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Abstract Understanding the impulse discharge behaviour of natural ester (NE) is crucial for its safe application in high‐voltage transformers. The ionisation potential (IP) of triglycerides plays a significant role in the process of molecular ionisation during impulse discharge for NE. The correlation coefficients between molecular size, frontier orbital, electrostatic potential, polarity, and IP were analysed. And the quantitative microstructure‐IP model for triglycerides were built, which revealed that IP is strongly related to the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy EHM, as well as the average value of positive electrostatic potential Vp(+), the average value of negative electrostatic potential Vp(−), and the surface area of negative electrostatic potential S(−). The HOMO and negative electrostatic potentials of saturated triglycerides are predominantly linked to the carbonyl O atoms. Conversely, in unsaturated triglycerides, the influence of C=C double bonds on HOMO and negative electrostatic potentials is more pronounced. Therefore, the IP of unsaturated NE with C=C bonds is lower than that of saturated NE, rendering it more susceptible to ionisation under a strong electric field which is unfavourable for impulse breakdown voltage. The structure‐property correlation analysis is valuable for understanding ionisation mechanism during the impulse discharge breakdown of NE at the microscopic level.

Abstract Background Exposure to a high-altitude environment is a risk factor for cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) probably due to hypercoagulability. The study aims to explore the unique characteristics of CVT patients in high-altitude areas of China by comparing them with those in plain areas. Methods We retrospectively included consecutive patients with CVT admitted to Tibet Autonomous Region People’s Hospital (altitude 3650 m) and Peking Union Medical College Hospital (altitude 43.5 m) between January 2015 and December 2023. Patients from the plateau and the plain were considered two independent groups in this study. The risk factors, clinical and radiological presentations, treatment, and outcomes were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results A total of 169 patients with CVT were included in the study, 48 patients from plateau and 121 patients from plain. The median age was 27 and 34 years old, and women accounted for 66.7% and 54.5% respectively. Headache (91.7% vs. 71.1%, P = 0.004), altered consciousness (31.3% vs. 16.5%, P = 0.033), hemorrhage (41.7% vs. 19.0%, P = 0.002), and venous infarction (50.0% vs. 25.6%, P = 0.002) on imaging were more common in patients from plateau than those from plain. Pregnancy or puerperium was significantly more common in highland patients (25% vs. 5.8%, P

With the development of building seismic isolation technology and the official release of the Isolation Code in September 2021, seismic isolation design in China will now rely on two foundational codes: the Seismic Code and the Isolation Code. This paper take a ceramic jar storage of the RC frame structure as the research object, and carry out the seismic isolation design based on the separated calculation design method of the Seismic Code and the unitary calculation design method of the Isolation Code respectively, and clarify the control index of the Isolation Code is the story drift angle. The maximum displacement is reduced by 37.5%. In terms of material consumption, the Isolation Code leads to a 5.94% decrease in concrete usage, accompanied by a 13.97% increase in steel consumption, resulting in an overall cost increase of 4.98%. The findings indicate that seismic isolation design, guided by the Isolation Code, substantially mitigates the seismic response of the superstructure. The damage extent to structural members is reduced by 15–20%, promoting enhanced safety and repairability. The outcomes of this study offer valuable insights for future seismic isolation designs in RC frame structures.

For landslide prevention and control, it is essential to establish a landslide susceptibility prediction framework that can explain the model’s decision-making process. Wushan County, Chongqing was selected as the study area, and seventeen landslide conditioning factors were initially chosen for this investigation. GeoDetector was used to remove noise factors and reduce the latitude of the data. The research investigates the use of three machine learning methods for assessing landslide susceptibility: SVM, RF, and XGBoost, and finally explains the decision mechanism of the model by SHAP-PDP. The results indicate that XGBoost has better evaluation results than RF and SVM. And XGBoost uncertainty is lower. The integrated interpretation framework based on SHAP-PDP can evaluate and interpret landslide susceptibility models both globally and locally, which is of great practical significance for the application of machine learning in landslide prediction.

At the end of Early Cambrian time, the Sichuan basin (South China) was located in a wide carbonate platform, with hundreds of meters of carbonate deposited. The Longwangmiao Formation carbonate in Sichuan basin is partially to completely dolomitized, displaying a mottled texture in the northern area of the exposure. The mottled dolomitic limestone developed parallel to bedding, with shape irregular boundaries with limestone that has not been dolomitized. The mottled dolomite is composed of powder crystalline and finely crystalline dolomite, while the matrix limestone is composed of micritic calcite. the isotopic composition of mottled dolomite (δ13C = +0.29‰PDB, δ18O = −1.15‰PDB) is similar to that of micrite calcite (δ13C = −0.49‰PDB, δ18O = −1.45‰PDB). Both isotopic values and trace element data indicate that the dolomitized fluid is originated from sea water. Some beds contain gypsum pseudomorphs and mud cracks, indicating a shallow and evaporative environment with local high salinity during deposition. Dolomitization likely took place early, in part as a result of sea water salinity concentration. Trace fossils thalassinoides horizontalis, thalassinoides callianassa and planolites developed in the Longwangmiao Formation, and the sharp edges of mottled dolomite are similar to these trace fossils. The beds are intensely bioturbated. In the burrow network, the sediments and burrow fill were coarse and loose with little clay, and it is interpreted here as being easier to be dolomitized than the surrounding sediments. Partial dolomitization is thus interpreted to have occurred in the burrow system, and the degree of dolomitization was related to the degree of bioturbation, which is controlled by the trace-making creatures.

With its unique cultural contributions and rich cultural connotations, Chinese culture has become increasingly influential in the world, so how to spread Chinese culture has become the proposition of the times. With this in mind, the purpose of this study is to find the differences between self-shaping and other-shaping and find the best way to adapt and disseminate traditional Chinese culture. Based on both quantitative and qualitative research, this study uses film subtitles, audience reviews, and interview material as samples to analyze the domestic movie Nezha: Birth of the Devil and the foreign movie Mulan. The results show that filmmakers prefer a similar theme and also use many cultural symbols, but have a very different emphasis on movie adaptations. Moreover, both domestic and foreign audiences haven’t formed an inclusive attitude to appreciate foreign movies; therefore, corresponding strategies should be adopted to better suit the audience’s interest and innovate traditional culture. In this way, this study can provide a new perspective for the adaptation and dissemination of traditional Chinese culture.

Abstract Background Glycolysis is critical for harvesting abundant energy to maintain the tumor microenvironment in malignant tumors. Retinoic acid-related orphan receptor α (RORα) has been identified as a circadian gene. However, the association of glycolysis with RORα in regulating gastric cancer (GC) proliferation remains poorly understood. Methods Bioinformatic analysis and retrospective study were utilized to explore the role of RORα in cell cycle and glycolysis in GC. The mechanisms were performed in vitro and in vivo including colony formation, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), Epithelial- mesenchymal transition (EMT) and subcutaneous tumors of mice model assays. The key drives between RORα and glycolysis were verified through western blot and chip assays. Moreover, we constructed models of high proliferation and high glucose environments to verify a negative feedback and chemoresistance through a series of functional experiments in vitro and in vivo. Results RORα was found to be involved in the cell cycle and glycolysis through a gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) algorithm. GC patients with low RORα expression were not only associated with high circulating tumor cells (CTC) and high vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels. However, it also presented a positive correlation with the standard uptake value (SUV) level. Moreover, the SUVmax levels showed a positive linear relation with CTC and VEGF levels. In addition, RORα expression levels were associated with glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and phosphofructokinase-2/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (PFKFB3) expression levels, and GC patients with low RORα and high G6PD or low RORα and high PFKFB3 expression patterns had poorest disease-free survival (DFS). Functionally, RORα deletion promoted GC proliferation and drove glycolysis in vitro and in vivo. These phenomena were reversed by the RORα activator SR1078. Moreover, RORα deletion promoted GC proliferation through attenuating G6PD and PFKFB3 induced glycolytic activity in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, RORα was recruited to the G6PD and PFKFB3 promoters to modulate their transcription. Next, high proliferation and high glucose inhibited RORα expression, which indicated that negative feedback exists in GC. Moreover, RORα deletion improved fluorouracil chemoresistance through inhibition of glucose uptake. Conclusion RORα might be a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for GC through attenuating glycolysis.

AbstractGastrochilus sinensis is a beautiful epiphytic orchid with high ornamental value. In this study, the first complete chloroplast genome sequence of G. sinensis was determined using next-generation sequencing (NGS). The de novo assembled chloroplast genome was 148,020 bp in length, including a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRs; 25,987 bp), a small single-copy region (SSC; 11,045 bp), and a large single-copy region (LSC; 85,001 bp). The chloroplast genome encodes 109 unique genes, including 75 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. The total GC content of the chloroplast genome was 36.8%. The phylogenetic analysis showed a close relationship between G. sinensis and G. formosanus species. The complete chloroplast genome provides fundamental information for genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships in Gastrochilus.

Under the influence of mining activities, investigating hydrological processes is an important cornerstone of water resources and eco-environment protection. In this study, the spatio-temporal variations of stable isotopic compositions (δD and δ18O) of river water and groundwater in five periods of a hydrological year were analyzed to identify the origin and hydraulic connection of water bodies in the mining district under mining disturbance. The δD and δ18O indicate that the water bodies in the study area are mainly recharged by local precipitation and undergo evaporation. There is a close hydraulic connection between river water, mine water, and groundwater, and the deep confined water is affected by the river water and phreatic water due to the developing water-conducting fractures. The δ18O of phreatic water in each period is depleted in the southwest and enriched in the northeast of the study area. The δ18O of confined water has an obvious spatial variation in the wet season due to the combined effects of opencast working and underground mining, whereas uniform spatial variation is observed in the dry season. Compared with the dry season, mining disturbances have a greater impact on river water and groundwater in the wet season. The difference in spatial variation of δ18O between phreatic and confined water may be attributed to the easier recovery of phreatic water than confined water after mining disturbance. This finding provides important information about the hydrological characteristics of the Pingshuo mining district.

The distribution of grassland communities significantly influences biodiversity conservation and resource management. Remote sensing datasets, such as Sentinel land cover images with high spatial and temporal resolution, have been commonly employed to simulate the distribution and community structure of plant species in grasslands. Nevertheless, the precision of grassland and community classification requires further enhancement for more effective grassland management. In response, our study presents a dynamic workflow for simulating the distribution of grassland plant species under different hydroclimatic conditions. Leveraging a random forest classifier with multi-source remote sensing features, we mapped the distribution of nine plant communities and six types of land cover in the upstream grasslands of the Xilingol River Basin, Inner Mongolia from 2017 to 2022. Utilizing the Google Earth Engine platform, our findings reveal a remarkable consistency in the overall spatiotemporal accuracy and classification precision of grassland communities across different years, even under varying hydroclimatic conditions. When critical features were carefully selected, the integration of Sentinel-1 (C-band synthetic aperture radar), Sentinel-2 (surface reflectance), SRTM DEM 30 m (Digital Elevation Model data), and MOD16A2.006 (evapotranspiration/latent heat flux product) data yielded a high overall accuracy ranging from 87.0 % to 89.5 % over multiple years. Our study not only determined the spatial patterns of various grassland plant communities but also explored the mechanism of their responses to different hydroclimatic conditions. The proposed approach holds practical implications for fine-scale grassland classification, providing valuable support for landscape classification and monitoring efforts. Furthermore, the insights derived from our findings offer valuable guidance for land managers and policymakers, aiding them in making informed decisions related to grassland conservation and sustainable land use planning.

Abstract Spatial resolution of the T cell repertoire is essential for deciphering cancer-associated immune dysfunction. Current spatially resolved transcriptomic technologies are unable to directly annotate T cell receptors (TCR). We present spatially resolved T cell receptor sequencing (SPTCR-seq), which integrates optimized target enrichment and long-read sequencing for highly sensitive TCR sequencing. The SPTCR computational pipeline achieves yield and coverage per TCR comparable to alternative single-cell TCR technologies. Our comparison of PCR-based and SPTCR-seq methods underscores SPTCR-seq’s superior ability to reconstruct the entire TCR architecture, including V, D, J regions and the complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3). Employing SPTCR-seq, we assess local T cell diversity and clonal expansion across spatially discrete niches. Exploration of the reciprocal interaction of the tumor microenvironmental and T cells discloses the critical involvement of NK and B cells in T cell exhaustion. Integrating spatially resolved omics and TCR sequencing provides as a robust tool for exploring T cell dysfunction in cancers and beyond.

Mean-field theories have proven to be efficient tools for exploring diverse phases of matter, complementing alternative methods that are more precise but also more computationally demanding. Conventional mean-field theories often fall short in capturing quantum fluctuations, which restricts their applicability to systems with significant quantum effects. In this article, we propose an improved mean-field theory, density-matrix mean-field theory (DMMFT). DMMFT constructs effective Hamiltonians, incorporating quantum environments shaped by entanglements, quantified by the reduced density matrices. Therefore, it offers a systematic and unbiased approach to account for the effects of fluctuations and entanglements in quantum ordered phases. As demonstrative examples, we show that DMMFT can not only quantitatively evaluate the renormalization of order parameters induced by quantum fluctuations, but can also detect the topological quantum phases. Additionally, we discuss the extensions of DMMFT for systems at finite temperatures and those with disorders. Our work provides an efficient approach to explore phases exhibiting unconventional quantum orders, which can be particularly beneficial for investigating frustrated spin systems in high spatial dimensions.

The volatile compounds in strawberries play a significant role in the formation of strawberry aroma. However, these compounds undergo continual changes during storage, resulting in a decline in quality. In this study, a total of 67 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified in strawberries through quantitative analysis. At the end of the storage period, the VOC content in the ultrasonic group was 119.02 µg/kg higher than that in the control group. The results demonstrated that the ultrasonic treatment increased the contents of terpenes and esters at the end of storage. Among these, linalool increased from 67.09 to 91.41 µg/kg, while ethyl cinnamate increased from 92.22 to 106.79 µg/kg. Additionally, the expression of the key metabolic genes closely related to these substances was significantly up-regulated. The expression of the FaNES gene, related to terpene metabolism, was up-regulated by 2.8 times in the second day, while the expression of the FaAAT gene, related to ester metabolism, was up-regulated by 1.5 times. In summary, this study provides a theoretical basis for exploring the mechanism of ultrasonic effect on strawberry flavor and quality after harvest.

Resumo Fundamento A fibrilação atrial (FA) e a insuficiência cardíaca (IC) coexistem frequentemente, resultando em desfechos adversos. No entanto, permanecem controvérsias quanto à eficácia da ablação por cateter (AC) em pacientes com FA com disfunção ventricular esquerda grave. Objetivos O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar uma metanálise de ensaios prospectivos randomizados e controlados para avaliar a eficácia da AC versus terapia médica (TM) em pacientes com FA com fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (FEVE) ≤45%. Métodos Procuramos na literatura estudos que comparassem AC com TM em pacientes com FA com FEVE ≤45%. Foi realizada uma metanálise de 7 ensaios clínicos, incluindo 1.163 pacientes com FA e IC. A análise de subgrupo foi realizada com base na FEVE basal. Todos os testes foram bilaterais; apenas o valor p

For the coordinated development of regional logistics, there is a need to break down the administrative barriers between cities and build an efficient and smooth regional logistics network. Integrating regional logistics resources to achieve cross-regional optimal allocation is essential for efficient logistics networks. The accessibility and high capacity of the railway transportation network make it possible and necessary for the coordinated construction of railway transportation and logistics networks. This paper studies a bilevel programming model to analyse the collaborative network planning process of railway transportation and logistics. The objective is to take into account the existing layout of regional railway traffic network and the future needs of regional logistics. For the upper level of the bilevel programming model, the social, economic, and logistics service index of regional railway traffic nodes is considered to determine the numbers and locations of radiation of the cities. Meanwhile, the lower programming model uses a logistics gravity model, 0-1 integer programming model, and logistics membership degree to calculate the logistics correlation between node cities and the radiation range of the hub cities. An empirical study of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in China shows the process and effectiveness of the bilevel programming model. Four distinctive logistics radiation circles, five trunk lines, nine hub-spoke branch lines, and six branch lines are suggested. A railway traffic-oriented regional logistics network provides a reference for regional railway traffic planning, thereby optimizing the allocation of regional logistics resources, improving the level of regional logistics services, and contributing to the development of the regional logistics industry.

Recent years have seen a substantial rise in the number of children and teenagers surfing the Internet; however, not all use this resource responsibly. Digital etiquette, a core element of digital citizenship, contributes to proper Internet adoption and reduces inappropriate behavior in cyberspace. To protect children and teenagers from harm online, it is essential to familiarize them with digital etiquette literacy and codes of Internet conduct from an early age. Digital citizenship education is relatively rare in Chinese primary schools. Research on student performance in this regard is also lacking. Digital game-based learning (DGBL) has demonstrated potential to enhance students' learning, motivations, and engagement. In this paper, we designed and implemented a digital game-based course intended to foster students' digital etiquette literacy. A quasi-experiment in a primary school in Guangzhou revealed that compared with conventional learning, DGBL improved students’ digital etiquette literacy while positively influencing their learning-related motivations and engagement. This study can serve as a reference for primary or secondary schools interested in teaching digital etiquette to support global digital citizenship education.

Ecosystem carbon use efficiency (CUE), water use efficiency (WUE), and light use efficiency (LUE) are critical parameters for estimating CO2 uptake, water circulation, and ecosystem balance. Research on the change trends of individual use efficiency has matured; however, studies on the spatiotemporal heterogeneity and driving mechanisms of divergence patterns for multi-use efficiencies capability are limited. Therefore, taking southwest China as an example, this study constructed a compound use efficiency (COM) through CUE, WUE, and LUE. Based on the spatiotemporal patterns and divergence characteristics analysis of water–carbon–light use efficiencies, the scale effects and driving mechanism of its divergence characteristics for COM at the optimal scale were clarified. The results revealed that the average value of CUE, LUE, WUE, and COM were 0.49, 0.7 gC m−2 MJ−1, 2.31 gC kg−1 H2O, and 0.87, respectively. Apart from CUE, the LUE, WUE, and COM parameters exhibited a fluctuating upward trend. Statistically, there was a high COM in karst and ecological restoration regions, reflecting the strong adaptability of karst vegetation and the effectiveness of ecological restoration; as the elevation rose, COM increased and then decreased, with the highest value at the elevation of 3000 m; the lowest COM was found in grassland, refuting the inference that it can be used as an optimal vegetation type for China’s Grain to Green program from the perspective of use efficiency. Sub-basin was the most optimal divergence scale, and although temperature and elevation were the dominant single force causing COM divergence, the couplings of precipitation and population density and elevation and population density had more controlling impacts than a single force. These findings enrich the understanding of ecosystem use efficiency and are beneficial for the improvement in ecological restoration strategies in karst landscapes.

The phase structure in the interface zone of Cu–Al composite plate was studied by EBSD after casting and rolling and different heat treatment temperatures. The grain sizes of the matrix and intermetallic compounds in the interface zone were analyzed statistically. The spatial distribution characteristics of the transverse, rolled, normal and various phases were characterized by inverse pole diagram. The results show that with the increase of heat treatment temperature, the phase of the interfacial area of the composite plate is rearranged, the residual stress can be released, and the zero resolution decreases. The interface zone of cast-rolled Cu–Al composite plate is composed of a layer of intermetallic compound, which is Al2Cu; Two layers of intermetallic compounds, both Al, were formed in the interfacial area after heat treatment at 300 °C and 400 °C Al2Cu and Al4Cu9;After heat treatment at 450 °C, the interface region is composed of three layers of intermetallic compounds, which is Al2Cu, AlCu, Al4Cu9;The grain size of copper matrix is obviously larger than that of aluminum matrix. Matrix aluminum, matrix copper, Al2Cu.The average grains of Cu are mostly large Angle grain boundaries, and the orientation difference of adjacent grains in aluminum layer is much smaller than that in copper layer. After heat treatment at 300 °C for 1 h, the recrystallization degree of the interface zone of Cu–Al composite plate is low. After heat treatment at 400 °C for 1 h, the recrystallization in the interfacial zone of Cu–Al composite plate is not complete; After annealing at 450 °C for 1 h, the subgrain boundaries in the aluminum layer grow up, and LAGB is basically converted to HAGB. The distribution characteristics of the characteristic appearance direction in the crystal space of each phase were characterized under the conditions of casting and rolling and different heat treatment temperatures. At the same time, the research results provide theoretical basis and scientific title for optimizing the preparation process and high-end application of Cu–Al composite plate.

Objective: Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Polyps (CRSwNP) is characterized by high heterogeneity and postoperative recurrence rate. This study aims to explore the clinical significance of tissue Leukocyte-Specific Transcript 1 (LST1) in predicting CRSwNP recurrence. Methods: We enrolled 62 CRSwNP patients including 30 primary CRSwNP and 32 recurrent CRSwNP patients, and 40 Healthy Controls (HC). Tissue samples were collected. Tissue LST1 expression was assessed by Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), Western Blotting (WB) and Immunofluorescence (IF) staining. The predictive values of LST1 expression for CRSwNP postoperative recurrence were assessed through the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: The tissue levels of LST1 were significantly increased in the CRSwNP group than the HC group, especially in the recurrent group, and the elevated LST1 mRNA levels were positively correlated with the peripheral eosinophil percentages, tissue eosinophil counts and percentages. IF staining results showed that the LST1 protein levels were higher in CRSwNP patients, especially in the recurrent patients than in the HC group. ROC curves highlighted that tissue LST1 levels were associated with recurrent CRSwNP and exhibited a higher predictive ability for postoperative CRSwNP recurrence. Conclusion: This was the first report suggesting that LST1 expression was upregulated and associated with mucosal eosinophil infiltration and CRSwNP recurrence. Tissue LST1 could be a promising biomarker for predicting postoperative recurrence in CRwNP patients. Level of evidence: Level 5.

IntroductionNondestructive detection of thin-skinned fruit bruising is one of the main challenges in the automated grading of post-harvest fruit. The structured-illumination reflectance imaging (SIRI) is an emerging optical technique with the potential for detection of bruises.MethodsThis study presented the pioneering application of low-cost visible-LED SIRI for detecting early subcutaneous bruises in ‘Korla’ pears. Three types of bruising degrees (mild, moderate and severe) and ten sets of spatial frequencies (50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450 and 500 cycles m-1) were analyzed. By evaluation of contrast index (CI) values, 150 cycles m-1 was determined as the optimal spatial frequency. The sinusoidal pattern images were demodulated to get the DC, AC, and RT images without any stripe information. Based on AC and RT images, texture features were extracted and the LS-SVM, PLS-DA and KNN classification models combined the optimized features were developed for the detection of ‘Korla’ pears with varying degrees of bruising.Results and discussionIt was found that RT images consistently outperformed AC images regardless of type of model, and LS-SVM model exhibited the highest detection accuracy and stability. Across mild, moderate, severe and mixed bruises, the LS-SVM model with RT images achieved classification accuracies of 98.6%, 98.9%, 98.5%, and 98.8%, respectively. This study showed that visible-LED SIRI technique could effectively detect early bruising of ‘Korla’ pears, providing a valuable reference for using low-cost visible LED SIRI to detect fruit damage.

Summary: Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) is becoming a ubiquitous method in profiling the cellular transcriptomes of both malignant and non-malignant cells from the human brain. Here, we present a protocol to isolate viable tumor cells from human ex vivo glioblastoma cultures for single-cell transcriptomic analysis. We describe steps including surgical tissue collection, sectioning, culturing, primary tumor cells inoculation, growth tracking, fluorescence-based cell sorting, and population-enriched scRNA-seq. This comprehensive methodology empowers in-depth understanding of brain tumor biology at the single-cell level.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Ravi et al.1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

[Objective] The spatio-temporal evolution of land use patterns in Chongqing City was analyzed in order to provide a scientific basis for promoting the sustainable use of land resources and sustainable social and economic development in the region. [Methods] Remote sensing monitoring data of land use for Chongqing City (located in a mountainous high-density area) from 1995 to 2020 were quantitatively analyzed to determine the spatio-temporal evolution characteristics of land use in Chongqing City from the aspects of quantitative structure and spatial layout. The driving forces of land use change in Chongqing City under different time scales were analyzed by geographical detectors. [Results] The rate of land use change in Chongqing City accelerated during the study period. The land used by urban and rural residents and the land used for industrial and mining construction continued to increase. The grassland area was greatly reduced and concentrated by the conversion to forest land. For 25 years, the degree of land use in Chongqing City has increased year by year, with the entire aera being in the development period. Hot spots of development were mainly concentrated in the main city and its surrounding areas. The density of paddy fields in Western Yuxi District decreased. The high-value density area of forest in Southeast Chongqing City increased, but the high-value density area of grassland decreased significantly. The high-density core of urban and rural residential land was located in the main urban area, and the high-density core of industrial and mining construction land exhibited a sattered distribution having a large growth rate. Socio-economic factors had a significant impact on land use change in Chongqing City, of which population density was the dominant factor. [Conclusion] Regional differences in land use change in Chongqing City were observed over time, and land use change was mainly affected by socio-economic factors.

Abstract This study investigates urban recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by focusing on three main types of working, commercial, and night-life activities and associating them with land use and inherent socio-economic patterns as well as points of interests (POIs). Massive multi-source and multi-scale data include mobile phone signaling data (500 m × 500 m), aerial images (0.49 m × 0.49 m), night light satellite data (500 m × 500 m), land use data (street-block), and POIs data. Methods of convolutional neural network, guided gradient-weighted class activation mapping, bivariate local indicator of spatial association, Elbow and K-means are jointly applied. It is found that the recovery in central areas was slower than in suburbs, especially in terms of working and night-life activities, showing a donut-shaped spatial pattern. Residential areas with mixed land uses seem more resilient to the pandemic shock. More than 60% of open spaces are highly associated with recovery in areas with high-level pre-pandemic social-economic activities. POIs of sports and recreation are crucial to the recovery in all areas, while POIs of transportation and science/culture are also important to the recovery in many areas. Policy implications are discussed from perspectives of open spaces, public facilities, neighborhood units, spatial structures, and anchoring roles of POIs.

Introduction & objectives: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in coronary heart disease is a leading cause of sudden death primarily due to malignant ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). Inflammatory cell infiltration and inflammation-induced overactivation of sympathetic nerves are the major cause of VAs in AMI pathophysiological processes. Type 2 macrophages play an anti-inflammatory role in AMI. Targeting macrophages may be a therapeutic strategy to prevent VAs post AMI. We found that gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) promotes macrophages polarized to M2 and hypothesized that GABA might exert anti-inflammatory effects by promoting type 2 macrophage polarization in AMI. We aim to characterized GABAB receptor distribution, function, and mechanisms in M2 macrophage polarization and explored the functional aspect of GABAB receptor activation in sympathetic remodeling. Results: Gamma aminobutyric acid B receptors were expressed on macrophage surface both in vitro and in vivo. GABAB receptor agonist baclofen, GABA promoted macrophage switch to M2. While GABAB receptor antagonist CGP52432 blocked a baclofen induced switch to M2 polarization. GABA and baclofen increased M2 macrophage percentage and CGP52432 blocked this process in vivo. Also, IL-10 and TGF-β1 released by M2 were increased in both AMI and baclofen/AMI group; Serum NE levels were decreased by baclofen. All the above effects were reversed by CGP52432 treatment. Baclofen decreased TH and GAP-43 staining while CGP52432 enhanced their expression post AMI indicating GABAB receptor activation inhibited sympathetic nerve sprouting and activity by reducing NE release. Conclusions: Gamma aminobutyric acid B receptor activation promoted M2 polarization and protested AMI heart by regulating sympathetic nerve remodeling. Resumo: Introdução e objetivos: O enfarte agudo do miocárdio (EAM) é uma importante causa de morte súbita, sobretudo por arritmias ventriculares (AV) malignas. A infiltração por células inflamatórias e a hiperativade simpática induzida pela inflamação são uma das principais causas de AV no EAM, no qual os macrófagos do tipo 2 podem desempenhar um papel anti-inflamatório. Os macrófagos podem, pois, ser o alvo de estratégias terapêuticas para prevenir as AV após EAM. Assim, este estudo pretende avaliar se o ácido gama-aminobutírico (GABA) poderá ter um papel anti-inflamatório ao promover a polarização dos macrófagos do tipo 2 no EAM. Método: Caracterizamos a distribuição, função e os mecanismos dos recetores GABAB na polarização de macrófagos M2 e avaliamos o impacto funcional da ativação dos recetores GABAB na remodelagem simpática. Resultados: Os recetores GABAB são expressos na superfície dos macrófagos, tanto in vitro como in vivo. O agonista do recetor GABAB baclofeno e o GABA promoveram a mudança dos macrófagos para M2, enquanto o antagonista do recetor GABAB, CGP52432, bloqueou a mudança induzida pelo baclofeno para M2. O GABA e o baclofeno aumentaram a percentagem de macrófagos M2 e o CGP52432 bloqueou este processo in vivo. Além disso, os níveis de IL-10 e de TGF-β1, libertados pelo M2, aumentaram tanto no grupo EAM como no grupo baclofeno/EAM. A redução dos níveis séricos de NE pelo baclofeno demonstrou uma redução da atividade simpática. Todos os efeitos acima referidos foram revertidos pelo tratamento com CGP52432. O baclofeno diminuiu a expressão de TH e de GAP-43, enquanto o CGP52432 aumentou a sua expressão após o EAM, indicou que a ativação do recetor GABAB inibiu a atividade dos nervos simpáticos e reduz a libertação de NE. Conclusão: A ativação do recetor GABAB promoveu a polarização de M2 e revelou efeitos protetores no EAM ao regular a remodelagem simpática.

The degradation of image resolution reduces the detection performance in aerial imagery because it generates a large number of small objects, and accurately detecting these small objects remains a challenge. Existing methods mostly use a superresolution (SR) model to first obtain the SR image of the low-resolution degraded image ($I^{\text{LR}}$) and then use this image as the input of the object detection (OD) network to solve this problem. However, this architecture that involves executing a complex SR network before the detector is time-consuming and makes it hard to achieve real-time model inference. To address this challenge, we propose a simple and effective rotated small OD method, named end-to-end superresolution enhanced real-time rotated object detector (ESRTMDet). First, we design a lightweight embedded feature map superresolution module (ESRM) embedded in the detection model to enhance and amplify the backbone output features, making the detection heads detect small objects more easily. Furthermore, we train a parallel SR network branch (PSRB) simultaneously that uses the backbone feature to restore a high-resolution image. Through our proposed feature alignment loss and feature affinity layer, our PSRB effectively guides the feature map enhancement of ESRM. Finally, through end-to-end joint optimization of the detector and PSRB, the detection performance on $I^{\text{LR}}$ is significantly improved. Extensive experiments over DOTA and UCAS-AOD demonstrate that our method can achieve state-of-the-art results. In addition, we discard our PSRB and use $I^{\text{LR}}$ as the input during inference, reducing the inference time-consuming of our model. Therefore, our ESRTMDet-X not only achieves 77.11% mean of average precision on the degraded DOTA dataset, but also achieves an amazing inference speed of 337 FPS, thus obtaining the best speed–accuracy tradeoff.

Although deformations are mostly insignificant, they can be catastrophic when accumulated to certain amounts. Precise point positioning (PPP) can work with one receiver, preventing problems caused by the base station constrain upon employment of current methods such as real-time kinematics (RTK). However, current methods employing PPP focus on high-frequency monitoring such as earthquake or geological calamity monitoring, and these methods are not suitable for structures. Thus, this study proposes a new method for the deformation monitoring of structures via PPP. First, we obtained the coordinate sequence of structures via static PPP when setting the interval. Then, we transformed the coordinates to the same coordinate system with the same basis. Finally, we decomposed the sequences via empirical mode decomposition (EMD) to obtain a low-frequency part, which is the deformation of the target structure. The result of the monitoring experimentation on IGS stations shows that the monitoring index, Sd, of the sequence under different intervals using this method could be 1–2 mm on average in the directions of E, N, and U, which is much better than the original monitoring sequence. Alongside that, it prevented a fall in accuracy when the interval decreased. Therefore, all results proved the feasibility and validity of the method.

ABSTRACT Cyanobacterial aggregates (CAs) comprised of photosynthetic and phycospheric microorganisms are often the cause of cyanobacterial blooms in eutrophic freshwater lakes. Although phylogenetic diversity in CAs has been extensively studied, much less was understood about the activity status of microorganisms inside CAs and determinants of their activities. In this study, the 16S rRNA gene (rDNA)-based total communities within CAs in Lake Taihu of China were analyzed over a period of 6 months during the bloom season; the 16S rRNA-based active communities during daytime, nighttime, and under anoxic conditions were also profiled. Synchronous turnover of both cyanobacterial and phycospheric communities was observed, suggesting the presence of close interactions. The rRNA/rDNA ratio-based relative activities of individual taxa were predominantly determined by their rDNA-based relative abundances. In particular, high-abundance taxa demonstrated comparatively lower activities, whereas low-abundance taxa were generally more active. In comparison, hydrophysicochemical factors as well as diurnal and redox conditions showed much less impact on relative activities of microbial taxa within CAs. Nonetheless, total and active communities exhibited differences in community assembly processes, the former of which were almost exclusively controlled by homogeneous selection during daytime and under anoxia. Taken together, the results from this study provide novel insights into the relationships among microbial activities, community structure, and environmental conditions and highlight the importance of further exploring the regulatory mechanisms of microbial activities at the community level. IMPORTANCE Cyanobacterial aggregates are important mediators of biogeochemical cycles in eutrophic lakes during cyanobacterial blooms, yet regulators of microbial activities within them are not well understood. This study revealed rDNA-based abundances strongly affected the relative activities of microbial taxa within Microcystis aggregates, as well as trade-off effects between microbial abundances and activities. Environmental conditions further improved the levels of relative activities and affected community assembly mechanisms in phycospheric communities. The relationships among microbial activities, abundances, and environmental conditions improve our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of microbial activities in cyanobacterial aggregates and also provide a novel clue for studying determinants of microbial activities in other ecosystems.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the intestinal abundance of Bacteroides uniformis is significantly higher in healthy controls than that in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). However, what effect B. uniformis has on the development of UC has not been characterized. Here, we show for the first time that B. uniformis F18-22, an alginate-fermenting bacterium isolated from the healthy human colon, protects against dextran-sulfate-sodium (DSS)-induced UC in mice. Specifically, oral intake of B. uniformis F18-22 alleviated colon contraction, improved intestinal bleeding and attenuated mucosal damage in diseased mice. Additionally, B. uniformis F18-22 improved gut dysbiosis in UC mice by increasing the abundance of anti-inflammatory acetate-producing bacterium Eubacterium siraeum and decreasing the amount of pro-inflammatory pathogenetic bacteria Escherichia-Shigella spp. Moreover, B. uniformis F18-22 was well-tolerated in mice and showed no oral toxicity after repeated daily administration for 28 consecutive days. Taken together, our study illustrates that B. uniformis F18-22 is a safe and novel probiotic bacterium for the treatment of UC from the healthy human colon.

The adsorption behavior of polycarboxylate ether (PCE) superplasticizer in fresh cement-based materials has been well investigated, but its desorption behavior was little reported. To facilitate deeper understanding the dispersion effect of PCE on binder particles, this research focused on both adsorption and desorption of PCE polymers in unitary or binary fresh paste blended with mineral admixtures as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), and thus aimed to give insights into interactions of PCE and SCMs. Five kinds of SCMs including fly ash (FA), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and limestone (LS) were adopted in experiment. The adsorption and desorption amounts of PCE were evaluated by measuring the concentration of PCE polymers remaining in liquid phase before and after dilution treatment. Results showed that only little desorption of adsorbed PCE occurred in unitary cement paste, but the desorption behavior of PCE was pronounced in unitary pastes for SCMs with similar particles size distribution to cement. For binary pastes, the incorporation of FA or GGBS in cement suspension led to more adsorption amount with a higher desorption ratio freshly, but after prolonged mixing duration the desorption was substantially reduced to nearly zero. The addition of LS powder in cement paste can inhibit the desorption behavior of PCE since the initial stage. The dissolution and release of calcium or sulfate from SCMs into solution could exert a remarkable promoting or inhibiting effect on PCE adsorption. The mechanisms could be explained from the perspective of colloidal particles surface chemistry. Consequently, the adsorption and desorption of PCE molecules in fresh blended cementitious materials largely depended on intrinsic physico-chemical properties of SCMs, including mineral components, hydration activity, particles size, morphology and zeta potential.

BackgroundApproximately half of patients with heart failure have a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). To date, only SGLT-2i, ARNi, and MRAs treatments have been shown to be effective for HFpEF. Exercise intolerance is the primary clinical feature of HFpEF. The aim of this meta-analysis was to explore the effect of inorganic nitrate/nitrite supplementary therapy on the exercise capacity of HFpEF patients.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, OVID, and Web of Science for eligible studies for this meta-analysis. The primary outcomes were peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2), exercise time, and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) during exercise. The secondary outcomes were cardiac output, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and systemic vascular resistance during rest and exercise, respectively.ResultsA total of eight randomized-controlled trials were enrolled for this meta-analysis. We found no benefit of inorganic nitrate/nitrite on exercise capacity in patients with HFpEF. Inorganic nitrate/nitrite compared to placebo, did not significantly increased peak VO2 (MD = 0.361, 95% CI = −0.17 to 0.89, p = 0.183), exercise time (MD = 9.74, 95% CI = −46.47 to 65.95, p = 0.734), and respiratory exchange ratio during exercise (MD = −0.003, 95% CI = −0.036 to 0.029, p = 0.834). Among the six diameters reflecting cardiac and artery hemodynamics, inorganic nitrate/nitrite can lower rest SBP, rest/exercise DBP, rest/exercise MAP, and exercise SVR, but has no effect in cardiac output and heart rate for HFpEF patients.ConclusionOur meta-analysis suggested that inorganic nitrate/nitrite supplementary therapy has no benefit in improving the exercise capacity of patients with HFpEF, but can yield a blood pressure lowering effect, especially during exercise.

Background. Intralymphatic immunotherapy (ILIT) is short-course administration of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT). This study is aimed at assessing the clinical efficacy and safety of ILIT in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods. MEDLINE, PUBMED, and Cochrane Library were used to conduct electronic searches for clinical trials comparing ILIT and placebo in patients with AR. The final search took place on August 24, 2022. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. The outcomes included combined symptom and medication scores (CSMS), visual analog scale (VAS), allergic rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life (RQLQ), Skin-prick test (SPT), and adverse events (AEs). Data were synthesized as mean difference (MD)/standard mean difference (SMD) or risk difference (RD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results. Thirteen studies (454 participants) were included in this study. The ILIT group had better clinical improvement on the CSMS (random effects model, SMD-0.85, 95% CI [-1.58, -0.11], P=0.02) and RQLQ (fixed-effects model, MD-0.42, 95% CI [0.69, 0.15], P=0.003) than the placebo group. The booster injection was beneficial for CSMS (P

Background: Intrahepatic cholestasis (IC) is a disorder of bile production, secretion, and excretion with various causes. Crocin I (CR) is effective in the treatment of IC, but its underlying mechanisms need to be further explored. We aimed to reveal the therapeutic mechanism of crocin I for IC by combining an integrated strategy of metabolomics and transcriptomics.Methods: The hepatoprotective effect of CR against cholestasis liver injury induced by α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) was evaluated in rats. The serum biochemical indices, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bile acid (TBA), total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 1β (IL-1β), as well as the liver oxidative stress indexes and the pathological characteristics of the liver were analyzed. In addition, we also performed a serum metabolomics study using UPLC-Q Exactive HF-X technology to investigate the effect of CR on the serum of rats with ANIT-induced IC and screened potential biomarkers. The enrichment analysis of differential expressed genes (DEGs) was performed by transcriptomics. Finally, the regulatory targets of CR on potential biomarkers were obtained by combined analysis, and the relevant key targets were verified by western blotting.Results: CR improved serum and liver homogenate indexes and alleviated liver histological injury. Compared with ANIT group, the CR group had 76 differential metabolites, and 10 metabolic pathways were enriched. There were 473 DEGs significantly changed after CR treatment, most of which were enriched in the retinol metabolism, calcium signaling pathway, PPAR signaling pathway, circadian rhythm, chemokine signaling pathway, arachidonic acid metabolism, bile secretion, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and other pathways. By constructing the “compound-reaction-enzyme-gene” interaction network, three potential key-target regulation biomarkers were obtained, including 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), ATP-binding cassette transporter G5 (ABCG5), and sulfotransferase2A1(SULT2A1), which were further verified by western blotting. Compared with the ANIT group, the CR group significantly increased the expression of ABCG5 and SULT2A1, and the expression of HMGCR significantly decreased.Conclusion: Combined metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses show that CR has a therapeutic effect on IC through regulation of the biosynthesis of bile acids and bilirubin in the bile secretion pathway and regulation of the expression of HMGCR, ABCG5, and SULT2A1.

Ultrasound effectively inhibited strawberry softening but the mechanism was not clear. In this study, physical data including firmness, soluble pectin (SP) contents, pectin esterase (PE), polygalacturonase (PG) activity and transcriptome sequencing data were analyzed to explore the mechanism of strawberry response to ultrasonic treatment. After 24 days storage, the firmness reduction rate and soluble contents (SP) increased rate of the strawberry treated with ultrasound (25 kHz, 0.15 W/cm2) for 3 min decreased 41.70 and 63.12% compared with the control, respectively. While the PG and PE enzyme activities of ultrasound-treated strawberries were significantly lower than control after storage for 18 days. A total of 1,905 diferentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between ultrasound-treated and control, with 714 genes upregulated and 1,254 genes downregulated, including 56 genes in reactive oxygen species (ROS), auxin (AUX), ethylene (ETH) and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways. At 0 h, 15 genes including LOX, JMT, ARP, SKP, SAUR, IAA, ARF, and LAX were significantly upregulated compared with the control group, which means reactive oxygen specie, auxin, ethylene and jasmonic acid-mediated signaling pathway respond to ultrasound immediately. ERF109, ERF110, and ACS1_2_6 downregulated before 2 days storage indicated ethylene signaling pathway was inhibited, while after 2 days, 9 genes including ERF027, ERF109, and ERF110 were significantly upregulated indicating that the response of the ethylene signaling pathway was lagging. Therefore, in strawberry ultrasound enhanced ROS scavenging and activated JA biosynthesis, which acts as a signal for delaying the activation of ET signaling pathway, thus suppressing the activity of pectin-degrading enzymes PE and PG, and ultimately inhibiting postharvest softening.

Gastrochilus wolongensis (Orchidaceae), a new orchid species from Sichuan Province, Southwest China, is described and illustrated. It morphologically resembles G. sinensis, but differs markedly from the latter in having black-purple stripes (vs. purplish-red spots) on the adaxial side of the petals and sepals, a reniform epichile densely covered with long papillate hairs (vs. sparsely pubescent) with purplish-red spots (vs. unspotted), and outside the sac of the hypochile with purplish-red stripes (vs. purplish-red spotted). The molecular phylogenetic analysis based on nuclear ribosome internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and four chloroplast DNA fragments (matK, psbA-trnH, psbM-trnD, and trnL-F) of 36 Gastrochilus species showed that G. wolongensis was closely related to G. ciliaris and G. formosanus.

A magnesium alloy processed by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) exhibited excellent microstructure refinement and improved strength and hardness. The comprehensive mechanical properties of magnesium alloys have supported the expansion of their applications in the automotive, aerospace, and biomedical industries. Herein, pre-treatment of a solution-treated Mg-2.9Gd-1.5Nd-0.3Zn-0.3Zr alloy was conducted to investigate the precipitate behavior and microstructure evolution during the ECAP process. β1 phase grains quickly precipitated from the solution-treated alloy, which accelerated grain refinement and enhanced the ductility after the ECAP process, as compared to the as-cast alloy reported in our previous study. Moreover, spherical precipitates (∼200 nm) and fine phases (∼100 nm) precipitated along the stripe-like Zn2Zr3 phase, which formed a kabap-like structure dispersing homogeneously in the solution-treated alloy during the ECAP process. Owing to grain refinement, dislocations, spherical β1 precipitates, and texture evolution, the solution-treated alloy after eight passes of ECAP exhibited good comprehensive mechanical properties, with the ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation values reaching 210.9 MPa, 263.9 MPa, and 27.9%, respectively.

Cyanobacterial blooms represent a significant environmental problem, threatening aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Caused by the eutrophication of water bodies and global climate change, these blooms have altered freshwater ecosystems worldwide during recent decades. Although cyanobacterial blooms are typically caused by blue-green cyanobacteria, which derive their color from the phycocyanin pigment, other pigmented cyanobacterial blooms have been frequently observed in water bodies. These blooms pose a serious environmental threat to inland waters, endangering global public health and aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, comprehending the mechanism of color variation in cyanobacterial blooms is crucial for revealing the outbreak mechanism and implementing effective prevention and control measures. This study developed a human–machine interactive workflow for extracting cyanobacterial blooms and recognizing their colors based on the Forel-Ule index and Sentinel-2 MultiSpectral Instrument data. Using this workflow, the authors conducted spatiotemporal analysis and statistical analysis of bloom color for cyanobacterial blooms in four typical eutrophic lakes from 2019 to 2022. The findings indicated a declining trend in cyanobacterial blooms across the four studied lakes over the years, among which Hulun Lake experienced an annual increase in cyanobacterial blooms and emerged as the lake with the most severe outbreak of such blooms in 2022. The yellowing status of cyanobacterial blooms varied among the four lakes, with Taihu Lake and Dianchi Lake exhibiting a relatively high proportion of green-yellow and yellow cyanobacterial blooms, followed by Chaohu Lake, whereas Hulun Lake had the lowest occurrence. The workflow developed in this study was implemented in Google Earth Engine and provided an automated, integrated, and rapid monitoring solution for the long-term monitoring and color recognition of cyanobacterial blooms.

(1) Background: The recurrence rate of childhood recurrent sinusitis varies widely between 12% and 50%, with the postoperative recurrence risk factors remaining largely unidentified. We sought to enhance the understanding of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) via a retrospective observational childhood cohort. (2) Methods: The study recruited 125 cases. Demographic data and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate potential risk factors of childhood recurrent sinusitis following functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). (3) Results: A postoperative recurrence rate of 21.6% was determined. Among the participants, 21 cases presented a history of allergic rhinitis (AR), with the remaining 104 cases being AR-free. A significantly heightened recurrence rate was noted in those bearing a history of AR compared to their counterparts devoid of such history (p < 0.000). The fully adjusted logistic regression model indicated a 21.04-fold increased risk of postoperative recurrence in childhood CRS bearing a history of AR compared to those without an AR history (p = 0.000), highlighting the history of AR as an independent risk factor for postoperative childhood recurrent sinusitis (p = 0.001); (4) Conclusions: The data implicate AR as an independent risk factor for postoperative childhood recurrent sinusitis.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has caused various impacts on people’s lives, while changes in people’s lives have shown mixed effects on mitigating the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Understanding how to capture such two-way interactions is crucial, not only to control the pandemic but also to support post-pandemic urban recovery policies. As suggested by the life-oriented approach, the above interactions exist with respect to a variety of life domains, which form a complex behavior system. Through a review of the literature, this paper first points out inconsistent evidence about behavioral factors affecting the spread of COVID-19, and then argues that existing studies on the impacts of COVID-19 on people’s lives have ignored behavioral co-changes in multiple life domains. Furthermore, selected uncertain trends of people’s lives for the post-pandemic recovery are described. Finally, this paper concludes with a summary about “what should be computed?” in Computational Urban Science with respect to how to catch up with delays in the SDGs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, how to address digital divides and dilemmas of e-society, how to capture behavioral co-changes during the post-pandemic recovery process, and how to better manage post-pandemic recovery policymaking processes.

Abstract Soft magnetic high‐entropy alloy thin films (HEATFs) exhibit remarkable freedom of material‐structure design and physical‐property tailoring, as well as, high cut‐off frequencies and outstanding electrical resistivities, making them potential candidates for high‐frequency magnetic devices. In this study, a CoCrFeNi film with excellent soft magnetic properties is developed by forming a novel core–shell structure via native oxidation, with ferromagnetic elements Fe, Co, and Ni as the core and the Cr oxide as the shell layer. The core–shell structure enables a high saturation magnetization, enhances the electrical resistivity, and thus reduces the eddy‐current loss. For further optimizing the soft magnetic properties, O is deliberately introduced into the HEATFs, and the O‐incorporated HEATFs exhibit an electrical resistivity of 237 µΩ·cm, a saturation magnetization of 535 emu cm−3, and a coercivity of 23 A m−1. The factors that determine the ferromagnetism and coercivity of the CoCrFeNi‐based HEATFs are examined in detail by evaluating the microstructures, magnetic domains, chemical valency, and 3D microscopic compositional distributions of the prepared films. These results are anticipated to provide insights into the magnetic behaviors of soft magnetic HEATFs, as well as aid in the construction of a promising material‐design strategy for these unique materials.

Previous studies have indicated that some Rehmannia glutinosa Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinases (LRR-RLKs) are involved in the formation of replant disease. However, it remains unclear how the interaction of LRR-RLKs with a key factor, the interaction between root exudates and Fusarium oxysporum, results in formation of replant disease. In this study, the influences of root exudates, F. oxysporum and the interaction of these two factors on expression of nine R. glutinosa LRR-RLKs (RgLRRs) were analyzed. The resulting eight RgLRRs of them were highly expressed at the early stage, and rapidly declined at later stages under mixed treatment of root exudates and F. oxysporum. The functions of nine RgLRRs under root exudates, F. oxysporum and mixed treatment of root exudates and F. oxysporum were preliminarily analyzed using transient overexpression and RNAi experiments. The results showed that high expression of RgLRR19, RgLRR21, RgLRR23 and RgLRR29 could decrease the damage to root cells from the mixed treatment of root exudates and F. oxysporum, but the interference of these genes enhanced the damage levels of root cells. Based on this, stable transgenic R. glutinosa seedlings were acquired. Overexpression of RgLRR29 conferred resistance of R. glutinosa seedlings to root exudates, F. oxysporum and mixed treatment. These results indicated that the continuous proliferation of F. oxysporum supported by root exudates altered the expression patterns of RgLRRs in R. glutinosa, then disordered the growth and development of R. glutinosa, finally leading to the formation of replant disease.

Purpose: The Canadian university where this study took place has established an international exchange program in teacher education with a large Chinese university. This study was designed to examine how the international exchange program influenced Chinese science teacher candidates’ understanding of science education and how such learning impacted their teaching in China. Design/Approach/Methods: The study adopted a qualitative research design with interview and reflective journal as the main approaches for data collection. Findings: Participants greatly appreciated the opportunity of exchange. They reported an improved understanding of Canadian school education and its science curriculum and pedagogy, which changed many aspects of their original values about the relationship between the teacher and students, classroom environment, and so on. Although they faced many constraints to implement what they learned from the exchange in Chinese science classrooms, what they learned had never been forgotten. Participants tried to apply them here and there at the level they could control. Originality/Value: There are many reported studies in the literature about Chinese international students on Western campuses. However, research on Chinese students who participate in international exchange programs is very rare. The findings of this study can inform policymakers and education practitioners about student international exchange programs and benefit future exchange participants.

Abstract The built environment can contribute to the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by facilitating human mobility and social contacts between infected and uninfected individuals. However, mobility data capturing detailed interpersonal transmission at a large scale are not available. In this study, we aimed to objectively assess the influence of key built environment factors, which create spaces for activities—“inferred activity” rather than “actually observed activity”—on the spread of COVID-19 across townships in China at its initial stage through a random forest approach. Taking data for 2994 township-level administrative units, the spread is measured by two indicators: the ratio of cumulative infection cases (RCIC), and the coefficient of variation of infection cases (CVIC) that reflects the policy effect in the initial stage of the spread. Accordingly, we selected 19 explanatory variables covering built environment factors (urban facilities, land use, and transportation infrastructure), the level of nighttime activities, and the inter-city population flow (from Hubei Province). We investigated the spatial agglomerations based on an analysis of bivariate local indicators of spatial association between RCIC and CVIC. We found spatial agglomeration (or positive spatial autocorrelations) of RCIC and CVIC in about 20% of all townships under study. The density of convenience shops, supermarkets and shopping malls (DoCSS), and the inter-city population flow (from Hubei Province) are the two most important variables to explain RCIC, while the population flow is the most important factor in measuring policy effects (CVIC). When the DoCSS gets to 21/km2, the density of comprehensive hospitals to 0.7/km2, the density of road intersections to 72/km2, and the density of gyms and sports centers to 2/km2, their impacts on RCIC reach their maximum and remain constant with further increases in the density values. Stricter policy measures should be taken at townships with a density of colleges and universities higher than 0.5/km2 or a density of comprehensive hospitals higher than 0.25/km2 in order to effectively control the spread of COVID-19.

Cyanobacterial blooms are global threats to freshwater ecosystem functioning, human health, and ecoservices. We assessed impacts of cyanobacterial bloom intensity on plankton ecosystem functioning using eukaryotic phytoplankton and zooplankton indicators and associated key physicochemical data collected from four seasons of two years at 24 evenly distributed sites in Lake Taihu that has year-around cyanobacterial blooms. Our analyses involved comparison of four site-groups with different bloom intensities and analyzing all sampling sites together using comparison, hierarchical partitioning analysis, generalized additive mixed model, and structural equation model. We found that cyanobacterial abundance positively associated with TP and temperature (negatively with TN:TP), while phytoplankton positively associated with TN. There was an inverse relation trend between relative abundances of phytoplankton and cyanobacteria, but there was no clear trend between absolute abundances of phytoplankton and cyanobacteria. Rotifers were most dominant when cyanobacteria were unabundant, while cladocerans presented higher abundance when cyanobacteria were in high abundance. Phytoplankton functional richness and species richness negatively and zooplankton functional richness and species richness positively associated with cyanobacterial bloom intensity. Cyanobacterial bloom intensity negatively associated with resource use efficiencies (RUEs) of phytoplankton and rotifers, and positively associated with RUE of cladocerans. Our analytical approach of integrating comparison of site-groups and analyzing all sites together uncovered how cyanobacterial bloom intensity shifted and altered physicochemical and biological conditions and plankton ecosystem functioning, and identified the mechanism and strength of the interactive linkages among physicochemical and biological indicators. Although our results may be different from oligotrophic lakes or reservoirs, our findings provide new insights in understanding the impacts of cyanobacterial bloom intensity on the dynamics of plankton communities and ecosystem functioning for polymictic eutrophic lakes, which may have broad application in enhancing the knowledge of this subject and provides the science base for managing polymictic eutrophic lake water quality and ecosystem functioning.

In RSSI-based indoor visible light positioning systems, when only RSSI is used for trilateral positioning, the receiver height needs to be known to calculate distance. Meanwhile, the positioning accuracy is greatly affected by multi-path effect interference, with the influence of the multi-path effect varying across different areas of the room. If only one single processing is used for positioning, the positioning error in the edge area will increase sharply. In order to address these problems, this paper proposes a new positioning scheme, which uses artificial intelligence algorithms for point classification. Firstly, height estimation is performed according to the received power data structure from different LEDs, which effectively extends the traditional RSSI trilateral positioning from 2D to 3D. The location points in the room are then divided into three categories: ordinary points, edge points and blind points, and corresponding models are used to process different types of points, respectively, to reduce the influence of the multi-path effect. Next, processed received power data are used in the trilateral positioning method for calculating the location point coordinates, and to reduce the room edge corner positioning error, so as to reduce the indoor average positioning error. Finally, a complete system is built in an experimental simulation to verify the effectiveness of the proposed schemes, which are shown to achieve centimeter-level positioning accuracy.

Large amounts of waste result from licorice mold rot; moreover, prompt drying directly influences product quality and value. This study compared various glycyrrhiza drying methods (Hot air drying (HAD), infrared combined hot air drying (IR-HAD), vacuum freeze drying (VFD), microwave vacuum drying (MVD), and vacuum pulsation drying (VPD)) that are used in the processing of traditional Chinese medicine. To investigate the effects of various drying methods on the drying characteristics and internal quality of licorice slices, their color, browning, total phenol, total flavonoid, and active components (liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid) were chosen as qualitative and quantitative evaluation indices. Our results revealed that VFD had the longest drying time, but it could effectively maintain the contents of total phenol, total flavonoid, and liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid. The results also showed that VFD samples had the best color and the lowest degree of browning, followed by HAD, IR-HAD, and VPD. We think that VFD is the best approach to ensure that licorice is dry.

Abstract Background Asymmetrical cell division (ACD) maintains the proper number of stem cells to ensure self-renewal. The rate of symmetric division increases as more cancer stem cells (CSCs) become malignant; however, the signaling pathway network involved in CSC division remains elusive. FXR (Farnesoid X receptor), a ligand-activated transcription factor, has several anti-tumor effects and has been shown to target CSCs. Here, we aimed at evaluating the role of FXR in the regulation of the cell division of CSCs. Methods The FXR target gene and downstream molecular mechanisms were confirmed by qRT-PCR, Western blot, luciferase reporter assay, EMAS, Chip, and IF analyses. Pulse-chase BrdU labeling and paired-cell experiments were used to detect the cell division of liver CSCs. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments in Huh7 cells and mouse models were performed to support findings and elucidate the function and underlying mechanisms of FXR-Notch1 in liver CSC division. Results We demonstrated that activation of Notch1 was significantly elevated in the livers of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Farnesoid X receptor-knockout (FXR-KO) mice and that FXR expression negatively correlated with Notch1 level during chronic liver injury. Activation of FXR induced the asymmetric divisions of Sox9+ liver CSCs and ameliorated liver injury. Mechanistically, FXR directs Sox9+ liver CSCs from symmetry to asymmetry via inhibition of Notch1 expression and activity. Deletion of FXR signaling or over-expression of Notch1 greatly increased Notch1 expression and activity along with ACD reduction. FXR inhibited Notch1 expression by directly binding to its promoter FXRE. FXR also positively regulated Numb expression, contributing to a feedback circuit, which decreased Notch1 activity and directed ACD. Conclusion Our findings suggest that FXR represses Notch1 expression and directs ACD of Sox9+ cells to prevent the development of liver cancer.

BackgroundGonadotropins are effective in inducing spermatogenesis in patients with congenital combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CCPHD). Data on recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH) adjuvant treatment to improve gonadotropin-induced spermatogenesis are limited.Design and SettingThis retrospective study included 60 male patients with CCPHD on a relatively large case series in a single center from mainland China. Twenty-nine patients who received gonadotropin therapy alone were defined as the Gn group, while 31 patients treated with a combination of rhGH and gonadotropins were defined as GH/Gn group.ResultsSpermatogenesis rate was 96.77% (30/31) and 62.07% (18/29) in the GH/Gn and Gn group, respectively (P < 0.001). The time for initial sperm appearance in the GH/Gn group was shorter than in the Gn group (14 versus 23 months, P < 0.001). A higher level of serum testosterone was achieved in the GH/Gn group than in the Gn group (4.79 versus 3.38 ng/mL, P = 0.026). After adjustment for potential confounders, rhGH supplementation was an independent beneficial factor on spermatogenesis (HR = 2.294, 95% CI: 1.143-4.604, P = 0.019).ConclusionsrhGH induces earlier spermatogenesis in patients with CCPHD, which encourages the co-treatment with rhGH and gonadotropins in CCPHD patients.

As a worldwide epidemic in the digital age, cyberbullying is a pertinent but understudied concern—especially from the perspective of language. Elucidating the linguistic features of cyberbullying is critical both to preventing it and to cultivating ethical and responsible digital citizens. In this study, a mixed-method approach integrating lexical feature analysis, sentiment polarity analysis, and semantic network analysis was adopted to develop a deeper understanding of cyberbullying language. Five cyberbullying cases on Chinese social media were analyzed to uncover explicit and implicit linguistic features. Results indicated that cyberbullying comments had significantly different linguistic profiles than non-bullying comments and that explicit and implicit bullying were distinct. The content of cases further suggested that cyberbullying language varied in the use of words, types of cyberbullying, and sentiment polarity. These findings offer useful insight for designing automatic cyberbullying detection tools for Chinese social networking platforms. Implications also offer guidance for regulating cyberbullying and fostering ethical and responsible digital citizens.