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Abstract Understanding the transcriptional regulatory characteristics throughout the embryogenesis of plant-parasitic nematodes is crucial for elucidating their developmental processes’ uniqueness. However, a challenge arises due to the lack of suitable technical methods for synchronizing the age of plant-parasitic nematodes embryo, it is difficult to collect detailed transcriptome data at each stage of embryonic development. Here, we recorded the 11 embryonic developmental time-points of endophytic nematode Meloidogyne incognita (isolated from Wuhan, China), Heterodera glycines (isolated from Wuhan, China), and Ditylenchus destructor (isolated from Jinan, China) species, and constructed transcriptome datasets of single embryos of these three species utilizing low-input smart-seq2 technology. The datasets encompassed 11 complete embryonic development stages, including Zygote, 2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell, 24–44 cell, 64–78 cell, Comma, 1.5-fold, 2-fold, Moving, and L1, each stage generated four to five replicates, resulting in a total of 162 high-resolution transcriptome libraries. This high-resolution cross-species dataset serves as a crucial resource for comprehending the embryonic developmental properties of plant-parasitic nematodes and for identifying functional regulatory genes during embryogenesis.

Tebuconazole (TEB), a prominent chiral triazole fungicide, has been extensively utilized for plant pathogen control globally. Despite experimental evidence of TEB metabolism in mammals, the enantioselectivity in the biotransformation of R- and S-TEB enantiomers by specific CYP450s remains elusive. In this work, integrated in silico simulations were employed to unveil the binding interactions and enantioselective metabolic fate of TEB enantiomers within human CYP1A2, 2B6, 2E1, and 3A4. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations clearly delineated the binding specificity of R- and S-TEB to the four CYP450s, crucially determining their differences in metabolic activity and enantioselectivity. The primary driving force for robust ligand binding was identified as van der Waals interactions with CYP450s, particularly involving the hydrophobic residues. Mechanistic insights derived from quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations established C2-methyl hydroxylation as the predominant route of R-/S-TEB metabolism, while C6-hydroxylation and triazol epoxidation were deemed kinetically infeasible pathways. Specifically, the resulting hydroxy-R-TEB metabolite primarily originates from R-TEB biotransformation by 1A2, 2E1 and 3A4, whereas hydroxy-S-TEB is preferentially produced by 2B6. These findings significantly contribute to our comprehension of the binding specificity and enantioselective metabolic fate of chiral TEB by CYP450s, potentially informing further research on human health risk assessment associated with TEB exposure.

IntroductionGut microbiome plays a crucial role in the health of wild animals. Their structural and functional properties not only reflect the host’s dietary habits and habitat conditions but also provide essential support for ecological adaptation in various environments.MethodsThis study investigated the gut microbiome of Himalayan langurs (Semnopithecus schistaceus) and Xizang macaques (Macaca mulatta vestita) across different geographic regions using 16S rRNA gene and metagenomic sequencing.ResultsResults showed distinct clustering patterns in gut microbiota based on geographic location. Soil had an insignificant impact on host gut microbiome. Himalayan langurs from mid-altitude regions exhibited higher levels of antibiotic resistance genes associated with multidrug resistance, while Xizang macaques from high-altitude regions showed a broader range of resistance genes. Variations in carbohydrate-active enzymes and KEGG pathways indicated unique metabolic adaptations to different environments.DiscussionThese findings provide valuable insights into the health and conservation of these primates and the broader implications of microbial ecology and functional adaptations in extreme conditions.

Abstract The commercialization of Li−S batteries is seriously hindered by polysulfides with severe shuttle effect, and the inherent insulating properties and slow reaction kinetics of insoluble Li2S products. Transition metal sulfides (TMSs) have a high adsorption capacity for polysulfides and have been shown to have a strong catalytic effect on polysulfide conversion reactions. This paper reviews the research on the application of Unary TMSs, heterostructures, etc. in Li−S batteries, and gives some research methods for TMD catalysts in Li−S batteries. Finally, it points out the main focuses and direction of future Li−S battery research and development. It aims to provide some insights into the design and manufacture of advanced Li−S batteries for commercial use.

This study examines the image construction of front-line healthcare workers (HCWs) in Chinese government Weibo (microblogs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, we rely on a discourse-historical approach to analyze 1,510 posts collected from an influential government Weibo account, @healthchina (健康中国), during the first wave of the pandemic to investigate the diverse images of HCWs constructed, the discursive strategies employed, and the pragma-linguistic devices used by @healthchina. The data analyses find that Chinese HCWs are depicted as professional and competent in addressing the pandemic crisis, compassionate and caring to their patients, and responsible and devoted to public health. Two discursive strategies are found salient in HCW’s image construction—nomination and predication realized through the identity labels, attitude/judgment resources, metaphors and comparisons, pictures, and hashtags. We argue that Chinese government microbloggers intentionally constructed these images of the HCWs to elicit positive emotional responses, reinforce government trustworthiness, and foster social cohesion in the collective fight against the pandemic. This research underscores the strategic communication efforts aimed at shaping the perception of HCWs and their pivotal role in managing the pandemic.

Abstract The Sichuan golden snub‐nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) is a rare and endangered primate species endemic to China. Conducting research on the population distribution changes of the Sichuan golden snub‐nosed monkey holds paramount importance for its conservation. Our study represented a comprehensive investigation into the population distribution of the Sichuan snub‐nosed monkey by integrating data acquired from field surveys, protected areas, and historical records and using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to explore changes in distribution across various time periods, including the historical (the Mid‐to‐Late Pleistocene), recent (1980–2000), and current (2001–2023). The research findings demonstrate a significant shift in the distribution range of the Sichuan golden snub‐nosed monkey compared to historical time frames. Notably, between 1980 and 2000, there was a sharp decline in distribution area. Analyses revealed that the southernmost distribution county for the Sichuan golden snub‐nosed monkey in Sichuan Province has shifted northward from Huili to Kangding. Furthermore, distribution changes in Sichuan Province are not solely characterized by a reduction in habitat area but also by a decrease in vertical distribution zones. Regions in the northeastern part of Sichuan with elevations below 1000 m, such as Guang'an City, Bazhong City, Dazhou City, and Nanchong City, no longer support the presence of the Sichuan golden snub‐nosed monkey. At present, the distribution range is confined to elevations between 1000 and 4000 m in the two major mountain ranges of Qionglai and Minshan. A holistic approach is required to safeguard this species. The establishment of movement corridors can play a critical role in enhancing the overall connectivity of current distribution areas. Additionally, we propose implementing a hierarchical approach to protect current habitats. Spatially differentiated conservation measures should be implemented to prioritize the protection of key habitats while simultaneously monitoring anthropogenic activities in non‐key habitats to prevent further fragmentation and isolation of the monkey's distribution areas.

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

Abstract The formation and consequences of polyploidization in animals with clonal reproduction remain largely unknown. Clade I root-knot nematodes (RKNs), characterized by parthenogenesis and allopolyploidy, show a widespread geographical distribution and extensive agricultural destruction. Here, we generated 4 unzipped polyploid RKN genomes and identified a putative novel alternative telomeric element. Then we reconstructed 4 chromosome-level assemblies and resolved their genome structures as AAB for triploid and AABB for tetraploid. The phylogeny of subgenomes revealed polyploid RKN origin patterns as hybridization between haploid and unreduced gametes. We also observed extensive chromosomal fusions and homologous gene expression decrease after polyploidization, which might offset the disadvantages of clonal reproduction and increase fitness in polyploid RKNs. Our results reveal a rare pathway of polyploidization in parthenogenic polyploid animals and provide a large number of high-precision genetic resources that could be used for RKN prevention and control.

Abstract Animals living in high‐altitude environments, such as the Tibetan Plateau, must face harsh environmental conditions (e.g., hypoxia, cold, and strong UV radiation). These animals' physiological adaptations (e.g., increased red cell production and turnover rate) might also be associated with the gut microbial response. Bilirubin is a component of red blood cell turnover or destruction and is excreted into the intestine and reduced to urobilinoids and/or urobilinogen by gut bacteria. Here, we found that the feces of macaques living in high‐altitude regions look significantly browner (with a high concentration of stercobilin, a component from urobilinoids) than those living in low‐altitude regions. We also found that gut microbes involved in urobilinogen reduction (e.g., beta‐glucuronidase) were enriched in the high‐altitude mammal population compared to the low‐altitude population. Moreover, the spatial–temporal change in gut microbial function was more profound in the low‐altitude macaques than in the high‐altitude population, which might be attributed to profound changes in food resources in the low‐altitude regions. Therefore, we conclude that a high‐altitude environment's stress influences living animals and their symbiotic microbiota.

Abstract Image quality variation is a prominent cause of performance degradation for intelligent disease diagnostic models in clinical applications. Image quality issues are particularly prominent in infantile fundus photography due to poor patient cooperation, which poses a high risk of misdiagnosis. Here, we developed a deep learning-based image quality assessment and enhancement system (DeepQuality) for infantile fundus images to improve infant retinopathy screening. DeepQuality can accurately detect various quality defects concerning integrity, illumination, and clarity with area under the curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.933 to 0.995. It can also comprehensively score the overall quality of each fundus photograph. By analyzing 2,015,758 infantile fundus photographs from real-world settings using DeepQuality, we found that 58.3% of them had varying degrees of quality defects, and large variations were observed among different regions and categories of hospitals. Additionally, DeepQuality provides quality enhancement based on the results of quality assessment. After quality enhancement, the performance of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) diagnosis of clinicians was significantly improved. Moreover, the integration of DeepQuality and AI diagnostic models can effectively improve the model performance for detecting ROP. This study may be an important reference for the future development of other image-based intelligent disease screening systems.

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains one of the major global public health concerns, and it develop into liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recent evidence suggests that endosomal and autophagic vesicles are beneficial for HBV replication. However, it has not been well elucidated how HBV exploits such intracellular vesicle systems for its replication. RAB5A, a member of small GTPase family, plays crucial roles in early endosome biogenesis and autophagy initiation. We observed that RAB5A mRNA and protein levels were significantly increased in HBV-expressing hepatoma cell lines as well as in liver tissue samples from chronic HBV-infected patients. Moreover, RAB5A silencing inhibited HBV replication and subviral particle (SVP) expression significantly in HBV-transfected and -infected hepatoma cells, whereas RAB5A overexpression increased them. Mechanistically, RAB5A increases HBV replication through enhancement of early endosome (EE) – late endosome (LE) activation by interacting with EEA1, as well as enhancing autophagy induction by interacting with VPS34. Additionally, HBV infection enhances RAB5A-mediated dual activation of EE-LE system and autophagy. Collectively, our findings highlight that HBV utilizes RAB5A-mediated dual activation of endosomal and autophagic vesicle pathways for its own replication and persistence. Therefore, RAB5A is a potential target for chronic HBV infection treatment.

In the face of ongoing water pollution challenges, the intricate interplay between dissolved organic matter and disinfectants like chlorine gives rise to potentially harmful disinfection byproducts (DBPs) during water treatment. The exploration of DBP formation originating from amino acids (AA) is a critical focus of global research. Aromatic DBPs, in particular, have garnered considerable attention due to their markedly higher toxicity compared to their aliphatic counterparts. This work seeks to advance the understanding of DBP formation by investigating chlorination disinfection and kinetics using tyrosine (Tyr), phenylalanine (Phe), and tryptophan (Trp) as precursors. Via rigorous experiments, a total of 15 distinct DBPs with accurate molecular structures were successfully identified. The chlorination of all three AAs yielded highly toxic chlorophenylacetonitriles (CPANs), and the disinfectant dosage and pH value of the reaction system potentially influence chlorination kinetics. Notably, Phe exhibited the highest degradation rate compared to Tyr and Trp, at both the CAA:CHOCl ratio of within 1:2 and a wide pH range (6.0 to 9.0). Additionally, a neutral pH environment triggered the maximal reaction rates of the three AAs, while an acidic condition may reduce their reactivity. Overall, this study aims to augment the DBP database and foster a deeper comprehension of the DBP formation and relevant kinetics underlying the chlorination of aromatic AAs.

We propose a dual-pattern broadband polarization converter in the terahertz band using a vanadium dioxide (VO2) and graphene metasurface. The converter can be switched between transmission and reflection patterns by controlling the phase of VO2. In the insulating state of VO2 and with the Fermi energy of graphene (Ef) set to 1 eV, the converter works in transmission mode and can convert linearly polarized waves. In the metallic state of VO2 and with Ef set to = 0 eV, the converter works in reflection mode and can function as a quarter-wave plate. The proposed converter is expected to have applications in integrated devices that control the polarization state of terahertz waves.

Abstract Background Metastatic colonization is one of the critical steps in tumor metastasis. A pre-metastatic niche is required for metastatic colonization and is determined by tumor-stroma interactions, yet the mechanistic underpinnings remain incompletely understood. Methods PCR-based miRNome profiling, qPCR, immunofluorescent analyses evaluated the expression of exosomal miR-141 and cell-to-cell communication. LC-MS/MS proteomic profiling and Dual-Luciferase analyses identified YAP1 as the direct target of miR-141. Human cytokine profiling, ChIP, luciferase reporter assays, and subcellular fractionation analyses confirmed YAP1 in modulating GROα production. A series of in vitro tumorigenic assays, an ex vivo model and Yap1 stromal conditional knockout (cKO) mouse model demonstrated the roles of miR-141/YAP1/GROα/CXCR1/2 signaling cascade. RNAi, CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPRi systems were used for gene silencing. Blood sera, OvCa tumor tissue samples, and tissue array were included for clinical correlations. Results Hsa-miR-141-3p (miR-141), an exosomal miRNA, is highly secreted by ovarian cancer cells and reprograms stromal fibroblasts into proinflammatory cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), facilitating metastatic colonization. A mechanistic study showed that miR-141 targeted YAP1, a critical effector of the Hippo pathway, reducing the nuclear YAP1/TAZ ratio and enhancing GROα production from stromal fibroblasts. Stromal-specific knockout (cKO) of Yap1 in murine models shaped the GROα-enriched microenvironment, facilitating in vivo tumor colonization, but this effect was reversed after Cxcr1/2 depletion in OvCa cells. The YAP1/GROα correlation was demonstrated in clinical samples, highlighting the clinical relevance of this research and providing a potential therapeutic intervention for impeding premetastatic niche formation and metastatic progression of ovarian cancers. Conclusions This study uncovers miR-141 as an OvCa-derived exosomal microRNA mediating the tumor-stroma interactions and the formation of tumor-promoting stromal niche through activating YAP1/GROα/CXCRs signaling cascade, providing new insight into therapy for OvCa patients with peritoneal metastases.

Abstract Streptomyces is well known for synthesis of many biologically active secondary metabolites, such as polyketides and non‐ribosomal peptides. Understanding the coupling mechanisms of primary and secondary metabolism can help develop strategies to improve secondary metabolite production in Streptomyces. In this work, Streptomyces albus ZD11, an oil‐preferring industrial Streptomyces strain, was proved to have a remarkable capability to generate abundant acyl‐CoA precursors for salinomycin biosynthesis with the aid of its enhanced β‐oxidation pathway. It was found that the salinomycin biosynthetic gene cluster contains a predicted 3‐hydroxyacyl‐CoA dehydrogenase (FadB3), which is the third enzyme of β‐oxidation cycle. Deletion of fadB3 significantly reduced the production of salinomycin. A variety of experimental evidences showed that FadB3 was mainly involved in the β‐oxidation pathway rather than ethylmalonyl‐CoA biosynthesis and played a very important role in regulating the rate of β‐oxidation in S. albus ZD11. Our findings elucidate an interesting coupling mechanism by which a PKS biosynthetic gene cluster could regulate the β‐oxidation pathway by carrying β‐oxidation genes, enabling Streptomyces to efficiently synthesize target polyketides and economically utilize environmental nutrients.

Previous studies have revealed multiple tissue- or cell-specific or enriched miRNA profiles. However, miRNA profiles enriched in hepatic cell types and their effect on HBV replication have not been well elucidated. In this study, primary human hepatocytes (PHHs), Kupffer cells (KCs), liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were prepared from liver specimens of non-HBV-infected patients. Four hepatic cell type-enriched miRNA profiles were identified from purified liver cells miRNA microarray assay. The results revealed that 12 miRNAs, including miR-122-5p and miR-192-3p were PHH-enriched; 9 miRNAs, including miR-142-5p and miR-155-5p were KC-enriched; 6 miRNAs, including miR-126-3p and miR-222-3p were LSEC-enriched; and 14 miRNAs, including miR-214-3p and miR-199a-3p were HSC-enriched. By testing the effect of 11 PHH-enriched miRNAs on HBV production, we observed that miR-192-3p had the greatest pro-virus effect in hepatic cell lines. Moreover, we further found that miR-192-3p promoted HBV replication and gene expression through inhibiting Akt/mTOR signalling by direct targeting of ZNF143 in HepG2.2.15 cells. Additionally, the serum and hepatic miR-192-3p expression levels were significantly higher in chronic hepatitis B patients than in healthy controls and serum miR-192-3p positively correlated with the serum levels of HBV DNA and HBsAg. Collectively, we identified miRNA profiles enriched in four hepatic cell types and revealed that PHH-enriched miR-192-3p promoted HBV replication through inhibiting Akt/mTOR signalling by direct targeting of ZNF143 in hepatic cell lines. Our study provides a specific perspective for the role of hepatic cell type-enriched miRNA in interaction with viral replication and various liver pathogenesis.

Spectral control of light in the visible range is one of the fundamental topics in optical applications. Micro-electro-mechanically systems (MEMS) combine with metamaterial structures can further enrich the optical function. Here, a plasmonic metamaterial structures based on MEMS consist of the top metal film and bottom metal slab separated by a dielectric layer was proposed to achieve an electrically switchable metamaterial absorber (MMA). Each metamaterial unit cell is composed of an electrically driven suspended metal film and bottom metal substrate, which can perform independent MEMS functions. Full-wave numerical simulations demonstrated that the shifting of the absorption peaks of the spectrum can be achieved in the visible range. The absorption modulation ratio above 60% can be achieved at wavelengths near 570 nm and 640 nm, provided that the full distance (50 nm) between the top suspended metal film and bottom metal slab can be 100% modulated, which can be easily realized via current MEMS technology. This paves the way for MEMS integrated metamaterial absorber as a platform for reconfigurable optics and optical switching.

The unrestricted utilization of antibiotics poses a critical challenge to global public health and safety. Levofloxacin (LEV) and sulfaphenazole (SPN), widely employed broad-spectrum antimicrobials, are frequently detected at the terminal stage of water treatment, raising concerns regarding their potential conversion into detrimental disinfection byproducts (DBPs). However, current knowledge is deficient in identifying the potential DBPs and elucidating the precise transformation pathways and influencing factors during the chloramine disinfection process of these two antibiotics. This study conducts a comprehensive analysis of reaction pathways, encompassing piperazine ring opening/oxidation, Cl-substitution, OH-substitution, desulfurization, and S−N bond cleavage, during chloramine disinfection. Twelve new DBPs were identified in this study, exhibiting stability and persistence even after 24 h of disinfection. Additionally, an examination of DBP generation under varying disinfectant concentrations and pH values revealed peak levels at a molar ratio of 25 for LEV and SPN to chloramine, with LEV contributing 11.5% and SPN 23.8% to the relative abundance of DBPs. Remarkably, this research underscores a substantial increase in DBP formation within the molar ratio range of 1:1 to 1:10 compared to 1:10 to 1:25. Furthermore, a pronounced elevation in DBP generation was observed in the pH range of 7 to 8. These findings present critical insights into the impact of the disinfection process on these antibiotics, emphasizing the innovation and significance of this research in assessing associated health risks.

Shipwreck wood often contains soluble salts and iron sulfides, which pose a threat to its stability. Therefore, desalination treatment must be carried out during protection. In this study, deionized water and ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA-2Na) solution were used to extract soluble salts and iron sulfides from the 511 wood components of the “Huaguangjiao I” shipwreck. The extraction lasted for 1120 days, during which extraction progress was monitored by measuring the electrical conductivity and iron content of the soaking solution. The results indicated that the extraction experiment reached its endpoint when the conductivity of the soaking solution was maintained at 80~100 μs/cm and the iron content was maintained at 8~15 mg/L. More than 143.35 kg of iron were extracted from the wood of the “Huaguangjiao I” shipwreck. After extraction, the content of soluble salt ions in the wood were less than 5 μg/g, with an iron content below 5%. The wood has returned to its original color and with a certain degree of degradation. “Huaguangjiao I” was the first large-scale marine shipwreck to complete the desalination treatment of all wooden components. This study provides guidance for the desalination treatment of large-scale wooden shipwrecks.

Lenses are an important part of modern optical systems. We propose metalenses with bifocal spots, which realizes the beam focusing with controllable intensity ratio and free deflection of the bifocal spots. The metalens consists of an array of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanopillars, which can provide two different propagation phases for x-linear polarization (XLP) and y-linear polarization (YLP) incidence, respectively. Therefore, by precisely choosing the size of the nanopillars, it is possible to produce two different focal spots for the two orthogonal input polarized light. And the intensity of the two focal points can be adjusted by changing the polarization angle of the incident light. Superimposing the initial phase distribution of the metalens and the phase distribution of the beam deflector metasurface enables multi-dimensional adjustment of the two focal points and realizes the free deflection characteristics of the metalens. The deflection angle of the focal spot is close to the theoretical deflection angle. In addition, multiple superposition can produce more deflection angles or deflect the focus to a two-dimensional plane. The method of controlling the targeting phase of the metalens by superimposing additional phases gives us the ability to fully manipulate the phase and wavefront of the metalens, providing a new idea for the continuous angle change of future optical lenses.

Smart windows with high visible transmission can control the absorption or transmission spectrum of solar irradiation based on seasonal variations and personal preferences, allowing buildings to save energy. However, it is a considerable challenge to design a metasurface with high solar modulation ability (ΔAsol), integral luminous transmittance (Tlum), transmission light's color rendering index (Ra) and simple structure for smart windows. In this work, we design and optimize the asymmetric-structured multilayer and micro-nano array by applying the method of scanning parameters and fully-connected network methods. The optimization results show that ΔAsol and Tlum negatively correlate when the transmitted light of these two structures has a high Ra. This conclusion of designing high-performance asymmetric-structured metasurfaces provides essential guidance for designing future smart windows.

Tenderness is an important index to evaluate the quality of meat products, and improving the tenderness of meat products is conducive to attracting consumers to buy again. Although traditional physical tenderization technology is widely used in tenderizing processing of meat and meat products, the defect of poor online application leads to low consumer acceptance, which has promoted the research of emerging physical tenderization technologies. Among them, ultrasound as an energy-efficient, green environmental protection, strong penetration of non-thermal processing technology has been widely used in the tenderization of meat products. The theory of meat products tenderization, the main influencing factors of meat products tenderness and the basic principle of ultrasound tenderization are reviewed. The effects of ultrasound technology on tenderization of meat products are discussed from different perspectives (muscle fiber and connective tissue properties). It provides new ideas and theoretical guidance for ultrasound technology to improve the quality of meat products.

Folium Artemisiae argyi Carbonisatum (FAAC) is a traditional medicine widely used in clinic. It has the effect of hemostasis by warming meridians. In order to further explore the chemical composition and biological activity of FAAC, the methanol extract of FAAC was isolated and purified by open column and high- performance liquid chromatography. and the complete structure was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and LREI-MS for the first time, namely rutin, quercetin and octacosanol respectively. Initially the toxic effect of methanol extract of FAAC on zebrafish was evaluated by observing the phenotypic characteristics, spontaneous twitch times, heart rate, hatching rate, the distance of SV-BA and cardiomyocyte apoptosis of zebrafish. The results showed that FAAC has embryonic development toxicity and cardiotoxicity when it was higher than 62.5 μg/mL. Meanwhile, the hemostatic effect of methanol extract of FAAC was compared with FAA (Folium Artemisia argyi) by zebrafish intestinal bleeding model originally. The results showed that the hemostatic effect of the medium and high concentration dose groups (3.0 and 30.0 μg/mL) was enhanced for both FAAC and FAA. This study provided an experimental basis for the clinical application of FAAC.

Chitosan can form a viscous solution by intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds, and the solution can salivate into a edible film with high transparency. Because chitosan film has certain mechanical properties, gas barrier properties and antibacterial properties, it has been widely used in food packaging to improve food quality. The mechanical properties, and water resistance of the pure chitosan film cannot meet the requirements of high protection and high moisture resistance of ideal packaging, which limit its application in food packaging. Actually, chitosan can often compound with other materials to improve its mechanical properties, barrier properties and fresh-keeping properties, and extend the shelf life of food. This article summarizes the preparation of chitosan, the film formation mechanism characteristics of pure chitosan film; and focuses that the amino and hydroxyl groups on chitosan molecules interact with the carbonyl, hydroxyl and acetyl groups on the polysaccharides(such as starch and pectin), proteins(such as gelatin), and antibacterial(such as glycerole, plant essential oils) through hydrogen bonds and ionic bonds, and forms a composite film with high tensile strength, good gas barrier properties, and strong antibacterial ability. It can provide the technical support of the development and application in chitosan composite film, and the food safety is improved, too.

With the expansion of protected vegetable growing areas (PVGAs), viral plant diseases have become more prevalent, causing severe economic losses to the vegetable production industry in China. At present, researches on plant viruses mainly focus on plants, but there is only a few reports on the species of viruses in surface water from PVGAs. The surface water samples in PVGAs are representative to a certain extent, which has an important reference value for studying the characteristics of plant viruses in surface water. The purpose of this study was to identify the diversity and the possibility of entering disease infection cycle of plant viruses in water samples collected from PVGAs in eastern China. A total of 144 water samples were collected, and eight plant viruses including tobacco mosaic virus (TMV, 8.33%), cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV, 33.33%), pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV, 6.94%), cucumber mosaic virus (CMV, 0.69%), tomato masaic virus (ToMV, 3.47%), tomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV, 0.69%), tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV, 4.17%), and tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV, 5.56%) were examined using RT-PCR and PCR. The species of viruses in surface water varied greatly by location. CGMMV, TMV, ToCV, ToMV, ToMMV, and TYLCV were identified in Shandong, a northern part of Eastern China, whereas only PMMoV was found in Shanghai, a southern part of Eastern China. After healthy tobacco plants were inoculated with the concentrated solutions of TMV, ToMV, CGMMV, and PMMoV, could cause disease in healthy tobacco, indicating that the plant viruses in the concentrated solution have the infectivity, and the plant viruses in surface water have the possibility of entering the infection cycle of disease. The results will improve the understanding of the potential risks of waterborne disease transmission.

In this paper, we present a scheme for achieving broadband efficient beam splitting based on homogeneous ultra-thin metasurfaces, which is composed of an ultrathin dielectric spacer sandwiched between periodic arrays of identical rectangular metal resonators and an optically thick metal film. Based on this scheme, three beam splitters for incident wavelengths in the ultraviolet (UV), visible, and infrared (IR) are designed and investigated numerically. Although these beam splitters exhibit polarization-dependent optical responses, each one still has an operational band in which the conversion efficiency remains above 90 % for any polarization incidence. The operational band is respectively 250–299 nm, 478–574 nm, and 1411–1700 nm for these three metasurface-based beam splitters. Moreover, we propose a dual-band beam splitter and a four-channel beam splitter based on this metasurface with MIM configuration. The operational window of the dual-band beam splitter respectively locates in the visible and infrared regions.

The white-lipped deer (Cervus albirostris) is a rare and endangered species found in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. To understand the space occupancy, activity rhythm, and sexual segregation of the white-lipped deer, 24,096 effective photos and 827 effective videos were captured using infrared cameras from February 2020 to January 2022. The ecology and behavior of the white-lipped deer in Jiacha Gorge were studied in more detail using site occupancy models, relative abundance index, and other technologies and methods. The results show that The occupancy predicted by the model exceeds or approaches 0.5. The occupancy increases with greater altitude and with larger EVI values, while the detection rate increases with altitude only during spring and decreases with EVI values only in summer. The daily activity peaks for white-lipped deer were observed from 7:00 to 11:00 and 17:00 to 22:00, with annual activity peaks occurring from April to June and from September to November. From July to the following January, white-lipped deer mostly move in mixed-sex groups, while during the remainder of the year, they predominantly associate with individuals of the same sex. Climate, vegetation coverage, food resources, and human disturbance collectively influenced the behavior and habitat utilization of white-lipped deer. The foundational research conducted on white-lipped deer over the past two years is expected to enhance the basic understanding of white-lipped deer in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and contribute to future protection and management decisions.

Room temperature sodium-sulfur batteries are one of the most attractive energy storage systems due to their low cost, environmental friendliness, and ultra-high energy density. However, due to the inherent slow redox kinetics and the shuttle of polysulfides, the road of room temperature sodium-sulfur batteries to practical application is still full of difficulties. As a sulfur cathode, which is directly related to battery performance, a lot of research efforts have been devoted to it and many strategies have been proposed to solve the shuttle effect problem of sulfur cathodes. This paper analyzes the existing problems and solutions of sodium-sulfur batteries, mainly discusses and summarizes the research progress of constructing carbon-based cathode materials for sodium-sulfur batteries, and expounds the current research popular from two main directions. That is to construct advanced cathode materials based on two mechanisms of adsorption and electrocatalysis. Finally, the research direction of advanced sodium-sulfur batteries is prospected.

It is important to understand the response of stem diameter variations in dominant tree species to water conditions in Northeast China. The results will provide basic information for scientific predictions of the future development trend of temperate forests in the eastern mountainous area of northeast China. We employed a high-precision dendrometer to continuously monitor the stem radial changes of six dominant tree species in temperate forests in northeast China from 15 April to 24 October in 2021. Precipitation significantly promoted the tree stem diameter increment. The increment of stem diameter in Juglans mandshurica Maxim., Quercus mongolica Fisch. and Betula platyphylla Suk. had a significantly positive correlation with cumulative precipitation. Correlation analysis revealed that the stem radial change (SRC) of six tree species was positively correlated with precipitation (Pre) and relative humidity (RH), and negatively correlated with water vapor pressure deficit (VPD), indicating that the diameter growth of the six tree species was mainly restricted by water conditions. Under drought stress, the stem radial growth rate of the six tree species slowed down, the growth duration decreased and the tree water deficit (TWD) value increased, while there were obvious interspecific differences. Therefore, water conditions limited the stem radial growth of the six tree species, while each tree species had a different response to drought stress.

The bound state in the continuum (BIC) has paved a new way to achieve excellent localization of the resonant mode coexisting with a continuous spectrum in the metasurface. Here, we propose an all-dielectric metasurface consisting of periodic pairs of asymmetric crosses that supports multiple Fano resonances. Due to the sufficient degrees of freedom in the unit cell, we displaced the vertical bars horizontally to introduce in-plane perturbation, doubling the unit cell structure. Dimerization directly resulted in the folding of the Brillouin zone in k space and transformed the BIC modes into quasi-BIC resonances. Then, simultaneous in-plane symmetry breaking was introduced in both the x and y directions to excite two more resonances. The physical mechanisms of these BIC modes were investigated by multipole decomposition of the scattering cross section and electromagnetic near-field analysis, confirming that they are governed by toroidal dipole (TD) modes and magnetic dipole (MD) modes. We also investigated the flexible tunability and evaluated the sensing performance of our proposed metasurface. Our work is promising for different applications requiring stable and tunable resonances, such as optical switching and biomolecule sensing.

ObjectiveBody-image disturbance and eating disorders are significant physical and mental health problems in China. Attitudes toward the body are thought to work in conjunction with other established risk factors for dietary pathology, which include body dissatisfaction, dieting, and negative effects. Negative appearance evaluation may be valuable for extending our understanding of measuring factors and potential causal relationships associated with body image and eating problems. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association between negative appearance evaluation and a combination of eating attitudes and sociocultural attitudes toward appearance and the mediating effect of negative appearance evaluation on the relationship between eating attitudes and sociocultural attitudes toward appearance.MethodsWe invited 339 Chinese adults to undergo the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), the Fear of Negative Appearance Evaluation Scale (FNAES), and the Sociocultural Attitudes toward Appearance (SATAQ-3) scale, and used AMOS 24.0 for model construction and mediating effects testing.ResultsThere was a significant positive correlation between EAT-26 scores and FNAES (p < 0.001) and SATAQ-3 scores (p < 0.001), and all dimensions except internalization general were significantly positively correlated (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between FNAES and SATAQ-3 scores for all dimensions (p < 0. 01). There was no significant direct effect of eating attitude on sociocultural attitude toward appearance; however, there was a significant mediating effect of fear of negative appearance evaluation.ConclusionOur results demonstrate that negative appearance evaluation fully mediates the relationship between eating attitudes and sociocultural attitudes toward appearance. An individual’s attitude toward eating affects negative body perceptions and thus their perception of their own body shape. Our exploration of the specific effects of eating attitudes on body perception provides a psychological basis for guidance and developing interventions regarding attitudes toward the body.

ABSTRACT: In this study, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) was used to establish a rapid, specific, and visual detection method for duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV). The design and synthesis of 4 specific LAMP primers were based on the conserved gene region of the DHBV genome, and the optimum temperature and time of the LAMP reaction were 63°C and 50 min, respectively. The LAMP assay was confirmed to be specific for DHBV detection and had the same sensitivity as the quantitative PCR assay. A visual detection method for rapid determination of results was developed using a color indicator containing phenol red and cresol red. A color change was produced based on a pH change in the reaction system, indicating a positive reaction. For the detection of samples from ducks and geese, the LAMP method has the advantages of simplicity, high sensitivity and specificity, good visibility, and low cost. Moreover, it is more practical and convenient than PCR-related assays for the clinical detection of DHBV.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection causes acute and chronic liver diseases, including severe hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Interferon alpha 2a (IFNα-2a) is commonly used for treating chronic HBV infection. However, its efficacy remains relatively low. Yet, the immunological and molecular mechanisms for successful IFNα-2a treatment remain elusive. One issue is whether the application of increasing IFNα doses may modulate cellular processes and HBV replication in hepatic cells. In the present study, we focused on the interaction of IFNα signaling with other cellular signaling pathways and the consequence for HBV replication. The results showed that with the concentration of 6000 U/ml IFNα-2a treatment downregulated the activity of not only the Akt/mTOR signaling but also the AMPK signaling. Additionally, IFNα-2a treatment increased the formation of the autophagosomes by blocking autophagic degradation. Furthermore, IFNα-2a treatment inhibited the Akt/mTOR signaling and initiated autophagy under low and high glucose concentrations. In reverse, inhibition of autophagy using 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and glucose concentrations influenced the expression of IFNα-2a-induced ISG15 and IFITM1. Despite of ISGs induction, HBV replication and gene expression in HepG2.2.15 cells, a cell model with continuous HBV replication, were slightly increased at high doses of IFNα-2a. In conclusion, our study indicates that IFNα-2a treatment may interfere with multiple intracellular signaling pathways, facilitate autophagy initiation, and block autophagic degradation, thereby resulting in slightly enhanced HBV replication.

Olive leaf scab, also known as peacock spot disease, caused by Venturia oleaginea (syn. Spilocaea oleaginea and Fusicladium oleagineum) is the most widespread and economically important fungal disease attacking olive in production countries. Here, we report the first highly contiguous whole-genome sequence (46.08 Mb) of one isolate, YUN35, of V. oleaginea. The described genome sequence and annotation resource will be useful to study the fungal biology, pathogen-host interaction, characterization of genes of interest, and population genetic diversity.

Abstract Background Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) is a newly emerging circovirus that might be associated with porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome, reproductive failure, and cardiac and multisystemic inflammation. To aid the prevention and control of the infectious disease caused by PCV3, we developed a novel isothermal amplification assay using polymerase spiral reaction (PSR), which allows the visual detection of preserved strains and clinical samples. Results This assay precisely amplified the PCV3 genome with the use of a water bath at 62 °C for 50 min. The detection limit was found to be 1.13 × 102 copies/μL by gel electrophoresis or with the use of a visible dye (an indicator comprising phenol red and cresol red). No cross-reaction with other porcine infectious viruses was observed. The detection results for 23 PCV3-positive samples by PSR were in accordance with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay. The detection rate of the PSR assay for PCV3 positivity of clinical samples was 68/97, which was higher than LAMP assay (67/97). Conclusions These results indicated that the PSR assay provides an accurate and rapid method for the detection of PCV3 with high sensitivity and specificity. It is particularly suited for use in a simple laboratory setting without a thermal cycler or gel electrophoresis equipment.

Abstract Background Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a major etiological agent of porcine epidemic diarrhea around the world. Point-of-care testing in the field is lacking owing to the requirement for a simple, robust field applicable test that does not require professional laboratory equipment. The aim of this study was to establish a novel reverse transcription polymerase spiral reaction (RT-PSR) assay for the rapid detection of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). For the assay, a specific RT-PSR primer pair was designed against a conserved region in PEDV ORF3. Results The RT-PSR was optimized, and PEDV could be detected after a 50 min incubation at 62 °C, in addition to the 15 min required for reverse transcription. No cross-reaction with other porcine infectious viruses was observed. This new method for PEDV detection was 10 times more sensitive than the conventional reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. The positive rates for 65 clinical samples using the new RT-PSR assay and the conventional RT-PCR assay were 58.46% (38/65) and 53.84% (35/65), respectively. In the RT-PSR assay, the addition of a mixture of dyes allowed a positive reaction to be directly observed by the naked eye. Conclusions These results indicate that this RT-PSR assay is capable of accurately detecting PEDV, and has the advantages of high specificity and sensitivity for the detection of PEDV.

Metasurfaces with both multifunctionality and tunability hold great application potential in next-generation optical devices. In this paper, we propose a stretchable metasurface composed of arrays of identical dielectric rectangular resonators embedded in the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. It is shown that the metasurface possesses three functions at the operating wavelength of 532 nm. The switching of functions can be implemented by changing the period Px of the metasurface, induced by stretching the PDMS substrate along the x-direction. When the period Px is less than the operating wavelength of 532 nm, the behavior of metasurface can switch between transmissive window and reflective mirror. When the period Px of the metasurface varies from 532 nm to 700 nm, the metasurface act as a dynamic equal-power beam splitter with conversion efficiency higher than 90%, and the corresponding splitting angle can be adjusted from 90° to around 49.5°. Moreover, we achieve the switching of transmissive window/reflective mirror/split-ratio-variable splitter based on the metasurface consisting of arrays of identical L-shaped resonators embedded in the PDMS substrate.

Background and Aims: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a group of clinical syndromes characterized by rupture or erosion of atherosclerotic unstable plaques. Effective intervention for vulnerable plaques (VP) is of great significance to reduce adverse cardiovascular events.Methods: Fbn1C1039G+/− mice were crossbred with LDLR−/− mice to obtain a novel model for atherosclerotic VP. After the mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 or 24 weeks, pathological staining and immunohistochemistry analyses were employed to evaluate atherosclerotic lesions.Results: Compared to control mice, Fbn1C1039G+/−LDLR−/− mice developed more severe atherosclerotic lesions, and the positive area of oil red O staining in the aortic sinus was significantly increased after 12 weeks (21.7 ± 2.0 vs. 6.3 ± 2.1) and 24 weeks (32.6 ± 2.5 vs. 18.7 ± 2.6) on a HFD. Additional vulnerable plaque characteristics, including significantly larger necrotic cores (280 ± 19 vs. 105 ± 7), thinner fiber caps (14.0 ± 2.8 vs. 32.6 ± 2.7), apparent elastin fiber fragmentation and vessel dilation (3,010 ± 67 vs. 1,465 ± 49), a 2-fold increase in macrophage number (8.5 ± 1.0 vs. 5.0 ± 0.6), obviously decreased smooth muscle cell number (0.6 ± 0.1 vs. 2.1 ± 0.2) and an ~25% decrease in total collagen content (33.6 ± 0.3 vs. 44.9 ± 9.1) were observed in Fbn1C1039G+/−LDLR−/− mice compared with control mice after 24 weeks. Furthermore, spontaneous plaque rupture, neovascularization, and intraplaque hemorrhage were detected in the model mouse plaque regions but not in those of the control mice.Conclusions: Plaques in Fbn1C1039G+/−LDLR−/− mice fed a HFD show many features of human advanced atherosclerotic unstable plaques. These results suggest that the Fbn1C1039G+/−LDLR−/− mouse is a novel model for investigating the pathological and physiological mechanisms of advanced atherosclerotic unstable plaques.

With increasing complications of canine parvovirus infection cases, disease diagnosis and treatment have become more difficult. In this study, specificity primers for the conserved region of the VP2 gene of canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) were synthesized and evaluated. An improved polymerase cross-linking spiral reaction (PCLSR) method for early and rapid diagnosis of CPV-2 was established. The results showed that the amplification reaction was optimal when run at 62°C for 50 min and could be used to detect CPV-2 without any cross-reactions with other pathogens of canine infectious diseases. Reaction results were directly judged by the naked eyes, with the positive amplification tube shown as luminous yellow and the negative tube as bright purple. Compared with the previously reported polymerase spiral reaction (PSR) method for CPV-2 detection, this reaction was performed using improved primer pairs and a better dye identification method (using an indicator comprising phenol red and cresol red). The detection limit of PCLSR was 3.9 × 101 copies using gel electrophoresis or a visible dye. The positive rate of 132 clinical samples was 42.42%, which was identically the same as that of the PSR method and slightly higher than that of the colloidal gold strip method (39.39%). The newly developed CPV-PCLSR assay shows the advantage of rapid visualization of results and offers a convenient and rapid method for early CPV-2 diagnosis with higher sensitivity and specificity than the established methods.

Bamboo scrimber is one of the most popular engineering bamboo composites, owing to its excellent physical and mechanical properties. In order to investigate the influence of grain direction on the compression properties and failure mechanism of bamboo scrimber, the longitudinal, radial and tangential directions were selected. The results showed that the compressive load–displacement curves of bamboo scrimber in the longitudinal, tangential and radial directions contained elastic, yield and failure stages. The compressive strength and elastic modulus of the bamboo scrimber in the longitudinal direction were greater than those in the radial and tangential directions, and there were no significant differences between the radial and tangential specimens. The micro-fracture morphology shows that the parenchyma cells underwent brittle shear failure in all three directions, while the fiber failure of the longitudinal compressive specimens consisted of ductile fracture, and the tangential and radial compressive specimens exhibited brittle fracture. This is one of the reasons that the deformation of the specimens under longitudinal compression was greater than those under tangential and radial compression. The main failure mode of bamboo scrimber under longitudinal and radial compression was shear failure, and the main failure mode under tangential compression was interlayer separation failure. The reason for this difference was that during longitudinal and radial compression, the maximum strain occurred at the diagonal of the specimen, while during tangential compression, the maximum strain occurred at the bonding interface. This study can provide benefits for the rational design and safe application of bamboo scrimber in practical engineering.

Abstract HSV-2 is one of the most common sexually transmitted pathogens worldwide and HSV-2 infection triggers cytokine and chemokine production. However, little is known about which HSV-2 genes engage in the regulation of NF-κB signaling and what mechanisms are involved. In a screen of the unique short (Us) regions of HSV-2, we observed that HSV-2 Us2 activates NF-κB signaling. We additionally indicated that deficiencies of Us2 decrease HSV-2 WT mediated NF-κB activation and cytokine and chemokine production, and overexpression of Us2 showed opposite effects. Co-immunoprecipitations indicated that Us2 interacted with TGF-β activated kinase 1 (TAK1), a serine/threonine kinase essential for NF-κB activation, and Us2 has the ability to regulate the TAK1-mediated pathway and induces TAK1 downstream signaling. Further studies verified that Us2 induced the phosphorylation of TAK1, resulting in the activation of TAK1 mediated downstream signaling. The role of Us2 in HSV-2 induced NF-κB pathways was also confirmed in the Us2-deficient mutant and HSV-2 WT infected mice. Our results indicate that HSV-2 Us2 gene product binds to TAK1 to positively regulate NF-κB signaling and, for the first time, provide insights into the molecular mechanism.

Abstract A herbal formula (SL) comprising Sophorae Flos and Lonicerae Japonicae Flos was traditionally used to treat melanoma. Constitutively active signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) has been proposed as a therapeutic target in melanoma. Here we investigated whether an ethanolic extract of SL (SLE) exerted anti-melanoma activities by inhibiting STAT3 signaling. B16F10 allograft model, A375 and B16F10 cells were employed to assess the in vivo and in vitro anti-melanoma activities of SLE. A375 cells stably expressing STAT3C, a constitutively active STAT3 mutant, were used to determine the role of STAT3 signaling in SLE’s anti-melanoma effects. Intragastric administration of SLE (1.2 g/kg) potently inhibited melanoma growth in mice and inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation in the tumors. In cultured cells, SLE dramatically reduced cell viability, induced apoptosis, suppressed migration and invasion, and restrained STAT3 activation and nuclear localization. STAT3C overexpression in A375 cells diminished SLE’s effects on cell viability, apoptosis and invasion. Collectively, SLE exerted potent anti-melanoma effects partially by inhibiting STAT3 signaling. This study provides pharmacological justification for the traditional use of this formula in treating melanoma, and suggests that SLE has the potential to be developed as a modern alternative and/or complimentary agent for melanoma treatment and prevention.

Purpose: A review of literature reveals that stress is prevalent among PhD students who are experiencing higher levels of stress than age-matched general population normative data, and has drawn attention worldwide. However, few studies have examined the factors influencing the psychological well-being of Chinese PhD students and the type of supports most needed. Method: This study was conducted by a qualitative method employing the Grounded Theory. Through purposive sampling, 10 Chinese PhD students were selected on the basis of theoretical sampling, and data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with the participants. Results: Chinese PhD students experienced stress of nuanced nature at their varied years of PhD study. The obtained codes were categorized under four themes, including graduation, job prospects, relationship and other factors. Conclusion: Chinese PhD students experienced stress from a variety of sources, corroborating with and reinforcing previous research findings. By exposing the explanations of the factors for stress confronting Chinese PhD students, this study compels us rethink the relationship between the widely existing stress and relevant policy or regulations, and proposes suggestions for counselling and policy reform.

Estrogen-stimulating principles have been demonstrated to relieve postmenopausal syndrome effectively. Gardenia jasminoides Ellis (GJE) is an herbal medicine possessing multiple pharmacological effects on human health with low toxicity. However, the therapeutic effects of GJE on the management of postmenopausal syndrome and its mechanism of action have not been fully elucidated. In this study, network pharmacology-based approaches were employed to examine steroidogenesis under the influence of GJE. In addition, the possibility of toxicity of GJE was ruled out and four probable active compounds were predicted. In parallel, a chromatographic fraction of GJE with estrogen-stimulating effect was identified and nine major compounds were isolated from this active fraction. Among the nine compounds, four of them were identified by network pharmacology, validating the use of network pharmacology to predict active compounds. Then the phenotypic approaches were utilized to verify that rutin, chlorogenic acid (CGA) and geniposidic acid (GA) exerted an estrogen-stimulating effect on ovarian granulosa cells. Furthermore, the results of target-based approaches indicated that rutin, CGA, and GA could up-regulate the FSHR-aromatase pathway in ovarian granulosa cells. The stimulation of estrogen production by rat ovarian granulosa cells under the influence of the three compounds underwent a decline when the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) was blocked by antibodies against the receptor, indicating the involvement of FSHR in the estradiol-stimulating activity of the three compounds. The effects of the three compounds on estrogen biosynthesis- related gene expression level were further confirmed by Western blot assay. Importantly, the MTT results showed that exposure of breast cancer cells to the three compounds resulted in reduction of cell viability, demonstrating the cytotoxicity of the three compounds. Collectively, rutin, chlorogenic acid and geniposidic acid may contribute to the therapeutic potential of GJE for the treatment of postmenopausal syndrome.