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Evapotranspiration (ET) plays a crucial role in the global water and energy cycle. Upscaling instantaneous ET ([Formula: see text]) to daily ET ([Formula: see text]) is vital for thermal-based ET estimation. Conventional methods – such as the constant evaporative fraction method (ConEF), radiation-based method, and evaporative ratio method – often overlook environmental factors, leading to biased estimates of [Formula: see text] from [Formula: see text]. To resolve this issue, this study aimed to assess four machine learning (ML) algorithms—XGBoost, LightGBM, AdaBoost, and Random Forest—to integrate meteorological and remote sensing data for upscaling [Formula: see text] across 88 global flux sites. Each ML model was tested with eight different variable combinations. Results indicated that XGBoost exhibited the best performance, with a root mean square error (RMSE) generally below 13 W [Formula: see text] in estimating [Formula: see text] from [Formula: see text]. The best variable combination simultaneously considers evaporative fraction, available energy, meteorology factors, remote sensing albedo, normalized vegetation index, and leaf area index. Using this combination, the XGBoost model achieved an [Formula: see text] = 0.88 and an RMSE = 12.33 W [Formula: see text], outperforming the ConEF method ([Formula: see text] = 0.71 and RMSE = 18.86 W [Formula: see text]) and its expansions. These findings support the application of ML models in ET upscaling, enabling ET estimation across large spatiotemporal scales.

Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder marked by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Despite progress, the pathogenesis remains unclear. Human midbrain organoids (hMLOs) have emerged as a promising model for studying PD, drug screening, and potential treatments. This review discusses the development of hMLOs, their application in PD research, and current challenges in organoid construction, highlighting possible optimization strategies.

Abstract The association between built environment and physical activity has been recognized. However, how and to what extent microscale streetscapes are related to running activity remains underexplored, partly due to the lack of running data in large urban areas. Moreover, few studies have examined the interactive effects of macroscale built environment and microscale streetscapes. This study examines the main and interactive effects of the two-level environments on running intensity, using 9.73 million fitness tracker data from Keep in Shanghai, China. Results of spatial error model showed that: 1) the explanatory power of microscale streetscapes was higher than that of macroscale built environment with R2 of 0.245 and 0.240, respectively, which is different from the prior finding that R2 is greater for macroscale built environment than for microscale streetscape; 2) sky and green view indexes were positively associated with running intensity, whereas visual crowdedness had a negative effect; 3) there were negative interactions of land use Herfindahl–Hirschman index with sky and green view indexes, while a positive interaction was observed for visual crowdedness. To conclude, greener, more open and less visually crowded streetscapes, can promote running behavior and enhance the benefits of land use mix as well. The findings highlight the importance of streetscapes in promoting running behavior, instead of a supplement to macroscale built environment.

Abstract Background It remains unknown whether good neighbourhood perception can enhance the benefits of favourable built environment to physical activity. Moreover, the moderation pattern is less understood in developing countries. Objectives This work aims to examine the moderation effects of perceived neighbourhood safety and aesthetics on the relationship between built environment and time for recreational walking. Methods We performed the examination using a sample of 760 residents in Fuzhou City, China. The Negative Binomial Regression Model was developed to examine the moderation roles of neighbourhood safety and aesthetics on the impact of built environment, adjusting for the effects of location, socioeconomic, personal preferences and social environment factors. Moreover, two sensitivity analyses were performed to test whether the moderators found are robust to the control of residential self-selection, and differential measures of conceptually-comparable aspects of built environment. Results We found stronger associations of time for recreational walking with road density and proportion of parks and squares POIs for residents with high perception of neighbourhood safety, compared to those with low perception of neighbourhood safety. There was a greater effect of the proportion of parks and squares POIs, when perceived aesthetics was high than when perceived aesthetics was low. The findings of neighbourhood safety and aesthetics as moderator, were robust in the two sensitivity analyses. No significant moderation effect was found for land use diversity. Conclusions High perceived neighbourhood safety can magnify the positive effects of road connectivity and accessibility to parks and squares. Neighbourhood aesthetics positively moderates the association of time for recreational walking with accessibility to parks and squares. The findings emphasize the need to consider safety- and aesthetics-specific differences in estimates of built environment effects. Improvements in neighbourhood safety and aesthetics are key to effective interventions in built environment to better promote physical activity.

Abstract Numerous studies have suggested that the perceived built environment is shaped by the objective built environment and influences human physical activity. However, the empirical examination of this pathway remains scant. Addressing this gap, our study investigates whether the built environment affects leisure-time physical activity through its impact on the perceived built environment, utilizing data collected from 760 residents in Fuzhou, China. Structural Equation Modeling results reveal a modest correlation between objective and perceived built environment elements, with the objective built environment being a stronger predictor of leisure-time physical activity. Notably, perceived recreational facilities significantly mediate the relationship between objective recreational facilities and leisure-time physical activity, accounting for 15% of the variance in physical activity due to objective recreational facilities. This mediation effect is consistent across subpopulations, irrespective of residential self-selection biases. These results highlight the imperative for urban planning and policy to extend beyond mere spatial allocation of amenities to enhancing both the actual and perceived accessibility of these facilities, thus underlining the study's profound implications for public health and urban development strategies.

Photosynthesis (a key ecological process) is measured based on gross primary productivity (GPP), emphasizing the criticality of accurate GPP estimation to climate change research. The extant remote sensing-based approaches for GPP estimation were typically based on optical remote sensing data, neglecting the potential supplementary information from microwave remote sensing data. Thus, based on the random forest algorithm, we developed a GPP model through the integration of optical and microwave remote sensing with meteorological data (OMM-GPP). The software and tools used for data processing, modeling, and analysis are the standard and third-party libraries based on the Python Language. Our OMM-GPP model was trained and validated using GPP data (referred to as “observed GPP”) retrieved from carbon dioxide fluxes measured at 137 flux towers. The results indicated that GPP estimation by integrating optical and microwave data with meteorological data was more accurate than GPP estimation by integrating single-source remote sensing data (optical or microwave data) with meteorological data across eight vegetation types. The model performed well on daily and monthly scales, with determination coefficients (R2) (root-mean-square errors, RMSE) of 0.85 (1.52 gC m−2 d−1) and 0.83 (1.49 gC m−2 d−1), respectively, which increased (decreased) by 0.17–0.03 (0.58–0.12 gC m−2 d−1) and 0.11–0.02 (0.39–0.10 gC m−2 d−1) compared with the R2 (RMSE) values obtained by integrating single-source remote sensing data with meteorological variables. Further, the OMM-GPP model effectively captured the seasonal variations in daily and monthly GPP across most vegetation types. The eight-day-scale comparison of the model with the VODCA2GPP dataset revealed its enhanced performances, increasing R2 by 0.33 and decreasing RMSE by 0.97 gC m−2 d−1. Overall, the integration of microwave and optical remote sensing data with meteorological data can enhance GPP estimation accuracy, as demonstrated by the established OMM-GPP, across different vegetation types.

BackgroundHypnotherapy has a potential role in modulating attention bias to treat social anxiety disorder (SAD). This study aimed to verify whether hypnotherapy can reduce social anxiety by changing attentional bias. The primary objective of our study is to explore the influence of hypnosis on various aspects of attention processes, specifically focusing on how it affects attention bias and social anxiety.MethodsThis study included 69 participants with SAD who were assigned to three groups based on their scores on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS). The experimental group (n = 23) received a hypnosis treatment once a week, for a total of six sessions, while the control group (n = 23) and the baseline group (n = 23) did not receive any treatment. To evaluate whether hypnosis could alleviate SAD and attention bias towards threatening stimuli, we employed questionnaires and an odd-one-out task accompanied by electroencephalography (EEG) recordings.ResultsUnder the attention sensitivity conditions, the experimental group exhibited a reduced N170 and LPP at the posttest stage, and a similar N170 and LPP reduction under the attention disengagement conditions. Notably, the symptom improvements were positively correlated with the reduction in N170 and LPP amplitude across conditions.ConclusionHypnosis treatment modulates the early face processing and late emotional evaluation of threat-related stimuli in SAD patients. These findings suggest that N170 and LPP are important biomarkers for the treatment of SAD.

Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) is a widely used indicator to assess the intensity of drought based on a similar two-layer bucket (TLB) model, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. However, the TLB model cannot quantify surface water balance, effectively, which may lead to the mis-assessment of drought. Therefore, an optimized PDSI indicator named RW-PDSI based on the water balance is constructed. RW-PDSI is developed using the output of a newly proposed remote-sensing-based water balance assessment tool (RWBAT) model. The RWBAT model is constructed to depict the detailed hydrological processes on a fine spatial scale using high-resolution remote sensing data. To test its performance, we collected tree-ring data on the Loess Plateau (LP) to show the drought conditions in past decades (1991–2020). Tree-ring data provide a useful continuous multi-year data archive for drought assessment. Our results showed that the correlation between RW-PDSI and tree-ring data was statistically significant (p

Abstract Genotoxic therapy triggers reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and oxidative tissue injury. S-nitrosylation is a selective and reversible posttranslational modification of protein thiols by nitric oxide (NO), and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential cofactor for NO synthesis. However, the mechanism by which BH4 affects protein S-nitrosylation and ROS generation has not been determined. Here, we showed that ionizing radiation disrupted the structural integrity of BH4 and downregulated GTP cyclohydrolase I (GCH1), which is the rate-limiting enzyme in BH4 biosynthesis, resulting in deficiency in overall protein S-nitrosylation. GCH1-mediated BH4 synthesis significantly reduced radiation-induced ROS production and fueled the global protein S-nitrosylation that was disrupted by radiation. Likewise, GCH1 overexpression or the administration of exogenous BH4 protected against radiation-induced oxidative injury in vitro and in vivo. Conditional pulmonary Gch1 knockout in mice (Gch1 fl/fl ; Sftpa1-Cre +/− mice) aggravated lung injury following irradiation, whereas Gch1 knock-in mice (Gch1 lsl/lsl ; Sftpa1-Cre +/− mice) exhibited attenuated radiation-induced pulmonary toxicity. Mechanistically, lactate dehydrogenase (LDHA) mediated ROS generation downstream of the BH4/NO axis, as determined by iodoacetyl tandem mass tag (iodoTMT)-based protein quantification. Notably, S-nitrosylation of LDHA at Cys163 and Cys293 was regulated by BH4 availability and could restrict ROS generation. The loss of S-nitrosylation in LDHA after irradiation increased radiosensitivity. Overall, the results of the present study showed that GCH1-mediated BH4 biosynthesis played a key role in the ROS cascade and radiosensitivity through LDHA S-nitrosylation, identifying novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of radiation-induced lung injury.

Abstract Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Targeted therapies aimed at key oncogenic driver mutations in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as immunotherapy have benefited cancer patients considerably. Tumor protein p53 (TP53), a crucial tumor suppressor gene encoding p53, regulates numerous downstream genes and cellular phenotypes in response to various stressors. The affected genes are involved in diverse processes, including cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, cellular senescence, metabolic homeostasis, apoptosis, and autophagy. However, accumulating recent studies have continued to reveal novel and unexpected functions of p53 in governing the fate of tumors, for example, functions in ferroptosis, immunity, the tumor microenvironment and microbiome metabolism. Among the possibilities, the evolutionary plasticity of p53 is the most controversial, partially due to the dizzying array of biological functions that have been attributed to different regulatory mechanisms of p53 signaling. Nearly 40 years after its discovery, this key tumor suppressor remains somewhat enigmatic. The intricate and diverse functions of p53 in regulating cell fate during cancer treatment are only the tip of the iceberg with respect to its equally complicated structural biology, which has been painstakingly revealed. Additionally, TP53 mutation is one of the most significant genetic alterations in cancer, contributing to rapid cancer cell growth and tumor progression. Here, we summarized recent advances that implicate altered p53 in modulating the response to various cancer therapies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Furthermore, we also discussed potential strategies for targeting p53 as a therapeutic option for cancer.

Abstract Coleman’s theorem states that continuous internal symmetries cannot be spontaneously broken in two-dimensional quantum field theories (QFTs). In this work we consider surface (i.e. two-dimensional) defects in d-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs) invariant under a continuous internal symmetry group G. We study under which conditions it is possible for a surface defect to break spontaneously a continuous internal symmetry. We find that spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) is impossible under reasonable assumptions on the defect Renormalization Group (RG) flow. Counterexamples are possible only for exotic RG flows, that do not terminate at a fixed-point. We discuss an example of this kind. We also illustrate our no-go result with an effective field theory analysis of generic defect RG flows. We find a generic weakly coupled defect universality class (with no SSB), where correlation functions decay logarithmically. Our analysis generalizes the recent discovery by Metlitski of the extraordinary-log boundary universality class in the O(N) model.

Abstract The middle reaches of the Lancang‐Mekong River Basin (M‐LMRB) experienced a record‐breaking drought event in 2019, resulting in significant economic losses of approximately 650 million dollars and affecting a population of 17 million. However, the anomalous circulation and transportation processes of water vapor, which may have played a crucial role in inducing the extreme drought, have not been fully studied. In this study, we analyze the water vapor circulation during the 2019 drought event using the land‐atmosphere water balance and a backward trajectory model for moisture tracking. Our results indicate that the precipitation in the M‐LMRB from May to October 2019 was only 71.9% of the long‐term climatological mean (1959–2021). The low precipitation during this drought event can be attributed to less‐than‐normal external water vapor supply. Specifically, the backward trajectory model reveals a decrease in the amount of water vapor transported from the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal, and the Pacific Ocean, which are the main moisture sources for precipitation in the region. Comparing the atmospheric circulation patterns in 2019 with the climatology, we identify anomalous anticyclone conditions in the Bay of Bengal, anomalous westerlies in the Northeast Indian Ocean, and an anomalous cyclone in the Western Pacific Ocean, collectively facilitating a stronger export of water vapor from the region. Therefore, the dynamic processes played a more significant role than thermodynamic processes in contributing to the 2019 extreme drought event.

Abstract Overexposure to ultraviolet light (UV) has become a major dermatological problem since the intensity of ultraviolet radiation is increasing. As an adaption to outside environments, amphibians gained an excellent peptide‐based defense system in their naked skin from secular evolution. Here, we first determined the adaptation and resistance of the dark‐spotted frogs (Pelophylax nigromaculatus) to constant ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure. Subsequently, peptidomics of frog skin identified a series of novel peptides in response to UVB. These UV‐induced frog skin peptides (UIFSPs) conferred significant protection against UVB‐induced death and senescence in skin cells. Moreover, the protective effects of UIFSPs were boosted by coupling with the transcription trans‐activating (TAT) protein transduction domain. In vivo, TAT‐conjugated UIFSPs mitigated skin photodamage and accelerated wound healing. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that multiple pathways were modulated by TAT‐conjugated UIFSPs, including small GTPase/Ras signaling and MAPK signaling. Importantly, pharmacological activation of MAPK kinases counteracted UIFSP‐induced decrease in cell death after UVB exposure. Taken together, our findings provide evidence for the potential preventive and therapeutic significance of UIFSPs in UV‐induced skin damage by antagonizing MAPK signaling pathways. In addition, these results suggest a practicable alternative in which potential therapeutic agents can be mined from organisms with a fascinating ability to adapt.

Abstract BackgroundCycling is known to be beneficial for human health. Studies have suggested significant associations of physical activity with macroscale built environments and streetscapes. However, whether good streetscapes can amplify the benefits of a favorable built environment on physical activity remains unknown. ObjectiveThis study examines whether streetscape perceptions can modify the associations between accessibility, land use mix, and bike-sharing use. MethodsThis cross-sectional study used data from 18,019,266 bike-sharing orders during weekends in Shanghai, China. A 500 × 500 m grid was selected as the analysis unit to allocate data. Bike-sharing use was defined as the number of bike-sharing origins. Street view images and a human-machine adversarial scoring framework were combined to evaluate lively, safety, and wealthy perceptions. Negative binomial regression was developed to examine the independent effects of the three perceptual factors in both the univariate model and fully adjusted model, controlling for population density, average building height, distance to nearest transit, number of bus stations, number of points of interest, distance to the nearest park, and distance to the central business district. The moderation effect was then investigated through the interaction term between streetscape perception and accessibility and land use mix, based on the fully adjusted model. We also tested whether the findings of streetscape moderation effects are robust when examinations are performed at different geographic scales, using a small-sample statistics approach and different operationalizations of land use mix and accessibility. ResultsHigh levels of lively, safety, and wealthy perceptions were correlated with more bike-sharing activities. There were negative effects for the interactions between the land use Herfindahl-Hirschman index with the lively perception (β=–0.63; PPPPPP ConclusionsA safer and livelier streetscape can enhance the benefits of land use mix in promoting bike-sharing use, with a safer streetscape also intensifying the effect of accessibility. Interventions focused on streetscape perceptions can encourage cycling behavior and enhance the benefits of accessibility and land use mix. This study also contributes to the literature on potential moderators of built environment healthy behavior associations from the perspective of microscale environmental perceptions.

Abstract The extensive application of nuclear technology has increased the potential of uncontrolled radiation exposure to the public. Since skin is the largest organ, radiation‐induced skin injury remains a serious medical concern. Organisms evolutionally develop distinct strategies to protect against environment insults and the related research may bring novel insights into therapeutics development. Here, 26 increased peptides are identified in skin tissues of frogs (Pelophylax nigromaculatus) exposed to electron beams, among which four promoted the wound healing of irradiated skin in rats. Specifically, radiation‐induced frog skin peptide‐2 (RIFSP‐2), from histone proteolysis exerted membrane permeability property, maintained cellular homeostasis, and reduced pyroptosis of irradiated cells with decreased TBK1 phosphorylation. Subsequently, stearyl‐CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) is identified, a critical enzyme in biogenesis of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) as a direct target of RIFSP‐2 based on streptavidin‐biotin system. The lipidomic analysis further assured the restrain of MUFAs biogenesis by RIFSP‐2 following radiation. Moreover, the decreased MUFA limited radiation‐induced and STING‐mediated inflammation response. In addition, genetic depletion or pharmacological inhibition of STING counteracted the decreased pyroptosis by RIFSP‐2 and retarded tissue repair process. Altogether, RIFSP‐2 restrains radiation‐induced activation of SCD1‐MUFA‐STING axis. Thus, the stress‐induced amphibian peptides can be a bountiful source of novel radiation mitigators.

The delivery of insulin to diabetic patients remains a challenge due to the limitations of current insulin delivery paradigms, including painful cannula insertion, potential infections, interference with activity, embarrassment, and sometimes cost. To address this problem, we designed and fabricated nine prototypes of stereolithographic 3D-printed microneedle arrays (MNAs) appropriate for the minimally invasive delivery of insulin. We characterized their transdermal penetration performance by delivering fluid at a constant rate to porcine skin through these MNAs. Moreover, we characterized the force required for these MNAs to puncture porcine skin using a mechanical testing apparatus. We developed an improved method of mechanical testing for the MNAs against porcine skin by incorporating an imitation soft tissue layer under the skin and compared the MNA results with those using a single microneedle and a hypodermic needle. In addition, we investigated the mechanical flexural strength of the MNAs by performing a flexural failure load test on them. We confirmed that the prototype MNAs are mechanically robust and do not fracture during skin penetration, setting the stage for future trials in vitro and in vivo. The final, optimized designs are freely available in stereolithography (STL) file format.

CD36 is a highly glycosylated integral membrane protein that belongs to the scavenger receptor class B family and regulates the pathological progress of metabolic diseases. CD36 was recently found to be widely expressed in various cell types in the nervous system, including endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, and microglia. CD36 mediates a number of regulatory processes, such as endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammatory responses, which are involved in many central nervous system diseases, such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal cord injury. CD36 antagonists can suppress CD36 expression or prevent CD36 binding to its ligand, thereby achieving inhibition of CD36-mediated pathways or functions. Here, we reviewed the mechanisms of action of CD36 antagonists, such as Salvianolic acid B, tanshinone IIA, curcumin, sulfosuccinimidyl oleate, antioxidants, and small-molecule compounds. Moreover, we predicted the structures of binding sites between CD36 and antagonists. These sites can provide targets for more efficient and safer CD36 antagonists for the treatment of central nervous system diseases.

Abstract Global warming has intensified the intensity of compound drought‐hot extremes (CDHEs), posing more severe impacts on human societies and ecosystems than individual extremes. The vulnerability of global terrestrial ecosystems under CDHEs, along with its key influencing factors, remains poorly understood. Based on multiple remote sensing data, we construct a Vine Copula model to appraise vegetation vulnerability under CDHEs, and attribute it to climatic and biotic factors for five different vegetation types. High vulnerability is detected in central and southern regions of North America, eastern and southern regions of South America, Southern Africa, northern and western Europe, and northern and eastern Australia. The drier the climate, the higher will be the vulnerability. Furthermore, biodiversity and biomass are key biotic factors influencing the vulnerability of various vegetation types, such that ecosystems with richer biodiversity and higher biomass have lower vulnerability to CDHEs. The findings deepen understanding of terrestrial ecosystem response to CDHEs.

Background: Family involvement and comfort are equally important in palliative care. Dignity undertook a new meaning and novel challenges as a result of restrictions on visits and companionship during the pandemic. Family-centered family dignity interventions have been shown to be effective in increasing patients’ sense of dignity, increasing levels of hope, and reducing psychological distress; however, the effectiveness in enhancing family adaptability and intimacy in the survivor-caregiver binary and reducing expected grief have been inconclusive. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of family dignity interventions on family adaptability and cohesion. The secondary objective was to explore the effects of the interventions on anticipatory grief and psychological distress, and the lasting effect 1 month after the intervention. Design: A single-blinded, two-arm parallel group, randomized controlled trial was conducted in China. Settings: and methods: Ninety-eight dyads who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to the family dignity intervention (n = 51) or standard palliative care group (n = 47) between June and August 2022. Study outcomes were measured at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at the 1-month follow-up post-intervention evaluation. Data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, independent sample t-test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and generalized estimation equations. The Intention-To-Treat analysis was performed for all available data. Results: In comparison to the control group, significant improvements in family adaptability and cohesion and anticipatory grief over post-intervention and 1-month follow-up were demonstrated among the patients in the intervention group. The intervention group of caregivers had significant improvement in anticipatory grief at post-intervention and 1-month follow-up. The level of psychological distress was significantly lower in the intervention group than the control group (p

Abstract Recent extremely heavy precipitation has led to substantial economic losses and affected millions of residences in the Lancang‐Mekong River Basin (LMRB). This study analyzed the spatial‐temporal characteristics of the annual maximum precipitation (R1X) of the LMRB and identified the moisture sources and pathways conducive to R1Xs using a Lagrangian back trajectory model. Results show that India Ocean and Bay of Bengal (IO/BOB), local evapotranspiration, and West Pacific Ocean and East China (WP/EC) are the three main moisture transport pathways of the R1Xs in LMRB, contributing 68.3%, 20.4% and 11.3% of the trajectories, respectively. R1Xs in the downstream eastern area are affected by tropical cyclones bringing large amounts of moisture from the WP/EC. As tropical cyclones shifted northward under climate change impact, more extreme precipitation occurred over the LMRB due to moisture coming from WP/EC, but those from the IO/BOB had decreased because of the slowdown of flows across the Equator.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is ubiquitous in the environment, which has been classified as an established human carcinogen. As the largest and outermost organ of the body, direct exposure of skin to sunlight or UV radiation can result in sunburn, inflammation, photo-immunosuppression, photoaging and even skin cancers. To date, there are tactics to protect the skin by preventing UV radiation and reducing the amount of UV radiation to the skin. Nevertheless, deciphering the essential regulatory mechanisms may pave the way for therapeutic interventions against UV-induced skin disorders. Additionally, UV light is considered beneficial for specific skin-related conditions in medical UV therapy. Recent evidence indicates that the biological effects of UV exposure extend beyond the skin and include the treatment of inflammatory diseases, solid tumors and certain abnormal behaviors. This review mainly focuses on the effects of UV on the skin. Moreover, novel findings of the biological effects of UV in other organs and systems are also summarized. Nevertheless, the mechanisms through which UV affects the human organism remain to be fully elucidated to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of its biological effects.

Abstract A structurally dense hydrogel, with strong hydrogen bonding networks, was formed from poly(vinyl alcohol), sodium alginate, and oligomeric proanthocyanidins, using a combination of freeze–thaw cycles and calcium ion cross-linking. The structure of the hydrogel was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Mechanical testing and thermogravimetric analysis showed that incorporation of proanthocyanidins enhanced both the mechanical properties and the thermal stability of the hydrogel. The hydrogel was also demonstrated to have excellent ultraviolet resistance and antioxidant properties. The hydrogel was further shown that this hydrogel is also capable of generating electrochemical reactions, which strongly suggests that this hydrogel has exciting potential in many fields.

Abstract Cancer remains the leading cause of death around the world. In cancer treatment, over 50% of cancer patients receive radiotherapy alone or in multimodal combinations with other therapies. One of the adverse consequences after radiation exposure is the occurrence of radiation-induced tissue fibrosis (RIF), which is characterized by the abnormal activation of myofibroblasts and the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix. This phenotype can manifest in multiple organs, such as lung, skin, liver and kidney. In-depth studies on the mechanisms of radiation-induced fibrosis have shown that a variety of extracellular signals such as immune cells and abnormal release of cytokines, and intracellular signals such as cGAS/STING, oxidative stress response, metabolic reprogramming and proteasome pathway activation are involved in the activation of myofibroblasts. Tissue fibrosis is extremely harmful to patients' health and requires early diagnosis. In addition to traditional serum markers, histologic and imaging tests, the diagnostic potential of nuclear medicine techniques is emerging. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant therapies are the traditional treatments for radiation-induced fibrosis. Recently, some promising therapeutic strategies have emerged, such as stem cell therapy and targeted therapies. However, incomplete knowledge of the mechanisms hinders the treatment of this disease. Here, we also highlight the potential mechanistic, diagnostic and therapeutic directions of radiation-induced fibrosis.

Background: Reconstruction of large scalp defects after tumor resection is common and challenging. Free skin grafting or free flap transfer is always performed. However, these techniques can result in poor functional and cosmetic outcomes. Methods: In the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, 35 patients underwent jigsaw puzzle flap procedures based on a free-style perforator to repair large scalp defects after tumor resection from May 2013 to November 2022. The key to this procedure was to divide a large defect into several smaller parts that correspond to adjacent free-style perforators around the scalp defect. The free-style perforator flaps were designed in different ways, such as propeller flaps, rotation flaps, and V-Y advancement flaps, which were pedicled with free-style perforators. All of the small flaps were then mobilized to the defect and sutured to each other to create a new, large jigsaw puzzle-like flap to cover the large scalp defect. Finally, all the donor sites were closed directly. Results: Overall, 35 patients were treated. The average defect size was 72 ​cm2 (range, 25–91 ​cm2). All flaps had a satisfactory appearance after follow-up periods of 6 months–10 years. Local tumor recurrence occurred in one case. Conclusion: The application of a jigsaw puzzle flap based on a free-style perforator is a suitable option for the reconstruction of large scalp defects after resection, yielding satisfactory functional and cosmetic results.

Globalization and informatization have exerted far-reaching impacts on the spatial connection and development of urban systems. This study, concerning the network of an urban system based on the space of flows, supplements the insufficiency on the micro-level in macro-urban network research. Taking Nanjing as an example, this study explores the characteristics of the network of the urban system from the perspective of people flow, refining the granularity of the analysis to the township- and street-level spatial units using mobile phone data. The findings are as follows: (1) There is a multicenter layered network pattern, with the main urban area being the core of the network, while Dongshan Street and Moling Street, as secondary centers, form a joint development pattern with the main urban area. (2) The spatial differentiation is significant. The spatial heterogeneity of “centralization in the central region, delayering in the north, and hierarchization in the south” is obvious. The net people inflow nodes are mainly concentrated in the main urban area and its surroundings, while the net outflow nodes are mostly located on the edge of the city. Moreover, the nodes to the south of Yangtze River are advantageous in urban resource control. (3) The phenomenon of “double shadow circle” appears in the ring of the main city and the ring of the municipal area. Moreover, the northern district experiences a serious outflow of population. (4) The effect of policy intervention is beginning to show. Improved levels of development of street and township units such as Jiangbei New District show the positive influence of national strategy on regional development.

For a class of fractional-order singular multi-agent systems (FOSMASs) with local Lipschitz nonlinearity, this paper proposes a closed-loop Dα-type iterative learning formation control law via input sharing to achieve the stable formation of FOSMASs in a finite time. Firstly, the formation control issue of FOSMASs with local Lipschitz nonlinearity under the fixed communication topology (FCT) is transformed into the consensus tracking control scenario. Secondly, by virtue of utilizing the characteristics of fractional calculus and the generalized Gronwall inequality, sufficient conditions for the convergence of formation error are given. Then, drawing upon the FCT, the iteration-varying switching communication topology is considered and examined. Ultimately, the validity of the Dα-type learning method is showcased through two numerical cases.

Abstract Background There is an increased concern that statins may have an unintended effect of elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]. We conducted a large sample real-world study to test the association. Methods This retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from an integrated SuValue database, which includes 221 hospitals across China covering more than 200,000 of population with longitudinal follow-up to 10 years. Propensity score matching was applied to identify two comparable cohorts with statin users and non-statin users. Detailed follow-up information such as Lp(a) levels were extracted. The hazard ratio was calculated on Lp(a) changes based on the statin usage cohorts. Detailed subgroup and different characteristic cohorts’ analyses were also conducted. Results After baseline propensity score matching, a total of 42,166 patients were included in a 1:1 matched ratio between statin users and non-statin users. In the case of no difference in low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), Lp(a) was increased significantly with the use of statins (adjusted HR 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43–1.50). Lp(a) increase was observed in various subgroup analyses and different cohorts. The dose intensity of statin was positively associated with the evaluated Lp(a) level. Conclusion The use of statins was associated with an increased risk of Lp(a) elevation compared with non-statin use counterparts. The clinical relevance of these increases needs to be addressed in surrogate marker trials and/or large, cardiovascular outcomes trials.

Linpan has a long history of over 2,300 years and is a unique cultural landscape heritage of the Chengdu Plain derived from the Dujiangyan hydraulic engineering. As urbanization has gradually degraded the Linpan landscape over the past decades, the government is helping to revitalize the local countryside by preserving it. The purpose of this study was to understand the perceptions of Linpan indigenous villagers about its conservation and use, and to investigate the differences in their perceptions and the factors influencing them. The city of Dujiangyan, located at the source of the Dujiangyan Irrigation Area, was taken as the case study area, and a questionnaire survey and quantitative analysis were adopted. The study shows that Linpan indigenous villagers generally support the protection of water systems and fields; Linpan’s vacation and health and wellness functions are recognized by villagers; and regarding Linpan land use, villagers generally prefer to take the form of land market transfer and are willing to transfer arable land and homestead. This also confirms differences in the villagers’ perceptions of the conservation and utilization of Linpan in different locations due to their divergent characteristics. This study provides a reference for the villagers’ perspective on the planning and action of Linpan conservation and use, suggesting the importance of villagers’ distinguishing factors in cultural landscape revitalization.

Study region: The upper Yellow River basin, the Wuding River basin, and the Xinshui River basin in China. Study focus: The double mass curve (DMC) is a widely used tool for assessing the contributions of human activities to runoff and sediment transport change. Scientifically identifying break points in the DMC is crucial for the assessment of human activities contribution. This study proposes a DMC break point identification method using model fitting and applies it to three watersheds with different human disturbance intensities, while also highlighting issues that should be considered in the application of DMC. New hydrological insights for the region: Compared to the baseline period, the runoff transport at Toudaoguai, Baijiachuan, and Daning stations decreased by 36.25 %, 43.68 %, and 51.17 %, with human activities contributing 109.64 %, 102.45 %, and 107.85 %, respectively. Human activities contribution was underestimated by 7.21 %, 6.88 %, and 14.45 %, respectively when using break point identification methods only based on runoff. Additionally, the trends in runoff (sediment) transport may not perfectly align with when human activities occur. The effect of human activities and climate change on runoff and sediment transport is not quantified in absolute terms, the human contributions calculated by DMC methods are only relative. The findings of this study can provide a scientific reference for the application of DMC to calculate the contribution of human activities to runoff and sediment transport change.

Since the implementation of the Grain for Green Project, the vegetation coverage of Loess Plateau has been greatly improved. However, the contradiction between the increasing vegetation water demand (VWD) and the regional rainwater utilization potential (RUP) has become an important factor threatening the sustainable development of vegetation. In order to figure out whether the available water can support the water consumption of vegetation restoration, it is necessary to quantitatively explore the balance between the RUP and the VWD. Based on these, this study utilized the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and Penman–Monteith (PM) method to quantitatively evaluate the vegetation–water mutual suitability of a typical area in the Loess Plateau’s Helong Region (HLR). The results showed that both RUP and VWD exhibited significant increasing trends (95 % confidence level) from 1982 to 2018, with a rate of 18.19 mm/10a and 25.22 mm/10a, respectively. Spatially, RUP was lower in the northwest and higher in the southeast and south regions, whereas VWD decreased from the southeast to the northwest. According to the evaluation results, the annual average vegetation–water mutual suitability matching degree was 0.64 in Period I (1982–1999) and 0.67 in Period II (2000–2018). The matching degree was higher in the northwest and middle regions, lower in the southeast, and above 0.60 in most regions. Under the future climate scenarios of RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5, the matching degree of water supply and demand also improved to 0.69 and 0.72. Overall, the available water resources can basically support vegetation growth in the HLR. Future vegetation restoration in HLR should try to select annual herbaceous plants that consume less water, and it is not recommended to continue vegetation restoration in the southeast. The results of this study can provide scientific guidance and reference for vegetation restoration policies in HLR.

Total polysaccharides of Pinus massoniana Lamb. pollen (PPPSt) is a natural carbohydrate with known anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation was the main cause of death due to myocardial damage caused by sepsis. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential protective effect of PPPSt on the septic myocardial injury. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected intraperitoneally to establish the myocardial injury model and PPPS was used for intervention, then the changes in myocardial enzymes, myocardial tissue morphology, oxidative stress, and inflammation levels were evaluated experimentally. The results showed that PPPSt could alleviate the LPS-induced increase of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and creatine kinase (CK) levels, and also ameliorate the histopathological damage of myocardium, but PPPSt had no protective effect on oxidative stress injury. In terms of inflammation, PPPSt treatment can significantly reduce the levels of IL-1β and NO in the serum. In addition, PPPSt can also down-regulate the phosphorylation of Nuclear factor kappa beta (NFκB) and NFκB inhibitor alpha (IKBα) in the septic myocardial tissue, and inhibit the activation of NFκB signaling pathway. In conclusion, PPPSt can protect against LPS-induced septic myocardial injury in chicks, which provides a theoretical basis for the potential treatment of septic myocardial injury.

Abstract The meninges, membranes surrounding the central nervous system (CNS) boundary, harbor a diverse array of immunocompetent immune cells, and therefore, serve as an immunologically active site. Meningeal immunity has emerged as a key factor in modulating proper brain function and social behavior, performing constant immune surveillance of the CNS, and participating in several neurological diseases. However, it remains to be determined how meningeal immunity contributes to CNS physiology and pathophysiology. With the advances in single-cell omics, new approaches, such as single-cell technologies, unveiled the details of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying meningeal immunity in CNS homeostasis and dysfunction. These new findings contradict some previous dogmas and shed new light on new possible therapeutic targets. In this review, we focus on the complicated multi-components, powerful meningeal immunosurveillance capability, and its crucial involvement in physiological and neuropathological conditions, as recently revealed by single-cell technologies.

The quality of chrysanthemum tea has a great connection with its variety. Different types of chrysanthemum tea have very different efficacies and functions. Moreover, the discrimination of chrysanthemum tea varieties is a significant issue in the tea industry. Therefore, to correctly and non-destructively categorize chrysanthemum tea samples, this study attempted to design a novel feature extraction method based on the fuzzy set theory and improved direct linear discriminant analysis (IDLDA), called fuzzy IDLDA (FIDLDA), for extracting the discriminant features from the near-infrared (NIR) spectral data of chrysanthemum tea. To start with, a portable NIR spectrometer was used to collect NIR data for five varieties of chrysanthemum tea, totaling 400 samples. Secondly, the raw NIR spectra were processed by four different pretreatment methods to reduce noise and redundant data. Thirdly, NIR data dimensionality reduction was performed by principal component analysis (PCA). Fourthly, feature extraction from the NIR spectra was performed by linear discriminant analysis (LDA), IDLDA, and FIDLDA. Finally, the K-nearest neighbor (KNN) algorithm was applied to evaluate the classification accuracy of the discrimination system. The experimental results show that the discrimination accuracies of LDA, IDLDA, and FIDLDA could reach 87.2%, 94.4%, and 99.2%, respectively. Therefore, the combination of near-infrared spectroscopy and FIDLDA has great application potential and prospects in the field of nondestructive discrimination of chrysanthemum tea varieties.

In order to explore the regulating role and the physiological and biochemical mechanisms of trans-abscisic acid (hereinafter referred as S-ABA) in the process of rice growth and development under salt stress, we took Chaoyou 1000 and Yuxiangyouzhan as materials and set up three salt concentration treatments, CK0 (Control treatment), N1 (50 mmol L−1 NaCl), and N2 (100 mmol L−1 NaCl), in potted trials; we aimed to study the mechanism of rice’s response to salt stress from the perspective of agricultural traits and physiological biochemicals and to improve rice’s resistance to salt stress through exogenously applying the regulating technology of S-ABA. The following results were obtained: Under salt stress, the growth of rice was significantly suppressed compared to CK0, exhibiting notable increases in agricultural indicators, photosynthesis efficiency, and the NA+ content of leaves. However, we noted a significant decrease in the K+ content in the leaves, alongside a prominent increase in NA+/K+ and a big increase in MDA (malondialdehyde), H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide), and O2− (superoxide anion). This caused the cytomembrane permeability to deteriorate. By applying S-ABA under salt stress (in comparison with salt treatment), we promoted improvements in agronomic traits, enhanced photosynthesis, reduced the accumulation of NA+ in leaves, increased the K+ content and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and reduced the active oxygen content, resulting in a sharp decrease in the impact of salt stress on rice’s development. The application of S-ABA decreased the endogenous ABA (abscisic acid) content under salt stress treatment but increased the endogenous GA (gibberellin) and IAA (indole acetic acid) contents and maintained the hormonal homeostasis in rice plants. To summarize, salt stress causes damage to rice growth, and the exogenous application of S-ABA can activate the pouring system mechanism of rice, suppress the outbreak of active oxygen, and regulate NA+/K+ balance and hormone homeostasis in the blades, thus relieving the salt stress.

Study region: The Yulin Region in the Northern China. Study focus: There is an urgent need to balance supply and demand in respond to water shortages in arid and semi-arid areas. A new water-adaptable allocation framework is used to simulate different allocation scenarios. Firstly, the supply-demand was analyzed to determine whether an imbalance existed. Then, the structure of grain and energy of Yulin was optimized. In order to produce new water-adaptable boundary of industry demand. Finally, the allocation of water resources was optimized based on the target of minimizing the water shortage rate. New hydrological insights for the region: The new scheme results highlight that by 2025, it is predicted that in a BAU (business as usual) scenario, there will be an imbalance between the water supply and water demand in Yulin Region. Following the optimization of the grain and energy industrial structure (GES), and the WAS (water allocation and simulation) model used to create a water resources allocation scheme and tested its applicability using two rainfall guarantee rates scenarios, it was determined that the total water demand established for the both scenarios decreased, and the economic benefit increased by 12.43 %. Also, 87.41∼99.93 % of potable water is satisfied to the initial water needs.

A large number of dead seedlings can occur in saline soils, which seriously affects the large-scale cultivation of rice. This study investigated the effects of plant growth regulators (PGRs) and nitrogen application on seedling growth and salt tolerance (Oryza sativa L.), which is of great significance for agricultural production practices. A conventional rice variety, “Huang Huazhan”, was selected for this study. Non-salt stress treatments included 0% NaCl (CK treatment), CK + 0.05 g N/pot (N treatment), CK + 40 mg·L−1 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) (A treatment), and CK + 30 mg·L−1 diethylaminoethyl acetate (DTA-6) (D treatment). Salt stress treatments included 0.3% NaCl (S treatment), N + 0.3% NaCl (NS treatment), A + 0.3% NaCl (AS treatment), and D + 0.3% NaCl (DS treatment). When 3 leaves and 1 heart emerged from the soil, plants were sprayed with DTA-6 and 5-ALA, followed by the application of 0.3% NaCl (w/w) to the soil after 24 h. Seedling morphology and photosynthetic indices, as well as carbohydrate metabolism and key enzyme activities, were determined for each treatment. Our results showed that N, A, and D treatments promoted seedling growth, photosynthesis, carbohydrate levels, and the activities of key enzymes involved in carbon metabolism when compared to the CK treatment. The A treatment had the most significant effect, with increases in aboveground dry weight and net photosynthetic rates (Pn) ranging from 17.74% to 41.02% and 3.61% to 32.60%, respectively. Stomatal limiting values (Ls) significantly decreased from 19.17% to 43.02%. Salt stress significantly inhibited seedling growth. NS, AS, and DS treatments alleviated the morphological and physiological damage of salt stress on seedlings when compared to the S treatment. The AS treatment was the most effective in improving seedling morphology, promoting photosynthesis, increasing carbohydrate levels, and key enzyme activities. After AS treatment, increases in aboveground dry weight, net photosynthetic rate, soluble sugar content, total sucrose synthase, and amylase activities were 17.50% to 50.79%, 11.39% to 98.10%, 20.20% to 80.85%, 21.21% to 33.53%, and 22.17% to 34.19%, respectively, when compared to the S treatment. In summary, foliar sprays of 5-ALA, DTA-6, and additional nitrogen fertilizer enhanced rice seedling growth, increased photosynthesis, lowered Ls values, and improved seedling salt tolerance. Spraying two regulators, 5-ALA and DTA-6, quantitatively increased the effect of nitrogen fertilizer, with comparable effects on NaCl stress regulation. This study provides the basis for efficient agricultural production.

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of bexarotene in radiation-induced skin injury and elucidate underlying mechanism. Methods: Irradiated cellular and animal models were established using an X-ray linear accelerator. Cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated by CCK8 and flow cytometry. In vivo protective effect of bexarotene was measured in irradiated SD rats. The antioxidant capacity of bexarotene was validated by DCF-DA method. The signaling pathways involved in bexarotene-mediated skin repair were enriched by RNA sequencing. Results: Bexarotene could significantly restore the proliferation and inhibit the apoptosis of WS1 cells with radiation damage (P ​

PurposeTo assess changes in optical quality and visual function in children after 3 months of wearing orthokeratology (OK) lenses.MethodsA total of 25 myopic children aged 8–12 years were recruited and completed the follow-up study. Optical quality, visual function and corneal morphology were assessed at baseline and at follow-ups 1 and 3 months after wearing OK lenses. Optical quality parameters mainly included the modulation transfer function (MTF) cutoff, objective scattering index (OSI), Strehl ratio (SR) and the predicted visual acuities (PVAs). Visual function was assessed by visual acuity, monocular contrast sensitivity function (CSF) across five spatial frequencies and the area under the log contrast sensitivity function (AULCSF) that was also computed as an index for overall CSF.ResultsThe MTF cutoff and SR values both increased after 1 month of wearing the OK lenses (baseline vs. 1 month: PMTF = 0.008 and PSR = 0.049); this improvement plateaued after 3 months of lens wear (1 month vs. 3 months: PMTF = 0.626, PSR = 0.428). The corneal morphology also showed the similar change trend. The OSI showed the opposite change trend (baseline vs. 1 month: POSI 0.05).ConclusionAfter 3 months of wearing OK lenses, the subjects exhibited a decrease in optical quality, similar to corneal morphology, whereas their visual function remained largely unchanged. Thus, the optical quality was more susceptible to OK lenses than visual function in children. The initial month of OK treatment of children is a key period to be paid close attention to deterioration of optical quality and visual function.

Aim IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the leading causes of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Urine testing is a non-invasive way to track the biomarkers used for measuring renal injury. This study aimed to analyse urinary complement proteins during IgAN progression using quantitative proteomics. Methods In the discovery phase, we analysed 22 IgAN patients who were divided into three groups (IgAN 1-3) according to their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Eight patients with primary membranous nephropathy (pMN) were used as controls. Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) labelling, coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, was used to analyse global urinary protein expression. In the validation phase, western blotting and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) were used to verify the iTRAQ results in an independent cohort (N = 64). Results In the discovery phase, 747 proteins were identified in the urine of IgAN and pMN patients. There were different urine protein profiles in IgAN and pMN patients, and the bioinformatics analysis revealed that the complement and coagulation pathways were most activated. We identified a total of 27 urinary complement proteins related to IgAN. The relative abundance of C3, the membrane attack complex (MAC), the complement regulatory proteins of the alternative pathway (AP), and MBL (mannose-binding lectin) and MASP1 (MBL associated serine protease 2) in the lectin pathway (LP) increased during IgAN progression. This was especially true for MAC, which was found to be involved prominently in disease progression. Alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGLU) and α-galactosidase A (GLA) were validated by western blot and the results were consistent with the iTRAQ results. Ten proteins were validated in a PRM analysis, and these results were also consistent with the iTRAQ results. Complement factor B (CFB) and complement component C8 alpha chain (C8A) both increased with the progression of IgAN. The combination of CFB and mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) also showed potential as a urinary biomarker for monitoring IgAN development. Conclusion There were abundant complement components in the urine of IgAN patients, indicating that the activation of AP and LP is involved in IgAN progression. Urinary complement proteins may be used as biomarkers for evaluating IgAN progression in the future.

Many security detectors do not have the ability to output individual luggage package images and are not compatible with deep learning algorithms. In this paper, a luggage package extraction of X-ray images based on the ES-MBD (Edge Sensitive Multi-channel Background Difference Algorithm) method is proposed, which is aiming at the problem that background difference binarization is insensitive to texture features and edge detection binarization is insensitive to smooth areas. In this method, X-ray luggage package images from complex original video images are used as a key target, the RGB three-channel background difference is calculated from the original X-ray image, the edge detection of the grayscale map is performed using the Sobel operator optimized by local gradient enhancement, and the morphological expansion process is performed on the combined results to obtain the complete wrapping target. The Suzuki algorithm is used to detect the outline of the binarized package image, match the package frame area and determine the key target. The ES-MBD method solves the problem of information loss in the traditional binarization method, and retains the information of insensitive regions while reducing noise. Through experimental comparison, the accuracy of ES-MBD binarization method reaches 97.3%, the recall rate reaches 96.5%, and ES-MBD method has obvious advantages in key target extraction of X-ray images.

In practice, traffic data collection is often warned by missing data due to communication errors, sensor failures, storage loss, among other factors, leading to impaired data collection and hampering the effectiveness of downstream applications. However, existing imputation approaches focus exclusively on estimating the lost value from incomplete observations and ignore historical data. In this paper, we propose a novel neural network model, namely, Attention-Driven Recurrent Imputation Network (ADRIN), to address the problem of missing traffic data. Specifically, in ADRIN, we devise an Imputation-targeted Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM-I) module for filling in missing data. Meanwhile, we consider the periodicity of historical data and design a historical average calculation module in ADRIN. On this basis, we employ the multi-head self-attention mechanism for further extracting latent temporal features from the output of the two modules. ADRIN is capable of modeling both incomplete observation inputs and historical averages independently to estimate the missing values. We conducted comprehensive experiments on three real-world traffic datasets, to demonstrate that ADRIN consistently outperforms other baselines in a variety of scenarios. Furthermore, ablation experiments are conducted on the various modules of the model, and it is concluded that historical data can significantly enhance the imputation effect.

Abstract Affected by frequency, amplitude and some other factors, the dynamic mechanical properties of rubber bushing are nonlinear. In order to study the frequency dependence of the rubber bushing, a BP neural network optimized by genetic algorithm (GA-BP neural network) is applied to predict the dynamic stiffness and loss factor under frequency of 61–100 Hz. The training data refers to the test data under frequency of 1–60 Hz. And the algorithm is demonstrated by the elastomer test of rubber bushing under amplitudes 0.2 mm, 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm. The results show that the prediction error of dynamic stiffness is less than 1%, and the prediction error of loss factor is less than 3%. In order to apply the predicted results to the software for simulation, a five-parameter mathematical model (FPM) consisting of three elastic elements and two damping elements is developed, and the model parameters are identified by least squares method. According to the fitting results and test data, the fitting error of dynamic stiffness is less than 2%, and the fitting error of loss factor is less than 3%. The GA-BP neural network and FPM model predict the dynamic mechanical behaviour of rubber bushing without the performance of iterative experiments and the incurrence of a high computational cost, making it applicable to analyze full-size vehicles with numerous rubber bushings under various vibration load conditions.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Resveratrol (RSV) in rats with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Methods Porcine cardiac myosin was used to set up rat model with DCM. RSV (10 mg/kg in RSV-L group and 50 mg/kg in RSV-H group) or vehicle was administered to rats with DCM once daily from the 28th day till the 90th day after the first immunization. Cardiac function of rats was evaluated by echocardiographic analysis. The deposition of fibrous tissues in the hearts was evaluated by Masson and picrosirius red staining. The mRNA levels of collagen type I (Col I), collagen type III (Col III) and silence information regulator 1 (Sirt1) were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The interaction of Sirt1 with Smad3 was revealed by coimmunoprecipitation. Results The heart weight, heart weight/body weight ratio, left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD) were significantly increased in rats with DCM, and attenuated by RSV. RSV also positively decreased fibrosis, and the expression of Col I and Col III in the myocardium. The Sirt1 mRNA was significantly decreased in myosin-immunized hearts and was positively increased by RSV. The Sirt1 combined with Smad3 directly. Acetylation of Smad3 (Ac-Smad3) was significantly increased in DCM and was markedly decreased by RSV. Conclusion RSV effectively ameliorated myocardial fibrosis and improved cardiac function by regulating Sirt1/Smad3 deacetylation pathway in rat model with DCM.

Regions with excessive cloud cover lead to limited feasibility of applying optical images to monitor crop growth. In this article, we built an upsampling moving window network for regional crop growth monitoring (UMRCGM) model to estimate the two key biophysical parameters (BPs), leaf area index (LAI), and canopy chlorophyll content (CCC) during the main growth period of winter wheat by using Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Sentinel-3 optical images. Sentinel-1 imagery is unaffected by cloudy weather and Sentinel-3 imagery has a wide width and short revisit period, the organic combination of the two will greatly improve the ability to monitor crop growth at a regional scale. The impact of two different types of SAR information (intensity and polarization) on the estimation of the two BPs was further analyzed. The UMRCGM model optimized the correspondence between inputs and outputs, it had more accurate LAI and CCC estimates compared with the three classical machine learning models, and had the highest accuracy at the green-up stage of winter wheat, followed by the jointing stage and the heading-filling stage, and the lowest accuracy was found at the milk maturity stage. The estimation accuracies of CCC were slightly higher than that of LAI for the first three growth stages of winter wheat, while lower than that of LAI for the milk maturity stage. This article proposes a new method for regional BPs (especially for CCC) estimation by combining SAR and optical imagery with large differences in spatial resolution under a deep learning framework.

PurposeTo study whether physical exercise can effectively ameliorate obesity-induced abnormalities in male fertility and provide a new perspective on the role of small noncoding RNAs in spermatogenesis in obese male mice.MethodsIn this study, four-week-old C57/Bl6 male mice were randomly allocated to receive a control diet, a high-fat diet or physical exercise intervention for 40 weeks. Purified round spermatids and spermatozoa were obtained after intervention. Sperm motility, concentration, the ability of the sperm to undergo capacitation and acrosome reaction were assessed. Small RNA sequencing was conducted on round spermatids and spermatozoa. The small noncoding RNAs expression pattern was systematically analyzed.ResultsThe spermatozoa concentration and percentage of motile spermatozoa, the capacitation and acrosome reaction, and the reproductive success rate, including mating success and pregnancy success, were decreased or delayed in the obesity group compared with controls. Physical exercise was able to restore the parameters to normal levels. Three microRNAs were consistently upregulated and 5 were downregulated in round spermatids and epididymal spermatozoa between the obesity and control groups.ConclusionsThis report provides evidence that the adverse effects of obesity could be offset after physical exercise. small noncoding RNAs, especially microRNAs in germ cells, may play an important role in the effects of obesity and physical exercise on spermatozoa.

Abstract Compound dry and hot events (CDHEs) have increased significantly and caused agricultural losses and adverse impacts on human health. It is thus critical to investigate changes in CDHEs and population exposure in responding to climate change. Based on the simulations of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6), future changes in CDHEs and population exposure are estimated under four Shared Socioeconomic Pathways climate scenarios (SSPs) at first. And then the driving forces behind these changes are analyzed and discussed. The results show that the occurrence of CDHEs is expected to increase by larger magnitudes by the end of the 21st century (the 2080s) than that by the mid‐21st century (2050s). Correspondingly, population exposure to CDHEs is expected to increase significantly responding to higher global warming (SSP3‐7.0 and SSP5‐8.5) but is limited to a relatively low level under the modest emission scenarios (SSP1‐2.6). Globally, compared to 1985–2014, the exposure is expected to increase by 8.5 and 7.7 times under SSP3‐7.0 and SSP5‐8.5 scenarios by the 2080s, respectively. Regionally, Sahara has the largest increase in population exposure to CDHEs, followed by the Mediterranean, Northeast America, Central America, Africa, and Central Asia. The contribution of climate change to the increase of exposure is about 75% by the 2080s under the SSP5‐8.5 scenarios, while that of population change is much lower. The conclusion highlights the importance and urgency of implementing mitigation strategies to alleviate the influence of CDHEs on human society.

Radiation-induced esophageal injury remains a limitation for the process of radiotherapy for lung and esophageal cancer patients. Esophageal epithelial cells are extremely sensitive to irradiation, nevertheless, factors involved in the radiosensitivity of esophageal epithelial cells are still unknown. Terminal uridyl transferase 4 (TUT4) could modify the sequence of miRNAs, which affect their regulation on miRNA targets and function. In this study, we used transcriptome sequencing technology to identify mRNAs that were differentially expressed before and after radiotherapy in esophageal epithelial cells. We further explored the mRNA expression profiles between wild-type and TUT4 knockout esophageal epithelial cells. Volcano and heatmap plots unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis were performed to classify the samples. Enrichment analysis on Gene Ontology functional annotations and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways was performed. We annotated differential genes from metabolism, genetic information processing, environmental information processing, cellular processes, and organismal systems human diseases. The aberrantly expressed genes are significantly enriched in irradiation-related biological processes, such as DNA replication, ferroptosis, and cell cycle. Moreover, we explored the distribution of transcription factor family and its target genes in differential genes. These mRNAs might serve as therapeutic targets in TUT4-related radiation-induced esophageal injury.