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Understanding the function of rare non-coding variants represents a significant challenge. Using MapUTR, a screening method, we studied the function of rare 3' UTR variants affecting mRNA abundance post-transcriptionally. Among 17,301 rare gnomAD variants, an average of 24.5% were functional, with 70% in cancer-related genes, many in critical cancer pathways. This observation motivated an interrogation of 11,929 somatic mutations, uncovering 3928 (33%) functional mutations in 155 cancer driver genes. Functional MapUTR variants were enriched in microRNA- or protein-binding sites and may underlie outlier gene expression in tumors. Further, we introduce untranslated tumor mutational burden (uTMB), a metric reflecting the amount of somatic functional MapUTR variants of a tumor and show its potential in predicting patient survival. Through prime editing, we characterized three variants in cancer-relevant genes (MFN2, FOSL2, and IRAK1), demonstrating their cancer-driving potential. Our study elucidates the function of tens of thousands of non-coding variants, nominates non-coding cancer driver mutations, and demonstrates their potential contributions to cancer.

The hydrodynamic performance of a barge-type floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT) with a moonpool is studied in frequency domain with reference to the Ideol-Floatgen design. The correction of the viscous damping of the moonpool is considered. First, the resonance modes of the moonpool are analyzed. Then, the hydrodynamic coefficients of the FOWT under regular waves and the motion responses under irregular waves are investigated. Finally, the safety of the FOWT is verified with respect to the DNV standards. The results show that the dynamic pitch and nacelle acceleration of the barge-type FOWT meet the safety requirements under both operating and survival conditions. The investigation of the coupling effects of the platform motion and the moonpool resonance shows that the motion of the platform will cause the shift of the piston mode frequency of the moonpool and the reduction of the piston mode response amplitude, the frequency of the sloshing mode is basically unaffected, but the response amplitude of the first-order sloshing mode is increased. The motion responses of the barge-type FOWT with and without the moonpool are compared. It is found that the moonpool can reduce the motion response of the FOWT, and improve the overall hydrodynamic performance of the FOWT. The platform length, moonpool length and platform draught are parametrically analyzed. Surge, heave, pitch response RMS values and the nacelle acceleration response RMS value are used as the indicators of comparison. It is found that the increase of the platform length could effectively reduce the four response RMS values of the FOWT under both operating and survival conditions, the increase of the moonpool length will reduce the four response RMS values of the FOWT under the operating condition, and the increase of the platform draught could significantly reduce the four response RMS values of the FOWT under the survival condition, the heave and pitch response RMS values increase with the augmentation of the draught under the operating condition.

Abstract Background To explore the associations between anxiety and depression symptoms and academic burnout among children and adolescents in China, and to examine the role of resilience and self-efficacy in addressing academic burnout. Methods A total of 2,070 students in grades 4–8 were recruited from two primary and three middle schools in Shanghai, completed the Elementary School Student Burnout Scale (ESSBS), the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children-Chinese (MASC-C), the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), with 95.04% effective response rate. Multivariable regression analyses examining the associations between anxiety / depression symptoms and academic burnout (as well as the associations between resilience / self-efficacy and academic burnout) were performed using STATA 16.0 and SmartPLS 3.0. Results Anxiety symptoms (β = 0.124, p

Abstract Tendon adhesion is a common complication after tendon injury with the development of accumulated fibrotic tissues without effective anti-fibrotic therapies, resulting in severe disability. Macrophages are widely recognized as a fibrotic trigger during peritendinous adhesion formation. However, different clusters of macrophages have various functions and receive multiple regulation, which are both still unknown. In our current study, multi-omics analysis including single-cell RNA sequencing and proteomics was performed on both human and mouse tendon adhesion tissue at different stages after tendon injury. The transcriptomes of over 74 000 human single cells were profiled. As results, we found that SPP1+ macrophages, RGCC+ endothelial cells, ACKR1+ endothelial cells and ADAM12+ fibroblasts participated in tendon adhesion formation. Interestingly, despite specific fibrotic clusters in tendon adhesion, FOLR2+ macrophages were identified as an antifibrotic cluster by in vitro experiments using human cells. Furthermore, ACKR1 was verified to regulate FOLR2+ macrophages migration at the injured peritendinous site by transplantation of bone marrow from Lysm-Cre;R26R tdTomato mice to lethally irradiated Ackr1 −/− mice (Ackr1 −/− chimeras; deficient in ACKR1) and control mice (WT chimeras). Compared with WT chimeras, the decline of FOLR2+ macrophages was also observed, indicating that ACKR1 was specifically involved in FOLR2+ macrophages migration. Taken together, our study not only characterized the fibrosis microenvironment landscape of tendon adhesion by multi-omics analysis, but also uncovered a novel antifibrotic cluster of macrophages and their origin. These results provide potential therapeutic targets against human tendon adhesion.

Abstract Background The popularity of e-cigarettes is on the rise among current cigarette users. Therefore, there are concerns about their health implications. This study examined the impact of health-related social media use on e-cigarette use among current cigarette users. It assesses the mediating influence of online anti-tobacco messages and the moderating role of the harm perception of e-cigarettes. Methods This study was focused on 563 current cigarette users from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). Three tasks were performed: (1) assessing the direct and indirect impacts of health-related social media use on e-cigarette use among current cigarette users, (2) exploring the mediating role of exposure to online anti-tobacco messages, and (3) examining the moderating influence of e-cigarette harm perception on the path from anti-tobacco messages to e-cigarette use. Results Health-related social media use was positively associated with current cigarette users’ e-cigarette use directly (bp = 0.183, p

Polyether amines are versatile compounds characterized by a flexible structure, consisting of polyoxypropylene and polyoxyethylene as the backbone, with amine groups at each end. They have widespread applications in various industrial processes and daily life. Despite their versatility, the utilization of polyether amines as base catalysts is rare. In this study, one kind of three-arm polyether amine 1 was employed as an environmentally friendly, cost-effective catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of thiophenols, leading to the synthesis of disulfides. The oxidative coupling of thiols serves as a fundamental pathway for the production of disulfides, which are vital in both chemical and biological processes. In contrast to known methods for thiol oxidation, this polyether amine-based catalytic process eliminates the need for expensive stoichiometric oxidants and minimizes the formation of over-oxidized by-products. Using a mere 0.5 mol % of the polyether amine 1 as the catalyst, a remarkable > 96% yield was achieved for all 16 tested substrates, encompassing a diverse range of functional groups, under the catalytic aerobic oxidation conditions. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that over 90% of the polyether amine catalyst can be efficiently recovered for reuse without loss of activity, making this a sustainable and cost-effective catalytic approach.

Highlights The anti-adhesion effect of polylactic acid (PLA) membrane with diamond-like carbon (DLC) depositing is 44.72%, enhanced by 23.11% compared to PLA. DLC deposited on PLA membranes has been shown to effectively reduce the levels of reactive oxygen species, leading to a decrease in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines within peritendinous adhesion tissue. DLC decelerates PLA biodegradation and lactic production, which reduces the number of CD68+CD206+ macrophages within peritendinous adhesion tissue.

Abstract Understanding the function of rare non-coding variants represents a significant challenge. Using MapUTR, a screening method, we studied the function of rare 3′ UTR variants affecting mRNA abundance post-transcriptionally. Among 17,301 rare gnomAD variants, an average of 24.5% were functional, with 70% in cancer-related genes, many in critical cancer pathways. This observation motivated an interrogation of 11,929 somatic mutations, uncovering 3928 (33%) functional mutations in 155 cancer driver genes. Functional MapUTR variants were enriched in microRNA- or protein-binding sites and may underlie outlier gene expression in tumors. Further, we introduce untranslated tumor mutational burden (uTMB), a metric reflecting the amount of somatic functional MapUTR variants of a tumor and show its potential in predicting patient survival. Through prime editing, we characterized three variants in cancer-relevant genes (MFN2, FOSL2, and IRAK1), demonstrating their cancer-driving potential. Our study elucidates the function of tens of thousands of non-coding variants, nominates non-coding cancer driver mutations, and demonstrates their potential contributions to cancer.

Abstract DNA damage plays a significant role in the tumorigenesis and progression of the disease. Abnormal DNA repair affects the therapy and prognosis of cancer. In this study, it is demonstrated that the deubiquitinase USP25 promotes non‐homologous end joining (NHEJ), which in turn contributes to chemoresistance in cancer. It is shown that USP25 deubiquitinates SHLD2 at the K64 site, which enhances its binding with REV7 and promotes NHEJ. Furthermore, USP25 deficiency impairs NHEJ‐mediated DNA repair and reduces class switch recombination (CSR) in USP25‐deficient mice. USP25 is overexpressed in a subset of colon cancers. Depletion of USP25 sensitizes colon cancer cells to IR, 5‐Fu, and cisplatin. TRIM25 is also identified, an E3 ligase, as the enzyme responsible for degrading USP25. Downregulation of TRIM25 leads to an increase in USP25 levels, which in turn induces chemoresistance in colon cancer cells. Finally, a peptide that disrupts the USP25‐SHLD2 interaction is successfully identified, impairing NHEJ and increasing sensitivity to chemotherapy in PDX model. Overall, these findings reveal USP25 as a critical effector of SHLD2 in regulating the NHEJ repair pathway and suggest its potential as a therapeutic target for cancer therapy.

Prolonged high temperature is a critical environmental factor contributing to the mass mortality of clams in summer. We investigated the growth and development of Cyclina sinensis cultured at different temperatures (25, 28, 31, and 34 °C) and their physiological and biochemical responses following a long period of exposure. The mortality rates at 31 °C and 34 °C were significantly higher than at 25 °C and 28 °C after 48 d (P < 0.05). The overall survival rates at 25 °C and 28 °C did not differ significantly from the control group (at natural seawater temperature), but were significantly lower at 31 °C and 34 °C (P < 0.05). The growth parameters of C. sinensis in all of the experimental groups were significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.05), with the highest specific growth rate at 28 °C. The shell to soft tissue ratio was greatly increased in the 31 °C and 34 °C groups and was significantly higher than in the other groups after 32 d (P < 0.05). The condition factor at 28 °C was significantly higher than in the other groups (P < 0.05), and started to decline after 32 days at 31 °C and 34 °C. The hepatopancreatic and gonadotropic indexes were significantly lower at 31 °C and 34 °C than in the control group (P < 0.05). Appropriate temperature rises increased the filtration rate and ingestion rate but these were clearly inhibited at 31 °C and 34 °C. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, acid phosphatase (ACP), and lysozyme (LZM) were significantly reduced at 31 °C and 34 °C (P < 0.05). The activities of ACP, LZM, amylase, and the proteases were significantly increased at 28 °C (P < 0.05). Our study showed that high temperatures accelerate the growth of shells but inhibit the growth of soft tissues, negatively affecting the development, physiology, and biochemistry of C. sinensis. Cyclina sinensis demonstrates better overall performance at 28 °C, but aquaculture production would be severely affected if the temperature reaches, or exceeds 31 °C.

The intrinsic resistance of MRSA coupled with biofilm antibiotic tolerance challenges the antibiotic treatment of MRSA biofilm infections. Phytochemical-based nanoplatform is a promising emerging approach for treatment of biofilm infection. However, their therapeutic efficacy was restricted by the low drug loading capacity and lack of selectivity. Herein, we constructed a surface charge adaptive phytochemical-based nanoparticle with high isoliquiritigenin (ISL) loading content for effective treatment of MRSA biofilm. A dimeric ISL prodrug (ISL-G2) bearing a lipase responsive ester bond was synthesized, and then encapsulated into the amphiphilic quaternized oligochitosan. The obtained ISL-G2 loaded NPs possessed positively charged surface, which allowed cis-aconityl-d-tyrosine (CA-Tyr) binding via electrostatic interaction to obtain ISL-G2@TMDCOS-Tyr NPs. The NPs maintained their negatively charged surface, thus prolonging the blood circulation time. In response to low pH in the biofilms, the fast removal of CA-Tyr led to a shift in their surface charge from negative to positive, which enhanced the accumulation and penetration of NPs in the biofilms. Sequentially, the pH-triggered release of d-tyrosine dispersed the biofilm and lipase-triggered released of ISL effectively kill biofilm MRSA. An in vivo study was performed on a MRSA biofilm infected wound model. This phytochemical-based system led to ∼2 log CFU (>99 %) reduction of biofilm MRSA as compared to untreated wound (P < 0.001) with negligible biotoxicity in mice. This phytochemical dimer nanoplatform shows great potential for long-term treatment of resistant bacterial infections.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) features of exudative retinal detachment (ERD) type and optic disc (OD) swelling type Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada (VKH) disease.MethodsHospitalized VKH patients were retrospectively reviewed and classified into the ERD type and the OD swelling type. The EDI-OCT features were then analyzed.ResultsThe study included 32 ERD type and 15 OD swelling type VKH patients at the acute uveitis stage. The interval between the onset of ocular symptoms and the start of treatment in OD swelling type VKH disease was significantly longer compared to the ERD type (p < 0.001). A fuzzy or lost pattern of the choroidal vasculature was observed in 100% of VKH patients of both types. Moreover, high frequencies (greater than or equal to 50%) of fluctuations in the internal limiting membrane, interdigitation zone disruption, ERD, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) folds, and ellipsoid zone disruption were observed in both types. Patients with OD swelling type VKH disease exhibited higher frequencies of OD swelling and hyperreflective substances above the RPE (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively), with lower frequencies of ERD and bacillary layer detachment (p = 0.012 and p < 0.001, respectively). At the convalescence stage, changes in the EDI-OCT images of 10 ERD type and 5 OD swelling type VKH patients were analyzed. The frequencies of the OCT features decreased with similar trends in both types of VKH disease.ConclusionAlthough ERD type and OD swelling type VKH disease have their own unique characteristics, they share common EDI-OCT features. The Fuzzy or lost pattern of the choroidal vasculature that indicates choroidal inflammation may serve as a diagnostic aid for VKH disease, especially for the OD swelling type and the early-stage ERD type.

BackgroundNeglect is a common form of abuse, and long-term care facilities record higher incidences of this abuse. Given that older adult care workers are the main workforce in these facilities, their neglectful behavior requires public health attention. Internal individual characteristics can lead to older adult abuse, and managing workers who abuse older adults may require various methods. This study aimed to identify the profiles of neglect among older adult care workers in long-term care facilities and explore the influencing factors of neglect.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, a convenience sample of older adult care workers from 15 long-term care facilities in Shandong Province (N = 421) completed a questionnaire on the characteristics associated with neglect. Latent profile analysis was used to identify distinct neglect profiles and promote the understanding of individual characteristics associated with varying levels of neglect. One-way analysis of variance and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the population characteristic differences.ResultsOlder adult care workers exhibited three neglect profiles, namely, the “low-risk group,” “medium-risk group,” and “high-risk group.” Males, participants with no employment qualification certificate, and those who did not attend regular training represented the majority of those in the “high-risk group.” Participants with a monthly income of more than ¥ 4,000 and nursing 1–2 older adults simultaneously represented the majority of those in the “low-risk group.”ConclusionLong-term care facility administrators should tailor interventions to individual care worker profiles to reduce neglect behaviors and improve care levels.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element known for its significant role in maintaining human health and mitigating disease progression. Selenium and its compounds exhibit high selective cytotoxicity against tumor cells. However, their anti-cervical cancer (CC) effects and underlying mechanisms have not been fully explored. This study found that sodium selenite (SS) inhibits the viability of HeLa and SiHa cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Intraperitoneal injection of 3 and 6 mg/kg SS for 14 days in female nude mice significantly inhibited the growth of HeLa cell xenografts without evident hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity. RNA sequencing results indicated that the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), Forkhead box protein O (FOXO), and apoptosis signaling pathways are key regulatory pathways in SS’s anti-CC effects, and SS’s inhibition of HeLa cell proliferation may be related to autophagy and ROS-induced apoptosis. Further research has revealed that SS induces cell autophagy and apoptosis through the AMPK/mTOR/FOXO3a pathway, characterized by the upregulation of p-AMPK/AMPK, FOXO3a, LC3-II, cleaved-caspase3, and cleaved-PARP and the downregulation of p-mTOR/mTOR and p62. Additionally, SS impaired mitochondrial function, including decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial Ca2+ overload, and accumulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS). Pretreatment with Mitoquinone mesylate (Mito Q) and compound C partially reversed SS-induced apoptosis, autophagy, and proliferation inhibition. Pretreatment with 3-methyladenine (3-MA) enhances SS-induced apoptosis and proliferation inhibition in HeLa cells but reverses these effects in SiHa cells. In summary, SS induces apoptosis, autophagy, and proliferation inhibition in HeLa and SiHa cells through the activation of the AMPK/mTOR/FOXO3a signaling pathway via mtROS. Autophagy activation may be a major risk factor for SS-induced apoptosis in SiHa cells but can protect HeLa cells from SS-induced apoptosis. These findings provide new evidence for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying SS in potential new drug development for CC.

The incorporation of antioxidants in food products is essential to prevent or delay deterioration, thereby addressing food spoilage. Thiol compounds, recognized for their natural antioxidant properties, are widely used in various foods; however, their antioxidant capacity is often limited. This study investigates the potential enhancement of thiol antioxidant capacity through the addition of a soluble, low-toxic inorganic Sm-cluster. Our findings demonstrate that the Sm-cluster significantly bolsters the antioxidant efficacy of thiol compounds. We explored, for the first time, the in vitro antioxidant activities of an Sm-oxo/hydroxy cluster combined with a cysteine derivative for potential food applications. The composition exhibited a robust inhibition of aromatic aldehyde flavor compound oxidation and displayed strong, dose-dependent DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine) radical scavenging activity. Notably, the antioxidant activity of the Sm-cluster/cysteine derivative was further enhanced under strong visible light conditions, which typically increased the likelihood of oxidation. These results suggest that the combination of inorganic cluster and thiol compounds presents a promising natural alternative to traditional antioxidants in the food industry.

Optimizing lanthanide catalyst performance with organic ligands often encounters significant challenges, including susceptibility to water or oxygen and complex synthesis pathways. To address these issues, our research focuses on developing inorganic lanthanide clusters with enhanced stability and functionality. In this study, we introduce the [Sm6O(OH)8(H2O)24]I8(H2O)8 cluster (Sm-OC) as a sustainable and efficient catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of thiols under heating conditions. The Sm-OC catalyst demonstrated remarkable stability, outstanding recyclability, and excellent chemoselectivity across a diverse range of functional groups in 38 different tests. Notably, it enables efficient unsymmetrical disulfide synthesis and prevents the formation of over-oxidized by-products, highlighting its superior performance. This Sm-OC catalyst provides a practical and robust tool for the precise construction of versatile disulfides, thus establishing a template for the broader use of lanthanide clusters in organic synthesis.

A sustainable bioeconomy in agricultural and agro-industrial production must inevitably involve the sustainable use of agricultural residues through zero-waste processes. Corn cob is considered crucial agricultural waste as 278 and 293 million tons were produced worldwide in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Corn cob hydrolysates, which are abundant in xylose and glucose, could be efficiently utilized for xylitol and ethanol production through the cultivation of recycling the yeast strain Candida magnoliae TISTR 5664 in the single-stage and sequential-stage co-production of these products. The statistically significant maxima (p ≤ 0.05) ethanol concentrations were improved by 7.8% (49.9–51.7 g/L or 91.3–95.6% of the theoretical) from the single stage of ethanol production employing recycled cells and 9.9% (50.9–54.1 g/L or 77.3–83.9% of the theoretical) from the second step of sequential-stage co-production using recycled cells without xylitol accumulation. Conversely, the single-stage xylitol production utilizing recycled cells under microaerobic conditions resulted in a statistically significant lower (p ≤ 0.05) xylitol concentration by two folds relative to the control, while ethanol concentration was elevated by almost double. The statistically significant maximum (p ≤ 0.05) xylitol was achieved at 25.9 g/L (58.6% of the theoretical) when sequential-stage co-production was initiated in the first step with fresh inoculum only and not recycled cells. The sequential-stage co-production of xylitol and ethanol presented the potential for statistically significant improvement (p ≤ 0.05) of both xylitol and ethanol production processes.

Conjugated polymers have attracted significant attention in the field of photocatalysis due to their exceptional properties, including versatile optimization, cost-effectiveness, and structure stability. Herein, two conjugated porous polymers, PhIN-CPP and ThIN-CPP, based on triazines, were meticulously designed and successfully synthesized using benzene and thiophene as building blocks. Based on UV diffuse reflection spectra, the photonic band gaps of PhIN-CPP and ThIN-CPP were calculated as 2.05 eV and 1.79 eV. The PhIN-CPP exhibited a high hydrogen evolution rate (HER) of 5359.92 μmol·g−1·h−1, which is 10 times higher than that of Thin-CPP (538.49 μmol·g−1·h−1). The remarkable disparity in the photocatalytic performance can be primarily ascribed to alterations in the band structure of the polymers, which includes its more stable benzene units, fluffier structure, larger specific surface area, most pronounced absorption occurring in the visible region and highly extended conjugation with a high density of electrons. The ΔEST values for PhIN-CPP and ThIN-CPP were calculated as 0.79 eV and 0.80 eV, respectively, based on DFT and TD-DFT calculations, which revealed that the incorporation of triazine units in the as-prepared CMPs could enhance the charge transfer via S1 ↔ T1 and was beneficial to the photocatalytic decomposition of H2O. This study presents a novel concept for developing a hybrid system for preparation of H2 by photocatalysis with effectiveness, sustainability, and economy.

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.

ObjectiveThe measures implemented to control the spread of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could affect children’s mental and vision health. Youth particularly from minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds were more likely to be impacted by these measures. This study aimed to examine the mental health of children with vision impairment and associated factors in North-western China during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,036 secondary school children living in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Participants completed a survey on sociodemographic and lifestyle information and answered the Chinese version of the 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) questionnaire. Presenting visual acuity was measured by a trained enumerator. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify potential risk factors for mental health problems.ResultsResponses from 1,992 (97.8%) children were included in the analysis after excluding those with incomplete mental health outcome data. The prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms within the dataset were 28.9, 46.4, and 22.3%, respectively. The distribution of children with different stress levels differed significantly between those with and without vision impairment (p = 0.03). Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that depression symptoms decreased with higher parental education (OR, 0.76, 95% confidence intervals (CI):0.63–0.96), longer sleep duration (OR, 0.90, 95% CI: 0.81–0.97) and longer study time (OR, 0.82, 95% CI: 0.74–0.91), whereas they increased with higher recreational screen time (OR, 1.19, 95% CI: 1.08–1.32). Anxiety symptoms decreased with higher parental education (OR, 0.80, 95% CI: 0.66–0.96) and increased with higher recreational screen time (OR, 1.15, 95% CI: 1.04–1.27) and being a left-behind child (OR, 1.26, 95% CI: 1.04–1.54). In addition, stress symptoms decreased with longer sleep duration (OR, 0.92, 95%CI: 0.85–0.99) and increased with higher number of siblings (OR, 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01–1.19), higher recreational screen time (OR, 1.15, 95% CI: 1.04–1.28) and older age (OR,1.12, 95% CI: 1.004–1.24).ConclusionA considerable proportion of our sample experienced mental health problems during the pandemic. Healthcare planners in China should consider interventions such as reducing recreational screen time, ensuring sufficient sleep, and timely detection of mental health symptoms among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.

Digital transformation, based on digital technologies, has triggered economic growth in many industries and brought about production and service transformation in the manufacturing sector. As an important source of innovation output and a driving force for national economic development, it is of great significance to study the impact of digital transformation on innovation output in manufacturing companies. This study analyzes the effects of digital transformation on the quality, quantity, and overall innovation output of manufacturing companies from both the macro provincial-level digital transformation and micro enterprise-level digital transformation perspectives. Additionally, using data from manufacturing companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges from 2012 to 2022, this study empirically tests the mechanism through which digital transformation affects innovation output from the perspectives of internal transaction costs and external transaction costs. The results show that digital transformation promotes overall improvement in innovation output of manufacturing companies and leads to improvements in both the quality and quantity of innovation output. Furthermore, the study finds that the effect of digital transformation on innovation output has a nonlinear characteristic under different levels of market competitiveness and market freedom. The mediation analysis reveals that the influence of digital transformation on innovation output can be attributed to the reduction of internal transaction costs and the enhancement of external transaction efficiency. In terms of digital policy formulation, it is necessary to coordinate the development of diverse and innovative digital infrastructure at the macro level with the micro-level ecosystems of enterprises, in order to reduce transaction costs within and outside innovative entities. Ultimately, it is essential for the government to foster a conducive free market environment that enhances transaction efficiency and timely regulates the excessive competition resulting from oligopolistic monopolies, thus maximizing the potential of digital transformation in promoting innovation output.

Cellulosic bioethanol production generally has a higher operating cost due to relatively expensive pretreatment strategies and low efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis. The production of other high-value chemicals such as xylitol and phenylacetylcarbinol (PAC) is, thus, necessary to offset the cost and promote economic viability. The optimal conditions of diluted sulfuric acid pretreatment under boiling water at 95°C and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis steps for sugarcane bagasse (SCB), rice straw (RS), and corn cob (CC) were optimized using the response surface methodology via a central composite design to simplify the process on the large-scale production. The optimal pretreatment conditions (diluted sulfuric acid concentration (% w/v), treatment time (min)) for SCB (3.36, 113), RS (3.77, 109), and CC (3.89, 112) and the optimal enzymatic hydrolysis conditions (pretreated solid concentration (% w/v), hydrolysis time (h)) for SCB (12.1, 93), RS (10.9, 61), and CC (12.0, 90) were achieved. CC xylose-rich and CC glucose-rich hydrolysates obtained from the respective optimal condition of pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis steps were used for xylitol and ethanol production. The statistically significant highest (p ≤ 0.05) xylitol and ethanol yields were 65% ± 1% and 86% ± 2% using Candida magnoliae TISTR 5664. C. magnoliae could statistically significantly degrade (p ≤ 0.05) the inhibitors previously formed during the pretreatment step, including up to 97% w/w hydroxymethylfurfural, 76% w/w furfural, and completely degraded acetic acid during the xylitol production. This study was the first report using the mixed whole cells harvested from xylitol and ethanol production as a biocatalyst in PAC biotransformation under a two-phase emulsion system (vegetable oil/1 M phosphate (Pi) buffer). PAC concentration could be improved by 2-fold compared to a single-phase emulsion system using only 1 M Pi buffer.

Recent reports have shown that wild crabs may be important hosts involved in the transmission and spread of the parasitic Hematodinium in cultured marine crustaceans. Therefore, monitoring the prevalence of Hematodinium infections in wild crabs is necessary to develop effective strategies for the prevention and control of Hematodinium disease. Here we report a wild crab species, Macrophthalmus (Macrophthalmus) abbreviatus Manning & Holthuis, 1981, as a new natural host for Hematodinium sp. infection. It is one of the common wild crab species dwelling in the ponds or waterways connected to the polyculture ponds located on the coast of Rizhao or Weifang, Shandong Peninsula, China. According to the results of PCR detection and phylogenetic analysis targeting the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS 1) region, these Hematodinium sp. isolates were identified as H. perezi and fell into the genotype II category within H. perezi. A high monthly prevalence of H. perezi infection was observed during the 2021–2022 field survey, ranging from 33.3% to 90.6% in M. abbreviatus originating from Weifang (n=304 wild crabs) and from 53.6% to 92.9% in those from Rizhao (n=42 wild crabs). Artificial inoculation infection experiments demonstrated that M. abbreviatus could be infected by H. perezi, and massive Hematodinium cells and typical histopathological changes were observed in the hepatopancreas and gill tissues of the infected crabs. To our knowledge, this is the first report of M. abbreviatus as a new natural host for H. perezi infection. Results in the present study extend the known host spectrum for this emerging parasite pathogen, and also provide valuable information for epidemic surveillance of the Hematodinium disease as well.