levels, hinting at “club convergence”. Furthermore, both $$\sigma$$ σ -convergence and $$\beta$$ β -convergence analyses reveal significant convergence trends in CCD, enhanced by economic growth factors. Using the Quadratic Assignment Procedure (QAP) method, we found that regional economic growth disparities significantly influence the CCD’s regional variances.

Poverty threatens human development especially for developing countries, so ending poverty has become one of the most important United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study aims to explore China’s progress in poverty reduction from 2016 to 2019 through time-series multi-source geospatial data and a deep learning model. The poverty reduction efficiency (PRE) is measured by the difference in the out-of-poverty rates (which measures the probability of being not poor) of 2016 and 2019. The study shows that the probability of poverty in all regions of China has shown an overall decreasing trend (PRE = 0.264), which indicates that the progress in poverty reduction during this period is significant. The Hu Huanyong Line (Hu Line) shows an uneven geographical pattern of out-of-poverty rate between Southeast and Northwest China. From 2016 to 2019, the centroid of China’s out-of-poverty rate moved 105.786 km to the northeast while the standard deviation ellipse of the out-of-poverty rate moved 3 degrees away from the Hu Line, indicating that the regions with high out-of-poverty rates are more concentrated on the east side of the Hu Line from 2016 to 2019. The results imply that the government’s future poverty reduction policies should pay attention to the infrastructure construction in poor areas and appropriately increase the population density in poor areas. This study fills the gap in the research on poverty reduction under multiple scales and provides useful implications for the government’s poverty reduction policy.

Abstract Background Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) hold immense promise in guiding treatment strategies for advanced gastric cancer (GC). However, their clinical impact has been limited due to challenges in identifying epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-CTCs using conventional methods. Methods To bridge this knowledge gap, we established a detection platform for CTCs based on the distinctive biomarker cell surface vimentin (CSV). A prospective study involving 127 GC patients was conducted, comparing CTCs enumeration using both EpCAM and CSV. This approach enabled the detection of both regular and EMT-CTCs, providing a comprehensive analysis. Spiking assays and WES were employed to verify the reliability of this marker and technique. To explore the potential inducer of CSV+CTCs formation, a combination of Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) quantitative proteomics, m6A RNA immunoprecipitation–qPCR (MeRIP–qPCR), single-base elongation- and ligation-based qPCR amplification method (SELECT) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) were utilized to screen and confirm the potential target gene. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to explore the molecular mechanism of CSV expression regulation and its role in GC metastasis. Results Our findings revealed the potential of CSV in predicting therapeutic responses and long-term prognosis for advanced GC patients. Additionally, compared to the conventional EpCAM-based CTCs detection method, the CSV-specific positive selection CTCs assay was significantly better for evaluating the therapeutic response and prognosis in advanced GC patients and successfully predicted disease progression 14.25 months earlier than radiology evaluation. Apart from its excellent role as a detection marker, CSV emerges as a promising therapeutic target for attenuating GC metastasis. It was found that fat mass and obesity associated protein (FTO) could act as a potential catalyst for CSV+CTCs formation, and its impact on the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) mRNA decay through m6A modification. The activation of IGF-I/IGF-IR signaling enhanced the translocation of vimentin from the cytoplasm to the cell surface through phosphorylation of vimentin at serine 39 (S39). In a GC mouse model, the simultaneous inhibition of CSV and blockade of the IGF-IR pathway yielded promising outcomes. Conclusion In summary, leveraging CSV as a universal CTCs marker represents a significant breakthrough in advancing personalized medicine for patients with advanced GC. This research not only paves the way for tailored therapeutic strategies but also underscores the pivotal role of CSV in enhancing GC management, opening new frontiers for precision medicine.

Abstract Astragalus mongholicus is a medicinal plant that is known to decrease in quality in response to continuous cropping. However, the differences in the root-associated microbiome and root exudates in the rhizosphere soil that may lead to these decreases are barely under studies. We investigated the plant biomass production, root-associated microbiota, and root exudates of A. mongholicus grown in two different fields: virgin soil (Field I) and in a long-term continuous cropping field (Field II). Virgin soil is soil that has never been cultivated for A. mongholicus. Plant physiological measurements showed reduced fresh and dry weight of A. mongholicus under continuous cropping conditions (i.e. Field II). High-throughput sequencing of the fungal and bacterial communities revealed differences in fungal diversity between samples from the two fields, including enrichment of potentially pathogenic fungi in the roots of A. mongholicus grown in Field II. Metabolomic analysis yielded 20 compounds in A. mongholicus root exudates that differed in relative abundance between rhizosphere samples from the two fields. Four of these metabolites (2-aminophenol, quinic acid, tartaric acid, and maleamate) inhibited the growth of A. mongholicus, the soil-borne pathogen Fusarium oxysporum, or both. This comprehensive analysis enhances our understanding of the A. mongholicus microbiome, root exudates, and interactions between the two in response to continuous cropping. These results offer new information for future design of effective, economical approaches to achieving food security.

In the decades since the discovery, Type I interferon (IFN-I) has been intensively studied for their antiviral activity. However, increasing evidences suggest that it may also play an important role in the infection of Toxoplasma gondii, a model organism for intracellular parasites. Recent studies demonstrated that the induction of IFN-I by the parasite depends on cell type, strain genotype, and mouse strain. IFN-I can inhibit the proliferation of T. gondii, but few studies showed that it is beneficial to the growth of the parasite. Meanwhile, T. gondii also can secrete proteins that impact the pathway of IFN-I production and downstream induced interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) regulation, thereby escaping immune destruction by the host. This article reviews the major findings and progress in the production, function, and regulation of IFN-I during T. gondii infection, to thoroughly understand the innate immune mechanism of T. gondii infection, which provides a new target for subsequent intervention and treatment.

Variable cycle engine (VCE) is one of the most promising technologies for the next-generation aircraft, the matching of different components in the compression system is a key difficulty VCE faced. To investigate the component matching mechanisms in the VCE compression system, an advanced throughflow program is employed to calculate the characteristic lines of each component, and a zero-dimensional method is developed to capture the component performance deviation during the coupling working process. By setting the compressor stall and choke conditions as the boundary, the operation range of the compression system is first clarified, and the aerodynamic performance in the operation zone is discussed, thus providing a theoretical basis for optimization of the engine operating control scheme. Results show that the efficiency of the core flow is optimum at the left-bottom corner of the operation region, while the total pressure ratio peaks at the right-top area, hence a balance is needed when deciding the matching point. Regulations of component control parameters will change the position of the operation zone, as well as the corresponding aerodynamic performance. Decreasing the core driven fan stage rotating speed can improve the total bypass ratio, yet the total pressure ratio of the core flow will be decreased. Closing the core driven fan stage inlet guide vane can increase the total bypass ratio without changing the core flow aerodynamic performance significantly. The bypass ratio of the compression system can also be increased by increasing the fan stall margin or decreasing its rotating speed, both ways will decrease the total pressure ratio of the core flow. Results of the study will benefit the variable cycle engine design process in operation point evaluation and thermodynamic cycle optimization.

Abstract Achieving high selectivity of Li+ and Mg2+ is of paramount importance for effective lithium extraction from brines, and nanofiltration (NF) membrane plays a critical role in this process. The key to achieving high selectivity lies in the on-demand design of NF membrane pores in accordance with the size difference between Li+ and Mg2+ ions, but this poses a huge challenge for traditional NF membranes and difficult to be realized. In this work, we report the fabrication of polyamide (PA) NF membranes with ultra-high Li+/Mg2+ selectivity by modifying the interfacial polymerization (IP) process between piperazine (PIP) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) with an oil-soluble surfactant that forms a monolayer at oil/water interface, referred to as OSARIP. The OSARIP benefits to regulate the membrane pores so that all of them are smaller than Mg2+ ions. Under the solely size sieving effect, an exceptional Mg2+ rejection rate of over 99.9% is achieved. This results in an exceptionally high Li+/Mg2+ selectivity, which is one to two orders of magnitude higher than all the currently reported pressure-driven membranes, and even higher than the microporous framework materials, including COFs, MOFs, and POPs. The large enhancement of ion separation performance of NF membranes may innovate the current lithium extraction process and greatly improve the lithium extraction efficiency.

This study investigates the joint effect of air pollution and different types of green spaces (e.g. mixed forests) on stress levels in South Korea. Two periods were examined: before the COVID-19 pandemic (2017–2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022). We used 16 total parameters for our Random Forest model. Stress was the dependent variable, and 15 other variables were independent parameters. Our focused independent parameters were PM10 and green spaces (forest types). Our findings show that mixed forests reduce stress, particularly when pollution levels are low. In addition, is associated with increased stress levels, and this relationship became stronger during the COVID-19. These findings indicate that protecting mixed forests and improving air quality may improve people’s mental health. This study provides insights into how cities can be made healthier and happier places to live, particularly during challenging periods such as a pandemic.

IntroductionIn the digital era, new digital infrastructures (NDIs) play a pivotal role in fostering economic growth and technological innovation. However, their ecological impact, particularly on carbon dioxide emissions, remains underexplored. Addressing this gap holds significant practical and theoretical value.MethodsUtilizing panel data from 283 Chinese cities spanning 2009 to 2020, this study employs a two-way fixed-effects model to empirically assess the influence of NDIs on urban carbon emissions (UCE). Additionally, a mediation effect model is used to examine the mechanisms of this influence.ResultsThe findings reveal that: (1) NDIs significantly mitigate UCE levels, a conclusion supported by robustness tests involving instrumental variables and the exogenous policy shocks of smart city pilot programs; (2) NDIs primarily impact UCE through two channels: the digital economy and green technology innovation; and (3) heterogeneity analysis indicates that NDIs predominantly curb carbon emissions in cities with lower administrative levels, while positively contributing to UCE intensity in higher administrative level cities. Notably, NDIs substantially reduce UCE in non-old industrial cities, with a negligible effect in old industrial cities.DiscussionThis research expands the understanding of the economic-environmental implications of NDIs, offering valuable insights for policymakers regarding NDIs’ environmental impacts. It also provides strategic guidance for urban low-carbon transitions in the big data era.

Bilateral breast cancer (BBC), an infrequent breast cancer subtype, has primarily been studied in terms of incidence, prognosis, and through comparative analysis of synchronous (SBBC) and metachronous (MBBC) manifestations. The advent and application of organoid technology hold profound implications for tumor research and clinical management. This study represents the pioneering use of organoid models in BBC research. We established organoid lines from two surgical tumor specimens of a BBC patient, with one line undergoing detailed pathological and genomic analysis. The BBC organoid from the right breast demonstrated a marker expression profile of ER (-), PR (-), HER-2 (0), and Ki67 index 10%, indicating that it may derived from the TNBC tissue. Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) displayed consistent set of Top10 cancer driver genes affected by missense mutations, frameshift mutation, or splice site mutations in three tumor tissues and the organoid samples. The organoids’ single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were more closely aligned with the TNBC tissue than other tumor tissues. Evolutionary analysis suggested that different tumor regions might evolve from a common ancestral layer. In this case, the development of BBC organoids indicated that simultaneous lesions with diverse molecular profiles shared a high degree of consistency in key tumor-driving mutations. These findings suggest the feasibility of generating BBC organoids representing various molecular types, accurately replicating significant markers and driver mutations of the originating tumor. Consequently, organoids serve as a valuable in vitro model for exploring treatment strategies and elucidating the underlying mechanisms of BBC.

Respiration is one of the most important physiological processes of the human body. Continuous monitoring of respiration with wearable sensors can provide abundant information related to the health status of the respiratory system. However, the vast majority of the developed respiration sensors are constructed on nontextile substrates, resulting in dissatisfactory convenience, comfortness, and aesthetics. Additionally, special micro‐/nanomaterials are inevitably involved to construct the respiration sensors, which pose potential hazards to the human body due to the exfoliation and inhalation of these micro‐/nanomaterials. Here, humidity‐ and temperature‐sensitive electronic textiles (e‐Textiles) are presented, which are fabricated based on easily accessible and biofriendly materials (e.g., sodium chloride, glycerin, aluminum fiber, carbon fiber, and polyvinyl alcohol). Moreover, the proposed e‐Textiles use a potentiometric sensing mechanism, featuring self‐powered signal outputs and ultralow power consumption. The humidity and temperature‐sensing functionalities can also be in situ integrated into commercial masks for constructing full‐textile and all‐in‐one e‐Masks for comprehensive respiration monitoring. As demonstrations, both single‐point respiration monitoring (e.g., intensity, frequency, etc.) and 2D respiratory analysis (i.e., airflow distribution) can be realized with the e‐Masks. This work provides a facile and scalable approach to manufacture self‐powered and fully fabric respiration sensors for comprehensive respiratory analysis.

The nuclear receptor, farnesoid X receptor (FXR/NR1H4), is increasingly recognized as a promising drug target for metabolic diseases, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Protein-coding genes regulated by FXR are well known, but whether FXR also acts through regulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which vastly outnumber protein-coding genes, remains unknown. Utilizing RNA-seq and global run-on sequencing (GRO-seq) analyses in mouse liver, we found that FXR activation affects the expression of many RNA transcripts from chromatin regions bearing enhancer features. Among these we discovered a previously unannotated liver-enriched enhancer-derived lncRNA (eRNA), termed FXR-induced non-coding RNA (Fincor). We show that Fincor is specifically induced by the hammerhead-type FXR agonists, including GW4064 and tropifexor. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated liver-specific knockdown of Fincor in dietary NASH mice reduced the beneficial effects of tropifexor, an FXR agonist currently in clinical trials for NASH and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), indicating that amelioration of liver fibrosis and inflammation in NASH treatment by tropifexor is mediated in part by Fincor. Overall, our findings highlight that pharmacological activation of FXR by hammerhead-type agonists induces a novel eRNA, Fincor, contributing to the amelioration of NASH in mice. Fincor may represent a new drug target for addressing metabolic disorders, including NASH.

Metabolic network models have become increasingly precise and accurate as the most widespread and practical digital representations of living cells. The prediction functions were significantly expanded by integrating cellular resources and abiotic constraints in recent years. However, if unreasonable modeling methods were adopted due to a lack of consideration of biological knowledge, the conflicts between stoichiometric and other constraints, such as thermodynamic feasibility and enzyme resource availability, would lead to distorted predictions. In this work, we investigated a prediction anomaly of EcoETM, a constraints-based metabolic network model, and introduced the idea of enzyme compartmentalization into the analysis process. Through rational combination of reactions, we avoid the false prediction of pathway feasibility caused by the unrealistic assumption of free intermediate metabolites. This allowed us to correct the pathway structures of l-serine and l-tryptophan. A specific analysis explains the application method of the EcoETM-like model and demonstrates its potential and value in correcting the prediction results in pathway structure by resolving the conflict between different constraints and incorporating the evolved roles of enzymes as reaction compartments. Notably, this work also reveals the trade-off between product yield and thermodynamic feasibility. Our work is of great value for the structural improvement of constraints-based models.

Abstract Background Shrimp cultured in a biofloc system (BFS) have a lower disease incidence than those farmed in a water exchange system (WES). Although a number of studies have reported that the gut bacterial community induced by BFS is highly associated with shrimp disease resistance, the causal relationship remains unknown. Here, the promotive roles of gut bacterial community induced by BFS in pathogenic Vibrio infection resistance and its potential micro-ecological and physiological mechanisms were investigated by gut bacterial consortium transplantation and synthetic community (SynCom) construction. Results The BFS induced a more stable and resistant gut bacterial community, and significantly enriched some beneficial bacterial taxa, such as Paracoccus, Ruegeria, Microbacterium, Demequina, and Tenacibaculum. Transplantation of a gut bacterial consortium from BFS shrimp (EnrichBFS) greatly enhanced the stability of the bacterial community and resistance against pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus infection in WES shrimp, while transplantation of a gut bacterial consortium from WES shrimp significantly disrupted the bacterial community and increased pathogen susceptibility in both WES and BFS shrimp. The addition of EnrichBFS in shrimp postlarvae also improved the pathogen resistance through increasing the relative abundances of beneficial bacterial taxa and stability of bacterial community. The corresponding strains of five beneficial bacterial taxa enriched in BFS shrimp were isolated to construct a SynComBFS. The addition of SynComBFS could not only suppress disease development, but also improve shrimp growth, boost the digestive and immune activities, and restore health in diseased shrimp. Furthermore, the strains of SynComBFS well colonized shrimp gut to maintain a high stability of bacterial community. Conclusions Our study reveals an important role for native microbiota in protecting shrimp from bacterial pathogens and provides a micro-ecological regulation strategy towards the development of probiotics to ameliorate aquatic animal diseases. Video Abstract

Introduction: Currently, revealing how to prevent and control hyperuricemia has become an essential public health issue. Sulforaphane has a wide range of applications in the management of hyperuricemia. Objective: The study objective was to verify the uric acid-lowering effects and the regulation of the gut-kidney axis mediated by sulforaphane and identify host-microbial co-metabolites in hyperuricemia. Methods: A hyperuricemia model was established by administering feedstuffs with 4% potassium oxonate and 20% yeast. Forty male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into the normal control, hyperuricemia, allopurinol, and sulforaphane groups. Animals were treated by oral gavage for six consecutive weeks, and then phenotypic parameters, metabolomic profiling, and metagenomic sequencing were performed. Results: Sulforaphane could lower uric acid by decreasing urate synthesis and increasing renal urate excretion in hyperuricemic rats (P＜0.05). We identified succinic acid and oxoglutaric acid as critical host-gut microbiome co-metabolites. Moreover, sulforaphane improved the diversity of microbial ecosystems and functions, as well as metabolic control of the kidney. Notably, sulforaphane exerted its renoprotective effect through epigenetic modification of Nrf2 and interaction between gut microbiota and epigenetic modification in hyperuricemic rats. Conclusion: We revealed that sulforaphane could ameliorate the progression of hyperuricemia by reprogramming the gut microbiome and metabolome. Our findings may provide a good means for efficiently preventing and treating hyperuricemia.

In recent years, coal-type critical metal deposits have become a research hotspot in coal geology. As a major coal-accumulating basin in the Xinjiang area, the Turpan-Hami Basin contains abundant coal resources and has the potential to become a large coal-type critical metal deposit. However, previous studies on the enrichment characteristics of critical metal elements in coal are few and need further research. Based on SEM-EDS, XRF, and ICP-MS experiments, this study investigates the coal petrology, mineralogy, and geochemistry of the No. 22 coal of the Xishanyao Formation from the Dananhu Coal Mine, Xinjiang, to identify the sediment source, depositional environment, and controlling factors of the critical metal elements of the No. 22 coal. The results showed that the Dananhu coals are characterized by a low ash yield, low total sulfur content, high volatile yield, and high inertinite proportions. Quartz, kaolinite, and illite are the main minerals in the coal. Compared with the world’s low-rank coals, Ni, Co, Mo, and Ta are slightly enriched, Li, Rb, Cs, Ba, Tl, Bi, and Ge are depleted, and the concentrations of other trace elements are comparable to the average values of the world’s low-rank coals. The REY of the Dannanhu coals exhibited high fractionation, with its enrichment patterns characterized by the H-type and M-H-type. Although most of the critical metals are not enriched in the Dannanhu coals, the Ga, Zr (Hf), and Nb (Ta) concentrations in the coal ash of the Dannanhu coals have reached the economic cut-off grade and have the potential to be a substitute for rare metal resources. The terrigenous detrital sources of the Dannanhu coals mainly come from the Paleozoic dacite, andesite, and a small amount of granite from the Harik Mountain and Eastern Bogda Mountain in the Turpan-Hami Basin. The Dannanhu coals are generally in a dry and hot depositional environment, with high salinity and weak reduction-oxidation. The low source input and weak reduction-oxidation environment have resulted in low concentrations of critical metal of the No. 22 coal from the Dananhu Coal Mine.

This research investigates the intricate interplay among the digital economy, green innovation, and the level of sustainable development. Panel data from 268 cities in China, from 2011 to 2020, are used to comprehensively evaluate the level of digital economy development and investigate the digital economy’s influence on sustainable development. Additionally, a mechanism analysis is used to investigate the contribution of green innovation. The findings suggest that the digital economy significantly stimulates sustainable development, and green innovation serves as a mediating intermediary and moderating effect in facilitating this relationship. Moreover, the robustness check extends the verification of the positive effect of the “Broadband China” policy on sustainable development, strengthening the reliability of the results. The contribution of this study provides management insights on how regions can promote sustainable development in the digital age.

This paper is concerned with the design of a dual-loop control system for permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). An improved linear extended state observer (LESO) with excellent estimation capability is employed to develop an improved linear active disturbance rejection control (LADRC) suitable for PMSM speed regulation, achieving outstanding disturbance suppression in PMSM speed control. The use of an internal model control scheme to initialize the parameters of the proportional-integral- (PI-) based current controller simplifies the search space of the control system parameter optimization. An improved particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is applied to optimize the controller parameters, thereby enhancing the overall system performance. Finally, through a series of simulations and experiments, we validate that our proposed controller exhibits superior performance compared to some other control methods.

In the current global context, digital finance (DF) and sustainable economic development (SED) are important topics. The synergies between DF and SED have already been proven. However, the measurement and quantitative analysis of the coupling coordination degree (CCD) of DF and SED have not received sufficient attention to date. Based on data from 55 cities in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) from 2011 to 2021, this study constructs an evaluation index system of DF and SED and measures their level, respectively. The proposed CCD model is then used to measure the CCD between the two systems. In addition, kernel density estimation, Markov chain, σ-convergence, β-convergence, and the quadratic assignment procedure (QAP) method are used to study the spatial pattern, distribution dynamic evolution trend, convergence, and influencing factors of the regional differences in the CCD. The results show that: (1) From 2011 to 2021, the CCD level showed a stable upward trend and regional heterogeneity, and the time stage characteristics were more obvious. (2) The center position and change interval of the overall distribution curve of the kernel density estimation gradually shifted to the right. The Markov transfer probability matrix shows that the CCD is more stable among different levels, indicating a phenomenon of "club convergence". (3) A convergence analysis shows that there are significant σ-convergence, absolute β-convergence, and conditional β-convergence. (4) The QAP regression shows that factors such as the regional differences in GDP per capita have a significant impact on the regional differences in the CCD. This study offers a comprehensive structure that can be used to examine the synergistic effects between DF and SED; the research findings can also provide perspectives for other areas.

CBP/p300 interacting transactivator with Glu/Asp-rich carboxy-terminal domain 1 (CITED1) is a transcriptional activator belonging to the non-DNA-binding transcription co-regulator family. It regulates diverse pathways, including the transforming growth factor/bone morphogenetic protein/SMAD, estrogen, Wnt-β-catenin, and androgen-AR signaling pathways, by binding to CBP/p300 co-activators through its conserved transactivation domain CR2. CITED1 plays an important role in embryonic development and a certain regulatory role in the occurrence and development of various tumors. In this article, the biological characteristics, expression regulation, participating signaling pathways, and potential roles of CITED1 in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of tumors are reviewed.

Abstract Ethylene glycol is a widely utilized commodity chemical, the production of which accounts for over 46 million tons of CO2 emission annually. Here we report a paired electrocatalytic approach for ethylene glycol production from methanol. Carbon catalysts are effective in reducing formaldehyde into ethylene glycol with a 92% Faradaic efficiency, whereas Pt catalysts at the anode enable formaldehyde production through methanol partial oxidation with a 75% Faradaic efficiency. With a membrane-electrode assembly configuration, we show the feasibility of ethylene glycol electrosynthesis from methanol in a single electrolyzer. The electrolyzer operates a full cell voltage of 3.2 V at a current density of 100 mA cm−2, with a 60% reduction in energy consumption. Further investigations, using operando flow electrolyzer mass spectroscopy, isotopic labeling, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, indicate that the desorption of a *CH2OH intermediate is the crucial step in determining the selectively towards ethylene glycol over methanol.

Background: Virtual reality (VR), widely used in the medical field, may affect future medical training and treatment. Therefore, this study examined VR’s potential uses and research directions in medicine. Methods: Citation data were downloaded from the Web of Science Core Collection database (WoSCC) to evaluate VR in medicine in articles published between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2023. These data were analyzed using CiteSpace 6.2. R2 software. Present limitations and future opportunities were summarized based on the data. Results: A total of 2143 related publications from 86 countries and regions were analyzed. The country with the highest number of publications is the USA, with 461 articles. The University of London has the most publications among institutions, with 43 articles. The burst keywords represent the research frontier from 2020 to 2023, such as “task analysis”, “deep learning”, and “machine learning”. Conclusion: The number of publications on VR applications in the medical field has been steadily increasing year by year. The USA is the leading country in this area, while the University of London stands out as the most published, and most influential institution. Currently, there is a strong focus on integrating VR and AI to address complex issues such as medical education and training, rehabilitation, and surgical navigation. Looking ahead, the future trend involves integrating VR, augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) with the Internet of Things (IoT), wireless sensor networks (WSNs), big data analysis (BDA), and cloud computing (CC) technologies to develop intelligent healthcare systems within hospitals or medical centers.

In this paper, a novel 4H-SiC deep-trench super-junction MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor) with a split-gate is proposed and theoretically verified by Sentaurus TCAD simulations. A deep trench filled with P-poly-Si combined with the P-SiC region leads to a charge balance effect. Instead of a full-SiC P region in conventional super-junction MOSFET, this new structure reduces the P region in a super-junction MOSFET, thus helping to lower the specific on-resistance. As a result, the figure of merit (FoM, BV2/Ron,sp) of the proposed new structure is 642% and 39.65% higher than the C-MOS and the SJ-MOS, respectively.

Abstract Polymer membranes have been used extensively for Angstrom-scale separation of solutes and molecules. However, the pore size of most polymer membranes has been considered an intrinsic membrane property that cannot be adjusted in operation by applied stimuli. In this work, we show that the pore size of an electrically conductive polyamide membrane can be modulated by an applied voltage in the presence of electrolyte via a mechanism called electrically induced osmotic swelling. Under applied voltage, the highly charged polyamide layer concentrates counter ions in the polymer network via Donnan equilibrium and creates a sizeable osmotic pressure to enlarge the free volume and the effective pore size. The relation between membrane potential and pore size can be quantitatively described using the extended Flory-Rehner theory with Donnan equilibrium. The ability to regulate pore size via applied voltage enables operando modulation of precise molecular separation in-situ. This study demonstrates the amazing capability of electro-regulation of membrane pore size at the Angstrom scale and unveils an important but previously overlooked mechanism of membrane-water-solute interactions.

Abstract The unique optical properties of transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) monolayers have attracted significant attention for both photonics applications and fundamental studies of low-dimensional systems. TMD monolayers of high optical quality, however, have been limited to micron-sized flakes produced by low-throughput and labour-intensive processes, whereas large-area films are often affected by surface defects and large inhomogeneity. Here we report a rapid and reliable method to synthesize macroscopic-scale TMD monolayers of uniform, high optical quality. Using 1-dodecanol encapsulation combined with gold-tape-assisted exfoliation, we obtain monolayers with lateral size > 1 mm, exhibiting exciton energy, linewidth, and quantum yield uniform over the whole area and close to those of high-quality micron-sized flakes. We tentatively associate the role of the two molecular encapsulating layers as isolating the TMD from the substrate and passivating the chalcogen vacancies, respectively. We demonstrate the utility of our encapsulated monolayers by scalable integration with an array of photonic crystal cavities, creating polariton arrays with enhanced light-matter coupling strength. This work provides a pathway to achieving high-quality two-dimensional materials over large areas, enabling research and technology development beyond individual micron-sized devices.

Abstract In this letter, a novel true random number generator (TRNG) with high energy‐efficient and throughput is proposed for cryptographic systems. The current starve based ring oscillator (CSRO) is biased in the subthrehold region as an entropy source. An individual ring oscillator (RO) is sampled using multiple sampling points of the CSRO working in the sub‐threshold region to obtain a multi‐channel sequence output, thereby fully exploiting the randomness of the entropy source. The proposed TRNG is implemented using a standard 40nm CMOS technology and the simulation results show that it provides high‐quality and 20.66 Mbps random sequences while only consuming 11.46 μW at 1.1 V, 25°C. In addition, the proposed TRNG passes the NIST SP 800‐22 and the NIST SP 800‐90B tests without post‐processing and outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art in terms of energy consumption per bit of the output bitstream, reaching 0.555pJ/bit.

Abstract Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Homeobox D9 (HOXD9), a member of the HOX family of transcription factors, plays a driver role in development of multiple cancers. Angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2) is reportedly to facilitate angiogenesis, growth and metastasis in various cancers, including lung cancer. In addition, blocking ANGPT2 can effectively improve cancer immunotherapy via downregulation of Programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1). The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of HOXD9 in NSCLC and whether ANGPT2 is required for HOXD9-mediated malignant behaviors of NSCLC cells. By performing a series of in vitro functional experiments, we found that knockdown of HOXD9 induced proliferative inhibition, cell cycle G1 arrest, apoptosis, migratory suppression and invasive repression of NSCLC cells. Reduced PD-L1 expression in NSCLC cells was observed after HOXD9 silencing. Besides, HOXD9 deletion decreased the expression of ANGPT2 in NSCLC cells. In line with this, HOXD9 overexpression led to opposite alteration in NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, ANGPT2 was transcriptionally activated by HOXD9. Forced expression of ANGPT2 significantly regulated HOXD9-mediated malignant phenotypes, and enhanced PD-L1 expression of NSCLC cells. Our results expressing HOXD9 may function as an oncogene in NSCLC via trans-activation of ANGPT2.

Previous research has indicated that anticipating positive effects from cannabis use may be linked with increased frequency of cannabis consumption, yet these expectancies remain poorly understood in adults with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Thus, our study aimed to investigate the expectancies of the effects of cannabis use in 26 frequently using adults with SAD (age: 27.9 ± 7.3 years; 54% female) and 26 (age: 27.4 ± 6.7 years; 50% female) without. While no between-group differences were observed, both groups reported expecting tension reduction and relaxation (F = 0.001; p = 0.974), cravings, and physical effects (F = 1.10; p = 0.300), but denied global negative effects (F = 0.11; p = 0.744). The trajectory of cannabis use perceptions (further investigated in 12/26 participants/group) also showed no between-group differences. Before the initial use, positive perceptions may have led to initial and continuous cannabis consumption, while the symptoms of cannabis use disorder may have contributed to repeated use. Our data indicate that, regardless of psychiatric history, frequent cannabis-using adults are more likely to report positive expectancies, which are often associated with increased patterns of cannabis consumption. Psychoeducational programs and openly discussing the risks of cannabis may be beneficial in preventing and/or reducing cannabis use in people with SAD.

Vector magnetograms of the Sun’s photosphere are cornerstones for much of solar physics research. These data are often produced by data-analysis pipelines combining per-pixel Stokes polarization vector inversion with a disambiguation that resolves an intrinsic 180° ambiguity. We introduce a learning-based method, SuperSynthIA, that produces full-disk vector magnetograms from Stokes vector observations. As input, SuperSynthIA uses Stokes polarization images from Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI). As output, SuperSynthIA simultaneously emulates the inversion and disambiguation outputs from the Hinode/Solar Optical Telescope-Spectro-Polarimeter (SOT-SP) pipeline. Our method extends our previous approach SynthIA with heliographic outputs as well as using an improved data set and inference method. SuperSynthIA provides a new tool for improved magnetic fields from full-disk SDO/HMI observations using information derived from the enhanced capabilities of Hinode/SOT-SP. Compared to our previous SynthIA, SuperSynthIA provides physics-ready vector magnetograms and mitigates unphysical angle preferences and banding artifacts in SynthIA. SuperSynthIA data are substantially more temporally consistent than those from the SDO/HMI pipeline, most notably seen in, e.g., evolving active regions. SuperSynthIA substantially reduces noise in low-signal areas, resulting in less center-to-limb bias outside of strong-signal areas. We show that outputs from SuperSynthIA track the SDO/HMI-recorded evolution of the magnetic field. We discuss the limitations of SuperSynthIA that the user must understand, and we demonstrate a broad set of evaluations to test SuperSynthIA and discuss remaining known artifacts. Our tests provide both methodology and evidence that SuperSynthIA outputs are ready for use by the community, and that learning-based approaches are suitable for physics-ready magnetograms.

Terahertz (THz) radiation is a powerful tool for exploring various scientific frontiers through THz pump–probe experiments. However, different experiments may require THz radiation with different spectral properties, such as broad-band or narrow-band, which are difficult to be generated by a single light source. In this paper, we propose a THz light source that can produce both types of THz radiation by manipulating the longitudinal profile of an electron beam and exploiting coherent transition radiation. We perform theoretical analysis and numerical simulations based on the parameters of the Shanghai soft X-ray Free-Electron Laser facility, and the results show that the proposed light source can generate broad-band THz radiation with a pulse energy of 342 µJ and narrow-band THz radiation with a pulse energy of 91 µJ. The proposed light source can offer more flexibility and versatility for free-electron laser (FEL) users to conduct THz pump–probe experiments.

BackgroundChronic inflammation plays a crucial role in tissue injury, osteoporosis, and fracture. The dietary inflammatory index (DII) is a tool for assessing the potential for inflammation in the diet. However, the association between the DII and fractures remains controversial from previous studies. ObjectiveWe aimed to explore the correlation between the DII and fracture risk in Chinese adults. MethodsWe included 11,999 adults (5519 men and 6480 women) who were a part of the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1997-2015) prospective cohort. A 3-day, 24-hour meal review method was used to calculate the DII score. The fractures were identified using a questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for fractures. Subgroup, sensitivity, and restricted cubic spline analyses were performed. ResultsDuring the 18 years of follow-up (median follow-up 9.0 years), 463 men and 439 women developed fractures. The median DII score was 0.64 (IQR −1.74 to 1.46) for the total sample, 0.75 (IQR −1.68 to 1.50) for men, and 0.53 (IQR −1.79 to 1.42) for women. The DII score had a positive correlation with the risk of fracture among women but not among men. For men, after adjusting for covariates, the HRs for quintiles of DII were 1, 0.96 (95% CI 0.66-1.41), 1.05 (95% CI 0.74-1.49), 0.89 (95% CI 0.62-1.26), and 0.94 (95% CI 0.67-1.34; trend: P=.62). The HRs for women were 1, 1.13 (95% CI 0.72-1.79), 1.24 (95% CI 0.83-1.86), 1.51 (95% CI 1.02-2.22), and 1.62 (95% CI 1.10-2.39; trend: P=.004). The restricted cubic spline analysis showed a significant association between fracture risk and DII score in women (overall association: P=.01); as the DII scores were >0.53, HRs showed a significant upward trend. Women aged

Accurate load forecasting is crucial to improve the stability and cost-efficiency of smart grid operations. However, how to integrate multiple significant factors for enhancing load forecasting performance is insufficiently investigated in previous studies. To fill the gap, this study proposes a novel hybrid deep learning model for short-term load forecasting. First, the long short-term memory network is utilized to capture patterns from historical load data. Second, a time pattern attention (TPA) mechanism is incorporated to improve feature extraction and learning capabilities. By discerning valuable features and eliminating irrelevant ones, the TPA mechanism enhances the learning process. Third, fully-connected layers are employed to integrate external factors such as climatic conditions, economic indicators, and temporal aspects. This comprehensive approach facilitates a deeper understanding of the impact of these factors on load profiles, leading to the development of a highly accurate load forecasting model. Rigorous experimental evaluations demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed approach in comparison to existing state-of-the-art load forecasting methodologies.

Measurement(s) park Technology Type(s) Geographic Information System Sample Characteristic - Environment County • Tract Sample Characteristic - Location United States

Abstract Purpose Radiotherapy is one of the essential treatment modalities for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), however, radioresistance still poses challenges. Three-dimensional (3D) tumor culture models mimic the in vivo growth conditions of cells more accurately than 2D models. This study is to compare the tumor biological behaviors of NPC cells in 2D, On-Surface 3D and Embedded 3D systems, and to investigate the correlation between radioresistance and extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness. Methods The morphology and radioresistance of the human NPC cell line CNE-1 were observed in 2D and 3D systems. The CCK-8 assay, wounding healing assays, flow cytometry, soft agar assays, and western blot analysis were used to evaluate differences in biological behaviors such as proliferation, migration, cell cycle distribution, and stem cell activity. Different ECM stiffness systems were established by co-blending collagen and alginate in varying proportions. ECM stiffness was evaluated by compressive elastic moduli measurement and colony formation assay was used to assess radioresistance of NPC cells in systems with different ECM stiffness after irradiation. Results Compared to 2D models, the morphology of NPC cells in 3D culture microenvironments has more in common with in vivo tumor cells and 3D cultured NPC cells exhibit stronger radioresistance. Integrin β1 but not the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition pathway in 3D models boost migration ability. Cell proliferation was enhanced, the proportion of tumor stem cells was increased, and G1/S phase arrest occurred in 3D models. NPC cells cultured in softer ECM systems (with low alginate proportions) exhibit striking resistance to ionizing radiation. Conclusion The tumor biological behaviors of NPC cells in 3D groups were obviously different from that of 2D. Radioresistance of NPC cells increased with the stiffness of ECM decreasing.

Featuring exceptional mechanical and functional performance, MWCNTs and graphene (nano)platelets (GNPs or GnPs; each platelet below 10 ​nm in thickness) have been increasingly used for the development of polymer nanocomposites. Since MWCNTs are now cost-effective at US$30 per kg for industrial applications, this work starts by briefly reviewing the disentanglement and surface modification of MWCNTs as well as the properties of the resulting polymer nanocomposites. GNPs can be made through the thermal treatment of graphite intercalation compounds followed by ultrasonication; GNPs would have lower cost yet higher electrical conductivity over 1,400 ​S ​cm−1 than MWCNTs. Through proper surface modification and compounding techniques, both types of fillers can reinforce or toughen polymers and simultaneously add anti-static performance. A high ratio of MWCNTs to GNPs would increase the synergy for polymers. Green, solvent-free systhesis methods are desired for polymer nanocomposites. Perspectives on the limitations, current challenges and future prospects are provided.