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Abstract Agriculture water use accounts for 70% of the total water withdrawal worldwide. The evapotranspiration during crop growth is one of the important hydrological processes in the agricultural water cycle. This study proposed the concept of artificial irrigation evapotranspiration of irrigated crops to describe that the evapotranspiration caused by irrigation water use. Irrigated crops rely on two kinds of water sources: precipitation and irrigation water. With the construction of irrigation schemes, the artificial irrigation evapotranspiration plays an increasingly important role in the dualistic water cycle system of irrigated cropland. To reveal the amount of artificial irrigation evapotranspiration of 17 categories of irrigated crops in China, this study proposed a new quantitative model system which was established based on traditional evapotranspiration models and soil water balance models. Based on the new model system, we calculated the annual artificial irrigation evapotranspiration of irrigated crops for the period 2013 to 2017 in China. The results showed that the proportion of artificial irrigation evapotranspiration to the total evapotranspiration of irrigated crops was 41.3%, whose value was 228.1 km3 a−1. The artificial irrigation evapotranspiration in different agricultural water management regions were 90.0 km3 a−1 in the northeast region, 86.0 km3 a−1 in the southeast region, and relatively low 52.2 km3a−1 in the west region. The results of this study can provide methods for water management and policy–making in agricultural irrigated areas, and it can also provide a preliminary understanding of the influence of human activities on the dualistic water cycle in cropland.

Green computing is the current research hotspot; adapting the professional computing model to the low-power ARM architecture processor is a research trend. This article constructs a hydrological–hydrodynamic model by choosing SWMM and TELEMAC-2D as submodules, taking stormwater grates and inspection wells as water flow exchange nodes. The container technology was selected to couple the model on the ARM architecture processor, and the adapted coupling model is named the ARM hydrological–hydrodynamic model (AHM). To verify the reasonableness and accuracy of the model, taking the inner harbor of Macao Peninsula as the study area, a numerical simulation study on the evolution of waterlogging was carried out in various scenarios. The analysis showed that the maximum flow velocity was concentrated in the streets with low topography in the city center, and the areas of standing water were distributed in a point-like manner. Risk distribution maps during different storm recurrence periods were also constructed. Finally, the direct economic losses caused by Typhoon Mangkhut were calculated based on the model results and compared with the statistical values, with an error of only 2.3%, and the direct flooding losses in the inner harbor area under different rainfall scenarios were derived accordingly. HIGHLIGHTS A coupled urban hydrology and hydrodynamics model was constructed and adapted to a low-power ARM processor.; Numerical simulation studies on the evolution of waterlogging in Macao were carried out under various scenarios.; Risk distribution maps for the inner harbor area under different rainfall return periods were prepared, and flood-prone points were noted.; Predicting and projecting the direct loss of waterlogging in the inner harbor area under different rainfall scenarios.;

Purpose: Sleep disorders are common globally. Probiotics may improve human microbial diversity, offering potential benefits for sleep disturbances by enhancing sleep quality and reducing disorders. We aimed to use a population-based study to investigate the association between yogurt (a probiotic food) and probiotic consumption with sleep disturbances in US adults. Methods: A total of 49,693 adults from the 2009–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included in the analyses. Sleep disorders and sleep duration were assessed according to the Sleep Disorders Questionnaire. The Dietary Questionnaire evaluated yogurt and dietary supplements containing probiotic consumption. After adjusting for confounding factors, weighted multivariable logistic regression and subgroup analyses were used to assess the association between yogurt and probiotic consumption and sleep status. Results: Of the study cohort, 3535 (14.24 %) participants consumed yogurt and/or dietary supplements containing probiotics. The prevalence of sleep disorders was 16.22 %. Only 53.51 % of the participants achieved the recommended amount of sleep (7–9 h), with 6.10 % and 33.48 % having excessive and insufficient sleep duration, respectively. Weighted Logistic regression models indicated a significant association of probiotic intake with a decreased risk of sleep disturbances compared with those without yogurt or probiotic consumption after adjustments. (For sleep disorders: OR: 0.96, 95 % CI 0.94–0.98, P < 0.001; for sleep duration: OR: 0.98, 95 % CI 0.96–1.00, P = 0.081) Moreover, the effect size of the probiotic intake on sleep was especially significant in sex, race, and BMI subgroups. Conclusion: The present study first indicated that yogurt and probiotic consumption were associated with a reduced risk of sleep disturbances in US adults, particularly among males, whites, and those with a normal BMI. Incorporating yogurt or probiotics into the diet could serve as a public health strategy for improving sleep disturbances, though further investigation into the underlying mechanisms is needed.

Abstract Background Cyclin D1 (CCND1) plays a pivotal role in cancer susceptibility and the platinum-based chemotherapy response. This study aims to assess the relationship between a common polymorphism (rs9344 G > A) in CCND1 gene with cancer susceptibility, platinum-based chemotherapy response, toxicities and prognosis of patients with lung cancer. Methods This study involved 498 lung cancer patients and 213 healthy controls. Among them, 467 patients received at least two cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy. Unconditional logistical regression analysis and meta-analysis were performed to evaluate the associations. Results The lung adenocarcinoma risk was significantly higher in patients with AA than GG + GA genotype (adjusted OR = 1.755, 95%CI = 1.057–2.912, P = 0.030). CCND1 rs9344 was significantly correlated with platinum-based therapy response in patients receiving PP regimen (additive model: adjusted OR = 1.926, 95%CI = 1.029–3.605, P = 0.040; recessive model: adjusted OR = 11.340, 95%CI = 1.428–90.100, P = 0.022) and in the ADC subgroups (recessive model: adjusted OR = 3.345, 95%CI = 1.276–8.765, P = 0.014). Furthermore, an increased risk of overall toxicity was found in NSCLC patients (additive model: adjusted OR = 1.395, 95%CI = 1.025–1.897, P = 0.034; recessive model: adjusted OR = 1.852, 95%CI = 1.088–3.152, P = 0.023), especially ADC subgroups (additive model: adjusted OR = 1.547, 95%CI = 1.015–2.359, P = 0.043; recessive model: adjusted OR = 2.030, 95%CI = 1.017–4.052, P = 0.045). Additionally, CCND1 rs9344 was associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal toxicity in non-smokers (recessive model: adjusted OR = 2.620, 95%CI = 1.083–6.336, P = 0.035). Non-significant differences were observed in the 5-year overall survival rate between CCND1 rs9344 genotypes. A meta-analysis of 5432 cases and 6452 control samples did not find a significant association between lung cancer risk and CCND1 rs9344 polymorphism. Conclusion This study suggests that in the Chinese population, CCND1 rs9344 could potentially serve as a candidate biomarker for cancer susceptibility and treatment outcomes in specific subgroups of patients.

Abstract The ventilation rate of cigarettes is an important indicator that affects the internal quality of cigarettes. When producing cigarettes, the unit may experience unstable ventilation rates, which can lead to a decrease in cigarette quality and pose certain risks to smokers. By establishing the ventilation rate prediction model, guide the design of unit parameters in advance, to achieve the goal of stabilizing unit ventilation rate, improve the stability of cigarette ventilation rate, and enhance the quality of cigarettes. This paper used multiple linear regression networks (MLR), backpropagation neural networks (BPNN), and genetic algorithm-optimized backpropagation (GABP) to construct a model for the prediction of cigarette ventilation rate. The model results indicated that the total ventilation rate was significantly positively correlated with weight (P

Choosing a suitable core loss model and accurately predicting energy loss are crucial in designing magnetic devices with high efficiency based on soft magnetic composites (SMCs). In this work, FeSiAl and FeSi SMCs with a uniform insulating layer were fabricated by a phosphating process. The effects of excitation waveform and DC bias field on core loss have been investigated in depth. The results show that different remagnetization rates of SMC under ideal sinusoidal and square waves result in different core losses at the same frequency and flux density. The improved general Steinmetz equation and the modified Steinmetz equation were shown to be suitable for calculating core loss under square excitation waves without DC bias field. When the DC bias field is applied, the core loss of FeSiAl and FeSi SMCs was found to increase significantly due to the magnetization state gradually approaching saturation. Interestingly, the variation tendency of core loss can be accurately predicted using the waveform coefficient Steinmetz equation under square excitation conditions with a DC bias environment. This work not only provides deep insights into core loss under different excitation waveforms and DC bias fields but also determines the application scope of different core loss models.

Abstract Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (II/R) injury is an urgent clinical disease with high incidence and mortality, and impaired intestinal barrier function caused by excessive apoptosis of intestinal cells is an important cause of its serious consequences. Tripartite motif-containing protein 65 (TRIM65) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that is recently reported to suppress the inflammatory response and apoptosis. However, the biological function and regulation of TRIM65 in II/R injury are totally unknown. We found that TRIM65 was significantly decreased in hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) induced intestinal epithelial cells and II/R-induced intestine tissue. TRIM65 knockout mice markedly aggravated intestinal apoptosis and II/R injury. To explore the molecular mechanism of TRIM65 in exacerbating II/R-induced intestinal apoptosis and damage, thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box factor 4 (TOX4) was screened out as a novel substrate of TRIM65 using the yeast two-hybrid system. TRIM65 binds directly to the N-terminal of TOX4 through its coiled-coil and SPRY structural domains. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy showed that they can co-localize both in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Furthermore, TRIM65 mediated the K48 ubiquitination and degradation of TOX4 depending on its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. In addition, TRIM65 inhibits H/R-induced intestinal epithelial apoptosis via TOX4. In summary, our results indicated that TRIM65 promotes ubiquitination and degradation of TOX4 to inhibit apoptosis in II/R. These findings provide a promising target for the clinical treatment of II/R injury.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor, characterized by high heterogeneity, strong invasiveness, poor prognosis, and a low survival rate. A broad range of nanoparticles have been recently developed as drug delivery systems for GBM therapy owing to their inherent size effect and ability to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Lipid-based nanoparticles (LBNPs), such as liposomes, solid lipid NPs (SLNs), and nano-structured lipid carriers (NLCs), have emerged as the most promising drug delivery system for the treatment of GBM because of their unique size, surface modification possibilities, and proven bio-safety. In this review, the main challenges of the current clinical treatment of GBM and the strategies on how novel LBNPs overcome them were explored. The application and progress of LBNP-based drug delivery systems in GBM chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and gene therapy in recent years were systematically reviewed, and the prospect of LBNPs for GBM treatment was discussed.

A reaction center is a unique biological system that performs the initial charge separation within a Photosystem II (PSII) multiunit enzyme, which eventually drives the catalytic water-splitting in plants and algae. The possible role of quantum coherences coinciding with the energy and charge transfer processes in PSII reaction center is one of the active areas of research. Here, we study these quantum coherences by using a numerically exact method on an excitonic dimer model, including linear vibronic coupling and employing optimal parameters from experimental two-dimensional coherent spectroscopic measurements. This enables us to precisely capture the excitonic interaction between pigments and the dissipation of the energy from electronic and charge-transfer (CT) states to the protein environment. We employ the time nonlocal (TNL) quantum master equation to calculate the population dynamics, which yields numerically reliable results. The calculated results show that, due to the strong dissipation, the lifetime of electronic coherence is too short to have direct participation in the charge transfer processes. However, there are long-lived vibrational coherences present in the system at frequencies close to the excitionic energy gap. These are strongly coupled with the electronic coherences, which makes the detection of the electronic coherences with conventional techniques very challenging. Additionally, we unravel the strong excitonic interaction of radical pair (PD1 and PD2) in the reaction center, which results in a long-lived electronic coherence of >100 fs, even at room temperature. Our work provide important physical insight to the charge separation process in PSII reaction center, which may be helpful for better understanding of photophysical processes in other natural and artificial light-harvesting systems.

IntroductionThis study explored the state of rational drug use among older adults in central China, aiming to unveil factors influencing their medication literacy and proposing targeted improvement measures.MethodsA cross-sectional study involving 454 participants aged 60 and above was conducted in Hubei province between February 1 and May 30, 2023, with data collected through face-to-face interviews by pharmacists. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine factors that affected medication literacy.ResultsOf the 412 valid questionnaires, findings revealed inadequate knowledge of rational drug use among older adults in central China. Those who fully understood (105, 25.49%, OR = 9.349, p

The excavation and utilization of dormancy loci in breeding are effective endeavors for enhancing the resistance to pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) of wheat varieties. CH1539 is a wheat breeding line with high-level seed dormancy. To clarify the dormant loci carried by CH1539 and obtain linked molecular markers, in this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross of weak dormant SY95-71 and strong dormant CH1539 was genotyped using the Wheat17K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, and a high-density genetic map covering 21 chromosomes and consisting of 2437 SNP markers was constructed. Then, the germination percentage (GP) and germination index (GI) of the seeds from each RIL were estimated. Two QTLs for GP on chromosomes 5A and 6B, and four QTLs for GI on chromosomes 5A, 6B, 6D and 7A were identified. Among them, the QTL on chromosomes 6B controlling both GP and GI, temporarily named QGp/Gi.sxau-6B, is a major QTL for seed dormancy with the maximum phenotypic variance explained of 17.66~34.11%. One PCR-based diagnostic marker Ger6B-3 for QGp/Gi.sxau-6B was developed, and the genetic effect of QGp/Gi.sxau-6B on the RIL population and a set of wheat germplasm comprising 97 accessions was successfully confirmed. QGp/Gi.sxau-6B located in the 28.7~30.9 Mbp physical position is different from all the known dormancy loci on chromosomes 6B, and within the interval, there are 30 high-confidence annotated genes. Our results revealed a novel QTL QGp/Gi.sxau-6B whose CH1539 allele had a strong and broad effect on seed dormancy, which will be useful in further PHS-resistant wheat breeding.

Mitochondrial genomes offer pragmatic genetic markers to reconstruct evolutionary relationships and inform taxonomic classifications. Here, we present complete mitochondrial sequences for four Chinese pygmy grasshoppers (Tetrigidae), aiming to reevaluate phylogenetic patterns and morphological taxonomy. Our 17,643 bp, 16,274 bp, 15,086 bp, and 15,398 bp mitogenomes of Exothotettix guangxiensis, Formosatettix longwangshanensis, Euparatettix sinufemoralis and Systolederus zhengi, respectively, exhibit archetypal Tetrigidae architecture. We constructed phylogenies using 13 protein-coding loci from 39 Tetrigidae mitogenomes, revealing several genus-level clusters with statistically solid support, conflicts regarding Ex. guangxiensis, F. longwangshanensis merging into Tetrix, and two subclades of Systolederus. The dated divergence analysis indicates over 150 Mya of Tetrigidae ancestry, tracing the Systolederus generic group splits up to ~75 million years ago. Moreover, the Tetrix generic group radiated over 14 Mya across vast distributions, consistent with rapid adaptive dispersals. Our mitochondrial reconstructions suggest that Synstolederus is taxonomically overextended for a single genus, while the distinctiveness of Ex. guangxiensis and F. longwangshanensis from Tetrix appears questionable, and the Tetrix generic group comprises a potential tRNA-Ile coding region. Our integrative mitogenomic approaches will help resolve issues stemming from morphological taxonomy that is reliant on traits that are prone to convergence. This investigation enhances comprehension of Tetrigidae phylogeny and accentuates molecular systematics.

BackgroundThe ability to maintain attention is crucial for achieving success in various aspects of life, including academic pursuits, career advancement, and social interactions. Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is a common symptom associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which can pose challenges for individuals affected by it, impacting their social interactions and learning abilities. To address this issue, virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for attention training with the ability to create personalized virtual worlds, providing a conducive platform for attention-focused interventions. Furthermore, leveraging physiological data can be instrumental in the development and enhancement of attention-training techniques for individuals.MethodsIn our preliminary study, a functional prototype for attention therapy systems was developed. In the current phase, the objective is to create a framework called VR-PDA (Virtual Reality Physiological Data Analysis) that utilizes physiological data for tracking and improving attention in individuals. Four distinct training strategies such as noise, score, object opacity, and red vignette are implemented in this framework. The primary goal is to leverage virtual reality technology and physiological data analysis to enhance attentional capabilities.ResultsOur data analysis results revealed that reinforcement training strategies are crucial for improving attention in individuals with ASD, while they are not significant for non-autistic individuals. Among all the different strategies employed, the noise strategy demonstrates superior efficacy in training attention among individuals with ASD. On the other hand, for Non-ASD individuals, no specific training proves to be effective in enhancing attention. The total gazing time feature exhibited benefits for participants with and without ASD.DiscussionThe results consistently demonstrated favorable outcomes for both groups, indicating an enhanced level of attentiveness. These findings provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of different strategies for attention training and emphasize the potential of virtual reality (VR) and physiological data in attention training programs for individuals with ASD. The results of this study open up new avenues for further research and inspire future developments.

An outbreak occurred in Wanhua District of Taipei City. It was traced to a cluster infection originating from a teahouse. To prevent further large-scaled community spread, the Taipei City Government established the first community rapid test screening station. This report describes the station's strategy and performance and key factors that contributed to its operation. The project involves collaboration among various departments of Taipei City Government, including the health, environmental, police, transportation, and fire departments. The station provides rapid screening, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, and immediate isolation and follow-up medical services upon the detection of a positive case. These services are accessible to local residents and are intended to ease hospitals' burdens. In 36 days, a total of 8532 people were tested, and 419 confirmed cases were identified. Over the same period, the weekly number of positive cases in Wanhua District decreased from 356 to 40, and the PCR positive rate decreased from 21.7% to 1.2%. The policy of establishing rapid screening station, contact tracing and mask wearing policy are key strategies for interrupting chains of transmission of COVID-19. This intervention has become a model for preventing the spread of the epidemic and establishing community rapid screening stations in Taiwan.

Steel-tube-confined concrete (STCC) targets are provided with excellent anti-penetration performance over semi-infinite concrete (SIC) targets since the steel tube imposes passive restraint on the in-filled concrete during the penetration process. Grid STCC system with square steel tubes is a potential solution to protective structures. In this paper, experiments of 9-cell grid STCC targets penetrated by 12.7 mm Armor Piercing Projectile (APP) were performed. The influence of side length and thickness of steel tube, steel ratio and impact velocity on anti-penetration performance were taken into account. Additionally, single-cell square STCC targets were also designed and tested for comparison with the 9-cell grid STCC targets. Damage modes and parameters of the tested targets were measured and discussed. Moreover, the stiffness of radial confinement of grid STCC targets is achieved according to the elastic solution of infinite cylindrical shell in Winkler medium. Furthermore, the penetration resistance and depth of penetration (DOP) for grid STCC targets are obtained on the basis of the dynamic finite spherical cavity-expansion (FSCE) models including radial confinement effect. It is shown that the 9-cell grid STCC targets with optimal dimension match of thickness and side length of steel tube can reduce the DOP by about 17 % and 23 % in comparison with the SIC targets and single-cell square STCC targets, respectively, due to both the confinement of square steel tube to concrete in the impacted cell and the additional confinement of the surrounding cells to the impacted cell; the penetration resistance and DOP of the grid and cellular STCC targets with similar steel ratio is close, and thus the grid STCC targets with simpler manufacturing process and excellent in-plane expandability are preferred in engineering practice; moreover, the predicted results of DOP model based on the FSCE models agree well with the tested results with the maximum disparity less than 12 % and the proposed model is more applicable to the grid and cellular STCC targets with high radial confinement.

The wide-field imaging system carried on a high-altitude or near-space vehicle takes high-resolution images of the ground to measure and map targets. With the improvement of imaging resolution and measurement accuracy, the focal length of the wide-field imaging system is getting longer. The requirement for image motion compensation (IMC) accuracy is getting higher, and the influence of optical path coupling is increasing within the process of two-dimensional (2D) IMC. To further improve the IMC accuracy of the wide-field imaging system, an innovative IMC method is first proposed in this paper. The method is based on the 2D motion of the scanning platform and secondary mirror. Secondly, to solve the optical coupling problem in the process of 2D IMC, the coupling phenomenon is analyzed. The coupling relationships between 2D scanning motion, 2D secondary mirror motion and image motion is derived from the compensation process. A complete 2D IMC model is established, and a 2D IMC method, including an optical path decoupling correct regulator (ODCR), is designed. Finally, the method is verified in laboratory and field flight tests. The results show that the proposed method can effectively correct the coupling error of the optical path in the process of IMC and achieve high-resolution 2D IMC. When the scanning speed is 60°/s and the exposure time is 2 ms, the accuracy of the 2D IMC is up to 0.57pixels (RMS) in the pitch direction, and 0.46 pixels (RMS) in the roll direction.

ABSTRACT: Cynomorium songaricum is a traditional medicine and also a food material that is eaten raw or processed as tea or beverages. As a featured plant in semi-desert grasslands, C. songaricum is also eaten by the cattle and sheep in the area. This research study fed dairy sheep C. songaricum to determine the flavan-3-ols in sheep milk. Catechin (Cat), epicatechin (Epi), procyanidin A1 (A1), procyanidin A2 (A2), and procyanidin B1 (B1) were detected in sheep milk with the concentration being Epi > A2 > Cat > B1 > A1 at 24 h after the administration of C. songaricum. Neither A1 nor A2 were detected in the methanol extract of C. songaricum. Cysteine degradation of the plant revealed that in addition to Epi, A2 was the extending unit of the polymeric flavan-3-ols in C. songaricum, indicating that A2 is released digestively from the polymers and enters the milk. Procyanidin B-1 was converted to A1 on incubation in raw but not heated milk, indicating that the A1 in milk is the enzymatically transformed product of B1. Accelerated oxidation showed that the flavan-3-ols, B1, Cat, and Epi significantly protects the unsaturated triacyglycerols in the milk from oxidation. The flavan-3-ol could slow down the oxidation of glutathione and the latter may play an important role in preventing the milk triglycerides from oxidation. Flavan-3-ols are polyphenols with many health benefits. The present research revealed the antioxidant activities of flavan-3-ols that could be absorbed to sheep milk, adding new evidences for the values of these flavan-3-ols and for the milk.

Projecting the climate change impacts on hydrology and water resources relies on the climate scenarios simulated by general circulation models (GCMs), which requires a systematic and comprehensive assessment of the GCMs’ simulation performances at a regional scale. This study evaluates the performances of precipitation simulation over the Hanjiang River Basin (HRB) by six climate models from Phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6), the corresponding six previous models from the CMIP5, and their multi-model ensemble (MME) based on the observational data in the CN05.1. To our knowledge, this is the first preliminary study in the HRB. The Taylor diagram (including standard deviation, root-mean-square difference, and correlation coefficient) and Taylor skill score are used for the evaluation of GCMs’ precipitation simulation performances. The spatial pattern and temporal pattern over the HRB simulated by CMIP6 and CMIP5 models are compared by relative biases. The results of the Taylor diagram and skill score show that CMIP6 models don't necessarily perform better than the corresponding previous CMIP5 models in simulating precipitation over the HRB. The MME exhibits superior performance compared to that of any individual model, and the CMIP6-MME is more skillful than the CMIP5-MME. As to the spatial and temporal variation characteristics, the precipitation biases are both present in CMIP6 and CMIP5 models, and the bias of the CMIP6-MME is lower than that of the CMIP5-MME. The CMIP6 and CMIP5 models overestimate the precipitation from January to June, and simulate larger precipitation biases in the areas and seasons with less precipitation, while they are lower with more precipitation over the HRB. The findings obtained in this study could provide a scientific reference for the research of future hydrological cycle predictions over the HRB. HIGHLIGHTS The prerequisite for projecting the impacts of climate change on the hydrologic cycle at a basin scale is to better understand the model biases in GCMs.; This study evaluated the precipitation simulation performances of CMIP6 and CMIP5 models over the Hanjiang River Basin, China.; Findings obtained in this study could provide a scientific reference for the research of future hydrological cycle predictions.;

Ovarian cancer (OC) remains the most fatal disease of gynecologic malignant tumors. Angiogenesis refers to the development of new vessels from pre-existing ones, which is responsible for supplying nutrients and removing metabolic waste. Although not yet completely understood, tumor vascularization is orchestrated by multiple secreted factors and signaling pathways. The most central proangiogenic signal, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGFR signaling, is also the primary target of initial clinical anti-angiogenic effort. However, the efficiency of therapy has so far been modest due to the low response rate and rapidly emerging acquiring resistance. This review focused on the current understanding of the in-depth mechanisms of tumor angiogenesis, together with the newest reports of clinical trial outcomes and resistance mechanism of anti-angiogenic agents in OC. We also emphatically summarized and analyzed previously reported biomarkers and predictive models to describe the prospect of precision therapy of anti-angiogenic drugs in OC.

Understanding the spatiotemporal pattern of precipitation concentration is important in the water cycle under changing environments. In this study, the daily precipitation concentration index in the Yangtze River Delta in China is calculated based on the Lorenz curves obtained from the observed data of 36 meteorological stations from 1960 to 2017, and spatiotemporal pattern variations and their possible causes are investigated. The driving forces of elevation, SUNSPOT, El Niño-Antarctic Oscillation, Pacific Decade Oscillation, and Arctic Oscillation are detected with correlation and wavelet analysis. Results show that, the daily precipitation concentration index ranges from 0.55 to 0.62 during the study period, 22 of 36 stations (accounting for 61%) show increasing trends, while three stations increase significantly at the 95% significant level. Relationship analysis indicates that the daily precipitation concentration shows a slightly negative correlation with elevation, while the relationships with SUNSPOT, El Niño-Antarctic Oscillation, Pacific Decade Oscillation, and Arctic Oscillation are complicated and diverse, there are different correlations and significance levels in different years. Further analysis shows that SUNSPOT is significantly correlated with El Niño-Antarctic Oscillation, Pacific Decade Oscillation, and Arctic Oscillation, which suggests that SUNSPOT may be an important factor that drives the changes of the three large-scale atmosphere circulation factors and causes precipitation concentration changing indirectly. These results provide further understanding of precipitation variations, which is meaningful for regional flood risk management under climate change. HIGHLIGHTS Spatiotemporal variations of daily precipitation concentration in the Yangtze River Delta are investigated.; Daily precipitation concentration shows a strong spatial heterogeneity overall.; Large-scale atmospheric circulation and SUNSPOTS are possible driving forces.;

The hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a unique pathogen with significant global health implications, affecting individuals who are coinfected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HDV infection has profound clinical consequences, manifesting either as coinfection with HBV, resulting in acute hepatitis and potential liver failure, or as superinfection in chronic HBV cases, substantially increasing the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Given the complex dynamics of HDV infection and the urgent need for advanced research tools, this article introduces vHDvDB 2.0, a comprehensive HDV full-length sequence database. This innovative platform integrates data preprocessing, secondary structure prediction, and epidemiological research tools. The primary goal of vHDvDB 2.0 is to consolidate HDV sequence data into a user-friendly repository, thereby facilitating access for researchers and enhancing the broader scientific understanding of HDV. The significance of this database lies in its potential to streamline HDV research by providing a centralized resource for analyzing viral sequences and exploring genotype-specific characteristics. It will also enable more in-depth research within the HDV sequence domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study used alcoholic ammonium hydroxide to directly hydrolyze and extract secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) from flaxseed hull in a one pot reaction. The optimal extraction conditions, including the concentration of ammonium hydroxide, extraction time, and temperature, were examined in single factor experiments, followed by response surface methodology (RSM) with 3-level, 3-factor Box-Behnken experiments. As a result, the optimal extraction conditions were determined as follows: material-liquid ratio 1:20, percentage of reagent ammonium hydroxide (25–28% of NH3 in water) in ethanol 33.7% (pH = 12.9), extraction time 4.9 h, and extraction temperature 75.3 °C. Under these conditions, the yield of SDG, as measured by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, was 23.3 mg/g, consistent with the predicted content of SDG in flaxseed hull (23.0 mg/g). Further, 30.0 g of pulverized flaxseed hull was extracted under the optimal conditions, and the extract was subjected to a single run of macroporous resin chromatography to obtain 772.1 mg of a fraction with an SDG content exceeding 76.1%. Subsequent chromatography on Sephadex LH20, yielded 602.8 mg SDG of 98.0% purity, and the yield was 20.1 mg/g (2.0%) from flaxseed hulls. Thus, one-pot hydrolysis and extraction of SDG using alcoholic ammonium hydroxide is simple, and of high-yield. Graphical abstract

In order to improve the interfacial wettability of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Cu matrix, and to improve the dispersity and binding force between CNTs and Cu matrix, the copper composite paste with excellent electrical conductivity was prepared. Precisely, with the water-based solvent as the carrier, CNTs electroless copper-plated composite paste for CNTs was prepared through selecting copper powder with the grain size distributions of 1 μm and 10 μm as the primary conductive phase, and a small amount of copper-plated CNTs as the reinforcement phase of conductivity. Moreover, the optimum technology of electroless copper plating of CNTs is discussed using four-probe meter, SEM and XRD. Meanwhile, the influence of copper-plated CNTs on the paste conductivity is also studied for analyzing its conductive mechanism. The findings show that the surface of CNTs is plated with a layer of copper particles that are continuous, uniform and dense upon electroless copper plating, which is beneficial to the dispersibility and wettability between CNTs and metal Cu. Hence, copper-plated CNTs can be used as a medium for linking the copper powder, uniformly covering on the surface of the copper powder and effectively filling and making up for continuous deficiencies between copper particles. At the same time, the tube walls are mutually attracted and bridged between Cu particles to form a dense conductive network. When the mass ratio of copper powder to copper-plated CNTs is 96∶4, the conductivity of the composite paste reaches the optimum. Apparently, the copper-plated CNTs can effectively improve the conductivity of the composite paste.

Background: The florets of Carthamus tinctorius L. (Safflower) is an important traditional medicine for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. However, its bioactive compounds and mechanism of action need further clarification.Objective: This study aims to investigate the effect and possible mechanism of 6-hydroxykaempferol 3,6-di-O-glucoside-7-O-glucuronide (HGG) from Safflower on endothelial injury in vitro, and to verify its anti-thrombotic activity in vivo.Methods: The endothelial injury on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation followed by reoxygenation (OGD/R). The effect of HGG on the proliferation of HUVECs under OGD/R was evaluated by MTT, LDH release, Hoechst-33342 staining, and Annexin V-FITC apoptosis assay. RNA-seq, RT-qPCR, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot experiments were performed to uncover the molecular mechanism. The anti-thrombotic effect of HGG in vivo was evaluated using phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-induced zebrafish thrombosis model.Results: HGG significantly protected OGD/R induced endothelial injury, and decreased HUVECs apoptosis by regulating expressions of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) at both transcriptome and protein levels. Moreover, HGG reversed the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, and reduced the release of IL-6 after OGD/R. In addition, HGG exhibited protective effects against PHZ-induced zebrafish thrombosis and improved blood circulation.Conclusion: HGG regulates the expression of HIF-1α and NF-κB, protects OGD/R induced endothelial dysfunction in vitro and has anti-thrombotic activity in PHZ-induced thrombosis in vivo.

High Ba-Sr granitic rocks are widespread in Phanerozoic orogenic systems, and their petrogenesis is important for revealing the evolutionary process of the Proto-Tethys Ocean in the North Qilian orogenic belt. This paper presents a combination of zircon U-Pb age, whole-rock major and trace element concentrations, and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic data for Caowa high Ba-Sr dioritic intrusion from the eastern part of the North Qilian orogenic belt, aiming to decipher its petrogenesis and tectonic setting. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating yield an emplacement age of 450 ± 2 Ma for the Caowa intrusion, indicating a magmatic activity of the Late Ordovician. The Caowa quartz diorites contain moderate contents of SiO2, MgO, Mg#, and resultant high concentrations of Na2O + K2O, Fe2O3T, and Al2O3, displaying calc-alkaline and metaluminous characteristics. The studied samples have relatively elevated Ba (up to 1165 ppm) and Sr (561 to 646 ppm) contents, with obvious enrichment in LILEs (e.g., Ba, Th, U) and depletions in HFSEs (e.g., Nb, Ta, Ti), resembling those of typical high Ba-Sr granitoids in subduction zones. Together with enriched Sr-Nd isotopic composition [(87Sr/86Sr)i = 0.7082–0.7086, εNd(t) = −5.1 to −4.9], and the wide ranges of zircon εHf(t) values (−13.2 to +8.5), it suggests that these high Ba-Sr quartz diorites were derived from a mixture magma source between the ancient crust materials and the enriched lithospheric mantle metasomatized by fluid released from subducted oceanic crust or sediment. Taking into account the ophiolites, high pressure metamorphic rocks, and arc magmatic rocks in the region, we infer that due to the influence of the northward subduction of the Qilian Proto-Tethys Ocean, the Laohushan oceanic crust of the North Qilian back-arc basin was subducted during the Late Ordovician and resulted in extensive metasomatism of lithospheric mantle by fluids derived from oceanic crust or sediments, and the Caowa high Ba-Sr quartz diorites were generated in the process of crust–mantle interaction during the Late Ordovician.

The stems of Cynomorium songaricum are used in traditional Chinese medicine as a tonic and also used locally as a food material and livestock feed. It is known that some of the falvan‐3‐ol monomers and dimers that entered the milk of dairy sheep fed with C. songaricum stems are biotransformation products of the original flavan‐3‐ol polymers in C. songaricum stems. This study was performed to investigate the biotransformation process of the flavan‐3‐ols in dairy sheep and to evaluate the bioactivities. The results showed that procyanidin A2 and epicatechin could be released from the polymeric flavan‐3‐ols of C. songaricum through rumen microbial metabolism. On traumatic and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced inflammation models of Tg (mpx: EGFP) zebrafish larvae and LPS‐induced liver injury models of Tg (fabp10a: DsRed) zebrafish larvae, the milk from sheep fed with C. songaricum stems showed stronger anti‐inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities compared to blank milk. The absorbed chemical constituents of C. songaricum stems and the metabolites also exhibited anti‐inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities, with the dimeric flavan‐3‐ols being more effective than the monomers. The milk, the absorbed chemical constituents of C. songaricum stems, and the metabolites alleviated the increased level of reactive oxygen species induced by LPS in zebrafish larvae. Practical Application: This study found that C. songaricum stems as livestock feed could produce milk that has a beneficial impact on consumer and livestock health in terms of anti‐inflammation and hepatoprotection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor metastasis is the major cause of tumor relapse and cancer-associated mortality in colorectal cancer, leading to poor therapeutic responses and reduced survival. eIF3a was previously described as an oncogene. However, its role in colorectal cancer progression and metastasis has not yet been fully investigated. In this study, the expression specificity and predictive value of eIF3a were investigated in clinical samples. The effects of eIF3a on cell proliferation and migration were verified in vivo and in vitro, respectively. The underlying molecular mechanism was revealed by western blotting, immunofluorescence, RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation, and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays. The results showed that eIF3a was significantly overexpressed in tumor tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. High eIF3a expression was correlated with tumor metastasis and overall survival. Downregulation of eIF3a obviously inhibited the proliferation and motility of malignant cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, eIF3a regulates Cdc42 and RhoA expression at the translation level, which further affects pseudopodia formation and actin cytoskeleton remodeling. Taken together, eIF3a accelerates the acquisition of the migratory phenotype of cancer cells by activating Cdc42 and RhoA expression at the translational level. Our study identified eIF3a as a promising target for inhibiting colorectal cancer metastasis.

Huaganjian decoction (HGJD) was first recorded in the classic “Jing Yue Quan Shu” during the Ming dynasty, and it has been extensively applied in clinical practice to treat liver diseases for over 300 years in China. However, its bioactive constituents and relevant pharmacological mechanism are still unclear. In this study, a strategy integrating network analysis and metabolomics was applied to reveal mechanism of HGJD in treating cholestatic hepatic injury (CHI). Firstly, we observed the therapeutic effect of HGJD against CHI with an alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) induced CHI rat model. Then, we utilized UPLC-Q-Exactive MS/MS method to analyze the serum migrant compounds of HGJD in CHI rats. Based on these compounds, network analysis was conducted to screen for potential active components, and key signaling pathways interrelated to therapeutic effect of HGJD. Meanwhile, serum metabolomics was utilized to investigate the underlying metabolic mechanism of HGJD against CHI. Finally, the predicted key pathway was verified by western blot and biochemical analysis using rat liver tissue from in vivo efficacy experiment. Our results showed that HGJD significantly alleviated ANIT induced CHI. Totally, 31 compounds originated from HGJD have been identified in the serum sample. PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 signaling pathway related to GSH synthesis was demonstrated as one of the major pathways interrelated to therapeutic effect of HGJD against CHI. This research supplied a helpful strategy to determine the potential bioactive compounds and mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine.

Helically twisted photonic crystal fibers (HT-PCFs) provide additional opportunities for controlling the light propagation characteristics and improving the sensing performances. In this paper, a toluene and gold wire-filled HT-PCF was proposed and designed for high sensitivity temperature sensing. The influences of the structure parameters on the confinement loss, sensitivity, and resolution of the proposed HT-PCF were investigated. For the optimized HT-PCF, the average sensitivity is as high as 14.35 and 17.29 nm/℃ in the temperature range of −20 to 20 ℃ and 20 to 70 ℃, respectively. Moreover, the proposed HT-PCF-based temperature sensor is insensitive to the hydrostatic pressure. Finally, the detailed fabrication process of the toluene and gold wire-filled HT-PCF temperature sensor is proposed. It is believed that the proposed HT-PCF temperature sensor has potential applications in the fields of the environmental monitoring, medical diagnostics, etc.

In this work, a polarization beam splitter (PBS) based on surface plasmonic resonance is proposed and realized in a designed photonic crystal fiber (PCF). The PCF consists of two kinds of air holes with different diameters. Two solid silica cores near the center of the PCF are established by removing the cladding air holes. A gold film is plated at the external surface of the central air hole of the PCF to excite the surface plasmonic resonance. In order to minimize the length and improve the operation bandwidth of the PBS, the influences of the transversal structural parameters of the PCF are investigated in the context of both X and Y polarization beams. It was found that a 123.6-μm-long PBS with an operation bandwidth of 314 nm could be realized after the global optimization of five structural parameters. The proposed PBS may have potential applications in micro-/nano-optical systems for sensing and communications.