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Abstract In this work, numerous rogue wave solution strategy (MRWSS) agreeing to the Hirota bilinear hypothesis is utilized. The said strategy to build different soliton wave solutions for the generalized Hirota-Satsuma-Ito (GHSI) condition is considered. These numerous soliton wave solutions incorporate first-order, second-order, third-order, and fourth-order waves solutions and so on, which are all depending on the starting theory of chosen capacities. For the lump solution with one most extreme or least esteem, the properties of the Hessian lattice are examined. Besides, the arrangements are contained the lump-two kink arrangements, cross-kink wave arrangements, periodic wave arrangements, and periodic-kink wave arrangements. The various classes of arrangements are gotten. We make utilize of the direct superposition procedure to find out N-soliton wave arrangements to the said condition. The appropriateness and viability of the obtained arrangements is detailed through the reenactment comes about within the shape of 3-D, density, and 2-D charts. The gotten comes about in this work are anticipated to open modern viewpoints for the traveling wave theory.

Background: Probiotic supplementation has a positive effect on endurance exercise performance and body composition in athletes, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Gut microbiota can provide measurable markers of immune function in athletes, and microbial composition analysis may be sensitive enough to detect stress and metabolic disorders caused by exercise. Methods: Nineteen healthy active amateur marathon runners (15 male and 4 female) with a mean age of 29.11 years volunteered to participate in this double-blind controlled study. Based on the performance of the Cooper 12-min running test (CRT), the participants were allocated into two groups to receive either a probiotic formulation comprising lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium longum (n = 10) or placebo containing maltodextrin (n = 9) for five weeks. Consistency of diet and exercise was ensured throughout the experimental period. Before and after the intervention, all participants were assessed for CRT, emotional stability and gastrointestinal symptoms, gut microbiota composition, body composition and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicators of skeletal muscle microcirculation. Results: Compared to before the intervention, the probiotics group showed an increase in CRT score (2.88 ± 0.57 vs 3.01 ± 0.60 km, P＜0.05), significant improvement in GSRS and GIQLI (9.20 ± 4.64 vs 7.40 ± 3.24, 118.90 ± 12.30 vs 127.50 ± 9.85, P＜0.05), while these indicators remained unchanged in the control group, with a significant time-group interaction effect on gastrointestinal symptoms. Additionally, some MRI metabolic cycling indicators of the thigh skeletal muscle also changed in the probiotics group (P＜0.05). Regarding microbiota abundance, the probiotics group exhibited a significant increase in the abundance of beneficial bacteria and a significant decrease in the abundance of harmful bacteria post-intervention (P＜0.05). Conclusion: As a sports nutritional supplement, probiotics have the potential to improve athletic performance by optimizing the balance of gut microbiota, alleviating gastrointestinal symptoms.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) can promote ecological restoration in coal mining areas for a long time, and can directly affect the growth and development of biological crusts, but the effects of biological crusts on nutrient cycling and extracellular enzyme activities are rarely reported.The control (CK) zone and AMF zone of Daliuta coal mining subsidence microbial reclamation demonstration base for 11 years were used as the study zones. Four different types of biological crust in two zones: algal crust, mixed algal crust (algal coverage > 50%), mixed moss crust (moss coverage > 50%), and moss crust were taken as the research objects. The coverage and thickness of different types of biological crust, total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) of soil, litter, and understory vegetation, and the activities of β–1, 4–glucosylase (BG), β–1, 4–acetyl glucosylase (NAG), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) were taken as the analysis contents. The coverage of algae crust in CK zone was 31.3% higher than that of moss crust，and the coverage of moss crust in AMF zone was 27% higher than that of algae crust. The thickness of biological crust in AMF zone and CK zone showed the trend of algae crust < mixed algae crust < mixed moss crust < moss crust. The thickness of biological crust in AMF zone was greater than that in CK zone. It shows that mycorrhizal reclamation promotes the development of biological crust in coal mining subsidence area in western China.The soil organic carbon (SOC), TN, TP and the activities of extracellular enzymes BG, NAG+LAP and AP were significantly higher than those in bare soil,and the moss crust was significantly higher than that of algae crust. It shows that the succession of biological crust accelerates the recovery and circulation of nutrients in the surface soil. The SOC and TN contents and the activities of extracellular enzymes BG, NAG+LAP and AP in AMF zone were significantly higher than those in CK zone. The microbial community in crusted soil was limited by P. The biological crust showed a gradual increase trend of C/P and N/P from algae crust to moss crust, but ABG/(ANAG+ALAP) and ABG/AAP decreased with the development of crust from algae crust to moss crust. RDA analysis showed that SOC, TN, TP were positively correlated with the activities of BG, NAG+LAP and AP, but negatively correlated with the length and Angle of the enzyme vector. AMF can improve the nutrient content and extracellular enzyme activity of biological crust, alleviate phosphorus limitation by improving litter coverage, herb vegetation coverage and nutrient status under forest.

Abstract Background Indoor environmental factors, such as pet ownership, presence of cockroaches, mattress quality, fuel usage (gas or electricity), use of biomass for cooking and heating, exposure to tobacco smoke or household molds can significantly affect the sleep quality of children with chronic cough. However, data regarding the effects of indoor environmental conditions on sleep in this population are limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of abnormal sleep behaviors and to establish associations between indoor environmental factors and sleep behaviors among children with chronic cough in Wuxi, China. Methods A cross-sectional design was employed in this study, involving children aged 3–18 years. Data on sociodemographic factors, allergies, home environmental exposures, and sleep characteristics of the participants were collected using paper-based questionnaires. The association between indoor environmental factors and sleep behaviors in children with chronic cough was analyzed using logistic regression models. Results The findings demonstrated that the prevalence of chronic cough among children in Wuxi was 15.50%. The chronic cough group exhibited a significantly higher incidence of eczema, wheezing, rhinitis, food allergy, and nasosinusitis than the non-chronic cough group. In addition, children with chronic cough also tended to have a family history of sleep disorders and adenoid hypertrophy (P

Abstract Background Recent studies have highlighted the significant role of the NF-κB signaling pathway in the initiation and progression of cancer. Furthermore, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as pivotal regulators in sustaining the NF-κB signaling pathway’s functionality. Despite these findings, the underlying molecular mechanisms through which lncRNAs influence the NF-κB pathway remain largely unexplored. Methods Bioinformatic analyses were utilized to investigate the differential expression and prognostic significance of XTP6. The functional roles of XTP6 were further elucidated through both in vitro and in vivo experimental approaches. To estimate the interaction between XTP6 and NDH2, RNA pulldown and RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were conducted. The connection between XTP6 and the IκBα promoter was examined using Chromatin Isolation by RNA Purification (ChIRP) assays. Additionally, Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were implemented to analyze the binding affinity of c-myc to the XTP6 promoter, providing insights into the regulatory mechanisms at play. Results XTP6 was remarkedly upregulated in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tissues and was connected with adverse prognosis in GBM patients. Our investigations revealed that XTP6 can facilitate the malignant progression of GBM both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, XTP6 downregulated IκBα expression by recruiting NDH2 to the IκBα promoter, which resulted in elevated levels of H3K27me3, thereby reducing the transcriptional activity of IκBα. Moreover, the progression of GBM was further driven by the c-myc-mediated upregulation of XTP6, establishing a positive feedback loop with IκBα that perpetuated the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Notably, the application of an inhibitor targeting the NF-κB signaling pathway effectively inhibited the continuous activation induced by XTP6, leading to a significant reduction in tumor formation in vivo. Conclusion The results reveal that XTP6 unveils an innovative epigenetic mechanism instrumental in the sustained activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, suggesting a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of GBM.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infections represent a significant component of community-acquired pneumonia, especially in children, invoking a complex neutrophil-mediated immune response, crucial for host defense. This review consolidates current knowledge on the role of neutrophils in MP infection, focusing on their recruitment, migration and activation, as well as the molecular mechanisms underpinning these processes. Significant findings indicate that specific bacterial components, notably CARDS toxin and lipoproteins, intensify neutrophil recruitment via signaling pathways, including the IL-23/IL-17 axis and G-CSF. Furthermore, neutrophils engage in a series of responses, including phagocytosis, degranulation and NETosis, to combat infection effectively. However, dysregulated neutrophil activity can lead to exacerbated lung injury, highlighting the delicate balance required in neutrophil responses. Age and immunodeficiency also emerge as critical factors influencing the severity of MP infections. This review emphasizes the dual role of neutrophils in both defending against and exacerbating MP infections, suggesting that targeted therapeutic strategies could mitigate the adverse effects while enhancing beneficial neutrophil functions.

Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is an evolutionarily conserved epigenetic modifier responsible for tri-methylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3). Previous studies have linked PRC2 to invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell development, but its physiological and precise role remained unclear. To address this, we conditionally deleted Eed, a core subunit of PRC2, in mouse T cells. The results showed that Eed-deficient mice exhibited a severe reduction in iNKT cell numbers, particularly NKT1 and NKT17 cells, while conventional T cells and NKT2 cells remained intact. Deletion of Eed disrupted iNKT cell differentiation, leading to increased cell death, which was accompanied by a severe reduction in H3K27me3 levels and abnormal expression of Zbtb16, Cdkn2a, and Cdkn1a. Interestingly, Eed-deficient mice were highly susceptible to acetaminophen-induced liver injury and inflammation in an iNKT cell-dependent manner, highlighting the critical role of Eed-mediated H3K27me3 marks in liver-resident iNKT cells. These findings provide further insight into the epigenetic orchestration of iNKT cell-specific transcriptional programs.

Forest gaps serve as crucial starting points for forest self-renewal. Within these gaps, soil enzymes play an essential role in driving nutrient transformation and species renewal. However, how forest gap renewal regulates soil fertility through soil enzyme across various soil depths remains unclear. This investigation delved into the dynamics of soil enzymes and nutrients within karst forest gaps at four developmental age stages: Infancy (30 years) across different soil depths (0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, and 20–30 cm). The study determined the contents of CNP and the activities of soil enzymes such as polyphenol oxidase, catalase, protease, and alkaline phosphatase. Two-way ANOVA was employed to assess the variations in gap ages and soil depths, along with their interaction. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to reveal the correlations between soil enzyme activities and CNP fertility indicators. The results indicated that gap age significantly influenced the activities of alkaline phosphatase, polyphenol oxidase, and protease, as well as the contents of total and available nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic carbon, alongside the ratios of N/P, C/N, and C/P. Catalase activity, however, did not vary significantly with gap age, although soil depth influenced these parameters, excluding total phosphorus and the C/N ratio. Notably, in the 0–10 cm soil layer, alkaline phosphatase activity, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, and organic carbon contents significantly increased with gap age increase, followed by a significant decrease after the middlescence stage. In the 10–20 cm and 20–30 cm soil layers, Alkaline phosphatase and polyphenol oxidase activities, along with N/P and C/N ratios initially decreased and then increased with gap age increase. During the Infancy, Youth, and Middlescence stages, Polyphenol oxidase and protease activities, CNP contents, as well as N/P and C/P ratios generally decreased with soil depth increase or after an increase in the 10–20 cm soil layer. RDA highlighted the variational positive and negative correlations between soil enzyme activities and CNP fertility indicators across soil depths during forest gap renewal, with explanatory rates ranging from 88.05 % to 94.67 % across soil layers. Overall, this study suggests that forest gap renewal significantly influences soil enzymes, CNP content and stoichiometry, modifying soil CNP content through stoichiometric regulation across different soil depths, and ultimately sustaining soil fertility via soil enzymes.

Abstract Background Sleep disorders are a prevalent non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD), although reliable biological markers are presently lacking. Objectives To explore the associations between sleep disorders and serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels in individuals with prodromal and early PD. Methods The study contained 1113 participants, including 585 early PD individuals, 353 prodromal PD individuals, and 175 healthy controls (HCs). The correlations between sleep disorders (including rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)) and serum NfL levels were researched using multiple linear regression models and linear mixed-effects models. We further investigated the correlations between the rates of changes in daytime sleepiness and serum NfL levels using multiple linear regression models. Results In baseline analysis, early and prodromal PD individuals who manifested specific behaviors of RBD showed significantly higher levels of serum NfL. Specifically, early PD individuals who experienced nocturnal dream behaviors (β = 0.033; P = 0.042) and movements of arms or legs during sleep (β = 0.027; P = 0.049) showed significantly higher serum NfL levels. For prodromal PD individuals, serum NfL levels were significantly higher in individuals suffering from disturbed sleep (β = 0.038; P = 0.026). Our longitudinal findings support these baseline associations. Serum NfL levels showed an upward trend in early PD individuals who had a higher total RBDSQ score (β = 0.002; P = 0.011) or who were considered as probable RBD (β = 0.012; P = 0.009) or who exhibited behaviors on several sub-items of the RBDSQ. In addition, early PD individuals who had a high total ESS score (β = 0.001; P = 0.012) or who were regarded to have EDS (β = 0.013; P = 0.007) or who exhibited daytime sleepiness in several conditions had a trend toward higher serum NfL levels. Conclusion Sleep disorders correlate with higher serum NfL, suggesting a link to PD neuronal damage. Early identification of sleep disorders and NfL monitoring are pivotal in detecting at-risk PD patients promptly, allowing for timely intervention. Regular monitoring of NfL levels holds promise for tracking both sleep disorders and disease progression, potentially emerging as a biomarker for evaluating treatment outcomes.

Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a risk factor for the progression of immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy. The effect of HBV antigens deposition in kidneys and treatment influencing HBV deposition requires further investigation.Methods We analyzed 198 patients with IgAN, including 99 patients with HBV infection and 99 propensity score-matched patients without HBV infection. The primary outcome was a composite of 30% decrease in eGFR from the baseline, kidney failure and all-cause mortality. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the impact of both HBV positive in the serum and HBV antigens deposition in the kidneys on renal outcomes.Results Among 198 individuals, 27 primary composite outcome events were observed, of which 20 (20%) in the HBV positive group and seven (7%) were in the HBV-negative group. The former had a 2.72-fold increased risk of primary outcome events (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.22; 95% confidence interval: 0.89–5.53). HBV antigens deposition in kidneys increased the risk significantly after adjusting for confounders at the latest follow-up (adjusted hazard ratio: 7.49; 95% confidence interval: 1.00–56.04). Antiviral treatment did not influence the deposition of HBV antigens.Conclusions HBV antigen deposition in the kidneys, compared with no deposition in the kidneys, was associated with a 7.49-fold increased risk of renal prognosis in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Abstract Background Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) complement activation is a key part of neuroinflammation that occurs in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the associations of CSF complement proteins with AD pathology, cognition, and structural neuroimaging biomarkers for AD have been rarely investigated. Methods A total of 210 participants (125 mild cognitive impairment [MCI] patients and 85 normal controls) were included from Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database who measured AD pathology, cognition, and neuroimaging at baseline and every 12 months. The mixed-effect linear models were utilized to investigate longitudinal associations of CSF complement proteins with AD pathology, cognition, and neuroimaging in cognitively normal (CN) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects. Causal mediation analyses were conducted to explore the potential mediators between CSF complement proteins and cognitive changes. Results We found that the subjects with low CSF complement protein levels at baseline had worse outcomes in AD pathology, indicated by their lowest concentrations observed in A + and A + T + individuals. The reduced CSF complement proteins were associated with faster accumulation of tau among CN subjects and with cognitive decline and greater brain atrophy of specific regions among MCI subjects. Furthermore, mediation analyses showed that the effects of CSF complement proteins on cognitive performance were partially mediated by regional brain structures (mediation proportions range from 19.78 to 94.92%; p

Abstract Background Inflammasomes in astrocytes have been shown to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cannabinoid Receptor 2(CB2R), a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), is considered a promising therapeutic target in inflammation-related disorders. This study aims to explore the role of CB2R in regulating NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)-mediated neuroinflammation in astrocytes. Methods In an in vivo animal model, specific targeting of astrocytic CB2R was achieved by injecting CB2R-specific adenovirus (or fork head box g1(foxg1) adenovirus) to knock down CB2R or administering CB2R agonists, inhibitors, etc., in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) of mice. A PD mouse model was established using 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) induction. Animal behavioral tests, western blot, immunofluorescence, and other experiments were performed to assess the loss of midbrain tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) neurons, activation of astrocytes, and activation of the NLRP3 pathway. Primary astrocytes were cultured in vitro, and NLRP3 inflammasomes were activated using 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Western blot and ELISA experiments were conducted to assess the release of inflammatory factors. Transcriptomic sequencing and CUT&RUN techniques were employed to study the CB2R regulation of the foxg1 binding site on the autophagy molecule microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta (MAP1LC3B). Results Astrocytic CB2R knockdown impaired the motor abilities of MPTP-induced mice, exacerbated the loss of TH neurons, and induced activation of the NLRP3/Caspase-1/interleukin 1 (IL-1β) pathway. Activation of CB2R significantly alleviated motor impairments in mice while reducing NLRP3 deposition on astrocytes. In vitro cell experiments showed that CB2R activation attenuated the activation of the NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-1β pathway induced by LPS + ATP or MPP+. Additionally, it inhibited the binding of foxg1 to MAP1LC3B, increased astrocytic autophagy levels, and facilitated NLRP3 degradation through the autophagy–lysosome pathway. Conclusion Activation of CB2R on astrocytes effectively mitigates NLRP3-mediated neuroinflammation and ameliorates the disease characteristics of PD in mice. CB2R represents a potential therapeutic target for treating PD.

Abstract Plant invasions severely threaten natural ecosystems, and invasive plants often outcompete native plants across various ecosystems. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, serving as beneficial microorganisms for host plants, can greatly influence the competitive outcomes of invasive plants against native plants. However, it remains unclear how AM fungi alter the competitive balance between native and invasive species. A competitive experiment was conducted using an invasive Eupatorium adenophorum paired with a native congener Eupatorium lindleyanum. Specifically, both species were inoculated with (M+) or without (M−) the fungus Glomus etunicatum under intraspecific (Intra‐) and interspecific (Inter‐) competition. Plant traits were measured and analyzed regarding the growth and nutrition of both species. The results exhibited that the AM fungus significantly increased the height, diameter, biomass, C, N, and P acquisition of both the invasive E. adenophorum and the native E. lindleyanum. The root mycorrhizal colonization and the mycorrhizal dependency of native E. lindleyanum were greater than those of invasive E. adenophorum. Under M+, the Inter‐competition inhibited the growth and nutrition of invasive E. adenophorum compared to the Intra‐ competition. Further, native E. lindleyanum exhibited higher competitiveness than invasive E. adenophorum in growth and nutrition. Meanwhile, the AM fungus significantly improved the competitiveness of native E. lindleyanum over invasive E. adenophorum. In conclusion, AM fungus improved the competitive advantage of native E. lindleyanum over invasive E. adenophorum in growth and nutrition, potentially contributing to native species competitively resisting the invasion of exotic species. These findings emphasize the importance of AM fungi in helping native plants resist the invasion of exotic plants and further contribute to understanding plant invasion prevention mechanisms.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disease that is typically diagnosed in pregnant women. The current study was aimed at disclosing the salutary activities of eupatilin against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced GDM in rats. The pregnant rats were induced with GDM and then treated with eupatilin for 20 days. The bodyweight, pup numbers and survival, glucose, and insulin levels were estimated. The levels of biochemical markers, antioxidants, and lipid profiles were measured using kits. The histopathological analysis was done on the pancreas and liver tissues. The eupatilin effectively reduced glucose and boosted insulin levels in the GDM rats. The pup numbers and their survival index were increased by the eupatilin treatment. The lipase, creatinine, AST, ALT, and urea levels were effectively reduced by the eupatilin in the GDM rats. Eupatilin treatment also decreased oxidative stress by increasing antioxidant levels and reducing inflammatory cytokine levels in the GDM rats. The cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride levels were effectively decreased, and HDL was elevated by eupatilin. The results of histopathological analysis of both liver and pancreatic tissues also demonstrated the therapeutic properties of eupatilin. In conclusion, the current results prove that eupatilin can be an effective salutary candidate to treat GDM.

Leaf Trait Networks (LTNs) visually display the intricate trait connections in offering insights into how plants adapt to diverse environments. The pervasive environmental heterogeneity can influence plant diversity and functional traits. Various habitats sustain distinct species diversity and leaf trait differentiation, precisely as the degraded karst-heterogenous ecosystem caused by inhomogeneous microhabitats. However, how the LTNs respond to understory habitat heterogeneity and species diversity in degraded karst forests remains unclear. This study selected fifty-three forest plots for plant community survey and habitat investigation in a typical karst topography to visualize LTNs using twenty-one woody leaf traits. LTN architecture variations were analyzed in relation to habitat heterogeneity and species diversity through network-architectural parameters, including edge density, diameter, average path length, and average clustering coefficient, utilizing regression, principal component analysis, and structural equation model. The results showed a 35% variation in modularity across all plots, indicating distinct network architectural modularization differentiation. Network diameter and average path length displayed significant initial decreases followed by increases with ascending PC1 heterogeneity scores, indicating moderate heterogeneity sustained greater network connectivity. In addition, the network diameter, average path length, and average clustering coefficient significantly decreased with increasing species diversity, indicating that high species diversity enables greater connectivity and complexity. Moreover, the habitat heterogeneity significantly affected species diversity directly and affected the average clustering coefficient, diameter, average path length, and edge density indirectly through species diversity effects via SEM pathway analysis. Overall, habitat heterogeneity and woody plant diversity of karst forests significantly influence LTN architectures in degraded karst forests. In conclusion, moderate heterogeneity sustains greater network connectivity while species diversity jointly enhances connectivity and complexity by combining modular regulation of plant functional traits.

This study investigated the problem of multi-UAVs cooperative trajectory optimization for remote maritime targets in the approach phase. First, based on the precise location information of the cooperative target, a real-time algorithm for correcting UAV attitude angles is proposed to reduce the impact of UAV attitude angle errors and observation system errors on target positioning accuracy. Then, the attitude correction algorithm is integrated into the interacting multiple model-cubature information filter (IMM-CIF) algorithm to achieve the fusion of multi-UAVs observation information. Furthermore, an improved receding horizon optimization (RHO) method is employed to plan the cooperative observation trajectories for UAVs in real time at the target approaching stage. Finally, numerical simulations are conducted to examine the proposed attitude correction and trajectory optimization algorithm, verifying the effectiveness of the proposed method and enhancing the tracking accuracy of the remote target.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is a highly contagious disease caused by porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), which is characterized by severe diarrhea and vomiting in lactating piglets, resulting in serious economic losses to the pig industry worldwide. Here, a novel variant strain of PEDV (named PEDV/CH/XC/2020) was isolated from the feces of infected piglets, and subjected to genetic variation and recombination analysis based on whole genome sequencing. The results showed that PEDV/CH/XC/2020 belonged to a GIIa subtype variant strain of PEDV, with the genome of 28128 nt in length, which shared only 94% identities with the vaccine strain CV777. Furthermore, multiple amino acid mutations were occurred in the neutralizing antigenic epitopes of COE (499-638 aa) and S1D (636-789 aa) regions of spike protein. It was worth noting that genetic recombination was occurred in the 24010-26546 nt and 27000-27663 nt regions, suggesting that this isolate may arise from genetic recombination with parental strains such as GD-1, CH/ZMDZY and PEDV-CHZ and continuous mutation in epidemic process. In contrast to other mutant strains, the mutation sites 767F, 838L and 1060C of S protein are unique, which might result in the alterations of virulence and immunogenicity of PEDV/CH/XC/2020. These findings of the molecular characteristic of this novel variant strain provided new insights into t

Abstract Group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) represent a new population in immune regulation, yet their role in lupus nephritis (LN) remains elusive. In the present work, systemic increases in ILC3s, particularly in the kidney, are observed to correlate strongly with disease severity in both human and murine LN. Using MRL/lpr lupus mice and a nephrotoxic serum‐induced LN model, this study demonstrates that ILC3s accumulated in the kidney migrate predominantly from the intestine. Furthermore, intestinal ILC3s accelerate LN progression, manifested by exacerbated autoimmunity and kidney injuries. In LN kidneys, ILC3s are located adjacent to B cells within ectopic lymphoid structures (ELS), directly activating B cell differentiation into plasma cells and antibody production in a Delta‐like1 (DLL1)/Notch‐dependent manner. Blocking DLL1 attenuates ILC3s’ effects and protects against LN. Altogether, these findings reveal a novel pathogenic role of ILC3s in B cell activation, renal ELS formation and autoimmune injuries during LN, shedding light on the therapeutic value of targeting ILC3s for LN.

In order to study quality changes of yogurt fermented by selenium-enriched lactic acid bacteria (Se-enriched yogurt) during storage, the sensory characteristics and the physicochemical indexes were analyzed and the total number of colonies, titrated acidity, viscosity, water-holding capacity, color, antioxidant activity and sensory evaluation values of Se-enriched yogurt during storage were evaluated, compared with non selenium-enriched lactic acid bacteria fermented yogurt (control yogurt). The results showed that during the storage of 1st d, the Se-enriched yogurt had higher pH, higher total solid content and selenium content (14.3 times of the control yogurt), and with more red and yellow color compared with the control yogurt. The total number of colonies of Se-enriched yogurt was significantly higher than that of control yogurt after 7 days of storage. However, during the whole storage process, the titrated acidity, viscosity and water holding capacity of Se-enriched yogurt were lower than those of the control yogurt. In the same storage period, the peroxide value of Se-enriched yogurt was lower than that of control yogurt, and the scavenging activities for DPPH free radical and ABTS+ free radical were significantly higher than that of control yogurt. The sensory scores of Se-enriched yogurt was similar to control yogurt. Se-enriched yogurt was with higher antioxidant activity and lower post-acidification compared with control yogurt, which was more conducive to the maintenance of quality during storage.

To achieve sustainable development goals and meet the demand for clean and efficient energy utilization, it is imperative to advance the penetration of renewable energy in various sectors. Energy storage systems can mitigate the intermittent issues of renewable energy and enhance the efficiency and economic viability of existing energy facilities. Among various energy storage technologies, thermocline heat storage (THS) has garnered widespread attention from researchers due to its stability and economic advantages. Currently, there are only a few review articles focusing on THS, and there is a gap in the literature regarding the optimization design of THS systems. Therefore, this paper provides a comprehensive review of the recent research progress in THS, elucidating its principles, thermal storage materials, applications, and optimization designs. The novelty of this work lies in the detailed classification and analysis of various optimization designs for THS, including tank shape, aspect ratio, inlet/outlet configuration, thermal energy storage materials arrangement, operating strategies, and numerical model optimization approaches. The limitations of existing research are also identified, and future perspectives are proposed, aiming to provide recommendations for THS research and contribute to the development and promotion of THS technology.

In 2013, during Typhoon Soulik, wind data were collected at various heights above the ground (15, 27, 53, 67, and 82 m) on the 550 kV 52# pole transmission tower in Ningde City, Fujian Province. The wind speed profile, turbulence intensity, gust factor, crest factor, and power spectrum were analyzed using 10 min interval wind speed records. The results show the following: (1) the average wind velocity of Typhoon Soulik varies in accordance with both the power law and the logarithmic law, but the Deaves–Harris model exhibits significant discrepancies; (2) the turbulence intensity in u, v, and w orientations decreases with the average wind velocity at each height. Exponential fitting is conducted on the strength of turbulence and gust factor profiles in each direction based on the standards of different countries, resulting in the derivation of empirical expressions; (3) the integral scale components of turbulence in u, v, and w orientations exhibit a positive correlation with both average wind velocity and height. The turbulence integral scale ratios in the longitudinal, transverse, and vertical directions at heights of 15, 53, and 82 m are 1:0.68:0.11, 1:0.67:0.27, and 1:0.67:0.30, respectively; (4) the Von Karman empirical spectrum and the modified Kaimal cross-spectrum model closely match the observed wind power spectrum of Typhoon Soulik. The presented results contribute to furthering references for wind-resistant design of structures in typhoon-prone areas and prevention of typhoon-related disasters.

With the advancement of machine-learning and deep-learning technologies, the estimation of the state of charge (SOC) of lithium-ion batteries is gradually shifting from traditional methodologies to a new generation of digital and AI-driven data-centric approaches. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the three main steps involved in various machine-learning-based SOC estimation methods. It delves into the aspects of data collection and preparation, model selection and training, as well as model evaluation and optimization, offering a thorough analysis, synthesis, and summary. The aim is to lower the research barrier for professionals in the field and contribute to the advancement of intelligent SOC estimation in the battery domain.

Biotemplates are often used in the preparation of catalysts due to availability of raw materials and environment-friendly. Herein, three biomorphic CeO2 were prepared from waste tobacco materials and impregnated with 1 wt% Ru for the catalytic combustion of vinyl chloride. The results showed that the biotemplates greatly affected the properties of the catalysts. 1Ru/CeO2-YS exhibited the best catalytic activity and superior stability because of its abundant oxygen vacancies, sufficient acidic sites and the optimal redox properties. SEM images suggested that CeO2-YS and CeO2-YM maintained the basic structure of the biotemplates. Moreover, a possible reaction mechanism over Ru/CeO2 was proposed.

BackgroundDiabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most prevalent complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, there is still a lack of effective methods for non-invasive diagnosis of DN in clinical practice. We aimed to explore biomarkers from plasma cell-free DNA as a surrogate of renal biopsy for the differentiation of DN patients from patients with DM.Materials and methodsThe plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) was sequenced from 53 healthy individuals, 53 patients with DM but without DN, and 71 patients with both DM and DN. Multidimensional features of plasma DNA were analyzed to dissect the cfDNA profile in the DM and DN patients and identify DN-specific cfDNA features. Finally, a classification model was constructed by integrating all informative cfDNA features to demonstrate the clinical utility in DN detection.ResultsIn comparison with the DM patients, the DN individuals exhibited significantly increased cfDNA concentration in plasma. The cfDNA from the DN patients showed a distinct fragmentation pattern with an altered size profile and preferred motifs that start with “CC” in the cfDNA ending sites, which were associated with deoxyribonuclease 1 like 3 (DNASE1L3) expression in the kidney. Moreover, patients with DM or DN were found to carry more alterations in whole-genome cfDNA coverage when compared with healthy individuals. We integrated DN-specific cfDNA features (cfDNA concentration, size, and motif) into a classification model, which achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.928 for the differentiation of DN patients from DM patients.ConclusionOur findings showed plasma cfDNA as a reliable non-invasive biomarker for differentiating DN patients from DM patients. The utility of cfDNA in clinical practice in large prospective cohorts is warranted.

Abstract Objective The present study aims to explore the correlation of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic protein gene (SMAD) 2/3/4, and leukemia inhibitory factors (LIF) with the cyst formation of hepatic Echinococcus granulosus in young children. Methods A total of 40 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for children's hydatid disease in people's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region between January 2020 and June 2021 were enrolled a s the study subjects. The cystic fluid of these children was collected as the case group and the corresponding infected viscera or pericystic tissue as the control group, with 40 cases in each group. In vitro cultured protoscolice of hydatid cyst, four groups including control group, LIF siRNA group, LIF factor group and SMAD4 siRNA group were divided by inhibiting TGF-β/SMADs signal pathway. Each assay was performed in triplicate. The expression of TGF-β, SMAD2/3/4 and LIF were detected. Results The results of the clinical trial showed that the contents of SMAD2 and SMAD3 were increased in the case group compared with the control group; the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The expression levels of TGF-β, Smad4, and LIF increased in the case group compared with the control group; however, the differences were not statistically significant. The results of further in vitro experiments, the expression levels of TGF-β, SMAD 2/3/4, and LIF after adding siRNA to interfere with Smad4 decreased in the case group compared with the control group; the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression levels of TGF-β, SMAD2/3/4, and LIF increased after treatment with added LIF in the case group, and the expression levels of TGF-β, SMAD2/3/4, and LIF decreased after adding siRNA to interfere with LIF in the case group; the differences were all statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion SMAD2 and SMAD3 have a certain clinical relevance with hydatidosis in young children. The LIF expression level may be related to the cystic transformation of protoscoleces. It has been suggested that the TGF-β/Smads/LIF signaling pathway may be present in the process of protoscoleces cyst formation; this provides a research basis for the prevention and treatment of post-infection parasitism of E. multilocularis eggs in young children.

Abstract We generalize a complex heavy-quark potential model from an isotropic QCD plasma to an anisotropic one by replacing the Debye mass m D with an anisotropic screening mass depending on the quark pair alignment with respect to the direction of anisotropy. Such an angle-dependent mass is determined by matching the perturbative contributions in the potential model to the exact result obtained in the Hard-Thermal-Loop resummed perturbation theory. An advantage of the resulting potential model is that its angular dependence can be effectively described by using a set of angle-averaged screening masses as proposed in our previous work. Consequently, one could solve a one-dimensional Schrödinger equation with a potential model built by changing the anisotropic screening masses into the corresponding angle-averaged ones, and reproduce the full three-dimensional results for the binding energies and decay widths of low-lying quarkonium bound states to very high accuracy. Finally, turning to dynamics, we demonstrate that the one-dimensional effective potential can accurately describe the time evolution of the vacuum overlaps obtained using the full three-dimensional anisotropic potential. This includes the splitting of different p-wave polarizations.

PurposeTo evaluate the effects of different mechanical ventilation modes on critical patients.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Web of science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from their inception to November 15, 2022 for randomized controlled trials on the application of different mechanical ventilation modes in critical patients. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias in the included studies. R4.2.1 was used for this network meta-analysis.ResultsTwenty-eight RCTs involving 3,189 patients were included. The interventions in these RCTs included NAVA (neurally adjusted ventilatory assist), PAV (proportional assist ventilation), ASV (adaptive support ventilation), Smartcare/PS (Smartcare/pressure support), PSV (pressure support ventilation), PSV_ATC (pressure support ventilation_automatic tube compensation), and SIMV (synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation). The network meta-analysis showed that, compared with the PSV group, there was no significant difference in duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of ICU stay, and hospital stay between NAVA, SIMV, AVS, PAV, Smartcare/PS, and PSV_ATC groups. Compared with PSV, PAV improved the success rate of withdrawal of ventilator [OR = 3.07, 95%CI (1.21, 8.52)]. Compared with PSV and PAV, NAVA reduced mortality in the ICU [OR = 0.63, 95%CI (0.43, 0.93); OR = 0.45, 95%CI (0.21, 0.97)].ConclusionNAVA can reduce mortality in ICU, and PAV may increase the risk of withdrawal of the ventilator. There was no significant difference between PSV and other mechanical ventilation modes (NAVA, SIMV, AVS, PAV, Smartcare/PS, and PSV_ATC) in the duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of ICU stay, or hospital stay. Due to the limitations, more high-quality studies are needed to verify these findings.

Introduction: IgA nephropathy is a common glomerular disease on a global scale, which has resulted in significant economic burdens. The complement system plays a vital role in enhancing the efficacy of antibodies and phagocytic cells in eliminating microbes and damaged cells, and promoting inflammation. Complement activation has been found to contribute to the progression of various renal diseases, including IgA nephropathy.Methods: In this study, a thorough analysis was conducted on publications related to complement in IgAN from 1991 to 2022, retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus database. The analysis focused on various aspects such as annual publications, country, institution, author, journal, keywords, and co-cited references, utilizing Citespace and Vosviewer.Results: A total of 819 publications were obtained, and while there were slight fluctuations in annual publications, an overall upward trend was observed. China, Japan and the United States were the leading countries in terms of publications, with China having the highest number of publications (201). Collaborative network analysis revealed that England, University of Alabama Birmingham, and Robert J Wyatt were the most influential country, institution, and author, respectively, in this field of research. Furthermore, the analysis of references and keywords indicated that complement activation contributes to IgAN, and immunosuppression in IgAN are a hot topic of research.Discussion: This study identifies current research hotspots and advanced tendencies in the study of complement in IgAN, providing scholars with crucial directions in this research area.

As a kind of job characteristic, feedback often occurs in the organization in order to improve employee performance. Based on leadership identity theory, this study developed a conceptual model involving supervisor developmental feedback, job crafting and job performance. the authors then targeted a large manufacturing enterprise in Hunan, China, obtaining 337 valid data using an on-site questionnaire survey. The data was analyzed using a hierarchical linear regression method, showing that supervisor developmental feedback was positively related to job crafting and employee job performance, and this job crafting was positively associated with employee job performance and partially mediated the relationship between supervisor developmental feedback and employee job performance. Managerial implications and directions for further research are discussed.

The joint assembly of evergreen and deciduous tree species, typical karst vegetation of evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forests through respective subcommunities, play an important role in maintaining biodiversity in subtropical karst regions, and leaf functional traits can strategically specify plant resource utilization. However, it is unclear how these assembled subcommunities of evergreen and deciduous species maintain differentiation strategies. This study surveyed 53 forest plots of 20 m × 20 m dividing 212 adjacent lattices in a typical karst forest. Leaf traits of woody plants were measured regarding the specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf tissue density (ltd), and leaf C, N, and P contents. The differences between deciduous and evergreen subcommunities were compared using the community-weighted means (CWM). The SLA and LDMC of the deciduous subcommunity were greater than the evergreen subcommunity; meanwhile, the leaf C, C/N and C/P ratios of the evergreen subcommunity were significantly higher than those of the deciduous subcommunity. However, the leaf N, P and N/P ratios of the deciduous subcommunity were significantly enhanced than the evergreen subcommunity. Moreover, both subcommunities showed significant negative correlations between SLA, leaf N and ltd, LDMC, signifying a trade-off of leaf-economic trait in deciduous and evergreen subcommunities. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) on leaf functional traits specified the strategic differentiation mainly located at the side of the resource acquisition with high SLA and leaf N content for the deciduous subcommunity and situated at the side of the resource conservation with high LDMC and ltd for the evergreen subcommunity. In conclusion, the trade-off correlated with leaf functional trait differentiation suggested a resource acquisition strategy for the deciduous subcommunity and a resource conservation strategy for the evergreen subcommunity in the subtropical climate-dominating mixed forest of karst ecosystem.

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is becoming more widespread, and studies show that they are not absolutely harmless. To investigate the association between the dual use of e-cigarettes and marijuana with sleep duration among adults in the United States, this cross-sectional study used data from 6,573 participants aged 18–64 years from 2015 to 2018 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database. Chi-square tests and analysis of variance were used for bivariate analyses of binary and continuous variables, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression models were used for univariate and multivariate analyses of e-cigarette use, marijuana use, and sleep duration. Sensitivity analyses were conducted in populations with dual e-cigarette and traditional cigarette use and dual marijuana and traditional cigarette use. People who concurrently use e-cigarettes and marijuana had higher odds of not having the recommended sleep duration than neither users (short sleep duration: odds ratio [OR], 2.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19–4.61; P = 0.014; long sleep duration: OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.53–2.87; P

Compared to the use of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) materials that consume electrical energy for low-temperature heating, heat pump air conditioners can provide more energy-efficient heating performance by absorbing and utilizing heat from the outdoor air to heat the cab in order to improve the range of electric vehicles. In addition, in order to make the battery work under safe working conditions, this paper proposes battery thermal management coupled with vapor injection heat pump air conditioning. The system is modeled and analyzed through simulation, and the impact of the compressor speed and ambient temperature changes in the battery cooling performance of the system. The results show that under different compressor RPM (Revolution Per Minute) with an ambient temperature of 5 °C, the average temperature of the battery pack remains below 30 °C, and the majority of individual cell temperatures are maintained within the range of 20 to 35 °C. At a constant compressor RPM of 4000/min under varying ambient temperatures, the average temperature of the battery pack remains below 30 °C, with the majority of individual cell temperatures staying within the range of 20 to 35 °C. And the battery cooling performance still performs well. In the low temperature of −10 °C and −20 °C, the system can still maintain a relatively stable heating capacity compared with the 2009.1W, provided by the environment temperature of 5 °C at the same RPM.

With the continuous scarcity of domestic zinc resources and the rapid changes in the market, the composition of zinc concentrates selected by zinc smelting companies has become more and more complex. High-silicon, high-copper, high-lead, and high-iron mineral sources have gradually become the norm. These high impurities ore seriously deteriorates the conditions of the fluidized roaster, which greatly affects the normal progress of the roasting process. In order for zinc smelting companies to achieve rapid development in the increasingly complex market competition, in addition to organizing production at the lowest cost, they also need to be able to adapt to various complex mineral sources, especially to be able to handle high value-added zinc concentrates. Therefore, this article systematically studies the behavior and influence of Cu, Pb, SiO2 and Fe, the key impurities in complex zinc concentrates, during boiling roasting, and aims to provide certain theoretical and practical guidance for zinc smelting enterprises to deal with complex zinc concentrates.

IntroductionMycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is a major pathogen of community-acquired pneumonia in children. However, the specific pathogenesis of the progression of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is unclear. We aimed to reveal the landscape of microbiota and the host immune response in MPP.MethodsThis self-controlled study analyzed the microbiome and transcriptome of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from the severe side (SD) and opposite side (OD) of 41 children with MPP from January to December 2021 and revealed the differences of the peripheral blood neutrophil function among children with mild MPP, severe MPP, and healthy children through transcriptome sequencing.ResultsThe MP load or the pulmonary microbiota had no significant difference between the SD group and OD group, and the deterioration of MPP was related to the immune response, especially the intrinsic immune response.DiscussionThe immune response plays a role in MPP, which may inform treatment strategies for MPP.

The γ-Al2O3 support (nanosphere and nanoflake) was used to support Ag nanoparticles and applied in C3H8-SCR to remove NOx. Ag/Al2O3-flake exhibited superior catalytic activity than Ag/Al2O3-sphere in C3H8-SCR. It is found that Al2O3-flake rich in Al octacoordinated ions promoted more Agnδ+ species to disperse on Ag/Al2O3-flake than Ag/Al2O3-sphere. Agnδ+ species could strengthen the low-temperature catalytic activity for HC-SCR while Ag metal particles were unbeneficial since they could promote complete oxidation of hydrocarbon. This was the first time to explore the remarkable effect of Al2O3 intrinsic properties on catalytic activity of alumina-supported catalyst for HC-SCR from the perspective of uniform morphology. Environmental implication: The number of transport vehicles has increased dramatically during the past decades due to global economic growth. The accompanying concern is the huge consumption of fossil fuels, for example, gasoline and diesel, which speeds up global warming. Internal combustion engines produce toxic emissions, where NOx forms nitric acid in the atmosphere, reacts with HCs to form which causes acidification of land and lakes. Currently, it is urgent to develop a leading deNOx technique for the after-treatment of commercial engine-powered vehicles to meet stringent emission legislations.

Summary: NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated immune responses are involved in the pathogenesis of multiple inflammatory diseases, but few clinical drugs are identified that directly target the NLRP3 inflammasome to treat these diseases to date. Here, we show that the anticancer agent tivantinib is a selective inhibitor of NLRP3 and has a strong therapeutic effect on inflammasome-driven disease. Tivantinib specifically inhibits canonical and non-canonical NLRP3 inflammasome activation without affecting AIM2 and NLRC4 inflammasome activation. Mechanistically, Tivantinib inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome by directly blocking NLRP3 ATPase activity and subsequent inflammasome complex assembly. In vivo, Tivantinib reduces IL-1β production in mouse models of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic inflammation, monosodium urate (MSU)-induced peritonitis and Con A-induced acute liver injury (ALI), and also has remarkable preventive and therapeutic effects on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In conclusion, our study identifies the anticancer drug tivantinib as a specific inhibitor of NLRP3 and provides a promising therapeutic agent for inflammasome-driven disease.

G protein-coupled receptor 3 (GPR3) constitutively activates Gαs proteins without any ligands and is predominantly expressed in neurons. Since the expression and physiological role of GPR3 in immune cells is still unknown, we examined the possible role of GPR3 in T lymphocytes. The expression of GPR3 was upregulated 2 h after phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)/ionomycin stimulation and was sustained in Jurkat cells, a human T lymphocyte cell line. In addition, the expression of nuclear receptor 4 group A member 2 (NR4A2) was highly modulated by GPR3 expression. Additionally, GPR3 expression was linked with the transcriptional promoter activity of NR4A in Jurkat cells. In mouse CD4+ T cells, transient GPR3 expression was induced immediately after the antigen receptor stimulation. However, the expression of NR4A2 was not modulated in CD4+ T cells from GPR3-knockout mice after stimulation, and the population of Treg cells in thymocytes and splenocytes was not affected by GPR3 knockout. By contrast, spontaneous effector activation in both CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells was observed in GPR3-knockout mice. In summary, GPR3 is immediately induced by T cell stimulation and play an important role in the suppression of effector T cell activation.

Abstract Background Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been recommended as a basic treatment for lupus nephritis (LN) during this decade based on its ability to improve LN-related renal immune-mediated inflammatory lesions. As a classical lysosomal inhibitor, HCQ may inhibit lysosomal degradation and disrupt protective autophagy in proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs). Therefore, the final renal effects of HCQ on LN need to be clarified. Method HCQ was administered on spontaneous female MRL/lpr LN mice with severe proteinuria daily for 4 weeks. Moreover, the MRL/lpr mice with proteinuric LN were subjected to cisplatin-induced or unilateral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) after 2 weeks of HCQ preadministration. Results As expected, HCQ treatment increased the survival ratio and downregulated the levels of serum creatinine in the mice with LN, ameliorated renal lesions, and inhibited renal interstitial inflammation. Unexpectedly, HCQ preadministration significantly increased susceptibility to and delayed the recovery of AKI complicated by LN, as demonstrated by an increase in PTEC apoptosis and expression of the tubular injury marker KIM-1 as well as the retardation of PTEC replenishment. HCQ preadministration suppressed the proliferation of PTECs by arresting cells in G1/S phase and upregulated the expression of cell cycle inhibitors. Furthermore, HCQ preadministration disrupted the PTEC autophagy-lysosomal pathway and accelerated PTEC senescence. Conclusion HCQ treatment may increase susceptibility and delay the recovery of AKI complicated by LN despite its ability to improve LN-related renal immune-mediated inflammatory lesions. The probable mechanism involves accelerated apoptosis and inhibited proliferation of PTECs via autophagy-lysosomal pathway disruption and senescence promotion.

Ocean crossing bridges suffer from seawater corrosion all year round and their mechanical properties will be substantially diminished. In order to enhance the mechanical properties of reinforced concrete columns corroded by seawater, SMA wire is used to restrain the reinforced concrete columns corroded by seawater to study their mechanical properties. 14 specimens were produced through the test, and the natural seawater corrosion was simulated by preparing a certain concentration of synthetic seawater. The mechanical properties of SMA strengthened specimens and unreinforced specimens are compared and analyzed, including failure mode, hysteresis curve, bearing capacity, ductility, stiffness and energy dissipation; the effects of different synthetic seawater corrosion concentrations on the mechanical properties of reinforced concrete columns are discussed. The results show that the bearing capacity and stiffness of reinforced concrete columns subjected to synthetic seawater corrosion are substantially diminished than those of uncorroded specimens, and the bearing capacity of specimens decreases more with the increase of synthetic seawater corrosion concentration; synthetic seawater corrosion has obscure effect on the ductility and energy dissipation performance of the specimens. The mechanical properties of the corroded specimens strengthened with SMA wire have been substantially enhanced, particularly the energy dissipation performance and bearing capacity have been notably enhanced, and the ductility and stiffness have also been somewhat enhanced. At the same time, based on the test, the finite element model is created according to the test specimen, while the accuracy of the model is verified, and the effects of the spacing and diameter of SMA wire, the strength of concrete and the thickness of protective layer on the mechanical properties of the specimen are analyzed.

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of biportal endoscopic decompression, debridement, and interbody fusion, combined with percutaneous screw fixation for lumbar brucellosis spondylitis (LBS).MethodsThe data of 13 patients with LBS were retrospectively analyzed, who underwent biportal endoscopic decompression, debridement, and interbody fusion, combined with percutaneous screw fixation from May 2020 to June 2022. The patients’ clinical data, the duration of operation, the estimated blood loss (including postoperative drainage), and complications were recorded. Clinical outcomes include serum agglutination test (SAT) measures Brucella antibody titer, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), the visual analog scale (VAS) scores of low back and leg, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), American Spinal Injury Association neurological classification, and lordotic angle were analyzed. All patients were assessed using the modified Macnab criteria at the final follow-up. The intervertebral bone graft fusion was assessed using the Bridwell grading criteria.ResultsThe mean operation duration was 177.31 ± 19.54 min, and the estimated blood loss was 176.15 ± 43.79 ml (including postoperative drainage was 41.15 ± 10.44 ml). The mean follow-up period was 13.92 ± 1.5 months. SAT showed that the antibody titers of 13 patients were normal 3 months after the operation and at the final follow-up. ESR and CRP levels returned to normal by the end of the 3-month follow-up. VAS scores of low back and leg, JOA score, and ODI significantly improved after the operation throughout the follow-up period (P

Abstract Neutrophils release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), via NETosis, as a defense mechanism against pathogens. Neutrophils can release NETs spontaneously; however, the mechanisms underlying spontaneous NETosis remain unclear. Neutrophils isolated from healthy donors were tested for NET formation and autophagy at 1, 6, 12, and 24 h after incubation. Autophagy response was evaluated in response to various autophagy inducers and inhibitors. The relationship between autophagy and NETosis was detected in vivo using an ovalbumin-induced mouse model of asthma. We found that the increase in the proportion of spontaneous NETosis was time-dependent. The number of autophagy-positive cells also increased over time and LC3B protein played an integral role in NET formation. Trehalose (an inducer of mTOR-independent autophagy) treatment significantly increased NET formation, whereas rapamycin (an mTOR-dependent autophagy inducer) did not increase NET release by neutrophils. Compared with the control group, 3-methyladenine (an autophagy sequestration inhibitor) and hydroxychloroquine sulfate (autophagosome-lysosome fusion inhibitor) treatments significantly reduced the percentage of NET-positive cells. In vivo studies on ovalbumin-induced asthma lung sections revealed NETs and LC3B and citH3 proteins were found to co-localize with DNA. Our findings suggest that autophagy plays a crucial role in aging-related spontaneous NETosis.

Summary: Nurse logs are common in modern forests from boreal to temperate and tropical ecosystems. However, the evolution of the nurse-log strategy remains elusive because of their rare occurrence in the fossil record. We report seven coniferous nurse logs from lowermost to uppermost Permian strata of northern China that have been colonized by conifer and sphenophyllalean roots. These roots are associated with two types of arthropod coprolites and fungal remains. Our study provides the first glimpse into plant—plant facilitative relationships between late Paleozoic gymnosperms and sphenopsids. Detritivorous arthropods and fungi appear to have been crucial for the utilization of nurse logs in Permian forests. The phylogenetically distant roots demonstrate that nurse-log interaction was a sophisticated seedling strategy in late Paleozoic humid tropical forests, and this approach may have been adopted and developed by a succession of plant groups leading to its wide representation in modern forest ecosystems.

Karst ecosystems represent a typical heterogeneous habitat, and it is ubiquitous with varying interactive patches of rock and soil associated with differential weathering patterns of carbonate rocks. Arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF) play an important role in regulating plant growth and nutrition in heterogeneous karst habitats. However, it remains unclear how AMF affects the growth and nutrition of plants in heterogeneous karst soil with varying patches and weathering gravel. A heterogeneous experiment with Bidens pilosa L. was conducted in a grid microcosm through patching karst soil with different gravel contents. The experimental treatments included the AMF treatments inoculated with (M+) or without (M-) fungus Glomus etunicatum; the substrate patchiness treatments involved different sizes of the homogeneous patch (Homo), the heterogeneous large patch (Hetl), and the heterogeneous small patch (Hets); the substrate gravel treatments in the inner patch involved the free gravel (FG), the low gravel (LG) 20% in 80% soil, and the high gravel (HG) 40% in 60% soil. Plant traits related to growth and nutrients were analyzed by comparing substrate gravel content and patch size. The results showed that AMF was more beneficial in increasing the aboveground biomass of B. pilosa under the LG and HG substrates with a higher root mycorrhizal colonization rate than under the FG substrate with a lower root mycorrhizal colonization rate. AMF enhanced higher growth and nutrients for B. pilosa under the LG and HG substrates than under the FG substrate and under the Hets than under the Hetl. Moreover, AMF alleviated the limited supply of N for B. pilosa under all heterogeneous treatments. Furthermore, the response ratio LnRR of B. pilosa presented that the substrate gravel promoted the highest growth, N and P absorption than the substrate patchiness with M+ treatment, and the gravel content had a more effect on plant growth and nutrition as compared to the patch size. Overall, this study suggests that plant growth and nutrition regulated by AMF mainly depend on the substrate gravel content rather than the spatial patchiness in the heterogeneous karst habitat.

A rational synthetic approach is introduced to enable hydrogen insertion into oxides by forming a solid solution of a reducible oxide with a less reducible oxide as exemplified with RuO2 and TiO2 (Ru_x, a mixture of x% RuO2 with (100−x)% TiO2). Hydrogen exposure at 250 °C to Ru_x (Ru_x_250R) results in substantial hydrogen incorporation accompanied by lattice strain that in turn induces pronounced activity variations. Here, we demonstrate that hydrogen incorporation in mixed oxides promotes the oxidation catalysis of propane combustion with Ru_60_250R being the catalytically most active catalyst.

The Grime (1974) CSR framework posits that ecological strategies of competition, stress tolerance and ruderal reflect plants’ adaptability to their survival environments. Karst forests are crucial for terrestrial ecosystem functions. However, how karst forests regulate plant functional traits in ecological strategy to adapt to infertile habitats remains unclear. Therefore, we surveyed fifty-three karst forest plots and measured plant functional traits involving the plan diameter at breast height (DBH), height, leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf carbon (LC) and nitrogen (LN) and phosphorus (LP) with the leaf water content (LWC). We calculated CSR components on the individual and community levels introduced by community-weighted means (CWM) using the ‘StrateFy’ calculator. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Mantel’s test were used to investigate trait correlations with CSR components. Our results showed that stress tolerance (S) contributed an average 65.88% and 63.63% in individuals and communities, respectively, followed by competition (C) at 25.82% and 29.63%, and the least, ruderal (R), at 8.30% and 6.74%. Different plant functional traits exhibited different variations, coupled with significant correlations between CSR components and PC1 scores (except for CWM− LA, SLA and LDMC). Component S increased with the increase in CWM− LC and C:N ratio, and decreased with the increase in CWM− DBH, Height, LWC, LN, and N:P ratio, while it was the opposite for C and R, highlighting strategic trade-offs associated with plant functional traits. Mantel’s test revealed varied key trait combinations for each strategy. In conclusion, the predominant stress tolerance strategy relative to competition and ruderal is a result of trade-offs regulating karst forests, in association with plant functional traits. The disentangled CSR strategies provide insights into theoretically understanding functional maintenance for infertile forest ecosystems as an evolutional regulation mechanism.

Plant invasion has severely damaged ecosystem stability and species diversity worldwide. The cooperation between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant roots is often affected by changes in the external environment. Exogenous phosphorus (P) addition can alter the root absorption of soil resources, thus regulating the root growth and development of exotic and native plants. However, it remains unclear how exogenous P addition regulates the root growth and development of exotic and native plants mediated by AMF, affecting the exotic plant invasion. In this experiment, the invasive plant Eupatorium adenophorum and native plant Eupatorium lindleyanum were selected and cultured under intraspecific (Intra-) competition and interspecific (Inter-) competition conditions, involving inoculation with (M+) and without AMF (M−) and three different levels of P addition including no addition (P0), addition with 15 mg P kg−1 soil (P15), and addition with 25 mg P kg−1 soil (P25) for the two species. Root traits of the two species were analyzed to study the response of the two species’ roots to AMF inoculation and P addition. The results showed that AMF significantly promoted the root biomass, length, surface area, volume, tips, branching points, and carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and P accumulation of the two species. Under M+ treatment, the Inter- competition decreased the root growth and nutrient accumulation of invasive E. adenophorum but increased the root growth and nutrient accumulation of native E. lindleyanum relative to the Intra- competition. Meanwhile, the exotic and native plants responded differently to P addition, exhibiting root growth and nutrient accumulation of invasive E. adenophorum increased with P addition, whereas native E. lindleyanum reduced with P addition. Further, the root growth and nutrition accumulation of native E. lindleyanum were higher than invasive E. adenophorum under Inter- competition. In conclusion, exogenous P addition promoted the invasive plant but reduced the native plant in root growth and nutrient accumulation regulated by AMF, although the native plant outcompeted the invasive plant when the two species competed. The findings provide a critical perspective that the anthropogenic P fertilizer addition might potentially contribute to the successful invasion of exotic plants.

Abstract Breastfeeding influences the immune system development in infants and may even affect various immunological responses later in life. Breast milk provides a rich source of early nutrition for infant growth and development. However, the presence of certain compounds in breast milk, related to an unhealthy lifestyle or the diet of lactating mothers, may negatively impact infants. Based on a cohort study of atopic dermatitis (AD), we find the presence of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) activity in the mother’s milk. By non-targeted metabolomic analysis, we identify the long-chain saturated fatty acids (LCSFA) as a biomarker DAMPs (+) breast milk samples. Similarly, a mouse model in which breastfed offspring are fed milk high in LCSFA show AD onset later in life. We prove that LCSFA are a type of damage-associated molecular patterns, which initiate a series of inflammatory events in the gut involving type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s). A remarkable increase in inflammatory ILC3s is observed in the gut, and the migration of these ILC3s to the skin may be potential triggers of AD. Gene expression analysis of ILC3s isolated from the gut reveal upregulation of genes that increase ILC3s and chemokines/chemokine receptors, which may play a role in ILC migration to the skin. Even in the absence of adaptive immunity, Rag1 knockout mice fed a high-LCSFA milk diet develop eczema, accompanied by increased gut ILC3s. We also present that gut microbiota of AD-prone PA milk-fed mice is different from non-AD OA/ND milk-fed mice. Here, we propose that early exposure to LCSFAs in infants may affect the balance of intestinal innate immunity, inducing a highly inflammatory environment with the proliferation of ILC3s and production of interleukin-17 and interleukin-22, these factors may be potential triggers or worsening factors of AD.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and has been identified as the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Flotillin-1 is a lipid raft-associated scaffolding protein and plays an important role in the progression and development of several malignant carcinomas. Flotillin-1 is involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of several solid tumors to promote metastasis. However, the detailed characteristics and mechanisms of Flotillin-1 in gastric cancer have rarely been investigated. In this study, we found Flotillin-1 upregulated in gastric cancer, and the high expression of Flotillin-1 correlated with a worse prognosis. The migration and invasion ability of gastric cancer cells was upregulated by overexpressing Flotillin-1. Knockdown of Flotillin-1 inhibits gastric cancer cells metastasis. Flotillin-1 is a key regulator of EMT process and promotes gastric cancer cells metastasis through inducing EMT. Flotillin-1 may interact with a deubiquitinase to inhibit the ubiquitination of Snail in gastric cancer cells to promote EMT process. Our study provides a rationale and potential target for the treatment of gastric cancer.