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Hong Kong and mainland China’s socioeconomic transitions in the past few decades have led to changes in identity and intergroup attitudes among young adults. However, understanding such changes between local and mainland young adults in Hong Kong’s current social context is limited. This study explores whether local and mainland university students in Hong Kong have different intergroup knowledge, attitudes, and intended behaviors; whether these two groups of students respond to intergroup contact intervention differently; and whether and how has local students’ superior identity been influenced by Hong Kong’s economic, geopolitical, and sociocultural development. Our data came from an intergroup contact intervention among 72 university students in Hong Kong (including 32 local and 40 mainland students, 75% female, MAge = 23). Using a two-arm Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) design, participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (a 1-day workshop with incremental levels of contact intimacy) or a control group (a 1-day workshop with limited contact intimacy). Our findings indicate that local university students displayed relatively more negative attitudes toward mainland students and are less responsive to the intergroup contact intervention, which only enhanced local students’ outgroup knowledge but not their attitudes or intended behaviors. This result may suggest local young adults’ transition out of a superior social identity. Our findings call for more university activities to enhance local and mainland students’ mutual understanding and larger-sample research to explore both groups’ perspectives. Future intergroup interventions should address potential barriers such as varied intervention effectiveness by participants’ background.

Prenatal emotional distress is common in pregnant women. Altered emotional distress can occur from the very beginning to the end of pregnancy. Heart rate variability (HRV) has recently become considered to be a potentially reliable psychophysiological stress biomarker in adults. In the current study, we evaluated ultra-short-term HRV (1-minute measurement) as a psychophysiological biomarker by examining the association between HRV parameters and self-reported prenatal emotional distress among pregnant women (N = 230) across three trimesters of pregnancy. Results: Prenatal emotional distress was associated with a lower root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats (RMSSD), NN50, and SDNN Index among pregnant women who are in the second trimester. For women in the first and third trimester of pregnancy, prenatal emotional distress was not significantly correlated with any HRV indicators. Limitations: The cross-sectional nature of our results limits the directional expression and assessment of the relationships, and longitudinal studies that target the recruitment of more pregnant women with subtypes of emotional distress issues are also needed. Conclusions: Time-domain parameters of low HRV (associated with reduced parasympathetic activity) can potentially serve as an efficient psychophysiological biomarker for prenatal emotional distress in the second trimester of pregnancy. However, the time-domain HRV indicators in pregnant women in the first and third trimesters may be affected by other physiological and psychological fluctuations, thus decreasing the HRV biomarker’s efficiency in predicting their prenatal emotional distress.

Abstract One of the core goals of Digital Health Technologies (DHT) is to transform healthcare services and delivery by shifting primary care from hospitals into the community. However, achieving this goal will rely on the collection, use and storage of large datasets. Some of these datasets will be linked to multiple sources, and may include highly sensitive health information that needs to be transferred across institutional and jurisdictional boundaries. The growth of DHT has outpaced the establishment of clear legal pathways to facilitate the collection, use and transfer of potentially sensitive health data. Our study aimed to address this gap with an ethical code to guide researchers developing DHT with international collaborative partners in Singapore. We generated this code using a modified Policy Delphi process designed to engage stakeholders in the deliberation of health data ethics and governance. This paper reports the outcomes of this process along with the key components of the code and identifies areas for future research.

Mg-based alloys are regard to be suitable hydrolysis materials for hydrogen generation. The mechanico-chemical reaction (MCR) strategy was employed to effectively activate Mg-based binary alloys as well as elevate their environmental stability. MCR is proved to be an effective way to activate Mg-based binary alloys and enhance the ability to resist environmental toxicity. The hydrolysis H2 generation process of MCR Mg25Ni, Mg30Ce and Mg30La samples after environmental exposure are elevated and the final H2 capacities can increase to 186.1, 204.8 and 341.4 mL·g−1 with the fastest H2 generation rates of 26.0, 24.2 and 41.5 mL·g−1·min−1, respectively. The generation capacities of the above-mentioned samples are 297, 370 and 629 mL·g−1 at 318 K within 10 min, respectively. Mg-based binary alloys can be effectively activated by MCR and Maintain high reactivity at the same time. The hydrogen generation activation energies of MCR Mg25Ni, Mg30Ce and Mg30La after environmental exposure are 26.6, 30.8 and 23.3 kJ·mol−1, respectively. The above-mentioned work may provide a feasible strategy to activate the as-cast Mg-based alloys and elevate the Resistance to environmental toxicity, which may pave the way for applying the portable hydrogen generators.

The Shibaogou deposit is located in the Luanchuan ore district within the East Qinling orogenic belt (EQOB), central China, which is a newly discovered Mo–Pb–Zn skarn deposit. The skarn and Mo–Pb–Zn ore bodies are mostly hosted in the contact zones between the Shibaogou porphyritic granite and carbonaceous sedimentary rocks from the Luanchuan and Guandaokou sets. A study combined of geochronology, fluid inclusion (FI), and stable isotopes was performed to constrain the mineralization age, source of ore materials, and the origin and evolution of the ore-forming fluids and their relationship with the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate. The mineralization process includes skarn and quartz–sulfide episodes, which has four stages: skarn (I), quartz–molybdenite (II), quartz–galena–sphalerite (III), and quartz–calcite (IV). Molybdenite Re-Os dating suggests that the deposit was formed in the Late Jurassic (147.4 ± 7.2 Ma). Reportedly, there are five primary types of fluid inclusions: L-type, V-type, H-type, S-type, and C-type. In the skarn stage, coexisting H-type (35.58 wt%–46.05 wt% NaCl equiv.) and low-salinity V-type (0.35 wt%–5.7 wt% NaCl equiv.) fluid inclusions show similar homogenization temperatures, which suggests that fluid boiling occurred at 513–550°C and 580–650 bar (2.19–2.45 km). In the quartz–molybdenite stage, the homogenization temperatures of L-type, V-type, minor H-type, and S-type fluid inclusions indicate continued fluid boiling at 324–387°C and 180–250 bar (0.49–0.94 km). In the quartz–galena–sphalerite stage, a fewer number of coexisting V-type and L-type fluid inclusions in quartz shows different salinities with similar homogenization temperatures, indicating that they are trapped at 303–347°C and

Background Rodent population control is an important measure in reducing the risk of rodent-borne disease transmission. In this study, we examined rodent activity in the sanitary waste network around the household waste-collection bin chamber of an urban residential apartment block. Methods We utilised infra-red camera traps to determine the pattern of rodent activity in a rodent-infested bin chamber and its associated sanitary waste network. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the risk factors that were independently associated with rodent activity in the bin chambers. Result The camera trap surveillance showed that the rodents were active in the bin chamber and sanitary network both in the day and at night. In the cross-sectional study, rodent activity in the bin chambers was independently associated with broken floor traps [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 36.7, CI: 21.3–66.3], calendar month [Log-likelihood ratio test (LRT) p = 0.002] and Town Council [LRT p = 0.004] variables. In restricted analysis, rodent activity in bin chambers was independently associated with defects in the wastewater pipe under the chamber [AOR: 12.3, CI: 4.3–51.7]. Conclusion Our study suggests that urban municipal management councils should prioritize rodent control resources in areas according to the factors that increase the risk of rodent infestation.

Abstract A new method was used to study the performance of pile across cave. This paper investigated the vertical bearing characteristics of piles cross caves using centrifugal model tests and a theoretical model of sensitivity. Twelve pile scenarios were selected, the first was a conventional pile, 24 cm long and 2.5 cm in diameter, with no karst cave as a control. In the other eleven scenarios the piles passed through karst caves of four different heights, of four different spans, and three different numbers of caves. The results reveal that increasing the height, span, and number of caves all are negative for vertical ultimate bearing capacity of piles. The axial force and unit shaft resistance of piles are great different. According to the ratios of the tip and shaft resistance, caves change the type of piles. The sensitivity of vertical ultimate bearing capacity to these factors from high to low is height, number, and span of caves. Importantly, the bearing characteristics of piles decrease faster once the height of the prototype karst cave is higher than 9 m, but decreases slowly when the cave’s span is greater than 9 m × 9 m.

BackgroundPsychological distress is a common occurrence among women during the perinatal period. Maternal psychological distress (MPS) can also have a negative influence on neonatal outcomes such as infant health, child development or mother-child interaction. Hence, interventions to improve mental wellbeing during this period are vital. Mindfulness based intervention (MBI) has been found to be effective in reducing psychological distress. Delivery of MBI via the internet, making it accessible and inexpensive, is showing a promising positive effect in reducing psychological distress. A randomized control trial with sufficient power is required to confirm its positive effect among pregnant women. The positive effects of MBI have been found to be associated with heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback; however, the efficacy of MBI on HRV has been rarely studied among pregnant women. Also, the potential association of HRV with MBI and psychological wellbeing needs further examination. This research aims to test the effectiveness of guided mobile-based perinatal mindfulness intervention (GMBPMI) among pregnant women experiencing psychological distress during the pre- and post-natal period, as well as examining the efficacy of GMBPMI on HRV.MethodThis study is a randomized controlled trial that follows a parallel design. Consenting pregnant women in their second trimester (between 12th and 20th week gestation) will be randomly assigned to an intervention group (GMBPMI) or a control group (psychoeducation). The intended sample size is 198, with 99 participants in each group. Three levels of outcomes will be measured at baseline, post intervention in both the intervention and control groups, and at 36-week gestation and five-week postpartum. The primary outcomes include maternal psychological stress, mindfulness and positive appraisal HRV. Secondary outcomes are psychological and physical wellbeing. Tertiary outcomes include obstetric and neonatal outcomes, and social support. Analyses will follow an intention-to-treat method and repeated measures MANOVA will be conducted to compare changes in primary and secondary outcomes. A series of mixed-effects models will be fitted to assess the mediation effects.DiscussionThis trial expects to increase understanding of GMBPMI on HRV and psychological wellbeing for pregnant women, with extended support in both pre-and post-natal periods. The study could also potentially provide evidence for delivery of cost-effective and accessible services to pregnant women.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04876014, registered on 30 March 2021. Protocol Version 1.0., 10 May 2021.

In avian medicine, the use of antibiotic dosing regimens based on species-specific pharmacological studies is ideal. However, due to a lack of such studies, dose extrapolation, which may cause inefficacy and toxicity, is common practice. Multiple searches were performed using the PubMed and Web of Science databases to extract relevant pharmacological studies performed in exotic avian species. The pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and safety data of the selected antibiotics (enrofloxacin, marbofloxacin, gentamicin, amikacin, ceftiofur, doxycycline, and amoxicillin/clavulanate) from these studies were reviewed. This review aimed to identify trends amenable for safe inter-species dose extrapolation and provide updated findings on dosing regimens that are safe and efficacious for various exotic avian species. We observed that the half-life of antibiotics appears to be shorter in the common ostrich and that amikacin may be amenable to inter-species dose extrapolation as it is safe and shows little inter-species PK and PD variation. Species-specific enrofloxacin dosing regimens that were not listed in the Exotic Animal Formulary (5th ed.) were found for Caribbean flamingos, African penguins, southern crested caracaras, common ostriches, and greater rheas. Specific dosing regimens recommended for psittacine birds (doxycycline 130 mg/kg medicated water) and ratites (PO doxycycline 2–3.5 mg/kg q12 h, PO enrofloxacin 1.5–2.5 mg/kg q12 h and IM enrofloxacin 5 mg/kg q12 h) in the formulary may not be effective in budgerigars and common ostriches, respectively. Apart from the lack of species-specific pharmacological studies, a lack of multiple dose studies was also noted.

In this work, the design, building, and testing of the most portable, easy-to-build, robust, handheld, and cost-effective Fourier Lightfield Microscope (FLMic) to date is reported. The FLMic is built by means of a surveillance camera lens and additional off-the-shelf optical elements, resulting in a cost-effective FLMic exhibiting all the regular sought features in lightfield microscopy, such as refocusing and gathering 3D information of samples by means of a single-shot approach. The proposed FLMic features reduced dimensions and light weight, which, combined with its low cost, turn the presented FLMic into a strong candidate for in-field application where 3D imaging capabilities are pursued. The use of cost-effective optical elements has a relatively low impact on the optical performance, regarding the figures dictated by the theory, while its price can be at least 100 times lower than that of a regular FLMic. The system operability is tested in both bright-field and fluorescent modes by imaging a resolution target, a honeybee wing, and a knot of dyed cotton fibers.

Gecko-like synthetic dry adhesives (SDAs) have adhesion comparable to that of a real Gecko’s foot, but with very low durability. To address this problem, self-cleaning or stiff core embedding methods have been proposed. However, the proposed methods require special locomotion or complicated manufacturing. In this study, we suggested a metal coating on synthetic dry adhesives to improve durability. SDAs were fabricated via PDMS. Then, metals such as indium, zinc, and gold were coated on the SDAs. The adhesion tests show that the indium- and zinc-coated microstructures have a higher shear adhesion strength than the noncoated ones. Also, the shear adhesion strength of noncoated SDAs was only 14.5% of the initial strength while that of the zinc-coated ones was 35.6% after 200 times of attachment and detachment. We could find PDMS debris and fractures on noncoated SDAs, which results in weakening of the adhesion strength. On the other hand, a relatively high hardness, strength, and stiffness of the zinc coating layers reduced the wear and fractures of the micropatterns, which led to an improved durability in the SDAs. From these tests, we can conclude that the metal coating method could improve the durability of the SDAs.

Living organisms display internal biological rhythms, which are an evolutionarily conserved adaptation to the environment that drives their rhythmic behavioral and physiological activities. The gut microbiota has been proposed, in association with diet, to regulate the intestinal peripheral clock. However, the effect of gut dysbiosis on liver remains elusive, despite that germfree mice show alterations in liver metabolic functions and the hepatic daily rhythm. We analyzed whether the disruption of gut microbial populations with various antibiotics would differentially impact liver functions in mice. Our results support the notion of an impact on the hepatic biological rhythm by gram-positive bacteria. In addition, we provide evidence for differential roles of gut microbiota spectra in xenobiotic metabolism that could protect against the harmful pharmacological effects of drugs. Our results underscore a possible link between liver cell proliferation and gram-positive bacteria.

Antibiotics lead to increased susceptibility to colonization by pathogenic organisms, with different effects on the host-microbiota relationship. Here, we show that metronidazole treatment of specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice results in a significant increase of the bacterial phylum Proteobacteria in fecal pellets. Furthermore, metronidazole in SPF mice decreases hind limb muscle weight and results in smaller fibers in the tibialis anterior muscle. In the gastrocnemius muscle, metronidazole causes upregulation of Hdac4, myogenin, MuRF1, and atrogin1, which are implicated in skeletal muscle neurogenic atrophy. Metronidazole in SPF mice also upregulates skeletal muscle FoxO3, described as involved in apoptosis and muscle regeneration. Of note, alteration of the gut microbiota results in increased expression of the muscle core clock and effector genes Cry2, Ror-β, and E4BP4. PPARγ and one of its important target genes, adiponectin, are also upregulated by metronidazole. Metronidazole in germ-free (GF) mice increases the expression of other core clock genes, such as Bmal1 and Per2, as well as the metabolic regulators FoxO1 and Pdk4, suggesting a microbiota-independent pharmacologic effect. In conclusion, metronidazole in SPF mice results in skeletal muscle atrophy and changes the expression of genes involved in the muscle peripheral circadian rhythm machinery and metabolic regulation.

ObjectiveFarmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization in hilly and mountainous areas can alter the landscape pattern, elevation, slope and microgeomorphology of cultivated land. It is of great significance to assess the ecological risk of cultivated land to provide data reference for the subsequent farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization. This study aims to assess the ecological risk of cultivated land before and after farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization in hilly and mountainous areas, and to explore the relationship between cultivated land ecological risk and cultivated land slope.MethodsTwenty counties in Tongnan district of Chongqing city was selected as the assessment units. Based on the land use data in 2010 and 2020 as two periods, ArcGIS 10.8 and Excel software were used to calculate landscape pattern indices. The weights for each index were determined by entropy weight method, and an ecological risk assessment model was constructed, which was used to reveal the temporal and spatial change characteristics of ecological risk. Based on the principle of mathematical statistics, the correlation analysis between cultivated land ecological risk and cultivated land slope was carried out, which aimed to explore the relationship between cultivated land ecological risk and cultivated land slope.Results and DiscussionsComparing to 2010, patch density (PD), division (D), fractal dimension (FD), and edge density (ED) of cultivated land all decreased in 2020, while meant Patch Size (MPS) increased, indicating an increase in the contiguity of cultivated land. The mean shape index (MSI) of cultivated land increased, indicating that the shape of cultivated land tended to be complicated. The landscape disturbance index (U) decreased from 0.97 to 0.94, indicating that the overall resistance to disturbances in cultivated land has increased. The landscape vulnerability index (V) increased from 2.96 to 3.20, indicating that the structure of cultivated land become more fragile. The ecological risk value of cultivated land decreased from 3.10 to 3.01, indicating the farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization effectively improved the landscape pattern of cultivated land and enhanced the safety of the agricultural ecosystem. During the two periods, the ecological risk areas were primarily composed of low-risk and relatively low-risk zones. The area of low-risk zones increased by 6.44%, mainly expanding towards the northern part, while the area of relatively low-risk zones increased by 6.17%, primarily spreading towards the central-eastern and southeastern part. The area of moderate-risk zones increased by 24.4%, mainly extending towards the western and northwestern part, while the area of relatively high-risk zones decreased by 60.70%, with some new additions spreading towards the northeastern part. The area of high-risk zones increased by 16.30%, with some new additions extending towards the northwest part. Overall, the ecological safety zones of cultivated relatively increased. The cultivated land slope was primarily concentrated in the range of 2° to 25°. On the one hand, when the cultivated land slope was less than 15°, the proportion of the slope area was negatively correlated with the ecological risk value. On the other hand, when the slope was above 15°, the proportion of the slope area was positively correlated with the ecological risk value. In 2010, there was a highly significant correlation between the proportion of slope area and ecological risk value for cultivated land slope within the ranges of 5° to 8°, 15° to 25°, and above 25°, with corresponding correlation coefficients of 0.592, 0.609, and 0.849, respectively. In 2020, there was a highly significant correlation between the proportion of slope area and ecological risk value for cultivated land slope within the ranges of 2° to 5°, 5° to 8°, 15° to 25°, and above 25°, with corresponding correlation coefficients of 0.534, 0.667, 0.729, and 0.839, respectively.ConclusionsThe assessment of cultivated land ecological risk in Tongnan district of Chongqing city before and after the farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization, as well as the analysis of the correlation between ecological risk and cultivated land slope, demonstrate that the farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization can reduce cultivated land ecological risk, and the proportion of cultivated land slope can be an important basis for precision guidance in the farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization. Considering the occurrence of moderate sheet erosion from a slope of 5° and intense erosion from a slope of 10° to 15°, and taking into account the reduction of ecological risk value and the actual topographic conditions, the subsequent farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization in Tongnan district should focus on areas with cultivated land slope ranging from 5° to 8° and 15° to 25°.

ObjectiveDuring the operation of the silage machine, the inclusion of ferrous metal foreign objects such as stray iron wires can inflict severe damage to the machine's critical components and livestock organs. To safeguard against that, a metal detection system with superior performance was developed in this research to enable precise and efficient identification of metal foreign bodies during field operations, ensuring the integrity of the silage process and the well-being of the animals.MethodsThe ferrous metal detection principle of silage machine was firstly analyzed. The detection coil is the probe of the metal detection system. After being connected in parallel with a capacitor, it is connected to the detection module. The detection coil received the alternating signal generated by the detection module to generate an alternating magnetic field. After the metal object entered the magnetic field, it affects the equivalent resistance and equivalent inductance of the detection coil. The detection module detected the change of the equivalent resistance and equivalent inductance, and then transmited the signal to the control module through the serial peripheral interface (SPI). The control module filtered the signal and transmited it to the display terminal through the serial port. The display terminal could set the threshold. When the data exceeded the threshold, the system performed sound and light alarm and other processing. Hardware part of the metal detection system of silage machine were firstly design. The calculation of the planar spiral coil and the cylindrical coil was carried out and the planar spiral coil was selected as the research object. By using the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-Ⅱ (NSGA-II) combined with the method of finite element simulation analysis, the wire diameter, inner diameter, outer diameter, layer number and frequency of the coil were determined, and the calculation of the bent coil and the unbent coil and the array coil was carried out. The hardware system was integrated. The software system for the metal detection system was also designed, utilizing an STM32 microcontroller as the control module and LabView for writing the primary program on the upper computer. The system continuously displayed the read data and time-equivalent impedance graph in real-time, allowing for the setting of upper and lower alarm thresholds. When a metal foreign object was detected, the warning light turned red and an alarm sound was emitted, causing the feed roll to stop. To simulate the scenario of metal detection during the operation of a silage machine, a test bench was set up to validate the performance of the metal detection system.Results and DiscussionsThe test results of the metal detection function showed that for a metal wire with a diameter of 0.6 mm and a length of 20 mm, as the inner diameter of the detection coil increased, the maximum alarm distance increased first and then decreased. The maximum alarm distance occured when the inner diameter was 35 mm, which was consistent with the optimization result. The maximum alarm distance was the largest when the detection coil was two layers, and there was no data readout when it was three layers. Therefore, the optimal thickness of the detection coil for this metal detection system was two layers. When the detection distance was greater than 80 mm, the alarm rate began to decrease, and the detection effect was weakened. When the detection distance was within 70 mm, the metal detection system could achieve a 100% alarm rate. The test results of the system response time showed that the average system response time was 0.105 0 s, which was less than the safe transportation time of 0.202 0 s. The system can give an alarm before the metal foreign object reaches the cutter, so the system is safe and effective.ConclusionIn this study, a metal detection system for silage machines was designed. A set of optimization methods for metal detection coils was proposed, and the corresponding metal detection software and hardware systems were developed, and the functions of the metal detection system were verified through experiments, which could provide strong technical support for the safe operation of silage machines.

A condensation heat transfer model is essential to accurately predict the performance of the passive containment cooling system (PCCS) during an accident in an advanced light water reactor. However, most of existing models tend to predict condensation heat transfer very well for a specific range of thermal-hydraulic conditions. In this study, a new correlation for condensation heat transfer coefficient (HTC) is presented using machine learning technique. To secure sufficient training data, a large number of pseudo data were produced by using ten existing condensation models. Then, a neural network model was developed, consisting of a fully connected layer and a convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm, DenseNet. Based on the hold-out cross-validation, the neural network was trained and validated against the pseudo data. Thereafter, it was evaluated using the experimental data, which were not used for training. The machine learning model predicted better results than the existing models. It was also confirmed through a parametric study that the machine learning model presents continuous and physical HTCs for various thermal-hydraulic conditions. By reflecting the effects of individual variables obtained from the parametric analysis, a new correlation was proposed. It yielded better results for almost all experimental conditions than the ten existing models.

Abstract Mutation of the gene PARK7 (DJ1) causes monogenic autosomal recessive Parkinson’s disease (PD) in humans. Subsequent alterations of PARK7 protein function lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, a major element in PD pathology. Homozygous mutants for the PARK7-orthologous genes in zebrafish, park7, show changes to gene expression in the oxidative phosphorylation pathway, supporting that disruption of energy production is a key feature of neurodegeneration in PD. Iron is critical for normal mitochondrial function, and we have previously used bioinformatic analysis of IRE-bearing transcripts in brain transcriptomes to find evidence supporting the existence of iron dyshomeostasis in Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we analysed IRE-bearing transcripts in the transcriptome data from homozygous park7 −/− mutant zebrafish brains. We found that the set of genes with “high quality” IREs in their 5′ untranslated regions (UTRs, the HQ5′IRE gene set) was significantly altered in these 4-month-old park7 −/− brains. However, sets of genes with IREs in their 3′ UTRs appeared unaffected. The effects on HQ5′IRE genes are possibly driven by iron dyshomeostasis and/or oxidative stress, but illuminate the existence of currently unknown mechanisms with differential overall effects on 5′ and 3′ IREs.

Fluorescent labeling is a widely used indispensable tool in biology. Conventional downconversion fluorescence labels with ultraviolet or short-wavelength excitation suffer from autofluorescence, low signal-to-noise ratio, and incident photo damage to living organisms. However, upconverting fluorescent nanoparticles emit detectable photons of higher energy in the near-infrared (NIR) or visible range upon irradiation with a NIR light in a process termed upconversion. They overcome some of the disadvantages faced by conventional downconversion labels with the advantages including very low autofluorescence, absence of photo damage to living organisms, high detection sensitivity, and high depth of light penetration, thus making them an ideal fluorescent label for bioimaging. The present review focuses on the features of upconversion nanoparticles, the applications of upconversion nanoparticles in bioimaging, and the bioimaging equipments and methods and discusses the obstacles and development trend of upconversion nanoparticles in bioimaging; we hope this work will provide insights into the study of relevant fields. Upconversion nanoparticles have special photoluminescent properties. Substantial advancements have been made in the field of upconversion nanoparticles for bioimaging. A large number of modifications of upconversion nanoparticles are studied to make them more hydrophilic and biocompatible. At the same time, the safety and toxicity of nanoparticles have caused wide public concern.

Abstract Individuals’ continuous success in competitive interactions with conspecifics strongly affects their social hierarchy. Medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is the key brain region mediating both social competition and hierarchy. However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying the neural ensemble in the mPFC remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that in excitatory neurons of prelimbic cortex (PL), lncRNA Sera remodels the utilization of Pkm Exon9 and Exon10, resulting in a decrease in the Pkm1/2 ratio in highly competitive mice. By employing a tet-on/off system, we disrupt or rebuild the normal Pkm1/2 ratio by controlling the expression of Pkm2 in PL excitatory neurons. We find that long-term Pkm2 modulation induces timely competition alteration and hysteretic rank change, through phosphorylating the Ser845 site of GluA1. Together, this study uncovers a crucial role of lncRNA Sera/Pkm2 pathway in the transition of social competition to rank by remodeling neural ensemble in mPFC.

An improved method was developed for the detection of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mainstream cigarette smoke during combustion. The methodological approach involved matrix matching standard solution preparation, direct injection of the extraction solution, and measurement of standard linearity curves to quantitatively analyze the release of target compounds. Considering the diverse physical and chemical properties as well as distribution patterns of the 16 PAHs in cigarette smoke, the impact of room temperature and high-temperature ion sources on the response of target compounds was investigated. Additionally, the preparation methods of matrix solvents and the matrix effects on the quantitative results of target compounds were also explored. Furthermore, a systematic study was conducted on the smoke release distribution of commercially available cigarettes with different circumferences. The results demonstrated that direct injection of sample extract eliminates the need for sample purification, concentration, and other processing steps employed in current detection methods. This simplifies sample pretreatment procedures while reducing organic solvent usage and consumables consumption. Moreover, it resolves issues related to low operational efficiency when dealing with large quantities of samples. The use of matrix solvent to prepare standard solution effectively reduces the influence of matrix effect, and solves the technical problem of low recovery of target substance in flue gas caused by no purification treatment when using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) to analyze 16 kinds of PAHs. Under the normal working parameters of the instrument, the electron impact ion source (EI) was used under high temperature to improve the ionization efficiency of the targets in complex matrix and to ensure the accurate analysis of targets with low concentrations. The correlation coefficients (R2) of the calibration curves for 16 PAHs are 0.996 4-0.999 8, the limits of dectection and the limits of quantification are 0.29-1.48, 0.95-4.94 ng/cigarette, respectively. Under different concentration levels, the average recovery is 87.71%-123.26%, and the precision is within 1.58%-9.45%. By analyzing the reference cigarette 3R4F, there is no significant difference between this method and those reported in the literature. The total amount of PAHs released from 58 brands of cigarette samples are 742.76-1 505.99 ng/cigarette. At the same time, with the decrease of tar content in cigarette, the release of PAHs will be reduced accordingly. This method is simple, practical, stable, and accurate, providing more technical means for the detection of trace PAHs in cigarette smoke.

Abstract Optimal strategy for volume control and the clinical implication of achieved volume control are unknown in patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the survival according to conventional or bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)-guided volume control strategy in patients with sepsis-associated AKI receiving CRRT. We also compared patient survival according to achieved volume accumulation rate ([cumulative fluid balance during 3 days × 100]/fluid overload measured by BIA at enrollment) as a post-hoc analysis. We randomly assigned patients to conventional volume control strategy (n = 39) or to BIA-guided volume control strategy (n = 34). There were no differences in 28-day mortality (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.63–2.23) or 90-day mortality (HR, 0.99; 95% CI 0.57–1.75) between conventional and BIA-guided volume control group. In the secondary analysis, achieved volume accumulation rate was significantly associated with patient survival. Compared with the achieved volume accumulation rate of ≤ − 50%, the HRs (95% CIs) for the risk of 90-day mortality were 1.21 (0.29–5.01), 0.55 (0.12–2.48), and 7.18 (1.58–32.51) in that of − 50–0%, 1–50%, and > 50%, respectively. Hence, BIA-guided volume control in patients with sepsis-associated AKI receiving CRRT did not improve patient outcomes. In the secondary analysis, achieved volume accumulation rate was associated with patient survival.

This study aims to explore the promotion of family engagement practices in public libraries from librarians’ perspectives. This is a qualitative study, involving 18 librarians working in township libraries in Taiwan. Data were gathered through interviews, organized and analyzed employing a thematic analysis approach. Research findings show that public librarians’ perception of family engagement predominantly focuses on family members’ company and parent-child shared reading. Libraries promote family engagement primarily through close attention to reading needs of minority groups, and active in-depth community-based resident services. In addition, libraries provide diverse reading activities based on the needs and interests of various families. At the same time, libraries take a proactive approach in partnership working to expand the impact of family engagement. Nevertheless, libraries have encountered obstruction in the process. Based on the findings, this study puts forward suggestions for research and practice regarding promotion of family engagement in public libraries. (Article content in Chinese with English extended abstract)

In this paper, based on the need for high-strength connections between all-tungsten-oriented plasma materials and thermal sinking materials of copper and its alloys in nuclear fusion devices, a study on the effect of tungsten surface laser micro structuring on the interfacial bonding properties of W/Cu joints was carried out. In the experiment, the connectors were prepared by vacuum fusion infiltration technology, and the effects of microgroove structure on the mechanical and thermal conductivity of W/Cu connectors were investigated under different parameters (including microgroove pitch, microgroove depth, and microgroove taper). The maximum shear strength is 126.0 MPa when the pitch is 0.15 mm and the depth is 34 μm. In addition, the negative taper structure, i.e., the width of the entrance of the microstructure is smaller than the width of the interior of the microstructure, is also investigated. The shear tests show that there is an approximately linear relationship between the shear strength of W/Cu and taper. Compared with the positive taper, the shear strength of the samples with the same morphological density and depth of the tungsten surface is significantly higher.

Abstract The androgen receptor (AR) plays an important role in male-dominant hepatocellular carcinoma, and specific acquired somatic mutations of AR have been observed in HCC patients. Our previous research have established the role of AR wild type as one of the key oncogenes in hepatocarcinogenesis. However, the role of hepatic acquired somatic mutations of AR remains unknown. In this study, we identify two crucial acquired somatic mutations, Q62L and E81Q, situated close to the N-terminal activation function domain-1 of AR. These mutations lead to constitutive activation of AR, both independently and synergistically with androgens, making them potent driver oncogene mutations. Mechanistically, these N-terminal AR somatic mutations enhance de novo lipogenesis by activating sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 and promote glycogen accumulation through glycogen phosphorylase, brain form, thereby disrupting the AMPK pathway and contributing to tumorigenesis. Moreover, the AR mutations show sensitivity to the AMPK activator A769662. Overall, this study establishes the role of these N- terminal hepatic mutations of AR as highly malignant oncogenic drivers in hepatocarcinogenesis and highlights their potential as therapeutic targets for patients harboring these somatic mutations.

Abstract Background Using the published survival statistics from cancer registration or population‐based studies, we aimed to describe the global pattern and trend of lung cancer survival. Methods By searching SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and SEER, all survival analyses from cancer registration or population‐based studies of lung cancer were collected by the end of November 2022. The survival rates were extracted by sex, period, and country. The observed, relative, and net survival rates of lung cancer were applied to describe the pattern and time changes from the late 1990s to the early 21st century. Results Age‐standardized 5‐year relative/net survival rate of lung cancer was typically low, with 10%–20% for most regions. The highest age‐standardized relative/net survival rate was observed in Japan (32.9%, 2010–2014), and the lowest was in India (3.7%, 2010–2014). In most countries, the five‐year age‐standardized relative/net survival rates of lung cancer were higher in females and younger people. The patients with adenocarcinoma had a better prognosis than other groups. In China, the highest 5‐year overall relative/net survival rates were 27.90% and 31.62% in men and women in Jiangyin (2012–2013). Conclusion Over the past decades, the prognosis of lung cancer has gradually improved, but significant variations were also observed globally. Worldwide, a better prognosis of lung cancer can be observed in females and younger patients. It is essential to compare and evaluate the histological or stage‐specific survival rates of lung cancer between different regions in the future.

Abstract A critical challenge of existing cancer vaccines is to orchestrate the demands of antigen‐enriched furnishment and optimal antigen‐presentation functionality within antigen‐presenting cells (APCs). Here, a complementary immunotherapeutic strategy is developed using dendritic cell (DC)‐tumor hybrid cell‐derived chimeric exosomes loaded with stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonists (DT‐Exo‐STING) for maximized tumor‐specific T‐cell immunity. These chimeric carriers are furnished with broad‐spectrum antigen complexes to elicit a robust T‐cell‐mediated inflammatory program through direct self‐presentation and indirect DC‐to‐T immunostimulatory pathway. This chimeric exosome‐assisted delivery strategy possesses the merits versus off‐the‐shelf cyclic dinucleotide (CDN) delivery techniques in both the brilliant tissue‐homing capacity, even across the intractable blood–brain barrier (BBB), and the desired cytosolic entry for enhanced STING‐activating signaling. The improved antigen‐presentation performance with this nanovaccine‐driven STING activation further enhances tumor‐specific T‐cell immunoresponse. Thus, DT‐Exo‐STING reverses immunosuppressive glioblastoma microenvironments to pro‐inflammatory, tumoricidal states, leading to an almost obliteration of intracranial primary lesions. Significantly, an upscaling option that harnesses autologous tumor tissues for personalized DT‐Exo‐STING vaccines increases sensitivity to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy and exerts systemic immune memory against post‐operative glioma recrudesce. These findings represent an emerging method for glioblastoma immunotherapy, warranting further exploratory development in the clinical realm.

This research highlights the central-local dynamics shaping China’s investment and diplomatic strategies in Southeast Asia. Mobilizing the notions of interest groups and, in particular, the concept of fragmentation, initially developed to analyse Chinese domestic policy, it allows for a better understanding of the motives behind China’s international projection, in particular by integrating the influence of Chinese provincial authorities into the analyses of Chinese foreign policy. This conceptual framework, too rarely developed in the literature, is used to highlight the role of Guangxi authorities in projecting Chinese investment and shaping its diplomacy in Southeast Asia. Taking the mining industry as a case study, this article reveals the numerous actors and strategies deployed at the Guangxi province level in order to shape China’s overall foreign policy in a way that better fits its own interest. This article thus advocates for a more local political and economic approach to Chinese outward projection to better comprehend all the stakes at play behind China’s global push.

Subjective: To reduce the nonessential healthcare expenditure and to prevent patients from adverse consequences, we intended in this study to find the prevalence and characteristics of patients with psychiatric disorder with against medical advice (AMA) discharge. Methods: We did a review of medical records for patients who hospitalized on the acute psychiatric ward at Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan from January 1, 2013, to August 31, 2018. Results: We found that 100 patients (8.1%) were discharged AMA out of total 1,237 discharges. Compared to patients with regular discharges, those with AMA discharge were significantly different between the groups in age (p < 0.05), first time admission (p < 0.001), comorbid substance use disorders (p < 0.05), previous suicide attempts (p < 0.01), and length of hospital stay (p < 0.001). With forward stepwise logistic regression model to look for the most influential predictors for AMA discharge, we found that odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of those with suicidal attempt history (1.931 [1.265–2.949], B = 0.658, p < 0.01) and those with the first-time psychiatric admission (3.435 [2.253–5.237], B = 1.234, p < 0.001) significantly predicted those AMA patients. Conclusion: The history of suicide attempt and first-time psychiatric ward admission is the most important predictors for patients with AMA discharge. We suggest that controlled prospective studies can strengthen the study findings and better describe the impact on patients with AMA discharge.

Studies have shown that gut microbiota metabolites can enter the central nervous system via the blood-spinal cord barrier and cause neuroinflammation, thus constituting secondary injury after spinal cord injury. To investigate the correlation between gut microbiota and metabolites and the possible mechanism underlying the effects of gut microbiota on secondary injury after spinal cord injury, in this study, we established mouse models of T8–T10 traumatic spinal cord injury. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and metabolomics to reveal the changes in gut microbiota and metabolites in fecal samples from the mouse model. Results showed a severe gut microbiota disturbance after spinal cord injury, which included marked increases in pro-inflammatory bacteria, such as Shigella, Bacteroides, Rikenella, Staphylococcus, and Mucispirillum and decreases in anti-inflammatory bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, Allobaculum, and Sutterella. Meanwhile, we identified 27 metabolites that decreased and 320 metabolites that increased in the injured spinal cord. Combined with pathway enrichment analysis, five markedly differential amino acids (L-leucine, L-methionine, L-phenylalanine, L-isoleucine and L-valine) were screened out, which play a pivotal role in activating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses following spinal cord injury. Integrated correlation analysis indicated that the alteration of gut microbiota was related to the differences in amino acids, which suggests that disturbances in gut microbiota might participate in the secondary injury through the accumulation of partial metabolites that activate oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Findings from this study provide a new theoretical basis for improving the secondary injury after spinal cord injury through fecal microbial transplantation.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) showcase remarkable immunoregulatory capabilities in vitro, positioning them as promising candidates for cellular therapeutics. However, the process of administering MSCs and the dynamic in vivo environment may impact the cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions of MSCs, consequently influencing their survival, engraftment, and their immunomodulatory efficacy. Addressing these concerns, hydrogel encapsulation emerges as a promising solution to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of MSCs in vivo. Hydrogel, a highly flexible crosslinked hydrophilic polymer with a substantial water content, serves as a versatile platform for MSC encapsulation. Demonstrating improved engraftment and heightened immunomodulatory functions in vivo, MSCs encapsulated by hydrogel are at the forefront of advancing therapeutic outcomes. This review delves into current advancements in the field, with a focus on tuning various hydrogel parameters to elucidate mechanistic insights and elevate functional outcomes. Explored parameters encompass hydrogel composition, involving monomer type, functional modification, and co-encapsulation, along with biomechanical and physical properties like stiffness, viscoelasticity, topology, and porosity. The impact of these parameters on MSC behaviors and immunomodulatory functions is examined. Additionally, we discuss potential future research directions, aiming to kindle sustained interest in the exploration of hydrogel-encapsulated MSCs in the realm of immunomodulation.

Phosphate recovery from wastewater can solve the problems of both phosphate pollution and phosphate resource depletion. The main obstacle to phosphate recovery is the high cost. Most of studies focus on phosphate removal from sewage. Adsorption by metal oxide is a promising method for phosphate removal. In order to reuse the adsorbent, the exhausted adsorbents are usually regenerated with alkaline solution. This paper proposed a ''Double Adsorption'' method that combing the phosphate removal by metal oxide adsorption and the phosphate recovery from the alkline regenerated solution by Ca(OH)2 adsorption. This method has the advantage of low effluent phosphate level, low cost and no secondary pollution. To test this method and the possibility of using oyster shell to recover phosphate from the regenerated alkaline solution, the effect of phosphate concentration on the phosphate recovery efficiency and hydroxyapatite purity were studied in this paper. The results show that both the hydrated lime and oyster shell have high phosphate recovery capacity in alkaline solution, and the high phosphate concentration samples have low phosphate recovery efficiency and high hydroxyapatite purity, and vice versa. Both the hydrated lime and calcined oyster shell can be used to recover phosphate from alkaline solution. This study proves that the ''Double Adsorption'' method is feasible and can promote the realization of phosphate recovery.

This study aims to develop practicable suggestions for a Taiwanese public library policy based on practitioners’ and experts’ perspectives of the current situation and policy development. Policy-making related to the development of librarianship helps provide guidance for future development. However, such documentation has not been found in Taiwanese librarianship to date. Through in-depth interviews with ten public library directors and division chiefs, this study investigated the role definition, difficulties and solutions, innovation services, and future prospects of public libraries, which formed the basis for planning the draft for a Taiwanese public library policy. Finally, expert consultation with three national library directors and three scholars confirmed seven strategic areas of focus, including: (1) learning and literacy, (2) diversity and inclusion, (3) exchange and experience, (4) expertise and growth, (5) digitalization, (6) connection and collaboration, and (7) collection and heritage. Findings of this study can be used for planning future development of the public libraries in Taiwan, which in turn helps promote Taiwanese librarianship and sustainable development. (Article content in Chinese with English extended abstract)

Abstract The combination of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been demonstrated to have comparable effectiveness or better to ATRA and chemotherapy (CHT) in non-high-risk acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). However, the efficacy of ATRA-ATO compared to ATRA-ATO plus CHT in high-risk APL remains unknown. Here we performed a randomized multi-center non-inferiority phase III study to compare the efficacy of ATRA-ATO and ATRA-ATO plus CHT in newly diagnosed all-risk APL to address this question. Patients were assigned to receive ATRA-ATO for induction, consolidation, and maintenance or ATRA-ATO plus CHT for induction followed by three cycles of consolidation therapy, and maintenance therapy with ATRA-ATO. In the non-CHT group, hydroxyurea was used to control leukocytosis. A total of 128 patients were treated. The complete remission rate was 97% in both groups. The 2-year disease-free, event-free survival rates in the non-CHT group and CHT group in all-risk patients were 98% vs 97%, and 95% vs 92%, respectively (P = 0.62 and P = 0.39, respectively). And they were 94% vs 87%, and 85% vs 78% in the high-risk patients (P = 0.52 and P = 0.44, respectively). This study demonstrated that ATRA-ATO had the same efficacy as the ATRA-ATO plus CHT in the treatment of patients with all-risk APL.

Abstract Background Tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 2 (TNFAIP2), a TNFα-inducible gene, appears to participate in inflammation, immune response, hematopoiesis, and carcinogenesis. However, the potential role of TNFAIP2 in the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains unknow yet. Therefore, we aimed to study the biological role of TNFAIP2 in leukemogenesis. Methods TNFAIP2 mRNA level, prognostic value, co-expressed genes, differentially expressed genes, DNA methylation, and functional enrichment analysis in AML patients were explored via multiple public databases, including UALCAN, GTEx portal, Timer 2.0, LinkedOmics, SMART, MethSurv, Metascape, GSEA and String databases. Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and Beat AML database were used to determine the associations between TNFAIP2 expression and various clinical or genetic parameters of AML patients. Moreover, the biological functions of TNFAIP2 in AML were investigated through in vitro experiments. Results By large-scale data mining, our study indicated that TNFAIP2 was differentially expressed across different normal and tumor tissues. TNFAIP2 expression was significantly increased in AML, particularly in French–American–British (FAB) classification M4/M5 patients, compared with corresponding control tissues. Overexpression of TNFAIP2 was an independent poor prognostic factor of overall survival (OS) and was associated with unfavorable cytogenetic risk and gene mutations in AML patients. DNA hypermethylation of TNFAIP2 at gene body linked to upregulation of TNFAIP2 and inferior OS in AML. Functional enrichment analysis indicated immunomodulation function and inflammation response of TNFAIP2 in leukemogenesis. Finally, the suppression of TNFAIP resulted in inhibition of proliferation by altering cell-cycle progression and increase of cell death by promoting early and late apoptosis in THP-1 and U937AML cells. Conclusion Collectively, the oncogenic TNFAIP2 can function as a novel biomarker and prognostic factor in AML patients. The immunoregulation function of TNFAIP2 warrants further validation in AML.

This study aims to investigate effects of afterschool programs in public libraries on disadvantaged children in Taiwan, which serves to demonstrate the value of public libraries for supporting social justice. This study was qualitative in nature. Interviews and observations were employed for data collection. Study participants included: 22 children, 13 parents, eight volunteers, and seven librarians. Findings of this study show that the reasons for parents allowing their children to participate in the program were a lack of time to take care of their children, an inadequate home learning environment, their children requiring assistance needed for to complete their schoolwork, and the meal voucher incentives. In addition, the main activities the children participated in in the public library afterschool programs were finishing their homework and independent reading; other activities, such as reading together, receiving help with their homework, art projects, and games, were arranged by volunteers. Finally, the effects of these programs were improvements in relation to reading habits, reading interests, academic progress, learning vision, interpersonal relationships, etiquette, and mental health.

Solid organ and composite tissue allotransplanation have been widely applied to treat end-stage organ failure and massive tissue defects, respectively. Currently there are a lot of research endeavors focusing on induction of transplantation tolerance, to relieve the burden derived from long-term immunosuppressant uptake. The mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been demonstrated with potent immunomodulatory capacities and applied as promising cellular therapeutics to promote allograft survival and induce tolerance. As a rich source of adult MSCs, adipose tissue provides additional advantages of easy accessibility and good safety profile. In recent years, the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) isolated from adipose tissues following enzymatic or mechanical processing without in vitro culture and expansion has demonstrated immunomodulatory and proangiogenic properties. Furthermore, the secretome of AD-MSCs has been utilized in transplantation field as a potential “cell-free” therapeutics. This article reviews recent studies that employ these adipose-derived therapeutics, including AD-MSCs, SVF, and secretome, in various aspects of organ and tissue allotransplantation. Most reports validate their efficacies in prolonging allograft survival. Specifically, the SVF and secretome have performed well for graft preservation and pretreatment, potentially through their proangiogenic and antioxidative capacities. In contrast, AD-MSCs were suitable for peri-transplantation immunosuppression. The proper combination of AD-MSCs, lymphodepletion and conventional immunosuppressants could consistently induce donor-specific tolerance to vascularized composite allotransplants (VCA). For each type of transplantation, optimizing the choice of therapeutics, timing, dose, and frequency of administration may be required. Future progress in the application of adipose-derived therapeutics to induce transplantation tolerance will be further benefited by continued research into their mechanisms of action and the development of standardized protocols for isolation methodologies, cell culture, and efficacy evaluation.

Currently, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by its unfavorable prognosis and resistance to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Drug repositioning, an approach aimed at identifying novel therapeutic applications for existing drugs, presents a cost-effective strategy for developing new anticancer agents. We explored the anticancer properties of Ezetimibe, a widely used oral lipid-lowering drug, in the context of HCC. Our findings demonstrate that Ezetimibe effectively suppresses HCC cell proliferation through paraptosis, an apoptotic-independent cell death pathway. The examination of HCC cells lines treated with Ezetimibe using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed cytoplasmic vacuolation in the perinuclear region. Notably, the nuclear membrane remained intact in both Ezetimibe-treated and untreated HCC cell lines. Probe staining assays confirmed that the cytoplasmic vacuoles originated from dilated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) compartments rather than mitochondria. Furthermore, a dose-dependent accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed in Ezetimibe-treated HCC cell lines. Co-treatment with the general antioxidant NAC attenuated vacuolation and improved cell viability in Ezetimibe-treated HCC cells. Moreover, Ezetimibe induced paraptosis through proteasome activity inhibition and initiation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in HCC cell lines. In our in vivo experiment, Ezetimibe significantly impeded the growth of HCC tumors. Furthermore, when combined with Sorafenib, Ezetimibe exhibited a synergistic antitumor effect on HCC cell lines. Mechanistically, Ezetimibe induced paraptosis by targeting NPC1L1 to inhibit the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. In conclusion, our study highlights the potential of Ezetimibe as an anticancer agent by triggering paraptosis in HCC cells.

Allograft rejection is one of the obstacles in achieving a successful vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA). Treatments of graft rejection with lifelong immunosuppression (IS) subject the recipients to a lifelong risk of cancer development and opportunistic infections. Cell therapy has recently emerged as a promising strategy to modulate the immune system, minimize immunosuppressant drug dosages, and induce allograft tolerance. In this review, the recent works regarding the use of cell therapy to improve allograft outcomes are discussed. The current data supports the safety of cell therapy. The suitable type of cell therapy in allotransplantation is clinically dependent. Bone marrow cell therapy is more suitable for the induction phase, while other cell therapies are more feasible in either the induction or maintenance phase, or for salvage of allograft rejection. Immune cell therapy focuses on modulating the immune response, whereas stem cells may have an additional role in promoting structural regenerations, such as nerve regeneration. Source, frequency, dosage, and route of cell therapy delivery are also dependent on the specific need in the clinical setting.

Abstract Angiostatin, an endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor generated by the proteolytic cleavage of plasminogen, was recently reported to contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, whether there are pathological changes in angiostatin levels in individuals with AD dementia is unclear, and whether plasma angiostatin has a relationship with major AD pathological processes and cognitive impairment remains unknown. To examine plasma angiostatin levels in patients with AD dementia and investigate the associations of angiostatin with blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AD biomarkers, we conducted a cross-sectional study including 35 cognitively normal control (CN) subjects and 59 PiB-PET-positive AD dementia patients. We found that plasma angiostatin levels were decreased in AD dementia patients compared to CN subjects. Plasma angiostatin levels were negatively correlated with plasma Aβ42 and Aβ40 levels in AD dementia patients and positively correlated with CSF total tau (t-tau) levels and t-tau/Aβ42 in AD dementia patients with APOE-ε4. In addition, plasma angiostatin levels had the potential to distinguish AD from CN. These findings suggest a link between angiostatin and AD pathogenesis and imply that angiostatin might be a potential diagnostic biomarker for AD.

This study aimed to examine the changes in the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) scores before and after epidural steroid injection (ESI) in patients with lower back pain, and the correlation between the three scales in patients with reduced scores on these scales. Patients completed the NRS, ODI, and RMDQ before and after receiving ESI. A paired t-test was performed to compare the mean scores obtained before and after ESI. The correlations between the scores were estimated by calculating the difference between the baseline and follow-up scores. Of the 49 patients, 37 completed both questionnaire assessments. Among them, 26 patients (70%) presented a post-ESI decrease in scores obtained on all three scales. The NRS score decreased from 6.81±1.91 points at baseline to 3.66±2.22 points at follow-up (p

Abstract Background Circular RNA (circRNA) has been recently identified as a critical regulator during carcinogenesis. However, the biological function and potential underlying mechanisms of circRNAs in lung cancer remain to be further elucidated. Methods Here, we first evaluated the differentially expressed circRNAs between tumor and the matched adjacent nontumor tissues (3 pairs) of lung cancer patients via circRNA microarray. The expression of top five dysregulated circRNAs were tested in lung cancer cell lines and the circSCAP with concordant alteration in microarray data and cell lines was selected for further investigation. Then we validated the expression level of circSCAP in tumor and corresponding adjacent tissues (161 pairs) from a lung cancer cohort by RT-PCR analysis followed by correlation and prognosis analysis between circSCAP and clinical characteristics. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the majority of lung cancer diagnosis (about 80% in the cohort used in this study). Therefore, we focused the role of circSCAP in NSCLC in the present study. In vitro and in vivo assays were performed to study the biological function of circSCAP in NSCLC. Biotin-labeled RNA pulldown and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were carried out to identify the proteins directly interacting with circSCAP. The molecular mechanism of circSCAP-driven tumor suppression was demonstrated by immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays. In vitro and in vivo rescue experiments were conducted to verify the role of the circSCAP/SF3A3/p53 signaling axis in NSCLC. Results We screened the expression profiles of human circRNAs in lung cancer tissues and found that hsa_circ_0065214 (termed as circSCAP) was significantly decreased. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that patients with low level of circSCAP had a significantly poor prognosis. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments suggested that circSCAP played an important role in NSCLC cell proliferation, cell migration and apoptosis. Mechanistically, circSCAP directly binds to the SF3A3 protein, facilitating the reduction of SF3A3 by promoting its ubiquitin–proteasome-mediated degradation, which enhances the expression of MDM4-S to finally activate its downstream p53 signaling. Conclusion These findings illustrate a novel circSCAP/SF3A3/p53 signaling axis involved in suppressing the malignance of NSCLC and provide a promising target for NSCLC prognosis prediction and treatment.

Alien species may pose substantial impacts on biodiversity around the globe through international trade and travel. A niche shift hypothesis was proposed to explain the adaptive change of alien or invasive species in new habitats. However, whether niche shifts occur in alien species likely depends on both characteristics inherent to the species itself and its original distribution. Here we identified a newly exotic trap-jaw ant (Odontomachus troglodytes) in Taiwan by morphological and phylogenetic analyses. The possible distribution range and the niche shift pattern were evaluated using ecological niche modelling. The results indicated that exotic O. troglodytes in the newly distributed area displayed a significant niche shift with low niche overlap and high niche expansion. This study reveals a long-distance invasive event from central Africa to Southeast Asia (more than 10,000 km) and predicts the potential distribution range of this new alien species in Taiwan.

Abstract Systematic administration of antibiotics to treat infections often leads to the rapid evolution and spread of multidrug‐resistant bacteria. Here, an in situ‐formed biotherapeutic gel that controls multidrug‐resistant bacterial infections and accelerates wound healing is reported. This biotherapeutic gel is constructed by incorporating stable microbial communities (kombucha) capable of producing antimicrobial substances and organic acids into thermosensitive Pluronic F127 (polyethylene‐polypropylene glycol) solutions. Furthermore, it is found that the stable microbial communities‐based biotherapeutic gel possesses a broad antimicrobial spectrum and strong antibacterial effects in diverse pathogenic bacteria‐derived xenograft infection models, as well as in patient‐derived multidrug‐resistant bacterial xenograft infection models. The biotherapeutic gel system considerably outperforms the commercial broad‐spectrum antibacterial gel (0.1% polyaminopropyl biguanide) in pathogen removal and infected wound healing. Collectively, this biotherapeutic strategy of exploiting stable symbiotic consortiums to repel pathogens provides a paradigm for developing efficient antibacterial biomaterials and overcomes the failure of antibiotics to treat multidrug‐resistant bacterial infections.

Metastable austenitic stainless steels (ASSs) have excellent ductility but low strength, so that their usage as load-bearing components is significantly limited. Rolling is an effective method of increasing strength, whereas the effect of rolling temperature on microstructural evolution, the hydrogen embrittlement (HE) sensitivity and fracture mechanisms is still unclear. In present study, the effect of cold/warm rolling on detailed microstructural characteristics of 304 ASS was quantitatively investigated, and the corresponding HE sensitivity was evaluated via slow strain rate test (SSRT). The results suggest that cold-rolling led to high strength but poor plasticity and deteriorated HE sensitivity, while warm-rolled samples provided combination of high strength and ductility and also superior HE resistance. Compared with 18% α′-martensite in cold -rolled steel, warm-rolled specimens consisted of complete austenite, less twins and lower dislocation density，moreover, the favorable {112} ND and {110} ND textures replaced the harmful {001} ND texture. Based on in-situ EBSD observation during SSRT, the HE sensitivity was governed by the combined effect of pre-deformation microstructures and the dynamic microstructural evolution. Advanced method of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry was used to observe the distribution of hydrogen, and the hydrogen content of specimens was determined by the gas chromatograph thermal desorption analysis method. An exceedingly small amount of hydrogen entered the warm-rolled samples, while a large amount of hydrogen was trapped at grain boundaries of cold-rolled sample, leading to complete intergranular fracture. Therefore, warm rolling is an effective pathway for obtaining high combination of strength and ductility together with excellent HE sensitivity.

Abstract Background Loss of brain capillary pericyte is involved in the pathologies and cognitive deficits in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The role of pericyte in early stage of AD pathogenesis remains unclear. Methods We investigated the dynamic changes of soluble platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (sPDGFRβ) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a marker of brain pericyte injury, in transition from normal ageing to early AD in a cognitively unimpaired population aged 20 to 90 years. Association between sPDGFRβ and ATN biomarkers were analyzed. Results In lifetime, CSF sPDGFRβ continually increased since age of 20 years, followed by the increases of phosphorylated tau-181 (P-tau181) and total tau (T-tau) at the age of 22.2 years and 31.7 years, respectively; CSF Aβ42 began to decline since the age of 39.6 years, indicating Aβ deposition. The natural trajectories of biomarkers suggest that pericyte injury is an early event during transition from normal status to AD, even earlier than Aβ deposition. In AD spectrum, CSF sPDGFRβ was elevated in preclinical stage 2 and participants with suspected non-AD pathophysiologies. Additionally, CSF sPDGFRβ was positively associated with P-tau181 and T-tau independently of Aβ42, and significantly strengthened the effects of Aβ42 on P-tau181, suggesting that pericyte injury accelerates Aβ-mediated tau hyperphosphorylation. Conclusions Our results suggest that pericyte injury contributes to AD progression in the early stage in an Aβ-independent pathway. Recovery of pericyte function would be a target for prevention and early intervention of AD.

Photocatalytic degradation plays a crucial role in wastewater treatment, and the key to achieving high efficiency is to develop photocatalytic systems that possess excellent light absorption, carrier separation efficiency, and surface-active sites. Among various photocatalytic systems, S-type heterojunctions have shown remarkable potential for efficient degradation. This work delves into the construction of S-type heterojunctions of ternary indium metal sulfide and bismuth ferrite nanofibers with the introduction of sulfur vacancy defects and morphology modifications to enhance the photocatalytic degradation performance. Through the impregnation method, BiFeO3/ZnIn2S4 heterojunction materials were synthesized and optimized. The 30% BiFeO3/ZnIn2S4 heterojunction exhibited superior photocatalytic performance with higher sulfur vacancy concentration than ZnIn2S4. The in-situ XPS results demonstrate that the electrons between ZnIn2S4 and BFO are transferred via the S-Scheme, and after modification, ZnIn2S4 has a more favorable surface morphology for electron transport, and its flower-like structure interacts with the nanofibers of BFO, which has a further enhancement of the reaction efficiency for degrading pollutants. This exceptional material demonstrated a remarkable 99% degradation of Evans blue within 45 min and a significant 68% degradation of ciprofloxacin within 90 min. This work provides a feasible idea for developing photocatalysts to deal with the problem of polluted water resources under practical conditions.

IntroductionVascularized bone marrow (VBM) is essential in tolerance induction through chimerism. We hypothesized that the inclusion of VBM contributes to the induction of mystacial pad allotransplantation tolerance.MethodIn this study, 19 VBM, nine mystacial pad, and six sequential VBM and mystacial pad allografts were transplanted from Brown Norway (BN) rats to Lewis (LEW) rats to test our hypothesis. The VBM recipients were divided into antilymphocyte serum (ALS) monotherapy group (two doses of ALS on day 3 pretransplantation and day 1 posttransplantation), immunosuppressant group [a week of 2 mg/kg/day tacrolimus (Tac) and 3 weeks of 3 mg/kg/day rapamycin (RPM)], and combined therapy group. The mystacial pad recipients were divided into VBM and non-VBM transplantation groups, and both groups were treated with an immunosuppression regimen that consists of ALS, Tac, and RPM. For the recipients of sequential VBM and mystacial pad allotransplantations, additional Tac was given 1 week after mystacial pad transplantation. Allograft survival, donor-specific tolerance, and chimerism level were evaluated.ResultsWith the administration of ALS and short-term Tac and RPM treatments, VBM recipients demonstrated long-term graft survival (>120 days) with persistent chimerism for 30 days. CD3+ T cells from tolerant rats showed donor-specific hyporesponsiveness and tolerance to donor skin grafts but not to third-party counterparts. Furthermore, mystacial pad graft recipients with VBM transplantation exhibited a higher allograft survival rate than those without VBM transplantation [median survival time (MST) >90 days vs. 70 days, p < 0.05].ConclusionThis study demonstrated that VBM transplantation is an efficient strategy to induce and maintain donor-specific tolerance for an osseous-free allograft.

ABSTRACT Distinct plant associated microbiomes live in rhizosphere soil, roots, and leaves. However, the differences in community assembly of fungi and bacteria along soil-plant continuum are less documented in ecosystems. We examined fungal and bacterial communities associated with leaves, roots, and rhizosphere soil of the dominant arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) plants Taraxacum mongolicum and Elymus nutans and non-AM plant Carex enervis in the Zoige Wetland by using high throughput sequencing techniques. The operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness of fungi and bacteria was significantly higher in rhizosphere soil than in roots and leaves, and their community compositions were significantly different in the rhizosphere soil, roots, and leaves in each plant species. The co-occurrence network analysis revealed that the sensitive fungal and bacterial OTUs with various taxonomic positions were mainly clustered into different modules according to rhizosphere soil, roots, and leaves in each plant species. Along the soil-plant continuum, the rhizosphere soil pool contributed more source on bacterial than on fungal communities in roots and leaves of the three plant species, and more source on bacterial and fungal communities in leaves of T. mongolicum and E. nutans compared with C. enervis. Furthermore, the root pool contributed more source on bacterial than on fungal communities in leaves of T. mongolicum and E. nutans but not that of C. enervis. This study highlights that the host plant selection intensity is higher in fungal than in bacterial communities in roots and leaves from rhizosphere soil in each plant species, and differs in fungal and bacterial communities along the soil-plant continuum in AM plants T. mongolicum and E. nutans and non-AM plant C. enervis in the Zoige Wetland. IMPORTANCE Elucidating the community microbiome assemblage alone the soil-plant continuum will help to better understand the biodiversity maintenance and ecosystem functioning. Here, we examined the fungal and bacterial communities in rhizosphere soil, roots, and leaves of two dominant AM plants and a non-AM plant in Zoige Wetland. We found that along the soil – plant continuum, host plant selection intensity is higher in fungal than in bacterial communities in roots and leaves from rhizosphere soil in each plant species, and differs in fungal and bacterial communities in the AM- and non-AM plants. This is the first report provides evidence of different assembly patterns of fungal and bacterial communities along the soil-plant continuum in the AM- and non-AM plants in the Zoige Wetland.