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Ticks are primary vectors for many tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) and pose a serious threat to veterinary and public health. Information on the presence of TBPs in Chinese Milu deer (Elaphurus davidianus) is limited. In this study, a total of 102 Chinese Milu deer blood samples were examined for Anaplasma spp., Theileria spp., Babesia spp., Rickettsia spp., and Borrelia spp., and three TBPs were identified: Anaplasma phagocytophilum (48; 47.1 %), Candidatus Anaplasma boleense (47; 46.1%), and Theileria capreoli (8; 7.8 %). Genetic and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA confirmed their identity with corresponding TBPs. To our knowledge, this is the first report on Candidatus A. boleense and T. capreoli detection in Chinese Milu deer. A high prevalence of A. phagocytophilum with veterinary and medical significance was identified in endangered Chinese Milu deer, which could act as potential zoonotic reservoirs. The identification of the TBPs in Chinese Milu deer provides useful information for the prevention and control of tick-borne diseases.

Fe2O3 with high theoretical capacity (1007 mA h g−1) and low cost is a potential anode material for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), but its practical application is restricted by its low electrical conductivity and large volume changes during lithiation/delithiation. To solve these problems, Fe2O3@Ti3C2Tx composites were synthesized by a mussel‐like modification method, which relies on the self‐polymerization of dopamine under mild conditions. During polymerization, the electronegative group (−OH) on dopamine can easily coordinate with Fe3+ ions as well as form hydrogen bonds with the −OH terminal group on the surface of Ti3C2Tx, which induces a uniform distribution of Fe2O3 on the Ti3C2Tx surface and mitigates self‐accumulation of MXene nanosheets. In addition, the polydopamine‐derived carbon layer protects Ti3C2Tx from oxidation during the hydrothermal process, which can further improve the electrical conductivity of the composites and buffer the volume expansion and particle agglomeration of Fe2O3. As a result, Fe2O3@Ti3C2Tx anodes exhibit ~100 % capacity retention with almost no capacity loss at 0.5 A g−1 after 250 cycles, and a stable capacity of 430 mA h g−1 at 2 A g−1 after 500 cycles. The unique structural design of this work provides new ideas for the development of MXene‐based composites in energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic liquids (ILs) are promising electrolyte candidates for high‐safety and stability lithium metal batteries. However, their practical application is hindered by high viscosity resulting in a poor wettability of separator and sluggish Li+ transport at room temperature. Herein, a weakly‐solvating solvent of methyl (2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl) carbonate (FEMC) is employed as a co‐solvent in non‐flammable ionic‐liquid electrolyte (ILE) which composed with N‐butyl‐N‐methylpyrrolidinium bis (fluorsulfonyl) imide (Pyr14FSI) and bis (trifluoromethanesulfonyl) sulfonimide lithium salt (LiTFSI), effectively ameliorates the shortcomings of ILs mentioned above without sacrificing its safety character. Compared with pure ILE, the addition of FEMC can distinctly decrease the polarization voltage and electrode‐electrolyte interface resistance. With the assistance of FEMC solvent, the discharge specific capacity of Li||LiFePO4 (LFP) and Li||LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 (NCM622) cells are significantly improved. The origin of this great improvement is contributed to the exceptionally stable and LiF‐rich cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) layer formed in this electrolyte. Additionally, Li||LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cells exhibit a remarkable rate capability (105 mAh g−1 at 2 C rate), achieve an initial specific capacity of 202.8 mAh g−1 and outstanding capacity retention of 88.2 % over 100 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Car-following (CF) behavior is a fundamental of traffic flow modeling; it can be used for the virtual testing of connected and automated vehicles and the simulation of various types of traffic flow, such as free flow and traffic oscillation. Although existing CF models can replicate the free flow well, they are incapable of simulating complicated traffic oscillation, and it is difficult to strike a balance between accuracy and efficiency. This article investigates the error variation when the traffic oscillation is simulated by the intelligent driver model (IDM). Then, it divides the traffic oscillation into four phases (coasting, deceleration, acceleration, and stationary) by using the space headway of multiple steps. To simulate traffic oscillation between multiple human-driven vehicles, a dynamic transformation CF model is proposed, which includes the long-time prediction submodel [modified sequence-to-sequence (Seq2seq)] model, short-time prediction submodel (Transformer), and their dynamic transformation strategy]. The first submodel is utilized to simulate the coasting and stationary phases, while the second submodel is utilized to simulate the acceleration and deceleration phases. The results of experiments indicated that compared to K-nearest neighbors, IDM, and Seq2seq CF models, the dynamic transformation CF model reduces the trajectory error by 60.79–66.69% in microscopic traffic flow simulations, 7.71–29.91% in mesoscopic traffic flow simulations, and 1.59–18.26% in macroscopic traffic flow simulations. Moreover, the runtime of the dynamic transformation CF model (Inference) decreased by 14.43–66.17% when simulating the large-scale traffic flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, acylated porous Canna edulis starch with varying degrees of substitution (DS) were prepared and employed for stabilizing Pickering emulsions. Subsequently, the fermentation characteristics of them were investigated. Enzymatically produced porous starch (PS) was esterified with acetic, propionic, butyric, or valeric anhydrides, yielding acetylated (PSA-0.116), propionylated (PSP-0.163), butyrylated (PSB-0.304), and valerylated PS (PSV-0.462) with different DS. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of pores and surface micro-particles in the modified PS, confirming successful esterification through characteristic peaks in 1 H NMR and a CO peak at 1736 cm -1 in the FT-IR spectrum. With increasing DS, starch exhibited reduced crystallinity (PSV, 26.61 %), elevated resistant starch content (PSV, 91.63 %), and a higher contact angle (PSV, 87.13°). Acylated PS particles effectively stabilized Pickering emulsions. Pickering emulsions stabilized by acylated PS with higher DS exhibited higher emulsification index and smaller droplet sizes. In vitro fermentation of acylated PS and corresponding stabilized Pickering emulsions fostered short-chain fatty acid production, boosted the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (Bifidobacterium, Prevotella, etc.) while inhibited the growth of harmful bacteria (Escherichia-Shigella, Comamonas, etc.), maintaining the intestinal microbiota balance. These findings support the potential applications of acylated PS and corresponding stabilized Pickering emulsions in functional foods and drug delivery., 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.)

In this study, the high amylose corn starch and Canna edulis native starch were compounded with lauric acid and fermented by human fecal inoculation in vitro. Changes in beneficial metabolite profile and microbiota composition were evaluated. The structural properties showed that both NS-12C and HAMS-12C formed V-shaped crystals under the same preparation method, but NS-12C had a higher composite index and resistance content than HAMS-12C. At the end of fermentation, the starch-lauric acid complexes prepared from the two types of starch significantly promoted the formation of short-chain fatty acids and the contents of acetic acid, butyric acid and valeric acid produced by NS-12C were higher than those of HAMS-12C(p>0.05). HAMS-12C and NS-12C both increased the relative abundance of Blautia. Notably, NS-12C also increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria Bifidobacterium and Meganomas, while HAMS-12C did not. These results suggested that this effect may be related to starch type and provide a basis for designing and producing functional foods to improve intestinal health in Canna edulis native starch., 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.)

Background: A diet high in purines can impair the function of the gut microbiota and disrupt purine metabolism, which is closely associated with the onset of hyperuricemia. Dietary regulation and intestinal health maintenance are key approaches for controlling uric acid (UA) levels. Investigating the impacts of fermented foods offers potential dietary interventions for managing hyperuricemia. Methods: In this study, we isolated a strain with potent UA-degrading capabilities from "Jiangshui", a fermented food product from Gansu, China. We performed strain identification and assessed its probiotic potential. Hyperuricemic quails, induced by a high-purine diet, were used to assess the UA degradation capability of strain JS-3 by measuring UA levels in serum and feces. Additionally, the UA degradation pathways were elucidated through analyses of the gut microbiome and fecal metabolomics. Results: JS-3, identified as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei , was capable of eliminating 16.11% of uric acid (UA) within 72 h, rapidly proliferating and producing acid within 12 h, and surviving in the gastrointestinal tract. Using hyperuricemic quail models, we assessed JS-3's UA degradation capacity. Two weeks after the administration of JS-3 (2 × 10 8 cfu/d per quail), serum uric acid (SUA) levels significantly decreased to normal levels, and renal damage in quails was markedly improved. Concurrently, feces from the JS-3 group demonstrated a significant degradation of UA, achieving up to 49% within 24 h. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed JS-3's role in gut microbiota restoration by augmenting the probiotic community ( Bifidobacterium , Bacteroides unclassified&#95;f-Lachnospiraceae , and norank&#95;fynorank&#95;o-Clostridia&#95;UCG-014 ) and diminishing the pathogenic bacteria ( Macrococus and Lactococcus ). Corresponding with the rise in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, JS-3 significantly increased SCFA levels ( p < 0.05, 0.01). Additionally, JS-3 ameliorated metabolic disturbances in hyperuricemic quails, influencing 26 abnormal metabolites predominantly linked to purine, tryptophan, and bile acid metabolism, thereby enhancing UA degradation and renal protection. Conclusions: For the first time, we isolated and identified an active probiotic strain, JS-3, from the "Jiangshui" in Gansu, used for the treatment of hyperuricemia. It modulates host-microbiome interactions, impacts the metabolome, enhances intestinal UA degradation, reduces levels of SUA and fecal UA, alleviates renal damage, and effectively treats hyperuricemia without causing gastrointestinal damage. In summary, JS-3 can serve as a probiotic with potential therapeutic value for the treatment of hyperuricemia.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been strongly recommended as an excellent alternative treatment for Bowen's disease (BD). However, reported data on 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated PDT (ALA-PDT) with red light irradiation are limited and the long-term effectiveness remains to be determined, especially in dark-skinned populations., Methods: Medical records of BD patients who received ALA-PDT with red light irradiation between February 2011 and June 2021 were reviewed and summarized. Univariate and multivariate analyses of clinically relevant variables that may affect treatment outcomes were performed to identify risk predictors., Results: The overall clearance rate of 122 BD lesions was 89.3% with a median follow-up time of 36 months. The correlation between the effectiveness and fluorescence intensity of pre-PDT or PDT sessions was statistically significant after eliminating the interference of confounding factors. All recurrences occurred in the first two years following ALA-PDT., Conclusion: ALA-PDT is an effective treatment for BD in the skin of color patients. Well-executed operation and effective pre-treatment are the determinants of effectiveness. Fluorescence intensity of pre-PDT appeared to be a significant predictor of final effectiveness. In addition, two years of follow-up is necessary following ALA-PDT., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of British Association of Dermatologists. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Lithium metal is a highly promising anode for next-generation high-energy-density rechargeable batteries. Nevertheless, its practical application faces challenges due to the uncontrolled lithium dendrites growth and infinite volumetric expansion during repetitive cycling. Herein, a composite lithium anode is designed by mechanically rolling and pressing a cerium oxide-coated carbon textile with lithium foil (Li@CeO 2 /CT). The in situ generated cerium dioxide (CeO 2 ) and cerium trioxide (Ce 2 O 3 ) form a heterojunction with a reduced lithium-ion migration barrier, facilitating the rapid lithium ions migration. Additionally, both CeO 2 and Ce 2 O 3 exhibit higher adsorbed energy with lithium, enabling faster and more distributed interfacial transport of lithium ions. Furthermore, the high specific surface area of 3D skeleton can effectively reduce local current density, and alleviate the lithium volumetric changes upon plating/stripping. Benefiting from this unique structure, the highly compact and uniform lithium deposition is constructed, allowing the Li@CeO 2 /CT symmetric cells to maintain a stable cycling for over 500 cycles at an exceptional high current density of 100 mA cm -2 . When paired with LiNi 0.91 Co 0.06 Mn 0.03 O 2 (NCM91) cathode, the cell achieves 74.3% capacity retention after 800 cycles at 1 C, and a remarkable capacity retention of 81.1% after 500 cycles even at a high rate of 4  C., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

This study investigated the in vitro fermentation characteristics of different structural types of Canna edulis resistant starch (RS). RS3 was prepared through a double enzyme hydrolysis method, and RS4 (OS-starch and cross-linked starch) was prepared using octenyl succinic anhydride and sodium trimetaphosphate/sodium tripolyphosphate, respectively. The RS3 and RS4 samples were structurally analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction analysis. This was followed by in vitro fermentation experiments. The results revealed microstructure differences in the two groups of starch samples. Compared to native starch, RS3 and RS4 exhibited a lower degree of order and endothermic energy, with lower crystallinity (RS3: 29.59 ± 1.11 %; RS4 [OS-starch]: 28.01 ± 1.32 %; RS4 [cross-linked starch]: 30.44 ± 1.73 %) than that in native starch (36.29 ± 0.89 %). The RS content was higher in RS3 (63.40 ± 2.85 %) and RS4 (OS-starch: 71.21 ± 1.28 %; cross-linked starch: 74.33 ± 0.643 %) than in native starch (57.71 ± 2.95 %). RS3 and RS4 exhibited slow fermentation rates, promoting the production of short-chain fatty acids. RS3 and cross-linked starch significantly increased the production of acetate and butyrate. Moreover, RS3 significantly promoted the abundance of Lactobacillus, while OS-starch and cross-linked starch significantly enhanced the abundance of Dorea and Coprococcus, respectively. Hence, the morphological structure and RS content of the samples greatly influenced the fermentation rate. Moreover, the different varieties of RS induced specific gut microbial regulation. Hence, they show potential applications in functional foods for tailored gut microbiota management., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In developing type 3 resistant starch (RS3) from Canna edulis for use as functional food ingredients, we investigated the synthesis of C. edulis RS3 nanoparticles. Simultaneously, we explored the potential of C. edulis short-chain amylose (SCA)-based RS3 nanoparticles (RS3N) as a targeted delivery system, with a specific focus on colon targeting, yielding promising insights. Our study revealed that the degree of polymerization (DP) of C. edulis SCA, particularly the chains of DP 36- 100, exhibited a robust correlation with the particle size and physicochemical characteristics of C. edulis SCA-based RS3N. Additionally, recrystallization temperature variation (4, 25, and 45 °C) significantly influenced the self-assembly behavior of C. edulis SCA, with the preparation at 4 °C resulting in more uniform particle size distributions. In further expanding the scope of applications for C. edulis SCA-based RS3N, we harnessed the potential of Fe 3 O 4 and curcumin (CUR) as guest molecules to assess drug encapsulation and colon-targeting capabilities. Incorporating Fe 3 O 4 into the self-assembly system led to the production of magnetic RS3N, confirming the successful encapsulation of Fe 3 O 4 within C. edulis SCA-based RS3N. Furthermore, in vitro experiments have demonstrated that CUR-RS3N was stable in the gastrointestinal tract and gradually released curcumin with fermentation in the colonic environment. Collectively, these findings provide invaluable insights into the intricate self-assembly behavior of C. edulis SCA with varying fine structures and recrystallization temperatures during RS3N formation. Moreover, they underscore the colon-targeted properties of C. edulis SCA-based RS3N, opening promising avenues for its application within the food industry, particularly in advanced controlled drug delivery systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We have no conflict of interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Fe 2 O 3 with high theoretical capacity (1007 mA h g -1 ) and low cost is a potential anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but its practical application is restricted by its low electrical conductivity and large volume changes during lithiation/delithiation. To solve these problems, Fe 2 O 3 @Ti 3 C 2 T x composites were synthesized by a mussel-like modification method, which relies on the self-polymerization of dopamine under mild conditions. During polymerization, the electronegative group (-OH) on dopamine can easily coordinate with Fe 3+ ions as well as form hydrogen bonds with the -OH terminal group on the surface of Ti 3 C 2 T x , which induces a uniform distribution of Fe 2 O 3 on the Ti 3 C 2 T x surface and mitigates self-accumulation of MXene nanosheets. In addition, the polydopamine-derived carbon layer protects Ti 3 C 2 T x from oxidation during the hydrothermal process, which can further improve the electrical conductivity of the composites and buffer the volume expansion and particle agglomeration of Fe 2 O 3 . As a result, Fe 2 O 3 @Ti 3 C 2 T x anodes exhibit ~100 % capacity retention with almost no capacity loss at 0.5 A g -1 after 250 cycles, and a stable capacity of 430 mA h g -1 at 2 A g -1 after 500 cycles. The unique structural design of this work provides new ideas for the development of MXene-based composites in energy storage applications., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Purpose: To systematically assess the evidence of efficacy and safety of the use of ketamine and esketamine for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) with suicidal ideation (SI)., Methods: We independently searched for clinical trials from inception to January 2023 using electronic databases, e.g., PubMed and EMBASE. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to assess SI scores of depression rating scales, which were regarded as the outcomes., Results: A total of five independent double-blind, placebo controlled randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are eligible for inclusion. Four of the studies used ketamine as an intervention and one used esketamine as an intervention. Three hundred ninety-one patients with TRD were included (the intervention group with ketamine or esketamine is 246, and the control group is 145). No statistically significant interaction between the subscales of suicide ideation (SMD = - 0.66, 95% CI (- 1.61, 0.29); Z = 1.36, P = 0.17) and antidepressant effects (SMD = - 0.99, 95% CI (- 2.33, 0.34); Z = 1.46, P = 0.15) based on the results of ketamine and esketamine, compared with placebo groups., Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggested that esketamine and ketamine have failed to reduce suicidal ideation in patients with TRD. Further studies are desirable to confirm the effects of ketamine and esketamine in TRD patients., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Starch nanoparticles (SNPs) were prepared through acid hydrolysis of Canna edulis native starch and modified with octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) to yield OS-starch and OS-SNPs. These modified particles were used to stabilize curcumin-loaded Pickering emulsions. Effects on gut microbiota during in vitro fecal fermentation were examined. The surface of OS-starch exhibits a porous structure, while OS-SNPs display layered grooves. OSA modification was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (with peaks at 1728 cm -1 and 1573 cm -1 ) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra (0.5-2 ppm). The degree of substitution for OS-starch and OS-SNPs is 0.0106 ± 0.0004 and 0.0079 ± 0.0003, respectively. Following modification, the crystallinity decreased from 35.69 ± 0.46 % (native starch) to 30.17 ± 0.70 % (OS-starch), SNPs decreased from 45.87 ± 0.89 % to 43.63 ± 0.64 % (OS-SNPs). Contact angles for OS-starch and OS-SNPs are 77.47 ± 1.78 and 55.57 ± 0.21, respectively. OS-SNPs exhibited superior emulsification properties compared to OS-starch, forming stable Pickering emulsions with pseudoplastic fluid behavior and enhanced curcumin storage protection over 14 days (60.88 ± 4.26 %) with controlled release. Stabilizing Pickering emulsions with OS-starch and OS-SNPs positively affected on gut microbiota and improved the intestinal environment, showing promise for their application in transportation systems and innovative prebiotic food formulations., 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 © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)