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• Respiratory muscle function is of critical significance for the prediction of weaning outcomes. • A higher value of parasternal intercostal muscle thickening fraction and P0.1(airway occlusion pressure at 100 msec) are independently linked to weaning failure, especially in patients with normal diaphragm thickness. • The combination of parasternal intercostal muscle thickening fraction and P0.1 can serve as a valuable tool for the precise clinical prediction of weaning outcomes. A variety of parameters and diaphragmatic ultrasound in ventilator weaning has been studied extensively, and the findings yield inconsistent conclusions. The parasternal intercostal muscle holds important substantial respiratory reserve capacity when the central drive is enhanced, the predictive value of combining parasternal intercostal muscle ultrasound parameters with P0.1(airway occlusion pressure at 100 msec) in assessing ventilator weaning outcomes is still unknown. Our study aimed to evaluate the predictive efficacy of parasternal intercostal muscle ultrasound in conjunction with P0.1 in determining weaning failure. We recruited patients who had been admitted to ICU and had been receiving mechanical ventilation for over two days. All patients underwent a half-hour spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) with low-level pressure support ventilation (PSV). They were positioned semi-upright for parasternal intercostal muscle ultrasound evaluations, including parasternal intercostal muscle thickness (PIMT), and parasternal intercostal muscle thickening fraction (PIMTF); P0.1 was obtained from the ventilator. Weaning failure was defined as the need for non-invasive positive pressure ventilation or re-intubation within 48 h post-weaning. Of the 56 enrolled patients with a mean age of 63.04 ± 15.80 years, 13 (23.2%) experienced weaning failure. There were differences in P0.1 (P =.001) and PIMTF (P =.017) between the two groups, but also in patients with a diaphragm thickness ≥ 2 mm. The predictive threshold values were PIMTF ≥ 13.15% and P0.1 ≥ 3.9 cmH 2 O for weaning failure. The AUROC for predicting weaning failure was 0.721 for PIMTF, 0.792 for P0.1, and 0.869 for the combination of PIMTF and P0.1. The parasternal intercostal muscle thickening fraction and P0.1 are independently linked to weaning failure, especially in patients with normal diaphragm thickness. The combination of parasternal intercostal muscle thickening fraction and P0.1 can serve as a valuable tool for the precise clinical prediction of weaning outcomes. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry website (ChiCTR2200065422). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaporins (AQPs) maintain fluid homeostasis in the colon. The role of colonic AQPs in the pathophysiology of functional constipation (FC) remains largely unknown. To explore variations in aquaporins and investigate their underlying mechanisms. Colonic biopsies were collected from patients with FC and healthy controls. The expression and localization of AQPs were evaluated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence assays. Furthermore, osmotic pressure-induced cell model was used in vitro to investigate the potential relationship between AQP8 and osmotic pressure, and to reveal the underlying mechanisms. Upregulation of AQP3 and AQP8, and downregulation of AQP1, AQP7, AQP9, AQP10, and AQP11 were observed in the patients with functional constipation. Furthermore, cellular translocation of AQP8 from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane was observed in patients with FC. Mechanistically, the increase in osmotic pressure could activate the Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, and subsequently promote the upregulation and translocation of AQP8. Upregulation of AQP8 and AQP3, and translocation of AQP8 were observed in colon biopsies from patients with FC. The p38 and JNK MAPK signaling pathways are involved in the regulation of osmotic pressure-induced AQP8 variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The incidence of ABC bacteremia has changed from 2009 to 2020. • The pneumonia-related ABC bacteremia was not a risk factor for 30-day mortality. • Immunosuppression, higher APACHE II, and SOFA were risk factors for 30-day mortality. Acinetobacter baumannii complex (ABC) is a group of increasingly prevalent opportunistic pathogens that cause a variety of life-threatening nosocomial infections, especially in the intensive care unit (ICU). This study assessed the differences between pneumonia- and non-pneumonia-related ABC bacteremia and possible independent risk factors for 30-day mortality. The clinical data of ICU patients diagnosed with ABC bacteremia at a tertiary care hospital from January 2009 to December 2020 were collected, and sorted into groups of ABC bacteremia with and without pneumonia. Significant changes in the incidence of ABC bacteremia and antibiotic resistance were observed over the 12-year study. Compared with nonpneumonia-related ABC bacteremia, pneumonia-related ABC bacteremia was associated with a higher rate of hypertension, less prior tigecycline use, more carbapenem-resistant (CR) strains, and a higher 30-day mortality rate. In multivariate analysis, immunosuppression, higher APACHE II score, and SOFA score were independent risk factors for 30-day mortality. Moreover, the risk of death was 1.919 times higher in the pneumonia-related group. Although pneumonia-related ABC bacteremia had worse outcomes, it was not an independent risk factor for death statistically. Immunosuppression and disease severity levels increased the risks of death in ICU patients with ABC bacteremia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Differential links between passive vs. active social media use and e-cigarette use. • Risk perceptions mediate the link between active social media use and e-cigarette use. • Active social media use is linked to more e-cigarette use than passive use. • Interventions should distinguish between passive and active social media use. The impacts of passive (i.e., browsing) versus active (i.e., engagement) use of social media on e-cigarette use among youth have been understudied in existing literature. This study examines how passive and active use of social media are differentially associated with e-cigarette use among youth and how risk perceptions mediate these associations. Pooled data from the 2021 and 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey (N=48,704, aged 11–19) were used. Weighted structural equation models were employed to estimate the associations between passive and active social media use and youth e-cigarette use. Both passive and active social media use were associated with higher odds and more days of e-cigarette use among youth. E-cigarette risk perceptions mediated the associations between active use and both the likelihood of ever using e-cigarettes and the number of days of use. Risk perceptions mediated the association between active, but not passive, use and the number of days of e-cigarette use. Compared to passive use, active use was overall associated with higher odds and more days of youth e-cigarette use. The findings suggest that public health efforts should distinguish between passive and active social media use when designing and executing interventions. Attention and efforts should also be directed towards understanding the distinct indirect effects of passive and active social media use through risk perceptions. These findings advance our theoretical understanding of the role of different types of social media use and offer significant practical insights for interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Real-life friends, online-only friends, and celebrities/influencers are important sources for user-generated e-cigarette content on social media. • Exposure to user-generated e-cigarette content on social media is associated with more positive perceived norms of using e-cigarette among youth non-users. • Such exposure is also associated with reduced perceived risks and higher susceptibility to e-cigarette use among youth non-users. • More attention should be paid to monitor user-generated e-cigarette content on social media. • Campaigns may consider disseminating interventional information about e-cigarettes on social media through individual users, influencers, and celebrities. Social media are important venues for youth's exposure to e-cigarette content. This study examined how exposure to user-generated e-cigarette content (i.e., content created and shared by individual social media users) is associated with vulnerabilities to e-cigarette use among youth non-users. We pooled data from the 2021 and 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey. Youth who have never used e-cigarettes were included. Weighted linear and logistic regressions were conducted to examine how exposure to user-generated e-cigarette content (from real-life friends, online-only friends, and celebrities/influencers) on social media was associated with e-cigarette use vulnerabilities measured by perceived norms, perceived risk, and susceptibility of use, controlling for demographics, advertising exposure, and mental health conditions. Multiple imputations were performed to account for missing data. Exposure to e-cigarette content on social media posted by real-life friends, online-only friends, and celebrities/influencers were associated with more positive descriptive norm (β s = 1.56, 0.37, and 0.35, respectively, all p s <.001), more positive injunctive norm (β s = 0.46, 0.19, and 0.10, respectively, all p s <.001), and higher odds of e-cigarette use susceptibility (ORs = 1.48, 1.50. 1.29, respectively, all p s <.001). Exposure to content posted by real-life and online-only friends were associated with reduced risk perception of e-cigarette use (β = −0.04, p < 0.05 and β = −0.07, p < 0.001). Our study highlighted that friends and celebrities/influencers are important sources on social media that can influence youth non-users' vulnerabilities to e-cigarette use. Interventional messages communicated through friends and influencers on social media may in turn help reduce e-cigarette vulnerability among youth non-users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Twenty-two sex attractant compositions identified from 57 species of burnet moths. • Sex attractants successfully applied the seasonal monitoring of burnet moths. • Sex attractants and trap can affect the capture effectiveness. Burnet moths, also known as the family Zygaenidae, are a typical diurnal family of Lepidoptera. Some species are important insect pests in agriculture and forestry. The use of sex attractants is one of the most important measures in the integrated pest management of burnet moths because these attractants are highly efficient, do not cause pollution, and are convenient and harmless to natural enemies. The earliest information about sex pheromones in Zygaenidae was reported in 1972. To date, many studies have described sex pheromones and attractants of species in Zygaenidae. Here, we review a total of 22 sex attractant compositions identified for 57 species of Zygaenidae and compare the differences in the structures of sex attractants among these species. The application of sex attractants in seasonal monitoring showed that the main activity period of zygaenid moths is from May to September each year. However, there are few reports on the effects of sex attractants on mass trapping of members of the family Zygaenidae. The ratio and degradation of sex attractants and the trap color, shape and hanging height were considered the main factors influencing capture effectiveness. Directions for further study of burnet moths are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new strain of Beauveria bassiana was identified from Phauda flammans larvae. • B. bassiana PfBb can effectively control P. flammans larvae. • Beta cypermethrin is the most compatible with B. bassiana PfBb. • B. bassiana PfBb mixed with beta cypermethrin had a synergistic effect. An entomopathogenic fungal strain, Beauveria bassiana PfBb, was identified from Phauda flammans (Lepidoptera: Phaudidae) larvae. The compatibility and synergy of B. bassiana PfBb employed in combination with three concentrations (i.e., recommended concentration, 20% and 10% of the recommended concentration) of five commercial insecticides were determined. Beta cypermethrin at 10% of recommended concentration had the lowest inhibitory effect on the mycelial growth of B. bassiana PfBb compared with other insecticides. Insecticides utilized at recommended concentration had no significant effect on the sporulation of B. bassiana PfBb, while the extent of their effect at 20% and 10% of recommended concentration differed among insecticides. Insecticides at 10% of recommended concentration had the lowest inhibition of sporulation and conidial germination compared with other concentrations. The conidial germination of B. bassiana PfBb was the highest after treatment with beta cypermethrin at 10% of recommended concentration. The cumulative mortality for 1 × 107 spores/mL B. bassiana PfBb combined with each insecticide at 10% of recommended concentration was higher than that observed with the application of insecticides alone. The percent cadavers of Phauda flammans larvae observed after treatment with B. bassiana PfBb combined with beta cypermethrin at 10% of recommended concentration were not significantly different from those observed after infection with B. bassiana PfBb alone. Our findings demonstrate that B. bassiana PfBb combined with beta cypermethrin at 10% of recommended concentration could increase the efficiency of this insecticide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quadrastichus mendeli Kim is one of the most important parasitoids of Leptocybe invasa Fisher et La Salle, which is an invasive gall-making pest in eucalyptus plantations in the world. Gall-inducing insects live within plant tissues and induce tumor-like growths that provide the insects with food, shelter, and protection from natural enemies. Empirical evidences showed that sensory genes play a key role in the host location of parasitoids. So far, what kind of sensory genes regulate parasitoids to locate gall-inducing insects has not been uncovered. In this study, sensory genes in the antenna and abdomen of Q. mendeli were studied using high-throughput sequencing. In total, 181,543 contigs was obtained from the antenna and abdomen transcriptome of Q. mendeli. The major sensory genes (chemosensory proteins, CSPs; gustatory receptors, GRs; ionotropic receptors, IRs; odorant binding proteins, OBPs; odorant receptors, ORs; and sensory neuron membrane proteins, SNMPs) were identified, and phylogenetic analyses were performed with these genes from Q. mendeli and other model insect species. The gene co-expression network constructed by WGCNA method is robust and reliable. There were 10,314 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and among them, 99 genes were DEGs. A comprehensive sequence resource with desirable quality was built by comparative transcriptome of the antenna and abdomen of Q. mendeli , enriching the genomic platform of Q. mendeli. [Display omitted] • Quadrastichus mendeli is a parasitoid of gall-making pest Leptocybe invasa described in 2008. • Q. mendeli has the potential to be a biological control agent for L. invasa. • Comparative transcriptome of the antenna and abdomen of Q. mendeli enriching the genomic platform of Q. mendeli. • A detailed description of sensory genes from the antenna and abdomen of Q. mendeli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As China's ecological environmental problem becomes severe, corporate environmental behavior (CEB) has become the focus of a range of stakeholders, policy makers and the whole society since the operating activities of companies is the main source of environmental pollution. This study used a questionnaire survey and structural equation model (SEM) to examine the relative importance of external and internal pressures (EIP) on driving CEB. Data was obtained from 702 papermaking companies in China. The mechanism of EIP effects on CEB was tested employing SEM through path analysis, using AMOS 21.0. The results showed that government pressure, economic pressure and internal pressure played significant positive roles in environmental behavior of papermaking companies in China. Economic pressure was the most important factor on environmental behaviors (including defensive, accommodative and proactive behaviors) of papermaking companies. Furthermore, the role of internal pressure on CEB (defensive and proactive) was second only to economic pressure, while the role of government pressure on CEB was much weaker than our expectation. However, the role of social pressure, which was imposed by general public and environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), was not significant. Thus, policy makers should emphasize on the interactions of economic mechanism, government regulation and internal incentive mechanism to stimulate firms to adopt active environmental behavior. More concerns from the general public shall be addressed to enhance their driving effect on CEB in Chinese papermaking industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute liver failure (ALF) is characterized by sudden large area of inflammation and extensive hepatocyte apoptosis. This study identified the natural product berberine as a potential agent for acute liver failure(ALF). First, in vitro , BBR pre-incubation (5, 10 and 20 μM) alleviated L02 hepatocytes injury induced by D-GalN (5 mM)/TNF-α (100 ng/ml). Second, in vivo , BBR pre-treatment attenuated D-Galactosamine (D-GalN)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute liver failure, as evidenced by the reduction of mortality, the alleviation of liver pathological changes and the inhibition of alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Our results further illustrated that BBR inhibited the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 and subsequently suppressed the expressions of inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) at both mRNA and protein levels in ALF. Moreover, western blotting demonstrated that BBR effectively inhibited apoptosis via reducing cytochrome c release, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and caspase-3/−9 cleavage in vitro and in vivo . In conclusion, our findings suggest that BBR serves as a potential agent for preventing or treating human ALF by inhibiting inflammation and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antennal sensory sensilla of Megastigmus sichuanensis Doğanlar et Zheng (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) were observed with scanning electron microscopy in this study. The antenna of M. sichuanensis was geniculate and the flagellum was composed of 11 subsegments. Four distinct types of sensory receptors were observed, including sensillum chaetica, sensillum trichodea, sensillum basiconica, and sensillum placodea. Two morphological subtypes of sensillum chaetica were found on the antennae, and sensillum trichodea was also divided into two morphological subtypes that were found on flagellum subsegments 2–10. Sensillum basiconica was divided into three morphological subtypes that were found on subsegments 8–10 of the flagellum, and sensillum placodea was only found on the flagellum. The shape, length, and diameter of antennae between male and female adults were similar. However, the length, diameter and number of the four distinct types of sensillum on the male were significantly greater than those of the female. The type, length, diameter, number, and distribution of these sensilla are described and their possible functions discussed. Future studies on the biology of olfaction and sexual communications in M. sichuanensis will be facilitated by these observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is lack of cure or disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is purported to ameliorate AD progression, perhaps by promoting hippocampal neurogenesis. Here, we conducted an updated systematic review to investigate the efficacy and safety of CHM for AD based on high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and reviewed its possible mechanisms of neurogenesis according to animal-based researches. Twenty eligible studies with 1767 subjects were identified in eight database searches from inception to February 2017. The studies investigated the CHM versus placebo (n = 3), CHM versus donepezil (n = 9 with 10 comparisons), CHM plus donepezil versus donepezil (n = 3), CHM versus a basic treatment (n = 3), and CHM plus basic treatment versus basic treatment (n = 2). Adverse events were reported in 11 studies, analyzed but not observed in 3 studies, and not analyzed in 6 studies. The main findings of present study are that CHM as adjuvant therapy exerted an additive anti-AD benefit, whereas the efficacy of CHM as a monotherapy was inconclusive. Additionally, CHMs were generally safe and well tolerated in AD patients. Active molecules in frequent constituents of CHMs can alter multiple critical signaling pathways regulating neurogenesis. Thus, the present evidence supports, to a limited extent, the conclusion that CHM can be recommended for routine use in AD patients and its possible mechanism enhances adult hippocampal neurogenesis through activating the multi-signal pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Autophagy maintains cellular homeostasis through engulfing cytoplasmic proteins and organelles, and plays an important role in cancer initiation and progression. Ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3, an active ingredient of Panax ginseng, exerts anti-cancer functions in various cancers. However, its molecular mechanisms, including its effect on autophagy, are not fully elucidated in tumor models. Methods Ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 was treated by various concentrations of 20(S)-Rg3. Markers of autophagy were detected by real-time PCR, western blot, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. Cell viability was observed by CCK8 assays and cell migration and invasion were examined with Transwell. Results 20(S)-Rg3 induced autophagy in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner as indicated by the upregulation of autophagy-associated molecules including LC3 II, ATG5 and ATG7. The autophagy inhibitor chloroquine antagonized the inhibition of 20(S)-Rg3 on migration and invasion of SKOV3 cells, but slightly enhanced the impairment of 20(S)-Rg3 on cell viability. Immunohistochemistry staining of LC3, ATG5 and ATG7 on subcutaneous xenograft tissue sections from previously established nude mice models showed that 20(S)-Rg3 upregulated LC3, ATG5 and ATG7 as observed in cell models. Conclusion Autophagy induction was one mechanism mediating inhibition of 20(S)-Rg3 on ovarian cancer invasive progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, it is recognized that both external pressures and individual corporate characteristics drive enterprises to adopt active environmental behavior. However, few empirical studies have attempted to determine the relative importance of these different sources of external pressure and individual corporate characteristics. Using panel data for 30 provinces and municipalities in China between 2004 and 2013, we tested the relationships between these different factors and corporate environmental behavior by building panel models for the national sample and subsamples from the three regions of China. The results showed that pressures from governmental environmental regulation, consumers, and shareholders, as well as individual corporation characteristics had significant positive driving effects on corporate environmental behavior, where government environmental regulation had the most important effect. However, our results did not confirm that social pressure is a statistically significant source of change. We propose a series of policy implications based on these test results, which may encourage enterprises to implement better environmental behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) method, we decomposed the factors that affect carbon emissions at a multi-regional level. Based on a comparative analysis of the regional contributions to carbon emissions in China from 1995 to 2012, we found that economic growth is a major factor that increases carbon emissions. Excluding Hainan, Guangxi, Ningxia, and Xinjiang, the energy intensity effects of other provinces and municipalities inhibited carbon emissions clearly. The energy structure effect in Beijing and Shanghai inhibited carbon emissions most obviously, whereas the energy structure effect in Xinjiang promoted carbon emissions to the greatest extent. The energy structure effect in most regions had little influence on carbon emissions. The output proportion effect enhances carbon emissions on the whole, which indicates China's regional economic development is not coordinated from the perspective of carbon emission reductions. Overall, Shandong, Inner Mongolia, and Hebei made the biggest contributions to national carbon emissions. Policy implications in terms of our study results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has very rich offshore wind energy resources, and good conditions for its development in eastern coastal areas. Making full use of these resources could effectively alleviate the tense situation in China׳s power supply, and contribute to energy-saving, emission reduction, and environmental protection targets. Chinese offshore wind power is still in the primary stage, and further development is facing both opportunities and challenges and constrained by weaknesses. The SWOT methodology has been adopted in this study to investigate internal and external factors affecting the Chinese offshore wind power industry. An extensive and critical literature review is also included, including academic papers, statistical data, policy documents, and websites, and 15 factors were identified. Strategies based on the SWOT analysis are proposed to promote the healthy and rapid development of the Chinese offshore wind power. The structural SWOT analysis framework provides insight for both policy makers and industry to gain a better understanding of what influences the sustainable and healthy development of the offshore wind power industry in China, and provide a useful reference for research in related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes carbon emissions due to energy consumption based on different stages and sectors in China, and by applying the logarithmic mean Divisia index decomposition method, carbon emissions were decomposed into energy structure, energy intensity, economic structure, and economic output effects. The study period was divided into “high efficiency and high output”, “low efficiency and low output”, “high efficiency and low output” and “low efficiency and high output” considering different carbon emission characteristics and economic development. Carbon emissions exhibit different characteristics at different stages. The degree of increase in carbon emissions at these stages depends on the combined effect of the energy efficiency and the economic output. The main factor driving carbon emissions was the economic output effect in each stage and the main factor inhibiting carbon emissions was the energy intensity effect. The economic and energy structures had only a modest effect on carbon emissions at each stage. The industry sector was the top contributor to carbon emissions, followed by the transport sector. The policy implications in terms of economic growth, the economic structure, and energy consumption are discussed in relation to the different stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The carbonization treatment improves the dimensional stability and the IB of bamboo particleboard. • The mechanism why carbonization affects the physicochemical properties of bamboo particleboard was explored. The carbonization treatment was applied to the preparation of bamboo particleboard to investigate the effects of light and deep carbonization treatment on the structural properties and the related physicochemical properties of bamboo particleboard. The results show that both carbonization treatments causes hydrolysis of hemicellulose and cellulose and degradation, condensation and reorganization of lignin. Compared with original bamboo, the crystallinity of cellulose of bamboo treated with deep carbonization increases by 29.3 %. With the increase of carbonization temperature, the static bending strength and nail-holding force of bamboo particleboard decrease, and the modulus of elasticity decrease and then increase. The dimensional stability and internal bond strength improve significantly due to the carbonization. The 24 h thickness swelling of deep carbon bamboo particleboard is only 2.2%, and the internal bond strength reaches 1.6 MPa. The flame retardant and smoke suppression performance also enhances with the increase of carbonization temperature, but formaldehyde emission increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]