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This study explored research trends in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Descriptive analysis and co-word analysis were used to examine articles published in Social Science Citation Index journals from 2011 to 2020. From a search of the Web of Science database, a total of 761 articles were selected as target samples for analysis. A growing number of STEM-related publications were published after 2016. The most frequently used keywords in these sample papers were also identified. Further analysis identified the leading journals and most represented countries among the target articles. A series of co-word analyses were conducted to reveal word co-occurrence according to the title, keywords, and abstract. Gender moderated engagement in STEM learning and career selection. Higher education was critical in training a STEM workforce to satisfy societal requirements for STEM roles. Our findings indicated that the attention of STEM education researchers has shifted to the professional development of teachers. Discussions and potential research directions in the field are included.

The purpose of this study was to explore instructional designs for promoting inquiry practices in secondary school textbooks. Three criteria were employed to select the textbooks: (1) approved by the Ministry of Education in Singapore and the Ministry of Education and Culture in Indonesia, (2) used in secondary schools, and (3) included content and practices based on the current curriculum. Based on these criteria, six science textbooks from Singapore and three from Indonesia were selected for further coding in the dimensions of learning goals of inquiry skills, nature of scientific inquiry, and inquiry types. The results showed that more activities in both the Singaporean and Indonesian textbooks focus on observing and interpreting skills. However, few activities in the textbooks from either country provide an opportunity for students to engage nature of scientific inquiry. In addition, more activities in the Singaporean textbooks were designed as guided inquiry than those in the Indonesian textbooks. Finally, it is suggested that inquiry activities in textbooks should be revised to include nature of scientific inquiry, and more textbook analysis studies are needed to reveal characteristics of inquiry activities in textbooks for different subjects.

Abstract The classification of multidimensional time series holds significant importance across various domains, including action classification, medical diagnosis, and credit assessment. Within multidimensional time series data, features pertinent to classification exhibit variance in their positional distribution along the entirety of the sequence. Moreover, the relative significance of features across distinct dimensions also fluctuates, contributing to suboptimal performance in multidimensional time series classification. Consequently, the proposition of tailored deep learning models for feature extraction specific to multidimensional time series data becomes imperative. This paper introduces attention mechanisms applied to the temporal dimension, graph attention mechanisms for inter-dimensional relationships within multidimensional data, and attention mechanisms applied between channels post-convolutional calculations. These mechanisms are deployed for feature extraction across temporal, variational, and channel dimensions of multidimensional time series data, respectively. Furthermore, attention is directed towards inter-channel interactions within the squeeze-and-excitation network to enhance the model’s representational capacity. Experimental findings substantiate the viability of integrating attention mechanisms into multidimensional time series classification endeavors.

Abstract Understanding how landscape structure and riparian vegetation impact bee diversity is important for maintaining pollination service in urban areas. We explored spatial and temporal variation of bee communities across land use types in a riparian zone of a mountainous megacity in 2018 and 2022, examined whether riparian vegetation functions as corridors that maintain gene flow of bee populations, and mapped pollination supply at the landscape scale. Pielou index was higher in 2018 than in 2022, while no significant differences in abundance, Shannon and richness index were observed. The abundance of bees and the Shannon index were significantly and positively correlated with the abundance of flowers on grassland and forested land, respectively, while both were negatively correlated with the area of the building. The genetic differentiation of the bee communities in the riparian zone was lower than those outside, indicating the function of the riparian vegetation corridor. The pollination supply varied significantly between regions, with medium to high degree of pollination supply distributed primarily in residual habitats and the surrounding urban green spaces, while low degree in the remaining areas. Our results stress the importance of maintaining the continuity of vegetation in riparian zones and increasing flower abundance, especially native plant species, for the conservation of bees in urban areas. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Objective To explore the effect of extended care on improving the compliance, efficacy and quality of life of antiviral therapy in elderly patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) . Methods A total of 200 elderly patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who received initial antiviral therapy in Beijing You'an Hospital from January 2015 to December 2021 were selected as the study subjects and randomly divided into the control group and the test group according to the lottery method, with 100 cases in each group. The control group received routine care and health education, and the experimental group was given extended care on the basis of the control group. After 1 year of follow-up, medication compliance, efficacy, and quality of life were compared between the two groups. Results During 1-year follow-up, the medication compliance of the test group was higher than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05); the increase of CD4+ T lymphocyte count in the test group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05); the viral load was undetectable after treatment in both groups. The scores of physical domain, psychological domain, social relationship domain and environmental domain of quality of life in the test group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05) . Conclusion Extended care is beneficial to improve the medication compliance and antiviral effect of elderly patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and improve the quality of life of patients. It is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Abstract This study aimed to analyze articles published in the Web of Science database from 2012 to 2021 to examine the educational goals and instructional designs for STEM education. We selected articles based on the following criteria: (a) empirical research; (b) incorporating instructional design and strategies into STEM teaching; (c) including intervention; (d) focusing on K-12 education and on assessment of learning outcomes; and (e) excluding higher education and STEAM education. Based on the criteria, 229 articles were selected for coding educational goals and instructional designs for STEM education. The aspects of STEM educational goals were coded including engagement and career choice, STEM literacy, and twenty-first century competencies. The categories of instructional designs for STEM education were examined including design-based learning, inquiry-based learning, project-based learning, and problem-based learning. The results showed that engagement and career choices and STEM literacy were mainly emphasized in STEM education. Design-based learning was adopted more than inquiry-based, project-based, or problem-based learning, and this instructional design was mainly used to achieve STEM literacy. It is suggested that studies on twenty-first century competencies may require more research efforts in future STEM education research.

The current study identified recent trends in socioscientific issues (SSIs) in the field of education. Through descriptive analysis and co-word analysis, selected articles published in journals listed in the Social Science Citation Index and Scopus from 2000 to 2021 were screened. A total of 334 papers were retrieved as research target samples from the Web of Science and Scopus databases after many rounds of searching and filtering. An analysis revealed an overall growing trend of SSI-related publications in the field of education. High-impact journals that published SSI-related research and highly cited articles were also identified. A series of co-word analyses were then conducted to determine co-occurring relationships among the keywords of the sample papers. This study extracted 39 author-defined keywords shared by at least three studies in the target samples. The analytic results indicated that 'argumentation,' 'decision-making,' 'scientific literacy,' and 'knowledge' were frequently used along with SSI as keywords. The co-word networks of the whole corpus of keywords and selected keywords were visualised to refine the common understanding of the educators and obtain the SSI research foci. This paper also offers future research directions.

Objective To investigate risk factors for the development of post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. Methods We included 293 patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation at The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from July 1, 2017 to January 31, 2023. According to whether PTDM occurred, the patients were divided into PTDM group (n=66) and non-PTDM group (n=227). Significantly different clinical para-meters between the two groups were included in a multivariable logistic regression model to determine independent risk factors for PTDM. The impact of PTDM on the survival rate of the patients was analyzed using a Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Results The incidence rate of PTDM among the patients was 22.5%. The PTDM group and non-PTDM group differed significantly in age, the percentage of patients with a history of hypertension, preoperative fasting blood glucose level, preoperative serum total cholesterol level, preoperative serum low-density lipoprotein level, the percentage of patients treated with cyclosporine after surgery, and the percentage of patients treated with anti-rejection regimen C (cyclosporine alone or combined with mycophenolate or sirolimus) or D (mycophenolate or sirolimus alone) after surgery (t=-3.191,U=-5.668--2.559,χ2=3.922-5.689,P46 years, a history of hypertension, preoperative fasting blood glucose level >6.1 mmol/L, preoperative serum low-density lipoprotein level >3.12 mmol/L, postoperative use of anti-rejection regimen C (cyclosporine alone or combined with mycophenolate or sirolimus) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of PTDM (P46 years, a history of hypertension, preoperative fasting blood glucose level >6.1 mmol/L, preoperative serum low-density lipoprotein level >3.12 mmol/L, and postoperative anti-rejection treatment with cyclosporine alone or combined with mycophenolate or sirolimus are independent risk factors for adult PTDM.

Abstract The study aimed to systematically compare the effects of psychological interventions on relieving fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) by a systematic review and network meta‐analysis (NMA). The relevant randomized controlled trials were searched from China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Cochrane Library, Pubmed, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Embase. The retrieval time was from the establishment of each database to January 23, 2024. Review Manager 5.4 software was used to evaluate the quality of each literature that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Stata16.0 was used for NMA. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) of patients' FCR outcomes and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to determine the effects. Inconsistency test, network map, surface under the cumulative rankings curve (SUCRA), comparison‐adjusted funnel plot were performed. A total of 41 articles were included, with 4056 patients and 15 psychological interventions. Six psychological interventions (NT, Narrative Therapy; ACT, Accept and Commitment Therapy; GT, Therapy based on Gratitude‐Expanded Behavior Theory; Blend Cognitive Behavior Therapy; PERMA, PERMA Therapy; CBT, Cognitive Behavior Therapy) were effective in alleviating FCR in the short term compared with usual care, whereas the effects of ACT, GT, and CBT were sustained up to more than 3 months postintervention. NT ranked as most likely to alleviate FCR, (SUCRA: 89.8%, SMD: −2.89, 95% CI: −4.08 to −1.69), followed by ACT (SUCRA: 88.1%, SMD: −2.83, 95% CI: −4.38 to −1.27) in short‐term effects. GT ranked as most likely to alleviate FCR in long‐term effects (SUCRA: 100%, SMD: −3.35, 95% CI: −4.21 to −2.50), followed by ACT (SUCRA: 88.9%, SMD: −1.64, 95% CI: −2.36 to −0.91). However, most of the quality of evidence for pairwise comparison was rated as “very low” to “low.” The evidence can help inform evidence‐based practice and guide healthcare providers in deciding on the most effective psychological interventions for FCR, which should also be viewed with caution due to the low level of the quality.

Abstract. Background:. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) was often associated with dyslipidemia among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. This study aimed to assess treatment-naïve adult male patients with HIV/AIDS who initiated ART with either co-formulated bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) or lamivudine, efavirenz, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (3TC+EFV+TDF), monitoring at weeks 4, 12, 24, and 48. Methods:. A case-control retrospective study was conducted. The newly diagnosed HIV-infected individuals attending the sexual transmission disease (STD)/AIDS clinic of Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, from January to December 2021. The patients were divided into BIC/FTC/TAF group or 3TC+EFV+TDF group. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) at different time points over 48 weeks between two groups were compared. A multivariate Cox regression model was used to identify relevant influencing factors for the population at high risk of increased LDL-C. Results:. A total of 870 participants, with 510 in BIC/FTC/TAF group and 360 in 3TC+EFV+TDF group. There were no statistically significant differences in median age, baseline CD4/CD8 ratio, median body mass index (BMI) between the two groups. In both two groups, levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C were higher at 4 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks of treatment (all P 0.05). In addition, the differences in average changes of the level of TG, TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C from weeks 4, 12, 24, and 48 to baseline between two groups were not statistically significant (all P >0.05). Multivariate Cox proportional risk model analysis showed that initiating ART with HIV RNA ≥105 copies/mL (compared with

Polysaccharides are one of the main constituents of Cordyceps cicadae (C. cicadae), and they show various biological activities. In the present study, C. cicadae fruiting bodies were used as raw materials to extract polysaccharides using an aqueous two-phase system, along with cellulase and pectinase, aiming to provide references for the further development, utilization, and in-depth research of C. cicadae polysaccharides. Effects of cellulase and pectinase addition amounts and (NH4)2SO4 and polyethylene glycol (PEG) mass fractions on the polysaccharide-extraction rates were analyzed by single-factor experiments. The conditions for C. cicadae polysaccharide extraction were optimized by response-surface methodology, and the antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic properties of the polysaccharides were evaluated in vitro. The optimal conditions for C. cicadae polysaccharide extraction were as follows: Cellulase addition amount 2.01%, pectinase addition amount 2.07%, (NH4)2SO4 mass fraction 17.72%, and PEG mass fraction 20.87%, the polysaccharide-extraction rate reached 25.34% under these conditions. When the C. cicadae polysaccharide concentration was 1.0~5.0 mg/mL, the maximum Fe2+-chelating and ABTS+ radical-clearance abilities were 16.33%±1.68% and 17.38%±3.07%, respectively. The determination of total reducing power showed that the maximum absorbance of C. cicadae polysaccharides was 0.53±0.005. The maximum inhibitory rates of C. cicadae polysaccharides for α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities were 30.96%±4.53% and 49.40%±1.30% respectively, the maximum adsorption rates of C. cicadae polysaccharides for sodium cholate, sodium taurocholate, and cholesterol were 47.24%±1.89%, 44.88%±0.82%, and 70.19%±2.54% respectively. The results indicated that C. cicadae polysaccharides demonstrate effective antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic abilities in vitro. This study will provide a theoretical basis for developing C. cicadae polysaccharide-related products, especially for clinical applications.

Mitochondria, traditionally recognized as cellular 'powerhouses' due to their pivotal role in energy production, have emerged as multifunctional organelles at the intersection of bioenergetics, metabolic signaling, and immunity. However, the understanding of their exact contributions to immunity and inflammation is still developing. This review first introduces the innovative concept of intracellular immunity, emphasizing how mitochondria serve as critical immune signaling hubs. They are instrumental in recognizing and responding to pathogen and danger signals, and in modulating immune responses. We also propose mitochondria as the leading immune organelles, drawing parallels with the broader immune system in their functions of antigen presentation, immune regulation, and immune response. Our comprehensive review explores mitochondrial immune signaling pathways, their therapeutic potential in managing inflammation and chronic diseases, and discusses cutting-edge methodologies for mitochondrial research. Targeting a broad readership of both experts in mitochondrial functions and newcomers to the field, this review sets forth new directions that could transform our understanding of intracellular immunity and the integrated immune functions of intracellular organelles.

ABSTRACT: Fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) is the causative agent of hydropericardium hepatitis syndrome in chickens, which causes severe economic impact to the poultry industry. A simple, swift and reliable detection is crucial for timely identification of FAdV-4 infection, promoting effective viral prevention and control measures. Herein, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 12a (Cas12a) system detection platform based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) was studied. The CRISPR RNA (crRNA) and LAMP primers were designed and screened based on the highly conserved region of the FAdV-4 hexon gene. The parameters were then optimized individually to achieve the ideal reaction performance. The platform could lead visual detection of FAdV-4 to achieve as low as 1 copy in less than 40 min without the need for specialized instrumentation or complex equipment. Moreover, it was greatly specific, and did not cross-react with other common avian viruses. Following the validation of 30 clinical samples of suspected FAdV-4 infection, the results LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12a method generated showed fully concordance with which of the gold standard quantitative real-time PCR. To summarize, this study presented a novel, swift, expedient and inexpensive detection platform for FAdV-4, which is beneficial to viral inchoate diagnosis and point-of-care testing.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the learning goals, nature of science, inquiry skills, understanding of inquiry, and inquiry types in the senior high school physics textbooks in Indonesia. We selected the textbooks based on three criteria: (1) approved by the Ministry of Education and Culture in Indonesia, (2) widely used in senior high schools, and (3) included content and practices based on the current curriculum. Content analysis was used to analyze 10th, 11th, and 12th grade textbooks. We found that more physics topics focused on the cognitive than on the epistemic, affective, and sociocultural aspects in these textbooks. The findings show that nature of science was emphasized in the textbooks, but they were more focused on science as a cognitive-epistemic system. Furthermore, we found that structured inquiry was more emphasized than confirmed and guided inquiry. Finally, structured inquiry focused more on inquiry skills than on the understanding of inquiry in all three textbooks, while observing and communicating skills were more emphasized in the physics activities. It is suggested that more studies need to develop inquiry activities that focus on understanding inquiry.

Abstract Background The association between exposure to PM2.5 chemical constituents and obesity remains to be elucidated, as most studies have used a single measure of obesity. This study aimed to investigate the associations of exposure to PM2.5 chemical constituents with general, abdominal, and visceral obesity, and the mediation effect of physical activity (PA) in the associations. Methods Based on a total of 49,819 adults from the baseline of the Yunnan Behavior and Disease Surveillance cohort (YBDS) in southern China in 2021, we used multiple linear regression, weighted quantile sum regression, and quantile regression to estimate independent and joint effects of PM2.5 chemical constituents on elevated BMI, waist circumference (WC) and visceral adiposity index (VAI) and whether these effects changed in quantiles. Mediation analysis was used to examine whether physical activity acts as a mediator in these pathways. Results Per IQR μg/m3 increase in all PM2.5 chemical constituents was significantly associated with the elevated BMI (β [95% CI]: 0.170 [0.127, 0.214]), WC (0.316 [0.217, 0.415]) and VAI (0.102 [0.075, 0.129]), with the largest weights from OM (53.89, 81.67, and 89.82%, respectively). The effects of PM2.5 chemical constituents on obesity showed an overall upward trend from quantiles 1–4 of BMI, WC, and VAI, especially with a rapid upward trend from the sixth decile of VAI. Reduced PA mediated 3.16, 7.08, and 3.78% of the associations between PM2.5 chemical constituents and elevated BMI, WC, and VAI, respectively. Conclusions Exposure to PM2.5 chemical constituents, especially OM, was significantly associated with increased risks for obesity in adults. The effects of associations increased with obesity severity, with PA playing a mediation role.

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a significant global health issue with high incidence and mortality. Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is a powerful transcription factor that acts dual roles in gene activation and repression. High expression level of YY1 has been reported in CRC, indicating the existence of stable factors of YY1 in CRC cells. We aimed to identify the key molecules and underlying mechanisms responsible for stabilizing YY1 expression in CRC. Mass spectrometry analysis was utilized to identify USP7 as a potential molecule that interacted with YY1. Mechanically, USP7 stabilizes YY1 expression at the protein level by interfering its K63 linkage ubiquitination. YY1 exerts its oncogenic function through transcriptionally activating TRIAP1 but suppressing LC3B. In addition, at the pathological level, there is a positive correlation between the expression of YY1 and the budding of CRC. This study has revealed the intricate interplay between YY1 and USP7 in CRC, suggesting that they could serve as novel therapeutic targets or predictive biomarkers for CRC patients.

Abstract Background The development of antiretroviral therapy broadly extends the life expectancy of persons living with HIV (PLHIV). However, stigma and discrimination are still great threat to these individuals and the world's public health care system. Accurate and reproducible measures are prerequisites for robust results. Therefore, it is essential to choose an acceptable measure with satisfactory psychometric properties to assess stigma and discrimination. There has been no systematic review of different stigma and discrimination tools in the field of HIV care. Researchers and clinical practitioners do not have a solid reference for selecting stigma and discrimination measurement tools. Methods We systematically searched English and Chinese databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, The Cochrane Library, CNKI,, and Wanfang, to obtain literature about stigma and discrimination measurement tools that have been developed and applied in the field of HIV. The search period was from 1st January, 1996 to 22nd November 2021. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guideline (2018 version) was applied to assess the risk of bias for each involved study and summarize the psychometric properties of each tool. The modified version of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and, Evaluation (GRADE) method was used to grade the evidence and develop recommendations. Results We included 45 studies and 19 PROMs for HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among PLHIV. All studies had sufficient methodological quality in content validity, structural validity, internal consistency, and the hypothesis testing of structural validity. Limited evidence was found for cross-cultural validity, stability, and criterion validity. No relevant evidence was found concerning measurement error and responsiveness. The Internalized AIDS-related Stigma Scale (IARSS), Internalized HIV Stigma Scale (IHSS), and Wright's HIV stigma scale (WHSS) are recommended for use. Conclusions This study recommends three PROMs for different stigma and discrimination scenarios, including IARSS for its good quality and convenience, IHSS for its broader range of items, higher sensitivity, and greater precision, and WHSS for its comprehensive and quick screening. Researchers should also consider the relevance and feasibility of the measurements before putting them into practice. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42022308579

Objective: This study compares endoscopic thyroidectomy by gasless unilateral axillary approach (ETGUA) and sternocleidomastoid leading-edge approach (SLEA) with conventional open thyroidectomy (COT) in hemithyroidectomy. The main focus is on the protection of neck muscles (sternocleidomastoid, omohyoid, sternothyroid) and the postoperative function of voice and swallowing yielded through these common approaches. Methods: A total of 302 patients who underwent hemithyroidectomy were enrolled and divided into three groups: ETGUA (n = 101), SLEA (n = 100), and COT (n = 101). Ultrasound was used to measure the thickness of bilateral neck muscles, including the sternocleidomastoid, omohyoid, and sternothyroid. The changes in thickness on the surgical side compared to the non-surgical side. Analyzed factors included muscle thickness changes, Swallowing Impairment Score (SIS), Voice Handicap Index (VHI), Scar Cosmesis Assessment and Rating (SCAR), Neck Injury Index (NII), surgery duration, drainage volume, hospitalization, and number of lymph nodes. Results: The clinical characteristics among the three groups were consistent except for differences in sex, age, and BMI. Metrics such as sternocleidomastoid muscle, NII, hypocalcemia, postoperative PTH, transient hoarseness, and number of lymph nodes showed no significant differences among the three groups. However, significant differences were found in the duration of surgery, drainage volume, hospitalization period omohyoid muscle, Sternohyoid muscle, VHI, SIS, and SCAR (all p

In order to study the extraction technology of total flavonoids from Phellinus igniarius systematically, clarify the composition and content of flavonoids in total flavonoids, and explore the biological activity of total flavonoids from Phellinus igniarius. The extraction technology of Phellinus igniarius total flavonoids was optimized by response surface method, the composition of Phellinus igniarius total flavonoids was analyzed, and some of its biological activities were also detected. The results showed that the optimal extraction conditions were extraction temperature of 73 ℃, solid-liquid ratio of 1:50 g/mL and extraction time of 3 h, under which the yield of Phellinus igniarius total flavonoids reached 2.68%. The types and contents of flavonoids in Phellinus igniarius total flavonoids were determined by HPLC. Total flavonoids of Phellinus igniarius mainly contained taxifolin, quercetin and kaempferol, and the content of taxifolin was 3727.31 mg/kg. The analysis of biological activities of Phellinus igniarius total flavonoids showed that it had certain antioxidant, lipid-lowering and hypoglycemic activities in vitro, and the scavenging rate of DPPH free radicals reached 58.63%±0.45% when its concentration was 14 μg/mL, and the scavenging rate of hydroxyl free radicals reached 52.51%±1.49% when its concentration was 0.08 mg/mL. The experimental results of lipid-lowering activity showed that the inhibitory rate of Phellinus igniarius total flavonoids on pancreatic lipase reached 10.56%±0.06% at the concentration of 6 mg/mL, and the inhibitory rate on cholesterol micelle solubility reached 32.59%±0.78% at the concentration of 4 mg/mL. Phellinus igniarius total flavonids had obvious hypoglycemic activity, and its IC50 for α-glucosidase and α-amylase was 71.42 mg/mL and 97.28 mg/mL respectively.

Abstract Background The gaps between estrogenic effect and its effect-active compounds exist frequently due to a large number of compounds that have been reported to induce this effect and the occurrence of pollutants in environments as mixtures. Therefore, identifying the estrogen-active compounds is of importance for environmental management and pollution treatment. In the current study, the effect-directed analysis (EDA) and non-targeted screening (NTS) were integrated to identify the estrogen-active compounds in soils of the rural area with different socioeconomic types (industrial, farming and plantation village) in Northeast China. Results The cytotoxicity results indicated that the industrial and farming villages showed cytotoxic effects. The detection rates of estrogenic effects for samples of winter and summer were 100% and 87%, respectively. Of which, the effects were found to be stronger in summer than in winter, with significant difference observed from the farming village (0.1–11.3 EEQ μg/kg dry weight). A total of 159 chemicals were detected by NTS. By integrating EDA, triphenyl phosphate (TPhP) and indole were successfully identified from a raw sample and its fraction, explaining up to 19.31% of the estrogen activity. Conclusions The present study demonstrates that the successful identification of seven estrogen-active compounds in rural areas of northeastern China can be achieved through the combination of effect-directed analysis (EDA) and non-targeted screening (NTS). This finding is beneficial for risk monitoring and pollution management.

Previous research has analyzed the meaning and value of STEM education and explored both its current possibilities and future development. However, STEM education experts have not reached a consensus on the goals of STEM education, making its promotion more challenging. Thus, this study examined which particular STEM education goals should be emphasized through a survey questionnaire. The study employed a stratified random sampling method to collect survey data from secondary teachers of STEM-related courses (i.e., science, technology, and mathematics) in Taiwan. A total of 645 valid survey responses were collected and then analyzed by independent t-test and analysis of variance to examine teachers' perceptions about 17 critical competencies proposed as education goals relevant to STEM education. The findings revealed that STEM teachers generally had positive attitudes and high levels of acceptance toward implementing the 17 proposed STEM education goals through integrative STEM education. However, the proposed goal of "cultivating students' entrepreneurial capabilities" received lower scores and should not be used at the secondary level. It may be introduced as an important education goal in tertiary STEM education. In addition, STEM teachers with different backgrounds (e.g., STEM teaching experience, perceptions of STEM teaching methods) perceived the competency goals as having different levels of importance in STEM education. Teachers' willingness to teach STEM using a transdisciplinary integration method increases when they have access to sufficient resources and support.

Summary: Rice stripe virus (RSV) establishes infection in the ovaries of its vector insect, Laodelphax striatellus. We demonstrate that RSV infection delays ovarian maturation by inhibiting membrane localization of the vitellogenin receptor (VgR), thereby reducing the vitellogenin (Vg) accumulation essential for egg development. We identify the host protein L. striatellus Rab1 protein (LsRab1), which directly interacts with RSV nucleocapsid protein (NP) within nurse cells. LsRab1 is required for VgR surface localization and ovarian Vg accumulation. RSV inhibits LsRab1 function through two mechanisms: NP binding LsRab1 prevents GTP binding, and NP binding LsRab1-GTP complexes stimulates GTP hydrolysis, forming an inactive LsRab1 form. Through this dual inhibition, RSV infection prevents LsRab1 from facilitating VgR trafficking to the cell membrane, leading to inefficient Vg uptake. The Vg-VgR pathway is present in most oviparous animals, and the mechanisms detailed here provide insights into the vertical transmission of other insect-transmitted viruses of medical and agricultural importance.

ABSTRACT: Since 2015, an outbreak of an infectious disease in broilers caused by fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) has occurred in China, resulting in substantial economic losses. Rapid, accurate, and specific detection are significant in the prevention and control of FAdV-4. In this study, an FAdV-4 detection method combining loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and Pyrococcus furiosus Argonaute (PfAgo) was established. Specific primers, guide DNAs (gDNAs), and molecular beacons were designed to target a conserved region of the FAdV-4 hexon gene. After optimizing the reaction conditions, the minimum detection of this assay could reach 5 copies. It only amplified FAdV-4, and there was no cross-reactivity with other pathogens. The assay took about only 50 min, and the results could be visualized with the naked eye under ultraviolet or blue light, getting rid of specialized instruments. This novel LAMP-PfAgo assay was validated by using 20 clinical samples and the results were identical to gold-standard real-time polymerase chain reaction method. In summary, the LAMP-PfAgo assay established in the paper provides a rapid, reliable, convenient, ultra-sensitive and highly specific tool for the on-site detection and clinical diagnosis of FAdV-4.

Summary: Background: Long-term exposure to PM2.5 is known to increase the risks for diabetes and obesity, but its effects on their coexistence, termed diabesity, remain uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the associations of long-term exposure to PM2.5 and its chemical constituents with the risks for diabesity, diabetes, and obesity. Methods: This cross-sectional study used the baseline data of a multi-center cohort, consisting of three provincially representative cohorts comprising a total of 134,403 participants from the eastern (Fujian Province), central (Hubei Province), and western (Yunnan Province) regions of China. Obesity and diabetes, and diabesity were identified by a body mass index (BMI) ≥28 kg/m2 and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥126 mg/dL. The average concentrations of PM2.5 and five chemical constituents (NO3−, SO42−, NH4+, organic matter, and black carbon) over participants’ residence during the past three years were estimated using machine learning models. Logistic regression models with double robust estimators, Bayesian kernel machine regression, and weighted quantile sum regression were employed to estimate independent and joint effects of PM2.5 chemical constituents on the risks for diabesity, diabetes, and obesity, as well as the differences from the effects on obesity. Stratified analyses were performed to examine effect modification of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Findings: There were 129,244 participants with a mean age of 54.1 ± 13.8 years included in the study. Each interquartile range increase in PM2.5 concentration (8.53 μg/m3) was associated with an increased risk for diabesity (OR = 1.23 [1.17, 1.30]), diabetes only (OR = 1.16 [1.13, 1.19]), and obesity only (OR = 1.03 [1.00, 1.05]). Long-term exposure to each PM2.5 chemical constituent was associated with an increased risk for diabesity, where organic matter exposure, with maximum weight (48%), was associated with a higher risk for diabesity (OR = 1.21 [1.16, 1.27]). Among those with obesity, black carbon contributed most (68%) to the joint effect of PM2.5 chemical constituents on diabesity (OR = 1.16 [1.11, 1.22]). Physical activity reduced adverse effects of PM2.5 on diabesity. Also, additive rather than multiplicative effects of obesity on the PM2.5-diabetes association were observed. Interpretation: Long-term exposure to PM2.5 and its chemical constituents was associated with an increased risk for diabesity, stronger than associations for diabetes and obesity alone. The main constituents associated with diabesity and obesity were black carbon and organic matter. Funding: National Natural Science Foundation of China (42271433, 723B2017), National Key R&D Program of China (2023YFC3604702), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2042023kfyq04, 2042024kf1024), the Science and Technology Major Project of Tibetan Autonomous Region of China (XZ202201ZD0001G), Science and technology project of Tibet Autonomous Region（XZ202303ZY0007G), Key R&D Project of Sichuan Province (2023YFS0251), Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University (JCRCYG-2022-003), Jiangxi Provincial 03 Special Foundation and 5G Program (20224ABC03A05), Wuhan University Specific Fund for Major School-level Internationalization Initiatives (WHU-GJZDZX-PT07).

Abstract Background Screen the priority of emerging contaminants (ECs) from sediments is essential for risk assessment to aquatic environment and human health. Currently, priority approaches mainly focus on contaminant identification, exposure analysis, risk assessment, and hazard properties. However, there is still far from the reality due to, for instance, limitations on lack of occurrence data and uncertainty analysis. In this study, the multi-criteria screening method on the basis of hazard potential (HP) and exposure potential (EP) integrating with uncertainty analysis was developed for prioritization of 185 ECs, which have been reported to be widely found in the Yangtze River sediment. The HP based on the ecological risk and human health, and the EP according to the occurrence were both quantitatively analyzed. The priority index of these 185 chemicals was the product of the normalized HP and the normalized EP. Results According to the priority ranking scheme, 20 chemicals were identified as the top-priority, and 58 compounds as high-priority, respectively. After uncertainty scoring for each chemical based on data availability, there were 7 compounds (5 pesticides and 2 PFASs) recommended as the major priority ECs. In addition, the current study also emphasized that necessary for further studying some ECs, such as PFAS alternatives, as the data limitation may lead to reduce accurate prioritization. Conclusions Overall, this study provides an efficient approach for screening priority ECs, which is useful for river ecosystem health management.

Abstract Background Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes tracheal damage and heterophilic granulocytic infiltration and inflammation in infected chicks. In this study, we infected chick tracheal tissue with strain AE17 and produced pathological sections with proteomic sequencing. We compared the results of pathological sections from the APEC-infected group with those from the PBS control group; the pathological sections from the experimental group showed hemorrhage, fibrinization, and infiltration of heterophilic granulocytes in the tracheal tissue. In order to explore the effect on proteomics on inflammation and to further search for the caus. Results The tandem mass tag-based (TMT) sequencing analysis showed 224 upregulated and 140 downregulated proteins after infection with the AE17 strain. Based on the results of KEGG in Complement and coagulation cascades, differential protein expression in the Protein export pathway was upregulated. Conclusions With these results, we found that chemokines produced by the Complement and coagulation cascades pathway may cause infiltration of heterophilic granulocytes involved in inflammation, as well as antimicrobial factors produced by the complement system to fight the infection together.These results suggest that APEC causes the infiltration of heterophilic granulocytes through the involvement of the complement system with serine protease inhibitors.

Background: Previous research has revealed that teaching self-efficacy could play a critical role in engaging students in integrated STEM education; however, teachers' multiple identities in STEM education (i.e. implementers, disseminators, and designers) and their commitment with respect to the different identities have not been considered and examined. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate STEM teachers' self-efficacy and commitment as implementers, disseminators, and designers, and to explore the relationships between teachers' self-efficacy and commitment with respect to the three identities. Sample: 629 secondary STEM teachers completed a questionnaire that included the items of teachers' background information and 46 items to measure their self-efficacy and commitment with respect to the three identities. Methods: To compare the differences in teacher self-efficacy and commitment with respect to the three identities, repeated measures analyses of variance were used. A mixed-model analysis was conducted to examine the effects of both identity and experience with self-efficacy as a covariate on teacher commitment. Also, the structural equation modelling (SEM) method was employed to investigate the structural relationships within and between teacher self-efficacy and commitment with respect to the three identities. Results: The results indicated that STEM teachers' self-efficacy and commitment were influenced by their identities as well as their STEM teaching experience. STEM teachers' self-efficacy and commitment to being implementers and designers were significantly higher than their self-efficacy and commitment to being disseminators. Additionally, the results of structural equation modelling indicated that teachers' self-efficacy for the three identities was highly related, as was their commitment to the three identities. Self-efficacy of being disseminators had the largest impact on teacher commitment to being disseminators, designers and implementers. Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of researching STEM teachers' multiple identities, and suggest that STEM teachers' different identities lead to different levels of self-efficacy and commitment.

Key Clinical Message In a patient with metastatic breast cancer, an acquired BRCA mutation in the BRCA gene was detected, resulting in benefits from olaparib treatment. This underscores the importance of ongoing genetic phenotype testing after paclitaxel chemotherapy. Abstract Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with a poor prognosis and elevated mortality risk. BRCA mutations are commonly regarded as prevalent mutations in TNBC patients, strongly associated with congenital familial heredity. Dynamic changes in mutation sites, however, are rarely reported. In this case report, we report a 59‐year‐old TNBC patient who developed pulmonary metastases post‐chemoradiotherapy. No BRCA mutations were detected through NGS. After 7.6 months of nab‐paclitaxel treatment, the patient experienced progression of lung metastases, and BRCA mutations were detected through NGS testing. Subsequent administration of olaparib resulted in a reduction in lung metastasis, demonstrating significant therapeutic efficacy. This case underscores the infrequent occurrence of treatment‐induced BRCA mutations and emphasizes the significance of dynamic NGS genetic testing for real‐time assessment of a patient's mutational status.

ABSTRACT: The type VI secretion system (T6SS) of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) can affect the functions of eukaryotic cells by secreting or injecting effectors. Hemolysin co-regulatory protein (Hcp), one of the markers of the T6SS, is both a structural protein and an effector protein of the T6SS. According to previous studies, mitochondria in eukaryotic cells are targeted by pathogenic bacteria. However, little is known about the regulation of mitochondria in eukaryotic host cells by the T6SS effector protein Hcp of APEC. In our study, DF-1 cells co-incubated with Hcp2a protein for 6 h showed decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, increased Ca2+ concentration, and increased cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. We therefore conclude that Hcp2a protein causes dysfunction to mitochondria in DF-1 cells. To explain the mechanism that causes mitochondrial dysfunction, we reanalyzed the Hcp2a interaction protein dataset in DF-1 cells, and the Leucine zipper EF-hand-containing transmembrane protein 1 (LETM1), which is associated with mitochondria, was screened. The protein and molecular docking results showed that Hcp2a protein and LETM1 protein have better binding. Finally, subcellular localization results showed that Hcp2a was localized to mitochondria. In summary, Hcp2a effector proteins caused dysfunction to DF-1 cellular mitochondria, and we hypothesize that the interaction of Hcp2a protein with LETM1 protein induces mitochondrial dysfunction and promotes mitochondrial localization of Hcp2a in DF-1 cells.

Abstract Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by metabolic dysfunctions and could predict future risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, the traditionally defined dichotomous MetS neither reflected MetS severity nor considered demographic variations. Here we develop a continuous, age-sex-ethnicity-specific MetS score based on continuous measures of the five metabolic dysfunctions (waist circumference [WC], triglycerides [TG], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], mean arterial pressure [MAP], and fasting blood glucose [FBG]). We find that the weights of metabolic dysfunctions in the score vary across age-sex-ethnicity-specific subgroups, with higher weights for TG, HDL-C, and WC. Each unit increase in the score is associated with increased risks for hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension, and elevated levels of HbA1c, cholesterol, body mass index, and serum uric acid. The score shows high sensitivity and accuracy for detecting CVD-related risk factors and is validated in different geographical regions. Our study would advance early identification of CVD risks and, more broadly, preventive medicine and sustainable development goals.

In order to cultivate students to be able to participate in public affairs and make decisions about socioscientific issues (SSI), a web-based module was designed for students to collaboratively engage in the decision-making (DM) process. This study attempted to identify students' discourse characteristics that might lead to formulating an evidence-based decision on SSI. Twenty-nine Grade 10 students were randomly divided into eight groups of three or four. The transcribed data of one case from each performance level were compared to investigate the interplay between groups' DM performances and discourse characteristics. The results showed that the group that gained a high score on the DM group worksheet engaged in the metacognitive discussion for planning procedures of the module tools and in the conceptual exchanges to accomplish the tasks. The members of this group could initiate and extend ideas, provide prompts, and confirm or reject each other's ideas, resulting in sustained interactive dialogs that allowed them to learn from one another. This indicated that students need to be encouraged to clarify the task goals, plan procedures, monitor their performance, and exchange their ideas actively. The implications of how collaborative discourse promote students' SSI DM performance, and the better design and enactment of SSI modules are discussed.

Abstract APEC encodes multiple virulence factors that have complex pathogenic mechanisms. In this study, we report a virulence factor named EspE3, which can be secreted from APEC. This protein was predicted to have a leucine-rich repeat domain (LRR) and may have a similar function to IpaH class effectors of the type III secretion system (T3SS). For further exploration, the regulatory correlation between the espE3 and ETT2 genes in APEC was analysed. We then assessed the pathogenicity of EspE3, detected it in APEC secretion proteins and screened the proteins of EspE3 that interact with chicken trachea epithelial cells. This study provides data on a new virulence factor for further exploring the pathogenic mechanism of APEC.

Abstract Inhibition of immunocyte infiltration and activation has been suggested to effectively ameliorate nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Paired immunoglobulin-like receptor B (PirB) and its human ortholog receptor, leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B (LILRB2), are immune-inhibitory receptors. However, their role in NASH pathogenesis is still unclear. Here, we demonstrate that PirB/LILRB2 regulates the migration of macrophages during NASH by binding with its ligand angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8). Hepatocyte-specific ANGPTL8 knockout reduces MDM infiltration and resolves lipid accumulation and fibrosis progression in the livers of NASH mice. In addition, PirB−/− bone marrow (BM) chimeras abrogate ANGPTL8-induced MDM migration to the liver. And yet, PirB ectodomain protein could ameliorate NASH by sequestering ANGPTL8. Furthermore, LILRB2-ANGPTL8 binding-promoted MDM migration and inflammatory activation are also observed in human peripheral blood monocytes. Taken together, our findings reveal the role of PirB/LILRB2 in NASH pathogenesis and identify PirB/LILRB2-ANGPTL8 signaling as a potential target for the management or treatment of NASH.

Abstract Background Insulin resistance (IR) is an important determinant of glucose metabolic disturbance and placental dysplasia in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase IV (CAMK4) improves insulin IR induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). The current study sought to elucidate the role and potential mechanism of CAMK4 in GDM. Methods A GDM model was established in female C57BL/6J mice via HFD feeding for one week before mating and throughout gestation. The IR was elicited by 10–6 M insulin treatment for 48 h in HTR-8/SVneo cells and mouse primary trophoblast cells. The function of CAMK4 was investigated by transfection of overexpression plasmid in HTR-8/SVneo cells and infection of lentivirus loaded with CAMK4 encoding sequence in primary trophoblast cells. Real-time PCR, western blot, cell counting kit-8, transwell, wound healing, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolomics were performed to confirm the effects of CAMK4 on trophoblast cells. Results Decreased CAMK4 expression was found in the placenta of GDM mice. CAMK4 overexpression ameliorated IR-induced viability impairment, migratory and invasive capacity inhibition, autophagy blocking, insulin signaling inactivation and glucose uptake disorder in trophoblast cells. CAMK4 also transcriptionally activated orphan nuclear receptor NUR77, and the effects of CAMK4 were abrogated by silencing of NUR77. Metabolomics analysis revealed that CAMK4 overexpression caused alterations of amino acid, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, which were important in GDM. Conclusion Our results indicated that CAMK4/NUR77 axis may provide novel potential targets in GDM treatment.

IntroductionVascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the predominant cell type in the medial layer of the aorta, which plays a critical role in aortic diseases. Innate immunity is the main driving force for cardiovascular diseases. MethodsTo determine the roles of innate immunity in VSMC and aortic pathologies, we performed transcriptome analyses on aortas from ApoE–/– angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced aortic aneurysm (AAA) time course, and ApoE–/– atherosclerosis time course, as well as VSMCs stimulated with danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs).ResultsWe made significant findings: 1) 95% and 45% of the upregulated innate immune pathways (UIIPs, based on data of 1226 innate immune genes) in ApoE–/– Ang II-induced AAA at 7 days were different from that of 14 and 28 days, respectively; and AAA showed twin peaks of UIIPs with a major peak at 7 days and a minor peak at 28 days; 2) all the UIIPs in ApoE–/– atherosclerosis at 6 weeks were different from that of 32 and 78 weeks (two waves); 3) analyses of additional 12 lists of innate immune-related genes with 1325 cytokine and chemokine genes, 2022 plasma membrane protein genes, 373 clusters of differentiation (CD) marker genes, 280 nuclear membrane protein genes, 1425 nucleoli protein genes, 6750 nucleoplasm protein genes, 1496 transcription factors (TFs) including 15 pioneer TFs, 164 histone modification enzymes, 102 oxidative cell death genes, 68 necrotic cell death genes, and 47 efferocytosis genes confirmed two-wave inflammation in atherosclerosis and twin-peak inflammation in AAA; 4) DAMPs-stimulated VSMCs were innate immune cells as judged by the upregulation of innate immune genes and genes from 12 additional lists; 5) DAMPs-stimulated VSMCs increased trans-differentiation potential by upregulating not only some of 82 markers of 7 VSMC-plastic cell types, including fibroblast, osteogenic, myofibroblast, macrophage, adipocyte, foam cell, and mesenchymal cell, but also 18 new cell types (out of 79 human cell types with 8065 cell markers); 6) analysis of gene deficient transcriptomes indicated that the antioxidant transcription factor NRF2 suppresses, however, the other five inflammatory transcription factors and master regulators, including AHR, NF-KB, NOX (ROS enzyme), PERK, and SET7 promote the upregulation of twelve lists of innate immune genes in atherosclerosis, AAA, and DAMP-stimulated VSMCs; and 7) both SET7 and trained tolerance-promoting metabolite itaconate contributed to twin-peak upregulation of cytokines in AAA. DiscussionOur findings have provided novel insights on the roles of innate immune responses and nuclear stresses in the development of AAA, atherosclerosis, and VSMC immunology and provided novel therapeutic targets for treating those significant cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

BackgroundAging is a significant risk factor for many neurodegenerative diseases and neurological tumors. Previous studies indicate that the frailty index, facial aging, telomere length (TL), and epigenetic aging clock acceleration are commonly used biological aging proxy indicators. This study aims to comprehensively explore potential relationships between biological aging and neurodegenerative diseases and neurological tumors by integrating various biological aging proxy indicators, employing Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.MethodsTwo-sample bidirectional MR analyses were conducted using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data. Summary statistics for various neurodegenerative diseases and neurological tumors, along with biological aging proxy indicators, were obtained from extensive meta-analyses of GWAS. Genetic single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the exposures were used as instrumental variables, assessing causal relationships between three neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), two benign neurological tumors (vestibular schwannoma and meningioma), one malignant neurological tumor (glioma), and four biological aging indicators (frailty index, facial aging, TL, and epigenetic aging clock acceleration). Sensitivity analyses were also performed.ResultsOur analysis revealed that genetically predicted longer TL reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease but increases the risk of vestibular schwannoma and glioma (All Glioma, GBM, non-GBM). In addition, there is a suggestive causal relationship between some diseases (PD and GBM) and DNA methylation GrimAge acceleration. Causal relationships between biological aging proxy indicators and other neurodegenerative diseases and neurological tumors were not observed.ConclusionBuilding upon prior investigations into the causal relationships between telomeres and neurodegenerative diseases and neurological tumors, our study validates these findings using larger GWAS data and demonstrates, for the first time, that Parkinson’s disease and GBM may promote epigenetic age acceleration. Our research provides new insights and evidence into the causal relationships between biological aging and the risk of neurodegenerative diseases and neurological tumors.