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Abstract RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) modulate all aspects of RNA metabolism, but a comprehensive picture of RBP expression across tissues is lacking. Here, we describe our development of the method we call HARD-AP that robustly retrieves RBPs and tightly associated RNA regulatory complexes from cultured cells and fresh tissues. We successfully use HARD-AP to establish a comprehensive atlas of RBPs across mouse primary organs. We then systematically map RNA-binding sites of these RBPs using machine learning-based modeling. Notably, the modeling reveals that the LIM domain as an RNA-binding domain in many RBPs. We validate the LIM-domain-only protein Csrp1 as a tissue-dependent RNA binding protein. Taken together, HARD-AP is a powerful approach that can be used to identify RBPomes from any type of sample, allowing comprehensive and physiologically relevant networks of RNA-protein interactions.

Abstract Objective Controversy surrounds the treatment of visceral pleural invasion in lung cancer, and no studies have compared the efficacy of its four main treatment options (i.e., surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy). This study aims to compare and analyze surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy outcomes and explore the optimal treatment of visceral pleural invasion in lung cancer. Methods We searched electronic databases (i.e., Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database Search) for relevant studies of treatment options for patients with visceral pleural invasion in stage IIA–IIB lung cancer. Searches times were limited to studies published between January 1, 2000 and February 20, 2021. Meta analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software We also downloaded original RNA transcription data about lung cancer invasion in the GEO and TCGA tumor databases, and used R 4.0.3 software to perform differential expression and co-expression gene network analyses. Results We included a total of 25 high-quality (i.e., Jadad score 4–7) studies. Meta-analysis found that surgical treatment was associated with a 3-year survival rate OR = 3.80 (95% CI 3.53, 4.09; P

Abstract Background Chlorophenoxy compounds represent a group of selective herbicides widely used around the world. Chlorophenoxy herbicides are toxic, chemically stable, and can migrate into groundwater through soil leaching, posing a significant threat to drinking water safety and human health. Chlorophenoxy herbicides in groundwater aquifers are subject to anaerobic processes; however, the pathway and microbiology involved in the attenuation of chlorophenoxy herbicides under anaerobic condition are largely unknown. Here, the anaerobic degradation process of 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), a typical chlorophenoxy herbicide, was investigated. Results The initial 52.5 ± 2.3 μM 2,4,5-T was completely degraded by a sediment-derived microbial consortium, with 3,4-dichlorophenol, 2,5-dichlorophenol, 3-chlorophenol (3-CP) and phenol being identified as the intermediate products. Reductive dechlorination of 3-CP to phenol and the subsequent elimination of phenol were the key transformation steps in the overall degradation process of 2,4,5-T. Amplicon sequencing suggested that Dehalobacter, Sulfuricurvum, Bacteroides, Acetobacterium, and Clostridium sensu stricto 7 might contribute to the transformation of 2,4,5-T to phenol, and Smithella, Syntrophorhabdus, Methanofollis and Methanosaeta likely cooperated to accomplish the complete mineralization of phenol. Conclusions This study reported the anaerobic degradation of 2,4,5-T via reductive dechlorination and the subsequent syntrophic metabolization of phenol, an intermediate product transformed from 2,4,5-T. Dehalobacter was identified as the organohalide-respiring population catalyzing the reductive dechlorination reaction. Syntrophorhabdus and methanogenic populations were likely involved in anaerobic phenol oxidation and facilitated the complete mineralization of 2,4,5-T.

Abstract Background On March 16th 2024, the first case of Human infection with avian influenza H10N3 since the end of the global COVID-19 Pandemic was reported in Kunming, China. To enhance comprehension of the source of infection and risk factors of the H10N3 virus infection, this case report summarizes the clinical features, epidemiological investigation, and laboratory test results. Provides recommendations for the prevention and control of Human infection with avian influenza H10N3. Case presentation A 51-year-old male with a history of COVID-19 infection and a smoking habit of 30 years, worked in livestock breeding and was exposed to sick and dead poultry before falling ill with fever and chills on 28th February 2024. A week later, he was diagnosed with severe pneumonia, influenza, and respiratory failure by the Third People's Hospital of Kunming(KM-TPH). He was discharged on 17th April and none of his 6 close contacts showed any symptoms of illness. Environmental samples taken from the epidemic spot revealed that peacock feces tested positive for avian influenza sub-type H9 and waterfowl specimens showed positive results for avian influenza sub-type H5. Gene sequencing conducted on positive specimens from the patient's respiratory tract by the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) showed a high degree of similarity (98.6–99.5%) with the strain responsible for the second global case of human infected with H10N3 (reported from Zhejiang, China 2022). Conclusions According to the available epidemiological information, there is limited evidence to suggest that H10N3 viruses are excessively lethal. However, adaptive site mutations have been observed in the H10N3 isoform of mammals. While it is unlikely that the H10N3 virus will spread among humans, the possibility of additional cases cannot be entirely ruled out. Symptoms of human infection with H10N3 avian influenza are similar to those of common respiratory infections, which may result in them being overlooked during initial clinical consultations. Therefore, it is essential to improve surveillance of the H10 sub-type of avian influenza and to increase the awareness of hospital-related workers of cases of pneumonia of unknown origin.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of antibiotic bone cement combined with the lobulated perforator flap based on the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery (d-LCFA) in the treatment of infected traumatic tissue defects in the foot, in accordance with the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) concept. Methods From December 2019 to November 2022, 10 patients with infected traumatic tissue defects of the foot were treated with antibiotic bone cement combined with the d-LCFA lobulated perforator flap. The cohort comprised 6 males and 4 females, aged 21 to 67 years. Initial infection control was achieved through debridement and coverage with antibiotic bone cement, requiring one debridement in nine cases and two debridements in one case. Following infection control, the tissue defects were reconstructed utilizing the d-LCFA lobulated perforator flap, with the donor site closed primarily. The flap area ranged from 12 cm×6 cm to 31 cm×7 cm. Postoperative follow-up included evaluation of flap survival, donor site healing, and ambulatory function of the foot. Results The follow-up period ranged from 7 to 24 months, averaging 14 months. Infection control was achieved successfully in all cases. The flaps exhibited excellent survival rates and the donor site healed by first intention. Based on the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale, pain and function were evaluated as excellent in 3 cases, good in 5 cases, and moderate in 2 cases. Conclusion The application of antibiotic bone cement combined with the d-LCFA lobulated perforator flap is an effective treatment for infected traumatic tissue defects of the foot with the advantages of simplicity, high repeatability, and precise curative effects. The application of the d-LCFA lobulated perforator flap in wound repair causes minimal damage to the donor site, shortens hospital stays, lowers medical expenses, and accelerates patient rehabilitation, aligning with the ERAS concept. Therefore, it is a practice worth promoting in clinical use.

Abstract Packetized energy encapsulates energy into modulated, routable, and trackable energy packets, enhancing the flexibility of managing distributed energy resources and expediting prosumers’ participation in transactive energy markets. In the context of packetized energy trading (PET), energy prosumers are naturally deemed as self‐interested agents seeking to obtain their own benefits. To align with prosumers’ demand, supply, quality of service (QoS), and system‐level social welfare, it is necessary to explore the design of prosumers’ bidding strategies and the market clearing methods, considering prosumers’ utility and the best demand response to markets. This study addresses challenges arising from prosumers’ selfishness and asymmetric preferences by proposing a PET‐oriented iterative double auction (IDA‐PET) design, where prosumers are allowed to iteratively change the bids before the auctioneer clears the market. Moreover, IDA‐PET accommodates system capacity constraints, energy balance, and economic constraints, providing cooperative strategies for both prosumers and the auctioneer. To validate the effectiveness of IDA‐PET, a novel and dedicated co‐simulation platform based on the hierarchical engine for large‐scale infrastructure co‐simulation platform is developed and case studies are conducted within a residential microgrid. The simulation results demonstrate that IDA‐PET can efficiently enhance the revenue of the auction market while meeting prosumers’ QoS requirements.

Abstract Flexible frequency controls are crucial in many photonic and electronic applications, ranging from communications systems, spectroscopy, and metrology to quantum information processing. However, the state-of-the-art solutions based on nonlinear bulk media, electro-optic effect, and nonlinear metasurfaces incur very limited spectral controllability, and merely a couple of harmonic orders can be independently manipulated. Here, we theoretically propose and experimentally demonstrate synthetic moving-envelope metasurface antennas capable of simultaneously generating arbitrary harmonic orders and independently manipulating their wave properties in a software-defined manner. As proof-of-principle examples, we demonstrate unidirectional frequency transition, frequency comb generation, arbitrary harmonic orders independent control, and their applications in frequency-division multiplexing communications. All these complicated functionalities are achieved by the 1-bit spatiotemporally ON-OFF switching of meta-atoms of the waveguide-integrated metasurface antenna. Our proposed synthetic metasurface antenna solution greatly expands the frontiers of wave engineering and information manipulation, showing promising potential in wireless communications, spectroscopy, metrology, and quantum science.

Abstract Background Carbon monoxide (CO), hypothetically linked to prebiotic biosynthesis and possibly the origin of the life, emerges as a substantive growth substrate for numerous microorganisms. In anoxic environments, the coupling of CO oxidation with hydrogen (H2) production is an essential source of electrons, which can subsequently be utilized by hydrogenotrophic bacteria (e.g., organohalide-respring bacteria). While Dehalococcoides strains assume pivotal roles in the natural turnover of halogenated organics and the bioremediation of chlorinated ethenes, relying on external H2 as their electron donor and acetate as their carbon source, the synergistic dynamics within the anaerobic microbiome have received comparatively less scrutiny. This study delves into the intriguing prospect of CO serving as both the exclusive carbon source and electron donor, thereby supporting the reductive dechlorination of trichloroethene (TCE). Results The metabolic pathway involved anaerobic CO oxidation, specifically the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, which produced H2 and acetate as primary metabolic products. In an intricate microbial interplay, these H2 and acetate were subsequently utilized by Dehalococcoides, facilitating the dechlorination of TCE. Notably, Acetobacterium emerged as one of the pivotal collaborators for Dehalococcoides, furnishing not only a crucial carbon source essential for its growth and proliferation but also providing a defense against CO inhibition. Conclusions This research expands our understanding of CO’s versatility as a microbial energy and carbon source and unveils the intricate syntrophic dynamics underlying reductive dechlorination. Graphical Abstract Video Abstract

Abstract The global scenario on PVC plasticizer is experiencing a drastic change from petroleum-based, toxic di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) toward renewable, non-toxic bio-alternatives. However, replacing diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), a DEHP analogue specifically intended for plasticizing PVC automotive upholstery, with bio-alternative remains a challenge as few bio-plasticizer volatilizes from PVC as slowly as DIDP, a crucial aspect compulsorily required by automotive industry. Here, we demonstrate that covalently attaching two short esters at the α-position of all components of a traditional epoxidized fatty acid methyl ester via a two-step, hydrogen-to-ester nucleophilic substitution in a one-pot procedure yields an epoxidized fatty acid tri-ester bio-plasticizer with remarkably suppressed volatilization from PVC, and hence an extremely low fogging value comparable to DIDP. With this strategy in hand, DIDP, long deemed irreplaceable despite its toxicity and non-renewable nature, may ultimately be phased out. Graphical Abstract

As a carnivorous fish, the cannibalism are prone to happen in the early seedling stage in Dongting catfish (Silurus asotus), especailly when there is not enough food, which resulting in the low survival rate of Dongting catfish. To find clues to improve the survival rate of Dongting catfish offspring, the comparative transcriptomics analysis were conducted between normal and malformed larval fish, as well as normal larval fish before and after first food intake. In normal and malformed larval fish groups, a total of 881 differential genes were identified, including 634 up-regulated genes and 247 down-regulated genes. From these genes related to growth hormone synthesis and secretion were screened out as SLA isoform X1, SOCS3, STAT1b, JUNB, respectively. In the group of larval fish before and after the first food intake, 4901 up-regulated genes and 3660 down-regulated genes were found, from which the differential genes related to protein digestion and absorption pathway and pancreatic secretion pathway were screened out as cathepsin D precursor, elastase 2 like precursor, elastase 2 precursor, LPL isoform X1, CTRB1 precursor, CTRL precursor, CPA precursor, FABP, SLC15A1, CEL tandem duplicate 2 precursor. The differential genes screened for association with amino acid metabolism were ASAOC precursor, PLD3, NDPKs, trehalase, UMP-CMP kinase, L-amino-acid oxidase, PLB1, FALDH isoform X2, PLA2 precursor, glucokinase. Meanwhile, nine differential genes were selected for qPCR verification. The results confirmed that the relative expression trends of these genes were consistent with those found in the transcriptome. These findings provide an important reference for developing strategies to enhance the survival rate of Dongting catfish at early seedling stage.

Abstract Independent controls of various properties of electromagnetic (EM) waves are crucially required in a wide range of applications. Programmable metasurface is a promising candidate to provide an advanced platform for manipulating EM waves. Here, we propose an approach that can arbitrarily control the polarization direction and phases of reflected waves in linear and nonlinear ways using a stacked programmable metasurface. Further, we extend the space-time-coding theory to incorporate the dimension of polarization, which provides an extra degree of freedom for manipulating EM waves. As proof-of-principle application examples, we consider polarization rotation, phase manipulation, and beam steering at linear and nonlinear frequencies. For validation, we design, fabricate, and measure a metasurface sample. The experimental results show good agreement with theoretical predictions and simulations. The proposed approach has a wide range of applications in various areas, such as imaging, data storage, and wireless communication.

Abstract Background Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is an uncommon clinical pathogen, especially in the central nervous system (CNS), and carries a poor prognosis. MAC infections commonly present as immune reconstitution disease (IRD) in HIV patients. Herein, we report a case of intracranial infection caused by MAC in an AIDS patient without disseminated MAC (DMAC) and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). Case presentation A 31-year-old HIV-positive male presented us with progressively worsening CNS symptoms, and neuroimaging revealed ring-enhancing lesions. The intracranial lesions worsened after the empirical therapy for toxoplasma encephalitis and fungal infection. Due to the rapid progression of the disease, the patient died. Mycobacterium avium was the only pathogen in brain tissue after cultures and molecular biology tests. Conclusion MAC infection in CNS is challenging to diagnose in HIV patients. Our findings emphasize that obtaining tissue samples and applying molecular biology methods is essential to help diagnose the patient as soon as possible to receive adequate treatment.

Abstract Semantic segmentation is significant to realize the scene understanding of autonomous driving. Due to the lack of annotated real-world data, the technology of domain adaptation is applied so that the model is trained on the synthetic data and inferred on the real data. However, this domain gap leads to aleatoric and epistemic uncertainty. These uncertainties link to the potential safety issue of autonomous driving in normal weather and adverse weather. In this study, we explore the scientific problem that has received sparse attention previously. We postulate that the Dual Attention module can mitigate the uncertainty in the task of semantic segmentation and provide some empirical study to validate it. Furthermore, the utilization of Kullback-Leibler divergence (KL divergence) helps the estimation of aleatoric uncertainty and boosts the robustness of the segmentation model. Our empirical study on the diverse datasets of semantic segmentation demonstrates the effectiveness of our method in normal and adverse weather. Our code is available at: https://github.com/liubo629/Seg-Uncertainty-dual-attention .

Abstract Objective The relationship between tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) and depression is controversial. This study combined observational research and Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore the relationship of depression with both smoking status and cotinine levels. Method We collected relevant data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 2005 to 2018, and used weighted multifactorial logistic regression modelling to assess the correlation between TSE and depression, and assessed the causal relationship of depression with both smoking status and cotinine levels by MR. Result Current smokers had the highest risk of depression (OR 1.94; P

Abstract The aims of this study were to determine whether human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSCs) modified by miRNA-25-3p (miR-25-3p) overexpression could promote venous endothelial cell proliferation and attenuate portal endothelial cell injury. HucMSCs and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were isolated and cultured from human umbilical cord and characterized. Lentiviral vectors expressing miRNA-25-3p were transfected into hucMSCs and confirmed by PCR. We verified the effect of miR-25-3p-modified hucMSCs on HUVEC by cell co-culture and cell supernatant experiments. Subsequently, exosomes of miR-25-3p-modified hucMSCs were isolated from cell culture supernatants and characterized by WB, NTA and TEM. We verified the effects of miR-25-3p-modified exosomes derived from hucMSCs on HUVEC proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis by in vitro cellular function experiments. Meanwhile, we further examined the downstream target genes and signaling pathways potentially affected by miR-25-3p-modified hucMSC-derived exosomes in HUVEC. Finally, we established a rat portal vein venous thrombosis model by injecting CM-DiR-labeled hucMSCs intravenously into rats and examining the homing of cells in the portal vein by fluorescence microscopy. Histological and immunohistochemical experiments were used to examine the effects of miRNA-25-3p-modified hucMSCs on the proliferation and damage of portal vein endothelial cells. Primary hucMSCs and HUVECs were successfully isolated, cultured and characterized. Primary hucMSCs were modified with a lentiviral vector carrying miR-25-3p at MOI 80. Co-culture and cell supernatant intervention experiments showed that overexpression of miRNA-25-3p in hucMSCs enhanced HUVEC proliferation, migration and tube formation in vitro. We successfully isolated and characterized exosomes of miR-25-3p-modified hucMSCs, and exosome intervention experiments demonstrated that miR-25-3p-modified exosomes derived from hucMSCs similarly enhanced the proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of HUVECs. Subsequent PCR and WB analyses indicated PTEN/KLF4/AKT/ERK1/2 as potential pathways of action. Analysis in a rat portal vein thrombosis model showed that miR-25-3p-modified hucMSCs could homing to damaged portal veins. Subsequent histological and immunohistochemical examinations demonstrated that intervention with miR-25-3p overexpression-modified hucMSCs significantly reduced damage and attenuated thrombosis in rat portal veins. The above findings indicate suggest that hucMSCs based on miR-25-3p modification may be a promising therapeutic approach for use in venous thrombotic diseases.

As important terrestrial ecosystems on the Qinghai‒Tibet Plateau with important ecological and economic value, alpine meadows in some regions are in a degraded state due to climate change and unsustainable grazing. Due to the fragile ecological environment, exploring sustainable restoration models of degraded alpine meadows using close-to-nature restoration measures is the direction of ongoing efforts. Thus, in this study, three close-to-nature restoration measures, namely, manure application (M), Poa annua, Elymus dahuricus, and Puccinellia distans mixed with non-tillage reseeding (R), and the combined treatments (MR), were used to restore degraded alpine meadows from 2019 to 2021. The results showed that the M and MR treatments significantly enhanced plant biomass and reduced forbs dominance, thus improving community structure. Moreover, the M and MR treatments significantly affected plant and bacterial alpha diversity. However, the three restoration measures did not alter the correlation between the plant and bacterial communities. Furthermore, these three measures resulted in a significant increase in the plant carbon:nitrogen ratio and a significant decrease in the nitrogen:phosphorus ratio, while neither the plant carbon:phosphorus ratio nor the soil stoichiometric ratio changed significantly, indicating that nitrogen limitation was an important factor that limited the recovery process of the alpine meadows. The structural equation model indicated that the plant nitrogen:phosphorus ratio may regulate the response of plant and bacterial diversity to different restoration measures in alpine meadows. Our findings emphasize that the management of degraded alpine meadows using close-to-nature restoration measures should be a long-term effort, with more attention given to changes in the nitrogen content of meadow ecosystems.

Abstract Studies exploring the association between obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSA) and gastrointestinal diseases (GID) are important for enhancing clinical outcomes. This study aimed to systematically assess the association between these two diseases. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Willey Library, Cochrane Library and Scopus. This search focused on English literature published up to January 2024. Literature screening, quality assessment (using the NOS scale) and data extraction were performed by two independent researchers. Statistical analyses were performed using the meta-package of the R.4.2.2 software. An initial screening of 2178 papers was conducted and 11 studies were included. Meta-analysis results showed a significant association between OSA and GID (p

Abstract Background Flowering time has an important effect on regional adaptation and yields for crops. The tyrosine kinase-like (TKL) gene family is widely existed and participates in many biological processes in plants. Furthermore, only few TKLs have been characterized functions in controlling flowering time in wheat. Results Here, we report that TaCTR1, a tyrosine kinase-like (TKL) gene, regulates flowering time in wheat. Based on identification and evolutionary analysis of TKL_CTR1-DRK-2 subfamily in 15 plants, we proposed an evolutionary model for TaCTR1, suggesting that occurrence of some exon fusion events during evolution. The overexpression of TaCTR1 caused early flowering time in transgenic lines. Transcriptomics analysis enabled identification of mass differential expression genes including plant hormone (ET, ABA, IAA, BR) signaling, flavonoid biosynthesis, phenolamides and antioxidant, and flowering-related genes in TaCTR1 overexpression transgenic lines compared with WT plants. qRT–PCR results showed that the expression levels of ethylene (ET) signal-related genes (ETR, EIN, ERF) and flowering-related genes (FT, PPD1, CO, PRR, PHY) were altered in TaCTR1-overexpressing wheat compared with WT plants. Metabonomics analysis showed that flavonoid contents were altered. Conclusions Thus, the results show that TaCTR1 plays a positive role in controlling flowering time by activating various signaling pathways and regulating flowering-related genes, and will provide new insights on the mechanisms of wheat flowering regulation.

Abstract Luster is one of the vital indexes in pearl grading. To find a fast, nondestructive, and low-cost grading method, optical coherence tomography (OCT) is introduced to predict the luster grade through the texture features. After background removal, flattening, and segmentation, the speckle pattern of the region of interest is described by seven kinds of feature textures, including center-symmetric auto-correlation (CSAC), fractal dimension (FD), Gabor, gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM), histogram of oriented gradients (HOG), laws texture energy (LAWS), and local binary patterns (LBP). To find the relations between speckle-derived texture features and luster grades, four Four groups of pearl samples were used in the experiment to detect texture differences based on support vector machines (SVMs) and random forest classifier (RFC)) for investigating the relations between speckle-derived texture features and luster grades. The precision, recall, F1-score, and accuracy are more significant than 0.9 in several simulations, even after dimension reduction. This demonstrates that the texture feature from OCT images can be applied to class the pearl luster based on speckle changes.

Abstract Background Changes develop on the facial skin as a person ages. Other than chronological time, it has been discovered that gender, ethnicity, air pollution, smoking, nutrition, and sun exposure are notable risk factors that influence the development of skin ageing phenotypes such as wrinkles and photo-ageing. These risk factors can be quantified through epidemiological collection methods. We previously studied wrinkles and photo-ageing in detail using photo-numeric scales. The analysis was performed on the ethnic Chinese skin by three trained assessors. Recent studies have shown that it is possible to use self-reported data to identify skin-related changes including skin colour and skin cancer. In order to investigate the association between risk factors and skin ageing phenotypic outcomes in large-scale epidemiological studies, it would be useful to evaluate whether it is also possible for participants to self-report signs of ageing on their skin. Aim We have previously identified several validated photo-numeric scales for wrinkling and photo-ageing to use on ethnic Chinese skin. Using these scales, our trained assessors grade wrinkling and photo-ageing with moderately high inter-assessor concordance and agreement. The main objective of this study involves letting participants grade self-reported wrinkling and photo-ageing using these same scales. We aim to compare the concordance and agreement between signs of skin ageing by the participant and signs of ageing identified by our assessors. Method Three trained assessors studied facial photo-ageing on 1081 ethnic Chinese young adults from the Singapore/Malaysia Cross-sectional Genetics Epidemiology Study (SMCGES) cohort. Self-reported facial photo-ageing data by the same 1081 participants were also collated and the two sets of data are compared. Results Here, we found that self-reported signs of photo-ageing are concordant with photo-ageing detected by our assessors. This finding is consistent whether photo-ageing is evaluated through studying wrinkle variations (Spearman’s rank correlation (ρ) value: 0.246–0.329) or through studying dyspigmentation patterns (Spearman’s rank correlation (ρ) value 0.203–0.278). When studying individual wrinkles, both participants and assessors often detect the presence of the same wrinkle (Spearman’s rank correlation (ρ) value 0.249–0.366). A weak-to-fair level of agreement between both participants and assessors (Cohen’s kappa (κ) values: 0.041–0.233) persists and is statistically significant after accounting for agreements due to chance. Both the participant and the assessor are largely consistent in evaluating the extent of photo-ageing (area under curve (AUC) values 0.689–0.769) and in discerning between the presence or absence of a given facial wrinkle (area under curve (AUC) values 0.601–0.856). Conclusion When we analyse the overall appearance of the face, our results show that signs of photo-ageing identified by the participant are concordant with signs of photo-ageing identified by our assessors. When we focused our analysis on specific areas of the face, we found that participants were more likely to identify and self-report the same wrinkles that our assessors have also detected. Here, we found that self-reported signs of skin ageing provide a satisfactory approximation to the signs of skin ageing identified by our assessors. The ability to use self-reported signs of skin ageing should also be evaluated on scales beyond the ones discussed in this study. Currently, there are not as many photo-numeric scales for quantifying dyspigmentation patterns as there are for quantifying wrinkle variations. As Chinese skin is known to become dyspigmented more easily with age, more photo-numeric scales need to be developed and properly validated.

Abstract Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in malignant progression of Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Many studies have confirmed that miRNA-200c-3p is related to EMT. And we found that it is involved in the regulation of EMT, but the exact mechanism is unclear. CRKL is highly expressed in a variety of tumors and plays a role in EMT. In this study, the potential targets of miRNA-200c-3p were searched in miRPathDB, Targetscan and PicTar. And there are 68 potential targets at the intersection of the three databases. Then, bioinformatics and text mining performed by Coremine Medica, and found that among 68 potential targets, CRKL has the strongest correlation with EMT in TNBC. Therefore, we speculated that miRNA-200c-3p involvement in EMT might be related to CRKL. To verify miRNA-200c-3p inhibits the malignant phenotype of TNBC by regulating CRKL, RT‒PCR, western blotting, Clonal formation assays,CCK-8 proliferation assays, transwell invasion assays, Luciferase reporter assay and nude mouse transplantation tumor assay were performed. In this study, we found that miRNA-200c-3p is under-expressed and EMT-related genes are up-regulated in TNBC, and miRNA-200c-3p can inhibit cancer cell proliferation, invasion and the expression of EMT-related genes and proteins in TNBC. Further research confirmed that miRNA-200c-3p could inhibit EMT by inhibiting the expression of CRKL that directly combining CRKL gene.

Abstract Background We are making progress in the fight against health-related misinformation, but mass participation and active engagement are far from adequate. Focusing on pre-professional medical students with above-average medical knowledge, our study examined whether and how third-person perceptions (TPP), which hypothesize that people tend to perceive media messages as having a greater effect on others than on themselves, would motivate their actions against misinformation. Methods We collected the cross-sectional data through a self-administered paper-and-pencil survey of 1,500 medical students in China during April 2022. Results Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis, showed that TPP was negatively associated with medical students’ actions against digital misinformation, including rebuttal of misinformation and promotion of corrective information. However, self-efficacy and collectivism served as positive predictors of both actions. Additionally, we found professional identification failed to play a significant role in influencing TPP, while digital misinformation self-efficacy was found to broaden the third-person perceptual gap and collectivism tended to reduce the perceptual bias significantly. Conclusions Our study contributes both to theory and practice. It extends the third-person effect theory by moving beyond the examination of restrictive actions and toward the exploration of corrective and promotional actions in the context of misinformation., It also lends a new perspective to the current efforts to counter digital misinformation; involving pre-professionals (in this case, medical students) in the fight.

Aim: Parkinson's disease (PD) tremor is associated with dysfunction in the basal ganglia (BG), cerebellum (CB), and sensorimotor networks (SMN). We investigated tremor-related static functional network connectivity (SFNC) and dynamic functional network connectivity (DFNC) in PD patients. Methods: We analyzed the resting-state functional MRI data of 21 tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease (TDPD) patients and 29 healthy controls. We compared DFNC and SFNC between the three networks and assessed their associations with tremor severity. Results: TDPD patients exhibited increased SFNC between the SMN and BG networks. In addition, they spent more mean dwell time (MDT) in state 2, characterized by sparse connections, and less MDT in state 4, indicating stronger connections. Furthermore, enhanced DFNC between the CB and SMN was observed in state 2. Notably, the MDT of state 2 was positively associated with tremor scores. Conclusion: The enhanced dynamic connectivity between the CB and SMN in TDPD patients suggests a potential compensatory mechanism. However, the tendency to remain in a state of sparse connectivity may contribute to the severity of tremor symptoms.

Abstract The extracellular matrix (ECM) is critical for drug resistance in colorectal cancer (CRC). The abundant collagen within the ECM significantly influences tumor progression and matrix‐mediated drug resistance (MMDR) by binding to discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1), but the specific mechanisms by which tumor cells modulate ECM via DDR1 and ultimately regulate TME remain poorly understand. Furthermore, overcoming drug resistance by modulating the tumor ECM remains a challenge in CRC treatment. In this study, a novel mechanism is elucidated by which DDR1 mediates the interactions between tumor cells and collagen, enhances collagen barriers, inhibits immune infiltration, promotes drug efflux, and leads to MMDR in CRC. To address this issue, a multistage drug delivery system carrying DDR1‐siRNA and chemotherapeutic agents is employed to disrupt collagen barriers by silencing DDR1 in tumor, enhancing chemotherapy drugs diffusion and facilitating immune infiltration. These findings not only revealed a novel role for collagen‐rich matrix mediated by DDR1 in tumor resistance, but also introduced a promising CRC treatment strategy.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a nasal disorder characterized by the simultaneous manifestation of at least 2 out of 4 possible symptoms: rhinorrhea, nasal itching, nasal pruritus, and sneezing. Presently, among Chinese young adults from Singapore, we characterised AR phenotypes, established Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) baselines, and examined the management of AR. Methods: Participants completed an investigator-administered International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire and underwent a skin prick test (SPT). Individuals exhibiting sensitization during the SPT while having at least 2 rhinitis symptoms were identified as AR cases, then categorized into Allergic Rhinitis in Asthma (ARIA) classifications. Results: There were 9323 subjects analyzed. AR prevalence was estimated at 35.4%. Rhinorrhea was perceived as the most severe (mean Nasal Symptom Score (mNSS) ± SD: 1.42 ± 0.74), while nasal pruritus was the least severe (mNSS ± SD: 1.24 ± 0.68). Among moderate-severe AR (68.1%), most were affected by either troublesome symptoms (27.7%) or sleep disturbances (18.4%). By ARIA classes, 26.6% were mild intermittent, 5.4% were mild persistent, 50.3% were moderate-severe intermittent, and 17.6% were moderate-severe persistent. The mean TNSS (mTNSS) of AR cases was 4.43 (SD = 2.49) and between AR classifications, the mTNSS was significantly different. Notably, a large proportion of AR cases remained undiagnosed (85.2%), untreated (72.5%), or both (65.4%); 19.8% self-medicated for AR. Conclusions: There was a significant difference in TNSS of the AR phenotypes, and among phenotypes with a higher mTNSS, a large proportion remained untreated, undiagnosed, or both. The evidence indicates an existing burden of AR among Chinese young adults in Singapore which is notably undermanaged.

Purpose: Adolescent behavior is closely linked to personality, a key predictor of physical activity. Due to inconsistent findings on how personality dimensions influence physical activity, focusing on combinations of personality traits is more valuable for theoretical and practical guidance. This study aims to examine potential categories of adolescent personality and their relationship with physical activity. Methods: Using data from the 2014–2015 China Education Panel Survey (CEPS), 9212 adolescents reported their “Big Five” personality and physical activity levels after excluding samples with missing core values. Latent profile analysis with Mplus 8.3 determined the optimal model by comparing model fits to categorize personality types. Bolck-Croon-Hagenaars (BHC) analysis was used to compared physical activity across personality profiles based on the resulting class differences and its significance. Results: Latent profile analysis identified five personality trait types among adolescents based on fit indices such as AIC, BIC, aBIC, and Entropy: Low-control conservative group (5.0 %), Balanced development group (45.1 %), Optimistic action group (40.4 %), Independent avoidant group (4.5 %), and Introverted vulnerable group 5.0 %). Significant differences in physical activity were found among these profiles (p

Abstract Background Mecapegfilgrastim, a long‐acting granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor has been approved for reducing the incidence of infection, particularly febrile neutropenia (FN), in China. Objective We conducted a multicenter prospective observational study to examine the safety and effectiveness of mecapegfilgrastim in preventing neutropenia in gastrointestinal patients receiving the chemotherapy, including S‐1/capecitabine‐based regimens or the fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (FOLFOXIRI)/fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX)/fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRINOX) regimens. Method Five hundred and sixty‐one gastrointestinal patients from 40 sites across China, between May 2019 and November 2021, were included. The administration of mecapegfilgrastim was prescribed at the discretion of local physicians. Results The most common adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of any grade for all patients was increased white blood cells (2.9%). Grade 3/4 ADRs were observed for anemia (0.2%), decreased white blood cells (0.2%), and decreased neutrophil count (0.2%). Among the 116 patients who received S‐1/capecitabine‐based chemotherapy throughout all cycles, ADRs of any grade included anemia (1.7%), myalgia (0.9%), and increased alanine aminotransferase (0.9%). No grade 3/4 ADRs were observed. In 414 cycles of patients who underwent S‐1/capecitabine‐based regimens, only one (0.2%) cycle experienced grade 4 neutropenia. In the FOLFIRINOX, FOLFOXIRI, and FOLFOX chemotherapy regimens, grade 4 neutropenia occurred in one (2.7%) of 37 cycles, four (4.7%) of 85 cycles, and two (1.2%) of 167 cycles, respectively. Conclusion In a real‐world setting, mecapegfilgrastim has proven effective in preventing severe neutropenia in gastrointestinal patients following chemotherapy. This includes commonly used moderate or high‐risk FN regimens or regimens containing S1/capecitabine, all of which have demonstrated favorable efficacy and safety profiles.

Abstract Dual‐polarization programmable metasurfaces can flexibly manipulate electromagnetic (EM) waves while providing approximately twice the information capacity. Therefore, they hold significant applications in next‐generation communication systems. However, there are three challenges associated with the existing dual‐polarization programmable metasurfaces. This article aims to propose a novel design to address them. First, the design overcomes the challenge of element‐ and polarization‐independent controls, enabling more powerful manipulations of EM waves. Second, by using more energy‐efficient tunable components and reducing their number, the design can be nearly passive (maximum power consumption of 27.7 mW), leading to a significant decrease in the cost and power consumption of the system (at least two orders of magnitude lower than the power consumption of conventional programmable metasurfaces). Third, the design can operate in a broad bandwidth, which is attractive for practical engineering applications. Both the element and array of the metasurface are meticulously designed, and their performance has been carefully studied. The experiments demonstrate that 2D wide‐angle beam scanning can be realized. Moreover, secure communication based on directional information modulation can be implemented by exploiting the metasurface and an efficient discrete optimization algorithm, showing its programmable, multiplexing, broadband, green, and secure features.

Abstract Essential amino acids (EAA) and microRNAs (miRs) control biological activity of a cell. Whether EAA regulates the activity of miR has never been demonstrated. Here, as proof‐of‐concept, a tryptophan (Trp, an EAA) complex containing Argonaute 2 (Ago2) and miRs including miR‐193a (Trp/Ago2/miR‐193a) is identified. Trp binds miR‐193a‐3p and interacts with Ago2. Trp/Ago2/miR‐193a increases miR‐193a‐3p activity via enhancing Argonaute 2 (Ago2) RNase activity. Other miRs including miR‐103 and miR‐107 in the Trp complex enhance miR‐193a activity by targeting the same genes. Mechanistically, the Trp/Ago2/miR‐193a complex interacts with Trp‐binding pockets of the PIWI domain of Ago2 to enhance Ago2 mediated miR activity. This newly formed Ago2/Trp/miR‐193a‐3p complex is more efficient than miR‐193a‐3p alone in inhibiting the expression of targeted genes and inhibiting colon cancer liver metastasis. The findings show that Trp regulates miR activity through communication with the RNA‐induced silencing complexes (RISC), which provides the basis for tryptophan based miR therapy.

One of the crucial issues confronting China is high carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Despite the numerous measures outlined to promote the country’s carbon neutrality target, CO2 emissions in the nation continue to increase. This means that more policy options are needed to help improve environmental sustainability (ES) in the nation. Hence, examining the relationship between financial development (FD), foreign direct investment, industrialization, and environmental sustainability in China to provide proper recommendations to drive the carbon neutrality agenda of the nation is deemed fitting. In attaining this goal, time-series data from the period 1990 to 2018 is employed. According to the results, foreign direct investment deteriorates environmental sustainability by promoting more CO2 emissions. This validates the pollution haven hypothesis (PHH). In addition, industrialization and financial development are not friendly to the nation’s environmental quality. Furthermore, economic growth and urbanization escalate environmental pollution in the nation. In addition, the interactions between financial development and foreign direct investment and between financial development and industrialization deteriorate the environment in China. Moreover, foreign direct investment and financial development have an inverted U-shaped association with environmental degradation, but industrialization and environmental pollution are not nonlinearly related. The study advocated for the implementation of measures that could help advance the carbon-neutrality targets of the nation.

Background Therapeutic resistance is a main obstacle to achieve long-term benefits from immune checkpoint inhibitors. The underlying mechanism of neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 resistance remains unclear.Methods Multi-omics analysis, including mass cytometry, single-cell RNA-seq, bulk RNA-seq, and polychromatic flow cytometry, was conducted using the resected tumor samples in a cohort of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients received neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy. Tumor and paired lung samples acquired from treatment-naïve patients were used as a control. In vitro experiments were conducted using primary cells isolated from fresh tissues and lung cancer cell lines. A Lewis-bearing mouse model was used in the in vivo experiment.Results The quantity, differentiation status, and clonal expansion of tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cells (CD8+ TRMs) are positively correlated with therapeutic efficacy of neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy in human NSCLC. In contrast, the quantity of immature CD1c+ classical type 2 dendritic cells (imcDC2) and galectin-9+ cancer cells is negatively correlated with therapeutic efficacy. An epithelium/imDC2 suppressive axis that restrains the antitumor response of CD8+ TRMs via galectin-9/TIM-3 was uncovered. The expression level of CD8+ TRMs and galectin-9+ cancer cell-related genes predict the clinical outcome of anti-PD-1 neoadjuvant therapy in human NSCLC patients. Finally, blockade of TIM-3 and PD-1 could improve the survival of tumor-bearing mouse by promoting the antigen presentation of imcDC2 and CD8+ TRMs-mediated tumor-killing.Conclusion Galectin-9 expressing tumor cells sustained the primary resistance of neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy in NSCLC through galectin-9/TIM-3-mediated suppression of imcDC2 and CD8+ TRMs. Supplement of anti-TIM-3 could break the epithelium/imcDC2/CD8+ TRMs suppressive loop to overcome anti-PD-1 resistance.Trial registration number NCT03732664.

Abstract Toxic metals are vital risk factors affecting serum ion balance; however, the effect of their co-exposure on serum ions and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. We assessed the correlations of single metal and mixed metals with serum ion levels, and the mediating effects of mineralocorticoids by investigating toxic metal concentrations in the blood, as well as the levels of representative mineralocorticoids, such as deoxycorticosterone (DOC), and serum ions in 471 participants from the Dongdagou–Xinglong cohort. In the single-exposure model, sodium and chloride levels were positively correlated with arsenic, selenium, cadmium, and lead levels and negatively correlated with zinc levels, whereas potassium and iron levels and the anion gap were positively correlated with zinc levels and negatively correlated with selenium, cadmium and lead levels (all P

China is rich in karst resources and famous for its karst landscape. As a part of karst, the popularity of red karst is obviously low and has received little attention; moreover, the related scientific research and tourism development are relatively immature. Therefore, this paper takes the red karst in Tongren, Guizhou as the research object, analyzes the characteristics and causes of the red karst, comprehensively evaluates its landscape value, and puts forward development strategies and protection suggestions. Through the above research, the following three research results are obtained. (1) On the basis of a field investigation and a literature review, the geographical situation, background, and landscape characteristics of the red karst landform and its surrounding areas in Tongren City were investigated in detail. It forms isolated peaks, rock walls, protruding rocks, stone pillars, and other forms. The most prominent features of the red karst landscape in Tongren City are that the color is red and white, and the shape is concave and convex in order. (2) Geochemical test and structural data collection and analyses of the collected samples were performed. The obtain concave layer rock is dolomitic limestone, and that convex lay rock is argillaceous dolomitic limestone. Because the convex layer rock sample is high in silicon element content, the convex layer rock sample is not easy to be weathered, is rich in clay mineral, and is not easy to be corrode; the convex layer rock sample gradually protrudes with the passage of time to form an uneven shape. The red karst landform is developed in either the rock stratum or tectonic zone with moderate tectonic deformation intensity. First, the formation of a single-layer honeycomb morphology requires that the rock stratum is subjected to a sufficient horizontal compressive stress at a certain burial depth. Second, it is necessary to widely exist in areas with relatively gentle rock formation occurrence; too strong of a structural deformation will make the rock formation occurrence steep, which is not conducive to the occurrence of differential dissolution between adjacent strata. (3) Through the construction of an evaluation index system, the red karst in Tongren City is evaluated, and it is concluded that the geological heritage value is high, and the development and utilization conditions are weak. The conclusion of this article is a supplement to the geological and geomorphological system characteristics of southern karst. From the perspective of world natural heritage, the study enriches the academic evidence of red karst and enables its exemplary role to be well played. From the perspective of the tourism development value, more people should be made aware of the diverse types of karst landforms, which provide experience and suggestions for the value of landforms, tourism resources, and tourism development in similar areas.

This paper reports an experimental on the flexural performance of prestressed concrete-encased high-strength steel beams (PCEHSSBs). To study the applicability of high-strength steel (HSS) in prestressed concrete-encased steel beams (PCESBs), one simply supported prestressed concrete-encased ordinarystrength steel beam (PCEOSSB) and eight simply supported PCEHSSBs were tested under a four-point bending load. The influence of steel strength grade, I-steel ratio, reinforcement ratio and stirrup ratio on the flexural performance of such members was investigated. The test results show that increasing the I-steel grade and I-steel ratio can significantly improve the bearing capacity of PCESB. Increasing the compressive reinforcement ratio of PCEHSSB can effectively improve its bearing capacity and ductility properties, making full use of the performance of HSS in composite beams. Increasing the hoop ratio has a small improvement on the load capacity of the test beams; setting up shear connectors can improve the ductile properties of the specimens although it does not lead to a significant increase in the load capacity of the combined beams. Then, combined with the test data, the comprehensive reinforcement index considering the location of reinforcement was proposed to evaluate the crack resistance of specimens. The relationship between the comprehensive reinforcement index and the crack resistance of specimens was given.

Warming and nitrogen (N) addition may impact soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, but the relationship between plant community composition and soil microbial activities remains unclear. For a two-year field study in the Qinghai‒Tibet Plateau, open-top chambers were used to quantify the effects of warming, N-addition, and their interactions on N2O emissions. We found that the N-addition greatly increased N2O emissions by 77.4% in 2018 when compared to the control group. In contrast, warming showed little effect on N2O emissions but did increase the activity of enzymes associated with soil nitrification and denitrification. A combined effect of warming and N-addition of resulted in 208.6% (2018) and 90.8% (2019) increase in N2O emissions, respectively, compared to the individual treatments of warming or N-addition. Global warming in alpine meadows is causally linked to increased legume biomass which is further intensified with the N-addition. Intensified legume biomass (p < 0.05), soil moisture (p < 0.001) and enzyme activity (p < 0.001) had a positive effect on N2O emissions, while diminished microbial carbon/nitrogen (MBC/MBN) (p < 0.05) correlated with reduced N2O emissions. Final results indicated that N-addition has a positive effect on N2O emissions, and the addition of warming further intensifies this effect. The increased dominance of legumes and microbial N content contributes to this effect. These outcomes suggest that warming and atmospheric N deposition can stimulate N2O emissions of alpine meadows in the future.

Abstract Background and aims Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) has an extremely poor prognosis. A previous study proved that low-dose radiotherapy (RT) could prolong the prognosis of HCC patients with PVTT. This study aims to explore the sensitivity of PVTT to RT treatment. Methods Patients were selected based on imaging diagnosis of HCC accompanied by PVTT and received combined treatment of radiotherapy, antiangiogenic drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors, followed by hepatectomy or liver transplantation from January 2019 to August 2022. The efficacy was evaluated by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) guidelines and pathological assessment. The sensitivity of tumor cells to the treatment was compared between the primary tumor (PT)and PVTT by analyzing their residual tumor and pathologic complete remission (PCR) incidence. Results Data from 14 patients were collected in the study. After combined treatment, the size of PVTT decreased more significantly than that of the primary tumor in the imaging study (p

Abstract The medical workforce plays a critical role in building resilience in the medical system and society to respond to long COVID. The threat of career pressure and the proliferation of social media disinformation have combined to reduce medical workers’ occupational identity, triggering a wave of medical staff resignations all over the world. There is an urgent need to investigate the development of medical students’ occupational identity. Based on characteristics of medical students, this study builds on the Motivation-Opportunity-Ability (MOA) framework and develops a comprehensive theoretical model to illustrate the predictors of medical students’ occupational identity to find ways to stabilize the subsequent medical workforce pool. The results show that medical students’ occupational identity is affected by motivation, opportunity and ability factors. The results call for improving motivation cultivation and practice environment. The newly discovered role of media exposure not only provides a new way to enhance occupational identity, but also contributes to the follow-up exploration of the relationship between media environment and occupational identity.

Abstract The tumor microenvironment is reprogrammed by cancer cells and participates in all stages of tumor progression. Neutral ceramidase is a key regulator of ceramide, the central intermediate in sphingolipid metabolism. The contribution of neutral ceramidase to the reprogramming of the tumor microenvironment is not well understood. Here, we find that deletion of neutral ceramidase in multiple breast cancer models in female mice accelerates tumor growth. Our result show that Ly6C+CD39+ tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cells are enriched in the tumor microenvironment and display an exhausted phenotype. Deletion of myeloid neutral ceramidase in vivo and in vitro induces exhaustion in tumor-infiltrating Ly6C+CD39+CD8+ T cells. Mechanistically, myeloid neutral ceramidase is required for the generation of lipid droplets and for the induction of lipolysis, which generate fatty acids for fatty-acid oxidation and orchestrate macrophage metabolism. Metabolite ceramide leads to reprogramming of macrophages toward immune suppressive TREM2+ tumor associated macrophages, which promote CD8 T cells exhaustion.

Drought stress limits agricultural productivity worldwide. Identifying and characterizing genetic components of drought stress-tolerance networks may improve crop resistance to drought stress. We show that the regulatory module formed by miR166 and its target gene, ATHB14-LIKE, functions in the regulation of drought tolerance in soybean (Glycine max). Drought stress represses the accumulation of miR166, leading to upregulation of its target genes. Optimal knockdown of miR166 in the stable transgenic line GmSTTM166 conferred drought tolerance without affecting yield. Expression of ABA signaling pathway genes was regulated by the miR166-mediated regulatory pathway, and ATHB14-LIKE directly activates some of these genes. There is a feedback regulation between ATHB14-LIKE and MIR166 genes, and ATHB14-LIKE inhibits MIR166 expression. These findings reveal that drought-triggered regulation of the miR166-mediated regulatory pathway increases plants drought resistance, providing new insights into drought stress regulatory network in soybean.

ABSTRACTEnterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is an important zoonotic pathogen that is a major cause of foodborne diseases in most developed and developing countries and can cause uncomplicated diarrhoea, haemorrhagic colitis, and haemolytic uraemic syndrome. O islands (OIs), which are unique genomic islands in EHEC O157:H7, are composed of 177 isolated genomic features and harbour 26% of the total genes that are absent in the non-pathogenic E. coli K-12 genome. In the last twenty years, many OI-encoded proteins have been characterized, including proteins regulating virulence, motility, and acid resistance. Given the critical role of regulatory proteins in the systematic and hierarchical regulation of bacterial biological processes, this review summarizes the OI-encoded regulatory proteins in EHEC O157:H7 characterized to date, emphasizing OI-encoded regulatory proteins for bacterial virulence, motility, and acid resistance. This summary will be significant for further exploration and understanding of the virulence and pathogenesis of EHEC O157:H7.

We present measurements of the 2p-3d transition opacity of a hot molybdenum–scandium sample with nearly half-vacant molybdenum M-shell configurations. A plastic-tamped molybdenum–scandium foil sample is radiatively heated to high temperature in a compact D-shaped gold Hohlraum driven by ∼30 kJ laser energy at the SG-100 kJ laser facility. X rays transmitted through the molybdenum and scandium plasmas are diffracted by crystals and finally recorded by image plates. The electron temperatures in the sample in particular spatial and temporal zones are determined by the K-shell absorption of the scandium plasma. A combination of the IRAD3D view factor code and the MULTI hydrodynamic code is used to simulate the spatial distribution and temporal behavior of the sample temperature and density. The inferred temperature in the molybdenum plasma reaches a average of 138 ± 11 eV. A detailed configuration-accounting calculation of the n = 2–3 transition absorption of the molybdenum plasma is compared with experimental measurements and quite good agreement is found. The present measurements provide an opportunity to test opacity models for complicated M-shell configurations.

The harsh geological conditions in the northwest region of China, characterized by widespread saline-alkali soil rich in alkali ions, pose a high risk of Alkali-Silica reaction (ASR) in concrete, particularly due to the presence of ASR-active natural river sands. To address ASR hazards, locally applied concrete often employs High-Performance concrete (HPC) prepared with high proportions of mineral admixtures. In this paper, the alkali content is controlled by adding mixed water with NaOH to the initial configuration of concrete, and three different alkali content states are set up. A 1 mol/L NaOH solution was used to simulate alkaline conditions, and HPC specimens were immersed for an extended period to investigate the effects of equivalent alkali content, immersion time, concrete strength, and admixture on the flexural mechanical properties of HPC under the condition of long-term alkali immersion. Results indicate that, the strength grade was positively correlated with the flexural strength of HPC, but the alkali content was negatively. Initial immersion significantly enhances strength, followed by a gradual decline after long-term immersion. Among three types of admixture addition methods, the impact on flexural strength of HPC immersed in alkaline solution for 10 years follows the order: Double doped air entraining agent and rust inhibitor is greater than single doped air entraining agent is greater than single doped rust inhibitor. In the process of macroscopic test, it is difficult to observe the variation rule of stress and strain in detail, only the final aggregate failure mode can be analyzed. In order to analyze the strain change of the specimen and the failure process of the aggregates more accurately, a three-dimensional random aggregate concrete mesoscopic model was established, and equations relating microhardness to the mechanical properties of concrete components were derived from statistical analysis, providing a basis for parameter selection in the model. Results demonstrate that with increasing strength, the occurrence time of initial cracks is delayed, and the ratio of cracks bypassing aggregates (cracks develop along the ITZ between aggregate and mortar until complete failure) decreases, and the ratio of cracks penetrating aggregates (cracks develop directly through aggregates in an almost vertical direction) increases.

Machine learning has made great progress in the field of medicine, especially in oncology research showing significant potential. In this paper, the application of machine learning in the study of cholangiocarcinoma was discussed. By developing a novel intra-tumor heterogeneity feature, the study successfully achieved accurate prediction of prognosis and immunotherapy effect in patients with cholangiocarcinoma. This study not only provides strong support for personalized treatment, but also provides key information for clinicians to develop more effective treatment strategies. This breakthrough marks the continuous evolution of machine learning in cancer research and brings new hope for the future development of the medical field. Our study lays a solid foundation for deepening the understanding of the biological characteristics of cholangiocarcinoma and improving the therapeutic effect, and provides a useful reference for more extensive cancer research.

Skarn Cu deposits are one of most important deposit-type in Middle-Lower Yangtze River region, eastern China, but skarn formation process remains unclear. Mineralogical, morphological and in situ geochemical data from the skarn stage of Tongguanshan skarn Cu deposit in Tongling region are systemically investigated, to reveal the timing, physical-chemical conditions, and fluid evolution during the skarn formation. The Tongguanshan garnets can be identified homogeneous and unzoned early generation garnet (GrtI), and oscillating zoned late generation garnet (GrtII) with the Fe-rich core (GrtII-Fe) and Al-rich edge (GrtII-Al). Garnet U–Pb dating results show that the Tongguanshan Cu mineralization was formed in 145.6 ± 4.4 Ma. In situ elemental composition results of the garnet samples indicate that they belong to grossular-andradite solid solution series, and are a magmatic-hydrothermal origin. The distinctly geochemical characteristics (e.g., Sn and U contents, (La/Yb)N, δEu and Y/Ho values) reveal that the physiochemical conditions from GrtI to GrtII-Fe, and GrtII-Fe to GrtII-Al stages in the Tongguanshan skarn formation were an increase and a decrease of fluid salinity and oxygen fugacity, closed to open and then to closed of fluid environment, and neutral-weakly acidic to acidic and acidic to neutral-weakly acidic of fluid pH, respectively. A comprehensive discriminant analysis indicates a fluid boiling occurred in the GrtI to GrtII-Fe stage of the Tongguanshan skarn Cu deposit, and there is little or no external fluid mixed during the skarn stage.

BackgroundEchinococcosis is a natural focal, highly prevalent disease in China. Factors influencing the spread of echinococcosis are not only related to personal exposure but also closely related to the environment itself. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of environmental factors on the prevalence of human echinococcosis and to provide a reference for prevention and control of echinococcosis in the future.MethodsData were collected from 370 endemic counties in China in 2018. By downloading Modis, DEM and other remote-sensing images in 2018. Data on environmental factors, i.e., elevation, land surface temperature (LST) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were collected. Rank correlation analysis was conducted between each environmental factor and the prevalence of echinococcosis at the county level. Negative binomial regression was used to analyze the impact of environmental factors on the prevalence of human echinococcosis at the county level.ResultsAccording to rank correlation analysis, the prevalence of human echinococcosis in each county was positively correlated with elevation, negatively correlated with LST, and negatively correlated with NDVI in May, June and July. Negative binomial regression showed that the prevalence of human echinococcosis was negatively correlated with annual LST and summer NDVI, and positively correlated with average elevation and dog infection rate. The prevalence of human cystic echinococcosis was inversely correlated with the annual average LST, and positively correlated with both the average elevation and the prevalence rate of domestic animals. The prevalence of human alveolar echinococcosis was positively correlated with both NDVI in autumn and average elevation, and negatively correlated with NDVI in winter.ConclusionThe prevalence of echinococcosis in the population is affected by environmental factors. Environmental risk assessment and prediction can be conducted in order to rationally allocate health resources and improve both prevention and control efficiency of echinococcosis.

Abstract Micro‐Doppler effect is a vital feature of a target that reflects its oscillatory motions apart from bulk motion and provides an important evidence for target recognition with radars. However, establishing the micro‐Doppler database poses a great challenge, since plenty of experiments are required to get the micro‐Doppler signatures of different targets for the purpose of analyses and interpretations with radars, which are dramatically limited by high cost and time‐consuming. Aiming to overcome these limits, a low‐cost and powerful simulation platform of the micro‐Doppler effects is proposed based on time‐domain digital coding metasurface (TDCM). Owing to the outstanding capabilities of TDCM in generating and manipulating nonlinear harmonics during wave‐matter interactions, it enables to supply rich and high‐precision electromagnetic signals with multiple micro‐Doppler frequencies to describe the micro‐motions of different objects, which are especially favored for the training of artificial intelligence algorithms in automatic target recognition and benefit a host of applications like imaging and biosensing.

Summary: The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) encodes time of day through changes in daily firing; however, the molecular mechanisms by which the SCN times behavior are not fully understood. To identify factors that could encode day/night differences in activity, we combine patch-clamp recordings and single-cell sequencing of individual SCN neurons in mice. We identify PiT2, a phosphate transporter, as being upregulated in a population of Vip+Nms+ SCN neurons at night. Although nocturnal and typically showing a peak of activity at lights off, mice lacking PiT2 (PiT2−/−) do not reach the activity level seen in wild-type mice during the light/dark transition. PiT2 loss leads to increased SCN neuronal firing and broad changes in SCN protein phosphorylation. PiT2−/− mice display a deficit in seasonal entrainment when moving from a simulated short summer to longer winter nights. This suggests that PiT2 is responsible for timing activity and is a driver of SCN plasticity allowing seasonal entrainment.

Assemblies are widely used in biomedicine, batteries, functional coatings, Pickering emulsifiers, hydrogels, and luminescent materials. Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) is a method for efficiently preparing particles, mainly initiated thermally. However, thermally initiated PISA usually requires a significant amount of time and energy. Here, we demonstrate the preparation of nano-assemblies with controllable morphologies and size using ultrasound (20 kHz) assisted ethanol-phase RAFT-PISA in three hours. Using poly (N, N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) as the macromolecular reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer agent (PDMA-CTA) to control the nucleating monomer benzyl methacrylate (BzMA), we obtained nano-assemblies with different morphologies. With the length of hydrophobic PBzMA block growth, the morphologies of the assemblies at 15 wt% solid content changed from spheres to vesicles, and finally to lamellae; the morphologies of the assemblies at 30 wt% changed from spheres micelles to short worms, then vesicles, and finally to large compound vesicles. With the same targeted degree of polymerization, nano-assemblies having a 30 wt% solid content display a more evolved morphology. The input of ultrasonic energy makes the system have higher surface free energy, results the mass fraction interval of solventphilic blocks (fhydrophilic) corresponding to the formation of spherical micelles is expanded from fhydrophilic > 45 % to fhydrophilic > 31 % under ultrasound and the fhydrophilic required to form worms, vesicles, and large composite vesicles decreases in turn. It is worth noting that the fhydrophilic interval of worms prepared by ultrasonics assisted PISA gets larger. Overall, the highly green, externally-regulatable and fast method of ultrasonics assisted PISA can be extended to vastly different diblock copolymers, for a wide range of applications.

Multi-agent learning has made significant strides in recent years. Benefiting from deep learning, multi-agent deep reinforcement learning (MADRL) has transcended traditional limitations seen in tabular tasks, arousing tremendous research interest. However, compared to other challenges in MADRL, scalability remains underemphasized, impeding the application of MADRL in complex scenarios. Scalability stands as a foundational attribute of the multi-agent system (MAS), offering a potent approach to understand and improve collective learning among agents. It encompasses the capacity to handle the increasing state-action space which arises not only from a large number of agents but also from other factors related to agents and environment. In contrast to prior surveys, this work provides a comprehensive exposition of scalability concerns in MADRL. We first introduce foundational knowledge about deep reinforcement learning and MADRL to underscore the distinctiveness of scalability issues in this domain. Subsequently, we delve into the problems posed by scalability, examining agent complexity, environment complexity, and robustness against perturbation. We elaborate on the methods that demonstrate the evolution of scalable algorithms. To conclude this survey, we discuss challenges, identify trends, and outline possible directions for future work on scalability issues. It is our aspiration that this survey enhances the understanding of researchers in this field, providing a valuable resource for in-depth exploration.

This paper systematically investigates the effect of multi-tooth numbers on electromagnetic performances of conventional and consequent-pole (CP) vernier permanent magnet (PM) synchronous machines (VPMSMs), including average torque, overload capability, PM utilization, loss, efficiency, and power factor, etc. In particular, the influence of multi-tooth numbers on the unipolar end leakage flux of CP VPMSMs is investigated for the first time. It confirms that CP rotor and multi-tooth stator structures exhibit better field modulation effects compared with conventional north-south pole and non-multi-tooth stator structures. It reveals that there exists an optimal multi-tooth number for torque output capability and PM utilization, as well as unipolar end leakage flux. In particular, it shows that the multi-tooth stator structure helps save PM volume significantly for CP VPMSMs and suppress unipolar end leakage flux. The PM utilization rate of CP VPMSM with 5 multi-teeth is more than 50% higher than that with single-tooth structure while the unipolar end leakage flux is reduced by around 60%. However, the overload capability and power factor will be sacrificed. Finally, the prototypes with 2 and 3 multi-teeth numbers are manufactured and tested to verify the FEA analyses.