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High costs and time consuming associated with experimental trial-and-error result in low efficiency, creating an urgent need for a more effective strategy for ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites (UHTCMCs) development. Inspired by the exceptional performance of machine learning (ML) algorithms across various domains, this work employs ML algorithms to construct models and conduct in-depth analysis of the key factors and their patterns influencing the ablation resistance of UHTCMCs. A set of 26 dimensional features that could potentially impact the ablation resistance of UHTCMCs were established based on domain knowledge. Eight typical ML models were used to build and predict the linear ablation rate (LAR) of UHTCMCs. Results show that the random forest model has optimal generalization performance, with mean absolute error (MAE), mean squared error (MSE), and coefficient of determination (R 2) being 2.75 μm s−1 and 7.3 (μm s−1)2, and 0.71 respectively. The Shapley additive explanations values based on the random forest model reveal that the key features affecting the LAR of UHTCMCs are ranked as average melting point of ceramics (AMPC) > thermal conductivity of material (TCM) > thermal expansion coefficient of oxides (TECO) > fabrication temperature of material (FTM), all showing a negative influence on the LAR. Symbolic regression further indicates that AMPC, TCM, and TECO have an exponential negative correlation with LAR. These data-driven conclusions have been thoroughly validated through the use of C f /(TiZrHfNbTa)C composites. The established model can accelerate the discovery of material knowledge and provide reliable guidance for UHTCMC development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Absent "organic" disease, dyspeptic symptoms may arise from abnormal gastric sensation, accommodation, motility or emptying (GE). Extensive gastric sensorimotor evaluation is rarely undertaken because testing is prolonged, invasive, poorly tolerated or unavailable. Aims: To investigate whether gastric antral motor function, evaluated with scintigraphy, predicts GE. To explore whether motor testing with symptom recording predicts day‐to‐day symptoms in patients with dyspepsia. Methods: GE was determined using a scintigraphic solid‐meal protocol (296 kcal, 35% fat). Antral motility was estimated from 10 min of scintigraphic time‐activity curves acquired 40 min after meal consumption. An antral motility index (MI) was derived from contraction amplitude and frequency. Intra‐gastric distribution of the meal on scintograms at 1 h (IGD1) was determined. Meal‐induced symptoms were evaluated by questionnaire. Patients completed the Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index Daily Diary (GCSI‐DD) for 14 days. Results: Twelve healthy participants and 23 prospectively recruited patients completed the study. Nine patients had delayed, and 2 had rapid, GE. In univariate analysis MI explained 42% of GE half‐time. In multivariate analysis MI and GE half‐time explained 25% of the variance in meal‐induced symptoms. While scintigraphic evaluation of gastric motor function with symptom recording explained 80% of the variance in the GCSI‐DD, meal‐induced symptoms were the only significant predictor. However, among patients with delayed GE, MI, GE half‐time, IGD1, and meal‐induced symptoms all significantly predicted GCSI‐DD. Conclusions: Antral motility predicts GE. In exploratory analyses, only meal‐induced symptoms predicted daily symptoms among patients with dyspepsia. However, motor function also predicted symptoms in patients with delayed GE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's college entrance examination reforms necessitate a new view of adolescent career development along with suitable assessment instruments for career intervention with secondary school students. We conducted two studies to address this need. The first study examined the evidence for the validity and reliability of the Student Career Construction Inventory (SCCI). The results of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) supported the four-factor structure of the SCCI. The findings suggest that the SCCI is an effective measure of career-construction behaviors among Chinese secondary school students. The second study evaluated the applicability of the career construction model of adaptation (CCMA). The model was empirically tested using the validated SCCI. The results of the serial mediation analysis confirmed that adaptive readiness indirectly influences adaptability resources, adapting responses, and adaptation results in the CCMA model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the association between caesarean scar defects and abnormal uterine bleeding through systematic literature review. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Embase databases were searched based on PRISMA 2020 to include studies exploring abnormal uterine bleeding in women with caesarean scar defects. The combined relative risk (RR) of uterine bleeding, combined prevalence of abnormal uterine bleeding and combined RR of intermenstrual uterine bleeding were calculated using a fixed- or random-effects model. Results: Ten studies involving 1,183 women with caesarean scar defects met the inclusion criteria for this study. Compared with women without caesarean scar defects, those with caesarean scar defects had a higher risk of abnormal uterine bleeding (RR: 3.22, 95% CI: 1.83–5.66) and intermenstrual bleeding (RR: 2.93, 95% CI: 1.91–4.50). The prevalence of abnormal uterine bleeding was approximately 0.46 (95% CI: 0.27–0.64), and across populations, women with a previous caesarean section who had undergone imaging specifically for gynaecological disease had a significantly higher prevalence of abnormal uterine bleeding (0.77, 95% CI: 0.65–0.89) than those with at least one caesarean Sect. (0.25, 95% CI: 0.10–0.39). Conclusion: A significant association was observed between caesarean scar defects and abnormal uterine bleeding, with the former being a risk factor for the latter. However, previous studies have differed in the definition of caesarean scar defects and abnormal uterine bleeding, and more high-quality studies are needed to further investigate the relevant definitions and study results in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein homeostasis (proteostasis) deficiency is an important contributing factor to neurological and metabolic diseases. However, how the proteostasis network orchestrates the folding and assembly of multi-subunit membrane proteins is poorly understood. Previous proteomics studies identified Hsp47 (Gene: SERPINH1), a heat shock protein in the endoplasmic reticulum lumen, as the most enriched interacting chaperone for gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors. Here, we show that Hsp47 enhances the functional surface expression of GABAA receptors in rat neurons and human HEK293T cells. Furthermore, molecular mechanism study demonstrates that Hsp47 acts after BiP (Gene: HSPA5) and preferentially binds the folded conformation of GABAA receptors without inducing the unfolded protein response in HEK293T cells. Therefore, Hsp47 promotes the subunit-subunit interaction, the receptor assembly process, and the anterograde trafficking of GABAA receptors. Overexpressing Hsp47 is sufficient to correct the surface expression and function of epilepsy-associated GABAA receptor variants in HEK293T cells. Hsp47 also promotes the surface trafficking of other Cys-loop receptors, including nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and serotonin type 3 receptors in HEK293T cells. Therefore, in addition to its known function as a collagen chaperone, this work establishes that Hsp47 plays a critical and general role in the maturation of multi-subunit Cys-loop neuroreceptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dual emission (DE) characteristics of atomically precise copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) are of significant theoretical and practical interest. Despite this, the underlying mechanism driving DE in Cu NCs remains elusive, primarily due to the complexities of excited state processes. Herein, a novel [Cu4(PPh3)4(C≡C−p−NH2C6H4)3]PF6 (Cu4) NC, shielded by alkynyl and exhibiting DE, was synthesized. Hydrostatic pressure was applied to Cu4, for the first time, to investigate the mechanism of DE. With increasing pressure, the higher‐energy emission peak of Cu4 gradually disappeared, leaving the lower‐energy emission peak as the dominant emission. Additionally, the Cu4 crystal exhibited notable piezochromism transitioning from cyan to orange. Angle‐dispersive synchrotron X‐ray diffraction results revealed that the reduced inter‐cluster distances under pressure brought the peripheral ligands closer, leading to the formation of new C−H⋅⋅⋅N and N−H⋅⋅⋅N hydrogen bonds in Cu4. It is proposed that these strengthened hydrogen bond interactions limit the ligands′ vibration, resulting in the vanishing of the higher‐energy peak. In situ high‐pressure Raman and vibrationally resolved emission spectra demonstrated that the benzene ring C=C stretching vibration is the structural source of the DE in Cu4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dual emission (DE) characteristics of atomically precise copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) are of significant theoretical and practical interest. Despite this, the underlying mechanism driving DE in Cu NCs remains elusive, primarily due to the complexities of excited state processes. Herein, a novel [Cu4(PPh3)4(C≡C−p−NH2C6H4)3]PF6 (Cu4) NC, shielded by alkynyl and exhibiting DE, was synthesized. Hydrostatic pressure was applied to Cu4, for the first time, to investigate the mechanism of DE. With increasing pressure, the higher‐energy emission peak of Cu4 gradually disappeared, leaving the lower‐energy emission peak as the dominant emission. Additionally, the Cu4 crystal exhibited notable piezochromism transitioning from cyan to orange. Angle‐dispersive synchrotron X‐ray diffraction results revealed that the reduced inter‐cluster distances under pressure brought the peripheral ligands closer, leading to the formation of new C−H⋅⋅⋅N and N−H⋅⋅⋅N hydrogen bonds in Cu4. It is proposed that these strengthened hydrogen bond interactions limit the ligands′ vibration, resulting in the vanishing of the higher‐energy peak. In situ high‐pressure Raman and vibrationally resolved emission spectra demonstrated that the benzene ring C=C stretching vibration is the structural source of the DE in Cu4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PTCR effect is an important application phenomenon in the ferroelectric BaTiO 3 electronic ceramic materials. In this work, the PTCR effect is also found in high pressure (HP) hot quenched Ca 1-x Y x Cu 3 Ti 4 O 12 (CYCTO) ceramics. Compared with the pure CaCu 3 Ti 4 O 12 (CCTO) ceramic synthesized under ordinary pressure (OP), the low temperature resistivity of HP CYCTO samples is about 3 orders of magnitude lower than that of untreated CCTO samples, showing an obvious PTCR effect. The transition temperature is close to 178 K for x = 0.2 sample. The analysis of crystal and magnetic structures shows that the crystal and magnetic structures of HP CYCTO samples do not change before and after the resistance transition. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the concentration of oxygen vacancy defects in HP CYCTO is higher than CCTO. By analyzing the conduction behaviors of HP CYCTO samples, it suggests that oxygen vacancies and Y3+ ions may be the important donors for the decrease of low temperature resistivity of HP CYCTO samples. The results in this work have important reference value for the application of the electrical conduction behaviors in CCTO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long homogeneous meteorological data is important to study climate change. Evaluating the impact of data inhomogeneity on analyzing average temperature trends in Huai river basin is value for accurately understanding the response of agriculture, ecology and water resources to climate change. In this study, based on the homogeneous data and observation data of daily average air temperature from the National Meteorological Information Center, the trends of annual and seasonal air temperatures during 1961 to 2018 were calculated using simple linear regression at 172 meteorological stations over Huai river basin. Then the impacts of data inhomogeneity on analyzing mean air temperature trends during 1961 to 2018 were evaluated by using two terms Crop rhizosphere microorganisms is crucial for their growth, development and adaptability to stress. A field pot experiment was conducted using Yannong19(YN) with strong resistance to late spring coldness and which were inhomogeneity impacts and contribution rates. The results showed that the average air temperature series of 96 meteorological stations in Huai river basin were inhomogeneous, accounting for 55.8% of the 172 total stations. Before and after the homogenization, the regional annual average air temperature both increased significantly. But the increasing rate was underestimated due to the data heterogeneity, and the influence was -0.015°C•10y-1 with a contribution of -6.6%. For each station, 35 stations (20.3%) was positively affected and the warming rate was overestimated with an average contribution of 21.3%, while 61 stations (35.5%) were negatively affected and the warming rate was underestimated with an average contribution of -43.6%. The influences of inhomogeneity for four seasons showed little difference, which were -0.016°C•10y-1, -0.014°C•10y-1, -0.016°C•10y-1 and -0.015°C•10y-1, respectively. However, because of the slowest increasing rate, the absolute value of inhomogeneity contribution was largest in summer with a contribution of -40.0%. The contributions of spring, autumn and winter were -4.7%, -8.0% and -4.3%. Inhomogeneity mostly affected the temperature rising rate at each station in spring, autumn and winter, while led to a turning of temperature trend before and after homogenization at 20 stations (11.6%) in summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Lack of evaluations of the dietary phosphorus and dialysis phosphorus removal in daily clinical practice are common obstacles to assessing phosphorus balance and controlling phosphorus in hemodialysis patients. We aimed to investigate whether individualized therapy using a phosphorus balance calculator improves phosphorus control. Methods A randomized, open-label, multicenter, 4-week clinical trial was conducted. A total of 119 maintenance hemodialysis patients aged 18–85 years old and with serum phosphorus level >1.45 mmol/L from three university teaching hospitals in Shanghai were enrolled. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to individualized therapy (n  = 60) or conventional therapy (n  = 59). The primary outcome was the serum phosphorus concentration after 4-week treatment. Secondary outcomes included the serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations, changes in serum phosphorus, calcium and PTH concentrations, and the proportion of patients achieving target ranges of serum phosphorus, calcium and PTH after 4-week treatment. Results Among 119 randomized participants [mean age 62 years; 68 male (57%)], 116 completed the trial. Using the phosphorus balance calculator, the individualized group achieved a better phosphorus balance state and significantly reduced serum phosphorus (1.62 ± 0.45 mmol/L versus 1.85 ± 0.45 mmol/L, P  = .006), increased the proportions of patients achieving target serum phosphorus range (41% versus 18%, P  = .006) and had greater adjusted mean difference in change in serum phosphorus over the 4 weeks (−0.47 versus −0.23 mmol/L, P  = .010) when compared with conventional therapy. No significant changes were observed in serum calcium and PTH levels, the proportion of patients achieving target serum calcium or PTH levels, or the adjusted mean difference of serum calcium and PTH levels over the treatment period. Conclusion Phosphorus balance calculator was proved to improve serum phosphorus control in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, offering a new tool for managing hyperphosphatemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iatrogenic aortic dissection is a rare but life-threatening complication of coronary artery bypass surgery. We report a case with incidentally detected iatrogenic aortic dissection related to aorta cross-clamping that was successfully managed with watchful follow-up. The decision making was based on 3-dimensional holographic and fluid dynamic analysis guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipoprotein glomerulopathy (LPG) is a rare disorder characterized by the development of glomerular lipoprotein thrombosis. LPG exhibits familial aggregation, with mutations in the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene identified as the leading cause of this disease. This study aimed to investigate APOE gene mutations and the clinicopathological features in eleven LPG patients. Clinicopathological and follow-up data were obtained by extracting DNA, followed by APOE coding region sequencing analysis. This study analyzed clinical and pathological manifestations, gene mutations, treatment and prognosis. The mean age of the eleven patients was 33.82 years. Among them, five had a positive family history for LPG, ten presented with proteinuria, four exhibited nephrotic syndrome, and six presented with microscopic hematuria. Dyslipidemia was identified in ten patients. In all renal specimens, there was evident dilation of glomerular capillary lumens containing lipoprotein thrombi, and positive oil red O staining was observed in frozen sections of all samples. APOE gene testing revealed that one patient had no mutations, while the remaining ten patients exhibited mutations in the APOE gene, with three patients presenting with multiple mutations simultaneously. Following the confirmation of LPG diagnosis, treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) was initiated, and the disease progressed slowly. LPG is histologically characterized by lamellated lipoprotein thrombi in glomeruli, and kidney biopsy is essential for diagnosis. Mutations in the APOE gene are the leading cause of LPG. This study revealed clinicopathological characteristics and APOE gene mutations in patients with LPG, which helps us better understand the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For large curved thin-walled parts, the introduction of double-layer sheet hydroforming process can obviously inhibit the defects, such as wrinkling and cracking. In this paper, 6061-T6 thin-walled semi-ellipsoidal parts are taken as the research object. Firstly, the coefficient fitting method of Fields-Backofen constitutive equation at high temperature is optimized. Secondly, the influence of upper sheet with different strength and liquid chamber loading path on the formability of parts is analyzed. At the same time, the pre-bulging process with a pressure value of 6 MPa was selected to improve the wall thickness reduction rate of the punch contact area. Through the response surface method, the interaction among the circumferential pressure, the friction coefficient between the sheets, and the thickness of the upper sheet was studied. The optimal process parameters of the part forming were predicted by the existing data, and the prediction accuracy was verified by numerical simulation. On the basis of the optimal process parameters, it is found that the parts have good forming performance at 150 °C, and the simulation results are verified by experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)-originating cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) expressing CD248 regulate interaction with immune cells to accelerate cancer progression. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key feature of metastatic cells. In our pervious study, we found that CD248+CAFs activated M2-polarized macrophages, enhancing the progression of NSCLC. However, it is yet unclear how CD248+CAFs inducing M2-polarized macrophages induce EMT program in NSCLC cells. Herein, we examined CD248 expression from CAFs derived from NSCLC patient tumour tissues. Furthermore, we determined the influence of CD248 knock down CAFs on macrophages polarization. Next, we explored the influences of CD248-harboring CAFs-mediated M2 macrophage polarization to promote NSCLC cells EMT in vitro. We constructed fibroblasts specific CD248 gene knock out mice to examine the significance of CD248-harboring CAFs-induced M2-polarized macrophages to promote NSCLC cells EMT in vivo. Based on our analysis, CD248 is ubiquitously expressed within NSCLC-originating CAFs. CD248+CAFs mediated macrophages polarized to M2 type macrophages. CD248+CAFs induced M2 macrophage polarization to enhance NSCLC cells EMT both in vivo and in vitro. Our findings indicate that CD248-harboring CAFs promote NSCLC cells EMT by regulating M2-polarized macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition‐metal catalyzed difunctionalization of olefins has attracted considerable attention as a method to construct carbon‐carbon and carbon‐hetero bonds. Herein, the copper‐catalyzed three‐component radical cross‐coupling of oxime esters, styrenes and AgSCF3 through a visible‐light‐promoted iminyl radical‐mediated carbon‐carbon bond cleavage strategy has been described. Utilizing low‐cost copper salt as both photosensitizers and cross‐couplers, this protocol delivers diverse target products, providing a supplementary approach for cyanoalkylation and trifluoromethylthiolation of drug molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 FROM AUTHOR]

Communication between insects and plants relies on the exchange of bioactive molecules that traverse the species interface. Although proteinic effectors have been extensively studied, our knowledge of other molecules involved in this process remains limited. In this study, we investigate the role of salivary microRNAs (miRNAs) from the rice planthopper Nilaparvata lugens in suppressing plant immunity. A total of three miRNAs were confirmed to be secreted into host plants during insect feeding. Notably, the sequence-conserved miR-7-5P is specifically expressed in the salivary glands of N. lugens and is secreted into saliva, distinguishing it significantly from homologues found in other insects. Silencing miR-7-5P negatively affects N. lugens feeding on rice plants, but not on artificial diets. The impaired feeding performance of miR-7-5P-silenced insects can be rescued by transgenic plants overexpressing miR-7-5P. Through target prediction and experimental testing, we demonstrate that miR-7-5P targets multiple plant genes, including the immune-associated bZIP transcription factor 43 (OsbZIP43). Infestation of rice plants by miR-7-5P-silenced insects leads to the increased expression of OsbZIP43, while the presence of miR-7-5P counteracts this upregulation effect. Furthermore, overexpressing OsbZIP43 confers plant resistance against insects which can be subverted by miR-7-5P. Our findings suggest a mechanism by which herbivorous insects have evolved salivary miRNAs to suppress plant immunity, expanding our understanding of cross-kingdom RNA interference between interacting organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: The potential association between rosacea and a heightened prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection has been previously suggested. However, existing studies offer inconsistent results. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to elucidate the relationship between rosacea and HP infection. Methods: We conducted comprehensive searches of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases to identify relevant observational studies for our investigation. We utilized the random-effects model to aggregate the data to address the potential influence of heterogeneity among the studies on the outcome. Results: Our analysis incorporated twenty-five datasets from 23 case-control and cross-sectional studies, encompassing 51,054 rosacea patients and 4,709,074 controls without skin disease. The pooled results revealed a significantly higher prevalence of HP infection in individuals with rosacea compared to controls (odds ratio [OR]: 1.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17–1.95, p<0.001; I2 = 79%). Subgroup analysis indicated an increased prevalence of HP infection in rosacea studies that utilized one (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.11–2.66, p = 0.02; I2 = 76%) or more tests for HP infection (OR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.29–3.98, p = 0.005; I2 = 56%). However, this association was not observed in population-based studies that determined HP infection based on prescription records for HP eradication drugs (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.76–1.07, p = 0.024; I2 = 54%). Conclusion: Rosacea may be significantly associated with a higher prevalence of HP infection. High-quality prospective studies with delicately controlled confounding factors are needed to determine if HP infection is a risk factor for rosacea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Tumor is a major public health problem harmful to people's health. Cell copper death provides a new idea for the basic research of tumor. This paper reviews the latest progress of cell copper death in the field of tumor prevention and treatment. Methods The literatures related to copper death in tumor prevention and treatment were summarized, and the research status of copper death related genes in different types of tumors was reviewed. Results Ferredoxin 1 (FDXl), lipoic acid synthase (LIAS), dihydro lipocyte answers (DLAT), and dihydro lipoamide S-succinyl transferase (DLST) were the key regulatory genes of copper death, which were abnormally expressed in lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and breast cancer. Among them, the low expression of FDXl in tumor patients was related to the poor prognosis of the disease, while the overall survival time of cancer patients with high expression of DLA T and DLST genes was decreased. In addition, targeting copper death protein and promoting cell copper death inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion Several genes related to copper death, such as FDXl, LIAS, DLAT, and DLST, are abnormally expressed in cancer patients and are related to the occurrence, development, metastasis, and prognosis of the tumor. Targeted promotion of cell copper death and inhibition of cancer cell proliferation provide a new direction for future basic research in the field of tumor, which has public health significance for tumor prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolutionary dynamics of tree species are influenced by their specific climatic environments, and their ability to persist is determined by adaptive strategies such as broad climate tolerance, phenotypic plasticity or genetic differentiation. Biogeographical predictions indicate that populations located at the edges of their ranges are more likely to experience heightened vulnerability to climatic fluctuations due to approaching tolerance limits. However, if local phenotypic acclimation or genetic adaptation has taken place, trees near the edge of their range could demonstrate comparable sensitivity to freeze and drought as the rest of the sampled population. Nevertheless, there remains uncertainty regarding the extent of developmental and evolutionary adjustments in climate sensitivity across the entire ranges of many tree species.Here, we document the biogeography of tree growth sensitivity to freeze and soil water and vapour pressure deficits during 1950–2018 using an extensive multi‐species tree‐ring dataset of 35,784 trees at 4535 sites covering boreal, temperate conifer and temperate deciduous forests of Canada. We quantify the relationships between tree radial growth increment and seasonal climate variables and explore factors driving the observed patterns of annual growth and climate sensitivity such as species, regional climate and local site conditions, and tree age and size.Freeze and drought had widespread impacts on tree growth that were contingent on the presence of focal species in interaction with tree size. An indirect growth thermal limitation towards cold/wet edges, occurring through the site moisture conditions, was observed in seven widespread species (e.g. Picea glauca, Picea mariana and Larix laricina). Moreover, six species had negative drought impacts more strongly expressed towards their warm/dry edges (e.g. Abies balsamea, Betula papyrifera and Pseudotsuga menziesii). However, widespread Picea, Pinus and Populus species showed no indication of increased sensitivity to soil water conditions at these edges.Synthesis. Our findings support the idea of evolutionary or acclimatization adjustments in the development of populations in response to long‐term climate conditions experienced in their respective locations. This underscores the importance of incorporating phenotypic and genomic data into future analyses of climate change impacts, which would enhance our ability to predict potential ecological shifts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, Δ conditional randomized truth degree of propositional formula is put forward in Gödel n-valued propositional logic system. It adds Δ operator compared with conditional randomized truth degree. On this basis, some inference rules such as MP, HS, intersection inference, union inference and their related properties are studied. At last, the concepts of Δ conditional randomized similarity degree, Δ conditional randomized pseudo-metric between propositional formulas are given, and their related good properties are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish gelatin (FG)-based wound dressings exhibit superior water absorption capacity, thermal stability, and gelation properties, which enhance the performance of these dressings. In this study, our objective was to investigate the conditions underlying the enzymatic hydrolysis of FG and subsequent cross-linking to prepare high-performance gels. A two-step enzymatic method of protease-catalyzed hydrolysis followed by glutamine transglutaminase (TGase)-catalyzed cross-linking was used to prepare novel high-performance fish gelatin derivatives with more stable dispersion characteristics than those of natural gelatin derivatives. Compared with conventional TGase cross-linked derivatives, the novel derivatives were characterized by an average pore size of 150 μm and increased water solubility (423.06% to 915.55%), water retention (by 3.6-fold to 43.89%), thermal stability (from 313 °C to 323 °C), and water vapor transmission rate, which reached 486.72 g·m−2·24 h−1. In addition, loading glucose oxidase onto the fish gelatin derivatives increased their antibacterial efficacy to >99% against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented which expresses the views on the recent findings related to brain asymmetries in ASD and ADHD, highlighting their distinct and shared features. Topics include the identification of specific gray matter volume asymmetries in individuals with ASD and ADHD, the effects of comorbidity on brain structure and function, and the need for advanced research methods such as connectomics to further understand these neurodevelopmental disorders.

Saliva, an oral secretion primarily originating from salivary glands (SGs), exert critical roles in the ongoing evolutionary interaction between insects and plants. However, identifying insect salivary components poses challenges due to the tiny size of insects, low secretion amounts, and the propensity for degradation after secretion. In this study, we developed a transcriptome-based approach to comprehensively analyze the salivary proteins of the short-headed planthopper, Epeurysa nawaii, a species with unique feeding habits on bamboo. A total of 165 salivary proteins were identified, with 114 secretory genes highly and specifically expressed in SGs. Consistent with most phloem-feeding insects, digestive enzymes, calcium-binding proteins, oxidoreductases, and a few previously reported salivary effectors were ubiquitously distributed in E. nawaii saliva. However, we also identified a substantial portion of salivary proteins exhibiting taxonomy specificity, including 60 E. nawaii-specific and 62 Delphacidae-specific proteins. These taxonomy-restricted proteins potentially play a role in insect adaptation to specific host plants. Our study provides an efficient pipeline for salivary protein identification and serves as a valuable resource for the functional characterization of effectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effectively harnessing solar energy for the conversion of CO2 into valuable chemical energy presents a viable solution to address energy scarcity and climate change concerns. Nonetheless, the limited light absorption and sluggish charge kinetics significantly hinder the photoreduction of CO2. In this study, we employed a facile sol–gel method combined with wetness impregnation to synthesize Cu-doped TiO2 coated with NiOx nanoparticles. Various characterizations verified the successful incorporation of Cu ions into the TiO2 crystal lattice and the formation of NiOx co-catalysts within the composites. The optimal performance attained with CTN-0.5 demonstrates an output of 11.85 μmol h−1 g−1 for CO and 9.51 μmol h−1 g−1 for CH4, which represent a 4.4-fold and 15.6-fold increase, respectively, compared to those achieved with pure TiO2. The induced Cu defect band broadens the light absorption by decreasing the conduction band edge of TiO2, while NiOx upshifts the valence band of TiO2 because of the interaction of valence orbitals. Light irradiation EPR and FTIR tests suggest that the collaboration of CuOx and NiOx promotes the formation of oxygen vacancies/defects and a rapid charge transfer pathway, thereby provides numerous active sites and electrons to enhance CO2 photoreduction performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient removal of thorium from the environment is critical due to the risks it poses to organisms. Metal–organic frameworks are favored by scholars because of their potential to effectively adsorb a variety of heavy metal ions in wastewater treatment. In this work, the interaction of UiO-66-NH2 surface with graphene, enhances adsorption capacity of MOFs. Optimal adsorption conditions have been identified, and a detailed adsorption mechanism has also been comprehensively discussed. The theoretical maximum adsorption capacity exhibited by UiO-66-GO is 119.57 mg g−1. Moreover, it shows a fast adsorption rate and reached equilibrium within 20 min. The development of materials with good adsorption performance and fast adsorption for Th(IV) plays an important role in the development of Th(IV) adsorption in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a fluorescent probe, TPABF-HS, was developed for detecting hydrogen sulfide (H2S) using a human serum albumin (HSA)-binding-based approach for amplifying the fluorescence signal and extending the linear correlation range. Compared to the most recent probes for H2S, the most interesting feature of the detection system developed herein was the especially wide linear range (0–1000 μM (0–100 eq.)), which covered the physiological and pathological levels of H2S. TPABF-HS could be used in applications high sensitivity and selectivity with an LOD value of 0.42 μM. Further, site-competition experiments and molecular docking simulation experiments indicated that signal amplification was realized by the binding of the TPABF fluorophore to the naproxen-binding site of HSA. Moreover, the extension of the measurement span could allow for applications in living cells and Caenorhabditis elegans for imaging both exogenous and endogenous H2S. This work brings new information to the strategy of signal processing by exploiting fluorescent probes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renal biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosing membranous nephropathy (MN). Recent studies have suggested that renal biopsy can be replaced with the serum phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) antibody test for MN diagnosis in patients with nephrotic syndrome. However, this test has not been validated in the Chinese population. In this study, we investigated whether renal biopsy provides additional diagnostic information on patients with proteinuria who are seropositive for PLA2R antibodies (SAb +). We retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathological characteristics of SAb + adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years) with proteinuria (≥ 0.5 g/24 h) assessed at the Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, from June 2021 to March 2022. Among a total of 801 SAb + patients who received renal biopsy, those with incomplete pathological data, diabetes or any potential cause of secondary MN were excluded. Among the 491 remaining patients, 474 had primary MN (PMN), 16 had atypical MN (AMN, 9 patients with “full house” and 2 patients with HBsAg + /HBcAg + immunofluorescence results), and 1 had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. In patients with an eGFR of ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n = 451), 436 had PMN, and 71 (16.3%) exhibited additional biopsy findings, with obesity-related glomerulopathy being the most common. In patients with an impaired eGFR (n = 40), 38 had PMN, and 31 (81.6%) showed additional findings, with acute tubular injury being the most common. In conclusion, anti-PLA2R antibody positivity is highly predictive of PMN in Chinese adults but often coexists with other pathological diagnoses. The advantages of renal biopsy for detecting other pathologies should be weighed against the potential risks of the biopsy procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal preparation of quantum entanglement is of significance to information processing and state engineering. In this paper, an efficient scheme is proposed to implement error-insensitive generation of entangled states between a Josephson qubit and microwave photons by the technique of invariant-based shortcuts to adiabaticity. A superconducting qubit is dispersively coupled to a quantized cavity field of one-dimensional transmission line resonator. Within a considered subspace spanned by three composite states, we deal with an effective interaction of the composite system with two classical drivings. A maximally entangled qubit-photon state can be deterministically induced using a splitting-like quantum state transfer. To nullify the deviation errors of Rabi coupling and frequency detuning, we optimize the driving parameters and then make the entanglement creation insusceptible to these control imperfections. Thanks to the mitigation of deviation effects, robustness against the residual noisy environment could be obtained numerically. The proposed strategy could provide a promising avenue towards fast and robust information processing with superconducting circuit quantum electrodynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Belt and Road (B&R) plan is put out within the framework of global economics and strategic growth. This study examines the written material of popular tourist sites along B&R and the tourism assets from the viewpoint of B&R, based on the wireless network and AI technology, and using a big data platform and the Internet of Things (IoT) User Generated Content (UGC) network structure. To manage tourist pictures from customers' views, online travel notes are first utilized as examples. Next, tourism texts' keywords are extracted using Python big data and AI technology to understand consumers' perceptions of scenic spot preferences, tourism facilities and services, and social and cultural customs. The findings demonstrate that, when compared to the conventional tourism brand development strategy, the integrated development strategy based on the AI big data platform can not only increase the effectiveness of managing tourists' perceptions of scenic locations but can also encourage the common development of national sports event components and intelligent tourism image management. Several sports tourist boutique picturesque locations have also been built along B&R following years of development of intelligent tourism and sports projects, which will strengthen the effect of multicultural exchanges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a hepatic disorder in pregnancy linked with adverse fetal outcomes, which primarily manifests in the late second and third trimesters of pregnancy. This review aims to recapitulate the existing evidence on factors that can predict detrimental perinatal outcomes in pregnant women diagnosed with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Medline, and Embase databases and selected studies related to predictors of fetal outcome in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Studies of the articles showed that predictors of an adverse fetal outcome include in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy, multifetal pregnancy, biochemical markers, gestational age of ICP onset, presence of comorbidities (preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus), maternal history of ICP, and hepatobiliary disease. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) complicates the pregnancy. Hence, early assessment of low-risk and high-risk groups will help to administer definite management protocols and strategies to prevent adverse neonatal outcomes. Further research should concentrate on the number of conditions/factors and the predictive power of different factors to determine the most reliable predictors and biomarkers that can predict adverse fetal outcomes and improve the assessment of risk in pregnancy complicated with ICP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) inhabit plant roots and soil in ecosystems and host plants worldwide. DSE colonization is influenced by cultivars, soil factors, and specific habitat conditions. The regular diversity of DSEs in blueberries in Guizhou, China, is still unclear. In this study, four cultivars (Gardenblue, Powderblue, O’Neal, and Legacy) in three areas (Gaopo, Majiang, and Fenggang) in Guizhou were used to identify DSEs by morphological and molecular biological methods and to clarify the relationship between DSE diversity and DSE colonization and soil factors of cultivated blueberries in Guizhou. The DSEs isolated from cultivated blueberry roots in 3 areas in Guizhou Province were different, belonging to 17 genera, and the dominant genera were Penicillium, Phialocephala, and Thozetella. DSEs isolated from Majiang belonged to 12 genera and 16 species, those from Gaopo belonged to 7 genera and 15 species, and those from Fenggang belonged to 5 genera and 7 species. Among the different blueberry varieties, 11 genera were isolated from O’Neal, 12 genera were isolated from Powderblue, 11 genera were isolated from Legacy and 13 genera were isolated from Gardenblue. Coniochaeta is endemic to O’Neal, Chaetomium and Curvularia are endemic to Powderblue, and Thielavia is endemic to Legacy. Correlation analysis showed that DSE diversity was significantly correlated with DSE colonization and soil factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The dynamic interaction between cancer cells and tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the hypoxic tumour microenvironment (TME) is an active barrier to the effector arm of the antitumour immune response. Cancer-secreted exosomes are emerging mediators of this cancer-stromal cross-talk in the TME; however, the mechanisms underlying this interaction remain unclear. Methods: Exosomes were isolated with ExoQuick exosome precipitation solution. The polarizing effect of TAMs was evaluated by flow cytometry, western blot analysis, immunofluorescence staining and in vitro phagocytosis assays. Clinical cervical cancer specimens and an in vivo xenograft model were also employed. Results: Our previous study showed that hypoxia increased the expression of ZEB1 in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) cells, which resulted in increased infiltration of TAMs. Here, we found that hypoxia-induced ZEB1 expression is closely correlated with CD47-SIRPα axis activity in CSCC, which enables cancer cells to evade phagocytosis by macrophages and promotes tumour progression. ZEB1 was found to directly activate the transcription of the CD47 gene in hypoxic CSCC cells. We further showed that endogenous ZEB1 was characteristically enriched in hypoxic CSCC cell-derived exosomes and transferred into macrophages via these exosomes to promote SIRPα+ TAM polarization. Intriguingly, exosomal ZEB1 retained transcriptional activity and reprogrammed SIRPα+ TAMs via activation of the STAT3 signalling pathway in vitro and in vivo. STAT3 inhibition reduced the polarizing effect induced by exosomal ZEB1. Knockdown of ZEB1 increased the phagocytosis of CSCC cells by macrophages via decreasing CD47 and SIRPα expression. Conclusions: Our results suggest that hypoxia-induced ZEB1 promotes immune evasion in CSCC by strengthening the CD47-SIRPα axis. ZEB1-targeted therapy in combination with CD47-SIRPα checkpoint immunotherapy may improve the outcomes of CSCC patients in part by disinhibiting innate immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Lipoprotein glomerulopathy (LPG) is a rare disorder characterized by the development of glomerular lipoprotein thrombosis. LPG exhibits familial aggregation, with mutations in the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene identified as the leading cause of this disease. This study aimed to investigate APOE gene mutations and the clinicopathological features in eleven LPG patients. Methods: Clinicopathological and follow-up data were obtained by extracting DNA, followed by APOE coding region sequencing analysis. This study analyzed clinical and pathological manifestations, gene mutations, treatment and prognosis. Results: The mean age of the eleven patients was 33.82years. Among them, five had a positive family history for LPG, ten presented with proteinuria, four exhibited nephrotic syndrome, and six presented with microscopic hematuria. Dyslipidemia was identified in ten patients. In all renal specimens, there was evident dilation of glomerular capillary lumens containing lipoprotein thrombi, and positive oil red O staining was observed in frozen sections of all samples. APOE gene testing revealed that one patient had no mutations, while the remaining ten patients exhibited mutations in the APOE gene, with three patients presenting with multiple mutations simultaneously. Following the confirmation of LPG diagnosis, treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) was initiated, and the disease progressed slowly. Conclusion: LPG is histologically characterized by lamellated lipoprotein thrombi in glomeruli, and kidney biopsy is essential for diagnosis. Mutations in the APOE gene are the leading cause of LPG. This study revealed clinicopathological characteristics and APOE gene mutations in patients with LPG, which helps us better understand the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dermatomyositis (DM)/polymyositis (PM) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by proximal limb muscle with high morbidity and mortality and poor prognosis mediated by immune dysfunction; its etiology is unknown. DM/PM patients are at excessive risk of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and a higher risk of death. However, the role of circulating lymphocyte subsets, which play a pivotal role in occurrence and progression of DM/PM and ILD, respectively, remains unclear in DM/PM patients with ILD. Demographic characteristics, general data, and peripheral lymphocyte levels measured by flow cytometry were collected and analyzed in 47 DM/PM patients with ILD, 65 patients without ILD, and 105 healthy controls (HCs). The most important first symptom of DM/PM patients is rash. Compared with non-ILD patients, the levels of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) were significantly higher and the levels of C reactive protein (CRP) were significantly lower in patients with ILD. Compared with HCs, DM/PM patients, with or without ILD, had decreased absolute counts of T, CD4 + T, CD8 + T, natural killer (NK), helper T (Th) 1, Th2, Th17, and regulatory T (Treg)cells. The fewest Th1 and Treg cells and the the lowest CD8 + T and Th1 cells percentages were seen in peripheral blood of patients with ILD. Longer duration, decreased lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR)levels and CD8 + T and Th1 cells proportions, and fewer circulating Treg cells were independent risk factors for DM/PM with ILD. The identification of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets, especially Treg cells, and blood count in DM/PM appears to be useful in the comprehensive assessment of clinical lung involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) is the main tool for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI). However, the indeterminate results were more frequent in children, and the underlying reasons were largely speculative. We aimed to compare QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) with X.DOT-TB (XDOT) for diagnosing LTBI, and to identify the risk factors associated with indeterminate results in children. Methods: A retrospective study for children<18 years old, at risk for LTBI or progression to TB disease, received either QFT-GIT or X.DOT-TB tests was performed at Beijing Children's Hospital from August 2019 to August 2022. Results: A total of 33,662 children were recruited, including 15,129 (44.9%) tested with X.DOT-TB and 18,533 (55.1%) with QFT-GIT. Proportion of positive and indeterminate results in children with respiratory disease was significantly higher than did that with other diseases, respectively (P < 0.001). The indeterminate rate of X.DOT-TB and QFT-GIT results decreased with increasing age (P < 0.001). Proportion of QFT-GIT indeterminate results was higher than that of X.DOT-TB across age groups. Male, age and disease classification all presented a statistically significant association with indeterminate IGRA results. Conclusions: The positive rates of X.DOT-TB and QFT-GIT in children were 3.1% and 1.8%, respectively. The X.DOT-TB assay performed better than QFT-GIT in children, and male, age and underlying diseases were associated with an increased risk of indeterminate IGRA results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origins of financial capability assessed at the country level can be traced back to the socio-economic and quality of life factors. However, the role of national culture should be considered equally important. Hence, differences in national culture are hypothesized to correlate with average financial capability levels at the country level. This study attempts to answer an important question: What is the relationship between culture and financial capability at the country level? The data for this study originate from four diverse sources provided by the World Bank (two datasets), United Nations, and Hofstede Insights. The final dataset includes data from 137 countries. As a measure of financial capability, we use an aggregate index combining financial behavior (account ownership) and financial knowledge. Culture is measured using six dimensions of national cultures from Hofstede Insights: Power Distance, Masculinity, Uncertainty Avoidance, Individualism, Long-Term Orientation, and Indulgence. The results show that certain dimensions of culture are strongly correlated with financial capabilities at the country level even after controlling for the level of economic development. Positive relationships between financial capability and three cultural factors—Individualism, Long-Term Orientation, and Indulgence—are noted. In addition, Uncertainty Avoidance is negatively associated with financial capabilities. The observed relationships are non-linear. Specifically, Individualism and Long-Term Orientation are positive correlates of financial capability up to a certain level (the score of 75 and 50, respectively, on the scale 0–100), Individualism is a positive correlate starting at the score of 25, while Uncertainty Avoidance is a negative correlate up to the score of 75. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal gut is home to a large number and rich variety of microbial flora. Intestinal microbes and their metabolites are believed to play an important role in regulating the metabolism of animal nutrients and maintaining intestinal immunity. The balance of intestinal microbiota is affected by diet, environment and metabolites (such as short-chain fatty acids, tryptophan metabolites and vitamins, etc.), and have certain effect on body metabolism and immune response of animals through metabolites. Studying the effect of intestinal microbial metabolites on immune function helps to understand the interaction mechanism between intestinal microbes and animals. The article reviews the synthesis of intestinal microbial metabolites and the mechanisms mediating intestinal immunity, aiming to further explore the role of intestinal microbial metabolites in maintaining animal intestinal health, in order to provide reference for functional study of intestinal microbial metabolites and their application in animal production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polaron, a quasiparticle system formed by the interaction of electrons and phonons in quantum well (QW) materials, is very important for the photoelectric properties of low-dimensional materials. Therefore, the ground state binding energy (GSBE) and vibration frequency (VF) of magnetic-impurity polaron in a QW system subjected to parabolic potential in x and y directions and semi-exponential potential in z direction are studied by unitary transformation and variational method. We found that the VF and GSBE with magnetic field cyclotron frequency (MFCF), the parameter of the asymmetrical semi-exponential confinement potential (ASECP), effective confinement lengths (ECL) of the Coulombic impurity potential (CIP). The above results not only show the quantum size effect of materials but also provide a theoretical idea for regulating the polaron effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to develop a preoperative nomogram based on clinical and pathological characteristics to provide a more individualized and accurate estimation of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with early-stage cervical cancer. Methods: A total of 7,349 early-stage cervical cancer patients with pathologically confirmed between 1988 and 2015 were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. All the patients were divided into training (n = 5,500) and validation (n = 1,849) cohorts randomly. A cohort of 455 patients from multicenter was used for the external validation. We established a multivariate logistic regression model based on preoperative clinicopathological data, from which a nomogram was developed and validated. A predicted probability of LNM < 5% was defined as low risk. Results: From multivariate logistic regression analysis, age at diagnosis, histologic subtype, tumor grade, tumor size and FIGO stage were identified as preoperative independent risk factors of LNM. The nomogram incorporating these factors demonstrated good discrimination and calibration (concordance index = 0.723; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.707–0.738). In the validation cohort, the discrimination accuracy was 0.745 (95% CI, 0.720–0.770) and 0.747 (95% CI, 0.690–0.804), respectively. The nomogram was well calibrated with a high concordance probability. We also established an R-enabled Internet browser for LNM risk assessment, which tool may be convenient for physicians. Conclusions: We developed an effective preoperative nomogram based on clinical and pathological characteristics to predict LNM for early-stage cervical cancer. This model could improve clinical trial design and help physicians to decide whether to perform lymphadenectomy or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we are concerned with nodal solutions for a class of Kirchhoff-type problems − (a + b ∫ R N | ∇ u | 2 d x) △ u + u = f (u) , in R N , where N ≥ 3 , a, b>0, f satisfies some asymptotically linear growth conditions. First of all, when N = 3, b>0 and N ≥ 4 , b>0 sufficiently small, we attain infinitely many nodal solutions by an equivalent transformation. Based on this, via a new and direct approach, the least energy sign-changing radial solutions can be obtained for the above problem. What's more, we also establish non-existence results of nodal solutions for N ≥ 4 and b large enough. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is mainly used as a food additive due to its antioxidant properties, which prevent or delay oxidation reactions and extend the storage life of products. The widespread use of BHA has led to its extensive presence in various environmental matrices and human tissues. Food intake is the main route of human exposure to BHA. Under different conditions, BHA can produce different metabolites, with tert‐butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ) being one of the major products. Several studies have shown that BHA could cause thyroid system damage, metabolic and growth disorders, neurotoxicity, and carcinogenesis. Mechanisms such as endocrine disruption, genotoxicity, disturbances of energy metabolism, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, signaling pathways, and imbalances in calcium homeostasis appear to be associated with the toxic effects of BHA. Avoiding the toxic effects of BHA to the maximum extent possible is a top priority. Finding safe, non‐toxic and environmentally friendly alternatives to BHA should be the focus of subsequent research. In all, this review summarized the current situation related to BHA and might make recommendations for future research directions. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Financial Counseling & Planning (JFCP) annually selects an exceptional paper through a rigorous process involving a nominating committee and voting by the editorial board members. The chosen paper is then honored at the AFCPE symposium. The JFCP is highly regarded and is included in significant indexes such as Scopus and Clarivate's Emerging Sources Citation Index. It has an Impact Factor of 1.8 and CiteScore of 3.7. The article also recognizes the valuable contributions of associate editors, guest editors, and reviewers in maintaining the journal's quality. The document specifically highlights the outstanding reviewers in 2023, who have completed a higher than average number of quality reviews in a timely manner. These scholars include Thomas Korankye, Yu Zhang, Matthew Saxey, Jae Min Lee, and Lili Shao, with Thomas Korankye and Yu Zhang each reviewing 11 manuscripts, Matthew Saxey reviewing 10, and Jae Min Lee and Lili Shao reviewing 8 manuscripts each. [Extracted from the article]

The invasive plant species, Solidago canadensis, often shares a common mycorrhizal network (CMN) with native plant species in southeast China. We ask whether the transfer of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) among the invasive S. canadensis, the native Kummerowia striata and their CMN could contribute to the invasiveness of S. canadensis.We conducted a microcosm experiment in which a CMN was established on S. canadensis and K. striata. We used 13CO2 pulse‐labelling to quantify the relative contribution of recently fixed C from the two host species to the CMN. We also calculated the relative N distribution to each host species from the CMN.We found that 89% of the recently fixed C in the CMN originated from S. canadensis, while 11% originated from K. striata. We also found that the CMN distributed 77% of the N it absorbed to S. canadensis and 23% to K. striata.Our results suggest that the unequal distribution of N from a CMN to the invasive and native plant species is related to the unequal contribution of C from the plant species. This mechanism could contribute to invasion of native communities by alien species when there is a stoichiometric exchange of limiting nutrients for C, and when alien species contribute more C to the CMN than natives. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The bean bug Riptortus pedestris causes a significant decrease in soybean production and economic losses. To understand how these bugs adapt to different parts of the soybean plant, we studied their gut transcriptomic changes when feeding on soybean leaves, beans, and pods. We discovered that when they fed on pods and beans, there was a notable increase in the expression of digestive enzymes like cathepsins, serine proteases, and lipases. On the other hand, when the bugs consumed soybean leaves, detoxification enzymes, such as ABC transporters and 4-coumarate-CoA ligase, showed higher expression levels. These findings suggest that the dynamic regulation of digestive and detoxification enzymes enables bean bugs to successfully feed on various soybean tissues. The bean bug, Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), poses a significant threat to soybean production, resulting in substantial crop losses. Throughout the soybean cultivation period, these insects probe and suck on various parts of plants, including leaves, pods, and beans. However, the specific mechanisms by which they adapt to different food resources remain unknown. In this study, we conducted gut transcriptomic analyses of R. pedestris fed with soybean leaves, pods, and beans. A total of 798, 690, and 548 differently expressed genes (DEGs) were monitored in G—pod vs. G—leaf (comparison of insect feeding on pods and leaves), G—bean vs. G—leaf (comparison of insect feeding on beans and leaves), and G—pod vs. G—bean (comparison of insect feeding on pods and beans), respectively. When fed on pods and beans, there was a significant increase in the expression of digestive enzymes, particularly cathepsins, serine proteases, and lipases. Conversely, when soybean leaves were consumed, detoxification enzymes, such as ABC transporters and 4-coumarate-CoA ligase, exhibited higher expression. Our findings indicate that R. pedestris dynamically regulates different metabolic pathways to cope with varying food resources, which may contribute to the development of effective strategies for managing this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a study on the confinement properties of non-neutral proton plasma in an asymmetric magnetic mirror using the three-dimensional (3D) particle-in-cell simulation method. Our findings indicate a close relationship between the ability of the magnetic mirror to confine protons and the incidence orientation of the proton beam. This relationship can only be accurately assessed through 3D simulation, as opposed to two-dimensional simulation. In addition, we observed that a higher velocity parallel to the magnetic field direction results in a shorter confinement time. The electric field at and near the central point of the mirror exhibits quasi-periodic vibrations, attributed to the electrostatic oscillation of the proton and the cyclotron motion. Furthermore, we discovered a drift motion of the confined proton plasma in the direction of the magnetic field gradient. These findings hold implications for the design of magnetic mirrors capable of effectively confining charged particle beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Although vitrification is commonly used for oocyte cryopreservation, the cryogenic damage results in poor developmental capacity of oocytes after freezing. Nano-cryopreservation is one of the new methods of vitrification developed in recent years. However, the effect of nano-cryopreservation on mature bovine oocytes remains to be elucidated. Aims: This study aimed to verify the effect of using hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles (NPs) on the vitrification of bovine metaphase II (MII)-stage oocytes. Methods: Bovine MII-stage oocytes were exposed to different HA concentrations (0.01%, 0.05%, and 0.10%) in vitrification solution (VS). After IVF (in vitro fertilisation) and IVC (in vitro culture), the toxicity of HA was assessed by cleavage and blastocyst rates. A suitable concentration of HA nanoparticles was selected according to the results of the first experiment. and then vitrification-thawing was measured. The effect of HA on the developmental capacity of oocytes was assessed by oocyte cleavage rate and blastocyst rate. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and the intracellular reactive oxygen levels (ROS) of oocytes were measured by staining with a fluorescence probe (JC-1) and an ROS kit after nano-cryopreservation. Key results: The addition of 0.05% HA to the VS did not affect the oocyte morphology; the proportion of oocytes developing with normal morphology was 96.72%. In contrast, this proportion it significantly decreased at a concentration of 0.1% HA in VS (91.69%; P < 0.05). The cleavage rates (56.95% vs 51.20%, 50.67%; P < 0.05) of bovine oocytes exposed to 0.05% HA were significantly higher than in the VS group and VS + 0.1% HA group. After the vitrification-thawing, the oocyte cleavage rates (41.07% vs 33.97%; P < 0.05) and blastocyst rates (12.35% vs 7.38%; P < 0.05) were significantly higher in the VS + 0.05% HA group compared to the VS group. At the 0.05% HA concentration, nano-cryopreserved oocytes had significantly higher MMP (1.35 ± 0.24) and significantly lower ROS (1.43 ± 0.05) than the VS group (P < 0.05, mean ± s.e.m.). Conclusions: The addition of 0.05% HA-NPs in VS could promote bovine MII-stage oocytes' developmental ability after vitrification. This effect may be caused partly by increased mitochondrial membrane activity and decreased ROS. Implications: HA-NPs may be a new class of cryoprotective agent suitable as components for oocyte vitrification. Nanotechnology is of great value in the field of medical biology, but the intersection of nanotechnology and cryogenic bioengineering has not been studied enough. HA nanoparticles were added to the cryoprotectant of bovine oocytes in our study. We found that a certain concentration of nanoparticles had a positive effect on vitrification and postfreezing development capacity. Nano-vitrification of oocytes deserves further exploration in both theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transient regulation of gel properties by chemical reaction networks (CRNs) represents an emerging and effective strategy to program or temporally control the structures, properties, and functions of gel materials in a self-regulated manner. CRNs provide significant opportunities to construct complex or sustainable gels with excellent dynamic features, thus expanding the application scope of these materials. CRN-based methods for transiently regulating the gel properties are receiving increasing attention, and the related fields are worth further studying. This feature article focuses on the CRN-mediated transient regulation of six properties of gels, which are transient gelation, transient liquefaction of gels, transient assembly of macroscopic gels, temporary actuation of gels, transient healing ability of kinetically inert gels, and cascade reaction-based self-reporting of external stimuli. Recent advances that showcase the six properties of gels controlled by CRNs are featured, the characterization and structural elucidation of gels are detailed, and the significance, achievements, and expectations of this field are discussed. The strategy of transient regulation of gel properties via CRNs is potentially useful for building the next generation of adaptive functional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Solar interfacial steam power generation is a prospective method for seawater desalination. In this work, a salt-blocking three-dimensional (3D) Janus evaporator with a superhydrophobic to superhydrophilic gradient was fabricated by spraying a composite dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polydimethylsiloxane (CNTs/PDMS) onto the top side of a polyurethane (PU) foam and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution onto the bottom side. The CNTs/PDMS composite dispersion with nanostructured CNTs and low surface energy PDMS combined with the porous structure of the PU foam rendered the top side superhydrophobic. Therefore, a layer suitable for photothermal conversion was obtained. The hydrophilic PVA combined with the porous structure of the foam rendered the bottom side superhydrophilic, facilitating water absorption and transportation. The asymmetric wettability gradient of the CNTs/PDMS-PU-PVA as a 3D evaporator caused the evaporation rate and transportation speed of water to reach a balance, and the salt was quickly dissolved at the superhydrophilic interface. This 3D salt-resistant Janus evaporator achieved an evaporation rate of 2.26 kg m-2 h−1 under 1 kW m−2 illumination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental time travel (MTT) is the ability to project oneself to the past or future through mental simulation. Moreover, MTT can involve self‐related or other‐related information. This study aimed to compare MTT in individuals with high levels of schizotypy and that in their counterparts with low levels of schizotypy. Participants with high (n = 37) and low (n = 37) levels of schizotypy completed an MTT task with four conditions [2 (Condition: self vs. other) × 2 (Time orientation: past vs. future)]. They were required to recall past events that had happened to themselves or to a non‐intimate person, and to imagine possible future events that might happen to themselves or to a non‐intimate person, related to cue words. Outcome measures included specificity, vividness, sense of experience, emotional valence, emotional intensity, proportion of first‐person visual perspective in events, and difficulty in event generation. A 2 (Group: high vs. low levels of schizotypy) × 2 (Condition) × 2 (Time orientation) mixed analysis of variance was conducted on each index. Results showed that self‐related MTT was more specific than other‐related MTT in low levels of schizotypy participants but not in high levels of schizotypy participants. Participants with a high level of schizotypy reported fewer specific events, and reported events with lower vividness and positive emotion than did those with a low level of schizotypy. Self‐related MTT showed higher levels of phenomenological characteristics than did other‐related MTT. In conclusion, individuals with a high level of schizotypy have altered MTT, and cannot benefit from the self‐advantage effect on the specificity of MTT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]