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Abstract Benefits of Glycyrrhiza uralensis include removing heat, detoxifying, and moistening the lungs, easing coughs, refueling the spleen, and balancing medications. In addition to providing theoretical guidance for the development of the G. uralensis industry and rural revitalization plan, it is anticipated that this paper will also provide basic data for the formulation of production layout of the G. uralensis industry at the county level, the control of cultivation industry direction, the establishment of high-quality G. uralensis cultivation technology system. The Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model was used to simulate the potential distribution of G. uralensis, a Chinese medicine resource, in Naiman Banner. By conducting a field inquiry and a broad assessment of the available Chinese medicine resources, the distribution information was acquired. The random forest technique was used to classify G. uralensis. The phenological cycle and development mode of vegetation, which exhibits diverse temporal traits and aids in identification, were elucidated through long-term series analysis. The random forest classification algorithm based on multiple features showed high accuracy in remote sensing (RS) recognition of G. uralensis. Comparative analysis of the MaxEnt and RS results showed that the planting area of G. uralensis was smaller than that of its potential distribution. The expansion to high-suitability areas planting should be prioritized. Based on the dual analysis of regional and remote sensing, it not only proved the great potential of using geographic information to predict the distribution of G. uralensis, but also verified the great potential of extracting the distribution of G. uralensis from GF-6 images. These results will guide the planting and development of G. uralensis in Naiman Banner and a scientific basis for the development of G. uralensis economy, conducive to optimizing the ecological environment and promoting rural revitalization programs.

ObjectiveTo explore the independent risk factors that affect the overall survival (OS) of elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, ≥60 years old) and build a nomogram prediction model. MethodsClinical data of all elderly patients with HCC from the SEER database from 2005 to 2020 were downloaded from SEER database. In accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the screened patients were randomly assigned to a training group (70%) and a validation group (30%). The independent risk factors of elderly patients with HCC were determined by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses and further validated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. On the basis of the determined variables, nomograms were developed and verified to predict the OS of elderly patients with HCC at 6, 12, and 24 months. The consistency index (C index), calibration curve, receiver’s operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and area under curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the prediction efficiency and discrimination ability of the prediction model, and decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to evaluate the potential clinical application value of the nomogram. ResultsA total of 1134 elderly patients with HCC were included, with 793 in the training group and 341 in the validation group. Seven variables, including age, clinical grade, clinical stage, M stage, tumor size classification, and radiotherapy, were identified as independent prognostic factors of this population. The constructed nomogram shows excellent prediction performance, with C indices of 0.745 in the training group and 0.704 in the validation group. The AUC values of the training group at 6, 12, and 24 months were 0.785, 0.788, and 0.798, respectively, and those of the validation group were 0.780, 0.725, and 0.607, respectively. The calibration curve shows good consistency from the predicted survival probability to the actual probability. The ROC curve and DCA show that the nomogram proposed in this study has good prediction ability. ConclusionAge, clinical grade, clinical stage, M stage, tumor size classification, and radiotherapy are important influencing factors for the survival of elderly patients with HCC. The prediction model of prognosis nomogram constructed in this study has good predictive value, and it can be used to predict the OS of elderly patients with HCC, which could be helpful for individualized survival assessment and clinical management of these patients.

Color features carries rich information and directly influencing people’s regional perception. This exploration originates from the serial research conducted in the Huizhou area. By analyzing the color features of Hongcun, Nanping, and Xidi, this study probes into the descriptive cognition of independent dimensions, advancing to visual cognition of combined dimensions and psychological cognition of system dimensions. The study established a systematic technical route. Firstly, it sets up spatial sequence paths in typical regional built spaces, uses 3D laser scanning technology for high-quality modeling. Secondly, this study utilizes color as an independent dimension, conducting descriptive statistics on the color attributes – namely, Lightness, Chroma, and Hue – of architectural components to determine their distinct color features in absolute terms. Thirdly, exploring the combined dimension of color, the research delves into visual similarity, examining commonalities within architectural elements. Lastly, from a systemic color perspective, it focuses on the stability of psychological cognition, identifying Huizhou’s color identity through a “black-grey-white” tri-color sequence as a stable composition. Additionally, this technical system features advantages of being systematic and precise. It promotes the scientific and rationality in the color research field, guiding the integrated application of urban design.

Abstract Background The plant-specific YABBY transcription factor family plays important roles in plant growth and development, particularly leaf growth, floral organ formation, and secondary metabolite synthesis. Results Here, we identified a total of 13 OfYABBY genes from the Osmanthus fragrans genome. These 13 OfYABBY genes were divided into five subfamilies through phylogenetic analysis, and genes in the same subfamily showed similar gene structures and conserved protein motifs. Gene duplication promoted the expansion of the OfYABBY family in O. fragrans. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed that the OfYABBY family was mainly expressed in O. fragrans leaves and floral organs. To better understand the role of OfYABBY genes in plant growth and development, OfYABBY12 was selected for heterologous stable overexpression in tobacco, and OfYABBY12-overexpressing tobacco leaves released significantly fewer volatile organic compounds than wild-type tobacco leaves. Overexpression of OfYABBY12 led to the downregulation of NtCCD1/4 and decreased β-ionone biosynthesis. Correspondingly, a dual-luciferase assay showed that OfYABBY12 negatively regulated the expression of OfCCD4, which promotes β-ionone synthesis. Furthermore, tobacco leaves overexpressing OfYABBY12 were curled and wrinkled and had significantly reduced leaf thickness and leaf inclusions and significantly extended flower pistils (styles). Conclusion Overall, the results suggest that the OfYABBY gene family may influence the biosynthesis of the floral scent (especially β-ionone) in O. fragrans and may regulate leaf morphogenesis and lateral organs.

Abstract Background Ischemia and no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) is increasingly recognized and associated with poor outcomes. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a reliable alternative measure of insulin resistance significantly linked to cardiovascular disease and adverse prognosis. We investigated the association between the TyG index and myocardial ischemia and the prognosis in INOCA patients. Methods INOCA patients who underwent both coronary angiography and myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) were included consecutively. All participants were divided into three groups according to TyG tertiles (T1, T2, and T3). Abnormal MPI for myocardial ischemia in individual coronary territories was defined as summed stress score (SSS) ≥ 4 and summed difference score (SDS) ≥ 2. SSS refers to the sum of all defects in the stress images, and SDS is the difference of the sum of all defects between the rest images and stress images. All patients were followed up for major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Results Among 332 INOCA patients, 113 (34.0%) had abnormal MPI. Patients with higher TyG index had a higher rate of abnormal MPI (25.5% vs. 32.4% vs. 44.1%; p = 0.012). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that a high TyG index was significantly correlated with abnormal MPI in INOCA patients (OR, 1.901; 95% CI, 1.045–3.458; P = 0.035). During the median 35 months of follow-up, 83 (25%) MACE were recorded, and a higher incidence of MACE was observed in the T3 group (T3 vs. T2 vs. T1: 36.9% vs. 21.6% vs. 16.4%, respectively; p = 0.001). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, the T3 group was significantly associated with the risk of MACE compared to the T1 group (HR, 2.338; 95% CI 1.253–4.364, P = 0.008). Conclusion This study indicates for the first time that the TyG index is significantly associated with myocardial ischemia and poor prognosis among INOCA patients.

We study universal clusters in quasi-two-dimensions (q2D) that consist of a light (L) atom interacting with two or three heavy (H) identical fermions, forming the trimer or tetramer bound state. The axial confinement in q2D is shown to lift the threefold degeneracy of three-dimensional trimer (tetramer) in p-wave channel and uniquely select the ground state with magnetic angular momentum |m|=1 (m=0). By varying the interaction or confinement strength, we explore the dimensional crossover of these clusters from 3D to 2D, characterized by a gradual change of critical H-L mass ratio for their emergence and momentum-space distribution. Importantly, we find that a finite effective range will not alter their critical mass ratios in the weak coupling regime. There, we establish an effective 2D model to quantitatively reproduce the properties of q2D clusters, and further identify the optimal interaction strengths for their detections in experiments. Our results suggest a promising prospect for observing universal clusters and associated high-order correlation effects in realistic q2D ultracold Fermi mixtures.

Abstract Background Smilax china L. (SCL) is a traditional herbal medicine for the potential treatment of intrauterine adhesion (IUA). However, the mechanisms of action have not yet been determined. In this study, we explored the effects and mechanisms of SCL in IUA by network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular biology experiments. Methods Active ingredients and targets of SCL were acquired from TCMSP and SwissTargetPrediction. IUA-related targets were collected from the GeneCards, DisGeNET, OMIM and TTD databases. A protein‒protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by Cytoscape 3.9.1 and analysed with CytoHubba and CytoNCA to identify the core targets. The DAVID tool was used for GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. Furthermore, molecular docking was employed to assess the interaction between the compounds and key targets. Finally, the mechanisms and targets of SCL in IUA were verified by cellular experiments and western blot. Results A total of 196 targets of SCL were identified, among which 93 were related to IUA. Topological and KEGG analyses results identified 15 core targets that were involved in multiple pathways, such as inflammation, apoptosis, and PI3K/AKT signalling pathways. Molecular docking results showed that the active compounds had good binding to the core targets. In vitro experiments showed that astilbin (AST), a major component of SCL, significantly reduced TGF-β-induced overexpression of fibronectin (FN), activation of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway and the expression of downstream factors (NF-κB and BCL2) in human endometrial stromal cells, suggesting that AST ameliorates IUA by mediating the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB and BCL2 proteins. Conclusions AST, a major component of SCL, may be a potential therapeutic agent for IUA. Moreover, its mechanism is strongly associated with regulation of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway and the downstream NF-κB and BCL2 proteins. This study will provide new strategies that utilize AST for the treatment of IUA.

Abstract P. ginseng is a precious traditional Chinese functional food, which is used for both medicinal and food purposes, and has various effects such as immunomodulation, anti-tumor and anti-oxidation. The growth year of P. ginseng has an important impact on its medicinal and economic values. Fast and nondestructive identification of the growth year of P. ginseng is crucial for its quality evaluation. In this paper, we propose a FC-CNN network that incorporates spectral and spatial features of hyperspectral images to characterize P. ginseng from different growth years. The importance ranking of the spectra was obtained using the random forest method for optimal band selection. Based on the hyperspectral reflectance data of P. ginseng after radiometric calibration and the images of the best five VNIR bands and five SWIR bands selected, the year-by-year identification of P. ginseng age and its identification experiments for food and medicinal purposes were conducted, and the FC-CNN network and its FCNN and CNN branch networks were tested and compared in terms of their effectiveness in the identification of P. ginseng growth years. It has been experimentally verified that the best year-by-year recognition was achieved by utilizing images from five visible and near-infrared important bands and all spectral curves, and the recognition accuracy of food and medicinal use reached 100%. The FC-CNN network is significantly better than its branching model in the effect of edible and medicinal identification. The results show that for P. ginseng growth year identification, VNIR images have much more useful information than SWIR images. Meanwhile, the FC-CNN network utilizing the spectral and spatial features of hyperspectral images is an effective method for the identification of P. ginseng growth year.

Licorice flavonoids (LFs) exhibit potent antibacterial activities against Gram-positive bacteria. However, the related mechanism remains unclear. This study aims to illustrate the mechanisms of licochalcone A (LA), a main flavonoid in LFs, against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The anti-MRSA effect of LA was comprehensively investigated by a combination of proteomics and metabolomics studies. Meanwhile, LA was loaded in glycyrrhizin (GA) micelles (GA@LA micelles) to improve its water solubility. The results demonstrated that LA could disrupt the arginine metabolism and cause the accumulation of intracellular ROS in MRSA. In addition, LA could inhibit the expression of glucokinase in MRSA, which affect the synthesis of ATP, fatty acids, and peptidoglycan. GA@LA micelles have the latent ability to inhibit the growth of MRSA on fresh pork.

The diversity and delicate balance of the oral microbiome contribute to oral health, with its disruption leading to oral and systemic diseases. Toothpaste includes elements like traditional additives such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) as well as novel postbiotics derived from probiotics, which are commonly employed for maintaining oral hygiene and a healthy oral cavity. However, the response of the oral microbiota to these treatments remains poorly understood. In this study, we systematically investigated the impact of SLS, and toothpaste containing postbiotics (hereafter, postbiotic toothpaste) across three systems: biofilms, animal models, and clinical populations. SLS was found to kill bacteria in both preformed biofilms (mature biofilms) and developing biofilms (immature biofilms), and disturbed the microbial community structure by increasing the number of pathogenic bacteria. SLS also destroyed periodontal tissue, promoted alveolar bone resorption, and enhanced the extent of inflammatory response level. The postbiotic toothpaste favored bacterial homeostasis and the normal development of the two types of biofilms in vitro, and attenuated periodontitis and gingivitis in vivo via modulation of oral microecology. Importantly, the postbiotic toothpaste mitigated the adverse effects of SLS when used in combination, both in vitro and in vivo. Overall, the findings of this study describe the impact of toothpaste components on oral microflora and stress the necessity for obtaining a comprehensive understanding of oral microbial ecology by considering multiple aspects.

Abstract Background Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder. The primary objective of this study was to identify the major pathogenic mutations in a Chinese family with FH. Methods Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to identify variants of FH-related genes, including low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), apolipoprotein B (APOB), and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9). Bioinformatics software was used to predict signal peptides, transmembrane structures, and spatial construction information of the mutated sequences. Western blotting was performed on the mutant protein to determine the presence of the major structural domains of the LDLR. The PCSK9 and APOB genes were screened and analyzed. Moreover, the proband and his brother were treated with a PCSK9 inhibitor for 1 year, and the effect of the treatment on lipid levels was assessed. Results WGS revealed two potentially pathogenic mutations in the LDLR gene. One was a novel mutation, c.497delinsGGATCCCCCAGCTGCATCCCCCAG (p. Ala166fs), and the other was a known pathogenic mutation, c.2054C>T (p. Pro685Leu). Bioinformatics prediction and in vitro experiments revealed that the novel mutation could not be expressed on the cell membrane. Numerous gene variants were identified in the APOB gene that may have a significant impact on the family members with FH. Thus, it is suggested that the severe manifestation of FH in the proband primarily resulted from the cumulative genetic effects of variants in both LDLR and APOB. However, a subsequent study indicated that treatment with a PCSK9 inhibitor (Evolocumab) did not significantly reduce the blood lipid levels in the proband or his brother. Conclusions The cumulative effect of LDLR and APOB variants was the primary cause of elevated blood lipid levels in this family. However, PCSK9 inhibitor therapy did not appear to be beneficial for the proband. This study emphasizes the importance of genetic testing in determining the most suitable treatment options for patients with FH.

Due to complex geological formations, lateral damage often occurs during excavation in mountainous layered soft rock double-track tunnels. This paper discusses the stresses and the damage characteristics of the surrounding rock under overload in a mountainous layered soft rock double-track tunnel through indoor model experiments to provide a basis for the effective control of lateral damage. The experiments show that the conventional support method cannot effectively control the lateral damage due to interlayer sliding. Therefore, the negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR) anchor/cable control method is proposed. And the scientificity and feasibility of the NPR anchor/cable control technology are proved by the field application and monitoring data of the Minxian Tunnel and Changning Tunnel. It is further demonstrated that high preload is the most effective way to control the lateral damage in layered soft rock tunnels.

Abstract Background The Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) is a newly identified biomarker associated with lipid metabolism, demonstrating significant prognostic capabilities in individuals diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. However, its impact within the context of chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) remains unexplored. Thus, the present investigation sought to examine the potential association between AIP levels and long-term clinical outcomes in patients diagnosed with CCS. Methods A total of 404 patients diagnosed with CCS and who underwent coronary angiography were included in this study. The AIP index was calculated as log (triglycerides / high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol). The patients were categorized into four groups based on their AIP values: Q1 (< -0.064), Q2 (-0.064 to 0.130), Q3 (0.130 to 0.328), and Q4 (> 0.328). The occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was monitored during the follow-up period for all patients. Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier curve analysis were employed to examine the relationship between AIP and MACE. Furthermore, ROC analysis was utilized to determine the optimal cut-off value of AIP for predicting clinical MACE. Results During the median 35 months of follow-up, a total of 88 patients experienced MACE. Notably, the group of patients with higher AIP values (Q4 group) exhibited a significantly higher incidence of MACE compared to those with lower AIP values (Q1, Q2, and Q3 groups) (31.7% vs. 16.8%, 15.7%, and 23.0% respectively; P = 0.023). The Kaplan-Meier curves illustrated those patients in the Q4 group had the highest risk of MACE relative to patients in the other groups (log-rank P = 0.014). Furthermore, the multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that individuals in the Q4 group had a 7.892-fold increased risk of MACE compared to those in the Q1 group (adjusted HR, 7.892; 95% CI 1.818–34.269; P = 0.006). Additionally, the ROC curve analysis revealed an optimal AIP cut-off value of 0.24 for predicting clinical MACE in patients with CCS. Conclusion Our data indicate, for the first time, that AIP is independently associated with poor long-term prognosis in patients suffering from CCS. The optimal AIP cut-off value for predicting clinical MACE among CCS patients was 0.24.

Highlights The synergistic “anchor-capture” mechanism of polar groups on Zn stripping/plating process is firstly proposed. The amino group firmly anchors on Zn surface and the carboxyl group strongly captures Zn2+, constructing a robust anode–electrolyte interface and inducing uniform Zn deposition. The ultra-stable cycle lifespan of Zn–Zn symmetric cell (over 2800 h) and high utilization rate of Zn anode (the depth of discharge up to 68% for 200 h) are achieved under the proposal of synergistic “anchor-capture.”

With the development of industry and agriculture, the level of organic pollutants in groundwater exceeds the standard in some parts of the transition zone of the Jianghan Plain–Dabie Mountain area. To investigate the ability of low-permeability layered clay soil in the study area to hinder the migration of organic macromolecular pollutants, the traditional tracer fluorescein sodium was used to represent organic macromolecular pollutants. The adsorption and migration behavior of organic macromolecular pollutants in the layered soil were explored through indoor experiments. Additionally, a one-dimensional soil column solute transport model was established for the study area using HYDRUS-1D to obtain the dispersivities and dispersion coefficients of organic macromolecular pollutants in layered clay soil. The results showed that the breakthrough duration of sodium fluorescein was up to 116 days in silty clay soil, while the breakthrough duration in sandy sub-sandy soil was only 2.6 days. The dispersion coefficient of organic macromolecular pollutants was only 0.0038 cm2/d in silty clay soil, while the dispersion coefficient was up to 4.724 cm2/d in sandy sub-sandy soil. The dispersion coefficient decreased with the increasing clay fraction of the soil. Compared with homogeneous soil, the dispersivity of organic macromolecular pollutants in clayed soil decreased, and the dispersion coefficient also changed. It indicates that the layered clay soil in the study area effectively hinders the downward migration of organic macromolecular pollutants due to its low permeability and pollutant adsorption capacity. Simultaneously, the lateral transport of water at different soil interfaces in layered soil prolongs the time for organic macromolecular pollutants to reach the underlying aquifer. Low-permeability clay soil may act as a short-term barrier to the migration of organic pollutants to deeper soil and groundwater in the study area. This study provides data support and a theoretical basis for future pollution prevention and control in the Jianghan Plain–Dabie Mountain area.

Abstract Background Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is a strong determinant of prognosis in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). The triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index), an alternative method to evaluate insulin resistance, is positively correlated with the incidence and adverse outcomes of cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between the TyG index and the presence and prognosis of CMD in CCS patients has not been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association between the TyG index and the presence and clinical outcomes of CMD among CCS patients. Methods CCS patients who underwent coronary angiography between June 2015 to June 2019 were included. The TyG index was calculated as Ln[fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting blood glucose (mg/dL)/2]. Coronary angiography‑derived index of microvascular resistance (caIMR) was used to measure microvascular function, and CMD was defined as caIMR ≥ 25U. Patients with CMD were divided into three groups (T1, T2, and T3 groups) according to TyG tertiles. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac event (MACE). Results Of 430 CCS patients, 221 patients had CMD. CMD patients had significantly higher TyG index than those without CMD. Sixty-three MACE was recorded during the follow-up duration among CMD patients, and the incidence rate of MACE was higher in the T3 group compared to T1/T2 groups (39.2% vs. 20.5% vs. 25.7%; P = 0.035). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the TyG index was an independent predictor of CMD (OR, 1.436; 95% CI, 1.014–2.034; P = 0.042). Compared to the T1 group, the T3 group strongly correlated with the risk of MACE in CMD patients even after adjusting for additional confounding risk factors (HR, 2.132; 95%CI, 1.066–4.261; P = 0.032). Conclusion TyG index is significantly associated with the risk of CMD, and it is an independent predictor of MACE among CMD patients with CCS. This study suggests that the TyG index has important clinical significance for the early prevention and risk stratification of CMD.

Pharmaceutical contaminants are causing great attention for the public people, urgently requiring to be eliminated from the environment. Herein, commercial pharmaceutical carbamazepine was chosen as a model to be degraded by a heterogeneous Fenton system using natural pyrite as catalyst. The catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction apparatus, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The elements composition and chemical states of pyrite changed significantly after the Fenton reaction, which promoted the production of active species in the electron transfer process. The degradation efficiency of carbamazepine (2.5 mg/L) can reach 99.71% after 30 min with 0.3 g/L of pyrite and 5 mM of H2O2, respectively. The reaction system was suitable for a wide range of pH (3–9). The environmental adaptability examination of pyrite showed that humic acid (HA) had inhibitory effects on the degradation of carbamazepine. While the changes of degradation efficiency of carbamazepine were inconspicuous in the presence of NO3− and SO42−, indicating strong anti-interference to environment common anions. Free-radical capturers suggested that hydroxyl radical (∙OH), superoxide radical (∙O2−), and singlet oxygen (1O2) participated in the degradation of carbamazepine. This research has offered a new strategy of “treating wastes with wastes” to use pyrite to remove emerging pollutants.

Extreme climate events can have severe impacts on both vegetation and the carbon cycle. However, whether land management exacerbates or mitigates the effects of extreme climate events on vegetation remains unknown. We investigated the case of an extreme precipitation event that occurred in a region dominated by double–cropping (DC) systems located in the Yangtze–Huai plain in China. Waterlogging disasters were triggered by an extreme precipitation event in October 2016, which severely affected the sowing and seedling emergence of winter crops (mainly winter wheat). The lack of sowing and low seedling emergence rate subsequently led to months of low growth, as evidenced by negative enhanced vegetation index (EVI) anomalies, especially from March to May 2017. Local agricultural meteorological monthly reports, government announcements, and winter wheat data based on statistics and remote sensing confirmed the reduced yields. The influence on vegetation ended in June 2017, when summer crops were planted. Our results demonstrate that, in such a DC system, when extreme events occur during the key sowing period, the impacts will continue through the entire crop growth period, until the next sowing. More generally, agricultural land management could extend the duration and magnitude of the impacts of extreme climate events on vegetation.

Increases or decreases in remote sensing-based vegetation greenness are usually referred to as greening or browning. The CO2 fertilization along with land management determined that greening is dominant. However, recently global browning signals due to drought stress have also been widely reported. In this study, We used the four latest leaf area index (LAI) datasets to explore this controversial topic, and found that global greening was not only present (trend between 3.1–6.4 ×10−3 m2 m−2 yr−1) but also continued (growth rate trend between 3.3–6.4 ×10−4 m2 m−2 yr−2) during 2001–2020. Greening acceleration occurred in 55.15% of the globe (positive trend and positive growth rate trend), while browning acceleration occurred in only 7.28% (negative trend and positive growth rate trend). Combined with meteorological variables, we found that CO2 change dominated the LAI trend, while climate change largely determined the LAI growth rate trend. Importantly, our study highlighted that drought trend did not necessarily trigger vegetation browning, but slowed down the rate of greening.

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of Exenatide combined with Metformin on fasting blood glucose, postprandial glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and intestinal flora in type 2 diabetes mellitus cases with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. A total of 128 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, diagnosed from January 2019 to January 2022, were included and randomly assigned to either Group A (n=64) or Group B (n=64). Group A received Metformin, while Group B received Exenatide injection and Metformin. After 24 weeks of treatment, blood glucose indices (fasting blood glucose and postprandial glucose), blood lipid indices (triglycerides and total cholesterol), liver function indices (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase) were all lower in Group B than in Group A (P < 0.001 for all). ---Continue

Abstract In modern agricultural production, the severity of diseases is an important factor that directly affects the yield and quality of plants. In order to effectively monitor and control the entire production process of plants, not only the type of disease, but also the severity of the disease must be clarified. In recent years, deep learning for plant disease species identification has been widely used. In particular, the application of convolutional neural network (CNN) to plant disease images has made breakthrough progress. However, there are relatively few studies on disease severity assessment. The group first traced the prevailing views of existing disease researchers to provide criteria for grading the severity of plant diseases. Then, depending on the network architecture, this study outlined 16 studies on CNN-based plant disease severity assessment in terms of classical CNN frameworks, improved CNN architectures and CNN-based segmentation networks, and provided a detailed comparative analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of each. Common methods for acquiring datasets and performance evaluation metrics for CNN models were investigated. Finally, this study discussed the major challenges faced by CNN-based plant disease severity assessment methods in practical applications, and provided feasible research ideas and possible solutions to address these challenges.

Affected by the reservoir water and rainfall and other factors, the stability of the landslide changes with the different reservoir water level decline rate. Using the Baota landslide in Yunyang County in Three Gorges Reservoir region as an example, and applying the saturated-unsaturated numerical simulation method, the groundwater seepage field is calculated when the reservoir water level rises and declines. The calculated pore water pressure is used for the ultimate equilibrium analysis of landslide, and the effect of reservoir water level drop on landslide stability was discussed. The calculation results show that with the water level falling from 159 m to 145 m, and the increase of the rate of decline in the reservoir water level, the decline in groundwater seepage lines has increased somewhat. The landslide stability coefficient calculated under each working condition is larger than that in the original design, and the decrease rate of reservoir water has a qualitative effect on the stability of the landslide, but the influence is very small. Through the SBAS-InSAR time series monitoring of Sentinel-1 data in the 13th period and field verification, it is found that the cumulative deformation of the slope is small, which prove the stability of the landslide.

In order to determine the distribution area and amount of Artemisia annua Linn. (A. annua) in China, this study estimated the current amount of A. annua specimens based on the field survey sample data obtained from the Fourth National Census of Chinese Medicinal Resources. The amount was calculated using the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt model) and spatio-temporal kriging interpolation. The influencing factors affecting spatial variations in the amount were studied using geographic probes. The results indicated that the amount of A. annua in China was about 700 billion in 2019. A. annua was mainly distributed in the circular coastal belt of Shandong Peninsula, central Hebei, Tianjin, western Liaoning, and along the Yangtze River and in the middle and lower reaches of Jiangsu, Anhui, and the northern Chongqing provinces. The main factors affecting the amount are the precipitation in the wettest and the warmest seasons, the average annual precipitation, and the average temperature in the coldest and the driest seasons. The results show that the amount of A. annua is strongly influenced by precipitation and temperature.

In order to study the law of solute migration in the cohesive stratified soil in the transitional zone of the Jianghan Plain-Dabie Mountain area, the conservative anion Br− is taken as a tracer agent in the isothermal adsorption experiment. One-dimensional dispersion experiment and HYDRUS-1D software simulation inversion method are used, and the adsorption parameter, migration law and migration inversion dispersion parameter of Br− in the cohesive stratified soil are examined. The results indicate that (1) both the Freundlich model and Langmuir model can well fit the adsorption experiment results, along with the increase of proportion of clay particle in the soil, and the saturation adsorption amount of the soil to Br- increases. (2) Both the soil texture and structure in the stratified soil can influence the shape of the breakthrough curve, but the dispersion process in one-dimensional saturation earth pillar mainly depends on the proportion of clay particles in the water-bearing media system, and the increase of clay particles will produce resistance for solute transport. (3) The invert dispersion parameter through the HYDRUS-1D software construction model, R2 is always larger than 0.991, and the fitting effect is good. The analysis results show that no matter soil component type or layer thickness and ordering in the stratified soil, the essence to influence dispersion function is by changing the average hole flow velocity of the soil, and the dispersion coefficient becomes smaller as the average hole flow velocity is smaller. (4) The silty clay dispersion coefficient in the experiment ranges from 0.005 to 0.048 cm2/d, far less than the sand dispersion coefficient 0.524 to 7.477 cm2/d in the under part, the difference value reaches two order of magnitudes, indicating that the thick layer clay soil is a control layer and will greatly resist solute transport of groundwater. The pollutant or organic matter in the upside water-bearing stratum is very hard to penetrate this layer and migrate downward, and this layer has very good sewage removal performance. The results are of great application value for groundwater environmental protection and water quality control in the transition zone of the Jianghan Plain.

Abstract Background Severe adenovirus (Adv.) pneumonia can cause significant mortality in young children. There has been no worldwide consensus on the impact of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in immunocompetent children with severe Adv. pneumonia. This study aimed to assess the impact of ECMO in immunocompetent children with severe Adv. pneumonia. Methods This study evaluated the medical records of 168 hospitalized children with severe Adv. pneumonia at the Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center between 2019 and 2020.Nineteen patients in the ECMO group and 149 patients in the non-ECMO group were enrolled. Results Between these two groups, there were no differences in host factors such as sex, age (all P > 0.05). Significant differences were observed in shortness of breath/increased work of breathing; cyanosis; seizures; tachycardia; the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PO2); the ratio of PaO2 to the fraction concentration of oxygen in inspired air (FiO2; P/F); white blood cell, lymphocyte, monocytes, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), serum albumin, and procalcitonin levels; and, pulmonary consolidation (all P

Abstract Background The recently developed endoscopic full-thickness resection technique requires reliable closure. The main closure methods are the purse-string suture (PSS) technique and over-the-scope clip (OTSC) technique; however, basic data on the closure strength of each technique are lacking. This study was performed to compare the closure strengths of these two methods in an ex vivo porcine model. Methods In the traction test, a virtual 5-cm full-thickness closure line was closed by the following six methods three times each: conventional hemoclips, mucosal PSS, seromuscular PSS, mucosal OTSC, seromuscular OTSC, and surgical suture. The primary endpoint was the tension at the starting point of dehiscence, measured in Newtons (N) by an automatic traction machine. In the leak test, a 15-mm gastric full-thickness defect was closed by PSS or OTSC six times each, and the closed stomach was then pressurized in a water container. The primary endpoint was the leak pressure when air bubbles appeared. The secondary endpoints were the procedure time and presence of complete inverted closure. Results The mean tension was 2.16, 3.68, 5.15, 18.30, 19.30, and 62.40 N for conventional hemoclips, mucosal PSS, seromuscular PSS, mucosal OTSC, seromuscular OTSC, and surgical suture, respectively. Complete inverted closure was observed for seromuscular PSS, seromuscular OTSC, and surgical suture. The mean leak pressure was 13.7 and 24.8 mmHg in the PSS and OTSC group, respectively (P

Abstract Background White adipose tissue can be classified based on its location as subcutaneous and visceral fat, and the latter accumulation is reported to be more detrimental to metabolism. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been demonstrated to regulate lipogenesis. The peptide angiotensin(1–7) [Ang(1–7)], which can be produced from angiotensin II (AngII) by angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), plays its role through Mas receptor, also participates in the regulation of lipid metabolism in adipose tissue, however, whether ER stress is involved in the mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the role of Ang(1–7) pathway in regulating visceral adipose tissue expansion and ER stress. Methods ACE2 knockout (KO), Mas KO and C57BL/6 J mice were fed with high fat diet. Db/db mice were treated with either normal saline, Ang(1–7) or Ang(1–7) combined with Mas receptor inhibitor A779 using mini osmotic pumps. Fat mass was weighted, fat distribution was evaluated by MRI, and lipid profile and adipokines in epididymal adipose tissue were measured by ELISA kits, and histology of epididymal adipose tissue was also analyzed in multiple animal models. Additionally, differentiated 3T3-L1 cells were pre-loaded with palmitic acid to induce ER stress, then treated with drugs as those administrated to db/db mice. ER stress and lipogenesis related proteins in mice adipose and differentiated 3T3L-1 cells were analyzed by Western blot. Results ACE2 or Mas KO mice exhibited increased visceral adipose tissue, adipocyte size and protein expression of lipogenesis and ER stress related markers in epididymal adipose tissue compared to wild-type mice. Db/db mice treated with Ang(1–7) displayed decreased visceral fat mass, adipocyte size and protein expression of lipogenesis and ER stress markers in epididymal adipose tissue compared to those treated with normal saline, while A779 partly attenuated these effects. Additionally, Ang(1–7) improved ER stress and lipogenesis markers in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells pre-loaded with palmitic acid. Conclusions Our findings indicated that Ang(1–7) attenuated visceral adipose tissue expansion and lipogenesis by suppression of ER stress via Mas receptor. The present study provides a potential perspective for Ang(1–7) for the therapeutics of obesity and related disorders.

Assessment of population vulnerability and adaptive capacity under climate change is crucial for informing conservation strategies. Sang et al. assemble a reference genome for Populus koreana and combine population genomics and modelling to predict spatiotemporal responses to climate change.

Abstract Background Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is common and is associated with unfavorable cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Coronary angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance (caIMR) is a recently developed wire- and hyperemic agent-free method to assess CMD. We aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of CMD assessed by caIMR on clinical outcomes in patients with DM and chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). Methods CCS patients who underwent coronary angiography between June 2015 to May 2018 were included. Coronary microvascular function was measured by caIMR, and CMD was defined as caIMR ≥ 25U. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the relationship between caIMR and the risk of MACE. Results Of 290 CCS patients, 102 patients had DM. Compared with non-diabetic patients, CMD (caIMR ≥ 25U) was higher among DM patients (57.8% vs. 38.3%; p = 0.001). During a mean 35 months follow-up, 40 MACE had occurred. Patients with caIMR ≥ 25 had a higher rate of MACE than patients with caIMR

We discuss standard and tighter upper bounds on the critical temperature $T_\textrm{c}$ of two-dimensional superfluids and superconductors versus particle density n or filling factor ν for continuum and lattice systems from the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) to the Bose regime. We consider only one-band Hamiltonians, where the transition from the normal to the superfluid (superconducting) phase is governed by the Berezinskii–Kosterlitz–Thouless (BKT) mechanism of vortex-antivortex binding, such that a direct relation between the superfluid density tensor and $T_\textrm{c}$ exists. The standard critical temperature upper bound $T_\textrm{c}^{\mathrm{up1}}$ is obtained from the Ferrell-Glover-Tinkham sum rule for the optical conductivity, which constrains the superfluid density tensor components. We demonstrate that it is imperative to consider at least the full effect of phase fluctuations of the order parameter for superfluidity (superconductivity) and use the renormalization group to obtain the phase-fluctuation critical temperature $T_\textrm{c}^{\,\theta}$ , a much tighter bound to the critical temperature supremum than $T_\textrm{c}^{\mathrm{up1}}$ over a wide range of densities or filling factors. We also discuss a fundamental difference between superfluids and superconductors in regards to the vortex core energy dependence on density. Going beyond phase fluctuations, we note that theories including modulus fluctuations of the order parameter or particle-hole fluctuations valid throughout the BCS-Bose evolution are still lacking, but the inclusion of these fluctuations can only produce a critical temperature that is lower than $T_\textrm{c}^{\,\theta}$ and thus produce an even tighter bound to the critical temperature supremum. We conclude by indicating that if the measured critical temperature exceeds $T_\textrm{c}^{\,\theta}$ in experiments involving two-dimensional single-band systems, then a non-BKT mechanism must be invoked to describe the superfluid (superconducting) transition.

Endophytic fungi in flowers influence plant health and reproduction. However, whether floral volatile organic compounds (VOCs) affect the composition and function of the endophytic fungal community remains unclear. Here, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and high-throughput sequencing were used to explore the relationship between floral VOCs and the endophytic fungal community during different flower development stages in Osmanthus fragrans ‘Rixiang Gui’. The results showed that the composition of the endophytic fungal community and floral VOCs shifted along with flowering development. The highest and lowest α diversity of the endophytic fungal community occurred in the flower fading stage and full blooming stage, respectively. The dominant fungi, including Dothideomycetes (class), Pleosporales (order), and Neocladophialophora, Alternaria, and Setophoma (genera), were enriched in the flower fading stage and decreased in the full blooming stage, demonstrating the enrichment of the Pathotroph, Saprotroph, and Pathotroph–Saprotroph functions in the flower fading stage and their depletion in the full blooming stage. However, the total VOC and terpene contents were highest in the full blooming stage and lowest in the flower fading stage, which was opposite to the α diversity of the endophytic fungal community and the dominant fungi during flowering development. Linalool, dihydro-β-ionone, and trans-linalool oxide(furan) were key factors affecting the endophytic fungal community composition. Furthermore, dihydro-β-ionone played an extremely important role in inhibiting endophytic fungi in the full blooming stage. Based on the above results, it is believed that VOCs, especially terpenes, changed the endophytic fungal community composition in the flowers of O. fragrans ‘Rixiang Gui’. These findings improve the understanding of the interaction between endophytic fungi and VOCs in flowers and provide new insight into the mechanism of flower development.

An extremely low hydraulic conductivity of cohesive soil causes a low transport rate of water and solute, with a time-consuming result, as we all know. Stable isotopes (δD and δ18O) and in situ monitoring systems of the data about soil water, rainfall, and groundwater were used to analyze the soil moisture migration pattern, using a conceptual model in the field test site, simulated by Hydrus 1D. The results show that multiple rainfalls’ accumulations can cause the water to recharge from soil moisture to micro-confined groundwater, gradually. The soil moisture dynamic change is composed of a dehydration period and absorption period; the cohesive soil water content below 5.0 m was affected by the micro-confined groundwater level and dehydrated in advance due to the level decline. The thick cohesive soil profile can be divided into a shallow mixing zone (0–2 m), steady zone (2–5 m), and deep mixing zone (5–15 m). The effective precipitation recharge was 234 mm and the average infiltration recharge coefficient (Rc) was 0.1389, but the water exchange between the cohesive soil moisture and groundwater was 349 mm in two hydrological years. This paper reveals the moisture migration and recharge pattern of low-permeability thick cohesive soil in a humid area with a micro-confined groundwater aquifer; this is of great significance for groundwater resources evaluation and environmental protection in humid climate plain areas.

Chinese Materia Medica Resources (CMMRs) are crucial for developing the tradition and industry of traditional Chinese medicine. Given the increasing demand for CMMRs, an accurate and effective understanding of CMMRs is urgently needed. Chinese medicinal plants (CMPs) are the most important sources of CMMRs. Traditional methods of investigating medicinal plant resources have limitations, including severe subjectivity and poor timeliness, which make it difficult to meet the demand for real-time monitoring of large-scale medicinal plant resources. In recent years, remote sensing technology has become an important means of obtaining information on medicinal plants, and the application of this technology has made up for the shortcomings of traditional methods. This paper first discusses the development of investigation methods of CMMRs; points out the importance of remote sensing technology in the application of spatial distribution and information identification and extraction of Chinese medicinal plant resources (CMPRs); analyzes the characteristics of CMPs in different planting patterns, different habitats, and different regions from the perspective of remote sensing information extraction; and explores the selection of suitable data sources, providing a reference for medicinal plant identification and information extraction. Secondly, according to the existing classification and identification methods, previous studies are summarized from the perspectives of classification scales, classification features, and classification accuracy, and the advantages and disadvantages of the commonly used remote sensing classification methods in the investigation of CMPRs are summarized and compared. Finally, the development trend of remote sensing technology in the identification and information extraction of CMPs is examined, and the key technical problems to be solved in the identification and classification of CMPs and the extraction of area information are summarized so as to provide technical support and experience references for the application of remote sensing in the investigation of CMPRs.

Natural forest growth does not decrease water yield and forest responses to human disturbances and management interventions vary with ecosystem complexity, according to a global meta-analysis that includes 496 watersheds and spans 25 years.

Abstract Osmanthus fragrans is an important evergreen species with both medicinal and ornamental value in China. Given the low efficiency of callus proliferation and the difficulty of adventitious bud differentiation, tissue culture and regeneration systems have not been successfully established for this species. To understand the mechanism of callus proliferation, transcriptome sequencing and endogenous hormone content determination were performed from the initial growth stages to the early stages of senescence on O. fragrans calli. In total, 47,340 genes were identified by transcriptome sequencing, including 1798 previously unidentified genes specifically involved in callus development. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was significantly enriched in plant hormone signal transduction pathways. Furthermore, our results from the orthogonal projections to latent structures discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) of six typical hormones in five development stages of O. fragrans calli showed jasmonic acid (JA) could play important role in the initial stages of calli growth, whereas JA and auxin (IAA) were dominant in the early stages of calli senescence. Based on the weighted gene co-expression network analysis, OfSRC2, OfPP2CD5 and OfARR1, OfPYL3, OfEIL3b were selected as hub genes from the modules with the significant relevance to JA and IAA respectively. The gene regulation network and quantitative real-time PCR implied that during the initial stages of callus growth, the transcription factors (TFs) OfERF4 and OfMYC2a could down-regulate the expression of hub genes OfSRC2 and OfPP2CD5, resulting in decreased JA content and rapid callus growth; during the late stage of callus growth, the TFs OfERF4, OfMYC2a and OfTGA21c, OfHSFA1 could positively regulate the expression of hub genes OfSRC2, OfPP2CD5 and OfARR1, OfPYL3, OfEIL3b, respectively, leading to increased JA and IAA contents and inducing the senescence of O. fragrans calli. Hopefully, our results could provide new insights into the molecular mechanism of the proliferation of O. fragrans calli.

Ridgetail white prawn, Exopalaemon carinicauda, with high reproductive capacity can reproduce up to three or four generations a year. In exploring the genetic factors affecting the gonadal development of E. carinicauda, we cloned and studied the function of the ubiquitin-like, containing PHD and RING finger domains 1 (uhrf1) gene. The open reading frame of uhrf1 gene was 2286 bp, encoding a total of 761 amino acids. The Uhrf1 has UBL, TTD, PhD, SRA, and ring finger domains that are associated with genome methylation, histone recognition and chromatin modification. According to the phylogenetic analysis, the amino acid sequence of Ec-uhrf1 has the highest similarity with Litopenaeus vannamei uhrf1, and it is a branch of Penaeus monodon and L. vannamei. The real-time quantitative PCR showed that the expression level of uhrf1 was highest in ridgetail white prawn ovarian tissue, which was significantly higher than that of other tissues (P

The development of digital economy affects environmental pollution emission and green sustainable development. However, the relationship between digital economy and industrial wastewater discharge has rarely been examined. This study establishes the urban digital economy evaluation index system, measures the digital economy indexes of 281 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2016, and examines the impact effect of digital economy development on industrial wastewater discharge using the system generalized method of moment method and the intermediary effects model. The empirical results indicate that the digital economy reduces the industrial wastewater discharge. As evidence shows, the digital economy significantly promotes the upgrading of industrial structure, which is an important factor affecting the industrial wastewater discharge. Additionally, the inhibiting effect of digital economy on industrial wastewater discharge is more significant in big cities. This study provides a scientific base and guidance for reducing environmental pollution emissions and promoting the development of digital economy. HIGHLIGHTS The effect of digital economy on industrial wastewater discharge is explored.; The digital economy reduces the discharge of industrial wastewater.; The mediating role of upgrading the industrial structure is established.; The inhibitory effect of digital economy on the discharge of industrial wastewater is significant in big cities.;

Eucommia ulmoides Oliver. (E. ulmoides) is a species of small tree native to China. It is a valuable medicinal herb that can be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, hypertension, and other diseases. In addition, E. ulmoides is a source of rubber. It has both medicinal and ecological value. As ecological problems become increasingly prominent, accurate information on the cultivated area of E. ulmoides is important for understanding the carbon sequestration capacity and ecological suitability zoning of E. ulmoides. In previous tree mapping studies, no studies on the spectral characteristics of E. ulmoides and its remote sensing mapping have been seen. We use Ruyang County, Henan Province, China, as the study area. Firstly, using the 2021 Gao Fen-6 (GF-6) Wide Field of View (WFV) time series images covering the different growth stages of E. ulmoides based on the participation of red-edge bands, several band combination schemes were constructed. The optimal time window to identify E. ulmoides was selected by calculating the separability of E. ulmoides from other land cover types for different schemes. Secondly, a random forest algorithm based on several band combination schemes was investigated to map the E. ulmoides planting areas in Ruyang County. Thirdly, the annual NPP values of E. ulmoides were estimated using an improved Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach (CASA) to a light energy utilization model, which, in turn, was used to assess the carbon sequestration capacity. Finally, the ecologically suitable distribution zone of E. ulmoides under near current and future (2041–2060) climatic conditions was predicted using the MaxEnt model. The results showed that the participation of the red-edge band of the GF-6 data in the classification could effectively improve the recognition accuracy of E. ulmoides, making its overall accuracy reach 96.62%; the high NPP value of E. ulmoides was mainly concentrated in the south of Ruyang County, with a total annual carbon sequestration of 540.104835 t CM−2·a−1. The ecological suitability zone of E. ulmoides can be divided into four classes: unsuitable area, low suitable area, medium suitable area, and high suitable area. The method proposed in this paper applies to the real-time monitoring of E. ulmoides, highlighting its potential ecological value and providing theoretical reference and data support for the reasonable layout of E. ulmoides.

Gated InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiodes are the most practical device for detection of telecom single photons arriving at regular intervals. Here, we report the development of a compact single-photon detector (SPD) module measured just 8.8 × 6 × 2 cm3 in size and fully integrated with driving signal generation, faint avalanche readout, and discrimination circuits as well as temperature regulation and compensation. The readout circuit employs our previously reported ultra-narrowband interference circuits (UNICs) to eliminate the capacitive response to the gating signal. We characterize a UNIC-SPD module with a 1.25-GHz clock input and find its performance comparable to its counterpart built upon discrete functional blocks. Setting its detection efficiency to 30% for 1,550-nm photons, we obtain an afterpulsing probability of 2.4% and a dark count probability of 8 × 10−7 per gate under 3-ns hold-off time. We believe that UNIC-SPDs will be useful in important applications such as quantum key distribution.

Background and Aims. Stubble burning is an agricultural practice employed by some grain growers to prepare farmland for sowing and/or to control weeds and pests. Grapegrowers and winemakers have questioned whether the resulting smoke can contaminate grapes in nearby vineyards. This study therefore sought to determine the potential for smoke from three different stubble burns to taint grapes and wine. Methods and Results. Excised bunches of mature Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were exposed to smoke from prescribed burning of wheat, oat, and Balansa clover stubble windrows. Environmental sensors monitored the concentration of particulate matter as a measure of smoke density, while chemical and sensory analysis established the extent to which grapes and wine were tainted by smoke. Only grapes that were positioned among the burning wheat windrows or downwind, but in close proximity (∼200 m) to the oat stubble burn, were exposed to sufficient quantities of smoke to result in a detectable concentration of volatile phenols (up to 12 µg/kg), as chemical markers of smoke taint. These grapes yielded wines with two to threefold higher volatile phenol concentrations (up to 18 µg/L) than other wines, including the control wine, and low intensity, but perceptible smoke-related sensory attributes, indicative of low-level smoke taint. Conclusions. Chemical and sensory analyses suggest the risk of smoke taint from stubble burning is low, except where vineyards are immediately downwind and/or prolonged or repeated smoke exposure occurs. However, stubble moisture content and prevailing weather conditions affect smoke density and dispersion, and will therefore affect the potential for smoke contamination by grapes. Significance of the Study. This study will assist colocated grain growers and grape and wine producers to undertake commercial operations, without negatively impacting one another.

Vibrio as one of the main pathogens of shellfish diseases can cause serious human seafoodborne gastroenteritis and even death. In this study, we analyzed the bacterial communities from the clam, and compared the resistance phenotypes and genotypes of Vibrio spp. from Meretrix meretrix at different growth stages. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed the predominance of Proteobacteria (50%) in the bacterial community and Vibrio was one of the dominant genera in the clam hepatopancreas in the summer. Vibrio abundance in Meretrix meretrix positively correlated with the water temperature (p

Abstract Background Some children hospitalized for severe pertussis need intensive care; moreover, some children die because of deterioration alone or in combination with other complications. The purpose of this study was to identify the mortality risk factors among hospitalized children with severe pertussis. Methods This study evaluated the medical records of 144 hospitalized children with severe pertussis at the Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Centre between January 2016 and December 2019. Results The median age of patients was 2 months (IQR 1–4 months), with 90.3% of the patients aged 70.0 × 109/L (odds ratio [OR], 230.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.16–10,319.09 P = 0.005) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) (OR 323.29; 95% CI 16.01–6529.42; P 70.0 × 109/L and PH were the prognostic independent variables associated with death.

Abstract Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) via two‐step sequential method have received great attention in recent years due to their high reproducibility and low processing costs. However, the relatively high trap‐state density and poor charge carrier extraction efficiency pose challenges. Herein, highly efficient and stable PSCs via a two‐step sequential method are fabricated using organic—inorganic (OI) complexes as multifunctional interlayers. In addition to reduce the under‐coordinated Pb2+ ions related trap states by forming interactions with the functional groups, the complexes interlayer tends to form dipole moment which can enhance the built‐in electric field, thus facilitating charge carrier extraction. Consequently, with rational molecular design, the resulting devices with a vertical dipole moment that parallels with the built‐in electric field yield a champion efficiency of 23.55% with negligible hysteresis. More importantly, the hydrophobicity of the (OI) complexes contributes to an excellent ambient stability of the resulting device with 91% of initial efficiency maintained after 3000 h storage.

BackgroundEmerging human adenovirus type 55 (HAdV-55) causes fatal pneumonia in adults. There is a lack of studies on severe pneumonia caused by HAdV-55 in children.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of pediatric patients hospitalized at Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center with severe pneumonia from 2013 to 2020 who had human adenovirus (HAdV) detected in throat samples or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid using RT-PCR. The presence of HAdV-55 was determined by PCR amplification of the hypervariable regions of the hexon gene. Demographic, clinical, etiological, and outcome data were collected and analyzed.ResultsOver the eight-year period, HAdV-55 was detected in three severe and six critical pediatric pneumonia patients. None of the patients had any underlying diseases, and had a median age of 18 months (range, 6–108 months). The male to female ratio was 2:1. All patients presented with fever and cough, and three patients presented with wheezing and diarrhea. Six patients had coinfections with other respiratory pathogens, such as bacteria, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and fungi. Three critical patients developed plastic bronchitis (PB). The median lengths of invasive mechanical ventilation and hospital stay of the critical patients were 10 (8, 28.75) days and 25 (13, 32.25) days, respectively. Three critical patients died, although two of them received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and blood purification. Three surviving patients developed post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans (PIBO) at the follow-up.ConclusionsHAdV-55 can cause fatal pneumonia in children, and shows a high rate of co-infection with other respiratory pathogens and a poorer prognosis combined with PB. Thus, HAdV-55 may be an important subtype in patients with HAdV-induced pneumonia who develop PIBO.

Introduction: Worldwide, Human adenoviruses (ADV) cause a significant portion of childhood mortality. The severity of ADV Community-acquired Pneumonia (CAP) can be assessed by clinical features, but the rapid and accurate diagnostic biomarkers are still lacking. Candidate biomarkers for severe ADV CAP are to be screened and the different protein expression levels associated with pediatric ADV CAP may help assess the severity of ADV CAP for the pediatricians to make early intervention. Methods: In our study, serum samples from healthy controls, patients with ADV CAP, streptococcus pneumonia (SP) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection were collected. Differently expressed proteins (DEPs) were detected by iTRAQ-based mass spectrometry. Gene Ontology and Pathway Enrichment analysis of DEPs were performed by Cytoscape. The protein interaction network for the identified proteins was constructed by String. Results: The results showed that 119 DEPs in mild ADV CAP and 148 DEPs in severe ADV CAP were identified, compared with healthy children. Four proteins (Protein S100-A9 (S100A9), Protein S100-A8 (S100A8), Leucine aminopeptidase III (LAP3), and Apolipoprotein A-IV(APOA4)) were validated by Western blot, and results indicated that the expression levels of these four proteins were consistent with the proteomic analysis. LAP3 was the most significantly up-regulated protein in severe ADV CAP compared to mild group. In addition, LAP3 was the most significantly up-regulated protein in severe ADV CAP comparing with SP CAP infection and RSV CAP infection. Conclusion: Our findings identified LAP3 protein as a potential diagnostic biomarker which can assess the severity of ADV CAP.

ObjectiveCoronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) may associate with adverse cardiovascular events in obese patients. Coronary angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance (caIMR) is proposed as a less-invasive and pressure-wire-free index to assess CMD. We aimed to investigate the impact of coronary microvascular function assessed by caIMR in patients with overweight and chronic coronary syndrome (CCS).MethodsCCS patients who underwent coronary angiography between 2015 to 2018 were included. Overweight was defined as BMI≥24.0kg/m². Impaired coronary microvascular function was defined as caIMR≥25U. The patients were classified according to BMI and caIMR. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses evaluated the association between caIMR and MACE.ResultsTwo hundred and eighty-two CCS patients were enrolled. Among these, 169 (59.93%) were overweight. Impaired coronary microvascular function was higher in overweight patients than in patients with normal weight (49.70% vs. 38.05%; P=0.035). During 35 months of follow-up, 33 MACE had occurred. Among the total CCS population, MACE was higher in patients with high caIMR than in low caIMR (18.11% vs. 6.45%, P=0.003). In subgroups analysis, MACE was higher in overweight patients with high caIMR than low caIMR (20.24% vs. 7.06%, P=0.014), while there were no significant differences in normal-weight patients. Multivariate Cox analysis demonstrated that caIMR≥25 was independently associated with MACE in overweight patients (HR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.12-7.30; P=0.027) but not in the normal-weight patients. In addition, caIMR showed a significant predictive value for adverse outcomes in overweight patients and provided an incremental prediction when added to a prediction model with BMI.ConclusionsImpaired coronary microvascular function assessed by caIMR was common and is an independent predictor of MACE in overweight patients with CCS.

Synchronization of ovary development is the premise for realizing large-scale seed breeding of small- and medium-sized shrimps. To explore the genetic mechanism that determines ovarian development in the ridgetail white prawn Exopalaemon carinicauda, we successfully cloned the full-length cDNA sequence of the cdk2 gene of E. carinicauda. The open reading frame (ORF) of cdk2 is 918 bp, which encodes 305 amino acids with a conserved cyclin binding motif S_TKc. The phylogenetic analysis showed that cdk2 has the highest homology with the cdk2 of the decapods, Macrobrachium japonicus and M. rosenbergii, which are clustered together. The results of qRT-PCR showed that the expression of cdk2 gradually increased in embryos from fertilized eggs, reaching the highest level in the anterior nodal larvae. The expression level of cdk2 decreased significantly after the anterior nodal larva stage (P < 0.05). Cdk2 was expressed in nine tissues (eye stalk, stomach, heart, gill, intestine, muscle, ovary, hepatopancreas, and ventral cord), with the highest expression in the ovary, at a level that was significantly different from the other tissues (P < 0.05). In the ovary, the expression level of this gene was highest in developmental stage Ⅲ and lowest in stage Ⅱ, which was significantly different from the other stages (P < 0.05). RNAi results showed that reducing the cdk2 expression level could significantly delay ovarian development. The results of in situ hybridization further revealed that cdk2 plays an important role in the proliferation of oocytes, and the synthesis and transportation of exogenous yolk material.