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Amidst the backdrop of frequent global earthquakes, assessing the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban expansion in earthquake-affected areas is imperative for sustainable development insights. The current analyses, however, are primarily focused on administrative units or some specific natural units. Here, we quantified spatiotemporal patterns of urban expansion from 2000 to 2020 in global earthquake-affected areas globally. Specifically, we delineated such areas using data from earthquakes of magnitude 5.5 and above since 1965. Then, employing nighttime light remote sensing data, we extracted urban entities and systematically evaluated the spatiotemporal patterns of urban expansion in earthquake-affected areas. The findings indicate a phase-based differential growth in urban expansion in earthquake-affected areas from 2000 to 2020. The average deceleration factor for urban areas in earthquake-affected areas over the past 20 years is 128.67%. Urban expansion in earthquake-affected areas is growing at a rapid pace, except for Europe and North America. In addition, 66.7% of urban expansion in global earthquake-affected areas presents low-density sprawl and solitary edge expansion trends, potentially affecting population density and land use efficiency. This study offers the most exhaustive analysis of urban expansion in earthquake-affected areas in recent decades and calls for administration beyond administrative boundaries to some extent.

Effectively identifying urban polycentric spatial structure (UPSS) is essential for data-driven evaluation of urban performance, and it serves as a scientific basis for urban spatial planning. However, existing identification methods have limitations such as subjectivity, poor spatial continuity, and a narrow application scale. Thus, from a morphology perspective, our study proposed a rapid, highly applicable, and spatiotemporally comparable nonparametric approach for detecting morphological urban polycentric spatial structure (MUPS) by integrating remote sensing nighttime light (NTL) and point of interest (POI) data. Taking China as an object, on the basis of recognizing urban entities using NTL data, a wavelet transform was initially introduced to fuse multi-source geospatial data, thereby enhancing the spatial intricacy within a city. Then, a local spatial autocorrelation model was utilized to identify pixel clusters. Finally, post-processing was performed to optimize urban centers, subsequently calculating MUPS. Results reveal that urban entities identified based on NTL have a significant advantage in characterizing the concentration of human activities, which can ensure the accuracy of extracting MUPS. Compared with existing relevant methods, the proposed nonparametric approach avoids the misalignment of multi-temporal urban center distribution, enhancing accuracy and stability. Differentiated spatiotemporal patterns were found in the evolutionary trajectories of MUPS in China, with a progressive intensification in the degree of spatial decentralization. Our study provides valuable insights into spatiotemporal analyses of MUPS at multiple scales and serves as a foundational resource for urban spatial planning.

IntroductionSpinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe central nervous system disorder that results in significant sensory, motor, and autonomic dysfunctions. Current surgical techniques and high-dose hormone therapies have not achieved satisfactory clinical outcomes, highlighting the need for innovative therapeutic strategies.MethodsIn this study, we developed a Dual-Phase Silk Fibroin Methacryloyl (SilMA) hydrogel scaffold (DPSH) that incorporates PLGA microspheres encapsulating neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and angiotensin (1-7) (Ang-(1–7)). The DPSH is designed for temporally controlled release of therapeutic agents to reduce inflammation during the acute phase of SCI and to promote neuronal differentiation and axonal regeneration in later stages.ResultsComprehensive characterization of the DPSH revealed a highly porous architecture, suitable mechanical properties for spinal cord tissue, and stability unaffected by the incorporation of microspheres and drugs. In vitro studies demonstrated that Ang-(1–7) significantly induced M2 microglia polarization by 1.8-fold (p < 0.0001), effectively reducing inflammation. Additionally, NT-3 enhanced neural stem cell differentiation into neurons by 3.6-fold (p < 0.0001). In vivo experiments showed that the DPSH group exhibited significantly higher Basso Mouse Scale (BMS) scores (p < 0.0001), enhanced motor function, reduced astrocyte scarring by 54% (p < 0.05), and improved neuronal survival and regeneration.DiscussionThese findings underscore the therapeutic potential of the DPSH scaffold for SCI repair, presenting a novel strategy to enhance neural recovery through a combination of immunomodulation and neuroprotection.

Abstract In acidic soils, aluminum (Al) toxicity inhibits the growth and development of plant roots and affects nutrient and water absorption, leading to reduced yield and quality. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate and identify candidate genes for Al tolerance and elucidate their physiological and molecular mechanisms under Al stress. In this study, we identified a new gene OsAlR3 regulating Al tolerance, and analyzed its mechanism from physiological, transcriptional and metabolic levels. Compared with the WT, malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content were significantly increased, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and citric acid (CA) content were significantly decreased in the osalr3 mutant lines when exposed to Al stress. Under Al stress, the osalr3 exhibited decreased expression of antioxidant-related genes and lower organic acid content compared with WT. Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis showed the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway plays an important role in OsAlR3-mediated Al tolerance. Exogenous CA and oxalic acid (OA) could increase total root length and enhance the antioxidant capacity in the mutant lines under Al stress. Conclusively, we found a new gene OsAlR3 that positively regulates Al tolerance by promoting the chelation of Al ions through the secretion of organic acids, and increasing the expression of antioxidant genes.

Abstract Biodegradable porous Mg scaffolds are a promising approach to bone repair. In this work, 3D-spherical porous Mg–1.5Zn–0.2Ca (wt.%) scaffolds were prepared by vacuum infiltration casting technology, and MgF2 and fluorapatite coatings were designed to control the degradation behavior of Mg-based scaffolds. The results showed that the pores in Mg-based scaffolds were composed of the main spherical pores (450–600 μm) and interconnected pores (150–200 μm), and the porosity was up to 74.97%. Mg-based porous scaffolds exhibited sufficient mechanical properties with a compressive yield strength of about 4.04 MPa and elastic modulus of appropriately 0.23 GPa. Besides, both MgF2 coating and fluorapatite coating could effectively improve the corrosion resistance of porous Mg-based scaffolds. In conclusion, this research would provide data support and theoretical guidance for the application of biodegradable porous Mg-based scaffolds in bone tissue engineering. Graphical Abstract

BackgroundOvarian stimulation (OS) for in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in women with PCOS often results in multiple follicular development, yet some individuals experience poor or suboptimal responses. Limited data exist regarding the impact of poor/suboptimal ovarian response on pregnancy outcomes in women with PCOS.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate whether the live birth rate (LBR) per fresh embryo transfer and cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) per aspiration cycle differ in women with PCOS defined by the Patient-Oriented Strategy Encompassing IndividualizeD Oocyte Number (POSEIDON) criteria.MethodsA retrospective study involving 2,377 women with PCOS who underwent their first IVF/ICSI cycle at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital from January 2011 to December 2020 was used. Patients were categorized into four groups based on age, antral follicle count, and the number of oocytes retrieved, according to the POSEIDON criteria. The LBR and CLBR were compared among these groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess whether the POSEIDON criteria served as independent risk factors and identify factors associated with POSEIDON.ResultsFor patients

BackgroundReducing the occurrence of diabetes is considered a primary criterion for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions for prediabetes. There is existing evidence that early lifestyle-based interventions can significantly decrease the incidence of diabetes. However, whether effective interventions can reduce long-term outcomes in patients, including all-cause mortality, cardiovascular risks, and the occurrence of microvascular complications, which are the most concerning issues for both patients and clinicians, remains a subject of inconsistent research findings. And there is no direct evidence to answer whether effective intervention has long-term benefits for prediabetic patients. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the relationship between early effective intervention and macrovascular and microvascular complications in prediabetic patients.MethodsPubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for the randomized controlled trials of lifestyle or/and drugs intervention in prediabetes from inception to 2023.9.15. Two investigators independently reviewed the included studies and extracted relevant data. Random or fixed effects model meta-analysis to derive overall relative risk (RR) with 95% CI for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular events, and microvascular complications.ResultsAs of September 15, 2023, a total of 7 effective intervention studies were included, comprising 26 articles out of 25,671 articles. These studies involved 26,389 patients with a total follow-up duration of 178,038.6 person-years. The results indicate that effective intervention can significantly reduce all-cause mortality in prediabetic patients without a history of cardiovascular disease by 17% (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.70-0.98). Additionally, effective intervention reduced the incidence of retinopathy by 38% (RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.70-0.98). Furthermore, the study results suggest that women and younger individuals have lower all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. Subsequently, we conducted an in-depth analysis of patients without a history of cardiovascular disease. The results revealed that prediabetic patients with a 10-year cardiovascular risk >10% experienced more significant benefits in terms of all-cause mortality (P=0.01). When comparing the results of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality from the Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Outcome Study longitudinally, it was evident that the duration of follow-up is a key factor influencing long-term benefits. In other words, the beneficial effects become more pronounced as the intervention duration reaches a certain threshold.ConclusionEarly effective intervention, which significantly reduces the incidence of diabetes, can effectively lower all-cause mortality in prediabetic patients without a history of cardiovascular disease (especially those with a 10-year cardiovascular risk >10%), with women and younger individuals benefiting more significantly. Additionally, the duration of follow-up is a key factor influencing outcomes. The conclusions of this study can provide evidence-based guidance for the clinical treatment of prediabetic patients to prevent cardiovascular and microvascular complications.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier CRD42020160985.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) and diabetic retinopathy (DR), as microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus, are currently the leading causes of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and blindness, respectively, in the adult working population, and they are major public health problems with social and economic burdens. The parallelism between the two in the process of occurrence and development manifests in the high overlap of disease-causing risk factors and pathogenesis, high rates of comorbidity, mutually predictive effects, and partial concordance in the clinical use of medications. However, since the two organs, the eye and the kidney, have their unique internal environment and physiological processes, each with specific influencing molecules, and the target organs have non-parallelism due to different pathological changes and responses to various influencing factors, this article provides an overview of the parallelism and non-parallelism between DN and DR to further recognize the commonalities and differences between the two diseases and provide references for early diagnosis, clinical guidance on the use of medication, and the development of new drugs.

IntroductionFeline parvovirus (FPV), a single-stranded DNA virus, is accountable for causing feline panleukopenia, a highly contagious and often lethal disease that primarily affects cats. The epidemiology prevalence and pathogenicity of FPV in certain regions of China, however, remains unclear. The aim of this research was to investigate the epidemiology of FPV in different regions of China in 2021 and compare its infectivity and pathogenicity.MethodsIn this research, a total of 36 FPV strains were obtained from diverse regions across China. Phylogenetic analysis was performed based on the VP2 and NS1 sequences, and two representative strains, FPV027 and FPV072, which belonged to different branches, were selected for comparative assessment of infectivity and pathogenicity.Results and discussionThe results revealed that all strains were phylogenetically classified into two groups, G1 and G2, with a higher prevalence of G1 strains in China. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that FPV072 (G1 group) exhibited enhanced infectivity and pathogenicity compared to FPV027 (G2 Group). The structural alignment of the VP2 protein between the two viruses revealed mutations in residues 91, 232, and 300 that may contribute to differences in infectivity and pathogenicity. The findings from these observations will contribute significantly to the overall understanding of the molecular epidemiology of FPV in China and facilitate the development of an effective FPV vaccine.

Trichomonas gallinae (T. gallinae) is a flagellated protozoan and the causative agent of trichomoniasis, or canker, in birds. In the current study, the prevalence of T. gallinae was firstly investigated in five breeds. According to the results of the prevalence study, White King pigeons were selected as the experimental animals. A total of 135 White King squabs at one day of age were randomly divided into two groups and raised in separate isolators. The challenged group (N = 100) was challenged intranasally with 5 × 106 parasites/mL of the T. gallinae strain, and the control group (N = 35) was intranasally administered medium of equivalent volume. At 1, 2, 3 and 5 days post infection (DPIs), the crops and esophagi were collected for RNA extraction and formaldehyde fixation. The results showed that prevalence of T. gallinae in the five breeds ranged from 27.13% (White Carneau) to 43.14% (White King). After the challenge, mild microscopic lesions were observed in both tissues. Apoptosis rates were higher in the challenged group than in the control group at 2 and 5 DPIs in the crop and at 1, 2 and 7 DPIs in the esophagus. For both tissues, relative expression of IL-1β increased dramatically at the beginning and decreased at 5 DPIs, and TGF-β increased stably in the challenged group.

School bullying is prevalent among senior-grade pupils, with negative impacts on pupils' physical health and psychosocial adjustment. However, few studies have explored the relationship between the senior-grade pupils experiencing teacher unfairness and their suffering from school bullying. This study aims to investigate the longitudinal associations between perceived teacher unfairness and school bullying victimization, as well as the mediating role of the sense of school belonging therein. The data were collected from 822 pupils ranging from Grade Four to Five (430 boys and 392 girls, M[subscript age] = 10.8, SD[subscript age] = 0.69 at Time 1) over three semesters. The results indicated that (1) perceived teacher unfairness (Time 1) exerted a significantly negative prediction effect on subsequent school bullying victimization (Time 3); (2) the sense of school belonging (Time 2) played a key mediating role in the association between perceived teacher unfairness (Time 1) and school bullying victimization (Time 3); (3) compared to girls, the predictive effect of the sense of school belonging (Time 2) on school bullying victimization (Time 3) was stronger for boys. The results demonstrated the importance of ensuring teacher fairness and cultivating pupils' sense of belonging to the school as a method of preventing school bullying, and also explained the gender differences between boys and girls; thus, the study provided a theoretical and practical basis for preventing bullying in schools.

Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is the adaptive response of the heart to various physiological or pathological stresses. To combat this type of disease, more effective drugs are still needed. Wedelolactone is the main ingredient extracted from the medicinal plant Daylily and have effects such as immunomodulatory, anti-fibrosis, and anti-inflammation. However, the role and mechanism of Wedelolactone in myocardial hypertrophy are still unclear. Here, H9C2 cells were treated with Ang II to construct a cardiomyocyte hypertrophy cell model. We found Wedelolactone suppressed the survival of Ang II-induced cardiomyocytes. Wedelolactone further restrained the progression of Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Wedelolactone suppressed the oxidative stress of Ang II-induced cardiomyocytes, and restrained the apoptosis. Mechanically, Wedelolactone restrained the progression of Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/Heme oxygenase-1 pathway (Nrf2/HO-1 pathway). In summary, Wedelolactone attenuates angiotensin II-induced hypertrophy and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. Wedelolactone attenuates angiotensin II-stimulated hypertrophy and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]