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We investigated how the transition to remote instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic affected students' engagement, self-appraisals, and learning in advanced placement (AP) Statistics courses. Participants included 681 (M[subscript age]=16.7 years, SD[subscript age]=0.90; %female=55.4) students enrolled in the course during 2017-2018 (N=266), 2018-2019 (N=200), and the pandemic-affected 2019-2020 (N=215) school years. Students enrolled during the pandemic-affected year reported a greater improvement in affective engagement but a decrease in cognitive engagement in the spring semester relative to a previous year. Females enrolled in the pandemic-affected year experienced a greater negative change in affective and behavioral engagement. Students enrolled during the pandemic-affected year reported a greater decrease in their anticipated AP exam scores and received lower scores on a practice exam aligned with the AP exam compared to a prior year. Although students were resilient in some respects, their self-appraisal and learning appear to have been negatively affected by pandemic circumstances.

Knowledge of scientific inquiry (SI) is considered essential to the development of an individual's Scientific Literacy (SL) and therefore, SI is included in many international science education reform documents. Two previous large scale international studies assessed the SI understandings of students entering middle school and secondary students at the end of their formal K-12 science education. The purpose of this international project was to use the VASI-E to collect data on what primary level students have learned about SI in their first few years of school. This study adds to previous research to bridge the landscape of SI understandings now with representation from primary, middle and high school samples. A total of 4,238 students from 35 countries/regions spanning six continents participated in the study. The results show that globally, primary students are not adequately informed about SI for their age group. However, when compared with the students in the previous international studies (grades seven and 12), the primary students' understandings were surprisingly closer to the levels of understanding of SI of the secondary school students than those in the seventh grade study.

Background: Students' tendencies to seek feedback are associated with improved learning. Yet, how soon this association becomes robust enough to make predictions about learning is not fully understood. Such knowledge has strong implications for early identification of students at-risk for underachievement via digital learning platforms. Objectives: We sought to understand how early in the academic year students' end-of-year learning outcomes could be predicted by their performance and feedback-seeking behaviours within a digital learning platform. We analysed data collected at different time points in the academic year and across different cohorts of students within the context of high school advanced placement (AP) Statistics courses. Methods: High school students enrolled in AP Statistics spanning three academic years between 2017 and 2020 (N = 726; M[subscript age] = 16.72 years) completed 3 or 4 homework assignments, each 2 and 3 months apart. Results and conclusions: Across the three cohorts, and even as early as the first assignment, a model consisting of demographic variables (gender, race/ethnicity, parental education), assignment performance, and interaction with the digital score report explained significant variation in students' final course grades (R[superscript 2] = 0.314-0.412) and AP exam scores (? = 0.583-0.689). Students' assignment performance was positively associated with end-of-year learning outcomes. Students who more frequently checked their digital score reports tended to receive better learning outcomes, though not consistently across cohorts. Implications: These findings further an understanding of how students' early performance and feedback-seeking behaviours within a digital learning platform predict end-of-year learning outcomes.

Modeling is a core practice in science and is a meaningful way to learn the subject. This article introduces a modeling-based approach that highlights the idea that modeling is an iterative process and integrates the fundamental parts of scientists' work and key suggestions for teaching through modeling. The lesson "The Structure and Function of Kidneys" from a middle school biology course serves as an example of how to conduct the suggested modeling-based approach. By the end of the lesson, almost all students demonstrated a scientific understanding of the structure of nephrons and their functions. On the basis of the implementation of this lesson, we also provide further suggestions for modeling-based teaching.

Abstract Purpose Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common malignancy in men, with an escalating mortality rate attributed to Recurrence and metastasis. Recent studies have illuminated collagen’s critical regulatory role within the tumor microenvironment, significantly influencing tumor progression. Accordingly, this investigation is dedicated to examining the relationship between genes linked to collagen and the prognosis of PCa, with the objective of uncovering any possible associations between them. Methods Gene expression data for individuals with prostate cancer were obtained from the TCGA repository. Collagen-related genes were identified, leading to the development of a risk score model associated with biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS). A prognostic nomogram integrating the risk score with essential clinical factors was crafted and evaluated for efficacy. The influence of key collagen-related genes on cellular behavior was confirmed through various assays, including CCK8, invasion, migration, cell cloning, and wound healing. Immunohistochemical detection was used to evaluate PLOD3 expression in prostate cancer tissue samples. Results Our study identified four key collagen-associated genes (PLOD3, COL1A1, MMP11, FMOD) as significant. Survival analysis revealed that low-risk groups, based on the risk scoring model, had significantly improved prognoses. The risk score was strongly associated with prostate cancer prognosis. Researchers then created a nomogram, which demonstrated robust predictive efficacy and substantial clinical applicability.Remarkably, the suppression of PLOD3 expression notably impeded the proliferation, invasion, migration, and colony formation capabilities of PCa cells. Conclusion The risk score, derived from four collagen-associated genes, could potentially act as a precise prognostic indicator for BRFS of patients. Simultaneously, our research has identified potential therapeutic targets related to collagen. Notably, PLOD3 was differentially expressed in cancer and para-cancer tissues in clinical specimens and it also was validated through in vitro studies and shown to suppress PCa tumorigenesis following its silencing.

The effect of addition of different levels of lotus leaf powder on the flavor of dried minced pork slices (DMPS) was studied by examining its sensory flavor attributes, flavor substances, lipid and protein oxidation levels, Maillard reaction degree, and microstructure. The results showed that addition of lotus leaf powder significantly affected the flavor of DMPS. Addition of lotus leaf powder at 0.2% and 0.4% improved the flavor of DMPS by inhibiting the oxidation of lipids and proteins and consequently reducing the contents of the fat rancidity flavor compounds hexanal and nonanal, and the fishy odor compound trimethylamine. The generation of phenethyl alcohol, (E)-2-hexenal, and methyl acetate provided DMPS with a delicate fragrance of lotus. However, adding 0.6% or 0.8% lotus leaf powder significantly decreased the contents of sweet amino acids and the umami taste intensity of DMPS, and exacerbated lipid and protein oxidation by disrupting the microstructure of DMPS. Furthermore, lotus leaf powder suppressed the production of volatile heterocyclic compounds in DMPS by inhibiting the Maillard reaction. Therefore, addition of an appropriate amount of lotus leaf powder could effectively improve the flavor of DMPS.

Abstract Background Studies have indicated a close association between genes linked to liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) and the progression of prostate cancer (PCa). However, the interplay among long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) linked to LLPS in PCa remains elusive. Therefore, we constructed a prediction model based on LLPS-related LncRNA in PCa to explore its relationship with the prognosis and drug treatment of PCa. Methods We obtained clinical and sequencing data from TCGA and LLPS genes from the Phase Separation Protein Database. By analyzing the differential expression of LLPS-related genes and lncRNAs in prostate cancer, and using Poisson correlation, we identified LLPS-related lncRNAs. Prognostic LLPS-lncRNAs were found through prognostic correlation analysis and included in a Cox model to compute regression coefficients. Patients were scored and divided into high- and low-risk groups. Independent prognostic factors were integrated into a prognostic nomogram with risk and Gleason scores. We also conducted drug sensitivity analyses, GSEA, and validated the impact of key lncRNAs through functional experiments. Results Our study identified five LLPS-associated lncRNAs that are of prognostic importance. And found notable disparities in biochemical recurrence rates and survival outcomes between these risk groups, with the low-risk cohort exhibiting superior prognostic indicators. Moreover, our prediction nomogram demonstrated robust predictive accuracy and significant clinical utility. Furthermore, our model exhibited promising capabilities in forecasting patient sensitivity to various conventional therapeutic drugs, thereby highlighting its potential in personalized treatment strategies. GSEA showed that these lncRNAs may influence PCa prognosis and sensitivity to therapeutic agents by affecting pathways such as cell cycle. Knockdown of AC009812.4 could inhibit the ability of PCa cells to proliferate, migrate and invade, and compare to paracancerous tissue, AC009812.4 in PCa tissue has significantly higher expression. Conclusion Our research uncovers the prognostic significance of lncRNAs associated with LLPS in PCa and established a model exhibiting excellent predictive accuracy for prognosis. Those lncRNAs may influence progress of PCa as well as sensitivity to therapy drugs through pathways such as cell cycle.

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to investigate the intra- and inter-observer consistency of the Visually Accessible Rembrandt Images (VASARI) feature set before and after dichotomization, and the association between dichotomous VASARI features and the overall survival (OS) in glioblastoma (GBM) patients. Methods This retrospective study included 351 patients with pathologically confirmed IDH1 wild-type GBM between January 2016 and June 2022. Firstly, VASARI features were assessed by four radiologists with varying levels of experience before and after dichotomization. Cohen’s kappa coefficient (κ) was calculated to measure the intra- and inter-observer consistency. Then, after adjustment for confounders using propensity score matching, Kaplan-Meier curves were used to compare OS differences for each dichotomous VASARI feature. Next, patients were randomly stratified into a training set (n = 211) and a test set (n = 140) in a 3:2 ratio. Based on the training set, Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was adopted to develop combined and clinical models to predict OS, and the performance of the models was evaluated with the test set. Results Eleven VASARI features with κ value of 0.61–0.8 demonstrated almost perfect agreement after dichotomization, with the range of κ values across all readers being 0.874–1.000. Seven VASARI features were correlated with GBM patient OS. For OS prediction, the combined model outperformed the clinical model in both training set (C-index, 0.762 vs. 0.723) and test set (C-index, 0.812 vs. 0.702). Conclusion The dichotomous VASARI features exhibited excellent inter- and intra-observer consistency. The combined model outperformed the clinical model for OS prediction.

Abstract Objective The study aims to explore the relationship between modifiable lifestyle factors (physical activity, sedentary time, body composition, muscle strength) and mental health, and predict future changes in mental health. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 133 men (age: 29.03 ± 6.605 years, BMI: 23.58 ± 2.688 kg/m²) to assess baseline body composition, muscle strength, sedentary time, and mental health, with follow-up at 3 months. F-tests were employed to compare the differences in mental health on sedentary time and body composition variables. Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine correlations between variables. Results Spearman’s correlation analysis showed that sedentary time, muscle strength and mental health of the subjects were significantly correlated. BMI, BFM, BFMI, PBF were higher in subjects with ≥ 4 h of sedentary time than in the other two shorter sedentary time groups. Subjects with higher PBF (p = 0.047, η 2 = 0.030) and BFM (p = 0.032, η 2 = 0.035) had severer depression. Subjects who sat for ≥ 4 h at a time were more severely depressed than those who sat for 2–4 h (p = 0.020). Change in depression was significantly negatively correlated with BMI, BFM, BFMI and PBF. Subjects with higher PBF (p = 0.023, η 2 = 0.050) and BFM (p = 0.005, η 2 = 0.075) at the baseline had less change in depression. Conclusion A Significant correlation was found between sedentary time, body composition and mental health, and baseline body composition predicted changes in mood three months later.

Abstract Pneumonia is a serious disease that can be fatal, particularly among children and the elderly. The accuracy of pneumonia diagnosis can be improved by combining artificial-intelligence technology with X-ray imaging. This study proposes X-ODFCANet, which addresses the issues of low accuracy and excessive parameters in existing deep-learning-based pneumonia-classification methods. This network incorporates a feature coordination attention module and an omni-dimensional dynamic convolution (ODConv) module, leveraging the residual module for feature extraction from X-ray images. The feature coordination attention module utilizes two one-dimensional feature encoding processes to aggregate feature information from different spatial directions. Additionally, the ODConv module extracts and fuses feature information in four dimensions: the spatial dimension of the convolution kernel, input and output channel quantities, and convolution kernel quantity. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively improve the accuracy of pneumonia classification, which is 3.77% higher than that of ResNet18. The model parameters are 4.45M, which was reduced by approximately 2.5 times. The code is available at https://github.com/limuni/X-ODFCANET .

Abstract Oxygen vacancy (Ov) is an anionic defect widely existed in metal oxide lattice, as exemplified by CeO2, TiO2, and ZnO. As Ov can modify the band structure of solid, it improves the physicochemical properties such as the semiconducting performance and catalytic behaviours. We report here a new type of Ov as an intrinsic part of a perfect crystalline surface. Such non-defect Ov stems from the irregular hexagonal sawtooth-shaped structure in the (111) plane of trivalent rare earth oxides (RE2O3). The materials with such intrinsic Ov structure exhibit excellent performance in ammonia decomposition reaction with surface Ru active sites. Extremely high H2 formation rate has been achieved at ~1 wt% of Ru loading over Sm2O3, Y2O3 and Gd2O3 surface, which is 1.5–20 times higher than reported values in the literature. The discovery of intrinsic Ov suggests great potentials of applying RE oxides in heterogeneous catalysis and surface chemistry.

Abstract Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is highly prevalent worldwide, and its global burden is substantial and growing. CKD displays a number of features of accelerated senescence. Tubular cell senescence is a common biological process that contributes to CKD progression. Tubulointerstitial inflammation is a driver of tubular cell senescence and a common characteristic of CKD. However, the mechanism by which the interstitial inflammation drives tubular cell senescence remains unclear. This paper aims to explore the role of exosomal miRNAs derived from macrophages in the development of tubular cell senescence. Methods Among the identified inflammation-related miRNAs, miR-155 is considered to be one of the most important miRNAs involved in the inflammatory response. Macrophages, the primary immune cells that mediate inflammatory processes, contain a high abundance of miR-155 in their released exosomes. We assessed the potential role of miR-155 in tubular cell senescence and renal fibrosis. We subjected miR-155−/− mice and wild-type controls, as well as tubular epithelial cells (TECs), to angiotensin II (AngII)-induced kidney injury. We assessed kidney function and injury using standard techniques. TECs were evaluated for cell senescence and telomere dysfunction in vivo and in vitro. Telomeres were measured by the fluorescence in situ hybridization. Results Compared with normal controls, miR-155 was up-regulated in proximal renal tubule cells in CKD patients and mouse models of CKD. Moreover, the expression of miR-155 was positively correlated with the extent of renal fibrosis, eGFR decline and p16INK4A expression. The overexpression of miR-155 exacerbated tubular senescence, evidenced by increased detection of p16INK4A/p21expression and senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity. Notably, miR-155 knockout attenuates renal fibrosis and tubule cell senescence in vivo. Interestingly, once released, macrophages-derived exosomal miR-155 was internalized by TECs, leading to telomere shortening and dysfunction through targeting TRF1. A dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed that TRF1 was the direct target of miR-155. Thus, our study clearly demonstrates that exosomal miR-155 may mediate communication between macrophages and TECs, subsequently inducing telomere dysfunction and senescence in TECs. Conclusions Our work suggests a new mechanism by which macrophage exosomes are involved in the development of tubule senescence and renal fibrosis, in part by delivering miR-155 to target TRF1 to promote telomere dysfunction. Our study may provide novel strategies for the treatment of AngII-induced kidney injury.

Abstract In this article, the multidisciplinary team of the Taiwan Academy of Tumor Ablation, who have expertise in treating lung cancer, present their perspectives on percutaneous image‐guided thermal ablation (IGTA) of lung tumors. The modified Delphi technique was applied to reach a consensus on clinical practice guidelines concerning ablation procedures, including a comprehensive literature review, selection of panelists, creation of a rating form and survey, and arrangement of an in‐person meeting where panelists agreed or disagreed on various points. The conclusion was a final rating and written summary of the agreement. The multidisciplinary expert team agreed on 10 recommendations for the use of IGTA in the lungs. These recommendations include terms and definitions, line of treatment planning, modality, facility rooms, patient anesthesia settings, indications, margin determination, post‐ablation image surveillance, qualified centers, and complication ranges. In summary, IGTA is a safe and feasible approach for treating primary and metastatic lung tumors, with a relatively low complication rate. However, decisions regarding the ablation technique should consider each patient's specific tumor characteristics.

The influence of various solution annealing treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a new Cr–Mn austenitic stainless steel with 1.15 wt% (C + N) and 0.51 C/N ratio has been investigated. A sequential solution annealing (SSA) treatment is designed to sufficiently dissolve and lower numerous precipitates including carbides and nitrides in the austenite matrix. In this process, the hot-forged steel is firstly solution heat treated at 1120 °C for 2 h, then continuously heated to 1180 °C for 0.5 h, and further heated to 1200 °C for 0.5 h, followed by water quenching. The experimental results show that the austenite grain size increases, and number of precipitates decreases, with increasing temperature and time of solution annealing treatments. The highest impact energy is obtained after this SSA treatment due to a more homogeneous grain distribution, a smaller amount of carbides remaining on the grain boundary, and solid solution strengthening of interstitial (C + N) atoms.

By establishing the characterization model of variable sectional area distributions, a cascade design method of torque converter based on variable sectional area distribution is proposed. Additionally, the corresponding collaborative design method for multi-impeller turbomachinery is proposed and further studied. The design cases of the impellers with different sectional area distributions are constructed through the response surface method, and the corresponding hydrodynamic characteristics are further compared and explored. However, the design of different impeller sectional area distributions for the optimal performance of the whole turbomachinery requires the collaborative design of each component’s distribution results rather than a simple combination of such optimal impeller’s area distribution result. Thus a collaborative design strategy is proposed, which can improve the pump’s capacity performance by 8.83%, the maximum torque ratio performance can also increased by 6.33%, which proves that such a collaborative design method is an effective optimization design approach to improve the performance of the torque converter without altering the overall dimension. The experimental results of the optimal prototype show that the torque ratio reaches 5.33% higher than the original value, which indicates that such a collaborative optimization method for multi-impeller turbomachinery is effective and reliable.

Background: Central venous catheterization (CVC) is a critical clinical procedure. To avoid complications, possessing good knowledge regarding the CVC care bundle and skills for the proper insertion and maintenance of CVC are important. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention and the use of an interactive response system in enhancing the CVC bundle care and insertion skills of medical students undergoing critical care medicine training. Materials and Methods: Sixth-year medical students (equivalent to fourth-year students in the United States) engaged in didactic lessons, interactive demonstrations, and simulator training facilitated by a CVC team comprising three thoracic and two vascular surgeons (all with a minimum 5 years of experience in central venous access) during their intensive care unit (ICU) rotation. Self-reported knowledge and confidence levels were assessed using pre-and posttests administered through the Zuvio App, an interactive response system. Results: A total of 60 students underwent the educational intervention, of which 54 completed the pretest and 40 completed the posttest. In the posttest, significant improvement was found in the CVC bundle care competency and understanding (P = 0.002), preprocedural preparation (P = 0.002), insertion procedures (P = 0.004), complications (P = 0.003), and insertion depth decisions (P = 0.001). Staff and students reported that assessment and interaction via the Zuvio App were valuable, practical, and feasible in a clinical setting, providing trainees with an individual competency portfolio of receiving precise medical education. Conclusions: Integrating the training provided by a specialized team with an interactive response system enhanced the knowledge and competency level in CVC insertion among medical students in this study.

Abstract Understanding the nitrogen isotopic variations of individual amino acids (AAs) is essential for utilizing the nitrogen isotope values of individual amino acids (δ15N-AA) as source indicators to identify proteinaceous matter originating from biomass combustion processes. However, the nitrogen isotope effects (ε) associated with the degradation of individual amino acids during combustion processes have not been previously explored. In this study, we measured the nitrogen isotope values of residual free amino acids -following a series of controlled combustion experiments at temperatures of 160–240 °C and durations of 2 min to 8 h, as described in Part 1. δ15N values of proline, aspartate, alanine, valine, glycine, leucine, and isoleucine are more positive than their initial δ15N values after prolonged combustion. Variations in δ15N values of the most AAs conform to the Rayleigh fractionation during combustion and their nitrogen isotope effects (ε) are greatly impacted by their respective combustion degradation pathways. This is the first time the ε values associated with the degradation pathways of AAs during combustion have been characterized. Only the ε values associated with Pathway 1 (dehydration to form dipeptide) and 2 (simultaneous deamination and decarboxylation) are found to be significant and temperature-dependent, ranging from + 2.9 to 6.4‰ and + 0.9‰ to + 3.8‰, respectively. Conversely, ε values associated with other pathways are minor. This improves the current understanding on the degradation mechanisms of protein nitrogen during biomass burning.

Abstract Fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew and rusts, significantly affect the quality and yield of wheat. Pyramiding diverse types of resistance genes into cultivars represents the preferred strategy to combat these diseases. Moreover, achieving collaborative improvement between diseases resistance, abiotic stress, quality, and agronomic and yield traits is difficult in genetic breeding. In this study, the wheat cultivar, Guinong 29 (GN29), showed high resistance to powdery mildew and stripe rust at both seedling and adult plant stages, and was susceptible to leaf rust at the seedling stage but slow resistance at the adult-plant stage. Meanwhile, it has elite agronomic and yield traits, indicating promising coordination ability among multiple diseases resistance and other key breeding traits. To determine the genetic basis of these elite traits, GN29 was tested with 113 molecular markers for 98 genes associated with diseases resistance, stress tolerance, quality, and adaptability. The results indicated that two powdery mildew resistance (Pm) genes, Pm2 and Pm21, confirmed the outstanding resistance to powdery mildew through genetic analysis, marker detection, genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), non-denaturing fluorescence in situ hybridization (ND-FISH), and homology-based cloning; the stripe rust resistance (Yr) gene Yr26 and leaf rust resistance (Lr) genes Lr1 and Lr46 conferred the stripe rust and slow leaf rust resistance in GN29, respectively. Meanwhile, GN29 carries dwarfing genes Rht-B1b and Rht-D1a, vernalization genes vrn-A1, vrn-B1, vrn-D1, and vrn-B3, which were consistent with the phenotypic traits in dwarf characteristic and semi-winter property; carries genes Dreb1 and Ta-CRT for stress tolerance to drought, salinity, low temperature, and abscisic acid (ABA), suggesting that GN29 may also have elite stress-tolerance ability; and carries two low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit genes Glu-B3b and Glu-B3bef which contributed to high baking quality. This study not only elucidated the genetic basis of the elite traits in GN29 but also verified the capability for harmonious improvement in both multiple diseases resistance and other comprehensive traits, offering valuable information for breeding breakthrough-resistant cultivars.

Abstract Although it is well documented that mountains tend to exhibit high biodiversity, how geological processes affect the assemblage of montane floras is a matter of ongoing research. Here, we explore landform-specific differences among montane floras based on a dataset comprising 17,576 angiosperm species representing 140 Chinese mountain floras, which we define as the collection of all angiosperm species growing on a specific mountain. Our results show that igneous bedrock (granitic and karst-granitic landforms) is correlated with higher species richness and phylogenetic overdispersion, while the opposite is true for sedimentary bedrock (karst, Danxia, and desert landforms), which is correlated with phylogenetic clustering. Furthermore, we show that landform type was the primary determinant of the assembly of evolutionarily older species within floras, while climate was a greater determinant for younger species. Our study indicates that landform type not only affects montane species richness, but also contributes to the composition of montane floras. To explain the assembly and differentiation of mountain floras, we propose the ‘floristic geo-lithology hypothesis’, which highlights the role of bedrock and landform processes in montane floristic assembly and provides insights for future research on speciation, migration, and biodiversity in montane regions.

Abstract Novelty and appropriateness are two fundamental components of creativity. However, the way in which novelty and appropriateness are separated at behavioral and neural levels remains poorly understood. In the present study, we aim to distinguish behavioral and neural bases of novelty and appropriateness of creative idea generation. In alignment with two established theories of creative thinking, which respectively, emphasize semantic association and executive control, behavioral results indicate that novelty relies more on associative abilities, while appropriateness relies more on executive functions. Next, employing a connectome predictive modeling (CPM) approach in resting-state fMRI data, we define two functional network-based models—dominated by interactions within the default network and by interactions within the limbic network—that respectively, predict novelty and appropriateness (i.e., cross-brain prediction). Furthermore, the generalizability and specificity of the two functional connectivity patterns are verified in additional resting-state fMRI and task fMRI. Finally, the two functional connectivity patterns, respectively mediate the relationship between semantic association/executive control and novelty/appropriateness. These findings provide global and predictive distinctions between novelty and appropriateness in creative idea generation.

Background: Modifications of lipid metabolism were closely associated with the manifestations and prognosis of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). Pre-existing metabolic conditions exacerbated the severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection while modulations of aberrant lipid metabolisms alleviated the manifestations. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, an experimental platform that reproduces human respiratory physiology is required. Methods: Here we generated induced pluripotent stem cell-derived airway organoids (iPSC-AOs) that resemble the human native airway. Single-cell sequencing (ScRNAseq) and microscopic examination verified the cellular heterogeneity and microstructures of iPSC-AOs, respectively. We subjected iPSC-AOs to SARS-CoV-2 infection and investigated the treatment effect of lipid modifiers statin drugs on viral pathogenesis, gene expression, and the intracellular trafficking of the SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2). Results: In SARS-CoV-2-infected iPSC-AOs, immunofluorescence staining detected the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins and bioinformatics analysis further showed the aberrant enrichment of lipid-associated pathways. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 hijacked the host RNA replication machinery and generated the new isoforms of a high-density lipoprotein constituent apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1) and the virus-scavenging protein deleted in malignant brain tumors 1 (DMBT1). Manipulating lipid homeostasis using cholesterol-lowering drugs (e.g. Statins) relocated the viral entry receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) and decreased N protein expression, leading to the reduction of SARS-CoV-2 entry and replication. The same lipid modifications suppressed the entry of luciferase-expressing SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses containing the S proteins derived from different SARS-CoV-2 variants, i.e. wild-type, alpha, delta, and omicron. Conclusions: Together, our data demonstrated that modifications of lipid pathways restrict SARS-CoV-2 propagation in the iPSC-AOs, which the inhibition is speculated through the translocation of ACE2 from the cell membrane to the cytosol. Considering the highly frequent mutation and generation of SARS-CoV-2 variants, targeting host metabolisms of cholesterol or other lipids may represent an alternative approach against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Abstract Deficiency of citrin, the liver-type aspartate-glutamate carrier, arises from biallelic mutations of the gene SLC25A13. Although citrin deficiency (CD) is associated with higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in adult patients, this association remains inconclusive in pediatric cases. The patient in this paper had been diagnosed to have CD by SLC25A13 analysis at the age 10 months, and then in response to dietary therapy, her prolonged jaundice and marked hepatosplenomegaly resolved gradually. However, she was referred to the hospital once again due to recurrent abdominal distention for 2 weeks at her age 4 years and 9 months, when prominently enlarged liver and spleen were palpated, along with a strikingly elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level of 27605 ng/mL as well as a large mass in the right liver lobe and a suspected tumor thrombus within the portal vein on enhanced computed tomography. After 4 rounds of adjuvant chemotherapy, right hepatic lobectomy and portal venous embolectomy were performed at her age 5 years and 3 months, and metastatic hepatoblastoma was confirmed by histopathological analysis. Afterwards, the patient underwent 5 additional cycles of chemotherapy and her condition remained stable for 7 months after surgery. Unfortunately, hepatoblastoma recurred in the left lobe at the age 5 years and 10 months, which progressed rapidly into liver failure, and led to death at the age 6 years and 1 month. As far as we know, this is the the first case of hepatoblastoma in a patient with CD, raising the possibility of an association between these two conditions.

Abstract The wet bulb temperature (Tw) has gained considerable attention as a crucial indicator of heat-related health risks. Here we report south-to-north spatially heterogeneous trends of Tw in China over 1979-2018. We find that actual water vapor pressure (Ea) changes play a dominant role in determining the different trend of Tw in southern and northern China, which is attributed to the faster warming of high-latitude regions of East Asia as a response to climate change. This warming effect regulates large-scale atmospheric features and leads to extended impacts of the South Asia high (SAH) and the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) over southern China and to suppressed moisture transport. Attribution analysis using climate model simulations confirms these findings. We further find that the entire eastern China, that accommodates 94% of the country’s population, is likely to experience widespread and uniform elevated thermal stress the end of this century. Our findings highlight the necessity for development of adaptation measures in eastern China to avoid adverse impacts of heat stress, suggesting similar implications for other regions as well.

Abstract Background ccRCC is the prevailing form of RCC, accounting for the majority of cases. The formation of cancer and the body's ability to fight against tumors are strongly connected to Gamma delta (γδ) T cells. Methods We examined and analyzed the gene expression patterns of 535 individuals diagnosed with ccRCC and 72 individuals serving as controls, all sourced from the TCGA-KIRC dataset, which were subsequently validated through molecular biology experiments. Results In ccRCC, we discovered 304 module genes (DEGRGs) that were ex-pressed differentially and linked to γδ T cells. A risk model for ccRCC was constructed using 13 differentially DEGRGs identified through univariate Cox and LASSO regression analyses, which were found to be associated with prognosis. The risk model exhibited outstanding performance in both the training and validation datasets. The comparison of immune checkpoint inhibitors and the tumor immune microenvironment between the high- and low-risk groups indicates that immunotherapy could lead to positive results for low-risk patients. Moreover, the inhibition of ccRCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion was observed in cell culture upon knocking down TMSB10, a gene associated with different types of cancers. Conclusions In summary, we have created a precise predictive biomarker using a risk model centered on γδ T cells, which can anticipate clinical results and provide direction for the advancement of innovative targeted therapies.

Abstract Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a serious hazardous air pollutant and crucial precursor of PM2.5 and ozone compound pollution. There has been a dearth of HCHO research in Tibet where pressing need to protect the unique ecosystem. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the spatial-temporal distribution of HCHO from 2013 to 2021 and identify its influencing factors using satellite observations. Our findings reveal a noteworthy annual growth rate of 2.25% yr−1 in HCHO vertical column density (VCD) in Tibet. This rate is comparable to that in India and even surpasses levels observed in many other regions worldwide, including eastern China. Furthermore, unlike other areas, the eastern region of Tibet exhibits no discernible seasonal pattern in HCHO VCD. The anomalous variation in HCHO concentrations in Tibet can primarily be attributed to long-distance transnational transport originating from incomplete combustion in India Assam. Our research underscores the urgent need for enhanced atmospheric environmental management in Tibet.

Abstract Background This study aimed to compare the diagnostic value of [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 and [18F]FDG PET/CT imaging for primary lesions and metastatic lymph nodes in patients with tonsil cancer. Method Twenty-one tonsil cancer patients who underwent [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 and [18F]FDG PET/CT scans within two weeks in our centre were retrospectively enrolled. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and tumor-to-background ratio (TBR) of the two tracers were compared by using the Mann‒Whitney U test. In addition, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the two methods for diagnosing metastatic lymph nodes were analysed. Results In detecting primary lesions, the efficiency was higher for [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT (20/22) than for [18F]FDG PET/CT (9/22). Although [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 uptake (SUVmax, 5.03 ± 4.06) was lower than [18F]FDG uptake (SUVmax, 7.90 ± 4.84, P = 0.006), [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 improved the distinction between the primary tumor and contralateral normal tonsillar tissue. The TBR was significantly higher for [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT (3.19 ± 2.06) than for [18F]FDG PET/CT (1.89 ± 1.80) (p

Abstract Background Rotator cuff tears (RCTs) are a common musculoskeletal disorder, and arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) is widely performed for tendon repair. Handgrip strength correlates with rotator cuff function; however, whether preoperative grip strength can predict functional outcomes in patients undergoing ARCR remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between preoperative grip strength and postoperative shoulder function following ARCR. Methods A total of 52 patients with full-thickness repairable RCTs were prospectively enrolled. Baseline parameters, namely patient characteristics and intraoperative findings, were included for analysis. Postoperative shoulder functional outcomes were assessed using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QDASH) questionnaire and Constant–Murley scores (CMSs). Patients were followed up and evaluated at three and six months after ARCR. The effects of baseline parameters on postoperative outcomes were measured using generalized estimating equations. Results At three and six months postoperatively, all clinical outcomes evaluated exhibited significant improvement from baseline following ARCR. Within 6 months postoperatively, higher preoperative grip strength was significantly correlated with higher CMSs (β = 0.470, p = 0.022), whereas increased numbers of total suture anchors were significantly correlated with decreased CMSs (β = − 4.361, p = 0.03). Higher body mass index was significantly correlated with higher postoperative QDASH scores (β = 1.561, p = 0.03) during follow-up. Conclusions Higher baseline grip strength predicts more favorable postoperative shoulder function following ARCR. A preoperative grip strength test in orthopedic clinics may serve as a predictor for postoperative shoulder functional recovery in patients undergoing ARCR.

Abstract A series of 20 novel gefitinib derivatives incorporating the 1,2,3-triazole moiety were designed and synthesized. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their potential anticancer activity against EGFR wild-type human non-small cell lung cancer cells (NCI-H1299, A549) and human lung adenocarcinoma cells (NCI-H1437) as non-small cell lung cancer. In comparison to gefitinib, Initial biological assessments revealed that several compounds exhibited potent anti-proliferative activity against these cancer cell lines. Notably, compounds 7a and 7j demonstrated the most pronounced effects, with an IC50 value of 3.94 ± 0.17 µmol L−1 (NCI-H1299), 3.16 ± 0.11 µmol L−1 (A549), and 1.83 ± 0.13 µmol L−1 (NCI-H1437) for 7a, and an IC50 value of 3.84 ± 0.22 µmol L−1 (NCI-H1299), 3.86 ± 0.38 µmol L−1 (A549), and 1.69 ± 0.25 µmol L−1 (NCI-H1437) for 7j. These two compounds could inhibit the colony formation and migration ability of H1299 cells, and induce apoptosis in H1299 cells. Acute toxicity experiments on mice demonstrated that compound 7a exhibited low toxicity in mice. Based on these results, it is proposed that 7a and 7j could potentially be developed as novel drugs for the treatment of lung cancer.

Abstract Background Dietary imbalance, such as a lower proportion of complex carbohydrates and a higher protein diet, may contribute to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risks through their metabolisms. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the association between butyrate, iso-butyrate, and GDM, which are metabolisms of the two primary nutrients above. This study aimed to clarify the association of butyrate and iso-butyrate with GDM. Methods A nested case–control study was conducted based on the Beijing Birth Cohort Study (BBCS) from 2017 to 2018. Totally, 99 singleton women were involved (GDM: n = 49, control: n = 50). All participants provided blood samples twice (in their first and second trimesters). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for butyrate and iso-butyrate detection. Unconditional logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results The results showed that butyrate in the first trimester was negatively correlated with GDM (odds ratio (OR): 0.00, 95% confidential interval (CI): 0.00–0.21, P = 0.008), and iso-butyrate in the second trimester was positively related to GDM (OR: 627.68, 95% CI: 40.51–9724.56, P

Abstract Spike length (SL) is one of the most important agronomic traits affecting yield potential and stability in wheat. In this study, a major stable quantitative trait locus (QTL) for SL, i.e., qSl-2B, was detected in multiple environments in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping population, KJ-RILs, derived from a cross between Kenong 9204 (KN9204) and Jing 411 (J411). The qSl-2B QTL was mapped to the 60.06–73.06 Mb region on chromosome 2B and could be identified in multiple mapping populations. An InDel molecular marker in the target region was developed based on a sequence analysis of the two parents. To further clarify the breeding use potential of qSl-2B, we analyzed its genetic effects and breeding selection effect using both the KJ-RIL population and a natural mapping population, which consisted of 316 breeding varieties/advanced lines. The results showed that the qSl-2B alleles from KN9204 showed inconsistent genetic effects on SL in the two mapping populations. Moreover, in the KJ-RILs population, the additive effects analysis of qSl-2B showed that additive effect was higher when both qSl-2D and qSl-5A harbor negative alleles under LN and HN. In China, a moderate selection utilization rate for qSl-2B was found in the Huanghuai winter wheat area and the selective utilization rate for qSl-2B continues to increase. The above findings provided a foundation for the genetic improvement of wheat SL in the future via molecular breeding strategies.

Abstract In the absence of evidence-based guidance on the impact of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) blood concentration on efficacy and ocular toxicity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the clinical monitoring of HCQ blood concentration is not yet widely performed, which raised concerns about the necessity of conducting HCQ blood concentration monitoring. In this retrospective study, we consecutively enrolled 135 patients with SLE who received HCQ treatment for more than 6 months from July 2022 to December 2022. Ocular toxicity was evaluated by collecting relevant retinal parameters using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated using the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and relevant clinical parameters. HCQ blood concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that the cumulative dose of HCQ was positively correlated with the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) perimeter and FAZ area (r = 0.734, P

Background: To investigate the association of marital status on cardiovascular death risk in lung cancer patients. Methods: Using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database in the United States from 2011 to 2015 (N = 118,293), the association between marital status and cardiovascular death (CVD) risk in patients with lung cancer was assessed by competing-risks regression models. Results: Unmarried status was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular death in lung cancer patients [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.398, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.268–1.542], which remained significant even after adjusting for potential covariates (HR = 1.407, 95 % CI: 1.276–1.551). Further unmarried subgroups analysis showed that the different unmarried status were associated with increased cardiovascular death risk as follows: single (HR = 1.397, 95 % CI: 1.236–1.1.580), separated (HR = 1.630, 95 % CI: 1.153–2.305), divorced (HR = 1.318, 95 % CI: 1.158–1.500), and widowed (HR = 1.561, 95 % CI: 1.393–1.749). Further subgroup analysis by sex revealed that compared to male lung cancer patients with married, CVD risk was significant increased in their counterparts with widowed (adjusted HR = 1.509, 95 % CI: 1.291–1.764, P

Introduction: Disparities in physical fitness between immediately before dialysis (pre-D) and the day following dialysis (non-D) have not been investigated despite potential adverse factors such as fluid status, uremia, and electrolyte levels in the predialysis period. The effect of acute exercise immediately before hemodialysis (HD) on HD-related hypotension remains unclear. We hypothesized that cardiopulmonary performance and muscular strength would be inferior in the immediate pre-D period compared to those non-D. Methods: Twenty patients receiving chronic HD treatments underwent symptom-limited incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and isokinetic testing both 1–2 h prior to dialysis (pre-D) and non-D. This investigation was a sub-study of a clinical trial assessing the efficacy of a pre-D exercise training program. Blood pressure profiles during HD post-CPET and pre-D exercise training were compared with those during usual HD sessions. Results: No adverse events were observed during the 80 exercise tests. Prior to dialysis, the nadir of the ventilatory equivalent of CO2 was slightly elevated, the resting heart rate was lower, and the peak systolic blood pressure was higher than those non-D. Contrary to our hypothesis, peak V̇O2 and quadriceps peak torque showed no differences. Blood pressure profiles during HD post-exercise were similar to those during sessions without prior exercise, except for a lower resting systolic blood pressure at the beginning of HD. Conclusion: Cardiopulmonary response and muscular strength in the 1-2 h prior to HD were comparable with those on the day following HD, with only minor clinically insignificant differences. Acute exercise prior to HD did not affect the magnitude of hypotension during HD. This study suggests a potential alternative timing for exercise training or testing in patients undergoing chronic HD.

ObjectiveType 2 diabetes (T2D) is a common chronic metabolic disease, and its prevalence is increasing globally. Exercise is crucial for T2D management, yet many aspects of its mechanisms remain unclear. This study employs CiteSpace to reveal research hotspots and frontier issues in exercise intervention for T2D.MethodA literature review spanning from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2022, was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), with keywords including “exercise,” “type 2 diabetes,” and “mechanisms.” We analyzed network diagrams generated by CiteSpace, which depicted relationships among countries, authors, and keywords.ResultsThis study includes 1,210 English papers from 555 journals, affiliated with 348 institutions across 80 countries/regions. Notably, the United States, China, and the United Kingdom account for nearly half of all publications. The University of Copenhagen leads in publication volume, followed by Harvard Medical School and the University of Colorado. Key authors include Kirwan, John P (Case Western Reserve University), Malin, Steven K (Rutgers University), and Pedersen, Bente Klarlund (University of Copenhagen). Based on co-occurrence analysis of keywords, it is evident that terms such as “disease,” “glucagon-like peptide 1,” and “cardiovascular risk factor” exhibit high intermediary centrality.ConclusionThe analysis highlights ongoing investigations into molecular mechanisms, such as β-cell function enhancement, exerkines, and epigenetic mechanisms. Emerging areas include exercise response heterogeneity, circadian rhythm regulation, transcription factors, neurotrophic factors, and mitochondrial function. Future studies should prioritize understanding interactions between different exercise mechanisms and optimizing exercise prescriptions for T2D. Exercise prescriptions are crucial for effective interventions. Collaboration between countries and institutions is essential to understand the influences of different genetic backgrounds and environmental factors. Currently, a combination of aerobic and resistance training is considered the optimal form of exercise. However, considering time efficiency, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has gained widespread attention and research due to its ability to achieve similar exercise effects in a shorter duration. Additionally, circadian rhythm regulation may affect the exercise outcomes of diabetic individuals at different times of the day, particularly concerning the specific types, doses, and intensities used for precision intervention in T2D.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a common mycotoxin that causes intestinal injury in humans and various animal species. OTA may lead to intestinal injury in offspring due to the maternal effect. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of embryo injected with OTA induced jejunum injury in ducklings. The results showed that OTA disrupted the jejunum tight junctions in hatching ducklings, and promoted the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. And this inflammatory response was caused by the activation of the TLR4 signaling pathway. Moreover, embryo injected with OTA could cause damage to the intestinal barrier in 21-day-old ducks, characterized by shortened villi, crypt hyperplasia, disrupted intestinal tight junctions, increased level of LPS in the jejunum, activation of the TLR4 signaling pathway, and increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Meanwhile, OTA induced oxidative stress in the jejunum. And dysbiosis of gut microbiota was mainly characterized by an increased the relative abundance of Bacteroides, Megamonas, Fournierella, and decreased the relative abundance of Alistipes and Weissella. Interestingly, embryo injected with OTA did not induce these changes in the jejunum of antibiotics-treated 21-day-old ducks. In conclusion, embryo injected with OTA induced jejunum injury in ducklings by activating the TLR4 signaling pathway, which involvement of intestinal microbiota.

With the continuously increasing integration of renewable energy sources into power grids, the dynamic response of a power system is becoming more complex. For example, the interaction between the dynamic loads and low-voltage ride-through of renewable energy generators makes the voltage response more rapid and unpredictable. Ensuring the accuracy and speed of traditional voltage stability assessment methods is difficult. This study developed a novel hybrid model and data-driven voltage stability assessment approach. First, the equivalent parameters of a power system were calculated based on the measured data, and the parameters were constantly modified based on the response data. To further improve the accuracy of the approach, a data-driven method was introduced to correct the assessment results using a Thevenin equivalent-based assessment. The difference between the Thevenin and system impedances, which better reflects the system stability, was included in the data-driven input data. Finally, by combining the clear physical mechanism of the model-driven method and high accuracy of the data-driven method, the final the assessment process was a serial combination of the model- and data-driven methods. The effectiveness of the method was verified using an IEEE New England 10-generator 39-bus test system and a 100-bus actual system in China. The results showed that the method developed was more accurate and had higher robustness under data loss and noise conditions than other methods.

Background: The 4-dose Essen intramuscular (IM) regimen for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) has been recommended by Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and World Health Organization (WHO), but the large-sample clinical evidence is still limited. Method: Rabies virus neutralizing antibodies of 11,752 patients were detected from 409 rabies prevention clinics in 27 provinces in China. Patients with serum collected before or no later than 1 h after injection on the day of the fifth dose (day 28) of 5-dose Essen regimen were included in Group A to observe the immune efficacy of 4-dose Essen IM regimen, and patients with serum collected 14–28 days after injection of the fifth dose were included in Group B to observe the immune efficacy of 5-dose Essen IM regimen. Results: Finally, 2351 cases met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, including 2244 cases in Group A and 107 cases in Group B. The antibody titer of Group A was higher than that of Group B [12.21 (4.15, 32.10) IU/ml vs. 9.41 (3.87, 27.38) IU/ml] (P = 0.002). In Group A, the median antibody titers were 4.01IU/ml, 11.63IU/ml and 29.46IU/ml in patients vaccinated with purified hamster kidney cell vaccine (PHKCV), purified Vero cell vaccine (PVRV), and human diploid cell rabies vaccine (HDCV), respectively, with statistical significance (P

Acetogenic bacteria (acetogens) are a class of microorganisms with conserved Wood-Ljungdahl pathway that can utilize CO and CO2/H2 as carbon source for autotrophic growth and convert these substrates to acetate and ethanol. Acetogens have great potential for the sustainable production of biofuels and bulk biochemicals using C1 gases (CO and CO2) from industrial syngas and waste gases, which play an important role in achieving carbon neutrality. In recent years, with the development and improvement of gene editing methods, the metabolic engineering of acetogens is making rapid progress. With introduction of heterogeneous metabolic pathways, acetogens can improve the production capacity of native products or obtain the ability to synthesize non-native products. This paper reviews the recent application of metabolic engineering in acetogens. In addition, the challenges of metabolic engineering in acetogens are indicated, and strategies to address these challenges are also discussed.

Background: This study aimed at developing and validating a risk score to predict in-stent restenosis (ISR) in patients with premature acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stent (DES). Methods: This was a two-center retrospective study. A total of 2185 patients firstly diagnosed with premature AMI (age ≥18 years and

BackgroundDue to the influence of theories, tools, and methodologies in studying well-being, sports science has predominantly focused on subjective well-being, with less attention given to psychological well-being and even less to the integrated study of comprehensive well-being. This study aims to analyze the relationship between yoga exercise intervention and the comprehensive well-being of college students and to explore the mechanism of a yoga exercise intervention to improve the comprehensive well-being of female college students.MethodsWith 92 female college students as subjects, the “Comprehensive Well-being Scale” was used, and research methods such as yoga exercise intervention, questionnaire surveys, qualitative analysis, expert interviews, and statistical analysis were employed to investigate the role of a yoga exercise intervention on the comprehensive well-being of female college students.ResultsAmong the nine dimensions of comprehensive well-being, the three dimensions of subjective well-being and the two dimensions of psychological well-being (health concern and personality growth) of female college students were significantly improved. Additionally, four other dimensions of psychological well-being also showed significant improvement. Furthermore, the improvement in the life satisfaction of female college students’ subjective well-being was mainly achieved through yoga meditation, while partner yoga posture practice could help individuals gradually form a stable pattern of altruistic behavior.ConclusionYoga exercise intervention can improve the comprehensive well-being of female college students and can be an effective counseling method for college students’ mental health education.

Abstract The development of semiconducting polymers with good processability in green solvents and competitive electrical performance is essential for realizing sustainable large‐scale manufacturing and commercialization of organic electronics. A major obstacle is the processability‐performance dichotomy that is dictated by the lack of ideal building blocks with balanced polarity, solubility, electronic structures, and molecular conformation. Herein, through the integration of donor, quinoid and acceptor units, an unprecedented building block, namely TQBT, is introduced for constructing a serial of conjugated polymers. The TQBT, distinct in non‐symmetric structure and high dipole moment, imparts enhanced solubility in anisole—a green solvent—to the polymer TQBT‐T. Furthermore, PTQBT‐T possess a highly rigid and planar backbone owing to the nearly coplanar geometry and quinoidal nature of TQBT, resulting in strong aggregation in solution and localized aggregates in film. Remarkably, PTQBT‐T films spuncast from anisole exhibit a hole mobility of 2.30 cm2 V‐1 s‐1, which is record high for green solvent‐processable semiconducting polymers via spin‐coating, together with commendable operational and storage stability. The hybrid building block emerges as a pioneering electroactive unit, shedding light on future design strategies in high‐performance semiconducting polymers compatible with green processing and marking a significant stride towards ecofriendly organic electronics.

Airborne microorganisms, an emerging global health threat, have attracted extensive studies. However, few attentions have been paid to the seasonal distribution of airborne pathogens, in particular their associations with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). To this end, two-week daily PM2.5 samples were consecutively collected from Nanchang in four seasons, and the human-to-human pathogens were screened based on high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that there were 20 pathogenic taxa in PM2.5 in Nanchang, and the highest relative abundance of pathogens was observed in winter (5.84%), followed by summer (3.51%), autumn (2.66%), and spring (1.80%). Although more than half of pathogenic taxa were shared by the four seasons, the analysis of similarities showed that pathogenic community was shaped by season (r = 0.16, p

Steel slag, as an industrial byproduct obtained from the steel manufacturing industry, may cause land occupation, resource waste, and environmental pollution. The application of steel slag as a material for soil reinforcement in road engineering is very popular due to its potential hydration activity. The unconfined compression strength, microstructure, and transport properties of loess soil with cement, lime and steel slag were investigated. The results show that the loess soil can be reinforced by cement, lime, and steel slag to varying degrees. The reinforcement mechanism of cement for loess soil is realized by pore filling by cement hydration products such as CH, C-S-H and AFt, and their unconfined compression strength is improved by reducing the porosity. The reinforcement mechanism of lime for loess soil is achieved by pore filling by hydration products such as CH and CaCO3, and their strength is improved by a refined pore structure where the porosity has not been significantly reduced. The reinforcement mechanism of steel slag for loess soil is a combined mechanism of cement and lime, including pore filling and refined pores. The pore structure of reinforced soil can be studied at different scales by the MIP, LF NMR, and X-CT test methods. The transport properties including diffusivity and permeability of reinforcing soil can be well explored by Avizo software based on the microstructure obtained from X-CT.

Abstract Host molecular responses to fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in ulcerative colitis are not well understood. Here, we profile the human colonic mucosal transcriptome prior to and following FMT or placebo to identify molecules regulated during disease remission. FMT alters the transcriptome above the effect of placebo (n = 75 vs 3 genes, q

Abstract Wheat powdery mildew is one of the most destructive diseases threatening global wheat production. The wild relatives of wheat constitute rich sources of diversity for powdery mildew resistance. Here, we report the map-based cloning of the powdery mildew resistance gene Pm13 from the wild wheat species Aegilops longissima. Pm13 encodes a mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) protein that contains an N-terminal-domain of MLKL (MLKL_NTD) domain in its N-terminus and a C-terminal serine/threonine kinase (STK) domain. The resistance function of Pm13 is validated by mutagenesis, gene silencing, transgenic assay, and allelic association analyses. The development of introgression lines with significantly reduced chromosome segments of Ae. longissima encompassing Pm13 enables widespread deployment of this gene into wheat cultivars. The cloning of Pm13 may provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying Pm13-mediated powdery mildew resistance and highlight the important roles of kinase fusion proteins (KFPs) in wheat immunity.