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Abstract Background Microtubule-stabilizing agents have been demonstrated to modulate axonal sprouting during neuronal disease. One such agent, Epothilone D, has been used to treat spinal cord injury (SCI) by promoting axonal sprouting at the lesion site after SCI. However, the role of Epothilone D in the differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in SCI repair is unknown. In the present study, we mainly explored the effects and mechanisms of Epothilone D on the neuronal differentiation of NSCs and revealed a potential new SCI treatment. Methods In vitro differentiation assays, western blotting, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the effects of Epothilone D on NSC differentiation. Retrograde tracing using a pseudotyped rabies virus was then used to detect neuronal circuit construction. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was valuable for exploring the target gene involved in the neuronal differentiation stimulated by Epothilone D. In addition, lentivirus-induced overexpression and RNA interference technology were applied to demonstrate the function of the target gene. Last, an Apol8-NSC-linear ordered collagen scaffold (LOCS) graft was prepared to treat a mouse model of SCI, and functional and electrophysiological evaluations were performed. Results We first revealed that Epothilone D promoted the neuronal differentiation of cultured NSCs and facilitated neuronal relay formation in the injured site after SCI. Furthermore, the RNA-Seq results demonstrated that Apol8 was upregulated during Epothilone D-induced neuronal relay formation. Lentivirus-mediated Apol8 overexpression in NSCs (Apol8-NSCs) promoted NSC differentiation toward neurons, and an Apol8 interference assay showed that Apol8 had a role in promoting neuronal differentiation under the induction of Epothilone D. Last, Apol8-NSC transplantation with LOCS promoted the neuronal differentiation of transplanted NSCs in the lesion site as well as synapse formation, thus improving the motor function of mice with complete spinal cord transection. Conclusions Epothilone D can promote the neuronal differentiation of NSCs by upregulating Apol8, which may provide a promising therapeutic target for SCI repair.

ObjectivesTo investigate the network structure of ego depletion and work alienation in Chinese nurses and identify bridge items to provide suggestions to reduce ego depletion and work alienation.MethodsA total of 353 nurses from three hospitals were enrolled in our cross-sectional study by convenience sampling from June to October 2021 in China. They completed an online survey, which included the Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Nurses’ Work Alienation Questionnaire, and Self-Regulating Fatigue Scale (SRF-S). The R packages qgraph, networktools, and bootnet were used to estimate the network model and calculate the indices.ResultsThe correlation between ego depletion and work alienation was mainly positive. The correlation between “Sometimes I do not know what to do with the work instructions from my superiors” and “I have difficulties remembering things” was the strongest among the cross-community correlations (r = 0.14). The bridge strength centrality indices of “Sometimes I do not know what to do with the work instructions from my superiors,” “I always feel like a loser” and “I have difficulties remembering things” were the highest (z score = 3.15, 2.83, 1.43). The correlation stability coefficient of the centrality index was larger than 0.25.ConclusionNurses’ ego depletion and work alienation are correlated. “Sometimes I do not know what to do with the work instructions from my superiors,” “I always feel like a loser” and “I have difficulties remembering things” act as bridges between ego depletion and work alienation communities, and should be the focus of nurses’ psychological tests. Our study provides potential targets for interventions to reduce work alienation from the perspective of ego depletion.

ObjectiveInterstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common manifestation of connective tissue disease (CTD) that manifests as several subtypes with significant differences in prognosis. It is necessary to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pirfenidone (PFD) combined with immunosuppressant (IS) in the treatment of CTD-ILD.MethodsA total of 111 patients with CTD-ILD were enrolled, including those with systemic sclerosis (SSc), inflammatory myopathy (IIM), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and other CTDs (such as systemic lupus erythematosus, primary Sjogren's syndrome, and undifferentiated CTD). After evaluation of the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), pulmonary function (PF), and basic disease activity, patients either were or were not prescribed PFD and were followed up regularly for 24 weeks.ResultsAfter 24 weeks of treatment, predicted forced vital capacity (FVC%) in the SSc-PFD group had improved by 6.60%, whereas this value was 0.55% in patients with SSc-no-PFD. The elevation in FVC% was also significant in IIM-PFD over the IIM-no-PFD controls (7.50 vs. 1.00%). The predicted diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCo%) of RA-PFD was enhanced by 7.40%, whereas that of RA-no-PFD decreased by 5.50%. When performing a subtype analysis of HRCT images, the change in FVC% among patients with SSc with a tendency toward usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) was higher in those given PFD (SSc-PFD-UIP) than the no-PFD group (8.05 vs. −3.20%). However, in IIM patients with a non-UIP tendency, PFD displayed better therapeutic effects than the control (10.50 vs. 1.00%). DLCo% improved significantly in patients with the PFD-treated RA-non-UIP subtype compared with the patients with no-PFD (10.40 vs. −4.45%). Dichotomizing the patients around a baseline FVC% or DLCo% value of 70%, the PFD arm had a more improved FVC% than the no-PFD arm within the high-baseline-FVC% subgroups of patients with SSc and IIM (6.60 vs. 0.10%, 6.30 vs. 1.10%). In patients with RA-PFD, DLCo% showed a significant increase in the subgroup with low baseline DLCo% compared to that in patients with RA-no-PFD (7.40 vs. −6.60%).ConclusionThe response of PF to PFD varied between CTD-ILD subsets. Patients with SSc and IIM showed obvious improvements in FVC%, especially patients with SSc-UIP and IIM-non-UIP. In RA, the subsets of patients with non-UIP and a lower baseline DLCo% most benefited from PFD.

Abstract The problem of state estimation for non‐linear systems with unknown inputs is discussed. The objective is to construct a non‐linear filter where the unknown input affects both the state equation and measurement equation. An auto‐calibration Kalman filter is proposed with three stages, where the first and second stages are the extension of the two‐stage Kalman filter in non‐linear system cases, and the third stage is the extended Kalman filter with correlated noise. Compared with the two‐stage extended Kalman filter, the presented algorithm conducts a more reasonable linearization of the measurement equation in the third stage. As a result, auto‐calibration is realized and more accurate and more stable state estimation can be obtained. Simulative and practical examples both demonstrate the validity and superiority of the presented auto‐calibration Kalman filter. Furthermore, positioning experiments illustrate that the auto‐calibration Kalman filter can obtain an accurate long‐term heading estimation in pedestrian navigation and is easy to apply in engineering applications.

Abstract Background Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with autoimmune diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis (AS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Current findings regarding plasma/serum homocysteine (HCY) levels in AS patients are inconsistent. This study aims to systematically evaluate the association between circulating HCY levels and AS. Methods Online electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, ScienceDirect, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang data) were used to retrieve all relevant articles published up to May 7, 2020. The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using the random-effect model, Stata16 software. Results Nine articles containing 778 AS patients and 522 controls were included in this meta-analysis. No significant differences in HCY levels were found between AS and control groups (pooled SMD = 0.46, 95% CI = − 0.30 to 1.23, P = 0.23). However, subgroup analysis suggested that HCY levels were significantly higher (P

Construction of an integrated drought index is a fundamental task to conducting drought disaster risk management and developing drought resistance planning strategies. Given the evident non-consistent features during the drought evolution process, firstly, the GAMLSS approach was utilized to construct multiple combination scenarios of time-variant parameters and corresponding probability distribution functions. Then, the time-variant comprehensive drought index integrating the variable characteristics of precipitation and soil moisture was established by means of the copula function. Finally, the reliability of the time-variant comprehensive drought index was verified through its application in frequency analysis and return period determination of drought hazard system in Huaibei Plain, China. The application results demonstrated that: (1) The variation of the time-variant integrated drought indicator presented strong consistency with both soil moisture and precipitation during historical years in Huaibei Plain. (2) The overall variation of the drought hazard system characterized by drought duration and severity presented a gradual mitigation trend from west to east and north to south in Huaibei Plain, which agrees with the geographic differences and water resources availability distribution features. (3) Drought recognition results, including the frequency of drought events and typical drought processes with extreme grades, are in agreement with the practical statistics and observed data series. On the whole, the proposed time-variant integrated drought indicator is capable of extracting complex variation characteristics within the drought hazard evolution process, and can be further applied in drought monitoring, recognition and assessment research fields.

Research on the rheological performance and mechanism of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs), mainly focuses on non-polar polymer matrices, but rarely on strongly polar ones. To fill this gap, this paper explores the influence of nanofillers on the rheological properties of poly (vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF). The effects of particle diameter and content on the microstructure, rheology, crystallization, and mechanical properties of PVDF/SiO2 were analyzed, by TEM, DLS, DMA, and DSC. The results show that nanoparticles can greatly reduce the entanglement degree and viscosity of PVDF (up to 76%), without affecting the hydrogen bonds of the matrix, which can be explained by selective adsorption theory. Moreover, uniformly dispersed nanoparticles can promote the crystallization and mechanical properties of PVDF. In summary, the viscosity regulation mechanism of nanoparticles for non-polar polymers, is also applicable to PVDF, with strong polarity, which is of great value for exploring the rheological behavior of PNCs and guiding the process of polymers.

Intraspinal inflammatory and immune responses are considered to play central roles in the pathological development of spinal cord injury. This study aimed to decipher the dynamics of systemic immune responses, initiated by spinal cord injury. The spinal cord in mice was completely transected at T8. Changes in the in vivo inflammatory response, between the acute and subacute stages, were observed. A rapid decrease in C-reactive protein levels, circulating leukocytes and lymphocytes, spleen-derived CD4+ interferon-γ+ T-helper cells, and inflammatory cytokines, and a marked increase in neutrophils, monocytes, and CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T-cells were observed during the acute phase. These systemic immune alterations were gradually restored to basal levels during the sub-acute phase. During the acute phase of spinal cord injury, systemic immune cells and factors showed significant inhibition; however, this inhibition was transient, and the indicators of these serious disorders gradually returned to baseline levels during the subacute phase. All experiments were performed in accordance with the institutional animal care guidelines, approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Experimental Animal Center of Drum Tower Hospital, China (approval No. 2019AE01040) on June 25, 2019.

The Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) phase transition has long been sought yet undiscovered directly in magnetic materials. Here, the authors identify two phase transitions with BKT fluctuations detected by NMR and critical scaling behavior in magnetic susceptibility expected for the BKT transition in a frustrated magnet TmMgGaO4.

Background: Mucosal healing (MH) is considered the preferred therapeutic target for ulcerative colitis (UC). Impaired quality of life (QoL), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms, and functional bowel symptoms have been reported in several inactive patients with UC. This study aims to assess the occurrence of functional bowel disorders (FBD)-like symptoms and QoL in UC patients with MH, and to explore the factors related to FBD-like symptoms. Methods: UC patients with MH (Mayo endoscopic score, MES = 0 or 1) were required to complete the Rome IV diagnostic questionnaire, the 32-item version of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ-32), the 36-item short form healthy survey questionnaire (SF-36), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). UC patients who did not achieve MH (MES > 1) completed the IBDQ-32, the SF-36, and the HADS. Community-dwelling healthy controls (HCs) completed the SF-36 and the HADS. Results: Among the 119 UC patients with MH recruited, 45.4% reported functional bowel symptoms; functional constipation-like symptom (13.4%) was the most prevalent, followed by IBS-like symptom (10.9%), and functional diarrhea-like symptom (10.0%). The IBDQ-32 and SF-36 scores were significantly lower in MH patients with FBD-like symptoms than in those without FBD-like symptoms. Disease duration [odds ratio (OR): 1.022; p

In order to effectively deal with the uncertainty between evaluation samples and evaluation criteria, and quantitatively identify the water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) and its obstacle factors in the Yellow River irrigation district, a calculation method of dynamic difference degree coefficient varying with evaluation sample was proposed, and then an evaluation and diagnosis model of WRCC was established. The results applied to the Dagong irrigation district showed that the overall WRCC of five counties in the irrigation district were improved from 2010 to 2017, especially since 2013. The improvement magnitudes of Changyuan County, Fengqiu County, and Hua County were significantly higher than those of Xun County and Neihuang County. In 2017, Fengqiu County, Changyuan County, Hua County, Xun County, and Neihuang County were in water resources critical overloaded status, and the connection number values were 0.231, 0.163, 0.120, −0.293, and −0.331, respectively, which is consistent with the fact that their distances become farther from the main stream of the Yellow River. In addition, the utilization ratio of water resources, available water resources amount per capita, GDP per capita, and water deficient ratio in each county belonged to the middle or strong obstacle index over a long period of time. They were the crucial obstacle factors of WRCC in the Dagong irrigation district, as well as the core and difficult points of water resources management. In some counties, the effective irrigation area ratio, effective utilization coefficient of irrigation water, and water consumption ratio of the ecological environment gradually developed from strong obstacle to weak or strong promotion index. These were important reasons for the improvement of their carrying situation, reflecting their control of agricultural and ecological water consumption. In short, the results of the case study suggest that the model established in this study is conducive to the identification of water resources’ carrying status and its key obstacle factors in the Yellow River irrigation district, and can be applied to the evaluation and regulation of resources and environment carrying capacity.

On November 29, 2019, an aircraft observation during the period of cloud-seeding was carried out for a mixed-phase cloud over Xingtai, Hebei Province, China. This study investigates the response of mixed-phase cloud microphysical properties to cloud-seeding near cloud top. Before cloud seeding, the cloud droplet concentration from fast cloud droplet probe (NC_FCDP) presented a multi-peak vertical distribution structure, with a maximum concentration of 192 cm−3 at a height of 3,322 m; the maximum concentration of ice crystals from cloud imaging probe (NC_CIP) was 10 L−1, which appeared at 4,500 m in the upper part of cloud; and the peak value of liquid water content (LWC) in the cloud also appeared at 4,500 m, with a value of 0.15 g/m3. The coexistence of supercooled liquid water and ice crystals implies that they are particularly suitable for cloud seeding at the height of 4,550 m. About 7–8 min later after cloud seeding at this height, the average NC_FCDP decreased from 160.3 to 129 cm−3, and the average NC_CIP increased from 7.1 to 10 L−1. Moreover, after cloud seeding, high NC_CIP as well as larger and more ice crystals appeared almost in the same areas within the cloud, and LWC presented an obvious decreasing trend. In contrast, the concentration of small cloud droplets and LWC decreased obviously after seeding. The findings suggest that the cloud microphysical properties showed obvious responses to the artificial introduction of silver iodide, which is important for human weather modification.

Case summary A 7-month-old domestic shorthair cat was presented for evaluation of stunted growth, recurrent hypoglycaemia during the first months of its life and altered mentation. Complete blood count and biochemistry were unremarkable, except for mildly elevated serum creatinine concentration (despite low muscle mass) and concurrent isosthenuria. Hyposomatotropism was diagnosed based on persistent low circulating insulin-like growth factor 1 concentrations and a lack of response of circulating growth hormone (GH) concentration after the administration of GH-releasing hormone. Other endocrinopathies such as hypothyroidism and hypoadrenocorticism were excluded. MRI of the brain revealed a fluid-filled empty sella tursica, consistent with a pituitary cyst and atrophy/hypoplasia of the pituitary. Echocardiography was unremarkable at the time of diagnosis of hyposomatotropism. Three months later, ovariohysterectomy revealed immature ovaries, raising the suspicion of luteinising and follicle-stimulating hormone deficiency. At 1 year of age, the cat developed congestive heart failure secondarily to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with severely reduced left ventricular systolic function and died a few days later. Pathology showed atrophy of the adenohypophysis, epithelial delineation of the pituitary cysts, mild cardiomegaly, multifocal fibrosis of the left ventricle and a mild, multifocal, chronic epicarditis. Relevance and novel information GH deficiency is a very rare endocrinopathy in cats. This is the first case to describe the development of DCM with concurrent hyposomatotropism, which has previously been reported in human medicine. Other notable abnormalities that could be related to GH deficiency are juvenile self-limiting hypoglycaemia, behavioural changes and possible nephropathy.

The damage of asphalt concrete pavement (AC pavement) structure caused by reflection crack is an urgent problem in many areas of China, especially in cold regions of China, so it is necessary to study how to reduce the reflective cracking and prevent the AC pavement structures cracking. The acoustic emission (AE) information is fetched in this paper to study the AE characteristics of pavement structures and the crack propagation law inside the system. On the above basis, cracks with crack spacing/layer thickness values of 1.25, 2.5, 3.75, and 5 were prefabricated in the foundation course by the numerical simulation method. The models with different foundation course crack spacing were calculated by Realistic Failure Process Analysis finite element software. The influence of varying crack spacing on the propagation mechanism of reflective cracks in the foundation course structure was studied. The results show that the AC pavement structure has prominent AE characteristics. The faster the cooling rate is, the more serious the damage to the AC pavement surface is. In addition, with the increase of crack spacing/layer thickness value, the stress level between cracks increases continuously. Most of the stress will make the cracks expand toward the foundation course structure, and only a tiny part of stress is used to form reflective cracks. In practical engineering, it is suggested to increase the crack resistance of foundation course materials and preset some small spacing cracks in the large spacing cracks in the foundation course.

Building upon the recent progress on the intriguing underlying physics for the newly discovered infinite-layer nickelates, in this article we review an examination of valence charge and spin excitations via multi-orbital Hubbard models as way to determine the fundamental building blocks for Hamiltonians that can describe the low energy properties of infinite-layer nickelates. We summarize key results from density-functional approaches, and apply them to the study of x-ray absorption to determine the valence ground states of infinite-layer nickelates in their parent form, and show that a fundamental d9 configuration as in the cuprates is incompatible with a self-doped ground state having holes in both dx2−y2 and a rare-earth-derived axial orbital. When doped, we determine that the rare-earth-derived orbitals empty and additional holes form low spin (S = 0) d8 Ni states, which can be well-described as a doped single-band Hubbard model. Using exact diagonalization for a 2-orbital model involving Ni and rare-earth orbitals, we find clear magnons at 1/2 filling that persist when doped, albeit with larger damping, and with a dependence on the precise orbital energy separation between the Ni- and rare-earth-derived orbitals. Taken together, a full two-band model for infinite-layer nickelates can well describe the valence charge and spin excitations observed experimentally.

The practical application of lithium metal anodes in high-energy-density lithium metal batteries is hindered by the formation and growth of lithium dendrites. Here, authors report fibroin protein as an electrolyte additive to prevent and eliminate the growth of wispy lithium dendrites.

Abstract Background Statins have been recommended by several guidelines as the primary prevention medication for cardiovascular diseases. However, the benefits of statin therapy for cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), particularly in adults ≥75 years of age, have not been fully evaluated. Methods We analyzed the data from a prospective population-based cohort study and a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to determine whether statin therapy might aid in slowing the progression of CSVD in adults ≥75 years of age. For the cohort study, 827 participants were considered eligible and were included in the baseline analysis. Subsequently, 781 participants were included in follow-up analysis. For the clinical trial, 227 participants were considered eligible and were used in the baseline and follow-up analyses. Results The white matter hyperintensities (WMH) volume, the WMH-to-intracranial volume (ICV) ratio, the prevalence of a Fazekas scale score ≥ 2, lacunes, enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS), and microbleeds were significantly lower in the statin group than the non-statin group at baseline in the cohort study (all P 0.05). Conclusions Our findings indicated that statin therapy alleviated the progression of WMH, lacunes, and EPVS without elevating the risk of microbleeds. On the basis of the observed results, we concluded that statin therapy is an efficient and safe intervention for CSVD in adults ≥75 years of age. Trial registration Chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR-IOR-17013557 , date of trial retrospective registration November 27, 2017 and ChiCTR-EOC-017013598 , date of trial retrospective registration November 29, 2017.

Background: Impaired orthostatic blood pressure (BP) response is a frequent finding in the elderly. The goal of the study was to investigate the association of variability of supine-to-orthostatic BP with cold pressor reflection and heart rate variability in the elderly. Methods: From June 2010 to September 2013, 287 elderly aged ≥ 60 years were enrolled in Jinan area, China. The elderly were classified into lower (n = 96), intermediate (n = 95), and higher (n = 96) tertile groups according to the tertile of the percentage change of supine-to-orthostatic systolic BP. Results: There were significant increasing trends in systolic BP response to the CPT at 0 and 60 sec; the plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and angiotensin II; and decreasing trends in DNN, SDNN index, and SDANN from the lower to the higher tertile group, and differences between any two groups were significant (P

Vertically stacked hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN)/graphene heterostructures present potential applications in electronic, photonic, and mechanical devices, and their interface interaction is one of the critical factors that affect the performances. In this work, the vertical h-BN/graphene heterostructures with high coverage are synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of h-BN on Ni substrates followed by segregation growth of graphene at the h-BN/Ni interfaces, which are monitored by in situ surface microscopy and surface spectroscopy. We find that h-BN overlayers can be decoupled from Ni substrates by the graphene interlayers. Furthermore, the h-BN domain boundaries exhibit a confinement effect on the graphene interlayer growth and the lower graphene domains are limited within the upper h-BN domains. This work provides new insights into the formation mechanism and interface interaction of the vertical heterostructures.

Abstract Double‐sided metal‐oxide‐semiconductor field‐effect‐transistor processing is demonstrated for the first time on an ultrathin crystalline silicon substrate of 6‐20 μm in a 100 mm diameter wafer format without a carrier wafer, the thinnest free‐standing silicon wafers ever fabricated. The compatibility of the flexible material with conventional semiconductor processing tools is enabled by supporting an interior ultrathin silicon with a surrounding thicker ring of silicon. Current‐voltage characteristics of transistors on ultrathin silicon show performance as expected from bulk silicon, with electron mobility ~1500 cm2 V−1 second−1. Mechanical measurements quantify the handleability.

Abstract Background Cell-based therapy products are supposed to be the most complex medicine products in the history of human medical care. In this study, we established a safety evaluation system for therapeutic stromal cells based on the existing regulations and current testing techniques to provide general quality requirements for human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cell (HUCMSC) therapy product. Methods In this system, we comprehensively evaluate the environmental monitoring program, quality control of critical raw materials and reagents, donor screening criteria, cell safety, quality, and biological effects, not only in line with the basic criteria of biological products, but also following the general requirements of drugs. Results The qualified HUCMSCs were tested for various clinical researches in our hospital, and no severe adverse reaction was observed in 225 patients during a 1-year follow-up period. Conclusion In this study, we establish a systemic quality control and potent assays to guarantee the safety and effectiveness of HUCMSCs based on a minimum set of standards in MSC-based product.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a less common but destructive cancer. Because of distant metastasis and deleterious side effects, there is persistent need to identify effective treatment options for nasopharyngeal cancer. In the current research work, the anticancer effects of Abietic acid were evaluated against the cisplatin resistant nasopharyngeal cancer cells. MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-Yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) assay was executed for monitoring cell proliferation rate. Annexin V/propidium iodide and acridine orange/ethidium bromide assays were executed to investigate effects on cell apoptosis. Flow cytometry was employed to observe the effects on different phases of cell cycle. Cancer Cell migration and cell invasion was checked by transwell assays. Western blotting was done to evaluate impact on protein expression. It was found that Abietic acid exerts potent antiproliferative against the nasopharyngeal cancerous cell line and exhibited an IC50 of 20 μM. However the toxic effects of abietic acid in comparison to cancerous cells were seen to be insignificant against the normal cells. The antitumor impact of abietic acid was exerted through apoptosis induction and alteration of apoptosis related proteins (Bax, caspase 3 and 9). Abietic acid also caused (ROS) reactive oxygen species arbitrated changes in the MMP (mitochondrial transmembrane potential) and triggered cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. Finally, Abietic acid could also inhibit the invasiveness of cancer cells and migration of the NPC cells. Abietic acid could also block the PI3K/AKT/mTOR biochemical signalling cascade in the HNE1 cells which remains a significant therapeutic objective of anticancer drugs. In conclusion, the results indicate that abietic acid might be a promising drug candidate and promising treatment option for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Keywords: Nasopharyngeal cells, Cell cycle arrest, Suppression of cell migration, Anticancer drugs

Abstract Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disease with poor prognosis and a significant unmet medical need. This study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK) and target engagement in the lungs, of GSK3008348, a novel inhaled alpha-v beta-6 (αvβ6) integrin inhibitor, in participants with IPF. Methods This was a phase 1b, randomised, double-blind (sponsor unblind) study, conducted in the UK (two clinical sites, one imaging unit) between June 2017 and July 2018 (NCT03069989). Participants with a definite or probable diagnosis of IPF received a single nebulised dose of 1000 mcg GSK3008348 or placebo (ratio 5:2) in two dosing periods. In period 1, safety and PK assessments were performed up to 24 h post-dose; in period 2, after a 7-day to 28-day washout, participants underwent a total of three positron emission tomography (PET) scans: baseline, Day 1 (~ 30 min post-dosing) and Day 2 (~ 24 h post-dosing), using a radiolabelled αvβ6-specific ligand, [18F]FB-A20FMDV2. The primary endpoint was whole lung volume of distribution (VT), not corrected for air volume, at ~ 30 min post-dose compared with pre-dose. The study success criterion, determined using Bayesian analysis, was a posterior probability (true % reduction in VT > 0%) of ≥80%. Results Eight participants with IPF were enrolled and seven completed the study. Adjusted posterior median reduction in uncorrected VT at ~ 30 min after GSK3008348 inhalation was 20% (95% CrI: − 9 to 42%). The posterior probability that the true % reduction in VT > 0% was 93%. GSK3008348 was well tolerated with no reports of serious adverse events or clinically significant abnormalities that were attributable to study treatment. PK was successfully characterised showing rapid absorption followed by a multiphasic elimination. Conclusions This study demonstrated engagement of the αvβ6 integrin target in the lung following nebulised dosing with GSK3008348 to participants with IPF. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time a target-specific PET radioligand has been used to assess target engagement in the lung, not least for an inhaled drug. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03069989 ; date of registration: 3 March 2017.

The hydrogenation of CO2 into valuable chemicals is greatly demanded, but suffers from complex product distribution. Here, the authors reported that, as a support and ligand, silica boosts cobalt catalysts to selectively hydrogenate CO2 into the desired methanol product.

Sluggish lithium diffusion on the surface of Li metal anodes poses a fundamental challenge. Here the authors report a Li/Li22Sn5 alloy design to address this issue. The composite anode sustains stable Li stripping/plating cycling with a low overpotential of 20 mV under 30 mA cm−2 in a commercial carbonate electrolyte.

Abstract. Background:. Obstetric hemorrhage is a major cause of maternal death during cesarean delivery. The objective of this retrospective observational study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-operative cell salvage (IOCS) in cesarean section. Methods:. We included a total of 361 patients diagnosed with central placenta previa who underwent cesarean section from May 2016 to December 2018. In this study, 196 patients received autologous transfusion using IOCS (IOCS group) and 165 patients accepted allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT group). Propensity score matched analysis was performed to balance differences in the baseline variables between the IOCS group and ABT group. Patients in the IOCS group were matched 1:1 to patients in the ABT group. Results:. After propensity score matching, 137 pairs of cases between the two groups were successfully matched and no significant differences in baseline characteristics were found between the IOCS group and ABT group. Patients in the IOCS group were associated with significantly shorter length of hospital stay, compared with ABT group (8.9 ± 4.1 days vs. 10.3 ± 5.2 days, t = −2.506, P = 0.013). The postoperative length of hospital stay was 5.3 ± 1.4 days for patients in the IOCS group and 6.6 ± 3.6 days for those in the ABT group (t = −4.056, P

Abstract. Background. Angiogenesis and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) play major roles in solid tumors. This study aimed to establish a longitudinal and multimodal imaging model for in vivo evaluation of HIF1α and angiogenesis in breast cancer. Methods. By transfection of a 5 hypoxia-responsive element (HRE)/green fluorescent protein (GFP) plasmid, the cell line Ca761-hre-gfp was established, which emitted green fluorescence triggered by HIF-1α under hypoxia. The cells were subjected to CoCl2-simulated hypoxia to confirm the imaging strategy. We grew Ca761-hre-gfp cells in the left rear flanks of twelve 615 mice. Experiments were conducted on days 4, 9, 15, and 19. For in vivo analysis, Ca761-hre-gfp subcutaneous allografted tumors were imaged in vivo using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and fluorescence imaging (FLI) during tumor development. The tumor size, CEUS peak intensity, and FLI photons were measured to evaluate tumor growth, angiogenesis, and HIF-1α activity, respectively. After each experiment, three mice were randomly sacrificed and tumor specimens were collected to examine HIF-1α activity and the microvessel density (MVD). Results. In vitro, both green fluorescence and HIF-1α expression were detected in Ca761-hre-gfp cells treated with CoCl2, indicating the suitability of the cells to detect HIF-1α activity. In vivo, HIF-1α activity first increased and then decreased, which was significantly correlated with angiogenic changes (r = 0.803, P = 0.005). These changes were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining of HIF-1α and MVD. Conclusions. The findings validated the Ca761-hre-gfp murine allograft model for reliable evaluation of HIF-1α activity and angiogenesis longitudinally using both molecular and pre-clinical non-invasive imaging modalities. The cell line may be useful for studies of anti-HIF pathway therapies.

Abstract. Background. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF), as a non-invasive treatment of neuropathic pain (NP), has been widely administered clinically. Previous studies have shown that PRF has the potential to improve hyperalgesia in animal models of NP. However, there have been few reports to clarify whether the mechanism of PRF treatment of NP involves intervention in the expression of substance P (SP). Therefore, this study administered PRF treatment to chronic constriction injury (CCI) model rats and observed the sciatic nerve mechanical pain threshold and SP expression in the spinal cord to explore the mechanism of PRF treatment. Methods. A total of 96 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the sham-surgery-sham-treatment group (S-S group), the sham-surgery-PRF group (S-P group), the CCI-sham-treatment group (C-S group), and the CCI-PRF group (C-P group). The C-S group and the C-P group underwent sciatic nerve CCI, while the other groups received a sham operation. At 14 days after the operation, the C-P group and the S-P group were treated with PRF for 300 s. We recorded the hindpaw withdrawal threshold (HWT) and the thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) of rats in the various groups at baseline, before treatment (0 days), and at 1, 7, 14, and 28 days after treatment. L4 to L6 spinal cord tissues were taken before treatment (0 days) and 1, 7, 14, and 28 days after treatment. The transcription and translation of SP were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. Results. The HWT and the TWL in the C-P group 28 days after PRF treatment were significantly higher than those in the C-S group (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.84–19.50, P

Manipulating liquids with tunable shape and optical functionalities in real time remains a great challenge. Here, the authors demonstrate electrotunable liquid sulfur microdroplets in an electrochemical cell and tune its characteristics in a fast, repeatable, and controlled manner.

High-resolution electron microscopy requires robust and noise-free substrates to support the specimens. Here, the authors present a polymer- and transfer-free direct-etching method for fabrication of graphene grids with ultraclean surfaces and demonstrate cryo-EM at record high resolution.

With the rapid economic development and the acceleration of urbanization, the pressure on the water resources system is becoming intense. As an important indicator of water resources security and sustainable development, the water resources carrying capacity has become a hot issue. To overcome the limitation of commonly used methods for weight determination and to evaluate the regional water resources carrying capacity reasonably, the index weight determined by the Analytic Hierarchy Process method was revised by the subtraction set pair potential to calculate the dynamic index weight. Then, the dynamic weight was combined with the set pair analysis method to evaluate the regional water resources carrying capacity dynamically. In addition, the Dagum Gini coefficient and its decomposition method were used to analyze the overall difference of water resources carrying capacity in the whole region and the differences within and between subregions considering the lack of quantitative research in spatial equilibrium. Finally, a case study was carried out in Anhui Province, China. The results showed that from 2011 to 2018, most of the water resources carrying capacity for 16 cities in Anhui Province were in a critical state, with the strongest in the south of Anhui Province and the weakest in the north. The overall spatial difference of carrying capacity in Anhui Province showed an increasing trend from 2011 to 2018. Furthermore, the slightest difference within the subregion was in the north of Anhui Province, while the largest was in the south. The most significant difference between the subregions was between the south and the north of Anhui Province. The primary source of carrying capacity spatial difference in Anhui Province was from the difference between subregions. The results of the case study suggested that the method proposed in this paper are conducive to the early find of possible disadvantages of spatial equilibrium and can effectively identify the main source of regional spatial difference in water resources carrying capacity, which means that the method can be widely applied to similar issues.

Background Nursing care service is an important part of the healthcare system; however, patients’ favorite type of nursing care remains unknown. This study aims to investigate inpatients’ and nurses’ favorite types of nursing care and identify nurses’ learning needs. Method The study selected a province-representative sample of inpatients and nurses using a stratified random sampling method from 18 selected hospitals, including 9 Level Ⅱ hospitals and 9 Level Ⅲ hospitals in 9 cities of Hebei province. All participants were personally interviewed about their favorite type of nursing care. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was applied to analyze the potential associations between favorite nursing care and factors about inpatients and nurses. Results Data from 3,642 inpatients and 371 nurses were included for the final analysis during this survey. Among inpatients, the proportions who selected good attitude-centered, good nursing skill-centered, good environment-centered and good health education guidance-centered as their favorite types of nursing care were 49.9%, 31.8%, 5.8%, and 12.5%, respectively. Concurrently, among nurses, the proportions were 49.9%, 29.6%, 19.1%, and 1.3%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that most patients selected good attitude-centered nursing care as their favorite type of nursing care. However, patients who did not live with guardians and had more than one hospitalization per year were more likely to select other nursing care types. Conclusion Attitude-centered nursing care service was the favorite type of nursing care for most inpatients and nurses. Health education guidance was another main concern of inpatients. The main factors affecting the patients’ choice of favorite nursing care included patients’ living status and the number of hospitalization events per year. Nursing education should focus on nurse attitude as well as on health education guidance.

The cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) system, as a technical core of synthetic biology, can simulate the transcription and translation process in an in vitro open environment without a complete living cell. It has been widely used in basic and applied research fields because of its advanced engineering features in flexibility and controllability. Compared to a typical crude extract-based CFPS system, due to defined and customizable components and lacking protein-degrading enzymes, the protein synthesis using recombinant elements (PURE) system draws great attention. This review first discusses the elemental composition of the PURE system. Then, the design and preparation of functional proteins for the PURE system, especially the critical ribosome, were examined. Furthermore, we trace the evolving development of the PURE system in versatile areas, including prototyping, synthesis of unnatural proteins, peptides and complex proteins, and biosensors. Finally, as a state-of-the-art engineering strategy, this review analyzes the opportunities and challenges faced by the PURE system in future scientific research and diverse applications.

Currently, the implementation of water resource spatial equilibrium strategy is a fundamental policy of water resource integrated management in China; it is also a considerable challenge to explore the relationship structure features of water resources, society, economy and ecological environment (WSEE) complex system. For this purpose, firstly, we applied information entropy, ordered degree and connection number coupling method to reveal the membership characteristics between different evaluation indicators and grade criterion. Secondly, the system dynamics approach was introduced to describe the relationship features among different equilibrium subsystems. Finally, the ordered degree, connection number, information entropy and system dynamics integrated model was established to conduct relationship structure simulation and evolution trend evaluation of the WSEE system. The application results in Hefei city, Anhui Province, China, demonstrated that: (1) the variation of overall equilibrium conditions of WSEE system in Hefei city, 2020–2029 was higher compared to that of 2010–2019, though the increasing rate of ordered degree and connection number entropy (ODCNE) became slower after 2019; and (2) the annual ODCNE value from 2020 to 2029 of WSEE system under dry year scenarios increased about 0.0812, which indicated that the construction of Yangtze-Huaihe Diversion (YHD) project could play significant positive role in mitigating the equilibrium situation of WSEE system in Hefei city in the future. On the whole, this study is capable of providing the guidance basis for constructing a theoretical framework of structure simulation and equilibrium evaluation analysis of WSEE complex system.

Abstract. Background:. Increased right ventricle afterload during acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) may induce acute cor pulmonale (ACP), which is associated with a poor clinical outcome. Echocardiography is now considered as a rapid and non-invasive tool for diagnosis of ACP. The aims of this study were to investigate the morbidity and mortality rates of ACP in ARDS patients in intensive care units (ICUs) across the mainland of China and to determine the severity and prognosis of ACP in ARDS patients through an ultrasound protocol (TRIP). And the association between ACP related factors and the ICU mortality will be revealed. Methods:. This study is a multicenter and cross-sectional study in China which will include ICU participants when diagnosed as ARDS. The ultrasound protocol, known as the TRIP, is proposed as severity assessment for ACP, which includes tricuspid regurgitation velocity (T), right ventricular size (R), inferior vena cava diameter fluctuation (I), and pulmonary regurgitation velocity (P). The 28-day mortality, ICU/hospital mortality, the length of stay in ICU, mechanical ventilation days, hemodynamic parameters and lab parameters of liver function and kidney function are all recorded. Discussion:. This large-scale study would give a sufficient epidemic investigation of ACP in ARDS patients in China. In addition, with the TRIP protocol, we expect that we could stratify ACP with more echocardiography parameters. Trial registration:. NCT03827863, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03827863

Abstract. Background:. Post-operative pain is unpleasant for patients and may worsen surgical recovery. Peri-operative multimodal analgesia has been used for many years; however, its efficacy still needs improvement. In the present study, a thorough peri-operative pain counseling and stratified management program based on risk assessment was implemented, with the goal of improving post-operative analgesia and patient satisfaction. Methods:. This prospective, controlled, pilot study included 361 patients who underwent elective surgery. Of these 361 patients, 187 received peri-operative pain risk assessment and stratified analgesia and counseling (stratified analgesia group), while 174 received conventional multimodal analgesia (conventional group). The two groups were compared regarding the post-operative pain intensity, rescue analgesia administration, post-operative quality of recovery as assessed via the quality of recovery 40 questionnaire, total dosage of peri-operative opioids, analgesic satisfaction, and analgesic costs. Results:. Compared with the conventional group, the stratified analgesia group reported decreased pain intensity during motion at 24 h post-operatively and required lower dosages of rescue analgesia (P = 0.03). The total quality of recovery 40 questionnaire score and the scores for physical wellbeing and pain were significantly better in the stratified analgesia group than the conventional group (P = 0.04); the stratified analgesia group also reported better scores for analgesic satisfaction (P = 0.03) and received lower dosages of opioids (P = 0.03). Analgesic costs were lower in the stratified analgesia group than the conventional group; the cost-effective ratio was 109 in the conventional group and 62 in the stratified analgesia group. Conclusions:. The analgesic efficacy was improved by the implementation of stratified analgesia based on surgical pain risk assessment and counseling. This stratified analgesia protocol increased the patients’ analgesic satisfaction and improved the quality of recovery without increasing healthcare costs. The present findings may help improve the efficacy of peri-operative multimodal analgesia in clinical practice. Clinical Trial Registry:. NCT02728973; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02728973?term=NCT02728973&draw=2&rank=1.

Abstract Background Emerging evidence suggests that miR-124 performs important biological functions in neural stem cells (NSCs); it regulates NSC behavior and promotes the differentiation of NSCs into neurons, but the exact molecular mechanism remains unknown. And also, the role of miR-124 during spinal cord injury regeneration is unclear. Materials and methods In order to explore the function of miR-124 in neural differentiation, the molecular markers (Tuj1, Map2, and GFAP) correlated with the differentiation of NSCs were detected by immunofluorescence staining both in cultured mouse spinal cord progenitor cells (SC-NPCs) and in spinal cord injury (SCI) animal models. The migration ability and apoptosis of cultured SC-NPCs were also evaluated by Transwell migration assay and TUNEL assay. In addition, the relative expression of lnRNA Neat1- and Wnt/β-catenin signaling-related genes were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Results In this study, we revealed that lncRNA Neat1 is involved in regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling that is activated by miR-124 in SC-NPCs. LncRNA Neat1 was also found to play an important role in regulating neuronal differentiation, apoptosis, and migration of SC-NPCs. Furthermore, we demonstrated that overexpression of miR-124 resulted in elevated Neat1 expression, accompanied with the functional recovery of locomotion in a mouse model of spinal cord injury. Conclusions Our results confirm the therapeutic effectiveness of miR-124 on the functional recovery of injured spinal cord, supporting the rationale and feasibility of miR-124 for spinal cord injury treatment in future clinical therapy. Furthermore, we concluded that the miR-124-Neat1-Wnt/β-catenin signaling axis is involved in regulating the cell function of SC-NPCs, and this may offer novel therapeutic avenues for future treatment of SCI.

The authors here report an ultrathin ionomer membrane as an artificial solid-electrolyte interphase filter that minimizes parasitic reactions and enables stable dendrite-free lithium plating-stripping cycles in a carbonate-based electrolyte. The protected anodes exhibit outstanding coulombic efficiencies at room and elevated (50 °C) temperatures.

Abstract. Background:. Reverse intertrochanteric fractures are usually initially treated with closed reduction. However, sometimes these fractures are not amenable to closed reduction and require open reduction. To date, few studies have been conducted on predictors of and reduction techniques for irreducible reverse intertrochanteric fractures. Therefore, this study aimed to summarize the displacement patterns of irreducible reverse intertrochanteric fractures and corresponding reduction techniques, and explore predictors of irreducibility. Methods:. We reviewed 1174 cases of trochanteric fractures treated in our hospital from January 2006 to October 2018, 113 of which were reverse intertrochanteric fractures. An irreducible fracture was determined according to intra-operative fluoroscopy imaging after closed manipulation. Fractures were assessed for displacement patterns, radiographic features of irreducibility, and reduction techniques. Logistic regression analysis was performed on potential predictors for irreducibility, including gender, age, body mass index, AO Foundation/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification, and radiographic features. Results:. Seventy-six irreducible fractures were identified, accounting for 67% of reverse intertrochanteric fractures. Six patterns of fracture displacement after closed manipulation were identified; the most common pattern was medial displacement and posterior sagging of the femoral shaft relative to the head-neck fragment. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified three predictors of irreducibility: a medially displaced femoral shaft relative to the head-neck fragment on the anteroposterior (AP) view (odds ratio [OR], 8.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.04–21.04; P

Abstract. Background:. Plant homeodomain finger protein 23 (PHF23) is a novel autophagy inhibitor gene that has been few studied with respect to orthopedics. This study was to investigate the expression of PHF23 in articular cartilage and synovial tissue, and analyze the relationship between PHF23 and chondrocyte autophagy in osteoarthritis (OA). Methods:. Immunohistochemical staining and western blot were applied to show the expression of PHF23 in cartilage of different outbridge grades and synovial tissue of patient with OA and healthy control. The normal human chondrocyte pre-treated with rapamycin or 3-methyladenine, treated with interleukin-1β (IL-1β). IL-1β induced expression level of PHF23 and autophagy-related proteins light chain 3B-I (LC3B-I), LC3B-II, and P62, were examined by Western blot. A PHF23 gene knock-down model was constructed with small interfering RNA. Western blot was performed to detect the efficiency of PHF23 and the impact of PHF23 knockout on IL-1β-induced expression of autophagy-related and apoptotic-related proteins in chondrocyte. Results:. The expression of PHF23 was significantly increased in the high-grade cartilage and synovial tissue of patients with OA. The IL-1β-induced expression of PHF23 was gradually enhanced with time. The level of LC3B-II, P62 changed with time. After knockdown of PHF23, the level of autophagy-related proteins increased and apoptotic-related proteins decreased in IL-1β-induced OA-like chondrocytes. Conclusions:. The expression of PHF23 increased in human OA cartilage and synovium, and was induced by IL-1β through inflammatory stress. PHF23 can suppress autophagy of chondrocytes, and accelerate apoptosis.

Abstract. Background:. Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a complicated condition of patients with advanced tumors. Further dissecting the microenvironment of infiltrated immune cells and malignant cells are warranted to understand the immune-evasion mechanisms of tumor development and progression. Methods:. The possible involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in malignant pleural fluid was investigated using small RNA sequencing. Regulatory T cell (Treg) markers (CD4, CD25, forkhead box P3), and Helios (also known as IKAROS Family Zinc Finger 2 [IKZF2]) were detected using flow cytometry. The expression levels of IKZF2 and miR-4772-3p were measured using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The interaction between miR-4772-3p and Helios was determined using dual-luciferase reporter assays. The effects of miR-4772-3p on Helios expression were evaluated using an in vitro system. Correlation assays between miR-4772-3p and functional molecules of Tregs were performed. Results:. Compared with non-malignant controls, patients with non-small cell lung cancer had an increased Tregs frequency with Helios expression in the MPE and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The verified downregulation of miR-4772-3p was inversely related to the Helios+ Tregs frequency and Helios expression in the MPE. Overexpression of miR-4772-3p could inhibit Helios expression in in vitro experiments. However, ectopic expression of Helios in induced Tregs reversed the effects induced by miR-4772-3p overexpression. Additionally, miR-4772-3p could regulate Helios expression by directly targeting IKZF2 mRNA. Conclusion:. Downregulation of miR-4772-3p, by targeting Helios, contributes to enhanced Tregs activities in the MPE microenvironment.

Typically, ion conducting polymers exhibit a trade-off between mechanical robustness and ionic conducting performance. Here, the authors utilize supramolecular chemistry obtaining extremely tough electrolytes with high ionic conductivity and enabling stretchable lithium-ion batteries.

The marine environment in which offshore wind turbines are located is very complex and subjected to a variety of random loads that vary with time and space. As an important component of offshore wind power, the cable also bears the impact of the environment in which most of the turbines are located. Under the long-term action of mechanical stresses such as tension, torsion, and vibration, the cable insulation will crack due to stress fatigue leading to partial discharge, which seriously affects its electrical performance. The study of the mechanism of the change of electrical properties of cable insulation due to mechanical behavior is of great theoretical guidance to improve the reliable operation of cables. This paper first introduces the basic characteristics and operating conditions of torsion-resistant cables and submarine cables. Then the mechanical behavior of the cables is summarized, and the deterioration mechanism and deterioration effect of wind power cable insulation under the influence of multiple factors such as heat, oxygen, and mechanical stress are sorted out. Then, the basic principles of wind power cable operation condition monitoring methods and their characteristics are described. Finally, the relevant methods for the detection of hidden defects inside the insulation are summarized.

Saposhnikovia divaricata is a high-demand medicinal plant containing various bioactive metabolites (e.g., chromone). However, root rot disease leads to a dramatic reduction in the yield and quality of S. divaricata. The use of rhizospheric microorganisms is one of the best strategies for biological control. In this study, a total of 104 fungi isolated from the rhizospheric soil of S. divaricata plants were examined for their different antifungal properties. Subsequently, strain MR-57 was selected as a potential stock for biocontrol due to its broad-spectrum antagonistic activity against pathogens, including F. equiseti. Based on the analysis of morphological properties and rDNA internal transcribed spacers (ITSs), strain MR-57 was identified as Acrophialophora jodhpurensis (GenBank No. OK287150.1), a newly recorded species for China. In an in vitro antifungal assay, the culture filtrate of strain MR-57 significantly reduced the conidial germination rate and induced alterations in the mycelia morphology of F. equiseti, such as deformation and degradation. To assess the antifungal efficacy of MR-57 against root rot disease and the properties promoting the growth of S. divaricata, pot experiments were performed under natural outdoor conditions. The results indicated that co-inoculation with MR-57 delayed the occurrence of S. divaricata root rot and showed a control efficacy of 65.41% (p < 0.05) based on the measurement of suppressed disease lesions. Additionally, MR-57 successfully colonized and formed a stable population in the soil in which S. divaricata was grown, and it exhibited a consistently positive effect on the promotion of the growth of S. divaricata plants. In short, Acr. jodhpurensis MR-57 could be considered for the development of a potential biocontrol agent for the management of S. divaricata root rot caused by F. equiseti.

With the impacts of climate change and human activities, agricultural drought disaster losses have increased remarkably. Drought disaster risk assessment is a prerequisite for formulating disaster reduction strategies and ensuring food security. However, drought disaster risk is a complex system, and quantitative assessment methods reflecting the risk formation mechanism are still rarely reported. This study presented a chain transmission system structure of drought disaster risk, which meant that drought disaster loss risk R was derived from drought hazard H by the transformation of drought disaster vulnerability V. Based on this point, firstly, a drought hazard curve between drought intensity and drought frequency was established using remote sensing data and the copula function. Then, a crop loss calculation approach under various drought events and drought resistance capacity scenarios was achieved by two-season field experiments and the AquaCrop model. Finally, a loss risk curve cluster of “drought frequency–drought resistance capacity–yield loss rate” was proposed by the composition of the above two quantitative relationships. The results of the case study for summer maize in Bengbu City indicated that the average yield loss rate under 19 droughts occurring during the growth period of maize from 1982 to 2017 was 24.51%. High risk happened in 1988, 1992, 1994, 2001, and 2004, with the largest loss rate in 2001, up to 65.58%. Overall, droughts with a return period less than two years occurred frequently during the growth period of summer maize in Bengbu, though the loss risk was still controllable. In conclusion, the results suggest that the loss risk curve provides a new effective method of drought disaster risk quantitative assessment from a physical mechanism perspective, which lays a scientific foundation for decision-making in risk management.

To resolve problems caused by the accumulation of flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG) in the environment, a polymer material was prepared using FGDG, granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS), fly ash (FA), and solid sodium silicate (SSS). The compressive strength of these polymer specimens cured for 3, 28, and 60 d was regularly measured, and their condensation behavior was analyzed. Both the formation behavior of mineral crystals and microstructure characteristics were analyzed further using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The compressive strength of pure FGDG polymer specimen (whose strength is generated by particle condensation crystallization) is insufficient and the condensation is slow. The addition of appropriate amounts of GBFS, FA, and SSS can continuously and considerably improve the compressive strength and shorten the setting time. The optimal proportions of FGDG, GBFS, and FA are 50%, 20%, and 30%, respectively, with the SSS addition amount of 20 g. The incorporation of GBFS, FA, and SSS can promote the polymerization of calcium, silicon, and aluminum in FGDG to form silicate and aluminosilicate minerals. Their formation is the main reason for the increased compressive strength and accelerated coagulation.

Based on the spatial distribution characteristics of the summer monsoon rain belt, Anhui Province of China is divided into three regions, namely, the south of the Yangtze River region (SYA), the Yangtze-Huai region (YHA), and the north of the Huaihe region (NHA). The western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) ridge and the number of regional rainy days are adopted to identify the onset and ending dates of Meiyu and Huang-Huai rainy seasons during 1957–2020, using China’s national standard on “Meiyu monitoring indices.” Then precipitation characteristics of these three regions during Meiyu and Huang-Huai rainy seasons are investigated. Finally, the return periods of the precipitation during the northward movement of summer monsoon over Anhui Province are calculated. The results show that there are 7 years without the occurrence of Huang-Huai rainy season, but 8 years with the occurrence of two Meiyu periods and 5 years with two Huang-Huai rainy periods. Thus, there is only one Meiyu period and one Huang-Huai rainy period in the rest 49 years. For the first Meiyu period during 1957–2020, the average onset and ending dates are 14th June and 10th July, respectively, while the corresponding precipitation presents a decreasing tendency from south to north regions in Anhui Province. For the first Huang-Huai rainy period during 1957–2020, the average onset and ending dates are 10th July and 23rd July, respectively, and the corresponding precipitation shows an increasing tendency from south to north regions. For the northward movement of summer monsoon over Anhui Province, the average onset and ending dates are 14th June and 25th July, respectively, and the corresponding precipitation in NHA is close to that in YHA, but less than that in SYA. Annual precipitation in SYA, YHA, and NHA are 999.5, 1010.6, and 618.7 mm, respectively, during the northward movement of summer monsoon over Anhui Province in 2020, and the corresponding return periods are 56.0, 161.6, and 29.2 years, respectively.

Objectives: The present study aimed to correlate relationships between systemic family dynamics and mental health and to explore family factors that influence adolescent mental health in Shaanxi Province, China.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to sample adolescents aged 12–23 using a questionnaire including Self-rating Scale of Systemic Family Dynamics, Symptom Checklist-90 Revised, and general demographic.Results: More educated parents in white-collar employment and higher family income were associated with better mental health and better family dynamic scores. The total score of family dynamics was positively correlated with mental health scores. The generalized linear mixed model found that poorer mental health was associated with increased age, being in senior high school, having a father in a blue-collar profession, and SSFD square. The structural equation modelling suggested that this is largely a mediated effect via those characteristics impacting family dynamics, which in turn affect mental health.Conclusion: Family dynamics may be an important contributor to adolescent mental health. Education and interventions aimed at improving family dynamics may be useful for reducing the prevalence of mental health problems amongst adolescents.

Groundwater contributes to the delivery of phreatic water to crop aeration zones via evapotranspiration, which is important for crop growth in drought-prone regions. Most studies on groundwater contribution have not considered the influence of crop growth stage or daily evapotranspiration. In this study, a neural network based on a genetic algorithm and the Levenberg–Marquardt backpropagation algorithm, as well as formula methods based on an accelerated genetic algorithm, were built to assess soybean groundwater contribution; in addition, a performance comparison was conducted. The results indicated that machine learning had the best performance for fitting errors, with values for relative mean error (RME), root mean square percentage error (RMSPE), and correlation coefficient of 1.088, 2.165, and 0.762, respectively; in addition, for validation errors, it had values for RME, RMSPE, and correlation coefficient of 1.069, 2.136, and 0.735, respectively. The machine learning method is recommended for readers seeking to calculate groundwater contribution.