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Some traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) possess various redox-regulation properties, but whether the redox regulation contributes to antibacterial mechanisms is not known. Here, ginger juice processed Magnoliae officinalis cortex (GMOC) was found to show strong antibacterial activities against some Gram-positive bacteria, but not Gram-negative bacteria including E. coli, while the redox-related transcription factor oxyR deficient E. coli mutant was sensitive to GMOC. In addition, GMOC and its main ingredients, magnolol and honokiol, exhibited inhibitory effects on the bacterial thioredoxin (Trx) system, a major thiol-dependent disulfide reductase system in bacteria. The effects of magnolol and honokiol on cellular redox homeostasis were further verified by elevation of the intracellular ROS levels. The therapeutic efficacies of GMOC, magnolol and honokiol were further verified in S. aureus-caused mild and acute peritonitis mouse models. Treatments with GMOC, magnolol and honokiol significantly reduced the bacterial load, and effectively protected the mice from S. aureus-caused peritonitis infections. Meanwhile, magnolol and honokiol produced synergistic effects when used in combination with several classic antibiotics. These results strongly suggest that some TCMs may exert their therapeutic effects via targeting the bacterial thiol-dependent redox system.

Inductively coupled channels are based on the electromagnetic induction principle and realize long-distance current signal transmission through seawater. Due to a few difficulties in performing actual experiments, it is unclear how the seawater medium affects the frequency selectivity of the current signal. In this paper, a dual dipole model of the inductively coupled seawater transmission channel is established for the traditional short-distance current field transmission mode. The transmission characteristics of electrical signals in seawater are theoretically derived. A platform is used to measure the amplitude-frequency and phase-frequency characteristics of the current signal transmission in seawater with transmission frequencies ranging from 30 kHz to 1 MHz, and transmission distances in the vertical range of 4 m. The COMSOL Multiphysics simulation and practical test analysis are carried out to analyze the frequency selectivity of seawater conductivity. It is proved that the seawater resistance increases as the frequency increases, which is the key problem that affects the current signal. This study provides an important theoretical support and experimental evidence for improving the transmission performance of long-distance underwater current signals.

The aim of this study was to explore the mental health of transplant recipients, especially psychological integration and the donor-recipient relationship.Psychological integration and the donor-recipient relationship are unique psychological perception of recipients with transplantation, which have important effects on their mental health and recovery. However, few studies have focused on the feelings and attitudes of cadaveric liver transplant recipients.A qualitative descriptive design was used.Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted face-to-face with 30 recipients after liver transplantation. Qualitative content analysis was used and data saturation was achieved. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ) were used.Three themes and eight subthemes were identified. (1) Psychological integration-acknowledging the transplanted liver was a part of their own body and attaching great importance to the liver; (2) Attitudes towards the donor-gratitude to the donor, being inspired by the dedication of the donor and mourning the donor's misfortune; and (3) Living in the moment-health behaviours of self-care, emotional regulation and positive attitude about life.The psychological integration of recipients of cadaveric liver transplants is smooth, and the attitudes towards the donor are positive. From the perspective of positive psychology, we observed the important role of post-traumatic growth of the recipient and positive emotions in promoting the recipient's health behaviours for self-care, emotion regulation and attitudes towards life.Medical staff should help recipients to deal with these issues about the organ and its donor constructively and guide them to focus on postoperative inner growth and positive emotion.

Plastic pollution is a global environmental and human health issue, with plastics now ubiquitous in the environment and biota. Despite extensive international research, key knowledge gaps ("known unknowns") remain around ecosystem-scale and human health impacts of plastics in the environment, particularly in limnetic, coastal and marine systems. Here we review aquatic plastics research in three contrasting geographic and cultural settings, selected to present a gradient of heavily urbanised (and high population density) to less urbanised (and low population density) areas: China, the United Kingdom (UK), and Australia. Research from each country has varying environmental focus (for example, biota-focussed studies in Australia target various bird, fish, turtle and seal species, while UK and China-based studies focus on commercially important organisms such as bivalves, fish and decapods), and uses varying methods and reporting units (e.g. mean, median or range). This has resulted in aquatic plastics datasets that are hard to compare directly, supporting the need to converge on standardised sampling methods, and bioindicator species. While all the study nations show plastics contamination, often at high levels, datasets are variable and do not clearly demonstrate pollution gradients.