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Abstract TBX3 behaves as a tumor suppressor or oncoprotein across cancer. However, TBX3 function remains undetermined in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), a deadly primary liver malignancy with few systemic treatment options. This study sought to investigate the impact of TBX3 on iCCA. We found that overexpression of TBX3 strongly inhibited human iCCA cell growth. In the Akt/FBXW7ΔF mouse iCCA model, overexpression of Tbx3 reduced cholangiocarcinogenesis in vivo, while inducible genetic knockout of Tbx3 accelerated iCCA growth. RNA-seq identified MAD2L1 as a downregulated gene in TBX3-overexpressing cells, and ChIP confirmed that TBX3 binds to the MAD2L1 promoter. CRISPR-mediated knockdown of Mad2l1 significantly reduced the growth of two iCCA models in vivo. Finally, we found that TBX3 expression is upregulated in ~20% of human iCCA samples, and its high expression is associated with less proliferation and better survival. MAD2L1 expression is upregulated in most human iCCA samples and negatively correlated with TBX3 expression. Altogether, our findings suggest that overexpression of TBX3 suppresses CCA progression via repressing MAD2L1 expression.

Evaluating environmental flow (EF) is pivotal for conserving and restoring riverine ecosystems. Yet, prevalent EF evaluations presume that a river reach's hydraulic conditions are exclusively governed by inflow discharge, presupposing a state of equilibrium in the river channel. This presumption narrows the scope of EF evaluations in expansive alluvial rivers like the Middle Yangtze River (MYR), characterized by marked channel alterations. Here we show the profound channel erosion process and its impact on EF requirements for riparian habitats within the MYR. Our research unveils that: (i) pronounced erosion has led to a mean reduction of 1.0–2.7 m in the riverbed across four sub-reaches of the MYR; (ii) notwithstanding a 37–107% increase in minimal discharges post the Three Gorges Project, the lowest river stages at some hydrometric stations diminished owing to bed erosion, signifying a notable transformation in MYR's hydraulic dynamics; (iii) a discernible rightward shift in the correlation curve between the weighted useable area and discharge from 2002 to 2020 in a specific sub-reach of the MYR, instigated by alterations in hydraulic conditions, necessitated an increase of 1500–2600 m³ s−1 in the required EF for the sub-reach; (iv) it is deduced that macroinvertebrate biomass rapidly decreases as the flow entrains the riverbed substrate, with the maximum survivable velocity for macroinvertebrates being contingent on their entrainment threshold. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating channel morphological changes in devising conservation strategies for the MYR ecosystem.

Abstract Aims Heart failure (HF) is a prevalent age‐related cardiovascular disease with poor prognosis in the elderly population. This study aimed to establish the causal relationship between ageing and HF by conducting a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis on epigenetic age (a marker of ageing) and HF. Methods and results Genome‐wide association study data for epigenetic age (GrimAge, HorvathAge, HannumAge, and PhenoAge) and HF were collected and assessed for significant genetic variables. A bidirectional MR analysis was carried out using the random‐effects inverse–variance weighted (IVW) method as the primary approach, while other methods (MR–Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode) and multiple sensitivity analyses (heterogeneity analysis, leave‐one‐out sensitivity analysis, and horizontal pleiotropy analysis) were employed to evaluate the impact of epigenetic age on HF and vice versa. Bidirectional MR analysis of two samples revealed that the epigenetic PhenoAge clock increased the risk of HF [IVW odds ratio (OR) 1.015, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.002–1.028, P = 0.028 and weighted median OR 1.020, 95% CI 1.001–1.038, P = 0.039]. Other results were not statistically significant. Conclusions The bidirectional MR analysis demonstrated a causal link between genetically predicted epigenetic age and HF in individuals of European descent. Further research into epigenetic age in other populations and additional genetic information related to HF is warranted.

Abstract Aim This meta‐analysis systematically reviewed and identified the effects of WeChat‐based continuous care (WCC) interventions on various outcomes in cancer patients. Design Systematic review and meta‐analysis. Methods In this study, outcome measures included somatic function, anxiety, depression, social function, and cognitive function. The standardized mean differences and 95% CIs of pooled effect sizes were calculated using fixed‐ and random‐effects models. NFail‐safe and Begg's tests were performed to evaluate publication bias, and sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the robustness of the meta‐analysis results. Results The meta‐analysis included 18 RCTs of moderate quality. WCC interventions significantly improved somatic function, depression, anxiety, social function, and cognitive function in cancer patients. There was no significant publication bias, and the sensitivity analysis indicated robust results. Patient or Public Contribution WCC interventions improved depression, anxiety, social function, and cognitive function in cancer patients.

Although most Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients can recover fully, the disease remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. In addition to the consequences of acute infection, a proportion of the population experiences long-term adverse effects associated with SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, it is still critical to comprehend the virus’s characteristics and how it interacts with its host to develop effective drugs and vaccines against COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus, a replication-deficient recombinant glycoprotein chimeric viral particle, enables investigations of highly pathogenic viruses to be conducted without the constraint of high-level biosafety facilities, considerably advancing virology and being extensively employed in the study of SARS-CoV-2. This review summarizes three methods of establishing SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus and current knowledge in vaccine development, neutralizing antibody research, and antiviral drug screening, as well as recent progress in virus entry mechanism and susceptible cell screening. We also discuss the potential advantages and disadvantages.

Abstract Aim To evaluate the status quo of knowledge, attitude and behaviour of neonatal nurses on medical adhesive related skin injury (MARSI). Design A survey. Methods We conducted a survey on the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of neonatal nurses from September 1–30, 2022. The characteristics, knowledge, attitude and behaviour of neonatal nurses were evaluated and analysed. Results A total of 116 neonatal nurses were included. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that had accepted MARSI training, education level, year of work experience are the influencing factors of nurses' MARSI knowledge score (all p

A reasonable inflating strategy must be developed for filling an onboard hydrogen storage tank with hydrogen gas. The inflow hydrogen temperature has always been a constant value in filling cases. However, in our opinion, the optimal inflow hydrogen temperature is not supposed to be a fixed value but a value that constantly changes and adjusts with filling time, i.e., the inflow hydrogen temperature is a function of the filling time. How to determine this functional relationship is a critical problem to be addressed. Herein, an approach is introduced. A dual-zone model is presented to research the thermal effect during the process of charging hydrogen storage tanks. Based on the numerical results of the dual-zone model, the charging process was divided into three stages, allowing us to obtain data for 1331 filling cases. Then, a back propagation (BP) neural network model was built to analyze the data, and the implicit relationship between the inflow hydrogen temperatures and maximum hydrogen temperature pressure could be deduced. With this implicit relationship, the critical values of the inflow hydrogen temperatures can be obtained from the critical situation. Suppose the inflow hydrogen temperatures in a practical case are higher than the critical values. In that case, the highest hydrogen temperature in the tank will exceed the limited safety value of 358 K. In contrast, if the inflow hydrogen temperatures are lower than the critical values, then more energy will be needed to precool the inlet hydrogen temperature. Thus, theoretically, the critical inflow hydrogen temperatures should be at their optimal values.

Based on the development of nucleic acid therapeutic drugs, DNAzymes obtained through in vitro selection technology in 1994 are gradually being sought. DNAzymes are single-stranded DNA molecules with catalytic function, which specifically cleave RNA under the action of metal ions. Various in vivo and in vitro models have recently demonstrated that DNAzymes can target related genes in cancer, cardiovascular disease, bacterial and viral infection, and central nervous system disease. Compared with other nucleic acid therapy drugs, DNAzymes have gained more attention due to their excellent cutting efficiency, high stability, and low cost. Here, We first briefly reviewed the development and characteristics of DNAzymes, then discussed disease-targeting inhibition model of DNAzymes, hoping to provide new insights and ways for disease treatment. Finally, DNAzymes were still subject to some restrictions in practical applications, including low cell uptake efficiency, nuclease degradation and interference from other biological matrices. We discussed the latest delivery strategy of DNAzymes, among which lipid nanoparticles have recently received widespread attention due to the successful delivery of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, which provides the possibility for the subsequent clinical application of DNAzymes. In addition, the future development of DNAzymes was prospected.

We previously found that monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor has a neuroprotective effect on ischemic brain injury during the acute phase of stroke. Therefore, we modified the structure of an anti-inflammatory monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor peptide to construct an active cyclic peptide—Cyclo (MQCNS) (LZ-3)—and investigated its effects on ischemic stroke. In this study, we established a rat model of ischemic stroke by occluding the middle cerebral artery and then administered LZ-3 (2 or 4 mg/kg) via the tail vein for 7 consecutive days. Our results showed that LZ-3 (2 or 4 mg/kg) substantially decreased infarct volume, reduced cortical nerve cell death, improved neurological function, reduced cortical and hippocampal injury, and decreased the levels of inflammatory factors in the blood and brain tissues. In a well-differentiated, oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-induced BV2 cell model of post-stroke, LZ-3 (100 μM) inhibited the JAK1-STAT6 signaling pathway. LZ-3 regulated microglia/macrophage polarization from the M1 to the M2 type and inhibited microglia/macrophage phagocytosis and migration via the JAK1/STAT6 signaling pathway. To conclude, LZ-3 regulates microglial activation by inhibiting the JAK1/STAT6 signaling pathway and improves functional recovery post-stroke.

The phytochemical investigation of Cortex Mori Radicis led to the isolation and identification of a new prenylated benzofuranone (1) and four ring-opening derivatives (2–5) named albaphenol A–E, as well as nigranol A (6), together with ten 2-arylbenzofuran derivatives (7–16). The characterization of the structures of the new compounds and the structural revision of nigranol A (6) were conducted using the comprehensive analysis of spectroscopic data (1D/2D NMR, HRESIMS, CD, and XRD). Compounds 1–16 were tested for their inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Compounds 1 and 4 showed weak BChE-inhibitory activity (IC50 45.5 and 61.0 μM); six 2-arylbenzofuran derivatives showed more-potent BChE-inhibitory activity (IC50 2.5–32.8 μM) than the positive control galantamine (IC50 35.3 μM), while being inactive or weakly inhibitory toward AChE. Cathafuran C (14) exhibited the most potent and selective inhibitory activity against BChE in a competitive manner, with a Ki value of 1.7 μM. The structure–activity relationships of the benzofuran-type stilbenes were discussed. Furthermore, molecular docking and dynamic simulations were performed to clarify the interactions of the inhibitor–enzyme complex.

Many patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) do not respond to the first-line immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. Immunization with effective cancer vaccines is an attractive alternative approach to immunotherapy. However, its efficacy remains insufficiently evaluated in preclinical studies. Here, we investigated HCC-associated self/tumor antigen, α-fetoprotein–based (AFP-based) vaccine immunization for treating AFP (+) HCC mouse models. We found that AFP immunization effectively induced AFP-specific CD8+ T cells in vivo. However, these CD8+ T cells expressed exhaustion markers, including PD1, LAG3, and Tim3. Furthermore, the AFP vaccine effectively prevented c-MYC/Mcl1 HCC initiation when administered before tumor formation, while it was ineffective against full-blown c-MYC/Mcl1 tumors. Similarly, anti-PD1 and anti–PD-L1 monotherapy showed no efficacy in this murine HCC model. In striking contrast, AFP immunization combined with anti–PD-L1 treatment triggered significant inhibition of HCC progression in most liver tumor nodules, while in combination with anti-PD1, it induced slower tumor progression. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that HCC-intrinsic PD-L1 expression was the primary target of anti–PD-L1 in this combination therapy. Notably, the combination therapy had a similar therapeutic effect in the cMet/β-catenin mouse HCC model. These findings suggest that combining the AFP vaccine and immune checkpoint inhibitors may be effective for AFP (+) HCC treatment.

BackgroundThe impact of COVID-19 on the world is still ongoing, and it is currently under regular management. Although most infected people have flu-like symptoms and can cure themselves, coexisting pathogens in COVID-19 patients should not be taken lightly. The present study sought to investigate the coexisting pathogens in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients and identify the variety and abundance of dangerous microbes to guide treatment strategies with a better understanding of the untested factors.MethodsWe extracted total DNA and RNA in COVID-19 patient specimens from nasopharyngeal swabs to construct a metagenomic library and utilize Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to discover chief bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the body of patients. High-throughput sequencing data from Illumina Hiseq 4000 were analyzed using Krona taxonomic methodology for species diversity.ResultsWe studied 56 samples to detect SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens and analyzed the species diversity and community composition of these samples after sequencing. Our results showed some threatening pathogens such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and some previously reported pathogens. SARS-CoV-2 combined with bacterial infection is more common. The results of heat map analysis showed that the abundance of bacteria was mostly more than 1000 and that of viruses was generally less than 500. The pathogens most likely to cause SARS-CoV-2 coinfection or superinfection include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Human gammaherpesvirus 4.ConclusionsThe current coinfection and superinfection status is not optimistic. Bacteria are the major threat group that increases the risk of complications and death in COVID-19 patients and attention should be paid to the use and control of antibiotics. Our study investigated the main types of respiratory pathogens prone to coexisting or superinfection in COVID-19 patients, which is valuable for identifying and treating SARS-CoV-2.

Excessive free radicals and iron death lead to oxidative damage, which is one of the main causes of aging and diseases. In this field of antioxidation, developing new, safe, and efficient antioxidants is the main research focus. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are natural antioxidants with good antioxidant activity and can regulate gastrointestinal microecological balance and immunity. In this study, 15 LAB strains from fermented foods (“Jiangshui” and pickles) or feces were evaluated in terms of their antioxidant attributes. Strains with strong antioxidant capacity were preliminarily screened by the following tests: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl radical, superoxide anion radical scavenging capacity; ferrous ion chelating assay; hydrogen peroxide tolerance capacity. Then, the adhesion of the screened strains to the intestinal tract was examined using hydrophobic and auto-aggregation tests. The safety of the strains was analyzed based on their minimum inhibitory concentration and hemolysis, and 16S rRNA was used for molecular biological identification. Antimicrobial activity tests showed them probiotic function. The cell-free supernatant of selected strains were used to explore the protective effect against oxidative damage cells. The scavenging rate of DPPH, hydroxyl radicals, and ferrous ion-chelating of 15 strains ranged from 28.81–82.75%, 6.54–68.52%, and 9.46–17.92%, respectively, the scavenging superoxide anion scavenging activity all exceeded 10%. According to all the antioxidant-related tests, strains possessing high antioxidant activities J2-4, J2-5, J2-9, YP-1, and W-4 were screened, these five strains demonstrated tolerance to 2 mM hydrogen peroxide. J2-4, J2-5, and J2-9 were Lactobacillus fermentans and γ-hemolytic (non-hemolytic). YP-1 and W-4 were Lactobacillus paracasei and α-hemolytic (grass-green hemolytic). Although L. paracasei has been proven as a safe probiotic without hemolytic characteristics, the hemolytic characteristics of YP-1 and W-4 should be further studied. Due to the weak hydrophobicity and antimicrobial activity of J2-4, finally, we selected J2-5, J2-9 for cell experiment, J2-5 and J2-9 showed an excellent ability that resistant to oxidative damage by increasing SOD, CAT, T-AOC activity of 293T cells. Therefore, J2-5, and J2-9 strains from fermented foods “Jiangshui” could be used as potential antioxidants for functional food, health care, and skincare.

IntroductionWith the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 mutant strains, especially the epidemic of Omicron, it continues to evolve to strengthen immune evasion. Omicron BQ. 1 and XBB pose a serious threat to the current COVID-19 vaccine (including bivalent mRNA vaccine for mutant strains) and COVID-19-positive survivors, and all current therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are ineffective against them. Older people, those with multimorbidity, and those with specific underlying health conditions remain at increased risk of COVID-19 hospitalization and death after the initial vaccine booster. However, small-molecule drugs for conserved targets remain effective and urgently needed.MethodsThe non-structural protein of SARS-CoV-2 non-structural protein 1(Nsp1) can bind to the host 40S ribosomal subunit and activate the nuclease to hydrolyze the host RNA, while the viral RNA is unaffected, thus hijacking the host system. First, the present study analyzed mutations in the Nsp1 protein and then constructed a maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree. A virtual drug screening method based on the Nsp1 structure (Protein Data Bank ID: 7K5I) was constructed, 7495 compounds from three databases were collected for molecular docking and virtual screening, and the binding free energy was calculated by the MM/GBSA method.ResultsOur study shows that Nsp1 is relatively conserved and can be used as a comparatively fixed drug target and that therapies against Nsp1 will target all of these variants. Golvatinib, Gliquidone, and Dihydroergotamine were superior to other compounds in the crystal structure of binding conformation and free energy. All effectively interfered with Nsp1 binding to 40S protein, confirming the potential inhibitory effect of these three compounds on SARS-CoV-2.DiscussionIn particular, Golwatinib provides a candidate for treatment and prophylaxis in elderly patients with Omicjon, suggesting further evaluation of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of these compounds in cell culture. Further studies are needed to determine the utility of this finding through prospective clinical trials and identify other meaningful drug combinations.

Climate change has caused a widespread deduction in terrestrial water storage (TWS), leading to ocean water mass gains and sea level rises. A better understanding of how the land–sea water mass has been redistributed can help with the scientific response to climate change. However, there are few studies investigating the roles of the different physical processes involved in low-frequency land–sea water mass redistribution on a global scale. To address this issue, in this study, a comprehensive investigation was carried out with respect to the globally distributed key factors causing low-frequency ocean mass anomalies during the period 2004–2021. Global water mass redistribution data, derived from GRACE/GRACE-FO satellite gravity and surface wind and sea-surface temperature data from ERA5 reanalysis, were employed, and the empirical orthogonal function, maximum covariance analysis, and sea-level equation approaches were used. The results show that the long-term trend and decadal-like fluctuation are two major components of the low-frequency land–sea water mass redistribution. The wind-forcing dynamic processes significantly drive the anomalies near the North Indian Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, South Pacific Ocean, and some marginal seas, where variance explanations range from 30% to 97%. After removing the ocean dynamics, the residual ocean mass anomaly is mostly explained by sea-level fingerprints (SLFs), especially in the open ocean. The 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles of the SLF-explained variances in all ocean grids are 59%, 72%, and 82%, respectively. Some non-negligible noise, located in seismic zones, was also found, suggesting the misestimation of seafloor deformation resulting from earthquakes in the GRACE/GRACE-FO data processing. These findings may improve our understanding of the long-term anomalies in regional and global sea levels.

Abstract Engineered probiotics are a kind of new microorganisms produced by modifying original probiotics through gene editing. With the continuous development of tools and technology progresses, engineering renovation of probiotics are becoming more diverse and more feasible. In the past few years there have been some advances in the development of engineered probiotics that will benefit humankind. This review briefly introduces the theoretical basis of gene editing technology and focuses on some recent engineered probiotics researches, including inflammatory bowel disease, bacterial infection, tumor and metabolic diseases. It is hoped that it can provide help for the further development of genetically modified microorganisms, stimulate the potential of engineered probiotics to treat intractable diseases, and provide new ideas for the diagnosis of some diseases or some industrial production.

Motivated by the observation that vortex flow structure was evident in the energy loss at the surcharged junction manhole due to changes of hydraulic and geometrical parameters, a physical model was used to calculate energy loss coefficients and investigate the relationship between flow structure and energy loss at the surcharged three-way junction manhole. The effects of the flow discharge ratio, the connected angle between two inflow pipes, the manhole geometry, and the downstream water depth on the energy loss were analyzed based on the quantified energy loss coefficients and the identified flow structure. Moreover, two empirical formulae for head loss coefficients were validated by the experimental data. Results indicate that the effect of flow discharge ratio and connected angle are significant, while the effect of downstream water depth is not obvious. With the increase of the lateral inflow discharge, the flow velocity distribution and vortex structure are both enhanced. It is also found that a circular manhole can reduce local energy loss when compared to a square manhole. In addition, the tested empirical formulae can reproduce the trend of total head loss coefficient. HIGHLIGHTS Experimental study on energy losses at surcharged three-way junction manholes.; Effects of the flow discharge ratio, the connected angle between two inflow pipes, and the manhole geometry were analyzed based on the quantified energy loss coefficients and the identified flow structure.; Empirical head loss coefficient formulae were validated by experimental data.;

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen widely attached to the surface of medical instruments, making it one of the most common pathogens of nosocomial infection, and often leading to cross-infection and co-infection. Due to the extensive antibiotic and pan-resistance, A. baumannii infection is facing fewer treatment options in the clinic. Therefore, the prevention and treatment of A. baumannii infection have become a tricky global problem. The requirement for research and development of the new strategy is urgent. Now, non-antibiotic treatment strategies are urgently needed. This review describes the research on A. baumannii vaccines and antibacterial adjuvants, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different candidate vaccines tested in vitro and in vivo, especially subunit protein vaccines, and shows the antibacterial efficacy of adjuvant drugs in monotherapy.

Two undescribed butenolide derivatives, asperteretal J (1) and K (2), together with 13 known ones (3–15) were isolated from an endophytic fungus Aspergillus terreus SGP-1, the fermentation product of which exhibited selective inhibitory activity toward butyrylcholinesterase. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated based on HRMS and NMR data, and the absolute configurations were determined by specific optical rotation comparison. All compounds were evaluated for cholinesterase inhibitory effects with galantamine as a positive control. Compounds 4–8 selectively inhibited butyrylcholinesterase with IC50 values of 18.4–45.8 µM in a competitive manner, with Ki values of 12.3–38.2 µM. The structure-activity relationship was discussed. Molecular docking and dynamic simulation of the inhibitor-enzyme complex were performed to better understand the interactions.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the potential mechanism by which Monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor (MLIF) improves the outcome of ischemic stroke (IS) inflammatory injury.MethodsPotential MLIF-related targets were predicted using Swiss TargetPrediction and PharmMapper, while IS-related targets were found from GeneCards, PharmGKB, and Therapeutic Target Database (TTD). After obtaining the intersection from these two datasets, the Search Tool for Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Protein (STRING11.0) database was used to analyze the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the intersection and candidate genes for MLIF treatment of IS. The candidate genes were imported into the Metascape database for Gene Ontology (GO) functional analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment. The top 20 core genes and the “MLIF-target-pathway” network were mapped using the Cytoscape3.9.1. Using AutoDock Vina1.1.2, the molecular docking validation of the hub targets and MLIF was carried out. In the experimental part, transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) and oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) models were used to evaluate the protective efficacy of MLIF and the expression of inflammatory cytokines and the putative targets.ResultsMLIF was expected to have an effect on 370 targets. When these targets were intersected with 1,289 targets for ischemic stroke, 119 candidate therapeutic targets were found. The key enriched pathways were PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway, etc. The GO analysis yielded 1,677 GO entries (P < 0.01), such as hormone stimulation, inflammatory response, etc. The top 20 core genes included AKT1, EGFR, IGF1, MAPK1, MAPK10, MAPK14, etc. The result of molecular docking demonstrated that MLIF had the strong binding capability to JNK (MAPK10). The in vitro and in vivo studies also confirmed that MLIF protected against IS by lowering JNK (MAPK10) and AP-1 levels and decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6).ConclusionMLIF may exert a cerebral protective effect by inhibiting the inflammatory response through suppressing the JNK/AP-1 signaling pathway.

Background: While the community health service system was initially established in rural areas of mainland China, the utilization of community health service resources by the rural elderly population is not clear. Methods: Cross-sectional studies on the utilization of community health services by the rural elderly population in mainland China published within the last 10 years were retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan Fang, Medline and Web of Science (WOS) databases. The quality of the article was evaluated by the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP), and obstacles to the utilization of community health services by the rural elderly population were analyzed based on the Andersen model. Results: Twenty-four studies were analyzed, and 3 gaps were found. (i) The cognition of rural elderly residents does not match the current health security system. (ii) There is a gap between the supply of health service resources in rural communities and the health needs of the elderly residents in these areas. (iii) The health services provided by rural primary health service institutions are not targeted. Conclusions: In mainland China, the provision of community health services to the rural elderly population has improved significantly. However, several factors from the individual level to the system level lead to low levels of access and utilization. This finding means that under the leadership of the government, it is necessary to integrate the strength of multiple departments to cooperate in improving the welfare system, policy publicity, health education, financial support, system guarantees and resource exchange and sharing for the elderly population in rural areas and to jointly promote community health services for the elderly population in rural areas.

Abstract Background Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a new type of extensive non-coding RNAs that regulate the activation and progression of different human diseases, including cancer. However, information on the underlying mechanisms and clinical significance of circRNAs in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) remains scant. Methods The expression profile of RNAs in 8 LUSC tissues, and 9 healthy lung tissues were assayed using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) techniques. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to profile the expression of circPVT1 and its relationship with the prognosis of LUSC, i.e., survival analysis. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to evaluate the impacts of circPVT1 on the growth of tumors. RNA pull-down tests, mass spectrometry, dual-luciferase reporter assessment, and RNA immune-precipitation tests were further conducted to interrogate the cross-talk between circPVT1, HuR, or miR-30d/e in LUSC. Results Our data showed that circPVT1 was upregulated in LUSC tissues, serum, and cell lines. LUSC patients with higher circPVT1 expression exhibited shorter survival rates. The in vivo and in vitro data revealed that circPVT1 promotes the proliferation of LUSC cells. Additionally, mechanistic analysis showed that HuR regulated circPVT1. On the other hand, circPVT1 acted as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of miR-30d and miR-30e in alleviating the suppressive influences of miR-30d and miR-30e on its target cyclin F (CCNF). Conclusion CircPVT1 promotes LUSC progression via HuR/circPVT1/miR-30d and miR-30e/CCNF cascade. Also, it acts as a novel diagnostic biomarker or treatment target of individuals diagnosed with LUSC.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the main conditional pathogen causing nosocomial infection, is a gram-negative bacterium with the largest genome among the known bacteria. The main reasons why Pseudomonas aeruginosa is prone to drug-resistant strains in clinic are: the drug-resistant genes in its genome and the drug resistance easily induced by single antibiotic treatment. With the development of high-throughput sequencing technology and bioinformatics, the functions of various small RNAs (sRNA) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa are being revealed. Different sRNAs regulate gene expression by binding to protein or mRNA to play an important role in the complex regulatory network. In this article, first, the importance and biological functions of different sRNAs in Pseudomonas aeruginosa are explored, and then the evidence and possibilities that sRNAs served as drug therapeutic targets are discussed, which may introduce new directions to develop novel disease treatment strategies.

The increasing and widespread application of antibacterial drugs makes antibiotic resistance a prominent and growing concern in clinical practice. The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria presents a global threat. However, the development and use of novel antibacterial agents involves time-consuming and costly challenges that may lead to yet further drug resistance. More recently, researchers have turned to traditional Chinese medicine to stem the rise of antibiotic resistance in pathogens. Many studies have shown traditional Chinese medicines to have significant bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects, with the advantage of low drug resistance. Some of which when combined with antibiotics, have also demonstrated antibacterial activity by synergistic effect. Traditional Chinese medicine has a variety of active components, including flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, and quinones, which can inhibit the growth of drug-resistant bacteria and be used in combination with a variety of antibiotics to treat various drug-resistant bacterial infections. We reviewed the interaction between the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicines and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. At present, flavonoids and alkaloids are the active ingredients that have been most widely studied, with significant synergistic activity demonstrated when used in combination with antibiotics against drug-resistant bacteria. The reviewed studies show that traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients have antimicrobial activity on antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which may enhance the susceptibility of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, potentially reduce the required dosage of antibacterial agents and the rate of drug resistance. Our results provide direction for finding and developing alternative methods to counteract drug-resistant bacteria, offering a new therapeutic strategy for tackling antibiotic resistance.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (P)/alginate (A)/MMT (M) (PAM) composite aerogels was modified through interpenetrating cross-linking of methyltriethoxysilane (Ms) or γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (K) and calcium ion (Ca2+) as a cross-linking agent, respectively. The compressive moduli of the cross-linked PAM/MsCa and PAM/KCa aerogels greatly increased to 17.4 and 22.1 MPa, approximately 10.5- and 8.2-fold of that of PAM aerogel, respectively. The limited oxygen index (LOI) values for PAM/MsCa and PAM/KCa composite aerogels increased from 27.0% of PAM aerogel to 40.5% and 56.8%. Compared with non-cross-linked PAM aerogel, the peak heat release rate (PHRR) of PAM/MsCa and PAM/KCa composite aerogels dramatically decreased by 34% and 74%, respectively, whereas the PAM/KCa aerogel presented better flame retardancy and lower smoke toxicity than the PAM/MsCa aerogel because of the release of more inert gases and the barrier action of more compact char layer during the combustion. The highly efficient flame-retardant PAM-based composite aerogels with excellent mechanical properties are promising as a sustainable alternative to traditional petroleum-based foams.

BackgroundThe internet has become one of the most important channels for residents to seek health information, particularly in remote rural areas in China. ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to explore the gap between self-rated health information literacy and internet health information seeking ability for patients with chronic diseases in rural communities and to preliminarily evaluate their barriers when seeking health information via the internet. MethodsResidents from rural communities near Bengbu City and with chronic diseases were included in this study. A self-rated questionnaire was used to evaluate their health information literacy, 3 behavioral competency tasks were designed to preliminarily evaluate their ability to seek health information on the internet and semistructured interviews were used to investigate their barriers to obtaining health information via the internet. A small audiorecorder was used to record the interview content, and screen-recording software was used to record the participants’ behavior during the web-based operational tasks. ResultsA total of 70 respondents completed the self-rated health information literacy questionnaire and the behavioral competence test, and 56 respondents participated in the semistructured interviews. Self-rated health information literacy (score out of 70: mean 46.21, SD 4.90) of the 70 respondents were moderate. Although 91% (64/70) of the respondents could find health websites, and 93% (65/70) of the respondents could find information on treatment that they thought was the best, 35% (23/65) of respondents did not know how to save the results they had found. The operational tasks indicated that most articles selected by the respondents came from websites with encyclopedic knowledge or answers from people based on their own experiences rather than authoritative health information websites. After combining the results of the semistructured interviews with the DISCERN scale test results, we found that most interviewees had difficulty obtaining high-quality health information via the internet. ConclusionsAlthough the health information literacy level of patients with rural chronic disease was moderate, they lack the ability to access high-quality health information via the internet. The vast majority of respondents recognized the importance of accessing health information but were not very proactive in accessing such information.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Patients with early-stage HCC can be treated successfully with surgical resection or liver transplantation. However, the usual late diagnosis of HCC precludes curative treatments, and systemic therapies are the only viable option for inoperable patients. Sorafenib, an orally available multikinase inhibitor, is a systemic therapy approved for treating patients with advanced HCC yet providing limited benefits. Consequently, new drugs have been developed to overcome sorafenib resistance and improve patients’ prognoses. A new promising strategy is using c-MET inhibitors, such as cabozantinib, as activation of c-MET occurs in up to 40% of HCC patients. In particular, cabozantinib, in combination with the checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab, is currently in phase 3 clinical trial for HCC, and the results are eagerly awaited. Herein, we summarize and review the drugs approved for the treatment of advanced HCC, mainly focusing on the clinical and preclinical efficacy evaluation of cabozantinib. Also, we report the available preclinical data on cabozantinib-based combination therapies for HCC, current obstacles for cabozantinib therapy, and the future directions for cabozantinib-based treatment for HCC.

Monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor (MLIF) is a heat-stable pentapeptide from Entamoeba histolytica. Our previous study found that MLIF protects against ischemic stroke in rats and mice and exerts a neuroprotection effect in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Microglia/macrophage polarization has been proven to be vital in the pathology of ischemic stroke. Nevertheless, whether MLIF is able to modulate microglia/macrophage polarization remains unclear. We performed middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) on C57BL/6J male mice and induced cultured BV2 microglia by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), respectively. Immunfluorescence was utilized to detect the M1/2 markers, such as CD206 and CD16/32. qPCR and ELISA were used to detect the signature gene change of M1/2. The MAPK and NF-κB pathway associated proteins were measured by Western blot. To identify the protein target of MLIF, a pull-down assay was performed. We found that MLIF promoted microglia transferring from a “sick” M1 phenotype to a “healthy” M2 phenotype in vivo or in vitro. Furthermore, we proved that eukaryotic elongation factor 1A1 (eEF1A1) was involved in the modulation of microglia/macrophage polarization. Knocking down eEF1A1 by siRNA exhibited the M1 promotion effect and M2 inhibition effect. Taken together, our results demonstrated MLIF modulated microglia/macrophage polarization by targeting eEF1A1 in ischemic stroke.

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii . Most patients have non-specific symptoms at onset. In addition, routine diagnostic tests for C. burnetii are not sensitive, and the bacterium cannot grow in general culture medium. The diagnosis of Q fever therefore poses a challenge. This case study describes a man with a clear history of tick bite who had recurrent fever, pneumonia, and liver damage. Routine tests and bacterial cultures failed to clarify the pathogeny, but laboratory and imaging data suggested infection. After routine tests were exhausted, we detected the presence of C. burnetii in a whole blood sample using next-generation sequencing (NGS). To our knowledge, this is the first report of Q fever associated with Coxiella burnetii detected directly from blood samples in Lishui, China. NGS has revolutionized the diagnosis of infectious diseases, especially those caused by rare or newly discovered pathogens, and patient responses have finally proved its substantial benefits. NGS has important clinical significance for the early diagnosis of chronic Q fever. This proof-of-concept study is worthy of promotion in clinical practice.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is the standard therapeutic regimen for locally advanced breast cancer. However, clinical physical examination and imaging results fail to accurately assess the treatment response, and postoperative pathological examination has a time lag in response to therapeutic effect which is not conducive to the timely adjustment of treatment strategies. A previous study has shown that miR-301a was associated with invasion and metastasis in breast cancer, and was found to be involved in endocrine therapy resistance; however, evidence regarding the correlation between miR-301a expression and NAC efficacy remains scarce. In this study, 101 patients with locally advanced breast cancer were included. All patients received anthracycline based chemotherapy. The expression level of miR-301a in pretreatment core needle biopsy tissues was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Relevant clinicopathological data were collected, and the correlation between miR-301a expression and NAC efficacy was assessed. Based on our data, miR-301a cannot be used to identify whether breast cancer benefits from NAC, and no correlation was observed between miR-301a expression and clinicopathological characteristics. In conclusion, miR-301a may not be a potential prognostic biomarker of NAC efficacy in breast cancer.

MQ (l-methionyl-l-glutamic acid), anti-inflammatory dipeptide, is one of the metabolites of monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor, a thermostable pentapeptide secreted by Entamoeba histolytica. Monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor injection has been approved as an investigational drug for the potential neural protection in acute ischemic stroke. This study further investigated the neuroprotective effect of MQ in ischemic brain damage. Ischemia-reperfusion injury of the brain was induced in the rat model by middle cerebral artery occlusion. 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining assay was used to measure cerebral infarction areas in rats. Laser Doppler measurement instrument was used to detect blood flow changes in the rat model. Nissl staining and NeuN staining were utilized to observe the numbers and structures of neuron cells, and the pathological changes in the brain tissues were examined by hematoxylin–eosin staining. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining was used to assess cell apoptosis. The changes in oxidative stress indexes, superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde (MDA), were measured in serum. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium was used to measure the survival rates of PC12 cells. Flow cytometry assessed the apoptosis rates and the levels of reactive oxygen species. Real-time PCR was used to evaluate the mRNA expression levels, and Western blotting was used to analyze the changes in protein levels of p-JNK, Bax, cleaved Caspase3. We revealed that MQ improved neurobehavior, decreased cerebral infarction areas, altered blood flow volume, and the morphology of the cortex and hippocampus. On the other hand, it decreased the apoptosis of cortical neurons and the levels of MDA, and increased the levels of superoxide dismutase. In vitro studies demonstrated that MQ enhanced the cell survival rates and decreased the levels of reactive oxygen species. Compared to the oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion group, the protein and mRNA expressions of p-JNK, Bax, cleaved Caspase3 was decreased significantly. These findings suggested that MQ exerts a neuroprotective effect in cerebral ischemia by blocking apoptosis via the p-JNK/Bax pathway.

Dye adsorption by magnetic modified biochar has now received growing interest due to its excellent adsorption performance and facile separation for recycling. In this study, nano iron oxide–modified biochar was fabricated via the successive hydrothermal-pyrolyzing method using Chlorella vulgaris (Cv) and FeSO4·7H2O as raw materials, and its adsorption on Rhodamine B (RhB) in aqueous solution was studied. Multiple techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to comprehensively characterize the structure, morphology and physicochemical properties of the adsorbent. The as-synthesized nano iron oxide–modified biochar (CBC-Fe(II)) exhibited a large surface area (527.6 m2/g) and high magnetic saturation value (13.7 emu/g) to facilitate magnetic separation. Compared with CBC and CBC-Fe(III), CBC-Fe(II) exhibited superior adsorption ability towards RhB in aqueous solution, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 286.4 mg/g. The adsorption process of RhB onto CBC-Fe(II) was well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model, indicating monolayer chemisorption behaviors for the adsorption system. Facile preparation, great adsorption performance and magnetic recovery properties endow CBC-Fe(II) to be a promising adsorbent for dye removal.

Tanshinone IIA, a fat-soluble diterpenoid isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, has been shown to attenuate the cerebral ischemic injury. The aim of this study was to examine the effects on neuroprotection and microglia activation of Tanshinone IIA. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). We found that Tanshinone IIA significantly reduced infarction volume, alleviated neuronal injuries, reduced the release of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, increased SOD activity, and decrease the content of MDA in MCAO rats. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, Nissl staining, TUNEL staining and immunofluorescence staining showed that Tanshinone IIA improved the distribution and morphology of neurons in brain tissues and reduced apoptosis. In addition, Co-immunofluorescence staining of rat brain tissues and the mRNA expression levels of CD11b, CD32, iNOS, and Arg-1, CD206, IL-10 in BV2 cells indicated that Tanshinone IIA can downregulate M1 microglia and upregulate M2 microglia in MCAO rats. Further, BV2 microglial cells were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation, the protein expression levels were detected by western blot. Tanshinone IIA inhibited the expression levels of NF-κB signaling pathway related proteins. Taken together, this study suggested that Tanshinone IIA modulated microglial M1/M2 polarization via the NF-κB signaling pathway to confer anti-neuroinflammatory effects.

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) belongs to the genus Enterovirus of the family Picornaviridae and can cause acute acinar pancreatitis in adults. However, the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis underlying CVB3-induced acute pancreatitis have remained unclear. In this study, we discovered that CVB3 capsid protein VP1 inhibited pancreatic cell proliferation and exerted strong cytopathic effects on HPAC cells. Through yeast two-hybrid, co-immunoprecipitation, and confocal microscopy, we show that Menage a trois 1 (MAT1), a subunit of the Cdk-Activating Kinase (CAK) complex involved in cell proliferation and transcription, is a novel interaction protein with CVB3 VP1. Moreover, CVB3 VP1 inhibited MAT1 accumulation and localization, thus interfering with its interaction with CDK7. Furthermore, CVB3 VP1 could suppress CAK complex enzymic phosphorylation activity towards RNA Pol II and CDK4/6, direct substrates of CAK. VP1 also suppresses phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRb), an indirect CAK substrate, especially at phospho-pRb Ser780 and phospho-pRb Ser807/811 residues, which are associated with cell proliferation. Finally, we present evidence using deletion mutants that the C-terminal domain (VP1-D8, 768-859aa) is the minimal VP1 region required for its interaction with MAT1, and furthermore, VP1-D8 alone was sufficient to arrest cells in G1/S phase as observed during CVB3 infection. Taken together, we demonstrate that CVB3 VP1 can inhibit CAK complex assembly and activity through direct interaction with MAT1, to block MAT1-mediated CAK-CDK4/6-Rb signaling, and ultimately suppress cell proliferation in pancreatic cells. These findings substantially extend our basic understanding of CVB3-mediated pancreatitis, providing strong candidates for strategic therapeutic targeting.

Abstract Nuclear localization of paramyxovirus proteins is crucial for virus life cycle, including the regulation of viral replication and the evasion of host immunity. We previously showed that a recombinant Newcastle disease virus (NDV) with nuclear localization signal mutation in the matrix (M) protein results in a pathotype change and attenuates viral pathogenicity in chickens. However, little is known about the nuclear localization functions of NDV M protein. In this study, the potential functions of the M protein in the nucleus were investigated. We first demonstrate that nuclear localization of the M protein could not only promote the cytopathogenicity of NDV but also increase viral RNA synthesis and transcription efficiency in DF-1 cells. Using microarray analysis, we found that nuclear localization of the M protein might inhibit host cell transcription, represented by numerous up-regulating genes associated with transcriptional repressor activity and down-regulating genes associated with transcriptional activator activity. The role of representative up-regulated gene prospero homeobox 1 (PROX1) and down-regulated gene aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in the replication of NDV was then evaluated. The results show that siRNA-mediated knockdown of PROX1 or AHR significantly reduced or increased the viral RNA synthesis and viral replication, respectively, demonstrating the important roles of the expression changes of these genes in NDV replication. Together, our findings demonstrate for the first time that nuclear localization of NDV M protein promotes virus replication by affecting viral RNA synthesis and transcription and inhibiting host cell transcription, improving our understanding of the molecular mechanism of NDV replication and pathogenesis.

The matrix (M) protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is demonstrated to localize in the nucleus via intrinsic nuclear localization signal (NLS), but cellular proteins involved in the nuclear import of NDV M protein and the role of M's nuclear localization in the replication and pathogenicity of NDV remain unclear. In this study, importin β1 was screened to interact with NDV M protein by yeast two-hybrid screening. This interaction was subsequently confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation and pull-down assays. In vitro binding studies indicated that the NLS region of M protein and the amino acids 336–433 of importin β1 that belonged to the RanGTP binding region were important for binding. Importantly, a recombinant virus with M/NLS mutation resulted in a pathotype change of NDV and attenuated viral replication and pathogenicity in chicken fibroblasts and SPF chickens. In agreement with the binding data, nuclear import of NDV M protein in digitonin-permeabilized HeLa cells required both importin β1 and RanGTP. Interestingly, importin α5 was verified to interact with M protein through binding importin β1. However, importin β1 or importin α5 depletion by siRNA resulted in different results, which showed the obviously cytoplasmic or nuclear accumulation of M protein and the remarkably decreased or increased replication ability and pathogenicity of NDV in chicken fibroblasts, respectively. Our findings therefore demonstrate for the first time the nuclear import mechanism of NDV M protein and the negative regulation role of importin α5 in importin β1-mediated nuclear import of M protein and the replication and pathogenicity of a paramyxovirus.

Proinflammatory and immunomodulatory events that drive development of K-ras mutant lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) are poorly understood. Here they develop a lung epithelial specific K-ras mutant/Stat3 conditional knockout mouse model and show a sex-specific role for epithelial Stat3 signaling in K-ras-mutant LUAD.

Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene (K-ras) is a well-documented, frequently mutated gene in lung cancer. Since K-ras regulates numerous signaling pathways related to cell survival and proliferation, mutations in this gene are powerful drivers of tumorigenesis and confer prodigious survival advantages to developing tumors. These malignant cells dramatically alter their local tissue environment and in the process recruit a powerful ally: inflammation. Inflammation in the context of the tumor microenvironment can be described as either antitumor or protumor (i.e., aiding or restricting tumor progression, respectively). Many current treatments, like immune checkpoint blockade, seek to augment antitumor inflammation by alleviating inhibitory signaling in cytotoxic T cells; however, a burgeoning area of research is now focusing on ways to modulate and mitigate protumor inflammation. Here, we summarize the interplay of tumor-promoting inflammation and K-ras mutant lung cancer pathogenesis by exploring the cytokines, signaling pathways, and immune cells that mediate this process.

The Yellow River (YR) covers three climatic zones including arid region, semi-arid region and temperate monsoon region, with frequent appearance of flow intermittence in the Lower Yellow River (LYR) before 1999. Channel migration occurs frequently in braided rivers, which is a major focus of study in geomorphology and river dynamics. The braided reach in the LYR is featured by a complexly spatio-temporal variation in channel migration parameters owing to the varying condition of flow and sediment. It is crucial to investigate the migration characteristics of channel centerline for the sake of fully understanding channel evolution. A detailed calculation procedure is proposed to quantify migration rates and intensities of channel centerline at section- and reach-scales, using the measurements of remote sensing images and cross-sectional topography. Migration rates and intensities of channel centerline at section- and reach-scales from 1986 to 2016 were calculated, with the characteristics and key factors to control the migration intensity of channel centerline being identified quantitatively. Calculated results indicate that: (i) the mean probability of centerline migrating toward the left side was approximately equal to the probability of rightward migration from a long-term sequence; (ii) the mean reach-scale migration rate of channel centerline was reduced from 410 m/yr in 1986–1999 to 185 m/yr in 1999–2016, with a reduction of 55% owing to the Xiaolangdi Reservoir operation in 1999, and the mean reach-scale migration intensity of channel centerline was decreased from 0.28 to 0.16 m/(yr·m), with a reduction of 43%; (iii) the incoming flow-sediment regime was a dominant factor affecting the degree of channel migration, although the channel boundary conditions could influence the intensity of channel migration; and (iv) the reach-scale migration intensity of channel centerline can be written as a power function of the previous two-year average incoming sediment coefficient or fluvial erosion intensity, and the reach-scale migration intensities of channel centerline calculated using the proposed relations are generally in close agreement with the measurements over the period of 30 years.

Different zinc foils as anode current collectors by electrowinning in various electrolytes with additives were prepared, which were evaluated through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), float charge, and Tafel curve tests. The effect of different cathode current collectors, electrolytes, and the as-prepared zinc foils as the anode on the coulombic efficiency and the cycling performance of aqueous batteries were investigated. The results indicate that the initial coulombic efficiency and discharge capacity of the battery with 1 mol/L ZnSO4 and 2 mol/L Li2SO4 are 94.31% and 105.7 mAh/g using graphite as the current collector, which are much higher than 68.20% and 71.0 mAh/g using conductive polyethylene, respectively, attributed to the smaller polarization and electrochemical transfer impedance (Rct) of the former. However, the capacity retention of the latter is much higher than that of the former, especially using the high-concentration-lithium-based hybrid electrolyte, of which it is up to 74.63% even after 500 cycles. Moreover, the cycling performance of a battery with as-prepared zinc foil adding thiourea and gelatin into electrolyte during electrowinning is much better than that without additives, which is due to the smaller corrosion rate and side reaction.

The state of charge (SOC) is a key indicator to show whether a compressed hydrogen tank meets refueling requirements, so it is worth to study effects of the refueling parameters on it. A new SOC analytical solution is obtained based on a simple thermodynamic model. By applying a mass balance equation and an energy balance equation for a hydrogen storage system, a differential equation was obtained. An analytical solution of hydrogen temperature was deduced from the solution of the differential equation, then an analytical solution of hydrogen mass was further deduced based on the analytical solution of hydrogen temperature with some mathematical modifications. By assuming the hydrogen density inside the tank is uniform, the SOC, which defined as a ratio of hydrogen density to the full-fill density, can be transformed to be the ratio of hydrogen mass to the full-fill mass. The hydrogen mass can be calculated from analytical solution of hydrogen mass, while the full-fill mass is supposed to be a constant value. The full-fill density of 35 MPa and 70 MPa tanks at 15 °C are respectively 24.0 g/L and 40.2 g/L, and if the volume of the tank is known, the full-fill mass can also be calculated. The analytical solution of SOC can be unitized to express the reference data, the contributions of inflow temperature and mass flow rate on SOC are presented for a Dynetek type III tank (40 L, metallic liner) and a Hexagon type IV tank (29 L, plastic liner). In addition, the two-parameter effect of inflow temperature and mass flow rate on SOC are presented. The Nusselt number and Reynolds number are utilized to modify the analytical model, the relationship between SOC and refueling parameters can be obtained through the method of fitting. The fittings show a good agreement. The SOC can be determined from the refueling parameters based on the model with more physical meaning. The method developed in this research can be applied to the control algorithm of refueling stations to ensure safety and efficiency.

To refine the translation of long English sentences in the context of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this study constructs a top-level model and framework for the TCM domain, incorporating a knowledge graph. It introduces the ALBERT-BiLSTM-CRF model for entity recognition within TCM texts, enhancing processing and translation accuracy. By leveraging knowledge mapping and analyzing the unique features of TCM-related English sentences, the paper proposes an optimized translation methodology. Control experiments demonstrate the ALBERT-BiLSTMCRF model's superiority in recognition efficiency and the proposed translation methods' high accuracy, proving their efficacy for translating complex TCM texts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]