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Waste plastics and rubber have always posed a threat to the environment and a great challenge for disposal. The use of these two waste materials as modifiers for road asphalt provides new road asphalt binders and at the same time provides a new way for waste material resource treatment. Rubber-modified asphalt and plastic-modified asphalt have received widespread attention due to their green and low-carbon characteristics and some performance advantages, but there are still some performance shortcomings that hinder their promotion and application. In order to continue to explore the application of waste materials in the field of road engineering, combined with the performance advantages of both, many scholars began to study the rubber-plastic composite modified asphalt (RPCMA). Therefore, this paper reviewed the different types of waste rubber and plastic, the comprehensive performance of different types of asphalt and its mixture performance, analyzed the modification mechanism of rubber-plastic composite modified asphalt and its performance changes. The results show that rubber-plastic composite modified asphalt is mostly prepared by directly adding modified materials. However, the pretreatment or melt granulation of rubber and plastic will make the performance of rubber-plastic modified asphalt has improved. There is a mutual promotion mechanism between rubber and plastic in asphalt, which makes the performance of rubber-plastic modified asphalt better than that of asphalt obtained by a single modification method (rubber modified asphalt or plastic modified asphalt). In some properties, it can be close to the commercial SBS modified asphalt. The performance of rubber and plastic composite modified asphalt at high temperature has been generally recognized by researchers, but its low-temperature performance is still controversial. Therefore, it is recommended to apply in high-temperature areas. Future work should focus on the development of composite modifiers with stable performance, low cost and ease of use, standardization of modification processes, improvement of low-temperature performance, and monitoring of road performance and environmental impact.

In ophthalmology, the quality of fundus images is critical for accurate diagnosis, both in clinical practice and in artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted diagnostics. Despite the broad view provided by ultrawide-field (UWF) imaging, pseudocolor images may conceal critical lesions necessary for precise diagnosis. To address this, we introduce UWF-Net, a sophisticated image enhancement algorithm that takes disease characteristics into consideration. Using the Fudan University ultra-wide-field image (FDUWI) dataset, which includes 11 294 Optos pseudocolor and 2415 Zeiss true-color UWF images, each of which is rigorously annotated, UWF-Net combines global style modeling with feature-level lesion enhancement. Pathological consistency loss is also applied to maintain fundus feature integrity, significantly improving image quality. Quantitative and qualitative evaluations demonstrated that UWF-Net outperforms existing methods such as contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE) and structure and illumination constrained generative adversarial network (StillGAN), delivering superior retinal image quality, higher quality scores, and preserved feature details after enhancement. In disease classification tasks, images enhanced by UWF-Net showed notable improvements when processed with existing classification systems over those enhanced by StillGAN, demonstrating a 4.62% increase in sensitivity (SEN) and a 3.97% increase in accuracy (ACC). In a multicenter clinical setting, UWF-Net-enhanced images were preferred by ophthalmologic technicians and doctors, and yielded a significant reduction in diagnostic time ((13.17 ± 8.40) s for UWF-Net enhanced images vs (19.54 ± 12.40) s for original images) and an increase in diagnostic accuracy (87.71% for UWF-Net enhanced images vs 80.40% for original images). Our research verifies that UWF-Net markedly improves the quality of UWF imaging, facilitating better clinical outcomes and more reliable AI-assisted disease classification. The clinical integration of UWF-Net holds great promise for enhancing diagnostic processes and patient care in ophthalmology.

Objective: To elucidate the differences in manual acupuncture effectiveness at sensitized points by investigating the mechanisms of local skin action at different sensitization points in rats with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods: Forty Sprague–Dawley rats were equally divided into control, model (1 mg of monoiodoacetate into the right knee joint cavity), sham operation, manual acupuncture at right Tianjing acupoint (MAR-SJ 10), and left SJ 10 groups. Safranine-O and fast green staining were used to assess the modeling. The morphological and functional changes in mast cells (MCs) were assessed during acupoint sensitization using toluidine blue and immunofluorescence staining. The levels of serotonin, histamine, substance P (SP), and tryptase at skin acupoints and serum levels of IL-β, IL-6, and TNF-α were detected using ELISA. Results: After 14 days of treatment, the number of MCs and their degranulation rates were statistically higher in the model group than in the control group (both P

Abstract Background While the mental health benefits of urban green spaces (UGS) are increasingly recognized, less is known about how these relationships vary for socially marginalized groups. This study investigates the association between UGS and mental health among rural-to-urban migrants in Wuhan, China, examining the roles of the quality and quantity of UGS and the intermediary function of perceived everyday discrimination. Methods We used Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling to analyze data from a social survey, integrating with park-related social media ratings, street view imagery, and geospatial datasets to characterize UGS features and contextual factors, therefore verifying our hypotheses. Results Both the quality and quantity of UGS significantly influence migrants’ mental health, with quantity demonstrating a stronger overall correlation, challenging common assumptions. Notably, social media scores of parks, reflecting positive user experiences, were found to improve mental health. However, the relationship with UGS quantity was nuanced: higher park density and green view index were positively associated with mental health, while increased park area proportion demonstrated the opposite effect. Furthermore, perceived discrimination emerged as a critical socio-psychological factor and operated spatial heterogeneity. In inner-city areas, neighborhoods characterized by plaza-type parks and high park density were associated with reduced perceived discrimination among migrants, showing active social functions of UGS. However, larger park areas are paradoxically correlated with increased discrimination experiences and poorer mental health. Interestingly, this mediatory effect of perceived discrimination was less pronounced in inner-suburban areas. These findings suggest a nuanced role of UGS in the lives of migrants. While certain aspects of UGS quantity, such as plentiful smaller parks, can facilitate social inclusion and improve mental health, others, like overlarge parks, may unintentionally contribute to feelings of marginalization and negatively impact mental health. Conclusion Our findings highlight the crucial need for context-sensitive green space planning that balances quality and quantity while mitigating discriminatory experiences to improve the mental health of rural-to-urban migrants.

Abstract Background The surgical approach impacts the outcomes and recovery after total hip arthroplasty (THA), and approaches may affect the stem positioning. Contrary to the general concept of minimally invasive surgery, the direct anterior approach (DAA) results in more intraoperative blood loss. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare stem positioning and hidden blood loss (HBL) among three surgical approaches: the minimally invasive DAA, Orthopadische Chirurgie Munchen (OCM), and the traditional posterolateral approach (PLA). Methods A total of 201 patients undergoing their first non-cemented THA using the DAA, OCM, and PLA were included in the study. General demographic data, stem alignment, and blood loss were evaluated. Specific comparison measurements included femoral neck anteversion, femoral stem anteversion, alignment of the stem in coronal and sagittal planes, proximal and distal medullary ratios, and femoral offset. Blood loss was measured by calculating Intraoperative Blood Loss ( IBL), visible blood loss (VBL), and hidden blood loss (HBL). Results There were no significant differences in age, gender, body mass index, preoperative diagnosis, or femoral Dorr classification among the three groups. The mean surgical time was longer for the DAA and OCM compared to the PLA (P

Abstract Since China proposed building a national park system in 2017, the establishment of a planning system for nature reserves, with national parks as the main body, is being actively promoted around the country. Among them, scientific ecological space management and control zoning (ESMCZ) is an important link in maintaining the ecological stability of national parks. How to zone national parks and how to improve the precision of zoning has become a new task for national parks. Therefore, this study takes the Giant Panda National Park as the study area, takes ecosystem services and land use/cover change as the research perspective, integrates the InVEST model, PLUS model and bayes belief network (BBN) model, and builds a set of ecological space management and control zoning (ESMCZ) spatial zoning framework based on raster scale, dividing the study area into strictly protected zone, ecological buffer zone, ecological control zone and controlled development zone. The results showed that: (1) The study area showed an increasing trend in water conservation, soil conservation and carbon storage from 2005 to 2020, and the habitat quality index was generally high. The spatial heterogeneity of ecosystem services in the study area was significant, and the effect of a single factor on ecosystem services was most pronounced. (2) Large variation in area for different land uses under natural development scenarios and ecological protection scenarios. In both scenarios, the area of cultivated land, the area of grassland and the area of unused land decrease relative to 2020, and the area of forested land, the area of water and the area of constructed land increase relative to 2020. (3) The Giant Panda National Park is divided into strictly protected zone, ecological buffer zone, ecological control zone and control development zone, of which the strictly protected zone have the largest area and the best ecosystem background condition, and the control development zone have the smallest area and the worst ecosystem background condition. (4) The ecological space management and control zoning (ESMCZ) framework provides a more refined method for the secondary zoning of nature reserves such as the Giant Panda National Park, which is valuable for the implementation of zoning and categorization management for ecological conservation in the Giant Panda National Park.

The activation and utilization of traditional villages was difficult due to the complex geographical characteristics. To explore the spatial differentiation of traditional villages spatial accessibility characteristics of and influencing factors. Taking 696 traditional villages in the Central Plains Urban Agglomeration of China as the research object, their spatial accessibility time costs were calculated via the path planner of Amap online map API and visualized based on ArcGIS10.8. Subsequently, we summarized three distinct activation methods, derived from a geographical perspective, which are day trips in the core area, weekend tours in the transition zone, and summer resort tourism in the fringe area. Finally, the spatial differentiation of each influencing factor was analyzed quantitatively via GWR. The results showed that (1) the spatial distribution of traditional villages was clustered, and there was a high-value core-cluster area in the north and two subhigh-value areas in the central and southern parts. (2) The spatial accessibility levels exhibited a “core-edge” pattern, decreasing from the core to the edge area. (3) Factors that exhibited spatial heterogeneity. Influence from the largest to the smallest: slope, density of river, density of road, GDP, density of population, elevation.

Abstract New urbanization (NU) and ecological welfare performance (EWP) play pivotal roles in achieving sustainable urban development, with both emphasizing social equity and environmental management. Exploring the coordinated relationship between EWP and NU is invaluable for understanding the symbiotic interplay between humans and nature. We constructed a framework to elucidate the coupling mechanism of EWP and NU from the perspective of systems theory. We quantified the levels of NU and EWP utilizing the entropy weighting method and the super-efficient SBM method, respectively. Furthermore, we assessed the degree of coupling coordination between the two using the coupling coordination degree model (CCDM). Spatial and temporal evolution analysis was conducted, and factors influencing the degree of coupling coordination between EWP and NU were explored through a spatial–temporal geographically-weighted regression model (GTWR). The results indicate: (1) During the study period, the average annual increase in EWP in the study area was 2.59%, with a narrowing relative gap between cities. Conversely, the average annual increase in the level of NU was 7.6%, with demographic and economic dimensions carrying the highest weights. (2) The type of coupling coordination between EWP and NU transitions from basic coordination to moderate coordination, with the development of EWP lagging behind that of NU. (3) City size demonstrates a positive yet diminishing trend on the coupling coordination level, with economic development exerting the greatest influence and exhibiting a "V" trend, while the impact of green technology innovation diminishes negatively. Additionally, regional disparities are significant, with city size exhibiting a negative impact in areas of high population density and low economic levels, and green technology innovation showing notable polarization characteristics in core cities. These findings serve as a foundation for fostering coordinated ecological development amid the rapid urbanization process of the Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle.

The high-purity germanium gamma-ray spectrometer was used to measure the radioisotope in surface water of lakes in a Chinee petroleum industrial area. 92 samples were collected from surface water of three lakes. Activity concentrations of 232Th, 226Ra and 40K in three lakes were measured, distributed in the range of 101.8–209.4, 192.1–224.9 and 335.0–548.9 mBq/L, respectively. Results were all within the limits of WHO and China. Potential environmental and health risks were assessed by calculating some radiation hazard indicators, radium equivalent index, annual effective dose, excess lifetime cancer risk, absorbed dose rate, external hazard index, internal hazard index, annual gonadal dose equivalent, activity utilization index and representative gamma index, which ranged 0.38–0.54 Bq/L, 0.06–0.08 mSv/y, 0.23 × 10−3-0.31 × 10−3, 0.17–0.24 nGy/h, 1.01 × 10−3-1.46 × 10−3, 1.55 × 10−3-2.02 × 10−3, 1.16–1.66 μSv/y, 3.13 × 10−3-4.45 × 10−3 and 2.60 × 10−3-3.77 × 10−3. The results were all at acceptable levels, meaning no impact on human health. The relationship between the electrical conductivity of surface water and the activity concentration of 232Th, 226Ra and 40K was evaluated. The electrical conductivity value was 0.241–0.369 mS/cm, showing a significant correlation coefficient between 226Ra and 40K and electrical conductivity. Multivariate statistical methods were used to determine the relationship between the activity concentrations of 232Th, 226Ra, and 40K, radiation hazard indicators and electrical conductivity.

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) commonly exhibits tolerance to cisplatin treatment, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Within the tumor microenvironment, macrophages play a role in resisting the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy by engaging in efferocytosis to clear apoptotic cells induced by chemotherapeutic agents. The involvement of extracellular vesicles (EVs), an intercellular communicator within the tumor microenvironment, in regulating the efferocytosis for the promotion of drug resistance has not been thoroughly investigated. Methods We constructed GFP fluorescent-expressing CRC cell lines (including GFP-CT26 and GFP-MC38) to detect macrophage efferocytosis through flow cytometric analysis. We isolated and purified CRC-secreted EVs using a multi-step ultracentrifugation method and identified them through electron microscopy and nanoflow cytometry. Proteomic analysis was conducted to identify the protein molecules carried by CRC-EVs. MFGE8 knockout CRC cell lines were constructed using CRISPR-Cas9, and their effects were validated through in vitro and in vivo experiments using Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometric analysis, confirming that these EVs activate the macrophage αvβ3-Src-FAK-STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby promoting efferocytosis. Results In this study, we found that CRC-derived EVs (CRC-EVs) enhanced macrophage efferocytosis of cisplatin-induced apoptotic CRC cells. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database revealed a high expression of the efferocytosis-associated gene MFGE8 in CRC patients, suggesting a poorer prognosis. Additionally, mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis identified a high abundance of MFGE8 protein in CRC-EVs. Utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 gene edition system, we generated MFGE8-knockout CRC cells, demonstrating that their EVs fail to upregulate macrophage efferocytosis in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we demonstrated that MFGE8 in CRC-EVs stimulated macrophage efferocytosis by increasing the expression of αvβ3 on the cell surface, thereby activating the intracellular Src-FAK-STAT3 signaling pathway. Conclusions Therefore, this study highlighted a mechanism in CRC-EVs carrying MFGE8 activated the macrophage efferocytosis. This activation promoted the clearance of cisplatin-induced apoptotic CRC cells, contributing to CRC resistance against cisplatin. These findings provide novel insights into the potential synergistic application of chemotherapy drugs, EVs inhibitors, and efferocytosis antagonists for CRC treatment.

Abstract As the proportion of renewable energy penetrated in power systems further increases, the optimal operation faces a large obstacle to satisfying various conflict interests simultaneously. This paper first formulates a many‐objective optimal operation problem of the new power system considering a comprehensive set of economic, environmental, and reliable objectives. To figure out this problem efficiently, this paper proposes a probability confidence correlation analysis method (PCCA) utilizing a t‐distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (T‐SNE) standard to greatly preserve the distribution information and separability of the objectives. Consequently, the objectives can be aggregated and the objective dimension is reduced based on the important sorting and correlation of the objectives. Based on the outcome of the T‐SNE, the adopted optimal operation problem with low dimensional objectives is solved by a multiple producer group search optimizer (GSOMP) with less computation burden, to obtain the Pareto‐optimal solution set. Simulation studies are conducted on IEEE 30‐bus, 39‐bus and 57‐bus systems to investigate the performance of the proposed PCCA in terms of efficiency and accuracy, making comparisons of the existing many‐objective optimization algorithms.

Abstract Detecting early-stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and precancerous lesions is critical for improving survival. Here, we conduct whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) on 460 cfDNA samples from patients with non-metastatic ESCC or precancerous lesions and matched healthy controls. We develop an expanded multimodal analysis (EMMA) framework to simultaneously identify cfDNA methylation, copy number variants (CNVs), and fragmentation markers in cfDNA WGBS data. cfDNA methylation markers are the earliest and most sensitive, detectable in 70% of ESCCs and 50% of precancerous lesions, and associated with molecular subtypes and tumor microenvironments. CNVs and fragmentation features show high specificity but are linked to late-stage disease. EMMA significantly improves detection rates, increasing AUCs from 0.90 to 0.99, and detects 87% of ESCCs and 62% of precancerous lesions with >95% specificity in validation cohorts. Our findings demonstrate the potential of multimodal analysis of cfDNA methylome for early detection and monitoring of molecular characteristics in ESCC.

In this work, an Insulated Metal Substrate (IMS) for packaging high-power electronic devices was created using hexagonal Boron Nitride (h-BN) mixture-based Thermally Conductive Adhesive (TCA) and copper plate with a matte side. Mechanical exfoliation of micron-scale BN particles results in a BN mixture containing h-BN nanosheets, micron particles, and nanoparticles. TCA was synthesized by dispersing a 40 % BN mixture modified by γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH550) into epoxy resin. The TCA has a relatively high thermal conductivity of 4.48 W·m-1·K-1 and a breakdown strength of 15.32 kV·mm-1. As the TCA film was coated on the matte side of the copper plate, the peel strength can reach 1.63 N·mm-1, indicating excellent practicality in the field of electronic packaging.

Epidemiological and toxicological studies have shown that PM2.5 and O3 could pose significant risks to human health, such as an increased incidence of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Usually, the adverse health outcomes induced by PM2.5 and O3 exposure are similar. However, PM2.5 and O3 have distinct physical and chemical properties, with PM2.5 being a solid–liquid mixture and O3 being a strongly oxidizing gaseous pollutant. Therefore, we speculated that there are some differences in biological processes induced by PM2.5 and O3 exposure. In the present study, we investigated the differences induced by PM2.5 and O3 exposure from the perspective of cellular and molecular processes. Firstly, the pulmonary epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were exposed to different concentrations of PM2.5 or O3 at different durations. Then, we chose experimental models with the concentrations and duration at which the cell survival rate was 50 % after exposure to PM2.5 and O3, which were 100 μg/mL for 24 h for PM2.5, and 200 ppb for 4 h for O3. Our findings indicate that PM2.5 infiltrates cells via endocytosis without causing significant damage to cell membranes, while O3 induces lipid peroxidation at the cell surface. Moreover, the detection of mitochondrial function showed that the content of ATP was significantly reduced after exposure to both PM2.5 and O3. However, we found a significant difference in mtDNA copy number. PM2.5 exposure increased the mtDNA copy number by up-regulating the expression of fission genes (Fis1, Mff, Dnm1). O3 exposure decreased it by up-regulating the expression of fusion gene (Mfn1, Mfn2) and down-regulating the expression of fission gene (Fis1, Dnm1). These results indicate that although both PM2.5 and O3 exposure induced almost exactly similar adverse health outcomes, significant differences do exist in cellular and molecular processes.

To describe a rare case of left adrenal Castleman disease (CD), splenomegaly, and cirrhosis. An examination revealed a left adrenal mass for more than three months, the patient, 44, was well-prepared for surgery after her left adrenal tumor was removed laparoscopically using a retroperitoneal approach, her postoperative pathology suggested that she had Castleman disease of the adrenal glands, and there had been no metastasis or recurrence during the six-month follow-up period. We have evaluated linked literature reports in this article, reporting relevant clinical knowledge regarding the disease and synthesizing previous research, in an effort to increase our understanding of it.

SRSF2 plays a dual role, functioning both as a transcriptional regulator and a key player in alternative splicing. The absence of Srsf2 in MyoD + progenitors resulted in perinatal mortality in mice, accompanied by severe skeletal muscle defects. SRSF2 deficiency disrupts the directional migration of MyoD progenitors, causing them to disperse into both muscle and non-muscle regions. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis revealed significant alterations in Srsf2-deficient myoblasts, including a reduction in extracellular matrix components, diminished expression of genes involved in ameboid-type cell migration and cytoskeleton organization, mitosis irregularities, and premature differentiation. Notably, one of the targets regulated by Srsf2 is the serine/threonine kinase Aurka. Knockdown of Aurka led to reduced cell proliferation, disrupted cytoskeleton, and impaired differentiation, reflecting the effects seen with Srsf2 knockdown. Crucially, the introduction of exogenous Aurka in Srsf2-knockdown cells markedly alleviated the differentiation defects caused by Srsf2 knockdown. Furthermore, our research unveiled the role of Srsf2 in controlling alternative splicing within genes associated with human skeletal muscle diseases, such as BIN1, DMPK, FHL1, and LDB3. Specifically, the precise knockdown of the Bin1 exon17-containing variant, which is excluded following Srsf2 depletion, profoundly disrupted C2C12 cell differentiation. In summary, our study offers valuable insights into the role of SRSF2 in governing MyoD progenitors to specific muscle regions, thereby controlling their differentiation through the regulation of targeted genes and alternative splicing during skeletal muscle development.

Immunotherapy using inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon (IFN)-α, has been clinically validated in treating various cancers. However, systemic immunocytokine-based therapies are limited by the short half-life of recombinant proteins and severe dose-limiting toxicities. In this study, we exploited local immunotherapy by intratumoral administration of lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated mRNA cocktail encoding cytokines IL-12, IL-7, and IFN-α. The cytokine mRNA cocktail induced tumor regression in multiple syngeneic mouse models and anti-tumor immune memory in one syngeneic mouse model. Additionally, immune checkpoint blockade further enhanced the anti-tumor efficacy of the cytokine mRNAs. Furthermore, human cytokine mRNAs exhibited robust anti-tumor efficacy in humanized mouse tumor models. Mechanistically, cytokine mRNAs induced tumor microenvironment inflammation, characterized by robust T cell infiltration and significant inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production.

Hematopoiesis represents a meticulously regulated and dynamic biological process. Genetic aberrations affecting blood cells, induced by various factors, frequently give rise to hematological tumors. These instances are often accompanied by a multitude of abnormal post-transcriptional regulatory events, including RNA alternative splicing, RNA localization, RNA degradation, and storage. Notably, post-transcriptional regulation plays a pivotal role in preserving hematopoietic homeostasis. The DEAD-Box RNA helicase genes emerge as crucial post-transcriptional regulatory factors, intricately involved in sustaining normal hematopoiesis through diverse mechanisms such as RNA alternative splicing, RNA modification, and ribosome assembly. This review consolidates the existing knowledge on the role of DEAD-box RNA helicases in regulating normal hematopoiesis and underscores the pathogenicity of mutant DEAD-Box RNA helicases in malignant hematopoiesis. Emphasis is placed on elucidating both the positive and negative contributions of DEAD-box RNA helicases within the hematopoietic system.

IntroductionThe quality of traditional Chinese medicine is based on the content of their secondary metabolites, which vary with habitat adaptation and ecological factors. This study focuses on Lonicera japonica Flos (LJF), a key traditional herbal medicine, and aims to evaluate how ecological factors impact its quality.MethodsWe developed a new evaluation method combining high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprinting technology and MaxEnt models to assess the effects of ecological factors on LJF quality. The MaxEnt model was used to predict suitable habitats for current and future scenarios, while HPLC was employed to analyze the contents of key compounds. We also used ArcGIS for spatial analysis to create a quality zoning map.ResultsThe analysis identified 21 common chromatographic peaks, with significant variations in the contents of Hyperoside, Rutin, Chlorogenic acid, Cynaroside, and Isochlorogenic acid A across different habitats. Key environmental variables influencing LJF distribution were identified, including temperature, precipitation, and elevation. The current suitable habitats primarily include regions south of the Yangtze River. Under future climate scenarios, suitable areas are expected to shift, with notable expansions in southern Gansu, southeastern Tibet, and southern Liaoning. The spatial distribution maps revealed that high-quality LJF is predominantly found in central and southern Hebei, northern Henan, central Shandong, central Sichuan, southern Guangdong, and Taiwan.DiscussionThe study indicates that suitable growth areas can promote the accumulation of certain secondary metabolites in plants, as the accumulation of these metabolites varies. The results underscore the necessity of optimizing quality based on cultivation practices. The integration of HPLC fingerprinting technology and the MaxEnt model provides valuable insights for the conservation and cultivation of herbal resources, offering a new perspective on evaluating the impact of ecological factors on the quality of traditional Chinese medicines.

This study develops a system simulation model based on the megawatt-class supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle unit in Hengshui, China, to examine the effect of pipe section resistance on system performance. The results indicate that increased pressure loss in pipe sections significantly reduces power generation efficiency and power supply efficiency. Specifically, a 100 % increase in pressure loss results in 3.290 % and 4.377 % decreases in power generation efficiency and power supply efficiency, respectively. Moreover, higher pressure loss leads to increased CO2 mass flow rate at design power generation load. When the pressure loss is doubled, it requires a 17.593 % increase in CO2 mass flow rate to achieve the design power. Pressure loss in high-pressure section has minimal impact on system performance, while resistance in low-pressure section significantly affects it. For instance, a 100 % increase in pressure loss from the compressor outlet to the low temperature regenerator inlet causes a 0.37 % decrease in system power supply efficiency, and a similar increase from the high temperature regenerator outlet to the low temperature regenerator inlet leads to a 0.76 % decrease. These findings provide meaningful guidance for component design and piping layout optimization for similar systems.

Abstract In this paper, we present a novel Secure Clustering Routing Method based on Blockchain and Swarm Intelligence (BS-SCRM) for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), which serves as a cornerstone in the Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure. Recognizing the limitations of existing clustering routing methods in addressing security threats, our approach integrates blockchain technology to fortify WSNs against vulnerabilities such as man-in-the-middle attacks. The proposed BS-SCRM method is structured in two phases: (1) an enhanced cluster head (CH) election utilizing an elite strategy-enhanced Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) that considers node energy and proximity to the base station, and (2) a secure data on-chain phase where blockchain comes into play, encrypting and validating cluster data to safeguard integrity and prevent tampering. We further tackle the challenge of implementing blockchain in resource-constrained WSNs by assigning distinct roles to devices, i.e., ordinary nodes with data viewing permissions and accounting nodes entrusted with both data viewing and consensus algorithm execution. Extensive simulations confirm that BS-SCRM not only improves clustering quality but also provides a more secure and energy-efficient routing solution compared to contemporary methods. More specifically, simulation results in different scenarios demonstrate that BS-SCRM enhances network lifetime by 24–73% compared to other clustering methods when facing attacks.

Abstract Purpose Currently, postoperative wound infection and poor healing of total knee arthroplasty have been perplexing both doctors and patients. We hereby innovatively invented a new dressing system to reduce the incidence of postoperative wound complications. Methods We enrolled 100 patients who received primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty and then applied the new dressing system. The data collected included the number of dressing changes, postoperative hospital stay, Visual Analogue Scale score (VAS), the Knee Society Score (KSS), the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), ASEPSIS scores, The Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale (SBSES), wound complications, dressing cost, the frequency of shower and satisfaction. Subsequently, a statistical analysis of the data was performed. Results Our findings demonstrated the average number of postoperative dressing changes was 1.09 ± 0.38, and the average postoperative hospital stay was 3.72 ± 0.98 days. The average cost throughout a treatment cycle was 68.97 ± 12.54 US dollars. Collectively, the results of VAS, KSS, and KOOS revealed that the pain and function of patients were continuously improved. The results of the four indexes of the ASEPSIS score were 0, whereas the SBSES score was 3.58 ± 0.52 and 4.69 ± 0.46 at two weeks and one month after the operation, respectively. We observed no wound complications until one month after the operation. Remarkably, the satisfaction rate of the patients was 91.85 ± 4.99% one month after the operation. Conclusion In this study, we invented a new dressing system for surgical wounds after total knee arthroplasty and further confirmed its clinical feasibility and safety. Chinese clinical trial registry ChiCTR2000033814, Registered 13/ June/2020.

Abstract Rice blast caused by Pyricularia oryzae (syn., Magnaporthe oryzae) was one of the most destructive diseases of rice throughout the world. Genome assembly was fundamental to genetic variation identification and critically impacted the understanding of its ability to overcome host resistance. Here, we report a gapless genome assembly of rice blast fungus P. oryzae strain P131 using PacBio, Illumina and high throughput chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) sequencing data. This assembly contained seven complete chromosomes (43,237,743 bp) and a circular mitochondrial genome (34,866 bp). Approximately 14.31% of this assembly carried repeat sequences, significantly greater than its previous assembled version. This assembly had a 99.9% complement in BUSCO evaluation. A total of 14,982 genes protein-coding genes were predicted. In summary, we assembled the first telomere-to-telomere gapless genome of P. oryzae, which would be a valuable genome resource for future research on the genome evolution and host adaptation.

Abstract Improving interfacial thermal transport is crucial for heat dissipation in devices with interfaces, such as electronics, buildings, and solar panels. Here, we design a strategy by utilizing the water adsorption-desorption process in porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to tune the interfacial heat transfer, which could benefit their potential in cooling or heat dissipation applications. We observe a changeable thermal conductance across the solid/porous MOF interfaces owing to the dense water channel formed by the adsorbed water molecules in MOFs. Our experimental and/or modeling results show that the interfacial thermal conductance of Au/Cu3(BTC)2, Au/Zr6O4(OH)4(BDC)6 and Au/MOF-505 heterointerfaces is increased up to 7.1, 1.7 and 3.1 folds by this strategy, respectively, where Cu3(BTC)2 is referred to as HKUST-1 and Zr6O4(OH)4(BDC)6 is referred to as UiO-66. Our molecular dynamics simulations further show that the surface tension of Au layer will cause the adsorbed water molecules in MOFs to gather at the interfacial region. The dense water channel formed at the interfacial region can activate the high-frequency lattice vibrations and act as an additional thermal pathway, and then enhance heat transfer across the interfaces significantly. Our findings revealed the underlying mechanisms for tailoring thermal transport at the solid/porous MOF heterointerfaces by water adsorbates, which could motivate and benefit the new cooling system design based on MOFs.

Abstract Current research on public spaces and mental health often focuses on the independent relationship of one or more social mediators, neglecting the nuanced implications and serial mechanisms inherent in the progressive social process. Using Wuhan city, China, as a study case with multi-source data, this research applies Multilevel Generalized Structural Equation Modeling and deep learning techniques to explore the differential effects of public spaces with varying degrees of publicness (i.e., typical, semi-, and privately owned) on rural migrants’ mental health. Crucially, this study scrutinizes both explicit (social interaction) and implicit (perceived integration) social mechanisms to revisit the relationships. The findings reveal that not all public spaces equally influence mental health, with typical and privately owned public spaces conferring profound benefits. Notably, public spaces impact mental health chiefly through perceived integration instead of through direct social interaction. Social interaction improves mental health primarily by enhancing perceived integration, suggesting that meaningful connections beyond superficial encounters are critical. In particular, we observed significant social effects in typical and privately owned public spaces but limited social functionality in semi-public spaces. This evidence contributes to the knowledge required to create supportive social environments within public spaces, integral to nurturing inclusive urban development.

Abstract Objective This study aimed to analyze the distribution of different types of strabismus surgery in a tertiary hospital in Central China during the three-year period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of strabismus patients who underwent surgery and were admitted to the Department of Strabismus and Pediatric Ophthalmology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between January 2020 and December 2022. Results A total of 3939 strabismus surgery patients were collected, including 1357 in 2020, 1451 in 2021, and 1131 in 2022. The number of surgeries decreased significantly in February 2020, August 2021, and November and December 2022. Patients aged 0–6 years accounted for 37% of the total number of strabismus surgery patientsr. The majority (60%) of all strabismus surgery patients were diagnosed with exotropia, with intermittent exotropia accounting for the highest proportion (53%). There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of intermittent exotropia and constant exotropia during the three-year period (χ 2 = 2.642, P = 0.267 and χ 2 = 3.012, P = 0.221, respectively). Among patients with intermittent exotropia, insufficient convergence type was the most common form of strabismus (accounting for over 70%). Non-accommodative esotropia accounted for more than 50% of all internal strabismus cases. Conclusion During the period from 2020 to 2022, the total number of strabismus surgeries in our hospital did not show significant fluctuations, but there was a noticeable decrease in the number of surgeries during months affected by the pandemic. Exotropia accounted for the highest proportion among strabismus surgery patients. Intermittent exotropia was the most common type among patients undergoing surgery for exotropia, and the most prevalent subtype was the insufficient convergence type. The age distribution of patients varied in different months, with a concentration of surgeries for strabismus patients in the 7–12 years old age group during the months of July and August each year.

Abstract The ground state search of the Ising model can be used to solve many combinatorial optimization problems. Under the current computer architecture, an Ising ground state search algorithm suitable for hardware computing is necessary for solving practical problems. Inspired by the potential energy conversion of the springs, we propose the Spring-Ising Algorithm, a point convolutional neural network algorithm for ground state search based on the spring vibration model. Spring-Ising Algorithm regards the spin as a moving mass point connected to a spring and establishes the equation of motion for all spins. Spring-Ising Algorithm can be mapped on AI chips through the basic structure of the neural network for fast and efficient parallel computing. The algorithm has shown promising results in solving the Ising model and has been tested in the recognized test benchmark K2000. The optimal results of this algorithm after 10,000 steps of iteration are 2.9% of all results. The algorithm introduces the concept of dynamic equilibrium to achieve a more detailed local search by dynamically adjusting the weight of the Ising model in the spring oscillation model. Spring-Ising Algorithm offers the possibility to calculate the Ising model on a chip which focuses on accelerating neural network calculations.

Background : Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a unique thermogenic tissue in mammals mediated by uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). The energy generated by glucose and triglyceride metabolism is released and transmitted throughout the body as heat. Understanding the factors influencing BAT function is crucial to determine its metabolic significance and effects on overall health. Although studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) at specific acupoints (e.g., ST36) can stimulate BAT, its effects at other acupoints are not well understood. Further research is needed to investigate the potential effects of EA at these acupoints and their association with BAT activation.Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of EA at the GV20 and EX-HN3 acupoints. Specifically, the effects of EA on BAT thermogenesis were analyzed by infrared thermography, western blotting, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods : A total of 12 C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the EA and control groups. The EA group received EA at GV20 and EX-HN3 for 20 min once daily for 14 days. The control group underwent the same procedure but without EA. The core body temperature was monitored. Infrared thermal images of the back of each mouse in both groups were captured. BAT samples were collected after euthanasia to analyze UCP1 protein and UCP1 mRNA. Results : The average skin temperature in the scapular region of the EA group was increased by 1.1℃ compared with that of the C group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the average temperature along the governor vessel in the EA group was increased by 1.6℃ (p = 0.045). EA significantly increased the expression of UCP1 protein (p = 0.001) and UCP1 mRNA (p = 0.002) in BAT, suggesting a potential link between EA and BAT thermogenesis. Conclusion : EA induced BAT thermogenesis, suggesting GV20 and EX-HN3 as potential acupoints for BAT stimulation. The experimental results also highlighted unique meridian characteristics as demonstrated by elevated skin temperature along the governor vessel in mice.

The tight interactions between energy sectors increase the risk of affecting integrated energy systems (IESs); therefore, reliability assessment is important for identifying vulnerability and improving security in IESs. In the literature, the network topology, transmission loss, and distinguishing thermal dynamics in IESs are seldom addressed for reliability assessment, rendering the results unreliable. To bridge this gap, an integrated electricity and district cooling model is formulated for IESs that involves elaborate network topologies and transmission losses to reflect their impacts on reliability characteristics. In addition, the evaluation of reliability indices for district cooling systems is improved by considering the thermal inertia characteristics of buildings and the transportation delay of circulating water to characterize the reliability levels of district cooling systems more accurately. Numerical results using a 12-node case validate the improved accuracy of the proposed reliability assessment method and reveal the potential of district cooling systems for enhancing the reliability of power systems.

ObjectiveRecent studies have demonstrated that the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) is relevant to abnormal gut health. However, there is a lack of studies that have explicitly explored the link between fecal incontinence (FI) and DII. The current study aims to explore the relationship between DII and FI.MethodsThe cross-sectional study enrolled a total of 11,747 participants aged 20–85 from NHANES 2005–2010. Weighted logistic regression was conducted to evaluate the relationship between DII and FI, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) was employed to assess the dose-response relationship between DII and FI. Subgroup analyses were performed according to age, gender, race, and BMI.ResultDII levels were found to be significantly higher in patients with FI than in the normal population (p = 0.016). After adjusting for all covariates, DII was found to be significantly correlated with FI (model 2: Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.04–2.14, p = 0.032, p for trend = 0.039). The dose-response curve revealed that there was no non-linear correlation between DII and FI (p-non-linear = 0.234). Subsequent subgroup analyses uncovered that DII was notably associated with FI in the old (Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.07–3.18, p = 0.030), female (Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.23–3.33, p = 0.008), non-Hispanic white (Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.12–2.59, p = 0.015) populations.ConclusionDII was positively associated with FI, particularly among old, female and non-Hispanic white individuals. Decreasing daily dietary inflammatory levels may be an effective tactic to prevent FI, but the precise mechanisms need to be further investigated.

Abstract Tuning the thermal transport properties of hybrid halide perovskites is critical for their applications in optoelectronics, thermoelectrics, and photovoltaics. Here, an effective strategy is demonstrated to modulate the thermal transport property of hybrid perovskites by halide alloying. A highly tunable thermal conductivity of mixed‐halide hybrid perovskites is achieved due to halide‐alloying and structural distortion. The experimental measurements show that the room temperature thermal conductivity of MAPb(BrxI1‐x)3 (x = 0─1) can be largely modulated from 0.27 ± 0.07 W m−1 K−1 (x = 0.5) to 0.47 ± 0.09 W m−1 K−1 (x = 1). Molecular dynamics simulations further demonstrate that the thermal conductivity reduction of hybrid halide perovskites results from the suppression of the mean free paths of the low‐frequency acoustic and optical phonons. It is found that halide alloying and the induced structural distortion can largely increase the scatterings of optical and acoustic phonons, respectively. The confined diffusion of MA+ cations in the octahedra cage is found to act as an additional thermal transport channel in hybrid perovskites and can contribute around 10–20% of the total thermal conductivity. The findings provide a strategy for tailoring the thermal transport in hybrid halide perovskites, which may largely benefit their related applications.

With the rise of “Internet + Education,” blended learning has become a new trend in higher education. This study aims to explore how behavioral willingness and self-efficacy affect the learning effect of college students in this new learning mode. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) was used to construct a theoretical model, and data on the blended learning effectiveness of 167 college students from a university in Southwest China were collected through questionnaires, and the theoretical assumptions and model were verified using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in Smart PLS software. It was found that in blended learning, performance expectation, effort expectation, hedonic motivation and facilitation all significantly and positively affect college students’ behavioral intention of blended learning, which in turn positively affects the effect of blended learning, among which hedonic motivation is a more important influencing factor in the behavioral intention of blended learning. Self-efficacy also has a significant positive effect on blended learning effects. Finally, the study proposes countermeasures for teaching improvement from three aspects: teachers’ teaching design, students’ motivation and behavior, and optimization of e-learning platform content and function.

Yellow tea (YT) has an additional process of yellowing before or after rolling than green tea (GT), making YT sweeter. We analyzed the variations of composition and taste throughout the withering, fixing and rolling steps using UPLC-MS/MS and sensory evaluation, and investigated the influence of various yellowing times on flavor profile of YT. 532 non-volatile metabolites were identified. Withering and fixing were the important processes to form the taste quality of GT. Withering, fixing and yellowing were important processes to form flavor profile of YT. Withering mainly regulated bitterness and astringency, and fixing mainly regulated bitterness, astringency and sweetness of YT and GT. Yellowing mainly regulated sweetness of YT. Trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline and glutathione reduced form as the key characteristic components of YT, increased significantly during yellowing mainly through Arginine and proline metabolism and ABC transporters. The paper offers a systematic insight into intrinsic mechanisms of flavor formation in YT and GT.

In this work, we investigate the effects of convex surface roughness on heterogeneous ice nucleation through molecular dynamics simulations. Graphene surfaces with sawtooth structures are considered, and the ice nucleation rates are calculated by varying the vertex angle of the sawtooth structures. It is found that the ice nucleation rate is always suppressed by surface roughness regardless of the vertex angle. As the vertex angle is varied, the space between two adjacent ridges of the sawtooth roughness may or may not match the basic structure of ice, which leads to the variation in the free energy barrier for ice nucleation and, consequently, causes the ice nucleation rate to change by two orders of magnitude.

Abstract Background The patients with multisystem and risk organ involvement Langerhans cell histiocytosis (MS-RO + LCH) have poor prognosis. The patients with MS-LCH who failed front-line therapy have a high mortality rate and the standard salvage treatment has not been established. The combination of cytarabine (Ara-c), vincristine (VCR) and prednisone might be effective for refractory/relapse MS-RO + LCH, with low toxicity. Methods We retrospectively analyzed pediatric refractory/relapse MS-RO + LCH patients treated with the low-dose Ara-c (100mg/m2/d×5days) or high-dose Ara-c (500mg/m2/d×5days) combined with vindesine (VDS) and prednisone in a single center. The efficacy, outcomes and adverse events were analyzed. Results From January 2013 to December 2016, 13 patients receiving the low-dose Ara-c chemotherapy (LAC) and 7 patients receiving the high-dose Ara-c chemotherapy (HAC) were included in the study. 11 (84.6%) of the 13 patients treated with the LAC regimen and 6 (85.7%) of the 7 patients treated with the HAC regimen had response after four courses of the therapy. All patients in the study were alive during follow-up and the 3-year event-free survival rate (EFS) was 53.7% and 85.7% in the LAC and HAC groups. The most frequent adverse event was Grade 1/2 myelosuppression, which was observed in 38.5% (5/13) and 42.9% (3/7) of the patients receiving the LAC and HAC regimen. Conclusions A combination of Ara-c, VDS and prednisone was effective and safe for some patients with refractory/relapse MS-RO + LCH. The high-dose Ara-c regimen was associated with a numerically higher EFS rate.

Observability analysis (OA) is vital to obtaining the available input measurements of state estimation (SE) in an integrated electricity and heating system (IEHS). Considering the thermal quasi-dynamics in pipelines, the measurement equations in heating systems are dependent on the estimated results, leading to an interdependency between OA and SE. Conventional OA methods require measurement equations be known exactly before SE is performed, and they are not applicable to IEHSs. To bridge this gap, a scenario-based OA scheme for IEHSs is devised that yields reliable analysis results for a predefined set of time-delay scenarios to cope with this interdependency. As its core procedure, the observable state identification and observability restoration are formulated in terms of integer linear programming. Numerical tests are conducted to demonstrate the validity and superiority of the proposed formulation.

Line-commutated converter (LCC)-based high-voltage DC (HVDC) systems have been integrated with bulk AC power grids for interregional transmission of renewable power. The nonlinear LCC model brings additional nonconvexity to optimal power flow (OPF) of hybrid AC-DC power grids. A convexification method for the LCC station model could address such nonconvexity but has rarely been discussed. We devise an equivalent reformulation for classical LCC station models that facilitates second-order cone convex relaxation for the OPF of LCC-based AC-DC power grids. We also propose sufficient conditions for exactness of convex relaxation with its proof. Equivalence of the proposed LCC station models and properties, exactness, and effectiveness of convex relaxation are verified using four numerical simulations. Simulation results demonstrate a globally optimal solution of the original OPF can be efficiently obtained from relaxed model.

The functional architecture undergoes alterations during the preclinical phase of Alzheimer’s disease. Consequently, the primary research focus has shifted towards identifying Alzheimer’s disease and its early stages by constructing a functional connectivity network based on resting-state fMRI data. Recent investigations show that as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) progresses, modular tissue and connections in the core brain areas of AD patients diminish. Sparse learning methods are powerful tools for understanding Functional Brain Networks (FBNs) with Regions of Interest (ROIs) and a connectivity matrix measuring functional coherence between them. However, these tools often focus exclusively on functional connectivity measures, neglecting the brain network’s modularity. Modularity orchestrates dynamic activities within the FBN to execute intricate cognitive tasks. To provide a comprehensive delineation of the FBN, we propose a local similarity-constrained low-rank sparse representation (LSLRSR) method that encodes modularity information under a manifold-regularized network learning framework and further formulate it as a low-rank sparse graph learning problem, which can be solved by an efficient optimization algorithm. Specifically, for each modularity structure, the Schatten p-norm regularizer reduces the reconstruction error and provides a better approximation of the low-rank constraint. Furthermore, we adopt a manifold-regularized local similarity prior to infer the intricate relationship between subnetwork similarity and modularity, guiding the modeling of FBN. Additionally, the proximal average method approximates the joint solution’s proximal map, and the resulting nonconvex optimization problems are solved using the alternating direction multiplier method (ADMM). Compared to state-of-the-art methods for constructing FBNs, our algorithm generates a more modular FBN. This lays the groundwork for further research into alterations in brain network modularity resulting from diseases.

Therapeutic targeting FOXO3A (a forkhead transcription factor) represents a promising strategy to suppress acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the effective inhibitors that target FOXO3A are lacking and the adaptive response signaling weakens the cytotoxic effect of FOXO3A depletion on AML cells. Here, we show that FOXO3A deficiency induces a compensatory response involved in the reactive activation of mTOR that leads to signaling rebound and adaptive resistance. Mitochondrial metabolism acts downstream of mTOR to provoke activation of JNK/c-JUN via reactive oxygen species (ROS). At the molecular level, FOXO3A directly binds to the promoter of G protein gamma subunit 7 (GNG7) and preserves its expression, while GNG7 interacts with mTOR and restricts phosphorylated activation of mTOR. Consequently, combinatorial inhibition of FOXO3A and mTOR show a synergistic cytotoxic effect on AML cells and prolongs survival in a mouse model of AML. Through a structure-based virtual screening, we report one potent small-molecule FOXO3A inhibitor (Gardenoside) that exhibits a strong effect of anti-FOXO3A DNA binding. Gardenoside synergizes with rapamycin to substantially reduce tumor burden and extend survival in AML patient-derived xenograft model. These results demonstrate that mTOR can mediate adaptive resistance to FOXO3A inhibition and validate a combinatorial approach for treating AML.

TiB2 particulate reinforced 6061Al (TiB2/6061Al) composite was fabricated by hot press sintering, and multi-directional forging was further applied to enhance the microstructure and mechanical properties. The results showed that TiB2/6061Al composite with high sintering quality was achieved. Both TiB2 particles and forging promoted the occurrence of dynamic recrystallization, contributing to the refinement of grain structure. The degree of dynamic recovery was also enhanced as the increase of forging pass, which retarded the further reduction of grain size. Al(Cr, Fe)Si phase having a pinning effect on the movement of dislocations was found in Al matrix. The edged dislocations and lattice distortion were introduced by forging, and the highest density of edged dislocations was achieved after 3 passes. Moreover, the Mg-rich layer formed at the interface between TiB2 particle and Al matrix, indicating a good bonding quality of the interface. Due to the effects of load transfer, grain refinement, and dislocation strengthening, the hardness and ultimate tensile strength of the composite increased by 48.1 % and 27.4 %, respectively. However, as the forging pass increases from 3 to 9, the increments of hardness and strength were not obvious, since the softening effect attributed to dynamic recovery became dominant.

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the demand for urban pocket parks near residential areas, posing new challenges for environmental governance. However, there is a lack of research on how to engage citizens in pocket-park governance to address both potential and unforeseen risks. This study combines social information processing theory with a norm activation model to develop a framework that identifies the shaping stages and influencing factors of citizens’ intentions to participate in pocket-park governance. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling, this research analyzed the relationships among external factors, attitudes, moral norms, and intentions to participate based on 719 responses from an online survey targeting Chinese citizens in November and December 2023. Results indicate that health risks and pocket-park environmental quality positively affect perceived usefulness. Attitudes and moral norms are indeed important factors mediating the positive effect of the external environment on the intention to participate. The pathway of guiding citizens to participate in pocket-park governance is clarified, which helps bolster the resilience of urban green spaces and improve the quality of life of residents after public crises.

To observe the long-term variations in halocarbons in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region, this study analyzes halocarbon concentrations and composition characteristics in Shanxi from 2018 to 2020, exploring their origins and the health effects. The total concentration of halocarbons has shown an overall increasing trend, which is driven by both regulated substances (CFC-11 and CFC-113) and unregulated substances, such as dichloromethane, chloromethane and chloroform. The results of the study also reveal that dichloromethane (1.194 ± 1.003 to 1.424 ± 1.004 ppbv) and chloromethane (0.205 ± 0.185 to 0.666 ± 0.323 ppbv) are the predominant halocarbons in Shanxi, influenced by local and northwestern emissions. Next, this study identifies that neighboring cities in Zhejiang Province and other YRD areas are potentially affected by backward trajectory models. Notably, chloroform and 1,2-dichloroethane have consistently surpassed acceptable thresholds, indicating a significant carcinogenic risk associated with solvent usage. This research sheds light on the evolution of halocarbons in the YRD region, offering valuable data for the control and reduction in halocarbon emissions.

The digital economy, as a key driver of China’s economic development and industrial structure transformation, provides a strong impetus for the integrated development of the marine industry. Building on relevant research both domestically and internationally, this study employs programmatic grounded theory coding to analyze the effective case data published on authoritative official websites. We construct a theoretical model and architectural design for the integration of digital economy and marine industry, elucidating the crucial roles of digital infrastructure, digital collaborative service platforms, and digital application scenarios in this integration. We propose the following four integration pathways: digital resource collaborative optimization based on the ‘sea–ship–shore–breeding–tourism–management’ framework, industry chain optimization led by the seed industry, industrial cluster format optimization based on ecosystems, and land–sea linkage layout optimization driven by application scenarios. These pathways provide scientific theoretical guidance and practical recommendations for the integrated development of China’s marine industry in the digital economy era.

Over the past 424 years, the Littoral Fault Zone (LFZ), located offshore of the South China coast, has experienced four destructive earthquakes (M ≥ 7). These events have resulted in an approximately 700 km seismic gap centered on the Greater Bay Area of China, home to over 70 million people. Despite previous studies on deeper crustal structures and geodynamic processes, the shallow structural architecture and recent tectonic activity of the LFZ within the seismic gap remain poorly understood due to limited offshore geophysical investigations. Here, we present new offshore geophysical data to explore the shallow crustal architecture and Holocene activity of the LFZ within this seismic gap. Multichannel seismic data reveal that the LFZ comprises a high-angle listric main normal fault along with several secondary normal faults. The main fault trends northeast and dips southeast in the shallow crustal architecture, serving as the basin-controlling fault in the north of the Pearl River Mouth Basin, with accumulated displacements ranging from 1.5 to 1.8 km. Furthermore, analysis of single-channel seismic data, and 14C dating results from the borehole, indicate that the most recent movement of the main fault occurred within the last ~10,000 years, with minimum vertical offsets of 1.2 m. Based on these findings, we emphasize the LFZ’s potential to generate a significant earthquake, estimated at Mw 7.0–7.5, within the inferred seismic gap. Our study highlights the potential earthquake hazard posed by the LFZ to the Greater Bay Area of China, while also providing valuable insights for the assessment of active submarine faults worldwide.

Enhancing urban ecological welfare performance is essential for achieving sustainable urban development and fostering a comprehensive regional green transformation. This study develops a quantitative assessment framework for urban ecological welfare performance, grounded in both the welfare of urban residents and their consumption of ecological resources. Employing the spatio-temporal Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index model to dissect the ecological welfare performance across 108 key prefecture-level cities within China’s Yangtze River Economic Belt, considering both temporal and spatial dimensions, the analysis reveals a “W”-shaped trajectory in the ecological welfare performance from 2006 to 2022, characterized by pronounced spatial disparities. Particularly in the downstream coastal regions and notably the Yangtze River Delta, advantages in social and economic structures, along with public fiscal outlays, contribute to a superior ecological welfare performance, exhibiting a notable spatial spillover effect. The study introduces six key factors—social benefit, economic benefit, population dispersion, population density in urban areas, urbanization scale, and ecological sustainability—to examine their influence on ecological welfare performance, uncovering substantial differences in the outcomes of temporal and spatial decomposition. Temporal decomposition indicates that economic benefit and urbanization scale are the primary drivers enhancing ecological welfare performance, whereas population dispersion is identified as the primary inhibitor. Spatial decomposition reveals that the determinants of above-average urban ecological welfare vary regionally and undergo dynamic shifts over time. Overall, a holistic understanding of the interplay among economic growth, ecological preservation, and the enhancement of residents’ welfare can inform the development and execution of tailored policies by local governments.

BackgroundBoth alcohol consumption and HIV infection are associated with worse brain, cognitive, and clinical outcomes in older adults. However, the extent to which brain and cognitive dysfunction is reversible with reduction or cessation of drinking is unknown. ObjectiveThe 30-Day Challenge study was designed to determine whether reduction or cessation of drinking would be associated with improvements in cognition, reduction of systemic and brain inflammation, and improvement in HIV-related outcomes in adults with heavy drinking. MethodsThe study design was a mechanistic experimental trial, in which all participants received an alcohol reduction intervention followed by repeated assessments of behavioral and clinical outcomes. Persons were eligible if they were 45 years of age or older, had weekly alcohol consumption of 21 or more drinks (men) or 14 or more drinks (women), and were not at high risk of alcohol withdrawal. After a baseline assessment, participants received an intervention consisting of contingency management (money for nondrinking days) for at least 30 days followed by a brief motivational interview. After this, participants could either resume drinking or not. Study questionnaires, neurocognitive assessments, neuroimaging, and blood, urine, and stool samples were collected at baseline, 30 days, 90 days, and 1 year after enrollment. ResultsWe enrolled 57 persons with heavy drinking who initiated the contingency management protocol (mean age 56 years, SD 4.6 years; 63%, n=36 male, 77%, n=44 Black, and 58%, n=33 people with HIV) of whom 50 completed 30-day follow-up and 43 the 90-day follow-up. The planned study procedures were interrupted and modified due to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2021. ConclusionsThis was the first study seeking to assess changes in brain (neuroimaging) and cognition after alcohol intervention in nontreatment-seeking people with HIV together with people without HIV as controls. Study design strengths, limitations, and lessons for future study design considerations are discussed. Planned analyses are in progress, after which deidentified study data will be available for sharing. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03353701; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03353701 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/53684

Abstract Anion exchange is an effective strategy to regulate the composition and optoelectronic properties of perovskite quantum dots (PQDs). Though promising, it is more desirable to synthesize PQDs to avoid the decrease of photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). Herein, we developed a ligand mediated anion exchange approach, in which the phase transition from CsPbBr3 QDs to CsPbI3 QDs was observed with the introduction of N‐Acetyl‐l‐cysteine (NAC) and 1,3‐dimethylimidazolium iodide (DMII) aqueous solution in CsPbBr3 QDs solution. NAC is expected to create more halogen vacancies in CsPbBr3 QDs, which provides sufficient adsorption sites for I− ions, resulting in accelerating the anion exchange rate in the process of DMII incorporation. Benefiting from the synergistic ligand mediated anion exchange, high PLQY of 97% and remarkable stability of CsPbI3 QDs are obtained. Furthermore, a white light‐emitting diode (WLED) with a lumen efficiency (LE) of 116.82 lm/W is constructed, showing remarkable stability under continuous operation.