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Abstract Moiré superlattices in two-dimensional stacks have attracted worldwide interest due to their unique electronic properties. A typical example is the moiré ferroelectricity, where adjacent moirés exhibit opposite spontaneous polarization that can be switched through interlayer sliding. However, in contrast to ideal regular ferroelectric moiré domains (equilateral triangles) built in most theoretical models, the unavoidable irregular moiré supercells (non-equilateral triangles) induced by external strain fields during the transfer process have been given less attention. Manipulation of controllable polarization evolutions is also a big challenge due to an interlinked network of polarized domains. In this study, we employ a sliding-disturb measurement to examine and modulate these irregular moirés via mechanical force. By introducing a curved substrate, the irregular moirés are fabricated, and three distinct types of moiré domains with different patterns are identified and modulated by external mechanical force disturbing. They exhibit reduced pinning forces when the shear direction is not aligned with the strain direction. The shift of the moirés is observed to be orthogonal to the shear direction. This work offers an effective pathway for the controlled switch of the polarization in interfacial ferroelectricity.

Objective This study was conducted to reveal the role of nuclear poly(A) binding protein 1 (PABPN1) in the proliferation of preadipocytes, and to reveal the relationship between PABPN1 and cAMP response element (CRE)-binding protein (CREB) in the regulation of preadipocyte proliferation. Methods Vectors overexpressing and siRNAs against PABPN1/CREB were transiently transfected into both porcine preadipocytes and mouse 3T3-L1 cells. Preadipocyte proliferation was measured with cell counting kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and flow cytometry analyses. Additionally, the transcriptional regulation of CREB on PABPN1 were analyzed with dual-luciferase reporter gene and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Results Overexpression of PABPN1 inhibits, and knockdown of PABPN1 promotes, the proliferation of both porcine preadipocytes and 3T3-L1 cell lines. PABPN1 overexpression increased, while knockdown decreased, the cell population in the G0/G1 phase. These indicates that PABPN1 repressed preadipocyte proliferation by inhibiting cell cycle progress. Additionally, it was revealed that CREB regulated the expression of PABPN1 through binding to the promoter and that CREB inhibited preadipocyte proliferation by repressed cell cycle progress. Furthermore, we showed that PABPN1 functions as a downstream gene of CREB to regulate the proliferation of preadipocytes. Conclusion PABPN1 inhibits preadipocyte proliferation by suppressing the cell cycle. We also found that CREB could promote PABPN1 expression by binding to a motif in the promoter. Further analysis confirmed that PABPN1 functions as a downstream gene of CREB to regulate the proliferation of preadipocytes. These results suggest that the CREB/PABPN1 axis plays a role in the regulation of preadipocyte proliferation, which will contribute to further revealing the mechanism of fat accumulation.

Abstract Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is emerging as a post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism, similar as that of alternative splicing (AS), and plays a prominent role in regulating gene expression and increasing the complexity of the transcriptome and proteome. We use polyadenylation selected long-read isoform sequencing to obtain full-length transcript sequences in porcine muscles at five developmental stages. We identify numerous novel transcripts unannotated in the existing pig genome, including transcripts mapping to known and unknown gene loci, and widespread transcript diversity in porcine muscles. The top 100 most isoformic genes are mainly enriched in Gene Ontology terms related to muscle growth and development. It is revealed that intron retention/exon inclusion and the usage of distal polyadenylation site (PAS) are associated with ageing through analyzing changes of AS and PAS during muscle development. We also identify developmental changes in major transcripts and major PASs. Furthermore, genes/transcripts important for muscle development are identified. The results confirm the importance of AS and APA in pig muscles, substantially increasing transcriptional diversity and showing an important mechanism underlying gene regulation in muscles.

As the people's health and wellness needs continue to grow, traditional dietary nutrition, medicinal diets and other "treatment of disease" concept is increasingly popular, with "food and medicine substances", new food raw materials such as raw materials, new food, internet celebrity food endless, promoting the market to promote the promotion of food to strengthen the body and even prevent the treatment of disease "functionalization" trend is becoming increasingly significant. Even the prevention and treatment of disease "functionalization" trend is becoming more and more significant. Due to the fact that the regulatory positioning of food function claims is yet to be clarified, coupled with the people's limited knowledge of health food that can claim health care functions, and other factors, there has been an increase in the number of illegal behaviors such as false propaganda and illegal additives to food on the market, and these illegal behaviors mainly occur through network sales, conference marketing and so on, which seriously affects the safety of the consumers and their legitimate rights and interests. In order to standardize the management of food claims in China, it is recommended that, on the basis of strengthening risk assessment and strict supervision and law enforcement, focusing on improving the relevant regulations and standards, strengthening the popularization and publicity of food safety, and forming a synergy in the governance of food safety.

Abstract Vaccine development targeting rapidly evolving pathogens such as HIV-1 requires induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) with conserved paratopes and mutations, and in some cases, the same Ig-heavy chains. The current trial-and-error search for immunogen modifications that improve selection for specific bnAb mutations is imprecise. Here, to precisely engineer bnAb boosting immunogens, we use molecular dynamics simulations to examine encounter states that form when antibodies collide with the HIV-1 Envelope (Env). By mapping how bnAbs use encounter states to find their bound states, we identify Env mutations predicted to select for specific antibody mutations in two HIV-1 bnAb B cell lineages. The Env mutations encode antibody affinity gains and select for desired antibody mutations in vivo. These results demonstrate proof-of-concept that Env immunogens can be designed to directly select for specific antibody mutations at residue-level precision by vaccination, thus demonstrating the feasibility of sequential bnAb-inducing HIV-1 vaccine design.

ABSTRACT Background Early‐stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is frequently misdiagnosed, contributing to its high mortality rate. Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as potential biomarkers for the early detection of PDAC. Aims This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using exosomal miRNAs from PDAC tissues and serum as biomarkers for early detection and prognosis. Materials & Methods Exosomes were isolated from healthy individuals and PDAC patients via tissue and serum samples, then identified by analyzing their particle size and protein content. PDAC‐specific exosomal miRNAs were identified using a microRNA array. A large cohort was subsequently recruited to validate these findings. The diagnostic capacity of the identified miRNAs was assessed using the Brier score and area under the curve (AUC). Verified miRNAs were also used to confirm intracellular mRNA change patterns. Results The combination of miR142‐3p, miR148a‐3p, and CA199 showed a higher AUC (0.747) compared to CA199 alone (0.716) in ROC curve analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) annotations revealed that the two‐miRNA panel was associated with multiple oncogenic pathways. Discussion 142‐3p and miR148a‐3p were identified as specific to PDAC and, when combined with CA199, improved diagnostic accuracy. Their involvement in oncogenic pathways underscores their relevance as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Conclusion MiR142‐3p and miR148a‐3p, alongside CA199, show promise as non‐invasive biomarkers for early detection and prognosis of PDAC, improving diagnostic accuracy.

Abstract Background High-throughput sequencing is a powerful tool that is extensively applied in biological studies. However, sequencers may produce low-quality bases, leading to ambiguous bases, ‘N’s. PCR duplicates introduced in library preparation are conventionally removed in genomics studies, and several deduplication tools have been developed for this purpose. Two identical reads may appear different due to ambiguous bases and the existing tools cannot address ‘N’s correctly or efficiently. Results Here we proposed and implemented TrieDedup, which uses the trie (prefix tree) data structure to compare and store sequences. TrieDedup can handle ambiguous base ‘N’s, and efficiently deduplicate at the level of raw sequences. We also reduced its memory usage by approximately 20% by implementing restrictedDict in Python. We benchmarked the performance of the algorithm and showed that TrieDedup can deduplicate reads up to 270-fold faster than pairwise comparison at a cost of 32-fold higher memory usage. Conclusions The TrieDedup algorithm may facilitate PCR deduplication, barcode or UMI assignment, and repertoire diversity analysis of large-scale high-throughput sequencing datasets with its ultra-fast algorithm that can account for ambiguous bases due to sequencing errors.

MicroRNAs play essential roles in biological processes by regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Our previous studies suggested the role of miR-26a in porcine fat accumulation. Here, through gain- and loss-of-function analyses, we first showed that miR-26a increased the proliferation of porcine preadipocytes by promoting cell division and that miR-26a inhibited the preadipocyte differentiation. Next, acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, medium chain (ACADM) was revealed to promote the proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes for the first time. Then, it was revealed that miR-26a regulates adipogenesis by directly binding to the 3′ untranslated region of ACADM and the long-chain acyl-Co A synthetase 1 (ACSL1) gene, a previously known regulator of adipogenesis. Finally, RNA-sequencing, performed on preadipocytes overexpressing miR-26a, identified 337 differentially expressed genes in the early stage of adipogenesis; among them, nine genes were characterized as potential targets of miR-26a. The 337 genes were mainly involved in Gene Ontology terms related to cell division, indicating that cell cycle progression was also a major event regulated by miR-26a during adipogenesis. We provide novel data for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying adipogenesis, which will contribute to controlling fat accumulation in animals.

Abstract Stacking two atomic layers together can induce interlayer (sliding) ferroelectricity that is absent in their naturally occurring crystal forms. With the flexibility of two-dimensional materials, more layers could be assembled to give rise to even richer polarization states. Here, we show that three-layer boron nitride can host ferro- and antiferroelectric domains in the same sample. When used as a tunneling junction, the polarization of these domains could be switched in a layer-by-layer procedure, producing multiple resistance states. Theoretical investigation reveals an important role played by the interaction between the trilayer boron nitride and graphene substrate. These findings reveal the great potential and unique properties of 2D sliding ferroelectric materials.

Abstract Background Tussis, which increases the incidence of airway spasm, aspiration, nausea, and vomiting, is a common complication faced during upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. However, sedatives and analgesics exhibit inhibitory actions against airway reflexes to different degrees. Our assumption is a combination of propofol and small doses of sufentanil, esketamine, or lidocaine, especially the combination of propofol and esketamine, might reduce tussis incidence. Method The study will be performed as a randomised controlled three-blind, two-centre trial. Patients undergoing upper GI endoscopy, ≥ 18 years old, with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification I–III will be randomised to four groups: P group (single administration of propofol), P + S group (administration of propofol and sufentanil in combination), P + K group (administration of propofol and esketamine in combination), and P + L group (administration of propofol and lidocaine in combination) (N = 100 per group). The primary endpoints include the frequency of tussis, nausea and vomiting, and/or body movements observed at the insertion of the endoscope into the pharyngeal cavity or within 5 min of endoscope insertion. Secondary outcomes are recovery assessment, patients’ and endoscopists’ satisfaction with the procedure, MMSE scores, MET scores, sleep condition, and the number of sedation-related events. Data on sedation-related events are collected by recording of vital signs. Satisfaction parameters and mental states are collected by means of questionnaires and evaluation scales before and after the procedure and on different following days. Discussion Esketamine can reduce tussis occurrence with good tolerability and relax the bronchus and also provides high clearance rates and low possibility of adverse reactions. We aim to demonstrate that the combination of esketamine with propofol for sedation in patients subjected to upper GI procedure is nevertheless superior to only administration of propofol or a combination of propofol with other anaesthetics, such as opioids or lidocaine. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT05497492 , Registered 09 August 2022.

AlGaN is attractive for fabricating deep ultraviolet (DUV) optoelectronic and electronic devices of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), photodetectors, high-electron-mobility field-effect transistors (HEMTs), etc. We investigated the quality and optical properties of AlxGa1−xN films with high Al fractions (60–87%) grown on sapphire substrates, including AlN nucleation and buffer layers, by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). They were initially investigated by high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HR-XRD) and Raman scattering (RS). A set of formulas was deduced to precisely determine x(Al) from HR-XRD data. Screw dislocation densities in AlGaN and AlN layers were deduced. DUV (266 nm) excitation RS clearly exhibits AlGaN Raman features far superior to visible RS. The simulation on the AlGaN longitudinal optical (LO) phonon modes determined the carrier concentrations in the AlGaN layers. The spatial correlation model (SCM) analyses on E2(high) modes examined the AlGaN and AlN layer properties. These high-x(Al) AlxGa1−xN films possess large energy gaps Eg in the range of 5.0–5.6 eV and are excited by a DUV 213 nm (5.8 eV) laser for room temperature (RT) photoluminescence (PL) and temperature-dependent photoluminescence (TDPL) studies. The obtained RTPL bands were deconvoluted with two Gaussian bands, indicating cross-bandgap emission, phonon replicas, and variation with x(Al). TDPL spectra at 20–300 K of Al0.87Ga0.13N exhibit the T-dependences of the band-edge luminescence near 5.6 eV and the phonon replicas. According to the Arrhenius fitting diagram of the TDPL spectra, the activation energy (19.6 meV) associated with the luminescence process is acquired. In addition, the combined PL and time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) spectroscopic system with DUV 213 nm pulse excitation was applied to measure a typical AlGaN multiple-quantum well (MQW). The RT TRPL decay spectra were obtained at four wavelengths and fitted by two exponentials with fast and slow decay times of ~0.2 ns and 1–2 ns, respectively. Comprehensive studies on these Al-rich AlGaN epi-films and a typical AlGaN MQW are achieved with unique and significant results, which are useful to researchers in the field.

The breeding of disease-resistant pigs has consistently been a topic of significant interest and concern within the pig farming industry. The study of pig blood indicators has the potential to confer economic benefits upon the pig farming industry, whilst simultaneously providing valuable insights that can inform the study of human diseases. In this study, an F2 resource population of 489 individuals was generated through the intercrossing of Large White boars and Min pig sows. A total of 17 haematological parameters and T lymphocyte subpopulations were measured, including white blood cell count (WBC), lymphocyte count (LYM), lymphocyte count percentage (LYM%), monocyte count (MID), monocyte count percentage (MID%), neutrophilic granulocyte count (GRN), percentage of neutrophils (GRN%), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), platelet count (PLT), CD4+/CD8+, CD4+CD8+CD3+, CD4+CD8−CD3+, CD4−CD8+CD3+, CD4−CD8−CD3+, and CD3+. The Illumina PorcineSNP60 Genotyping BeadChip was obtained for all of the F2 animals. Subsequently, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted using the TASSEL 5.0 software to identify associated variants and candidate genes for the 17 traits. Significant association signals were identified for PCT and PLT on SSC7, with 1 and 11 significant SNP loci, respectively. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on SSC12 was identified as a significant predictor of the white blood cell (WBC) trait. Significant association signals were detected for the T lymphocyte subpopulations, namely CD4+/CD8+, CD4+CD8+CD3+, CD4+CD8−CD3+, and CD4−CD8+CD3+, with the majority of these signals observed on SSC7. The genes CLIC5, TRIM15, and SLC17A4 were identified as potential candidates for influencing CD4+/CD8+ and CD4−CD8+CD3+. A missense variant, c.2707 G>A, in the SLC17A4 gene has been demonstrated to be significantly associated with the CD4+/CD8+ and CD4-CD8+CD3+ traits. Three missense variants (c.425 A>C, c.500 C>T, and c.733 A>G) have been identified in the TRIM15 gene as being linked to the CD4+/CD8+ trait. Nevertheless, only c.425 A>C has been demonstrated to be significantly associated with CD4-CD8+CD3+. In the CLIC5 gene, one missense variant (c.957 T>C) has been identified as being associated with the CD4+/CD8+ and CD4-CD8+CD3+ traits. Additionally, significant association signals were observed for CD4+CD8+CD3+ and CD4+CD8−CD3+ on SSC2 and 5, respectively. Subsequently, a gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was conducted on all genes within the quantitative trait loci (QTL) intervals of platelet count, CD4+/CD8+, and CD4−CD8+CD3+. The MHC class II protein complex binding pathway was identified as the most significant pathway among the three immune traits. These results provide guidance for further research in the field of breeding disease-resistant pigs.

Aiming to provide solutions for problems proposed by the inaccurate segmentation of long objects and information loss of small objects in real-time semantic segmentation algorithms, this paper proposes a lightweight multi-branch real-time semantic segmentation network based on BiseNetV2. The new auxiliary branch makes full use of spatial details and context information to cover the long object in the field of view. Meanwhile, in order to ensure the inference speed of the model, the asymmetric convolution is used in each stage of the auxiliary branch to design a structure with low computational complexity. In the multi-branch fusion stage, the alignment-and-fusion module is designed to provide guidance information for deep and shallow feature mapping, so as to make up for the problem of feature misalignment in the fusion of information at different scales, and thus reduce the loss of small target information. In order to further improve the model’s awareness of key information, a global context module is designed to capture the most important features in the input data. The proposed network uses an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU experiment on the road street view Cityscapes and CamVid datasets, with the average simultaneously occurring ratios reaching 77.1% and 77.4%, respectively, and the running speeds reaching 127 frames/s and 112 frames/s, respectively. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can achieve a real-time segmentation and improve the accuracy significantly, showing good semantic segmentation performance.

Taking Xining City as an example, this article analyzes the mechanism by which industrial park construction drives the expansion of urban population size and built-up area, based on a review of the process of industrial park development and urban population growth. It also discusses future urban governance models in light of urban development trends. The research finds: (1) In the process of urban development, industrial park construction is often the initial factor in the cumulative and cyclical development of a city; (2) As the level of development improves and the mode of economic growth changes, the government should timely adjust its strategies, shifting from the expansion of industrial park construction towards structural optimization and quality improvement. The most significant difference from previous research is that this paper emphasizes the importance of government planning. This study can not only demonstrate the general process of industrial parks promoting urban expansion, but more importantly, it explains the fundamental reasons for the transition of urban expansion to adjustment from a mechanism perspective, thereby eliminating the drawbacks of simply predicting urban scale evolution through data models.

Objective The tibial tubercle‐trochlear groove (TT‐TG) distance is now routinely utilized to help determine whether a realignment procedure is necessary for patients with patellar instability. The tibial tubercle‐posterior cruciate ligament (TT‐PCL) distance has been explored as an alternative measurement. The aim of this study is to compare the reliability of TT‐TG and TT‐PCL; to explore whether there is a relationship between the TT‐PCL and the TT‐TG distance; to determine whether there is a relationship between the TT‐TG and TT‐PCL distances and knee rotation; and to compare the abilities of the TT‐PCL distance and the TT‐TG distance with predicted patellar instability. Method This systematic review was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Three databases, PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, were searched from inception to September 2021 to identify clinical studies comparing TT‐TG and TT‐PCL distances to patellar instability. Data on patient baseline characteristics, TT‐TG and TT‐PCL distances, inter‐observer reliability, and area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve (AUC) were recorded. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the quality assessment form recommended by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Result Twenty studies were included in the final analysis, comprising 2330 knees from 2260 patients. The current study showed that TT‐TG and TT‐PCL have similar observer reliability. The inter‐ and intra‐observer reliability of TT‐TG ranged from 0.807 to 0.98 and 0.553 to 0.99, respectively. The inter‐ and intra‐observer reliability of TT‐PCL ranged from 0.553 to 0.99 and 0.88 to 0.981, respectively. Six studies compared the AUC for predicting patellar instability and showed that TT‐TG had better predictive performance than TT‐PCL. Three studies reported a correlation between TT‐TG and knee rotation, but no such relationship was found for TT‐PCL. Eight studies reported a weak or moderate correlation between TT‐TG and TT‐PCL. Conclusion TT‐TG and TT‐PCL have similar inter‐ and intra‐rater reliability (as measured by ICC), but TT‐TG has greater discriminatory power to predict patellar instability than TT‐PCL (as measured by AUC values and odds ratio). However, considering trochlear dysplasia and individual variations, future studies need to find more accurate and individualized methods to predict patellar instability.

Abstract Objective Diabetes foot ulcer (DFU) is a serious complication of diabetes, which can lead to significant mortality and amputation rate. Our previous study found circ_072697 was highly expressed in DFU tissues, but the regulatory mechanism of circ_072697 in DFU remains unclear. Methods The relative expressions of circ_072697, miR-3150a-3p, and KDM2A in DFU patients or advanced glycation end products (AGEs)-treated HaCaT cells (used as DFU cell model) were determined by using qRT-PCR. Cell proliferation and migration abilities were determined by using CCK-8 and Transwell assays. The interaction between miR-3150a-3p with circ_072697 or KDM2A were verified by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assays. Furthermore, the protein expression of genes involved in MAPK signaling pathway was detected by western blot. Results The expression of circ_072697 was significantly upregulated in DFU tissues, while the expression of miR-3150a-3p was downregulated. Circ_072697 knockdown promoted the proliferation and migration of AGEs-treated HaCaT cells. miR-3150a-3p was confirmed as a target of circ_072697 and its inhibitor reversed the promotion effects of circ_072697 knockdown on biological behavior of cells. In addition, KDM2A was considered as a target of miR-3150a-3p and it was highly expressed in DFU samples. Importantly, circ_072697 could regulate KDM2A expression through sponging miR-3150a-3p, and this axis had effect on the MAPK signaling pathway. Conclusions Overall, circ_072697 regulated the biological behaviors of keratinocytes in DFU via miR-3150a-3p/KDM2A axis and MAPK signaling pathway, revealing a new insight into the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets of DFU.

Abstract Chronic atrophic gastritis (AG) is initiated mainly by Helicobacter pylori infection, which may progress to stomach cancer following the Correa's cascade. The current treatment regimen is H. pylori eradication, yet evidence is lacking that this treatment is effective on later stages of AG especially gastric gland atrophy. Here, using AG mouse model, patient samples, gastric organoids, and lineage tracing, this study unraveled gastric stem cell (GSC) defect as a crucial pathogenic factor in AG in mouse and human. Moreover, a natural peptide is isolated from a traditional Chinese medicine that activated GSCs to regenerate gastric epithelia in experimental AG models and revitalized the atrophic gastric organoids derived from patients. It is further shown that the peptide exerts its functions by stabilizing the EGF‐EGFR complex and specifically activating the downstream ERK and Stat1 signaling. Overall, these findings advance the understanding of AG pathogenesis and open a new avenue for AG treatment.

Objective With the recent exponential increase in express deliveries across China, the number of patients with flame burns caused by electric bicycle battery chargers (BEBBC) has markedly increased in burn units. In this study, we aimed to characterize BEBBC to systematically explore measures to prevent their occurrence. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with flame burns who visited the Burn Department of Rui Jin Hospital between January 2015 and December 2021. Results Sixty-three patients with BEBBC and 1412 with types of other flame burn were included in this study. Fifty-six of the 63 BEBBC cases occurred between 9 pm and 7 am. BEBBC incidents involved a higher incidence of group burn in which multiple individuals were affected. Non-local patients with BEBBC were significantly younger than their local counterparts. BEBBC had a higher mortality than types of other flame burn. Conclusions The rising incidence of BEBBC calls for greater attention because of the associated high mortality and heavy burden on society. Enacting related legislation, disseminating information to the public, and improving treatment to control infection can help prevent BEBBC, increase its cure rate, and reduce patient mortality.

This paper focuses on the situation of earthquake organizational reforms in cities and counties in Anhui Province, with a specific analysis of the work status, characteristics, and problems of grassroots earthquake prevention and disaster reduction organizations in Ma’anshan City after the reform. Due to the request of new period, new circumstance, new mission, based on the important issues of the current earthquake prevention and combined with practical work, innovating ideas for earthquake prevention and disaster reduction work，five targeted strategies are proposed. Improve system construction and enhance collaborative and linkage capabilities; Strengthen the legal foundation and improve comprehensive law enforcement capabilities; Increase security efforts and improve grassroots basic capabilities; Promote intelligent construction and enhance science and technology innovation capabilities; Cultivate earthquake culture and enhance earthquake prevention and disaster reduction publicity capabilities. The results have certain practical guiding significance for further strengthening the earthquake grassroots work under the new emergency management system.

Abstract Background WDR35 variants are known to cause a rare autosomal recessive disorder-Cranioectodermal dysplasia (CED). The CED patients are commonly present with facial dysmorphisms (frontal bossing and low-set ears), sagittal craniosynostosis, growth retardation, dolichocephaly, skeletal deformities (brachydactyly, terminal hypoplasia of the fingers and narrow thorax), ectodermal abnormalities (sparse hair, and finger/toe nail dysplasia), nephronophthisis, retinal dystrophy and hepatic fibrosis. Diagnosis of CED can be difficult because it presents with high genetic heterogeneity. However, our understanding of the phenotype of CED caused by WDR35 variants could be more explicit, and the correlation between genotype and phenotype needs further improvement. Case presentation We report a case of the first Chinses patient of CED caused by WDR35 variants, a 3-year-and-3-month-old patient, who was admitted to our hospital with frontal bossing, growth retardation, low set ears, dolichocephaly, sparse hair, and small limbs, abnormal renal function, and moderate anemia. The child showed a novel phenotype of the ectopic testis except for presenting typical CED characteristics, and he was identified with novel compound heterozygous WDR35 variants (c.2590 C > T, p.Gln864* and c.2408_2416del, p.Asn803_Ala805del; NM_001006657). He was given iron succinate and erythropoietin to improve anemia and to inhibit repeated metabolic acidosis and hyperkalemia through acid correction, diuretic, and potassium-lowering treatments. The parents refused to accept renal replacement therapy for their child and were discharged voluntarily. Conclusions This is the first reported case of the WDR35 variants that can lead to CED and ectopic testis, which is also the first Chinese patient associated with WDR35 variants. This study expands our understanding of genotype-phenotype association in patients with WDR35 variants and provides genetic counseling for prevention and intervention in this genetic disorder. Neonatal carriers should be followed up for kidney and CED-related diseases to detect warning signs.

Abstract Grounding on self-determination theory, this study proposes that job characteristics (task variety and skill variety) enhance employees’ creativity through thriving at work. It also aims to examine the boundary condition of managerial coaching for the link between job characteristics and thriving. A time-lagged dyadic data collected from 313 frontline hospitality individuals’ analyses performed through AMOS and PROCESS macro show that job characteristics promote individuals’ thriving and thriving affects individuals’ creativity positively. Skill variety as compared to task variety was found to be more strongly affecting thriving at work. Thriving mediates job characteristics and creativity. Moreover, managerial coaching significantly moderates the effects of job characteristics on thriving. This study supports the self-determination perspective of job characteristics, thriving, creativity and managerial coaching in the Chinese hospitality sector.

Summary: To systematically review the diagnostic accuracy of spot urinary protein to creatinine ratio (PCR) and 12-h proteinuria in preeclampsia and to estimate which is a preferred alternative method for 24-h proteinuria, we carried out this meta-analysis. 25 primary studies were included based on searching strategy. For spot urinary PCR, our results showed pooled sensitivity of 87% (95% confidence interval [CI] 83%–91%) and specificity of 86% (95% CI 79%–91%), with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.93 (0.90–0.95). For 12-h proteinuria, pooled sensitivity and specificity were 92% (95% CI 87%–96%) and 99% (95% CI 75%–100%), respectively, with an AUC of 0.97 (0.95–0.98). Fagan plot and likelihood ratio scattergram showed that 12-h proteinuria yielded a better discriminatory performance on diagnosis of proteinuria (≥0.3 g/24 h). These results indicated that 12-h proteinuria estimation shows better clinical value than spot urine PCR for diagnosis of preeclampsia. However, due to the severity of condition and the fact that preeclampsia patients cannot wait for 12 h, spot urine PCR can be used as one of the diagnostic indicators.

Endometriosis (EMs) is a prevalent gynecological disorder characterized by the growth of uterine tissue outside the uterine cavity, causing debilitating symptoms and infertility. Despite its prevalence, the exact mechanisms behind EMs development remain incompletely understood. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the relationship between gut microbiota imbalance and EMs pathogenesis. Recent research indicates that gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in various aspects of EMs, including immune regulation, generation of inflammatory factors, angiopoietin release, hormonal regulation, and endotoxin production. Dysbiosis of gut microbiota can disrupt immune responses, leading to inflammation and impaired immune clearance of endometrial fragments, resulting in the development of endometriotic lesions. The dysregulated microbiota can contribute to the release of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), triggering chronic inflammation and promoting ectopic endometrial adhesion, invasion, and angiogenesis. Furthermore, gut microbiota involvement in estrogen metabolism affects estrogen levels, which are directly related to EMs development. The review also highlights the potential of gut microbiota as a diagnostic tool and therapeutic target for EMs. Interventions such as fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and the use of gut microbiota preparations have demonstrated promising effects in reducing EMs symptoms. Despite the progress made, further research is needed to unravel the intricate interactions between gut microbiota and EMs, paving the way for more effective prevention and treatment strategies for this challenging condition.

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a severe complication of diabetes. Persistent inflammation and impaired vascularization present considerable challenges in tissue wound healing. The aim of this study was to identify the crucial regulators of DFU wound healing and investigate their specific mechanisms in DFU. Methods: DFU RNA sequencing data were obtained to identify crucial feature genes. The expression levels of the feature genes and their corresponding microRNAs (miRNAs) were verified in clinical samples. Subsequently, the expression of CD68 was determined in DFU and non-diabetic foot skin samples. RAW 264.7 cells were treated with advanced glycation end products (AGEs) to determine their viability and apoptosis. Finally, the roles of the selected crucial genes and their corresponding miRNAs were investigated using in vitro experiments and a mouse model of diabetes. Results: Bioinformatic analysis showed that five crucial feature genes (CORO1A, CSF1R, CTSH, NFE2L3, and SLC16A10) were associated with DFU wound healing. The expression validation showed that miR-361-3p-CSF1R had a significant negative correlation and was thus selected for further experiments. AGEs significantly inhibited the viability of RAW 264.7 cells and enhanced their apoptosis; furthermore, the AGEs significantly downregulated CSF1R and increased miR-361-3p levels compared with the control cells. Additionally, inhibition of miR-361-3p decreased the cell apoptosis caused by AGEs and increased the levels of p-AKT/AKT and p-PI3K/PI3K, whereas CSF1R knockdown reversed the effects of miR-361-3p. In vivo experiments showed that miR-361-3p inhibition promoted wound healing in diabetic mice and regulated PI3K/AKT levels. Conclusions: AGEs may regulate macrophage apoptosis via the miR-361-3p/CSF1R axis and PI3K/AKT pathway, thereby influencing DFU wound healing.

Multinational enterprises frequently divest their foreign assets in the current economic environment. Existing research, based on friction theory, has mainly focused on the impacts of political and economic disparities on foreign divestment while neglecting the nuanced influence of cultural factors. To address this gap, this paper draws on the cultural friction perspective to capture the diverse cultural resistance faced by each enterprise and explore the relationship between cultural friction and foreign divestment. Data from Chinese publicly listed enterprises engaged in foreign investment are leveraged, and a dual-level analysis is conducted using Logit panel regression and Cox survival analysis to examine the relationship between cultural friction and foreign divestment from both the viewpoints of the parent company and the overseas subsidiary. Additionally, the paper examines the marginal factors that affect the relationship between them from an institutional perspective. The findings reveal that cultural friction has a positive influence on the propensity of multinational enterprises to divest from foreign markets. Interestingly, a "formal institutional distance paradox" is demonstrated in our study, and politically connected enterprises are found to be more vulnerable to foreign divestment due to the "curse of political affiliations".

The authentic and scientific health claim of food is an important embodiment of protecting consumers' right to safety, information, and choice, which helping to guide consumers to make rational food choices and promote a balanced diet, as well as promoting the construction of a healthy China and improving national health. As one of the earliest countries to have clear legal provisions on health claims in food and natural health products, Canada has extensive experience in the classification, use, and management of health claims. This paper combs the definition of food and natural health products, types of health claims and management requirements in Canada, and proposes inspiration for the current situation of health claims of food products in China to get graded management of health function claims of health food products, improve the scientific basis of food and health food claims, and encourage the participation of all parties in society and scientific cognition of nutrition claims, etc., aiming to provide reference materials for the regulation of health claims of food and health food products in China. The aim is to provide reference materials for the regulation of health claims of food and health food in China.

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a complex and heterogeneous disease, typically diagnosed through endoscopy and computed tomography and treated with glucocorticoid or surgery. There is an urgent need to develop molecular-level diagnostic or prognostic tools to better understand the pathophysiology of CRSwNP. Proteomics and metabolomics, emerging fields, offer significant potential in elucidating the mechanisms underlying CRSwNP. Mass spectrometry, a powerful and sensitive tool for trace substance detection, is broadly applied for proteomics and metabolomics analysis in CRSwNP research. While previous literature has summarized the advancement of mass spectrometry-based CRSwNP proteomics from 2004 to 2018, recent years have seen new advances in this field, particularly about non-invasive samples and exosomes. Furthermore, mass spectrometry-based CRSwNP metabolomics research has opened new avenues for inquiry. Therefore, we present a comprehensive review of mass spectrometry-based proteomics and metabolomics studies on CRSwNP conducted between 2019 and 2022. Specifically, we highlight protein and metabolic biomarkers that have been utilized as diagnostic or prognostic markers for CRSwNP. Lastly, we conclude with potential directions for future mass spectrometry-based omics studies of CRSwNP.

Abstract Background It is highly desirable to develop new therapeutic strategies for gastric cancer given the low survival rate despite improvement in the past decades. Cadherin 17 (CDH17) is a membrane protein highly expressed in cancers of digestive system. Nanobody represents a novel antibody format for cancer targeted imaging and drug delivery. Nanobody targeting CHD17 as an imaging probe and a delivery vehicle of toxin remains to be explored for its theragnostic potential in gastric cancer. Methods Naïve nanobody phage library was screened against CDH17 Domain 1-3 and identified nanobodies were extensively characterized with various assays. Nanobodies labeled with imaging probe were tested in vitro and in vivo for gastric cancer detection. A CDH17 Nanobody fused with toxin PE38 was evaluated for gastric cancer inhibition in vitro and in vivo. Results Two nanobodies (A1 and E8) against human CDH17 with high affinity and high specificity were successfully obtained. These nanobodies could specifically bind to CDH17 protein and CDH17-positive gastric cancer cells. E8 nanobody as a lead was extensively determined for tumor imaging and drug delivery. It could efficiently co-localize with CDH17-positive gastric cancer cells in zebrafish embryos and rapidly visualize the tumor mass in mice within 3 h when conjugated with imaging dyes. E8 nanobody fused with toxin PE38 showed excellent anti-tumor effect and remarkably improved the mice survival in cell-derived (CDX) and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. The immunotoxin also enhanced the anti-tumor effect of clinical drug 5-Fluorouracil. Conclusions The study presents a novel imaging and drug delivery strategy by targeting CDH17. CDH17 nanobody-based immunotoxin is potentially a promising therapeutic modality for clinical translation against gastric cancer. Graphical Abstract

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) artificial muscle is a typical interdisciplinary research category, which has developed by leaps and bounds in the past 20 years, showing great application prospects in various fields. Upon external electrical stimulation, dielectric elastomers (DEs) display large deformation, high energy density and fast response, affording a promising material candidate for soft robotics. Herein, the working mechanisms, commonly used materials as well as the concepts for improving the performance of DEA materials are introduced. Various DEA driven soft robots, including soft grippers, bioinspired artificial arms, crawling/walking/underwater/flying/jumping soft robots and tunable lenses, are then described in detail. Finally, the main challenges of DEA driven soft robots are summarized, and some perspectives for promoting the practical application of DEAs are also proposed.

IntroductionPostoperative recovery is largely dependent on the restoration of gastrointestinal motility. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of intraoperative vagus nerve stimulation (iVNS) on postoperative recovery from abdominal surgery in rats.MethodsThe Nissen fundoplication surgery was performed on two groups of rats: sham-iVNS group and iVNS group (VNS was performed during surgery). Animal’s behavior, eating, drinking and feces’ conditions were monitored at specific postoperative days. Gastric slow waves (GSWs) and electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded; blood samples were collected for the assessment of inflammatory cytokines.Results(1) iVNS shortened initiate times to water and food intake (p = 0.004) and increased the number of fecal pellets (p

As the wellbore pressure falls below the bubble point pressure, the light components in the oil phase are liberated, forming additional vapor, and the single-phase flow becomes a gas–liquid two-phase flow. However, most studies simplify the multiphase flow to a single-phase flow to study asphaltene deposition in wellbores. This assumption under multiphase conditions may lead to inaccurate prediction results and a substantial economic and operational burden for the oil and gas industry. Therefore, it is crucial to predict the deposition rate of asphaltene in a multiphase flow to assist in minimizing this issue. To do so, the volume of fluid coupling level-set (VOSET) model was used to obtain the flow pattern (bubble, slug, churn, and annular) in the current work. In the next step, the VOSET + k-ε turbulent + DPM models were used to simulate asphaltene deposition in a multiphase flow. Finally, the effects of different parameters, such as the gas superficial velocity, liquid superficial velocity, particle diameter, interfacial tension, viscosity, and average deposition rate, were investigated. The findings revealed that the maximum average deposition rate of asphaltene particles in a bubble flow is 1.35, 1.62, and 2 times that of a slug flow, churning flow, and annular mist flow, respectively. As the apparent velocity of the gas phase escalates from 0.5 m/s to 4 m/s, the average deposition rate experiences an increase of 82%. Similarly, when the apparent velocity of the liquid phase rises from 1 m/s to 5 m/s, the average deposition rate is amplified by a factor of 2.1. An increase in particle diameter from 50 μm to 400 μm results in a 27% increase in the average deposition rate. When the oil–gas interfacial tension is augmented from 0.02 n/m to 0.1 n/m, the average deposition rate witnesses an 18% increase. Furthermore, an increase in crude oil viscosity from 0.012 mPa·s to 0.06 mPa·s leads to a 34% increase in the average deposition rate. These research outcomes contribute to a deeper understanding of the asphaltene deposition problem under multiphase flow conditions and offer fresh perspectives on the asphaltene deposition issue in the oil and gas industry.

Abstract Background Postreperfusion hyperkalemia (PRHK) has garnered increasing attention in regard to deceased liver transplantation (LT), especially for LT using the expanded criteria donor grafts. However, the impact of the effluent potassium (eK+) concentration on PRHK has been largely overlooked. We evaluated whether elevated eK+ concentrations are associated with PRHK in deceased LT. Methods In this single-institution, retrospective cohort study, we included all adults who underwent deceased LT with intraoperative eK+ concentration monitoring between November 2016 and December 2018. The eK+ concentrations were obtained from the effluent samples collected following a standard portal vein flush. PRHK was defined as any serum potassium (sK+) level of > 5.5 mmol/L following reperfusion. Logistic regression was performed to identify predictors for PRHK, and linear regression was used to examine predictors of the maximum percentage increase in the sK+ level following reperfusion. Results Of the 86 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 54 (62.8%) developed PRHK. Independent predictors for PRHK included greater graft weight (OR 1.283 [95% CI 1.029–1.599] per 100 g, P = 0.027), an elevated eK+ concentration (OR 1.291 [95% CI 1.068–1.561] per mol/L, P = 0.008), and a higher sK+ level before reperfusion (OR 4.459 [95% CI 1.543–12.884] per mol/L, P = 0.006). An eK+ concentration of more than 6.9 mmol/L had a sensitivity of 59.26% and a specificity of 78.12% for predicting PRHK (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.694). Multiple linear regression analyses indicated that the eK+ and sK+ levels before reperfusion were significant predictors of the maximum percentage increase in the sK+ level following reperfusion. In addition, PRHK was associated with an increased risk of postreperfusion significant arrhythmias, severe postreperfusion syndrome, and postoperative early allograft dysfunction. Conclusions This study shows that the eK+ concentration could predict the risk of PRHK in deceased LT. Further prospective studies are warranted to clarify these associations.

Abstract The high energy consumption of data centres (DCs) has recently become a significant problem with the rapid development of DCs worldwide. This work studies the daily energy management of a data centre microgrid (DCM). The energy management problem is formulated as a two‐stage stochastic mixed‐integer linear programing (MILP) model that accounts for workload schedules, cooling resources, uncertainties of onsite renewable generation, and electricity price. An energy management scheme that co‐optimises workloads and waste heat is proposed to minimise the operating cost. Furthermore, the potential for waste heat recovery and reuse is also considered. The simulation results illustrate that the proposed model can reduce the operating cost of DCM by the co‐optimisation of workloads and waste heat while meeting the temperature requirements for server clusters.

BackgroundDiabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a serious complication in Diabetes Mellitus (DM) patients and the underlying mechanism is yet unclear. Ferroptosis has been recently intensively researched as a key process in the pathogenesis of diabetes but there yet has been no related bioinformatics-based studies in the context of DPNMethodsWe used data mining and data analysis techniques to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and immune cell content in patients with DPN, DM patients and healthy participants (dataset GSE95849). These DEGs were then intersected with the ferroptosis dataset (FerrDb) to obtain ferroptosis DEGs and the associated key molecules and miRNAs interactions were predicted.ResultsA total of 33 ferroptosis DEGs were obtained. Functional pathway enrichment analysis revealed 127 significantly related biological processes, 10 cellular components, 3 molecular functions and 30 KEGG signal pathways. The biological processes that were significantly enriched were in response to extracellular stimulus and oxidative stress. Key modules constructed by the protein–protein interaction network analysis led to the confirmation of the following genes of interest: DCAF7, GABARAPL1, ACSL4, SESN2 and RB1. Further miRNA interaction prediction revealed the possible involvement of miRNAs such as miR108b-8p, miR34a-5p, mir15b-5p, miR-5838-5p, miR-192-5p, miR-222-3p and miR-23c. Immune-environment content of samples between DM and DPN patients revealed significant difference in the levels of endothelial cells and fibroblasts, which further speculates their possible involvement in the pathogenesis of DPN.ConclusionOur findings could provide insight for investigations about the role of ferroptosis in the development of DPN.

With the blooming of the socio-economy in China, urban water consumption continues rising, and the promotion of water-saving appliances has become one of the priorities of water saving efforts. Based on the perceived risk theory, this research constructs a moderated mediation model to explore the mechanisms that explain and affect consumers’ willingness to purchase water-saving appliances. The study finds that consumers’ perceived risk of buying water-saving appliances is mainly functional, economic, and psychological risks. Perceived risk will reduce consumers’ quality trust and green trust in water-saving appliances, and indirectly influences consumers’ willingness to buy through quality and green trust. In addition, we find that consumer knowledge of water-saving appliances can weaken the negative impact of perceived risk on quality trust and green trust and the indirect inhibitory effect on purchase intentions. In final, we provide policy recommendations to guide consumers to purchase water-saving appliances and promote the popularization of water-saving appliances.

In this paper, an efficient lattice Boltzmann model for the generalized Black-Scholes equation governing option pricing is proposed. The Black-Scholes equation is firstly equivalently transformed into an initial value problem for a partial differential equation with a source term using the variable substitution and the derivative rules, respectively. Then, applying the multiscale Chapman-Enskog expansion, the amending function is expanded to second order to recover the convective and source terms of the macroscopic equation. The D1Q3 lattice Boltzmann model with spatial second-order accuracy is constructed, and the accuracy of the established D1Q5 model is greater than second order. The numerical simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and numerical accuracy of the proposed models and indicate that our proposed models are suitable for solving the Black-Scholes equation. The proposed lattice Boltzmann model can also be applied to a class of partial differential equations with variable coefficients and source terms.

To make use of scrap perovskite titanium slag to produce metatitanic acid, a new method based on the high efficiency decomposition ability of sulfuric–chloric mixture acid (SCMA) has been proposed. Because Al is one of the most common elements existing in its raw state, Al3+ has become the main impurity in titanium solutions after decomposition, which affects the performance of related products. Consequently, the role of Al on the thermal hydrolysis of Ti in the SCMA solution was investigated in this study. With the addition of Al3+, a lower hydrolysis ratio was obtained at a low reaction temperature (130 °C). Moreover, the particles of metatitanic acid displayed a ball-shaped morphology and narrow particle distribution with a D50 of 1.4–2.0 μm. According to the crystal structures of Al3+, it is presumed that the priority order of ligand is SO42−>H2O>Cl−. The addition of Al3+ increases the growth rate of the a- and b-axes but reduces the growth rate of the c-axis. The results presented here confirm the influence of Al3+ in the control of nucleation and growth process during the hydrolysis to achieve qualified metatitanic acid products.

It is important but challenging to prohibit deep oxidation of alkene in oxidative dehydrogenation of light alkane. Here, dual active sites are tailored to isolate dehydrogenation and oxidation thus achieving superior ethene selectivity.

Abstract The objective of this article is to solve pseudomonotone variational inequality problems in a real Hilbert space. We introduce an inertial algorithm with a new self-adaptive step size rule, which is based on the projection and contraction method. Only one step projection is used to design the proposed algorithm, and the strong convergence of the iterative sequence is obtained under some appropriate conditions. The main advantage of the algorithm is that the proof of convergence of the algorithm is implemented without the prior knowledge of the Lipschitz constant of cost operator. Numerical experiments are also put forward to support the analysis of the theorem and provide comparisons with related algorithms.

Abstract Postlaparoscopic shoulder pain (PLSP) is a common clinical problem that needs to be addressed by medical professionals who are currently perform laparoscopic surgeries. The purpose of this study was to determine the perioperative clinical factors and demographic characteristics associated with PLSP. A prospective observational study was performed with 442 inpatients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for infertility. The pain visual analogue scale was used as the measuring instrument. To identify the predictors of PLSP, we performed multivariate conditional logistic regression. PLSP was correlated with body mass index (BMI, odds ratio = 0.815). The incidence of shoulder pain and more severe shoulder pain in patients with a lower BMI was significantly higher than it was in patients with a higher BMI, and BMI was significantly negatively correlated with PLSP. Most of the patients (95%) began to experience shoulder pain on the first postoperative day, and it rarely occurred on the day of surgery. Patients with lower BMI presented a higher risk of reporting shoulder pain on the first postoperative day. We should identify high-risk patients in advance and make specific treatment plans according to the characteristics of their symptoms.

Transcription factor Homeobox C8 (HOXC8) is identified as a white adipose gene as revealed by expression profile analysis in fat tissues. However, the specific role of HOXC8 in fat accumulation remains to be identified. This study was designed to reveal the effects of HOXC8 on preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation. We first make clear that the expression of HOXC8 is associated with fat contents in muscles, highlighting a role of HOXC8 in fat accumulation. Next, it is demonstrated that HOXC8 promotes the proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes through gain- and loss-of-function assays in primary cultured porcine preadipocytes. Then, mechanisms underlying the regulation of HOXC8 on preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation are identified with RNA sequencing, and a number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in response to HOXC8 knockdown are identified. The top GO (Gene Ontology) terms enriched by DEGs involved in proliferation and differentiation, respectively, are identical. IL-17 signaling pathway is the common one significantly enriched by DEGs involved in preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation, respectively, indicating its importance in mediating fat accumulation regulated by HOXC8. Additionally, we find that the inhibition of proliferation is one of the main processes during preadipocyte differentiation. The results will contribue to further revealing the mechanisms underlying fat accumulation regulated by HOXC8.

Abstract Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics of adult cases of paragonimiasis with lung masses as the main manifestation in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, analyze the causes of misdiagnosis, and improve the levels of clinical diagnosis and treatment. Method We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical data and diagnosis and treatment of 8 adult cases of paragonimiasis with lung masses as the main manifestation that were diagnosed in the Oncology Department of People’s hospital of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture from July 2014 to July 2019. Result All 8 patients were from epidemic paragonimiasis areas and had a confirmed history of consuming uncooked freshwater crabs. The clinical manifestations were mainly fever, dry cough, and chest pain. The disease durations were long, and peripheral blood eosinophil counts were elevated. The cases had been misdiagnosed as pneumonia or pulmonary tuberculosis. After years of anti-inflammatory or anti-tuberculosis treatment, the symptoms had not improved significantly. Patients eventually sought treatment from the oncology department for hemoptysis. Chest computed tomography showed patchy consolidation in the lungs, with nodules, lung masses, and enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes. Conclusion Paragonimiasis is a food-borne parasitic disease. Early clinical manifestations and auxiliary examination results are nonspecific. The parasite most often invades the lungs, and the resulting disease is often misdiagnosed as pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, or lung cancer (Acta Trop 199: 05074, 2019). To avoid misdiagnosis, clinicians should inquire, in detail, about residence history and history of unclean food and exposure to infected water and make an early diagnosis based on the inquired information and imaging examination results. For patients who have been diagnosed with pneumonia or pulmonary tuberculosis and whose symptoms do not improve significantly after anti-inflammatory or anti-tuberculosis treatments, their epidemiological history should be traced to further conduct differential diagnosis and avoid misdiagnosis.

Based on the five phases of land use data from Xining corresponding to 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020, we used the equivalent factor method to analyze the values of spatial-temporal variation characteristics of land use and ecosystem services in Xining. The results showed that (1) farmland and developed areas were the most active types of land, and the continuous occupation of farmland and developed areas led to the formation of a kind of “cross shape” in the spatial pattern of conversion of land use types along the Huangshui River, Beichuan River, and Nanchuan River from south to north and from northwest to southeast, respectively, with the central urban area serving as a core of the pattern; (2) the transformation between different land use types mainly occurred in the land-slope range between 0–15° and altitudes between 2000–2750 m; and (3) the ESV of Xining increased by RMB 2165.26 × 106 in the past 40 years. The period from 2000 to 2020 was the main growth period of the ecosystem service value of Xining. Urbanization had a great impact on the variation in land use types and the evolution of ecosystem service values. In the middle and late stages of urbanization, different types of land use changed significantly within each county and district. The ecosystem service values of the central districts were low, with those of the marginal districts and counties being higher, forming a “core-periphery” trend and a phenomenon of hollowing ESV. (4) The spatial agglomeration effect of the ESV per unit area was continuously enhanced in Xining. The high-high (slope-altitude) type of area was distributed in the north and west of Xining, whereas the low-low type of area was distributed in the urban area at the intersection of major rivers in the southeast of Xining.

In China, the national-level protected pig, the Min pig, is characterized by the development of secondary hairs and hair follicles in winter. Factors that dominate the genotype in the growth of secondary hairs are not clear through the concrete cell signaling pathways. This study compared hair phenotypes based on morphological structure, transcriptomics, and potential targeting molecules in the breeds of Min, Berkshire, and Yorkshire pigs. The results indicated that Min pigs have specific characteristics for the growth of secondary hairs compared with the Berkshire and Yorkshire pigs. The transcriptome analyses and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction results revealed that secondary hair growth was activated by follicle stem cells. The specific inhibitors of Wnt and BMP were studied using respective signals. The density of follicles, activity of follicle stem cells, and relative gene expression results have shown that Wnt and BMP stimulate the activity of follicle stem cells, and the Wnt signaling molecule has a significantly better effect than the BMP signaling molecule on stem cells. Wnt and BMP can promote the growth of local secondary hair and gene expression. Therefore, this study was conducted to verify the development mechanisms of secondary hairs, which have potential applications in laboratory animals and comparative medicine.

The Min pig is a famous native pig breed in northeast China, which has the special genetic character of villi hair growth in cold seasons. At present, little research has focused on the genetic mechanism of villi hair growth in Min pigs. Copy number variations (CNVs) are a type of variant that may influence many traits. In this study, we first investigated the phenotype of Large White × Min pigs’ F2 pig villi hair in detail and then performed a CNV-based genome-wide association study (GWAS) between CNVs and pig villi hair appearance. Finally, a total number of 15 significant CNVRs were found to be associated with Min pig villi hair. The most significant CNVR was located on chromosome 1. Nearest gene annotation analysis indicated that the pig villi hair traits may be associated with the biological process of the G-protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway. QTL overlapping analysis found that among the CNVRs, 14 CNVRs could be co-located with known QTLs. Some genes such as MCHR2, LTBP2, and GFRA2 may be candidate genes for pig villi traits and are worth further study. Our study may provide a basic reference for the selection and breeding of cold-resistant pigs and outdoor breeding.

In recent years, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases have been the focus of several studies. In this study, oyster protein hydrolysate was produced via enzyme hydrolysis and used as a fermentation substrate to ferment recombinant strain PSP2 to produce nattokinase. Using the synergism strategy, fermentation products with fibrinolytic and angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities were obtained and evaluated. The fermentation medium contained 1.0% trypsin, 1.0% oyster protein hydrolysate, 2.0% maltose, and 0.5% sodium chloride, with an initial pH of 7.0. The maximum nattokinase activity was 390.23 ± 10.24 FU/mL after 72 h of fermentation. The flavor of the product was improved, and heavy metals and volatile salt nitrogen were partially removed via fermentation. The ACE inhibitory activity (IC50) of the fermentation products was 1.433 mg/mL. This study provides a novel approach for the development of marine functional foods with hypotensive and antithrombotic properties.

Skin wound healing often contains a series of dynamic and complex physiological healing processes. It is a great clinical challenge to effectively treat the cutaneous wound and regenerate the damaged skin. Hydrogels have shown great promise for skin wound healing through the rational design and preparation to endow with specific functionalities. In the mini review, we firstly introduce the design and construction of various types of hydrogels based on their bonding chemistry during cross-linking. Then, we summarize the recent research progress on the functionalization of bioactive hydrogel dressings for skin wound healing, including anti-bacteria, anti-inflammatory, tissue proliferation and remodeling. In addition, we highlight the design strategies of responsive hydrogels to external physical stimuli. Ultimately, we provide perspectives on future directions and challenges of functional hydrogels for skin wound healing.