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Aims To devise effective preventive measures, a profound understanding of the evolving patterns and trends in atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) burdens is pivotal. Our study was designed to quantify the burden and delineate the risk factors associated with AF and AFL across 204 countries and territories spanning 1990–2021. Methods and results Data pertaining to AF and AFL were sourced from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The burden of AF/AFL was evaluated using metrics such as incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), deaths, and their corresponding age-standardized rates (ASRs), stratified by age, sex, socio-demographic index (SDI), and human development index (HDI). The estimated annual percentage change was employed to quantify changes in ASRs. Population attributable fractions were calculated to determine the proportional contributions of major risk factors to age-standardized AF/AFL deaths. This analysis encompassed the period from 1990 to 2021. Globally, in 2021, there were 4.48 million incident cases [95% uncertainty interval (UI): 3.61–5.70], 8.36 million DALYs (95% UI: 6.97–10.13) and 0.34 million deaths (95% UI: 0.29–0.37) attributed to AF/AFL. The AF/AFL burden in 2021, as well as its trends from 1990 to 2021, displayed substantial variations based on gender, SDI quintiles, and geographical regions. High systolic blood pressure emerged as the leading contributor to age-standardized AF/AFL incidence, prevalence, death, and DALY rate globally among all potential risk factors, followed closely by high body mass index. Conclusion Our study underscores the enduring significance of AF/AFL as a prominent public health concern worldwide, marked by profound regional and national variations. Despite the substantial potential for prevention and management of AF/AFL, there is a pressing imperative to adopt more cost-effective strategies and interventions to target modifiable risk factors, particularly in areas where the burden of AF/AFL is high or escalating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research provides limited knowledge about how and whether digital transformation related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) affects the total factor productivity (TFP). To fill the gap, this study explores the impact of digital transformation on TFP based on a fixed‐effect model and the staggered difference‐in‐differences method and reveals that digital transformation can boost corporate TFP. Mechanism analysis reveals that digital transformation promotes ESG performance in companies, thereby affecting TFP. Social performance in ESG plays a mediating effect, while environmental performance plays a suppressing effect. Besides, the primary driver of TFP improvement through digital transformation lies in its direct effect, whereas the indirect effect of ESG factors is relatively limited. Our findings provide new insight into how digital transformation promotes corporate ESG and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The serine carboxypeptidase-like (SCPL) gene family plays a crucial role in the regulation of plant growth, development, and stress response through activities such as acyltransferases in plant secondary metabolism pathways. Although SCPL genes have been identified in various plant species, their specific functions and characteristics in soybean (Glycine max) have not yet been studied. We identified and characterized 73 SCPL genes, grouped into three subgroups based on gene structure and phylogenetic relationships. These genes are distributed unevenly across 20 soybean chromosomes and show varied codon usage patterns influenced by both mutation and selection pressures. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment suggests these genes are involved in plant cell wall regulation and stress responses. Expression analysis in various tissues and under stress conditions, including the presence of numerous stress-related cis-acting elements, indicated that these genes have varied expression patterns. This suggests that they play specialized roles such as modulating plant defense mechanisms against nematode infections, enhancing tolerance to drought and high salinity, and responding to cold stress, thereby helping soybean adapt to environmental stresses. Moreover, the expression of specific GmSCPLs was significantly affected following exposure to nematode infection, drought, high salt (NaCl), and cold stresses. Our findings underscore the potential of SCPL genes in enhancing stress resistance in soybean, providing a valuable resource for future genetic improvement and breeding strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roots anchor plants firmly to the soil, enabling them to effectively resist soil erosion and shear failure. Vegetation restoration has been acknowledged as one of the most useful measures for controlling soil loss; however, which root system characteristics were most beneficial for plant anchoring in the soil remains unclear. In the black soil region of northeastern China, which frequently experiences serious soil erosion, pullout tests were carried out on six species of soil and water conservation woody plants with different growth habits (deciduous shrubs, deciduous trees and evergreen trees), and the root geometry and topology of each species were determined. The results showed that the maximum uprooting force and activation displacement (the displacement at the maximum peak in the relationship curve between pulling force and displacement) of shrubs were significantly greater than those of trees, while deciduous trees were significantly greater than evergreen trees. Therefore, the ability of the whole root system to anchor the soil was the largest for shrubs, followed by deciduous trees, and the smallest for evergreen trees. The uprooting force and activation displacement were mainly affected by the root topological index, total root length and the number of inclined roots. The total root length had the greatest influence on the maximum uprooting force, and the root topology had the greatest influence on the activation displacement, both of which can be used as important predictors of plant root anchorage strength. In addition, the plants with the R-type root structure may have a greater ability to anchor the soi, and can be prioritized for vegetation restoration with black soils. These findings provide references and implications for identifying the effective plant strategies for eroded soil restoration in the black soil region of northeastern China and other areas with similar soil types and bioclimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Series Elastic Actuator （SEA） can effectively improve the flexibility of the joint. However, SEA has the disadvantage of strong nonlinearity of force and deformation. In order to improve the linearity of SEA, a curved beam model with double-ring connection is established, and the stress formulas of different points of the beam model are got by using the normal stress formula of the origin of the axis section, so as to design and verify the series elastic actuator which conforms to the flexible joint. Secondly, the model of the series elastic actuator is simulated and analyzed, and seven points are selected to compare the model with the actual stress. Finally, ANSYS is used to simulate and analyze the strength and deformation of each joint，which effectively guarantees the linear characteristics of SEA and improves the mechanical properties of flexible joint.

Carbon materials derived from natural biomaterials have received increasing attention because of their low cost, accessibility, and renewability. In this work, porous carbon (DPC) material prepared from D-fructose was used to make a DPC/Co3O4 composite microwave absorbing material. Their electromagnetic wave absorption properties were thoroughly investigated. The results show that the composition of Co3O4 nanoparticles with DPC had enhanced microwave absorption (−60 dB to −63.7 dB), reduced the frequency of the maximum reflection loss (RL) (16.9 GHz to 9.2 GHz), and had high reflection loss over a wide range of coating thicknesses (2.78–4.84 mm, highest reflection loss <−30 dB). This work provided a way for further research on the development of biomass-derived carbon as a sustainable, lightweight, high-performance microwave absorber for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Hemicycliophora species are migratory root ectoparasites of higher plants, commonly known as sheath nematodes. The present study describes a new species, Hemicycliophora geraerti n. sp., recovered from the rhizosphere of peach tree (Prunus persica) in Zhejiang Province, China. This species is characterised by a cuticular sheath loosely fitting to the body, a lip region slightly set-off with body contour bearing 3-4 annuli, oral plate narrow, ovate, and non-protruding, amphidial apertures plugged, dorsoventrally flanked in the first lip annulus, stylet 110 (103-116) μ m long and flexible, excretory pore located 4-7 annuli posterior to the base of the pharyngeal bulb; vulval lips modified with a small vulval sleeve, anus located 16 (13-21) annuli posterior to vulva, tail elongated, having a narrowly rounded slightly offset spike. The molecular characterisation and phylogenetic analyses based on D2-D3 expansion segments of the 28S rRNA, ITS rRNA, and COI mtDNA gene indicated the unique status and support the novelty of this population of Hemicycliophora , therefore herein described as H. geraerti n. sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histamine stimulation of swine carotid artery induces both contraction and actin polymerization. The importance of stimulus-induced actin polymerization is not known. Tyrosine phosphorylation of the scaffolding protein paxillin is thought to be an important regulator of actin polymerization. Noise temperature, hysteresivity, and phase angle are rheological measures of the fluidity of a tissue, i.e., whether the muscle is more a 'Hookean solid' or a 'Newtonian liquid.' Y118 paxillin phosphorylation, crossbridge phosphorylation, actin polymerization, noise temperature, hysteresivity, phase angle, real stiffness, and stress were measured in intact swine carotid arteries that were depolarized with high [K.sup.+] or stimulated with histamine. The initial rapid force development phase of high-[K.sup.+] or histamine-induced contraction was associated with increased crossbridge phosphorylation but no significant change in Y118 paxillin phosphorylation, actin polymerization, noise temperature, hysteresivity, or phase angle. This suggests that the initial contraction was caused by the increase in crossbridge phosphorylation and did not alter the tissue's rheology. Only after full force development was there a significant increase in Y118 paxillin phosphorylation and actin polymerization associated with a significant decrease in noise temperature and hysteresivity. These data suggest that some part of the sustained contraction may depend on stimulated actin polymerization and/or a transition to a more 'solid' rheology. Supporting this contention was the finding that an inhibitor of actin polymerization, latrunculin-A, reduced force while increasing noise temperature/hysteresivity. Further research is needed to determine whether Y118 paxillin phosphorylation, actin polymerization, and changes in rheology could have a role in arterial smooth muscle contraction. cytoskeleton; hysteresivity; latch hypothesis; vascular smooth muscle

Cyclic nucleotide can relax arterial smooth muscle without reductions in myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC) phosphorylation, a process termed force suppression. Smooth muscle contractile force also depends on tissue length. It is not known how tissue length affects force suppression. Swine carotid artery rings were equilibrated at various lengths (as a fraction of [L.sub.o], the optimal length for force development). They were then frozen during contractile activation with or without forskolin-induced relaxation. Frozen tissue homogenates were then analyzed for [Ser.sup.19]-MRLC phosphorylation and [Ser.sup.16]-heat shock protein 20 (HSP20) phosphorylation (HSP20 is the proposed mediator of force suppression). Higher values of MRLC phosphorylation were required to induce a histamine contraction at longer tissue lengths. At 1.4 [L.sub.o], the dependence of force on MRLC phosphorylation observed with histamine stimulation alone was shifted to the right, a response similar to that observed during force suppression at 1.0 [L.sub.o]. The rightward shift in the dependence of force on MRLC phosphorylation seen with histamine stimulation alone at 1.4 [L.sub.o] was not associated with increased HSP20 phosphorylation. Addition of forskolin to histamine-stimulated tissues at 1.4 [L.sub.o] induced a relaxation associated with increased HSP20 phosphorylation and reduced MRLC phosphorylation, i.e., there was no additional force suppression. At shorter tissue lengths (0.6 [L.sub.o]), the dependence of force on MRLC phosphorylation with histamine stimulation alone was steep, a response similar to that observed during normal contractile activation at 1.0 [L.sub.o]. Addition of forskolin induced force suppression at 0.6 [L.sub.o]. The sensitivity of swine carotid to the concentration of histamine was greater at longer tissue lengths compared with shorter tissue lengths, suggesting a physiological mechanism to restore optimal tissue length. These data suggest that longer tissue lengths induced a force suppression-like state that was 1) not additive with forskolin and 2) not associated with HSP20 phosphorylation. Further research is required to determine this length-dependent mechanism. heat shock protein-20; vascular smooth muscle

We recently determined that the ability of the femoral artery (FA) to maintain higher levels of tonic isometric stress compared with the saphenous artery (SA) was due to differential expression of motor proteins permitting latch-bridge formation in FA and not SA. Arteries under pressure in vivo are not constrained to contract isometrically. Thus the significance of latch-bridge formation in arterial physiology remains to be determined. To address this translational question, diameter changes of pressurized FA and SA were compared. The reduction in lumen diameter induced by KC1 at 80 mmHg (isobaric active constriction; IAC) was greater at 30 s than 10 min in SA. In FA, the reverse was true, mimicking isometric contractile responses identified in our earlier work. From 80 to 150 mmHg, the %IAC induced by KC1 was greater in SA than FA (e.g., ~80% vs. ~30% at 120 mmHg). This was not explained by differences in contractile mechanisms but was likely due to differences in absolute artery diameters. In constricted arteries subjected to a ramp increase in pressure from 60 to 120 mmHg, the constricted diameter of FA, but not SA, was greater than the IAC diameter at each pressure. Thus FA but not SA could maintain a smaller diameter on being pressurized when first constricted than it could achieve by isobaric constriction. These data support the hypothesis that latch bridges permit constricted large-diameter elastic arteries such as the FA to temporarily resist dilatation in the face of transient increases in blood pressures. vascular smooth muscle; pressure diameter; elastic artery; potassium chloride; phenylephrine