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Inferring the geographic mode of speciation is essential for explaining the generation and assembly of biodiversity, but has been rarely applied to the temperate flora of China. Fagus longipetiolata and F. lucida are a sister pair of beech species with largely overlapping ranges in subtropical China, however, little is known about the geographic mode of speciation and the formation of their sympatric distributions. In this study, we used IMa2 and fastsimcoal2 to simulate the speciation history of the two sisters. On the basis of 11 nuclear loci screened for 27 populations/species, their divergence time was estimated to 8.37 Mya by IMa2, and weak interspecific gene flow was detected. The simulation by fastsimcoal2 found that F. longipetiolata and F. lucida diverged ~8.53 Mya, then came into contact and hybridized at 0.8 Mya. The extended Bayesian skyline plots indicated that F. lucida began demographic expansion prior to the Pleistocene at 3 Mya, whereas F. longipetiolata increased its effective population size during the Quaternary, between 0.8 and 0.5 Mya. Ecological niche analysis and niche modelling showed that the two beeches had subtle niche differentiation and their projected distributions were largely overlapped across the late Quaternary. These results, coupled with well-studied fossil records in Fagus , demonstrate that these two beech species diverged allopatrically at the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, and came into contact and hybridized with each other after successive migrations into subtropical (i.e. warm temperate) China recently. However, the two beeches may have developed strong intrinsic reproductive barriers due to long-term allopatry, allowing them to coexist in subtropical China. Our results illuminate the assembly history of the temperate woody flora in subtropical China, supporting that many relict temperate lineages in subtropical China may have established their populations recently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study systematically investigates the energy and electronic properties of Si-segregated θ′(Al2Cu)/Al semi-coherent and coherent interface systems in Al-Cu alloys using ab initio calculations. By evaluating the bonding strength at the interface, it has been revealed that Si segregated at the A1 site (Al slab) of the semi-coherent interface systems exhibits the most negative segregation energy, resulting in a noticeable decrease in total energy and an increase in interface adhesion. The electronic structure analysis indicates the presence of Al-Cu and Al-Al bonds, with Si occupying the A1 site. The strong bond formation between Al-Cu and Al-Al is essential for improving interface bonding strength. The results of the calculating analyses are consistent with the results of the previous experiments, and Si can be used as a synergistic element to reduce the θ′/Al interface energy and further reduce the coarsening drive of the θ′ precipitated phase, which can provide new perspectives and computational ideas for the compositional design of heat-resistant Al-Cu alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ice‐templated porous biomaterials possess transformative potential in regenerative medicine; yet, scaling up ice‐templating processes for broader applications—owing to inconsistent pore formation—remains challenging. This study reports an innovative semi‐solid freeze‐casting technique that draws inspiration from semi‐solid metal processing (SSMP) combined with ice cream‐production routines. This versatile approach allows for the large‐scale assembly of various materials, from polymers to inorganic particles, into isotropic 3D scaffolds featuring uniformly equiaxed pores throughout the centimeter scale. Through (cryo‐)electron microscopy, X‐ray tomography, and finite element modeling, the structural evolution of ice grains/pores is elucidated, demonstrating how the method increases the initial ice nucleus density by pre‐fabricating a semi‐frozen slurry, which facilitates a transition from columnar to equiaxed grain structures. For a practical demonstration, as‐prepared scaffolds are integrated into a bilayer tissue patch using biodegradable waterborne polyurethane (WPU) for large‐scale oral mucosal reconstruction in minipigs. Systematic analyses, including histology and RNA sequencing, prove that the patch modulates the healing process toward near‐scarless mucosal remodeling via innate and adaptive immunomodulation and activation of pro‐healing genes converging on matrix synthesis and epithelialization. This study not only advances the field of ice‐templating fabrication but sets a promising precedent for scaffold‐based large‐scale tissue regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the clinical epidemiological characteristics of oral lichen planus (OLP) and risk factors for erosive/ulcerative OLP. Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with OLP from 11 different hospitals were included in the study. Descriptive statistical methods were used to explore the clinical epidemiological characteristics and logistic regression, sensitivity analysis, and subgroup analysis were utilized to explore the risk factors for erosive/ulcerative OLP. Results: The average age of patients was 49.2 ± 13.3 years, and 61.4% of the patients were women. The ratios of patients with reticular, hyperemic/erythematous, and erosive/ulcerative lesions were 47.9%, 27.8%, and 24.2%, respectively. Analysis of risk factors for erosive/ulcerative OLP identified the following variables: age, course of disease of 12 months or more, II°–III° dental calculus, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, as well as regions of habitation. Subgroup analysis showed significant differences in risk factors for erosive/ulcerative OLP in patients with and without risk behaviors. Conclusion: The clinical epidemiological characteristics of patients with OLP in the Chinese population in this study are basically consistent with existing reports in developed countries. And we identified clinical characteristics associated with erosive/ulcerative OLP through clinical epidemiological analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: By employing three surface‐guided radiotherapy (SGRT)‐assisted positioning methods, we conducted a prospective study of patients undergoing SGRT‐based deep inspiration breath‐hold (DIBH) radiotherapy using a Sentine/Catalys system. The aim of this study was to optimize the initial positioning workflow of SGRT‐DIBH radiotherapy for breast cancer. Materials and methods: A total of 124 patients were divided into three groups to conduct a prospective comparative study of the setup accuracy and efficiency for the daily initial setup of SGRT‐DIBH breast radiotherapy. Group A was subjected to skin marker plus SGRT verification, Group B underwent SGRT optical feedback plus auto‐positioning, and Group C was subjected to skin marker plus SGRT auto‐positioning. We evaluated setup accuracy and efficiency using cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) verification data and the total setup time. Results: In groups A, B, and C, the mean and standard deviation of the translational setup‐error vectors were small, with the highest values of the three directions observed in group A (2.4 ± 1.6, 2.9 ± 1.8, and 2.8 ± 2.1 mm). The rotational vectors in group B (1.8 ± 0.7°, 2.1 ± 0.8°, and 1.8 ± 0.7°) were significantly larger than those in groups A and C, and the Group C setup required the shortest amount of time, at 1.5 ± 0.3 min, while that of Group B took the longest time, at 2.6 ± 0.9 min. Conclusion: SGRT one‐key calibration was found to be more suitable when followed by skin marker/tattoo and in‐room laser positioning, establishing it as an optimal daily initial set‐up protocol for breast DIBH radiotherapy. This modality also proved to be suitable for free‐breathing breast cancer radiotherapy, and its widespread clinical use is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterostructures endow electrochemical hybrids with promising energy storage properties owing to synergistic effects and interfacial interaction. However, developing a facile but effective approach to maximize interface effects is crucial but challenging. Herein, a bimetallic selenide heterostructure is realized in a confined carbon network via an in situ electrochemical strategy to induce highly active and stable electrode architecture. The dynamically formed heterostructures upon repeated delithiation/lithiation process not only yield abundant interconnected SnSe2/FeSe2 heterojunctions with continuous channels for ion/electron transfer but maintain excellent conversion reversibility. Serving as anode for lithium storage, the SnSe2/FeSe2@C framework enables a high discharging capacity of 1781.9 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 after 500 cycles and superior cycling stability (no capacity fade after 1200 cycles at 2 A g−1). This study can guide future design protocols for interface engineering through the formation of dynamic channels of conversion reaction kinetics for potential applications in high‐performance electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The most common causes of plantar and heel pain are plantar fasciitis and calcaneal spurs, and they often co‐exist. Surgery is a recognized treatment for refractory plantar fasciitis. However, few studies have proposed treatment options for patients with metatarsophalangeal fasciitis with bone spurs. Accordingly, this study's purpose was to propose a four‐step surgical regimen, and to improve the surgical outcome of plantar fasciitis with osteophytes and to establish a procedure for surgical treatment. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 45 patients suffering from plantar fasciitis with bone spurs from 2020 to 2023. All patients underwent a four‐step procedure, including plantar fascia release, calcaneal spur grinding, inflammatory tissue removal, and calcaneal burr decompression. The imaging parameters and functional scores were recorded before and after the operation. The objective evaluation included the measurement of calcaneal spur length on radiographs. Clinical evaluation included the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the Foot and Ankle Outcome Scale (FAOS). Measurement data that conformed to normal distribution were expressed as (x2 ± s), and pre‐and postoperative AOFAS, FAOS, and VAS scores were compared using repeated‐measures ANOVA, and preoperative and postoperative spur lengths were compared using paired t‐tests. Results: The 45 patients were followed up for 3 to 30 months, (17.72 ± 8.53) months, at final follow‐up, the patient's AOFAS score improved from preoperative (74.93 ± 5.56) to (94.78 ± 3.98), FAOS score increased from preoperative (76.42 ± 3.37) to (96.16 ± 2.74), the VAS score decreased from (3.18 ± 0.54) to (1.07 ± 1.20) (p < 0.05), the length of spur decreased from (0.72 ± 1.81) cm to (0.23 ± 1.19) cm, and there were significant differences before and after operation (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The four‐step surgical regimen is an appropriate and effective surgical procedure to treat plantar fasciitis with bone spurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforcement is a critical aspect in the preservation of waterlogged wooden artifacts to ensure their long‐term stability. In this study, we investigated the use of bacterial cellulose compounded with xylitol as a reinforcement material for simulated waterlogged wooden artifacts at varying concentrations. Evaluation of the reinforcement effects was based on indicators such as antishrinking efficacy, mechanical strength, and microscopic morphology. Our findings revealed that bacterial cellulose alone had limited effectiveness but showed enhanced reinforcement when mixed with xylitol. Optimized conditions resulted in remarkable improvements in bending strength (94.5 MPa) and deformation (20 mm) of the reinforced wood. This study offers novel insights and a scientific foundation for the reinforcement of waterlogged wooden artifacts, with potential implications for their preservation in cultural heritage conservation practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dilute Mg–Bi alloy is a recently developed alloy system with good extrudability and ductility. However, there is a limited understanding of the influence of extrusion temperature on its microstructure when extruded at lower temperatures (≤ 300 °C), which restricts the further enhancement of its mechanical properties. In this work, we investigated the microstructure evolution at multiscale levels (micro-scale, nanoscale, and atomic scale) affected by different extrusion temperatures. The results show that particle-stimulated nucleation by the pre-existed Mg3Bi2 particle can significantly refine the grains (even down to a grain size of ~ 80 nm), and it is a dominant dynamic recrystallized mechanism, especially at 100 °C and 200 °C, though, with negligible influence on the final texture. In addition, dynamic precipitation with nano-sized precipitates (tens of nanometers) occurs in these temperatures, and they can provide the Zenner pinning effect to hinder grain growth. Most significantly, deformation-induced bismuth clusters (which can potentially be tailored to provide significant strengthening without deteriorating the ductility) were observed both in the matrix and at grain boundaries in all the extrusion temperatures. As the temperature increases, the size and the density of these clusters increases. Finally, an attempt at quantification of the strengthening contributions from the grain size, nanoparticles, clusters, and solid solution is provided, indicating the significant effect of extrusion temperature on varying these contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers are showing a great deal of interest in hydrogels due to the presence of high-water content, self-healing variants. Despite this, research into the development of smart hydrogels that have the combination of toughness, self-healing, and responsiveness to external stimuli is still lacking. Here, tough, and intelligent nanocomposite (NC) hydrogels have been developed by utilizing modified nano-crosslinker by means of gold-selenium (Au-Se) coordination interaction. The NC hydrogels demonstrate remarkable elasticity and strength, even when exposed to notches. With the optimal formulation, the nanocomposite hydrogel can achieve a maximum elongation of 1970%, a maximum fracture stress of 2.48 MPa, and a toughness of up to 9.95 MJ/m3, thanks to the dynamic gold crosslinks with improved branching. The presence of this structural attributes facilitates efficient energy dissipation within the hydrogel system. Combining Au-Se interaction as a healing element and the remarkable optothermal effect of nanoparticles, NC hydrogels can be quickly self-healed in near-infrared light exposure of 2 min, achieving a self-healing efficiency of 91%. Additionally, the hydrogels demonstrate repair potential when exposed to microwave irradiation, acid solution, and ultrasound stimulus. Moreover, a multi-responsive hydrogel composed of photothermal gold nanostructures can serve as a light-controlled drug carrier, which has smart drug release ability under external light stimulation. The advantageous properties of hydrogel make it a great option for biomedical and engineering fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa, the mechanism of its inflammatory progression has not yet been fully elucidated. PA28γ plays a significant role in a variety of immune‐related diseases. However, the exact role of PA28γ in the pathogenesis of OLP remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that PA28γ is overexpressed in epithelial cells and inflammatory cells of OLP tissues but has no significant relationship with OLP subtypes. Functionally, keratinocytes with high PA28γ expression could induce dendritic cell (DC) maturation and promote the T‐cell differentiation into Th1 cells in response to the immune response. In addition, we found that a high level of PA28γ expression is associated with high numbers of infiltrating mature DCs and activated T‐cells in OLP tissues. Mechanistically, keratinocytes with high PA28γ expression could promote the secretion of C–C motif chemokine (CCL)5, blocking CCL5 or/and its receptor CD44 could inhibit the induction of T‐cell differentiation by keratinocytes with high PA28γ expression. In conclusion, we reveal that keratinocytes with high expression of PA28γ in OLP can induce DC maturation and promote T‐cell differentiation through the CCL5‐CD44 pathway, providing previously unidentified mechanistic insights into the mechanism of inflammatory progression in OLP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Serum response factor (SRF) and myocardial‐associated transcription factor‐A (MRTF‐A) had different regulatory effects on the tumorigenesis and development in different cancers. However, the role of MRTF‐A/SRF in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains to be determined. Methods: CCK‐8 assay, cell scratch experiment, and transwell invasion assay were conducted to investigate the effects of MRTF‐A/SRF on biological behavior of OSCC cells. The expression pattern and prognostic value of MRTF‐A/SRF in OSCC were analyzed based on cBioPortal website and TCGA database. Protein–protein interaction network was visualized to identify protein functions. Go and KEGG pathway analyses were performed to investigate related pathways. The effect of MRTF‐A/SRF on epithelial–mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of OSCC cells was explored by western blot assay. Results: Overexpression of MRTF‐A/SRF inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells in vitro. High expression of SRF was related to better prognosis of OSCC patients on hard palate, alveolar ridge, and oral tongue. Besides, overexpression of MRTF‐A/SRF inhibited the EMT of OSCC cells. Conclusion: SRF was closely related to the prognosis of OSCC. High expression of SRF and its co‐activator MRTF‐A inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells in vitro, possibly via EMT suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional methods for inhibiting browning in wine are not suitable for cili (Roxburgh rose) wine, which is naturally rich in ascorbic acid and subject to restrictions on SO2 addition. In this study, the capacity of various additives to suppress the browning of cili wine caused by ascorbic acid degradation was investigated. SO2, pure reduced glutathione (GSH), regular inactive dry yeast (IDY), and IDY with various levels of glutathione enrichment (g‐IDY) were separately introduced into cili wine following the completion of alcoholic fermentation. Over a period of 12 months, the color parameters, levels of ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and GSH content of the aged cili wine were analyzed. Among the investigated additives, g‐IDY exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on browning. Moreover, adding 800 mg L−1 g‐IDY increased the total reducing power and residual GSH content by factors of 1.52 and 2.44, respectively, with respect to those of the SO2‐treated cili wine, thus enhancing its antioxidant capacity. Using ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis, a total of 22 monomeric phenolic compounds were identified. After g‐IDY treatment, the contents of 15 easily oxidizable o‐diphenols decreased, preventing the depletion of ascorbic acid as an antioxidant. As a result, the levels of ascorbic acid and total phenolics were 1.5‐fold and 1.17‐fold higher than those in the SO2‐treated wine, respectively. This study demonstrates that g‐IDY provides a new approach to preventing the browning of wine caused by ascorbic acid degradation. Practical Application: Cili wine, characterized by its high ascorbic acid content, can decelerate cellular senescence and bolster immune function, which has contributed to its popularity. Ascorbic acid, a potent antioxidant, can be spiked into white wines to significantly enhance their antioxidative properties. Nevertheless, the high ascorbic acid content in cili wine renders it susceptible to oxidation under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, which alters the wine's hue from golden to dark brown, thus diminishing its commercial value. Overcoming this browning associated with ascorbic acid degradation is therefore of considerable importance and could facilitate the advancement of the cili industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common cancers. Chemotherapy remains one dominant therapeutic strategy, while a substantial proportion of patients may develop chemotherapeutic resistance; therefore, it is particularly significant to identify the patients who could achieve maximum benefits from chemotherapy. Presently, four pyroptosis genes are reported to correlate with the chemotherapeutic response or prognosis of HNSCC, while no study has assessed the combinatorial predicting efficacy of these four genes. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the predictive value of a multi-gene pyroptosis model regarding the prognosis and chemotherapeutic responsiveness in HNSCC. Methods: By utilizing RNA-sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and the Gene Expression Omnibus database, the pyroptosis-related gene score (PRGscore) was computed for each HNSCC sample by performing a Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) based on four genes (Caspase-1, Caspase-3, Gasdermin D, Gasdermin E). The prognostic significance of the PRGscore was assessed through Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier survival analyses. Additionally, chemotherapy sensitivity stratified by high and low PRGscore was examined to determine the potential association between pyroptosis activity and chemosensitivity. Furthermore, chemotherapy sensitivity assays were conducted in HNSCC cell lines in vitro. Results: As a result, our study successfully formulated a PRGscore reflective of pyroptotic activity in HNSCC. Higher PRGscore correlates with worse prognosis. However, patients with higher PRGscore were remarkably more responsive to chemotherapy. In agreement, chemotherapy sensitivity tests on HNSCC cell lines indicated a positive association between overall pyroptosis levels and chemosensitivity to cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil; in addition, patients with higher PRGscore may benefit from the immunotherapy. Overall, our study suggests that HNSCC patients with higher PRGscore, though may have a less favorable prognosis, chemotherapy and immunotherapy may exhibit better benefits in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A coffee-certified reference material (CRM) for ochratoxin A, B, and C (OTA, OTB, and OTC) was created to improve the precision and reliability of these toxins. A collection of 100 bottles (each containing 10 g) of the CRM candidate for OTA, OTB, and OTC was produced by applying a mixed standard solution of OTA, OTB, and OTC to moderately roasted beans that subsequently ground and homogenized. Moreover, considering the intricate matrix interference in coffee, a rapid and sensitive method for OTA, OTB, and OTC in coffee was developed with minimal matrix effects. This approach employed liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and mixed purification materials (C18 and hydroxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), OH-MWCNTs) for the analysis. Based on the standards GB/T 15000.3-2008/ISO Guide 35: 2017, the CRM demonstrated robust uniformity and stability when stored for 14 d at 4, 20, and 40 °C, and 12 months at −20 °C. Eight laboratories were employed to characterize the CRM. The certified values for OTA, OTB, and OTC in coffee were established to be 15.2 ± 0.4, 12.8 ± 0.4, and 3.4 ± 0.1 μg/kg (with a coverage factor k = 2, representing an approximate 95% confidence interval). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on studying the optimization problem of multi-agent systems (MAS) under undirected graph. To reduce the communication frequency among agents, a zero-gradient-sum (ZGS) algorithm based on dynamic event-triggered (DET) mechanism is investigated. The event-triggered condition of each agent only uses its own state information and the neighbor's state information at the previous triggering instants, without requiring continuous state information from the neighbor. In addition, the designed algorithm allows for the sampling period to be arbitrarily large. The Lyapunov method is utilized to derive the sufficient conditions that incorporate time delay and parameters. As the event is only checked at the periodic moment, zeno behavior can be directly excluded. Finally, numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cold hardiness is fundamental for amphibians to survive during the extremely cold winter on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Exploring the gene regulation mechanism of freezing-tolerant Rana kukunoris could help us to understand how the frogs survive in winter. Results: Transcriptome of liver and muscle of R. kukunoris collected in hibernation and spring were assisted by single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology. A total of 10,062 unigenes of R. kukunoris were obtained, and 9,924 coding sequences (CDS) were successfully annotated. Our examination of the mRNA response to whole body freezing and recover in the frogs revealed key genes concerning underlying antifreeze proteins and cryoprotectants (glucose and urea). Functional pathway analyses revealed differential regulated pathways of ribosome, energy supply, and protein metabolism which displayed a freeze-induced response and damage recover. Genes related to energy supply in the muscle of winter frogs were up-regulated compared with the muscle of spring frogs. The liver of hibernating frogs maintained modest levels of protein synthesis in the winter. In contrast, the liver underwent intensive high levels of protein synthesis and lipid catabolism to produce substantial quantity of fresh proteins and energy in spring. Differences between hibernation and spring were smaller than that between tissues, yet the physiological traits of hibernation were nevertheless passed down to active state in spring. Conclusions: Based on our comparative transcriptomic analyses, we revealed the likely adaptive mechanisms of R. kukunoris. Ultimately, our study expands genetic resources for the freezing-tolerant frogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonaqueous catalysis of lipases is significant for synthesis of high pure esters, but they usually behave low catalytic activity due to denaturation and aggregation of enzyme protein in organic phases. To improve the nonaqueous catalysis, the inexpensive copper phthalocyanine was taken as a new carrier on which Pseudomonas cepacia lipase was immobilized by physical absorption, and used for synthesis of hexyl acetate, an important flavor, via transesterification of hexanol and vinyl acetate. Results showed that the desired loading was 10-mg lipase immobilized on 10-mg copper phthalocyanine powder. When the immobilized lipase was employed in the reaction system consisted of 1.5-mL hexanol and 1.5-mL vinyl acetate at 37°C and 160 rpm, the conversion was fivefolds of that catalyzed by native lipase after 1 h, and reached 99.0% after 8 h. In six times of 8-h reuses, the immobilized lipase behaved an activity attenuation rate 1.22% h−1, lower than 1.77% h−1 of native lipase, which meant that the immobilized lipase was more stable. Even at the room temperature and the static state without shaking or stirring, the immobilized lipase still brought conversion 42.8% after 10 h and the native lipase gave 20.1%. Obviously, the immobilized lipase is an available biocatalyst in organic phase and has great potential in food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larvae of Melolonthinae (white grubs) are usually considered as serious pests for some of them attacking plant roots and causing great losses of agriculture and forestry. However, not all the white grubs are pest species. In this study, the adult Apogonia cupreoviridis were observed to feed on gramineous grasses and fallen ginkgo leaves, while their larvae were frequently collected in the lawn. The larvae were reared in the laboratory and observed using scanning electron microscopy. The larvae have the plegmatia expanded in the middle; distal antennomere with an apical process bearing one bifurcated sensilla and nine sensilla basiconica on the apex; the palidia are V‐shaped and each palidium bearing five to nine pali. The V‐shaped palidia are found in the known larvae of Diplotaxini, as to genera Apogonia and Liogenys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iodine, primarily in the form of iodide (I−), is the bioavailable form for the thyroid in the human body. Both deficiency and excess intake of iodide can lead to serious health issues, such as thyroid disease. Selecting iodide ions among anions has been a significant challenge for decades due to interference from other anions. In this study, we designed and synthesized a new pincer-type acridine–triazole fluorescent probe (probe 1) with an acridine ring as a spacer and a triazole as a linking arm attached to two naphthol groups. This probe can selectively recognize iodide ions in a mixed solvent of THF/H2O (v/v, 9/1), changing its color from colorless to light yellow, making it suitable for highly sensitive and selective colorimetric and fluorescent detection in water systems. We also synthesized another molecular tweezer-type acridine–triazole fluorescent probe (probe 2) that exhibits uniform detection characteristics for iodide ions in the acetonitrile system. Interestingly, compared to probe 2, probe 1 can be detected by the naked eye due to its circulation effect, providing a simple method for iodine detection. The detection limit of probe 1 is determined to be 10−8 mol·L−1 by spectrometric titration and isothermal titration calorimetry measurements. The binding stoichiometry between probe 1 and iodide ions is calculated to be 1:1 by these methods, and the binding constant is 2 × 105 mol·L−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a switched capacitor-based soft-switching proportional dimming LED driver to address color-mixing LED applications. The driver utilizes a half-bridge switch structure and incorporates a switched capacitor to regulate the dual resonant network. This configuration facilitates current sharing across each resonant network and enables fixed proportion dimming between them. The common inductance leveraged in this design results in fewer switching devices, thereby enhancing efficiency. Furthermore, all switches and diodes achieve soft switching, contributing to high efficiency. Finally, this paper built a 19 W experimental prototype, and the maximum efficiency reached 95.56%, which verified the correctness and feasibility of the driver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sugarcane endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Klebsiella variícola DX120E displayed broad impact on growth, but the exact biological mechanism, especially polyamines (PAs) role, is still meager. Methods: To reveal this relationship, the content of polyamine oxidase (PAO), PAs, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging antioxidative enzymes, phytohormones, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic synthase (ACS), chlorophyll content, and biomass were determined in sugarcane incubated with the DX120E strain. In addition, expression levels of the genes associated with polyamine metabolism were measured by transcriptomic analysis. Results: Genomic analysis of Klebsiella variícola DX120E revealed that 39 genes were involved in polyamine metabolism, transport, and the strain secrete PAs in vitro. Following a 7-day inoculation period, DX120E stimulated an increase in the polyamine oxidase (PAO) enzyme in sugarcane leaves, however, the overall PAs content was reduced. At 15 days, the levels of PAs, ROS-scavenging antioxidative enzymes, and phytohormones showed an upward trend, especially spermidine (Spd), putrescine (Put), catalase (CAT), auxin (IAA), gibberellin (GA), and ACS showed a significant up-regulation. The GO and KEGG enrichment analysis found a total of 73 differentially expressed genes, involving in the cell wall (9), stimulus response (13), peroxidase activity (33), hormone (14) and polyamine metabolism (4). Discussion: This study demonstrated that endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacteria stimulated polyamine metabolism and phytohormones production in sugarcane plant tissues, resulting in enhanced growth. Dual RNA-seq analyses provided insight into the early-stage interaction between sugarcane seedlings and endophytic bacteria at the transcriptional level. It showed how diverse metabolic processes selectively use distinct molecules to complete the cell functions under present circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant viruses must move through plasmodesmata (PD) to complete their life cycles. For viruses in the Potyviridae family (potyvirids), three viral factors (P3N-PIPO, CI, and CP) and few host proteins are known to participate in this event. Nevertheless, not all the proteins engaging in the cell-to-cell movement of potyvirids have been discovered. Here, we found that HCPro2 encoded by areca palm necrotic ring spot virus (ANRSV) assists viral intercellular movement, which could be functionally complemented by its counterpart HCPro from a potyvirus. Affinity purification and mass spectrometry identified several viral factors (including CI and CP) and host proteins that are physically associated with HCPro2. We demonstrated that HCPro2 interacts with both CI and CP in planta in forming PD-localized complexes during viral infection. Further, we screened HCPro2-associating host proteins, and identified a common host protein in Nicotiana benthamiana–Rubisco small subunit (NbRbCS) that mediates the interactions of HCPro2 with CI or CP, and CI with CP. Knockdown of NbRbCS impairs these interactions, and significantly attenuates the intercellular and systemic movement of ANRSV and three other potyvirids (turnip mosaic virus, pepper veinal mottle virus, and telosma mosaic virus). This study indicates that a nucleus-encoded chloroplast-targeted protein is hijacked by potyvirids as the scaffold protein to assemble a complex to facilitate viral movement across cells. Author summary: Potyviridae is the largest family of RNA viruses in the plant kingdom, consisting of genetically diverse members that adversely affect agriculturally and economically important crops. However, viral and host components in the local movement of potyvirids, an essential step for viruses to spread through the whole plant, are still not fully understood. Thus far, three viral factors (P3N-PIPO, CI and CP) and several host proteins are known to be engaged coordinately in this event. Here, we found that another viral protein, HCPro2, also aids a potyvirid in the intercellular movement. HCPro2 facilitates the virus to move through plasmodesmata (PD), the gate between two plant cells, by forming a complex with CI and CP. More intriguingly, we found that NbRbCS, one of the most abundant proteins in a plant cell, interacts with all the above viral factors in mediating viral movement across plant cells. Reduction of NbRbCS levels greatly impairs the intercellular movement of four tested potyvirids. These data suggest that a common chloroplast protein is co-opted as a pro-viral factor in assembling a complex for viral movement. This finding provides a new insight in our understanding of potyvirids' movement in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Oral lichen planus, a chronic inflammatory immune disease, occurs in the oral mucosa. We aimed to assess the prevalence and possible influencing factors of oral lichen planus in patients with diabetes mellitus. Subjects and Methods: This cross‐sectional study involved 525 patients with diabetes mellitus and 525 controls. We collected information on blood glucose level, duration of diabetes, diabetic complications, treatment methods, other systemic diseases and medication history. Results: Oral lichen planus was significantly more prevalent in the diabetes mellitus/type 2 diabetes mellitus group than in the controls (2.3%/2.2% vs. 0.6%, p = 0.019/0.022). There was no significant association between patients with diabetes mellitus with and those without oral lichen planus in age (p = 0.195), sex (p = 0.390), blood glucose level (p = 1), duration of diabetes (p = 0.638), diabetic complications (p = 1), treatment methods (p = 0.962), other systemic diseases (p = 0.891) and medication history (p = 0.848). Conclusions: Diabetes mellitus was associated with oral lichen planus; there was a higher prevalence of oral lichen planus in patients with diabetes mellitus/type 2 diabetes mellitus than in those without diabetes. Oral lichen planus development in patients with diabetes mellitus was not significantly associated with age, sex, blood glucose level, duration of diabetes, diabetic complications, treatment methods, other systemic diseases and medication history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To observe morphologic and functional changes in meibomian glands in pediatric patients with and without lower eyelid epiblepharon. Methods: In this prospective observation study, 55 eyes of 55 patients(24 males, 31 females; mean age ± SD,9.82 ± 2.59 years; range 6–14 years) and 60 eyes of 60 controls (32 males, 28 females; mean age ± SD,10.57 ± 2.75 years; range 6–14 years) were included. The following tests were performed: eyelid margin abnormality by slit-lamp examination, measurement of noninvasive keratographic break-up time (NIKBUT), grading of absence of meibomian gland (meibography score) assessed with noncontact meibography, morphologic changes of meibomian glands (thinning, dilatation and distortion), tear production by the Schirmer 1 test, and grading of meibum quality and meibomian gland expressibility. Results: The morphologic changes in meibomian glands were more common in the epiblepharon group (56.36%) than in the control group (28.33%) (p = 0.002). The meibum quality was worse in the epiblepharon group than in the control group (p = 0.009), and the NIKBUT was significantly shorter in the epiblepharon group than in the control group (p = 0.012). There was no significant difference in the Schirmer 1 test, meibomian gland expressibility, eyelid margin abnormality score or total meibography score between the two groups. Morphologic changes in the meibomian glands in the upper eyelids (38.18%) were more common than those in the lower eyelids (20%) (p = 0.036) in the epiblepharon group, and the meibography score was higher in the upper eyelids than in the lower eyelids (p = 0.001). Conclusion: There are morphological and functional changes in meibomian glands in pediatric patients with lower eyelid epiblepharon. Although the inverted eyelashes were located in the lower eyelid, morphological changes in the meibomian glands were more common in the upper eyelid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology has gained significant traction as an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and intelligent self-healing method for concrete cracks. The harsh service environment and high alkalinity of cement matrices have posed a significant challenge to the survival and growth of bacteria, which is crucial for the success of MICP technologies in concrete components. This article aims to present an up-to-date overview of the current research status of self-healing concrete cracks utilizing MICP technology. Specifically, it comprehensively reviews the selection of mineralization repair systems, encompassing repair mechanisms, effects, processes, nutrient addition sequences, and carrier selection. Furthermore, various characterization methods for evaluating the self-healing ability of concrete are explored, accompanied by an in-depth analysis of practical applications of self-healing concrete. Finally, this paper highlights the pressing issues facing this technology while outlining promising directions for future advancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deep learning (DL) CT denoising models have the potential to improve image quality for lower radiation dose exams. These models are generally trained with large quantities of adult patient image data. However, CT, and increasingly DL denoising methods, are used in both adult and pediatric populations. Pediatric body habitus and size can differ significantly from adults and vary dramatically from newborns to adolescents. Ensuring that pediatric subgroups of different body sizes are not disadvantaged by DL methods requires evaluations capable of assessing performance in each subgroup. Purpose: To assess DL CT denoising in pediatric and adult‐sized patients, we built a framework of computer simulated image quality (IQ) control phantoms and evaluation methodology. Methods: The computer simulated IQ phantoms in the framework featured pediatric‐sized versions of standard CatPhan 600 and MITA‐LCD phantoms with a range of diameters matching the mean effective diameters of pediatric patients ranging from newborns to 18 years old. These phantoms were used in simulating CT images that were then inputs for a DL denoiser to evaluate performance in different sized patients. Adult CT test images were simulated using standard‐sized phantoms scanned with adult scan protocols. Pediatric CT test images were simulated with pediatric‐sized phantoms and adjusted pediatric protocols. The framework's evaluation methodology consisted of denoising both adult and pediatric test images then assessing changes in image quality, including noise, image sharpness, CT number accuracy, and low contrast detectability. To demonstrate the use of the framework, a REDCNN denoising model trained on adult patient images was evaluated. To validate that the DL model performance measured with the proposed pediatric IQ phantoms was representative of performance in more realistic patient anatomy, anthropomorphic pediatric XCAT phantoms of the same age range were also used to compare noise reduction performance. Results: Using the proposed pediatric‐sized IQ phantom framework, size differences between adult and pediatric‐sized phantoms were observed to substantially influence the adult trained DL denoising model's performance. When applied to adult images, the DL model achieved a 60% reduction in noise standard deviation without substantial loss in sharpness in mid or high spatial frequencies. However, in smaller phantoms the denoising performance dropped due to different image noise textures resulting from the smaller field of view (FOV) between adult and pediatric protocols. In the validation study, noise reduction trends in the pediatric‐sized IQ phantoms were found to be consistent with those found in anthropomorphic phantoms. Conclusion: We developed a framework of using pediatric‐sized IQ phantoms for pediatric subgroup evaluation of DL denoising models. Using the framework, we found the performance of an adult trained DL denoiser did not generalize well in the smaller diameter phantoms corresponding to younger pediatric patient sizes. Our work suggests noise texture differences from FOV changes between adult and pediatric protocols can contribute to poor generalizability in DL denoising and that the proposed framework is an effective means to identify these performance disparities for a given model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A decline in atmospheric oxygen concentration is projected in the 21st century given the background of global warming. The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is located at a high altitude, and thus, it faces a hypoxia challenge; however, knowledge of the factors contributing to its atmospheric oxygen concentration is still lacking. Here, we conducted joint observations of ecosystem oxygen production and carbon sinks and near-surface atmospheric oxygen concentrations on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and meteorological elements at Beijing Fangshan Station. Using seasonal differences and statistical methods, we calculated the relative contribution rates of vegetation to changes in atmospheric oxygen concentration. Our results indicate that solar radiation, atmospheric humidity, and ecosystem oxygen consumption and production have a significant impact on the atmospheric oxygen concentration, and the impact shows temporal and spatial differences. Vegetation significantly impacts the oxygen concentration, with a contribution rate of 16.7%–24.5%, which is underestimated in existing research. Our findings provide important insights into the factors that influence atmospheric oxygen concentration and highlight the contribution of vegetation. To better understand the oxygen dynamics of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, we recommend further field observations of soil respiration and vegetation photosynthesis to clarify the contributions of carbon storage, carbon sinks and other factors to the near-surface atmospheric oxygen concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the synthesis of isocoumarins using Rhodium (Rh) complexes as catalysts. The authors explore the use of phenacyl phosphoniums and iodonium ylides as building blocks in this process. They present their experimental findings, optimization of reaction conditions, and the scope of the reaction with various phenacyl phosphoniums. The research provides valuable insights into the synthesis of isocoumarins using Rh-catalyzed C-H activation. Additionally, the document provides detailed information on the synthesis and characterization of specific compounds, including their chemical structures, yields, physical properties, and spectroscopic data. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: The existing state of petroleum in soil not only affected the migration of other substances but also changed soil ecology. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the distribution coefficient (Kd) of carbon tetrachloride (CT) in soils with different contents of petroleum and organic matter and to judge the existing state of petroleum in soil by the interaction of organic matter and petroleum with CT. Methods: Three different kinds of soil were used to prepare petroleum-contaminated soils with different concentration gradients and to age them. The adsorption capacity (Q) of CT in the different soil–water systems was determined by headspace-gas chromatography, and the adsorption isotherms were drawn. Results: Kd demonstrated a rapid enhancement effect in relatively low and high petroleum content. Kd demonstrated the slow enhancement effect in a relatively moderate petroleum content (the ratio of petroleum content to organic matter content is slightly greater than 5%), which can be observed in petroleum-contaminated soils of high mineral content. The slow enhancement of Kd was due to the formation of a separate petroleum phase (SPP) on the mineral surface by adsorption of petroleum, and SPP thin film can interact with minerals to weaken the adsorption of CT. The adsorption coefficient (KSPP) of CT in SPP increased linearly with the increase of SPP film thickness (R2 > 0.998). The increasing rate of KSPP depended on the specific surface area and mineral content of the soil. Conclusion: When the ratio of soil petroleum content to organic matter content was greater than 5%, the SOM reached the state of petroleum saturation. The extra petroleum coated mineral surface can kill soil microbes and reduce soil microbial community diversity. The petroleum saturation point of SOM provides a basis for risk assessment of petroleum-contaminated soils and the protection of soil biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil organic matter can protect plants and microorganisms from toxic substances. Beyond the tolerance limit, the toxicity of petroleum pollution to soil organisms may increase rapidly with the increase of petroleum content. However, the method for evaluating the petroleum tolerance limit of soil organic matter (SOM) is still lacking. In this study, the petroleum saturation limit in SOM was first evaluated by the sorption coefficient (Kd) of 1,2-dichlorobenzene (DCB) from water to soils containing different petroleum levels. The sorption isotherm of dichlorobenzene in several petroleum-contaminated soils with different organic matter content and the microbial toxicity test of several petroleum-contaminated soils were determined. It is found that when the petroleum content is about 5% of the soil organic matter content, the sorption of petroleum to organic matter reached saturation limit. When organic matter reaches petroleum saturation limit, the sorption coefficient of DCB by soil particles increased linearly with the increase of petroleum content (R2 > 0.991). The results provided important insights into the understanding the fate of petroleum pollutants in soil and the analysis of soil toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrodynamic cavitation, which occurs when the local pressure is below the saturated vapor pressure in hydrodynamic flow, is ubiquitous in fluid dynamics and implicated in a myriad of industrial and biomedical applications. Although extensively studied in isotropic liquids, corresponding investigations in anisotropic liquids are largely lacking. In this paper, the hydrodynamic cavitation in the bluff body bypass flow of nematic liquid crystal 5CB in the microchannel is experimentally investigated. By 5CB, we mean the thermotropic liquid crystal 4′-pentyl-4-biphenylcarbonitrile. When the Reynolds number is in the range of 3 × 10−4 < Re < 1.2 × 10−3, a special flow phenomenon behind the bluff body is observed, namely, the disclination loop. The critical Reynolds number of cavitation inception varies with the shape of the bluff body, while the lowest value corresponds to the triangular bluff body. The hydrodynamic cavitation occurs in the Stokes flow regime with the Reynolds number significantly lower than 0.1 for all bluff bodies. There is a close relation between the oscillation behavior of cavitation domains and the structure of the bluff body. In addition, the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of the microchannel shows linear relation with the Reynolds number rather than the quadratic relation for isotropic fluids, which proves the presence of shear thinning in the flow of nematic liquid crystals. The study in this paper on the hydrodynamic cavitation of nematic liquid crystal can broaden the research on providing new approaches for the enhancement of fluid mixing and heat transfer in microfluidic chips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the ecologically vulnerable Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), hypoxia is increasingly becoming an extremely important environmental risk factor that significantly affects the health of both humans and livestock in the plateau region, as well as hindering high-quality development. To focus on the problem of hypoxia, it is especially urgent to study the surface oxygen concentration (i.e., oxygen concentration). However, the existing research is not sufficient, and there is a lack of oxygen concentration data collected on the QTP. In this study, through the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research and field measurements, the oxygen concentration data and corresponding geographic environmental data were collected at 807 measurement points on the QTP from 2017 to 2022, and the spatiotemporal oxygen concentration patterns were estimated. This work filled the gaps in the measurement and research of oxygen concentrations on the QTP while providing data support for analyses of the influencing factors and spatiotemporal characteristics of oxygen concentrations, which is of great significance for promoting the construction of ecological civilization in the QTP region. Measurement(s) Surface oxygen concentration Technology Type(s) Field measurement, model estimation Factor Type(s) Geographic location, raster Sample Characteristic - Environment Land cover Sample Characteristic - Location Qinghai-Tibet Plateau [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the effectiveness of a cooperative skill intervention program using theme-based joint block play for young children. Thirty-two 4–5 years old preschoolers from Shanghai, China, were assigned to the experimental group while thirty-two children comprised the comparison group. The experimental group was engaged in an 8-week theme-based joint block play program, whereas the comparison group received no intervention but engaged in free block play during school time. Baseline, post-intervention and 2-month follow-up measures included the Deutsch & Krauss Trucking game and observations of children's cooperative skills in pretend activities that occurred in the preschool classroom. Results indicated that the experimental group achieved significantly higher scores in the trucking game, and was observed to endorse significantly less mandatory strategy and more prosocial strategy in pretend play activities than the comparison group. The findings suggest that theme-based block play activities can enhance children's cooperative awareness and skills effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larvae of Notodontidae are peculiar for the noticeably modified anal prolegs, and the morphological differences on mouthparts during larval development. However, the underlying relationships between these morphological characters and living strategies are not well elucidated. In this study, the larvae of Uropyia meticulodina were obtained through rearing and observed using scanning electron microscopy. The larval mouthparts show morphological differences between the first and the final instar, especially on the mandibles, labral notches, and spinnerets. The larvae are also atypical for the specialized anal stemapoda carrying eversible distal glands and prominent setae on dorsal surface. Based on our observation, the larvae prefer to live and chew on the ventral surface of host leaves before their first molts, but are more frequently discovered to crawl or bite on the leaf edges during later instars. The morphology, biology, feeding, and defensive strategies were briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Small animal irradiation is essential to study the radiation response of new interventions before or parallel to human therapy. Image‐guided radiotherapy (IGRT) and intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) are recently adopted in small animal irradiation to more closely mimic human treatments. However, sophisticated techniques require exceedingly high time, resources, and expertize that are often impractical. Purpose: We propose a high throughput and high precision platform named Multiple Mouse Automated Treatment Environment (Multi‐MATE) to streamline image‐guided small animal irradiation. Methods: Multi‐MATE consists of six parallel and hexagonally arranged channels, each equipped with a transfer railing, a 3D‐printed immobilization pod, and an electromagnetic control unit, computer‐controlled via an Arduino interface. The mouse immobilization pods are transferred along the railings between the home position outside the radiation field and the imaging/irradiation position at the irradiator isocenter. All six immobilization pods are transferred to the isocenter in the proposed workflow for parallel CBCT scans and treatment planning. The immobilization pods are then sequentially transported to the imaging/therapy position for dose delivery. The positioning reproducibility of Multi‐MATE are evaluated using CBCT and radiochromic films. Results: While parallelizing and automating the image‐guided small animal radiation delivery, Multi‐MATE achieved the average pod position reproducibility of 0.17 ± 0.04 mm in the superior–inferior direction, 0.20 ± 0.04 mm in the left–right direction, and 0.12 ± 0.02mm in the anterior–posterior direction in repeated CBCT tests. Additionally, in image‐guided dose delivery tasks, Multi‐MATE demonstrated the positioning reproducibility of 0.17 ± 0.06 mm in the superior–inferior direction, 0.19 ± 0.06 mm in the left–right direction. Conclusions: We designed, fabricated, and tested a novel automated irradiation platform, Multi‐MATE to accelerate and automate image‐guided small animal irradiation. The automated platform minimizes human operation and achieves high setup reproducibility and image‐guided dose delivery accuracy. Multi‐MATE thus removes a major barrier to implementing high‐precision preclinical radiation research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 6 February 2023, two 7.8 magnitude earthquakes consecutively hit south-central Türkiye, causing great concern from all governments, the United Nations, academia, and all sectors of society. Analyses indicate that there is also a high possibility of strong earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.8 or above occurring in the western region of China in the coming years. China is a country that is highly susceptible to catastrophic disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and other natural calamities, which can cause significant damages to both human life and property, as well as widespread impacts on the society. Currently, China's capacity for disaster prevention and control is still limited. In order to effectively reduce the impact of catastrophic disasters, ensure the safety of people's lives and property to the greatest extent possible, maintain social stability in high-risk areas, and ensure high-quality and sustainable regional development, it is urgent to improve the seismic resistance level of houses and critical infrastructure in high earthquake risk zones and increase the earthquake-resistant design level of houses in high-risk fault areas with frequent seismic activities; significantly enhance the ability to defend against extreme weather and ocean disasters in economically developed areas along the southeastern coast, as well as the level of fortification in response to extreme meteorological and hydrological disasters of coastal towns/cities and key infrastructure; vigorously enhance the emergency response capacity and disaster risk prevention level in western and ethnic minority regions; comprehensively improve the defense level of residential areas and major infrastructure in high geological hazard risk zones with flash floods, landslides, and mudslides; systematically promote national disaster prevention and mitigation education; and greatly enhance the societal disaster risk reduction ability, including catastrophic insurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the inconsistency between past return and profitability growth to explore the mispricing explanation for short-term reversal. Our empirical results indicate that reversal profits are more concentrated in stocks where past returns are inconsistent with profitability growth. Based on our finding, we develop a growth-anchored reversal (GAR) strategy defined as buying past losers with high profitability growth and selling past winners with low growth. This refined short-term reversal strategy turns out to be more profitable than conventional reversal strategy in the Chinese stock market. Our results remain robust under different sample periods, different market situations and alternative profitability measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution of CH4 emissions from paddy soils to greenhouse gas emissions is key in the evaluation of future climate change scenarios. Most studies in this field have investigated the effects of elevated CO2 concentrations (e[CO2]s) on CH4 fluxes and methanogenic communities in paddy soils under constant CO2 concentrations ([CO2]s). However, atmospheric [CO2] is gradually increasing and the relationship between future climate change and CH4 emissions from paddy fields is poorly understood. This study explored the responses of CH4 fluxes and methanogenic communities in paddy soils to different e[CO2]s using open-top chambers. The rice biomass, CH4 fluxes, methane production potential, and methanogenic characteristics were analyzed under CK (ambient [CO2]), C1 (e[CO2] by 120 µmol mol–1), and C2 (e[CO2] by 200 µmol mol–1) treatments. The results indicated that the C1 and C2 treatments insignificantly increased the CH4 flux in paddy fields. However, the C1 treatment significantly increased the CH4 flux/biomass at the elongation stage, while the C2 treatment significantly increased the CH4 flux/biomass at all of the growth stages. The C1 and C2 treatments had a positive effect on both methane production potential and methanogenic abundance at all of the growth stages, but this effect was not always significant. In addition, the C1 and C2 treatments significantly altered the methanogenic community structure at the elongation stage. Notably, there was a significant linear relationship between the CH4 flux/biomass and [CO2] at all of the growth stages; between the methane production potential and [CO2] at the tillering, elongation, and milk-ripening stages; and between the mcrA gene abundance and [CO2] at the milk-ripening stage. A linear model based on rice biomass, methane production potential, and soil DOC concentration explained 72.7% of the variation in the CH4 fluxes. Overall, the linear relationship between CH4 fluxes and atmospheric [CO2] levels was controlled by the rice biomass, soil carbon substrate, and methanogenic communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term "left-behind adolescent" refers to adolescents who remain in the household registration area to live with their one parent or temporary guardian because both or one of their parents have left town for work. Subjective vitality is a crucial indicator of healthy adolescent growth. However, few studies have been conducted on the factors associated with the left-behind adolescents' subjective vitality. This study investigated the level of subjective vitality of left-behind adolescents and explored the potential mechanisms between the parent-child relationship and subjective vitality. We collected a sample of 604 secondary school students from a rural region in southwest China (52.98% female; Mage = 13.76; SD = 0.88). We compared a mediation model among adolescents left behind by fathers (N = 200), mothers (N = 122), and both parents (N = 282). The results found that parent-child relationships were positively associated with subjective vitality. Basic psychological needs and meaning in life both mediated the relationship between the parent-child relationship and subjective vitality among left-behind adolescents. There was no significant difference in the role of the father-child relationship and the mother-child relationship. In addition, unlike previous research, we discovered no direct association between the mother-child relationship and subjective vitality when mothers were absent. And there was no significant direct relationship between the father-child relationship and subjective vitality when fathers were absent. Our findings add incremental insight into how parental absence affects left-behind adolescents' positive psychological development. Highlights: The left-behind adolescents' subjective vitality was strongly and positively related to parent-child relationships (the father-child and the mother-child relationship), BPNs, and meaning in life. BPNs and meaning in life both mediated the relationship between the parent-child relationship and subjective vitality among left-behind adolescents. There was no significant difference in the role of the father-child relationship and the mother-child relationship. This study illustrates that the absent parent cannot provide the left-behind adolescents with the necessary psychological support to direct promote subjective vitality. In contrast, only the remaining parent would promote the adolescents' sense of vitality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parenteral nutrition (PN), a vital therapy for patients with intestinal failure, can lead to the development of parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease (PNALD). In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of Lactobacillus johnsonii (L. johnsonii) in a rat model of PNALD. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN)-fed rats were used to assess the role of L. johnsonii in liver steatosis, bile acid metabolism, gut microbiota, and hepatocyte apoptosis. We observed a depletion of L. johnsonii that was negatively correlated with the accumulation of glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA), a known apoptosis inducer, in rats subjected to TPN. L. johnsonii attenuated TPN-induced liver steatosis by inhibiting fatty acid synthesis and promoting fatty acid oxidation. TPN resulted in a decrease in bile acid synthesis and biliary bile secretion, which were partially restored by L. johnsonii treatment. The gut microbial profile revealed depletion of pathogenic bacteria in L. johnsonii-treated rats. L. johnsonii treatment reduced both hepatic GCDCA levels and hepatocyte apoptosis compared with the TPN group. In vitro, L. johnsonii treatment inhibited GCDCA-induced hepatocyte apoptosis via its bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity. Our findings suggest that L. johnsonii protects against liver steatosis, bile acid dysregulation, and hepatocyte apoptosis in TPN-fed rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]