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Background: The presence of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) is related with good prognosis of various cancers including bladder cancer. The majority of bladder tumors are identified as non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) when they are discovered in their early stages. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value and clinical relevance of TLS in NMIBC. Materials and Methods: This cohort included 130 NMIBC samples, with 39 (30%) having TLS, as confirmed by hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemistry staining. The chi-square test was utilized to examine the relationship between TLS and the biomarkers and clinicopathologic characteristics of NMIBC. Results: It was found that TLS has significant association with pT stage, Ki-67 expression, and COX-2 expression. Using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Gehan-Breslow-Wilcoxon test, we found that the presence of TLS is associated with longer recurrencefree survival and overall survival of NMIBC patients. Moreover, we used bioinformatics to analyze the association of TLS marker L1CAM and bladder cancer. L1CAM is downregulated in bladder cancer, linked to an advanced stage of the disease, and indicates a poorer prognosis for those who have bladder cancer. In bladder cancer, there is a positive correlation between its expression and B cell infiltration. We also indicated that NMIBC with TLS have a higher level of TLS than that without TLS. Conclusion: To conclude, the presence of TLS is an important favorable prognostic indicator in NMIBC. A further understanding on TLS can provide new insights to improve immunotherapy for bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous increase in the installed capacity of gas turbine units， the coupling between electric grids and gas networks has become increasingly tight， forming an integrated electricity-gas system （IEGS）. As the proportion of renewable energy generation continues to rise and the discrepancy between peak and off-peak loads widens， the supply-demand imbalance in the IEGS becomes more severe. Therefore， the economic dispatch model of a two-stage IEGS considering the flexibility of gas turbine units is constructed. Firstly， given the constraints of gas network pressure on line pack， this paper proposes a flexibility evaluation model for gas turbine units that takes into consideration the impact of the natural gas system. It also establishes a modulation range index for the gas turbine units to assess their maximum adjustability. Then， the maximum adjustability of the gas turbine units is incorporated into the output constraints of the gas turbines in the power system. Based on the power system dispatch model， the paper aims to minimize the total operational cost. Lastly， the effectiveness of the proposed model is verified using the IEEE 39-node power system and Belgium 20-node natural gas system.

Background Using discrete choice experiment (DCE) to study the employment preference of health personnel to choose jobs can provide scientific and efficient basis for the formulation of policies related to the attraction and retention of health personnel in rural and remote areas. Objective To review, summarize and generalize the researches on the application of DCE to the field of human resources for health, so as to provide reference for future research. Methods Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP were systematically searched for literature related to DCE application to the field of health human resources from February to April in 2022. The data of included studies such as study objectives, data analysis models, the choice item settings and results were extracted. Results A total of 44 papers published from 2000 to 2020 were finally included. The study objects were mainly health workers in service and students; six studies were labeled and others were unlabeled in the included papers; the number of working attributes ranged from 4 to 8; the number of levels of working attributes was predominantly 2 to 4 (88.6%, 39/44). The teamwork of general practitioners and workload were used as working attributes in the studies in high-income countries; the most frequently selected working attribute in studies from low-and middle-income countries was housing (21 times), followed by essential equipment such as facilities and medications (19 times), and learning/training opportunities (16 times). Income (salary) was incorporated into the working attributes across the literature. Furthermore, we formulated a framework of working attributes containing four aspects: social aspects, including the hospital volume, social support/respect, identification (establishment or becoming a permanent employee) ; working aspects, including working location, working conditions, workload, working (management) atmosphere, teamwork, mentoring by supervisors (for primary health workers) ; career development aspects, including years of promotion, training (continuing education) opportunities, academic and research opportunities; life aspects, including income, housing, traffic, and children's education. Mixed Logit Model was the frequently used analytical model (19 times), followed by Conditional Logit Model (9 times), Generalized Multinomial Logit Model (3 times) . Conclusion The heterogeneity of research findings in this field is large, making it difficult to draw uniform conclusions. Moreover, the application of DCE in the field of human resources for health still needs to be promoted globally. Relevant studies are very limited and the evidence obtained needs to be confirmed by further research.

Abstract This study is the first time devoted to seek an online optimal tracking solution for unknown nonlinear singularly perturbed systems based on single network adaptive critic (SNAC) design. Firstly, a novel identifier with more efficient parametric multi-time scales differential neural network (PMTSDNN) is developed to obtain the unknown system dynamics. Then, based on the identification results, the online optimal tracking controller consists of an adaptive steady control term and an optimal feedback control term is developed by using SNAC to solve the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman (HJB) equation online. New learning law considering filtered parameter identification error is developed for the PMTSDNN identifier and the SNAC, which can realize online synchronous learning and fast convergence. The Lyapunov approach is synthesized to ensure the convergence characteristics of the overall closed loop system consisting of the PMTSDNN identifier, the SNAC and the optimal tracking control policy. Three examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the investigated method.

This study leverages the GSE4386 dataset, obtained from atrial tissue samples post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, to investigate the impact of anesthetic agents (sevoflurane and propofol) on gene expression and immune cell infiltration.

Monitoring the surface displacement of coal mine tunnel is very important to ensure the safe and stable operation of the mine. By combining the downsampling algorithm based on the normal vector of point cloud with the multiscale model-to-model point cloud comparison algorithm, the feature extraction and integrity monitoring of tunnel surface can be realized. The three-dimensional laser point cloud obtained by the three-dimensional laser scanner is used to reconstruct the roadway surface, and the three-dimensional point cloud model is obtained. The point cloud comparison algorithm is used to process the two periods of point cloud data in different periods. The color value is used to represent the regional change of coal mine tunnel displacement, which is applied to the actual tunnel surface displacement monitoring. The research shows that the down-sampling algorithm based on point cloud normal vector and M3C2 algorithm are combined to successfully extract the feature area and realize the overall monitoring of tunnel surface displacement. This method can directly reflect the deformation area of tunnel surface, and its performance is better than that of directly applying M3C2 algorithm in tunnel.

To enhance the flattening quality and efficiency of plates and realize intelligent flattening, in this work, machine vision is utilized in place of manual recognition to realize accurate recognition of the three-dimensional (3D) contour of warped plates. Modeling research on the relevant processes of point cloud recognition, surface fitting, and flattening process is conducted. A structured light camera is utilized to obtain the point cloud data of the 3D contour of warped plates, and the recognition accuracy is found to meet the requirements of the flattening of the warped plate. Preprocessing of the point cloud data is conducted. The ground point cloud is segmented from the point cloud of the warped plate based on a shape model method. The inner outline of the ground point cloud is extracted, and afterward, the warped plate at any position is converted into a new pose, with the plate center serving as the origin of the camera coordinate system and the plate edge being parallel to the coordinate axis. It provides a foundation for acquiring the warped plate distribution in the coordinate system of the flattening machine, but it also facilitates subsequent point cloud denoising, which is conducted using conditional filters and distance-based techniques. Finally, the point cloud is simplified to enhance the computational efficiency using the principle of sparse sampling points. The 3D surface of the warped plate is reconstructed using the least-squares method. The curvature of the warped plate is computed using the surface theory in differential geometry, and the positions of the warped plate’s pad and pressing points are optimized based on the 3D surface features. Based on the three-point bending leveling theory, the screw-down force and displacement of warped plate are obtained. In comparison to the conventional modeling research of the flattening process based on the two-dimensional warping contour, we establish a reconstruction method of the warped plate’ 3D contour and a curvature model and determine the optimization principles for the positions of the pad plate and pressing point thereby providing theoretical models for intelligent flattening of plates. A finite element model of the flattening of the warped plate demonstrates that the deviation between the simulation and theoretical results for the flattening force is less than 5.4%, and the residual warping height is about 1 mm, indicating the reliability of the theoretical model. The deviation between the simulation and theoretical screw-down force is about 2.21%, and the unevenness decreased from 17.2 to 3.28 mm·m−1, demonstrating that the models and methods are relatively accurate and feasible.

ObjectiveThe study investigated the evolutionary associations of drug resistance in main serotype Salmonella enteritidis （S. enteritidis）in Jiamusi City， to provide a scientific basis for clinical treatment.MethodsS. enteritidis was isolated from food and patients with diarrhea. Serological typing was performed. Resistance against 16 antibiotics was investigated using the microbroth dilution method. Genes associated with antimicrobial resistance were analyzed by PCR， and the evolutionary relationships between strains were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis （PFGE）.ResultsOf the 108 Salmonella strains identified， 55 （50.93%） were found to be S. enteritidis. Forty-nine （89.09%） of these strains showed antimicrobial resistance， with 33 strains （67.35%， 33/49） found to be resistant to multiple antibiotics. The highest resistance was against nalidixic acid and ampicillin， with 81.82% and 60.00% resistance， respectively. Homologies between 37% and 100% were observed among the 55 S. enteritidis strains.ConclusionHigh levels of multi-antimicrobial resistance were found in S. enteritidis in Jiamusi. A close relationship was found between， pathogen strain and drug resistance. S. enteritidis in the diarrhea of infected patients can cross-infect food. As S. enteritidis shows significant drug resistance in this region， it is of great importance to develop targeted diagnostic and treatment programs， as well as prevention and control measures， to ensure the safety and maintenance of public health.

Objectives To evaluate changes in health outcomes between years 2 and 3 after discharge following COVID-19 and to identify risk factors for poor health 3-year post-discharge.Design This is a multicentre observational cohort study.Setting This study was conducted in two centres from Wuhan, China.Participants Eligibility screening has been performed in 3988 discharged laboratory-confirmed adult COVID-19 patients. Exclusion criteria were refusal to participate, inability to contact and death before follow-up. The WHO COVID-19 guidelines on defining disease severity were adopted.Results 1594 patients participated in the 1-year, 2-year and 3-year follow-ups, including 796 (49.9%) male patients, and 422 (26.5%) patients were classified in the severe disease group. 3 years after discharge, 182 (11.4%) patients still complained of at least one symptom. The most common symptoms were fatigue, myalgia, chest tightness, cough, anxiety, shortness of breath and expectoration. Fatigue or myalgia, the most common symptom cluster, frequently coexisted with chest symptoms and anxiety. Symptom persistence between years 2 and 3 was reported in 70 patients (4.4%) for which intensive care unit (ICU) admission was a risk factor (p=0.038). Of the 1586 patients who completed the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test (CAT), 97 (6.1%) scored ≥10, with older age being associated with CAT ≥10 (p=0.007).Conclusions Between years 2 and 3 after SARS-CoV-2 infection, most patients returned to an asymptomatic state, and only a few were still symptomatic. ICU admission was a risk factor for symptom persistence.

An improved YOLOv8 detection method is proposed for detecting distracted driving behavior and driver’s emotion. Unlike the commonly used YOLOv8 method, an attention mechanism named MHSA and a CNN module are synthesized to ensure improved performance in terms of accuracy and convergence, where MHSA is used to detect distracted driving behavior and CNN is used to detect driver’s emotion. The FER2013 dataset and collected dataset are used to train the improved YOLOv8. The training results show that the proposed YOLOv8 demonstrates improved performance compared with the commonly used YOLO based methods. Finally, the validity of the proposed YOLOv8 method is illustrated through implementations in Jetson Nano platform, where the TensorRT and DeepStream methods in the Jetson Nano device are used to optimize the volume and operational speed of the proposed YOLOv8 method, respectively. Test results show that the proposed YOLOv8 method can yield better real-time and accuracy properties.

For medium and small-scale steel structure stadiums, in order to minimize the impact of the construction process on the structural state, a prestressing construction process tailored to medium and small stadiums is proposed, taking full advantage of the inherent elastic deformation range of steel structures. The main steps of the process involve the construction of the main truss first. After the main truss construction is completed, it is lowered to a certain position within its elastic range using cables. The roof grid is then connected to the main truss. Once all connections are completed, the cable tension is gradually released. After the cable tension is released, the main truss exhibits a certain degree of rebound. During the rebound process, the roof grid forms a prestressed structure, ensuring stability and integrity between the main truss and the roof. Through numerical simulation, process analysis is conducted on this construction process, and the optimal construction scheme is proposed.

The massive stockpiling of electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) has caused serious environmental pollution. In this study, EMR, coal gangue (CG), and fly ash (FA) were used as raw materials to obtain the optimal mix ratio based on Design-Expert mixture design. The effects of activator modulus, liquid–solid (L/S) ratio, and curing temperature on the mechanical properties of geopolymers were investigated. The results showed that the compressive strength of the prepared geopolymer was 12.0 MPa, and the 28d leaching of Mn was 0.123 mg/L under the conditions of EMR:CG:FA = 0.43:0.34:0.23, L/S = 0.9, a curing temperature of 60 °C, and a curing time of 24 h. This indicates that the geopolymer is an environmentally friendly material with high compressive strength. The mineral composition of the geopolymer is mainly hydrated calcium silicate and geopolymer gel. In addition, a more stable new mineral phase, MnSiO3, was generated. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrogram showed that the peak at 1100 m−1 was shifted to 1112 cm−1, which indicated that a geopolymerization reaction had occurred. Through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrum (EDS) analysis, it was identified that the geopolymerization produced a large amount of amorphous gelatinous substances with a relatively dense structure, the major elements being oxygen, silicon, aluminum, calcium, and sodium.

As a potential alternative energy source, oil shale has richer reserves than traditional fossil fuels. Its comprehensive utilisation has been extended to many fields, improving resource utilisation, and reducing costs and environmental pollution. By analysing the resource characteristics, development technology, utilisation mode, policy measures, and environmental impacts of oil shale, this paper summarises the current status of the development of China’s oil shale industry and the existing problems and puts forward development prospects and suggestions. The study found that oil shale development faces challenges such as complex geological conditions, immature technology, imperfect policies, and high environmental impacts. However, through technological innovation and policy support, resource utilisation can be effectively improved, costs reduced and environmental pollution reduced. This paper is expected to provide reasonable suggestions for the rational development and efficient use of oil shale resources in China. The strategic and effective exploitation of oil shale resources in China has the potential to decrease reliance on conventional oil and gas sources, bolster energy self-sufficiency and stability, and significantly contribute to the restructuring of the global energy landscape, contributing to the realisation of energy diversification and sustainable development.

With the rapid development of information technology, artificial intelligence technology has had a revolutionary impact on all walks of life. In the education industry, the deep integration of artificial intelligence and education has provided new ideas and directions for education and teaching reform, triggered changes in the educational pattern, At the same time, it spawned some new products, such as smart teaching and smart classroom and so on. This paper makes a visual analysis of relevant literatures on CNKI, studies the hot issues and development trends of “education + artificial intelligence”, explores future research directions in this field, and provides useful references for subsequent research.

The effectiveness of bioretention cells for heavy metals (HMs) and microplastics (MPs) removal from stormwater runoff has been demonstrated. Knowledge of the mechanisms that dictate the interactions between MPs and HMs would be helpful in pollution control. In this study, the performances of different water-soil-plant bioretention cells for HMs removal through the interception of polyethylene MPs (PE-MPs) were investigated. The results showed that PE-MPs bound to HMs and preferentially tended to bind to Pb (32%-44%) in the complex HMs (Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb). This could be the reason that the concentration of Pb significantly increased in the effluent under low-intensity simulated rainfall events over a long duration. The accumulation of 1.49 g/kg PE-MPs caused a significant soil pH value decrease and a notable soil zeta potential increase in the bioretention cell, while the low sand/silt ratio media buffered this process. The retention of PE-MPs increased 138.5% in the 0-10 cm soil surface layer when the sand/silt ratio reduced from 2:1 to 1:1 and planted with Canna indica. Meanwhile, PE-MPs amplified the instability of Zn removal in bioretention cells under low-intensity rainfall events in long-duration, high silt percentage substrate and vegetation coverage. The study would contribute to developing a long-term management program for PE-MPs and HMs trapped in bioretention cells to reduce the risk of pollution transport., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Available information on the coupling relationship between phosphorus fraction and organic carbon during composting remains limited. Thus, this research investigated the changes of phosphorus fraction, dissolved organic carbon fluorescent components and microbial community in swine manure composting with different carbon sources including the maize straw (MS), garden waste (GW) and distillers' grains (DG), in order to investigate whether the distribution and availability of phosphorus are influenced by different carbon sources used in the composting of swine manure. The result showed that different carbon sources changed phosphorus availability variously mainly by altering the succession of fungal communities and phosphorus functional genes. The dissolved organic material including tyrosine and tryptophan facilitate the mineralization of organic phosphorus (Org-P) into water-soluble phosphorus, thereby improving phosphorus availability. However, humic acid-like carbon components promote the conversion of inorganic-phosphorus to Org-P, which is the direct cause of the reduced phosphorus availability during composting. The results of this study provide support for the development of phosphorus-rich, stable, and clean compost products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Butyrolactone-I (BTL-1), a secondary metabolite from the marine fungus Aspergillus terreus, exhibits numerous biological activities. Previous research has indicated that Butyrolactone-I alleviates intestinal epithelial inflammation via the TLR4/NF-κB and MAPK pathways. However, the mechanisms underlying its protection against intestinal barrier damage remain unclear. This study aims to further elucidate these mechanisms. We observed that BTL-1 administration increased the abundance of Lactobacillus johnsonii (LJ) in both in vivo and in vitro experiments, prompting an investigation into the effects of LJ and its metabolites on DSS-induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The results demonstrated that BTL-1 significantly upregulated tight junction (TJ) and adherens junction (AJ) proteins, maintained intestinal barrier integrity, and alleviated DSS-induced IBD in mice. These effects were associated with the proliferation of LJ and its metabolites, such as butyric and propionic acids, and the inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway in the colon. Interestingly, administering LJ alone produced a protective effect against DSS-induced IBD similar to that observed with BTL-1. Furthermore, butyric acid, a metabolite of LJ, also upregulated TJ/AJ proteins in intestinal epithelial cells through the MAPK signaling pathway. Our findings suggest that BTL-1 regulates intestinal flora, promotes LJ proliferation, protects intestinal barrier integrity, increases the concentrations of butyric and propionic acids, and ultimately inhibits the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway in mice to alleviate IBD. Therefore, BTL-1 could potentially be used as a natural drug to prevent IBD and maintain intestinal flora balance. IMPORTANCE: We explored how butyrolactone-I exerts a preventive effect on IBD through intestinal bacteria (Lactobacillus johnsonii)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Excessive accumulation of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and heavy metals (HMs) in sediments poses a significant threat to the estuarine ecosystem. In this study, the spatial and temporal distribution, ecological risks, sources, and their impacts on the microbial communities of TPH and nine HMs in the estuarine sediments of the Xiaoqing River were determined. Results showed that the spatial distribution of TPH and HMs were similar but opposite in temporal. Ni, Cr, Pb, and Co concentrations were similar to the reference values (RVs). However, the other five HMs (Cu, Zn, Cd, As, and Hg) and TPH concentrations were 2.00-763.44 times higher than RVs; hence, this deserves attention, particularly for Hg. Owing to the water content of the sediments, Hg was mainly concentrated on the surface during the wet season and on the bottom during the dry season. Moreover, because of weak hydrodynamics and upstream pollutant sinks, TPH-HMs in the river were higher than those in the estuary. TPH and HM concentrations were negatively correlated with microbial diversity. Structural equation modeling showed that HMs (path coefficient = -0.50, p < 0.001) had a negative direct effect on microbial community structure and a positive indirect effect on TPH. The microbial community (path coefficient = 0.31, 0.01 < p < 0.05) was significantly correlated with TPH. In summary, this study explores both the chemical analysis of pollutants and their interaction with microbial communities, providing a better understanding of the co-pollution of TPH and HMs in estuarine sediments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) is posing serious threats to ecosystems. However, biodegradation is an effective method to remove HPAM owing to its low cost and environmental friendliness. In this study, Alcaligenes faecalis EPDB-5 was isolated as a highly efficient HPAM degrading strain from sludge contaminated with polymerized produced water from Daqing oilfield. Under the optimal conditions, the strain EPDB-5 demonstrated an impressive HPAM degradation rate of 86.05%, the total nitrogen (TN) removal of 71.96% and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of 67.98%. Meanwhile, it can maintain a stable degradation rate higher than 75% under different pH and temperature conditions. 27 genes that play a key role in HPAM degradation were annotated by metagenomics sequencing. The key genes were involved in multiple KEGG pathways, including biofilm formation, biosynthesis secondary metabolites, and metabolic pathways. SEM, GPC, and FTIR analyses revealed that the structure of HPAM after biodegradation showed pores, a significant decrease in molecular weight, -NH 2 detachment, and carbon chain breakage. Particularly, we propose a possible mechanism of biofilm formation - HPAM degradation - biofilm disappearance and reorganization. Moreover, the degradation rate of strain EPDB-5 on real wastewater containing HPAM was 29.97% in only three days. This work expands our knowledge boundary about the HPAM degradation mechanism at the functional gene level, and supports the potential of strain EPDB-5 as a novel auxiliary microbial resource for the practical application of HPAM., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Mutai Bao reports financial support was provided by SNF(China) Flocculants Ltd. Mutai Bao has patent #ZL 2024 1 0223575.3 licensed to Ocean university of China, SNF (China) Flocculants Ltd. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Postoperative pain management is one of the most challenging treatments after orthopaedic surgery, and improved medical treatment options are urgently needed. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 4-hydroxy-2-methyl-N-(5-methyl-2-thiazolyl)-2H-1, 2-benzothiazin-3-carboxamide 1,1-dioxide (QP001) for moderate to severe pain following orthopaedic surgery., Methods: This randomized clinical trial enlisted patients experiencing moderate to severe pain following orthopaedic surgery in 20 hospitals in China. We allocated randomly 132 participants to receive 30 mg QP001 and 66 participants to receive 0.9% saline pre-surgery. The primary efficacy outcome was the total morphine consumption within 24 h., Results: The total morphine consumption in the QP001 group, versus placebo group, was significantly lower over the following 24 h [12.53 (10.51) vs. 26.13 (13.98), P < 0.001]. The total morphine consumption in the QP001 group, versus placebo group, was also significantly decreased over the following 48 h (P < 0.001). The QP001 group, versus placebo, showed a significant decrease in the effective pressing times of the analgesic pump, morphine relief analgesia ratio over the 24 h and 48 h periods and the area under the curve for pain intensity-time as well as a significant prolonged in the time of first pressing the analgesic pump and the time of first morphine rescue analgesia (P < 0.001). The QP001 groups, versus placebo, show no significant difference in adverse events, but the incidence of adverse drug reactions decreased (59.4% vs. 75.8%, P = 0.023)., Conclusion: QP001 provides analgesia and reduces opioid consumption in patients with moderate to severe pain after orthopaedic surgery, with a favorable safety profile., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Key Message: Platanus acerifolia AIL genes PaAIL5a/b and PaAIL6b participate in FT-AP1/FUL-AIL pathways to regulate bud dormancy. In addition, PaAIL6a/b can promote flowering, and PaAIL5b and PaAIL6b affect floral development. Bud dormancy and floral induction are essential processes for perennial plants, they are both regulated by photoperiod, temperature, and hormones, indicating the existence of common regulators for both processes. AINTEGUMENTA-LIKE (AIL) genes regulate reproductive growth of annual plants, including floral induction and flower development, and their homologs in poplar and grape act downstream of the florigen gene FT and the floral meristem identity genes AP1/FUL and function to maintain growth and thus inhibit dormancy induction. However, it is not known whether AIL homologs participate in the reproduction processes in perennials and whether the Platanus acerifolia AIL genes are involved in dormancy. P. acerifolia is a perennial woody plant whose reproductive growth is strongly associated with dormancy. Here, we isolated four AIL homologs from P. acerifolia, PaAIL5a, PaAIL5b, PaAIL6a, and PaAIL6b, and systematically investigated their functions by ectopic-overexpression in tobacco. The findings demonstrate that PaAIL5a/b and PaAIL6b respond to short day, low temperature, and hormone signals and act as the components of the FT-AP1/FUL-AIL pathway to regulate the bud dormancy in P. acerifolia. Notably, PaAIL5a/b and PaAIL6b function downstream of PaFTL-PaFUL1/2/3 to inhibit the dormancy induction and downstream of PaFT-PaFUL2/3 to promote the dormancy release. In addition, PaAIL6a/b were found to accelerate flowering in transgenic tobacco, whereas PaAIL5b and PaAIL6b affected the flower development. Together, our results suggest that PaAIL genes may act downstream of different PaFT/PaFTL and PaFUL proteins to fulfill conservative and diverse roles in floral initiation, floral development, and dormancy regulation in P. acerifolia., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish an anatomical foundation for minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery in adolescents by assessing the 3D anatomical parameters of the lumbar vertebrae in the age group of 12-21 years., Methods: We collected CT data from 90 adolescents and performed 3D reconstructions using Mimics 16.0 software. The dimensions assessed included the height and sagittal diameter of the intervertebral foramen, as well as the length and widths of the transverse and spinous processes., Results: The intervertebral foramen height exhibited variation corresponding to the vertebral level, being smallest at L5/S1 and largest at L3/4. The sagittal diameter of the intervertebral foramen increased with age, reaching a minimum at L1/2 and a maximum at L4/5. Significant gender differences were observed in the 12-14 age group, with females exhibiting larger measurements than males. The length and width of the transverse processes were maximal at L3 and L5, respectively. The spinous process length was greatest at L3 and smallest at L5, with notable gender differences present in the 12-14 and 19-21 age groups., Conclusion: The study reveals that gender and age are significant factors influencing the anatomy of the adolescent lumbar spine, which is essential for the development of minimally invasive surgical techniques. Our findings contribute valuable insights for the design and surgical planning of spinal devices tailored to adolescents., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest We are the authors of the paper entitled "3D Digital Anatomical Measurements for the Clinical Application of Minimally Invasive Lumbar foramen Surgery in Adolescents aged 12–21," and would like to state that we have no conflict of interest that could improperly affect the work in our paper. All authors disclosed any financial or personal relationships with other people or organizations that might be considered to have such influence. We acknowledge that all authors made significant contributions to the research and preparation of the article, and that all individuals who qualify as authors are listed as authors. We also confirm that the manuscript has not been published before and is not being considered for publication elsewhere. We understand that, if accepted, this work will be released under a Creative Commons attribution license, allowing others to distribute, adapt, and build upon our work, provided appropriate attribution is given. Thank you for considering our manuscript for publication on yours and look forward to your positive response., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Patching one eye of an adult human for a few hours has been found to promote the dominance of the patched eye, which is called short-term monocular deprivation effect. Interestingly, recent work has reported that prolonged eye-specific attention can also cause a shift of ocular dominance toward the unattended eye though visual inputs during adaptation are balanced across the eyes. Considering that patching blocks all input information from one eye, attention is presumably deployed to the opposite eye. Therefore, the short-term monocular deprivation effect might be, in part, mediated by eye-specific attentional modulation. Yet this question remains largely unanswered. To address this issue, here we asked participants to perform an attentive tracking task with one eye patched. During the tracking, participants were presented with both target gratings (attended stimuli) and distractor gratings (unattended stimuli) that were distinct from each other in fundamental visual features. Before and after one hour of tracking, they completed a binocular rivalry task to measure perceptual ocular dominance. A larger shift of ocular dominance toward the deprived eye was observed when the binocular rivalry testing gratings shared features with the target gratings during the tracking compared to when they shared features with the distractor gratings. This result, for the first time, suggests that attention can boost the strength of the short-term monocular deprivation effect. Therefore, the present study sheds new light on the role of attention in ocular dominance plasticity., (© 2024 The Author(s). PsyCh Journal published by Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

In this paper, a set of novel ternary deep eutectic solvents (T-DESs) is synthesized and applied in the esterification of 2-methylpropenoic acid with alcohols. T-DESs have multiple functions, serving as a catalyst, polymerization inhibitor, and solvent, and demonstrate excellent catalytic esterification reaction activity (up to 96% yield). The optimal T-DESs 1 can be recycled 14 times without any decrease in its catalytic activity, thus solving the problems of methacrylate product separation with a polymerization inhibitor, catalyst recovery, and organic solvent pollution.

Background: Sympathetic hyperactivity plays an important role in the initiation and maintenance of pulmonary hypertension. Carotid baroreceptor stimulation (CBS) is an effective autonomic neuromodulation therapy. We aim to investigate the effects of CBS on hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension and its underlying mechanisms., Methods and Results: Rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups, including a Control-sham group (n=7), a Control-CBS group (n=7), a Hypoxia-sham group (n=10) and a Hypoxia-CBS group (n=10). Echocardiography, ECG, and hemodynamics examination were performed. Samples of blood, lung tissue, pulmonary arteries, and right ventricle were collected for the further analysis. In the in vivo study, CBS reduced wall thickness and muscularization degree in pulmonary arterioles, thereby improving pulmonary hemodynamics. Right ventricle hypertrophy, fibrosis and dysfunction were all improved. CBS rebalanced autonomic tone and reduced the density of sympathetic nerves around pulmonary artery trunks and bifurcations. RNA-seq analysis identified BDNF and periostin ( POSTN ) as key genes involved in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension, and CBS downregulated the mRNA expression of BDNF and POSTN in rat pulmonary arteries. In the in vitro study, norepinephrine was found to promote pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation while upregulating BDNF and POSTN expression. The proliferative effect was alleviated by silence BDNF or POSTN ., Conclusions: Our results showed that CBS could rebalance autonomic tone, inhibit pulmonary arterial remodeling, and improve pulmonary hemodynamics and right ventricle function, thus delaying hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension progression. There may be a reciprocal interaction between POSTN and BDNF that is responsible for the underlying mechanism.

Kuroshio Extension (KE) is the most active region of oceanic change in the North Pacific Ocean, which provides an essential place for the survival of marine microorganisms. However, Vertical changes in microbial communities in the Kuroshio Extension and the mechanisms by which environmental factors drive vertical changes in community structure remain unclear. In this work, microbial diversity, abundance, and community structure of 12 water layers (from surface to bottom) at five stations were uncovered by 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing. Microbial diversity and richness decreased with increasing seawater depth. Microorganisms in the euphotic zone can be well separated from other zones based on NMDS analysis. Proteobacteria (65.20%), Bacteroidota (8.48%), Actinobacteriota (5.76%), and Crenarchaeota (4.49%) accounted for a relatively large proportion and their distribution is similar in four zones. Most of microorganisms were significantly (Spearman test, p < 0.05) correlated with salinity, density, pressure, and temperature. This work enhances our understanding of vertical microbial diversity and provides insights into the pelagic microbial community structure., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The global prevalence and accumulation of plastic waste is leading to pollution levels that cause significant damage to ecosystems and ecological security. Exposure to two concentrations (1 and 5 mg/L) of 500 nm polystyrene (PS)-nanoplastics (NPs) for 14 d was evaluated in Simocephalus vetulus using transcriptome and 16 s rRNA sequencing analyses. PS-NP exposure resulted in stress-induced antioxidant defense, disturbed energy metabolism, and affected the FoxO signaling pathway, causing neurotoxicity. The expression of Cyclin D1 (CCND), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) genes was decreased compared to the control, whereas the expression of caspase3 (CASP3), caspase7 (CASP7), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), MPV17, and Glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes was increased, thus, suggesting that NP ingestion triggered oxidative stress and disrupted energy metabolism.. PS-NPs were present in the digestive tract of S. vetulus after 14 days of exposure. In addition, the abundance of the Proteobacteria and opportunistic pathogens was elevated after PS-NPs exposure. The diversity and homeostasis of the S. vetulus gut microbiota were disrupted and the stability of intestinal barrier function was impaired. Multiomic analyses highlighted the molecular toxicity and microbial changes in S. vetulus after exposure to NPs, providing an overview of how plastic pollution affects freshwater organisms and ecosystems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Considering the potential threats posed by oily wastewater to the ecosystem, it is urgently in demand to develop efficient, eco-friendly, and intelligent oil/water separation materials to enhance the safety of the water environment. Herein, an intelligent hydrogel-coated wood (PPT/PPy@DW) membrane with self-healing, self-cleaning, and oil pollution detection performances is fabricated for the controllable separation of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions and water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions. The PPT/PPy@DW is prepared by loading polypyrrole (PPy) particles on the delignified wood (DW) membranes, further modifying the hydrogel layer as an oil-repellent barrier. The layered porous structure and selective wettability endow PPT/PPy@DW with great separation performance for various O/W emulsions (≥98.69% for separation efficiency and ≈1000 L m -2  h -1  bar -1 for permeance). Notably, the oil pollution degree of PPT/PPy@DW can be monitored in real-time based on the changed voltage generated during O/W emulsion separation, and the oil-polluted PPT/PPy@DW can be self-cleaned by soaking in water to recover its separation performance. The high affinity of PPT/PPy@DW for water makes it effective in trapping water from the mixed surfactant-stabilized W/O emulsions. The prepared eco-friendly and low-cost multifunctional hydrogel wood membrane shows promising potential in on-demand oil/water separation and provides new ideas for the functional improvement of new biomass oil/water separation membrane materials., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Alluvial rivers that exhibit multi-thread patterns are common in nature and can be the dominant channel morphology in large rivers. However, their ecological properties in response to diverse and dynamic channel morphology has gained limited attention and remained poorly understood. In this study, we adopted an eco-hydraulic model by integrating a hydrodynamic, a sediment-transport, and a habitat-suitability model to assess habitat quality for fish species (Schizopygopsis pylzovi and Platypharodon extremus) in three anabranching reaches with each exhibiting a distinct anabranching morphology in the Upper Yellow River, eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Based on the hydrologic data and actual channel morphology, we modeled the hydrodynamic and sediment-transport conditions for a period spanning ten years, and simulated habitat conditions under a potentially changing environment with different flow magnitudes and frequencies. The results indicated that the average flow velocity in the low and mid-order anabranching reaches is higher than that in the high-order, complex anabranching reaches. Meanwhile, the bedload transport rate was higher in the high and mid-order anabranching reaches than that in the low-order anabranching reach, demonstrating a greater transport efficiency of multi-thread systems with a greater multiplicity. Consequently, the habitat suitability shows a deteriorating trend over the ten-year modeling period and Schizopygopsis pylzovi shows better habitat status than Platypharodon extremus. The flow magnitudes and frequency also have a significant impact on the distribution of high habitat suitability index among the different river patterns in Upper Yellow River. This study can provide valuable information to optimize ecological outcomes and provide valuable insights for future dam operation strategies and consideration efforts aimed at preserving and restoring riverine ecosystems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Embryonic development is a dynamic process orchestrated by a delicate interplay of biochemical and biophysical factors. While the role of genetics and biochemistry in embryogenesis has been extensively studied, recent research has highlighted the significance of mechanical regulation in shaping and guiding this intricate process. Here, we provide an overview of the current understanding of the mechanical regulation of embryo development. We explore how mechanical forces generated by cells and tissues play a crucial role in driving the development of different stages. We examine key morphogenetic processes such as compaction, blastocyst formation, implantation, and egg cylinder formation, and discuss the mechanical mechanisms and cues involved. By synthesizing the current body of literature, we highlight the emerging concepts and open questions in the field of mechanical regulation. We aim to provide an overview of the field, inspiring future investigations and fostering a deeper understanding of the mechanical aspects of embryo development.

Background: This first-in-human study evaluated HRS-1780, an oral selective non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, in healthy men., Research Design and Methods: In single ascending dose (SAD) part, 10 participants for each dose cohort (5, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg) were randomized (8:2) to HRS-1780 or placebo. In multiple ascending dose part, 12 participants for each dose (10, 20, and 40 mg) were randomized (9:3) to HRS-1780 or placebo once daily for 7 days. The primary endpoint was safety and tolerability., Results: HRS-1780 was well tolerated with all adverse events being mild. In the steady state, the median time to maximum concentration (T max ) was 0.750 h and mean half-life was 1.76-1.96 h. High-fat/high-calorie meal prolonged T max but did not affect exposure. Multiple dosing of HRS-1780 at 40 mg showed a decreasing trend in systolic blood pressure compared with placebo. Changes in plasma aldosterone and norepinephrine with HRS-1780 were higher compared to placebo. Upper bounds of two-sided 90% confidence interval of placebo-adjusted change-from-baseline QTcF were below 10 msec at the maximum concentration in SAD. The trial had limited sample size and short study duration., Conclusions: HRS-1780 had favorable safety and pharmacokinetic profiles and did not cause clinically meaningful QTcF prolongation., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05638126).

Objective: Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) is an endemic, degenerative, and cartilage-damaging disease for which low selenium and T-2 toxins are considered environmental pathogenic factors. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of autophagy in cartilage damage caused by T-2 toxin and the protective effect of chondroitin sulfate A nano-elemental selenium (CSA-SeNP) on the cartilage., Methods: KBD chondrocytes and C28/I2 human chondrocyte cell lines were used. T-2 toxin, AKT inhibitor, and CSA-SeNP treatment experiments were conducted separately, with a treatment time of 24 h. Autophagy was monitored using MDC staining, and mRFP-GFP-LC3 adenovirus, respectively. RT-qPCR and western blotting were used to detect the expression of the relevant genes and proteins., Results: The suppression of autophagy observed in KBD chondrocytes was replicated by applying 10 ng/mL T-2 toxin to C28/I2 chondrocytes for 24 h. The AKT/TSCR/Rheb/mTOR signaling pathway was activated by T-2 toxin, which inhibits autophagy. The supplementation with CSA-SeNP alleviated the inhibition of autophagy by T-2 toxin through the AKT/TSCR/Rheb/mTOR signaling pathway., Conclusions: Loss of autophagy regulated by the AKT/TSCR/Rheb/mTOR signaling pathway plays an important role in cartilage damage caused by T-2 toxin. CSA-SeNP supplementation attenuated inhibition of autophagy in chondrocytes by T-2 toxin by modulating this signaling pathway. These findings provide promising new targets for the prevention and treatment of cartilage disease., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. The study sponsors were not involved in the study design, data collection, analysis or interpretation, or in the writing of the manuscript. Neither did they affect the decision to submit the manuscript for publication., (Copyright © 2024 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The mutations of oncogenic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an important cause of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) malignance. It has been knowm that metabolic reprogramming is an important hallmark of malignant tumors, and purine metabolism is a key metabolic pathway for tumor progression and drug resistance, but its relationship with the EGFR-mutant LUAD is unclear., Methods: Metabolic reprogramming was studied through capillary electrophoresis-time of flight mass spectrometry (CE-TOF/MS)-based metabolic profiling analysis. Cell proliferation in vitro was evaluated by EdU staining and cell cycle assay. Tumorigenicity in vivo was tested by subcutaneous tumor formation experiment in nude mice. The binding of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) and hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase 1 (HPRT1) was detected by DNA pull‑down assay and Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. HIF-1α, HPRT1, DNA damage and cell apoptosis related genes were examined by western blot. In addition, RNA sequencing, mass spectrometry and bioinformatics analysis were performed., Results: We found that mutated EGFR (muEGFR) upregulates HPRT1 to promote purine metabolism and tumorigenesis of EGFR-mutant LUAD. Mechanistically, muEGFR increases HIF-1α expression through protein stability. Meanwhile, up-regulated HIF-1α bound to the promoter of HPRT1 and transcriptionally activates HPRT1 expression, enhancing purine metabolism to maintain rapid tumor cell proliferation in EGFR-mutant LUAD. Further, gefitinib inhibited the synthesis of purine nucleotides, and HPRT1 inhibition increased the sensitivity of gefitinib to EGFR-mutant LUAD., Conclusions: Our study reveals that muEGFR-HIF-1α-HPRT1 axis plays a key role in EGFR-mutant LUAD and provides a new strategy-inhibiting purine metabolism for treating EGFR-mutant LUAD., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: The Asian elephant ( Elephas maximus ) is a giant herbivore classified as an endangered wildlife species by the International Union for Conservation of Threatened Species.This study aims to investigate and compare the core gut microbiota of captive Asian elephants from three different locations in Yunnan Province, China, to explore the impact of environmental and husbandry factors on microbial diversity., Methods: We collected fecal samples from 29 captive Asian elephants from three locations and performed full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Microbial diversity was assessed using alpha diversity (Chao1 and Shannon indexes) and beta diversity (Bray-Curtis and Euclidean distance metrics). Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) was used to visualize microbial variation among groups., Results: Alpha diversity analysis showed that the microbial diversity in the Yexianggu group was higher than that in the other groups. Bray-Curtis and Euclidean metrics revealed significant differences among the microbial communities. Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, which are key cellulose-degrading bacteria, were the dominant phyla in all groups. Synergistaceae was the most abundant family in the Menghai group, while Lachnospiraceae and Pirellulaceae were more abundant in the Yexianggu and Yuantongshan groups, respectively. Genus p-1008-a5-gut-group was more abundant in Yexianggu, and Prevotella was predominant in Menghai., Discussion: These results indicate that habitat and husbandry practices significantly influence the gut microbiota of captive Asian elephants. The identification of bacterial species such as Lactobacillus fermentum , Clostridium neonatale , Enterococcus mundtii , Klebsiella huaxiensis , Corynebacterium nasicanis , and Streptococcus equinus highlights the potential role of specific microbes in maintaining host-microbial interactions. Promoting microbial diversity through improved captive conditions could enhance the health of these endangered animals., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wang, Wang, Zhou, Bao, Shah, Yang, Zheng, Li, Hou, Wang and Yuan.)

Inherited deficiency of zinc finger NFX1-type containing 1 (ZNFX1), a dsRNA virus sensor, is associated with severe familial immunodeficiency, multisystem inflammatory disease, increased susceptibility to viruses, and early mortality. However, limited treatments for patients with pathological variants of ZNFX1 exist due to an incomplete understanding of the diseases resulting from ZNFX1 mutations. Here, we demonstrate that ZNFX1 specifically inhibits the activation of the NLR family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in response to NLRP3 activators both in vitro and in vivo. ZNFX1 retains NLRP3 in the cytoplasm and prevents its accumulation in the TGN38 + /TGN46+ vesicles in the resting state. Upon NLRP3 inflammasome activation, ZNFX1 is cleaved by caspase-1, establishing a feed-forward loop that promotes NLRP3 accumulation in the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and amplifies the activity of the downstream cascade. Expression of wild-type ZNFX1, but not of ZNFX1 with human pathogenic mutations, rescues the impairment of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition. Our findings reveal a dual role of ZNFX1 in virus sensing and suppression of inflammation, which may become valuable for the development of treatments for ZNFX1 mutation-related diseases., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Huanglongbing (HLB) is a severe citrus disease in China caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus ( C Las). Since its initial identification, the pathogen has spread to 10 mainland provinces in China and caused devastating loss. Three distinct prophage types have been identified in C Las; however, their distribution and diversity in China remain inadequately understood. In this study, we collected 500 C Las samples from 10 provinces in China, employing three specific genomic loci to identify prophage types. Subsequently, Sanger sequencing was employed to analyze the genetic diversity of prophage within populations of C Las in China. In addition, the MaxEnt model optimized by the ENMeval software package, was used to predict the habitat suitability of populations of C Las and assess the potential impact of future climate change on its distribution in China. Our analysis revealed that type 2 prophage is the most prevalent, accounting for 55% in China. Among the 10 provinces tested, C Las populations in Yunnan and Sichuan demonstrated higher genetic diversity. Further analysis reveals that C Las populations harboring type 1 prophage remain relatively stable, whereas those carrying type 2 and type 3 prophages undergo population expansion. Furthermore, our predictive models indicate that the presently suitable habitat for C Las populations is concentrated in the southern and certain central regions of China, with an anticipated expansion under future climate change conditions. Presently, the center of populations of C Las characterized by favorable living conditions is situated in Zunyi City, Guizhou Province. Nevertheless, a projected trend indicates a shift toward the northeast, particularly targeting Tongren City in the foreseeable future., Importance: This study offers significant insights into the distribution and genetic diversity of three types of prophages associated with Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus ( C Las) in China. Our predictions underscore the implications of climate change on the future distribution of C Las. These findings contribute to a better understanding of Huanglongbing management strategies and can facilitate the development of effective measures to control the spread of this devastating disease within the citrus industry.

Background: Despite major primary health care (PHC) reforms in China with the 2009 launch of the National Essential Public Health Service Package, the country experiences many challenges in improving the management of non-communicable diseases in PHC facilities. "EMERALD" is a multifaceted implementation strategy to strengthen the management of hypertension and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in PHC facilities. The study aims to: (1) examine the effectiveness of EMERALD in improving hypertension and T2DM management; (2) evaluate the implementation of the interventions; and (3) use the study findings to model the long-term health economic impact of the interventions., Methods: The EMERALD intervention components include: (1) empowerment for PHC providers through training and capacity building; (2) empowerment for patient communities through multi-media health education; and  (3) empowerment for local health administrators through health data monitoring and strengthening governance of local PHC programs. An interrupted time series design will be used to determine the effectiveness of the interventions based on routinely collected health data extracted from local health information systems. The primary effectiveness outcome is the guideline-recommended treatment rates for people with hypertension and T2DM. Secondary effectiveness outcomes include hypertension and T2DM diagnosis and control rates, and enrolment and adherence rates to the recommended care processes in the National Essential Public Health Service Package. A mixed-methods process evaluation will be conducted to evaluate the implementation of the interventions, including the reach of the target population, adequacy of adoption, level of implementation fidelity, and maintenance. Qualitative interviews with policy makers, health administrators, PHC providers, and patients with hypertension and/or T2DM will be conducted to further identify factors influencing the implementation. In addition, health economic modelling will be performed to explore the long-term incremental costs and benefits of the interventions., Discussion: This study is expected to generate important evidence on the effectiveness, implementation, and health economic impact of complex PHC interventions to strengthen the primary care sector's contribution to addressing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in China., Trial Registration: The study has been registered on Chinese Clinical Trial Registry at https://www.chictr.org.cn/ (Registration number ChiCTR2400082036, on March 19th 2024)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Glutamine is one of the most abundant non-essential amino acids in human plasma and plays a crucial role in many biological processes of the human body. Tumor cells take up a large amount of glutamine to meet their rapid proliferation requirements, which is supported by the upregulation of glutamine transporters. Targeted inhibition of glutamine transporters effectively inhibits cell growth and proliferation in tumors. Among all cancers, digestive system malignant tumors (DSMTs) have the highest incidence and mortality rates, and the current therapeutic strategies for DSMTs are mainly surgical resection and chemotherapy. Due to the relatively low survival rate and severe side effects associated with DSMTs treatment, new treatment strategies are urgently required. This article summarizes the glutamine transporters involved in DSMTs and describes their role in DSMTs. Additionally, glutamine transporter-target drugs are discussed, providing theoretical guidance for the further development of drugs DSMTs treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to report regarding the present study., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Coptidis rhizoma, first recorded in the "Shen Nong's Herbal Classic", is one of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used to treat infectious diseases, with reputed effectiveness against oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC). Studies have demonstrated the inhibitory properties of C. rhizoma (CRE) against Candida albicans, yet there is limited information available regarding its treatment mechanism for OPC., Aim of the Study: Our previous research has suggested that CRE can prevent the formation of C. albicans hyphae and their invasion of the oral mucosa, thereby exerting a therapeutic effect on OPC. Nevertheless, the precise therapeutic mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Previous studies have revealed that a receptor for globular heads of C1q (gC1qR), a crucial co-receptor of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), facilitates the EGFR-mediated internalization of C. albicans. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the potential mechanism of action of CRE and its primary component, berberine (BBR), in treating OPC by exploring their effects on the gC1qR-EGFR co-receptor., Materials and Methods: To identify the chemical components of CRE, we utilized Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography in conjunction with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS E ), revealing the presence of at least 18 distinct components. To observe the therapeutic effects of CRE on OPC at the animal level, we employed hematoxylin and eosin staining, periodic acid-Schiff staining, scanning electron microscopy, and fungal load detection. Subsequently, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory properties of CRE and its main component, BBR, in treating OPC. This was achieved through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) both at the animal and cellular levels. Additionally, we assessed the ability of C. albicans to disrupt the epithelial barrier of FaDu cells by studying the protective effects of BBR on the fusion barrier using the transwell assay. To further explore the underlying mechanisms, we analyzed the effects of BBR on the gC1qR-EGFR/extracellular signal-regulated kinase/c-Fos signaling pathway at the cellular level using qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence. Furthermore, we validated the effects of BBR on the gC1qR-EGFR co-receptor through ELISA, qRT-PCR, and western blotting. Finally, to confirm the outcomes observed at the cellular level, we validated the impact of CRE on the gC1qR-EGFR co-receptor in vivo using qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence. These comprehensive methods allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of the therapeutic mechanisms of CRE and BBR in treating OPC., Results: Our findings indicate that CRE and its primary component, BBR, effectively alleviated the symptoms of OPC by modulating the gC1qR-EGFR co-receptor. The chemical composition of CRE and BBR was accurately identified using UPLC-Q/TOF-MS E . The gC1qR-EGFR co-receptor plays a crucial role in regulating downstream signaling pathways, emerging as a potential therapeutic target for OPC treatment. Through both in vitro and in vivo experiments, we explored the therapeutic potential of CRE and BBR in OPC. Additionally, we employed overexpression and silencing techniques to confirm that BBR can indeed influence the gC1qR-EGFR co-receptor and regulate the gC1qR-EGFR/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/c-Fos signaling pathway, leading to improved OPC outcomes. Furthermore, the significance of CRE's effect on the gC1qR-EGFR co-receptor was validated in vivo., Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that CRE and its main component, BBR, can effectively alleviate OPC symptoms by targeting the gC1qR-EGFR heterodimer receptor. This discovery offers a promising new therapeutic approach for the treatment of OPC., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Sediment, as the destination of marine pollutants, often bears much more serious petroleum pollution than water. Biochar is increasingly utilized for remediating organic pollutant-laden sediments, yet its long-term impacts on oil-contaminated sediment remain poorly understood. In this study, simulation experiments adding 2.5 wt% biochars (corn straw and wood chips biochar at different pyrolysis temperatures) were conducted. The effects on petroleum hydrocarbon attenuation, enzyme activities, and microbial community structure were systematically investigated. Results showed enhanced degradation of long-chain alkanes in certain biochar-treated groups. Biochar species and PAH characteristics together lead to the PAHs' attenuation, with low-temperature corn straw biochar facilitating the degradation of phenanthrene, fluorene, and chrysene. Initially, biochars reduced polyphenol oxidase activity but increased urease and dehydrogenase activities. However, there was a noticeable rise in polyphenol oxidase activity for a long time. Biochars influenced bacterial community succession and abundance, likely due to nutrient release stimulating microbial activity. The structural equations model (SEM) reveals that DON affected the enzyme activity by changing the microbial community and thus regulated the degradation of PAHs. These findings shed light on biochar's role in bacterial communities and petroleum hydrocarbon degradation over extended periods, potentially enhancing biochar-based remediation for petroleum-contaminated sediments., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Circadian rhythms are found in a wide range of organisms and have garnered significant research interest in the field of chronobiology. Under normal circadian function, metabolic regulation is temporally coordinated across tissues and behaviors within a 24 h period. Metabolites, as the closest molecular regulation to physiological phenotype, have dynamic patterns and their relationship with circadian regulation remains to be fully elucidated. In this study, untargeted brain metabolomics was employed to investigate the daily rhythms of metabolites at four time points corresponding to four typical physiological states in Vespertilio sinensis . Key brain metabolites and associated physiological processes active at different time points were detected, with 154 metabolites identified as rhythmic. Analyses of both metabolomics and transcriptomics revealed that several important physiological processes, including the pentose phosphate pathway and oxidative phosphorylation, play key roles in regulating rhythmic physiology, particularly in hunting and flying behaviors. This study represents the first exploration of daily metabolic dynamics in the bat brain, providing insights into the complex regulatory network of circadian rhythms in mammals at a metabolic level. These findings serve as a valuable reference for future studies on circadian rhythms in nocturnal mammals.

The catalytic hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to formate is of great interest due to its significant role in CO 2 utilization. In this study, a novel heterogeneous Ru(III) catalyst was prepared by immobilizing RuCl 3 on a porous organic polymer (POP) obtained from 1,4-phthalaldehyde (PTA) and 4,4'-biphenyldicarboxaldehyde (BPDA) with melamine. A copolymerization strategy utilizing monomers of varying lengths was employed to prepare the POP-supported Ru catalyst with adjustable porosity. The optimization of the framework porosity resulted in enhanced CO 2 affinity, accelerated mass transfer, and a remarkable enhancement in catalytic activity. A high turnover number (TON) of 2458 was achieved for the CO 2 hydrogenation to formate in 2 h with catalyst Cat-3 under 3 MPa (CO 2 /H 2 = 1 : 1) at 120 °C in 1 M Et 3 N aqueous solution. Moreover, the Cat-3 demonstrated good recyclability and was able to be reused for five consecutive runs, resulting in a high total TON of 9971.

A novel colorimetric approach specifically designed to effectively identify the presence of 3-aminophenol (3-AP) in environmental water is introduced. Briefly, a nitrogen-doped carbon-supported cobalt nanozyme (Co@CN-1) was synthesized and utilized to improve the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). Comparative catalytic reactions confirmed that the performance of PMS as an activator exceeds that of hydrogen peroxide catalytically by a factor of 3.5. The catalytic reaction parameters underwent optimization, further resulting in the derivation of a linear detection equation for 3-AP, expressed as inhibition rate (IR%) = 3.35[3-AP]-4.36 (0-20 μM, R 2  = 0.994) and IR% = 1.43[3-AP] + 31.87 (20-36 μM, R 2  = 0.992), with the limit of detection (LOD) of 2.84 μM. The linear relationship between 3-AP concentration and the conversion of color to grayscale value (GSV) was established by smartphones, expressed as GSV = 1.28[3-AP] + 147.10 (R 2  = 0.972). Density functional theory calculations revealed that Co acts as the preferred active site for donating electrons in PMS activation. This work provides a rapid and accurate approach for monitoring 3-AP concentration, enabling real-time analysis and potentially contributing to environmental and ecological studies., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Entrepreneurial narrative has been used in the entrepreneurship education process to develop students' entrepreneurial intention. However, previous research has less knowledge about the mechanisms between entrepreneurial narrative and entrepreneurial intention from an affective events perspective. We explore the effect of entrepreneurial narrative on entrepreneurial intention based on the theory of affective events theory. The sample of this study comprised 348 individuals who participated in entrepreneurship education in China. The results suggest that entrepreneurial narrative have a significant positive impact on college students' entrepreneurial intention. Additionally, the relationship between entrepreneurial narrative and entrepreneurial intention is mediated by entrepreneurial passion, and entrepreneurial support positively moderates the relationship between entrepreneurial passion and entrepreneurial intention., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Dong, Bao. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Sentinel lymph node metastasis (SLNM) is a critical factor in the prognosis and treatment planning for breast cancer (BC), as it indicates the potential spread of cancer to other parts of the body. The accurate prediction and diagnosis of SLNM are essential for improving clinical outcomes and guiding treatment decisions., Objective: This study aimed to construct a Lasso regression model by integrating multimodal ultrasound (US) techniques, including US, shear wave elastography (SWE), and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), to improve the predictive accuracy of sentinel lymph node metastasis in breast cancer and provide more precise guidance for clinical treatment., Results: A total of 253 eligible samples were screened, of which 148 were group benign and 105 were group malignant. There were statistically significant differences ( p < 0.05) between group malignant patients in terms of age, palpable mass, body mass index, distance to nipple, maximum diameter, blood flow, microcalcification, 2D border, 2D morphology, and 2D uniformity and group benign. The Lasso regression model was useful in the diagnosis of benign and malignant nodules with an AUC of 0.966 and in diagnosing SLNM with an AUC of 0.832., Conclusion: In this study, we successfully constructed and validated a Lasso regression model based on the multimodal ultrasound technique for predicting whether SLNM occurs in BCs, showing high diagnostic accuracy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Li, Chen, Liu, Bao, Zhang and Xu.)