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This study reviews the literature on air cargo operations and compares theoretical studies with the practical problems of airlines, freight forwarders, and terminal service providers. In particular, we review studies in which mathematical models were used to identify the essential characteristics of air cargo operations, such as the intrinsic differences from passenger operations, and to explore the service processes in air cargo operations. The typical models used in previous studies are summarized. We then highlight the insightful findings from an industrial interview and present the gaps between previous research and practical realities. We finally discuss the new research opportunities of air cargo operations according to the gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop an actionable data-driven approach to a periodic-review dual sourcing inventory management system in the presence of purchase price and demand uncertainties. The two supply sources differ in their lead times and prices due to, e.g., different transportation modes. We adopt robust optimization because the limited historical data is insufficient to construct meaningful distributions to characterize purchase price and demand fluctuations. Specifically, we build a robust rolling-horizon model and, in particular, construct the uncertainty sets from data and business insights. Using a real four-year data set, we show that our approach can yield significant cost savings compared to the other popular methods. Our experiments echo the earlier theoretical finding that a firm may incur a lower cost under a more volatile purchase price process. However, we find that under data-driven decision-making, in comparison with the theoretical results that assume complete distributional information, some interesting results arise. For example, first, considering a longer planning horizon may backfire. Second, some feasible region-reducing business constraints such as limited inventory capacity may lead to unintended benefits. These are consequences of protecting model performance from sampling error and our practically limited forecast ability, as almost always, to characterize uncertainties. Our research therefore calls for prudence in extending theoretical insights to data-driven decision-making scenarios. • Present a robust rolling-horizon model for dual sourcing inventory systems under purchase price and demand uncertainties • Develop a data-driven procedure to construct uncertainty sets and select parameters • A longer planning horizon may backfire under data-driven decision making. • Limited inventory capacity may lead to unexpected benefits under data-driven decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enantiomerically enriched sulfones occupy a prominent position in pharmaceutical chemistry and synthetic chemistry. Compared with conventional methods, a direct asymmetric sulfonylation reaction with the fixation of sulfur dioxide represents an attractive strategy for the rapid assembly of chiral sulfones with enantiopurity. In this highlight, we survey recent exciting advances in asymmetric sulfonylation by using sulfur dioxide surrogates, and discuss asymmetric induction modes, reaction mechanisms, substrate scope and opportunities for further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which aims to compare the excavation damage zones (EDZ) leading from blasting with electronic detonators and with nonel detonators. It states that various methods such as displacement measurements, direct observation using borehole cameras, and geophysical methods are utilized in the study to examine the characteristics of the EDZ. Result shows that the fractures in the rock mass around the tunnel led to an unsuccessful ultrasonic wave measurement for the hole.

This graphic abstract describes the synthesis strategies, catalytic applications and challenges for the encapsulation of subnanometric metal clusters in zeolites. [Display omitted] • First systemic review on zeolite encapsulation of subnanometric metal clusters. • Firstly illustrating prerequisites for in situ hydrothermal encapsulation. • The challenges and perspectives for such encapsulation are accentuated. Subnanometric metal clusters encapsulated within zeolites are of great interests for the industrial catalysis. Herein we review for the first time the encapsulation of subnanometric metal clusters in zeolites. The concepts of both subnanometric metal clusters and zeolites are briefly introduced. The recent advancements of synthesis methods, such as impregnation, ion-exchange followed by post-treatment, template-guidance approach, in situ hydrothermal synthesis and interzeolite transformation are summarized. Further, the encapsulation effects including metal loading, ligand property, zeolite type and calcination condition for subdividing subnanometric metal clusters and nanoparticles in zeolites using quite similar synthesis procedures during in situ hydrothermal synthesis are firstly reviewed to explore the underlying mechanism. The important catalytic applications mainly contained propane dehydrogenation, formic acid decomposition, ammonia borane hydrolysis, cyclohexane oxidation, water–gas shift reaction and hydrogenation reaction are demonstrated. This review concludes with the challenges and status of both the stability issue under high temperature and advanced characterization techniques as well as the industrial perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effectively controlling the release behavior of silver bactericide to promote its antibacterial ability is highly important in the fields of chemical, biomedical and biotechnology industry. In this study, ultrasmall Ag clusters were successfully encapsulated into silicalite-1 zeolite through in situ hydrothermal approach, and the key to this success was choosing 3-mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane as ligand to facilitate Ag precursor involved into zeolite initial sol-gel system. The structure of prepared silicalite-1 zeolite encapsulation of Ag clusters (denoted as Ag@Silicalite-1) has been well defined with various characterizations and probe reactions. Benefiting from confinement effect and shape-selectivity of silicalite-1 zeolite, Ag@Silicalite-1 sample showed much better Ag+ controlled release performance than that of sample with Ag nanoparticles impregnated onto silicalite-1 zeolite (denoted as Ag/Silicalite-1). The release behavior of Ag+ in Ag@Silicalite-1 can be well described with ritger-peppas model. Taking killing Escherichia coli as an example, in comparison with Ag/Silicalite-1, Ag@Silicalite-1 sample displayed more efficient and sustainable antibacterial activity for its controlled release character. [Display omitted] • Ultrasmall Ag clusters were successfully in situ encapsulated into silicalite-1 zeolite. • Encapsulated Ag clusters displayed interesting controlled release behavior and well anti-poisoning property. • Silicalite-1 encapsulated Ag clusters showed sustainable and efficient antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is a perioperative management protocol to accelerate patient recovery. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of ERAS protocols implemented in patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) before minimally invasive McKeown esophagectomy. Methods: This retrospective study compared the short-term clinical outcomes in esophagectomy patients from June 2018 to June 2021. Subjects were divided into two categories: those who underwent NACT (NACT group) and the non-NACT group. Results: There was no significant difference in total postoperative complication morbidity between the NACT and non-NACT groups (21.2% vs. 20.7%, P=0.936). In addition, the hospital length of stay post-surgery (7.90 vs. 7.71 days, P=0.424) was not significantly longer when compared to the non-NACT group. The time to chest tube removal (5.37 vs. 5.13 days, P=0.238) and first bowel movement (2.92 vs. 3.01 days, P=0.560) was also similar between the two groups. Conclusions: There was no significant difference in postoperative complications rate, postoperative hospital length of stay, and readmission rate between the two group. This study proved that ERAS protocols seemed to be safe and feasible for patients who received NACT before esophagectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have documented negative associations between somatic symptoms and remission of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the correlations of specific somatic symptoms with remission remain uncertain. We aimed to explore the associations between specific somatic symptoms and remission focusing on sex differences among patients with MDD. We used data from patients with MDD in the Depression Cohort in China. At baseline, total somatic symptoms were evaluated using the 28-item Somatic Symptoms Inventory and were categorized into pain, autonomic, energy, and central nervous system (CNS) symptoms. To measure remission of MDD, depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 after 3 months of treatment. We ultimately included 634 patients. Compared with quartile 1 of total somatic symptom scores, the full-adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for remission from quartile 2 to quartile 4 were 0.52 (0.30, 0.90), 0.44 (0.23, 0.83), and 0.36 (0.17, 0.75), respectively (P -value for trend = 0.005). The restricted cubic spline showed no non-linear associations between total somatic symptoms with remission (P -value for non-linear = 0.238). Pain, autonomic, and CNS symptoms showed similar results. Sex-stratified analysis showed that total somatic symptoms, pain symptoms, and autonomic symptoms were negatively correlated with remission in females, whereas CNS symptoms were negatively associated with remission in males. Our findings indicate that specific somatic symptoms exert differential effects on remission of MDD. Therapeutic interventions that target pain, autonomic, and CNS symptoms may increase the probability of remission. Furthermore, interventions for somatic symptoms should be tailored by sex, and females deserve more attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent discovery of Leidenfrost droplet trampolining deviates from the traditionally accepted steady-state assumption and updates our understanding of Leidenfrost droplet state. However, the conditions of trampolining and its effect on heat transfer have not been fully understood. To address these issues, this study numerically investigates the dynamic behavior and heat transfer characteristics of Leidenfrost droplets under varying liquid viscosity and droplet size. A regime map for Leidenfrost droplet state with respect to Bond number and Ohnesorge is presented. Particularly, an unreported oscillation regime is discovered between equilibrium regime and trampolining regime. The results indicate that low viscosity and moderate droplet size favor the observation of trampolining. Besides, the oscillating droplet is modeled via a mass-spring-damper system in both equilibrium and oscillation regimes, with damping coefficient, spring constant and oscillation period quantitatively correlated with liquid viscosity and droplet size by simple scaling laws. In the trampolining regime, an intriguing phenomenon is observed as the maximum vapor layer thickness demonstrates two local maxima with increasing droplet size. We also quantitatively unravel that reducing liquid viscosity and increasing droplet size can lead to a thicker vapor layer thickness, thus inhibiting the heat transfer to the droplet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have demonstrated that sexual minorities are at a higher risk of experiencing depressive symptoms. However, few prior investigations have examined the potential mechanisms involved. This study aimed to employ the four-way decomposition approach that integrates the analysis of mediation and interaction to investigate the potential role of problematic internet use between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms. The participants were recruited through a multi-stage, stratified cluster, and random sampling method in China. Students who identified as "gay or lesbian" and "bisexual" were defined as "sexual minorities". The Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT) was used to evaluate problematic internet use. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-20) was used to evaluate depressive symptoms. A total of 59,859 adolescents were included in this study, with 30,180 (53.25 %) boys and 29,679 (46.75 %) girls. Of these, 7263 (12.13 %) were identified as sexual minorities. Gender differences were observed in the association between sexual orientation, problematic internet use, and depressive symptoms. The mediating effect of problematic internet use was 28.80 % for boys and 36.84 % for girls, respectively. The interaction effect between problematic internet use and sexual minority status on depressive symptoms was 21.19 % and 9.65 % for boys and girls, respectively. The current study was limited by the cross-sectional design. These findings suggest that prevention and intervention programs aimed at improving mental health outcomes among sexual minority adolescents should prioritize considering the impact of problematic internet use and potential gender differences. • Sexual minorities have a higher risk of depressive symptoms. • Sexual minorities are more likely to develop problematic internet use. • Problematic internet use plays both mediating and interactive roles. • There are gender differences in these relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tea plants [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] can produce one of the three most widely popular non-alcoholic beverages throughout the world. Polyphenols and volatiles are the main functional ingredients determining tea's quality and flavor; however, the biotic or abiotic factors affecting tea polyphenol biosynthesis are unclear. This paper focuses on the molecular mechanisms of sucrose on polyphenol biosynthesis and volatile composition variation in tea plants. Results: Metabolic analysis showed that the total content of anthocyanins, catechins, and proanthocyanidins(PAs) increased with sucrose, and they accumulated most significantly after 14 days of treatment. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 8384 and 5571 differentially expressed genes in 2-day and 14-day sucrose-treated tea plants compared with control-treated plants. Most of the structural genes and transcription factors (TFs) involved in polyphenol biosynthesis were significantly up-regulated after 2d. Among these transcripts, the predicted genes encoding glutathione S-transferase (GST), ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABC transporters), and multidrug and toxic compound extrusion transporters (MATE transporters) appeared up regulated. Correspondingly, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-QQQ-MS/MS) analysis revealed that the content of non-galloylated catechins and oligomeric PAs decreased in the upper-stem and increased in the lower-stem significantly, especially catechin (C), epicatechin (EC), and their oligomeric PAs. This result suggests that the related flavonoids were transported downward in the stem by transporters. GC/MS data implied that four types of volatile compounds, namely terpene derivatives, aromatic derivatives, lipid derivatives, and others, were accumulated differently after in vitro sucrose treatment. Conclusions: Our data demonstrated that sucrose regulates polyphenol biosynthesis in Camellia sinensis by altering the expression of transcription factor genes and pathway genes. Additionally, sucrose promotes the transport of polyphenols and changes the aroma composition in tea plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholestasis is a disorder of bile secretion and excretion caused by a variety of etiologies. At present, there is a lack of functional foods or drugs that can be used for intervention. Forsythiaside A (FTA) is a natural phytochemical component isolated from the medicinal plant Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl, which has a significant hepatoprotective effect. In this study, we investigated whether FTA could alleviate liver injury induced by cholestasis. In vitro, FTA reversed the decrease in viability of human intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells, the decrease in antioxidant enzymes (SOD1, CAT and GSH-Px), and cell apoptosis induced by lithocholic acid. In vivo, FTA protected mice from 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC)-induced liver injury, abnormal serum biochemical indexes, abnormal bile duct hyperplasia, and inflammatory infiltration. Furthermore, FTA treatment alleviated liver fibrosis by inhibiting collagen deposition and HSC activation. The metabonomic results showed that DDC-induced bile acid disorders in the liver and serum were reversed after FTA treatment, which may benefit from the activation of the FXR/BSEP axis. In addition, FTA treatment increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes in the serum and liver. Meanwhile, FTA treatment inhibited ROS and MDA levels and cleaved caspase 3 protein expression, thereby reducing DDC-induced hepatic oxidative stress and apoptosis. Further studies showed that the antioxidant effects of FTA were dependent on the activation of the BRG1/NRF2/HO-1 axis. In a word, FTA has a significant hepatoprotective effect on cholestatic liver injury, and can be further developed as a functional food or drug to prevent and treat cholestatic liver injury. [Display omitted] • FTA alleviated hepatic injury, fibrosis, and bile duct hyperplasia in mice. • FTA restored bile acids homeostasis in mice. • FTA relieved hepatic oxidative stress and apoptosis in mice. • FTA activated the FXR/BSEP and BRG1/NRF2/HO-1 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The prevalence rates of HR-SMI and PTSD among refugees fluctuated at a high level during resettlement. • Financial hardship was consistently associated with mental ill-health for both male and female refugees over time. • Time or sex differences were more pronounced for time-varying associations between other SES factors and refugees' mental health. • For male refugees, a current paid job was negatively associated with HR-SMI and PTSD in waves 3–5. • A similar association between a current paid job and HR-SMI among female refugees was only observed in wave 5. Socioeconomic status (SES) is shown to be associated with refugees' mental health, but few studies have considered that these associations may vary over time. This study aimed to examine the dynamic contributions of SES to refugees' mental health during resettlement. We used five waves of data from a cohort study in Australia; 2399 refugees completed the interview in Wave 1, and the remaining waves had 2009, 1894, 1929, and 1881 participants, respectively. SES, high risk of severe mental illness (HR-SMI), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were assessed in each wave. Weighted multilevel regression models were performed, and analyses were stratified by sex. For both sexes, financial hardships were consistently positively associated with HR-SMI and PTSD across all five waves. However, time or sex differences were more pronounced for associations between other SES factors and mental health. For males, there were negative associations of current paid jobs with HR-SMI and PTSD in Waves 3–5. For females, the current paid job was negatively associated with HR-SMI only in Wave 5. Our findings highlight the dynamic associations and sex differences between SES and refugees' mental health. We recommend interventions focusing on increasing employment opportunities, particularly for male refugees in the later resettlement stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the association of emotional and behavioral problems with sleep disturbance among Chinese adolescents, and to test whether these associations vary with adolescents' academic performance. Data were from the 2021 School-based Chinese Adolescents Health Survey using a multistage, stratified-cluster, and random-sampling method to collect information from 22,684 middle school students in Guangdong Province, China. Emotional problems (aOR = 1.34, 95 % CI = 1.32–1.36), conduct problems (aOR = 1.19, 95 % CI = 1.16–1.21), hyperactivity (aOR = 1.35, 95 % CI = 1.33–1.37), and peer problems (aOR = 1.06, 95 % CI = 1.04–1.09) were significantly associated with the increased risk of sleep disturbance among middle school students in Guangdong Province. The prevalence of sleep disturbance among adolescents was 29.4 %. There were significant interactions of emotional problems/conduct problems/peer problems/prosocial behavior with academic performance on sleep disturbance. Further stratification analyses by academic performance showed that adolescents with self-reported good academic performance had a higher risk of sleep disturbance than those students with self-reported average or poor academic performance. This study only included school students and used the cross-sectional design to preclude causality determination. Our findings suggest that emotional and behavioral problems elevate the risk of sleep disturbance in adolescents. Adolescent academic performance plays a modulating role in these above-mentioned significant associations for sleep disturbance. • Emotional and behavioral problems elevated the risk of sleep disturbance in adolescents. • Adolescent academic performance moderates the associations of the emotional and behavioral problems with sleep disturbance. • Associations in good academic performers were stronger than in corresponding groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical looping provides a novel route to enable efficient hydrogen generation but is limited by lacking highly active and stable oxygen carriers. Here, we proposed the one-dimensional nano-fiber Fe 2 O 3 /ZrO 2 for chemical looping water gas shift to produce hydrogen and studied the size effect on the redox chemistry. The results show that the reactivity and stability of nano-fibers is size dependent. Increasing the size can significantly strengthen the stability albeit reducing the activity. In particular, the nano-fiber with the diameter of ∼99 nm shows both high hydrogen yield (9.07 mmol.g−1) and stable performance over 60 redox cycles at 750 °C. Mechanism study manifests that the small size can enhance the reduction depth in the initial few cycles, leading to high hydrogen production, but at the expense of severe sintering after repetitive cycles. Therefore, the selection of an optimal size (99 nm in diameter) is key to simultaneously ensure high reactivity and stability. We anticipate that the size effect on the redox chemistry will have extensive implications for the development of efficient oxygen carriers. [Display omitted] • Redox performance of nano-fibers is size dependent. • Small size leads to high reduction depth and reversible phase change. • Small size results in severe sintering. • 99 nm is an optimal size to ensure high reactivity and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Visualized fragmentation experiments were carried out by releasing molten lead into subcooled water under different experimental conditions. • Parameter effects on the fragmentation process and debris properties are investigated in detail. • The dominant factors influencing the fragment sphericity and debris porosity are the thermal parameters, namely melt temperature and water subcooling. • Maps of the fragment sphericity and debris porosity are established based on the experimental results. In the present work, to investigate the thermo-hydraulic characteristics of molten lead jet fragmentation in water, visualized fragmentation experiments are carried out by releasing superheated molten lead into subcooled water at different experimental conditions using the VTMCI (Visualized Thermo-hydraulic characteristics in Melt-Coolant Interaction) facility at Sun Yat-Sen University. The parameter effects, such as melt temperature, water subcooling, boiling mode, penetration velocity and water depth, on the fragmentation process and debris properties are analyzed in detail. It is found that the dominant factors influencing the fragment sphericity and debris porosity are the thermal parameters, namely melt temperature and water subcooling. Based on the experimental results, the maps of the fragment sphericity and debris porosity are established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A special issue on "technology-driven logistics and supply chain management for societal impacts" • 14 research studies discussed and categorized under technologies, ESG, and platforms. • A discussion paper is presented based on the studies in the special issues. • Five future directions derived. In recent years, there has been substantial growth in the utilization of technologies within the logistics and transportation industries. This growth has resulted in the emergence of numerous novel and exciting applications, offering researchers valuable opportunities to develop innovative solutions. The field of operations management is well-positioned to contribute significantly to this development and promote socially responsible values. This paper investigates the impact of technology-driven logistics and supply chain management on various aspects of social values, categorized as technologies, platforms, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations. Additionally, it provides an introduction to the papers featured in this special issue. Lastly, the paper proposes future research directions to further advance the societal impacts of technologies in logistics and transportation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is fundamentally significant to predict the maximum spreading of liquid droplets impact on textured surfaces. However, relevant work is very limited. Considering the effects of contact line pinning and liquid penetration into textures, a theoretical model to predict the maximum spreading factor on concentric ring-textured surfaces is developed. Validated with numerical simulations conducted by an effective, sharp-interface, continuum level modeling method, this model has shown a good predicting performance. It is demonstrated that in the viscous regime, the viscous dissipation arising from liquid penetration into textures has a considerable effect on the maximum spreading factor, whereas the effects of the contact line pinning and surface energy are negligible. Meanwhile, as viscous dissipation becomes more dominant, the effect of texture gap on maximum spreading is less visible. The phase diagram of the wetting state at maximum spreading is also provided. We indicate that the intermediate wetting state is favorable under small Reynolds number and narrow texture gap, while the partial wetting state is supported under the opposite conditions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • One-step synthesis of gasoline fuels from γ-valerolactone was achieved. • Cu/HZSM-5 bifunctional catalyst with adjusting acidity and Cu loading content was designed. • The interfacial active sites composed of metallic Cu and proton acid of HZSM-5 determine the catalytic performance. • A spontaneous C O bond breaking path of γ-valerolactone was found. Direct synthesis of transportation liquid fuels from renewable biomass-based resources via γ-valerolactone (GVL) is a highly attractive but challenging target. The current conversion of biomass-derived GVL to liquid fuels suffers from low selectivity or multiple operation steps with high energy consumption. Herein, we reported a simple and efficient way for the high-selective conversion of GVL into gasoline fuels over designed Cu/HZSM-5 bifunctional catalyst in a single fixed-bed reactor. The excellent catalytic performance of 99.9 % conversion of GVL with 85.3 % selectivity to C 5+ hydrocarbons (mainly C 5 -C 12) and good stability were obtained. We demonstrated that the interfacial sites composed of metallic Cu and proton acid of HZSM-5 played a key role in determining the performance via providing a spontaneous C O bond breaking path of GVL, facilitating the formation of pentene intermediate that could be further converted to gasoline fuels through a series of aromatization, alkylation and oligomerization reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study adopts the phase-field method to investigate the dynamics of droplet impact on spherical surfaces at various Reynolds numbers Re and Weber numbers We. Five liquids are studied in the present simulation, which expands the research scope of viscosity (1–970 mPa·s) and surface tension (20–500 mN/m) compared with previous works. The temporal evolution of the spreading factor β and the dimensionless center thickness h * is systematically analyzed. The results indicate that β max ∝ We a suggested by previous works does not apply to viscous fluids. Thus, we adopt the impact factor P = We / Re 0.8, which has been used to study droplet impact on flat surfaces, to decide the dominating force of β max for impact on spheres. We first find that β max ∝ Re b exists in the viscous regime (P > 1), whereas β max ∝ We a mainly exists in the capillary regime (P < 1). Although the fluid properties of incident droplets vary widely, the variation in h * with dimensionless time τ always has three distinct phases. The first phase follows h * = 1- τ , and the second phase basically conforms to h * ∝ τ −1.6. The minimum dimensionless center thickness h * min scales as Re c . Furthermore, the exponents a , b , and c are found to b e strongly related to the diameter ratio of spheres and droplets, and prediction models of the three exponents are proposed. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholestatic liver injury (CLI) is a pathologic process with the impairment of liver and bile secretion and excretion, resulting in an excessive accumulation of bile acids within the liver, which leads to damage to both bile ducts and hepatocytes. This process is often accompanied by inflammation. Cucumis melo L is a folk traditional herb for the treatment of cholestasis. Cucurbitacin B (CuB), an important active ingredient in Cucumis melo L, has significant anti-inflamamatory effects and plays an important role in diseases such as neuroinflammation, skin inflammation, and chronic hepatitis. Though numerous studies have confirmed the significant therapeutic effect of CuB on liver diseases, the impact of CuB on CLI remains uncertain. Consequently, the objective of this investigation is to elucidate the therapeutic properties and potential molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of CuB on CLI. The aim of this paper was to investigate the potential protective mechanism of CuB against CLI. First, the corresponding targets of CuB were obtained through the SwissTargetPrediction and SuperPre online platforms. Second, the DisGeNET database, GeneCards database, and OMIM database were utilized to screen therapeutic targets for CLI. Then, protein-protein interaction (PPI) was determined using the STRING 11.5 data platform. Next, the OmicShare platform was employed for the purpose of visualizing the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses. The molecular docking technique was then utilized to evaluate the binding affinity existing between potential targets and CuB. Subsequently, the impacts of CuB on the LO2 cell injury model induced by Lithocholic acid (LCA) and the CLI model induced by 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC) were determined by evaluating inflammation in both in vivo and in vitro settings. The potential molecular mechanism was explored by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot (WB) techniques. A total of 122 CuB targets were collected and high affinity targets were identified through the PPI network, namely TLR4, STAT3, HIF1A, and NFKB1. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that the treatment of CLI with CuB chiefly involved the inflammatory pathway. In vitro study results showed that CuB alleviated LCA-induced LO2 cell damage. Meanwhile, CuB reduced elevated AST and ALT levels and the release of inflammatory factors in LO2 cells induced by LCA. In vivo study results showed that CuB could alleviate DDC-induced pathological changes in mouse liver, inhibit the activity of serum transaminase, and suppress the liver and systemic inflammatory reaction of mice. Mechanically, CuB downregulated the IL-6, STAT3, and HIF-1α expression and inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation. By combining network pharmacology with in vivo and i n vitro experiments, the results of this study suggested that CuB prevented the inflammatory response by inhibiting the IL-6/STAT3/HIF-1α signaling pathway, thereby demonstrating potential protective and therapeutic effects on CLI. These results establish a scientific foundation for the exploration and utilization of natural medicines for CLI. [Display omitted] • Targets of CuB treatment for cholestasis are enriched in the inflammatory pathway. • STAT3 and HIF-1α are key targets. • CuB alleviates cholestasis-induced liver damage and inflammatory reactions. • CuB prevents cholestasis by inhibiting the IL-6/STAT3/HIF-1α signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• It is the first of its kind in China to explore the factors influencing the stigma of depression in persons living with MDD from the multidimensional perspective of individuals, their families, and society. • The study investigated the association of IS and PS with medication adherence based on a longitudinal cohort. • This study introduces a testable hypothesis from our data, proposing that strategies targeting IS in individuals with major MDD could significantly increase adherence to antidepressant treatment. This study sought to evaluate internalized stigma (IS) and perceived stigma (PS), in persons (n = 522) living with major depressive disorder (MDD), with a view to analyzing the association of IS and PS with medication adherence in a cohort of participants with MDD in China. Perceived stigma is the awareness of societal negative views and attitudes towards depression, and IS is applying others' attitudes to oneself, both measured by the Depression Stigma Scale (DSS). Medication adherence was assessed using the Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS). We observed that 76.0 % of participants reported IS and 84.5 % reported PS. Factors associated with increased IS included older age, marital status, disease history, and a higher baseline Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Higher education level, family income, and scores on the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) were associated with lower levels of IS. Higher education levels, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) scores, and living with others were also associated with higher PS, while engagement in exercise and higher number of prior episodes were associated with lower PS. IS had a negative association with medication adherence, whereas PS did not significantly associate with adherence. In conclusion, a testable hypothesis is derived from our data that strategies targeting IS amongst persons with MDD may improve overall rates of adherence to antidepressant treatment, a necessary prelude to improving recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose an improved filtering algorithm for regular constraint, which demand that the sequence of all assignments for variables can be accepted by a Deterministic Finite Automaton (DFA) or a regular language. Regular constraint is a type of global constraint in Constraint Satisfaction Problems (CSPs) and a natural expression of deterministic patterns in planning and decision making, and it utilizes the properties of DFA to pre-specify the optional paths for multiple variables. Thus, it is sensible to improve the filtering algorithm that enforces Generalized Arc Consistency (GAC) for regular constraint in order to minimize memory and time consumption. With the goal in mind, we encode DFA using bit vectors and then devise a bit operations algorithm to maintain the domain consistency for regular constraint. Lastly, we carry out an experiment to compare to the state-of-the-art filtering algorithm. The experimental results demonstrates that the proposed algorithm significantly improves both memory and time. • The improved filtering algorithm improves efficiency for regular constraints. • Our filtering algorithm uses a large number of bit operations. • The proposed algorithm maintains generalized arc consistency. • The experimental results show that our algorithm provides a significant improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver fibrosis (LF) is an important stage in chronic liver disease development, characterized by hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and excessive extracellular matrix deposition. Phillygenin (PHI), an active component in the traditional Chinese medicine Forsythiae Fructus with a significant anti-inflammatory effect, has been proved to inhibit HSC activation. Macrophages can polarize to pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype and anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, participating in LF development. Currently, Forsythiae Fructus and its many components have been proved to inhibit the inflammatory activation of macrophages. However, there is no direct evidence that PHI can regulate macrophage polarization, and the relationship between macrophage polarization and the anti-LF effect of PHI has not been studied. In this study, we found that PHI inhibited the co-expression of CD80 and CD86, and inhibited the mRNA expression and protein secretion of related inflammatory cytokines in RAW264.7 cells. For mechanism, PHI was found to inhibit the JAK1/JAK2-STAT1 and Notch1 signaling pathways. Subsequently, mHSCs were co-cultured with the conditioned media or exosomes from macrophages with different treatments. It was found that the conditioned media and exosomes from PHI-treated macrophages inhibited the expression of MMP2, TIMP1, TGF-β, α-SMA, COL1 and NF-κB in mHSCs. Moreover, through bioinformatic analysis and cell transfection, we confirmed that PHI reduced HSC activation by inhibiting the overexpression of miR-125b-5p in M1 macrophage-derived exosomes and restoring Stard13 expression in mHSCs. On the whole, PHI could inhibit M1 macrophage polarization by suppressing the JAK1/JAK2-STAT1 and Notch1 signaling pathways, and reduce HSC activation by inhibiting macrophage exosomal miR-125b-5p targeting Stard13. The raw data supporting the conclusions of this study are available in the article/Supplementary figures, and can be obtained from the first or corresponding author. [Display omitted] • Phillygenin was proved for the first time to inhibit M1 macrophage polarization. • Phillygenin inhibited HSC activation via macrophage-derived exosomes. • Phillygenin inhibited M1 macrophage exosomal miR-125b-5p targeting Stard13. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]