Search

Abstract Bacterial stem and root rot (BSRR) in sweetpotato caused by Dickeya dadantii is one of the ten major diseases of sweetpotatoes in China. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the resistance of sweetpotato to D. dadantii remains unclear. This study adopted a resistance identification assay that conformed Guangshu87 (GS87) as BSRR-resistant and Xinxiang (XX) as susceptible. Compared to XX, GS87 effectively prevented the invasion and dissemination of D. dadantii in planta. An RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis identified 54,844 expressed unigenes between GS87 and XX at four different stages. Further, it revealed that GS87 was more able to regulate the expressions of more unigenes after the inoculation with D. dadantii, including resistance (R) and transcription factors (TF) genes. Moreover, content measurements of disease resistance-related phytohormones showed that both jasmonic acids (JAs) and salicylic acids (SAs) accumulated in D. dadantii-inoculated sweetpotatoes, and JAs may negatively regulate sweetpotato resistance against D. dadantii and accumulated faster than SAs. Meanwhile, determinations of ROS production rate and relevant enzymatic/non-enzymatic activity highlighted the vital roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in confering GS87 resistance against D. dadantii. Additionally, several hub genes with high connectivity were highlighted through Protein–Protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. In summary, the findings in this study contribute to the understanding of the different responses of resistant and susceptible sweetpotato cultivars to D. dadantii infection, and it also provide the first insight into the relevant candidate genes and phytohormones involved in the resistance of sweetpotato to D. dadantii.

Abstract This study aimed to explore the association between inflammation-based prognostic markers and outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We conducted a comprehensive search of the Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane databases for studies that reported on the impact of inflammation-based prognostic factors, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), on the prognosis of NSCLC patients treated with ICIs. The primary outcomes of interest were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Statistical analyses were performed using Stata 14 software, with assessments of publication bias and heterogeneity conducted as necessary. Our meta-analysis included 27 studies encompassing 5,174 patients, evaluating factors such as CRP, the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS), and the CRP-albumin ratio (CAR). The analysis revealed that elevated levels of CRP were significantly correlated with both reduced PFS (I2 = 0%, P = 0.72; HR = 1.50, 95%CI: 1.33–1.67, P 0.05) and OS (I2 = 45.3%, P = 0.16; HR = 1.41, 95%CI: 0.70–2.13, P > 0.05) was not statistically significant. Our findings suggest that CRP and mGPS may serve as potential prognostic markers in NSCLC patients receiving immunotherapy. Nonetheless, further research with more homogeneous study populations is necessary to valid these observations.

Abstract Single-cell transcriptome sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a powerful tool for describing the transcriptome dynamics of plant development but has not yet been utilized to analyze the tissue ontology of sweetpotato. This study established a stable method for isolating single protoplast cells for scRNA-seq to reveal the cell heterogeneity of sweetpotato root tip meristems at the single-cell level. The study analyzed 12,172 single cells and 27,355 genes in the root tips of the sweetpotato variety Guangshu 87, which were distributed into 15 cell clusters. Pseudo-time analysis showed that there were transitional cells in the apical development trajectory of mature cell types from stem cell niches. Furthermore, we identified novel development regulators of sweetpotato tubers via trajectory analysis. The transcription factor IbGATA4 was highly expressed in the adventitious roots during the development of sweetpotato root tips, where it may regulate the development of sweetpotato root tips. In addition, significant differences were observed in the transcriptional profiles of cell types between sweetpotato, Arabidopsis thaliana, and maize. This study mapped the single-cell transcriptome of sweetpotato root tips, laying a foundation for studying the types, functions, differentiation, and development of sweetpotato root tip cells.

Abstract Pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-associated mortality, with a poor treatment approach. Previous study has shown that inducing pyroptosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) slows the growth of PDACs, implying that pyroptosis inducers are potentially effective for PDAC therapy. Here, we found that Dronedarone hydrochloride (DH), an antiarrhythmic drug, induces pyroptosis in pancreatic cancer cells and inhibits PDAC development in mice. In PANC-1 cells, DH caused cell death in a dosage- and time-dependent manner, with only pyroptosis inhibitors and GSDMD silencing rescuing the cell death, indicating that DH triggered GSDMD-dependent pyroptosis. Further work revealed that DH increased mitochondrial stresses and caused mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) leakage, activating the cytosolic STING-cGAS and pyroptosis pathways. Finally, we assessed the anti-cancer effects of DH in a pancreatic cancer mouse model and found that DH treatment suppressed pancreatic tumor development in vivo. Collectively, our investigation demonstrates that DH triggers pyroptosis in PDAC and proposes its potential effects on anti-PDAC growth.

Abstract GLS4 is a first‐in‐class hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid assembly modulator (class I) that is co‐administered with ritonavir to maintain the anticipated concentration required for the effective antiviral activity of GLS4. In this study, the first physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for GLS4/ritonavir was successfully developed. The predictive performance of the PBPK model was verified using data from 39 clinical studies, including single‐dose, multiple‐dose, food effects, and drug–drug interactions (DDI). The PBPK model accurately described the PK profiles of GLS4 and ritonavir, with predicted values closely aligning with observed data. Based on the verified GLS4/ritonavir model, it prospectively predicts the effect of hepatic impairment (HI) and DDI on its pharmacokinetics (PK). Notably, CYP3A4 inducers significantly influenced GLS4 exposure when co‐administered with ritonavir; co‐administered GLS4 and ritonavir significantly influenced the exposure of CYP3A4 substrates. Additionally, with the severity of HI increased, there was a corresponding increase in the exposure to GLS4 when co‐administered with ritonavir. The GLS4/ritonavir PBPK model can potentially be used as an alternative to clinical studies or guide the design of clinical trial protocols.

Abstract Androgen receptor (AR) overexpression has been identified in gliomas and its stem cells, suggesting that AR plays an important role in tumor carcinogenesis. The prognostic significance of AR overexpression in gliomas remains unknown. AR mRNA expression in gliomas and relevant clinical data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas databases. AR expression levels were compared across gliomas of different histopathologic grades and molecular subtypes. Kaplan–Meier analyses in patients with different AR expression levels were investigated for the potential prognostic values of AR. Compared with normal brain tissue, gliomas show significantly higher AR mRNA expression (p

Abstract Unlocking the intricacies of protein structures and interactions within the dynamic landscape of subcellular organelles presents a significant challenge. To address this, we introduce SPACX, a method for spatially resolved protein complex profiling via biocompatible chemical cross(x)-linking with subcellular isolation, designed to monitor protein conformation, interactions, and translocation in living cells. By rapidly capturing protein complexes in their native physiological state and efficiently enriching cross-linked peptides, SPACX allows comprehensive analysis of the protein interactome within living cells. Leveraging structure refinement with cross-linking restraints, we identify subcellular-specific conformation heterogeneity of PTEN, revealing dynamic differences in its dual specificity domains between the nucleus and cytoplasm. Furthermore, by discerning conformational disparities, we identify 83 cytoplasm-exclusive and 109 nucleus-exclusive PTEN-interacting proteins, each associated with distinct biological functions. Upon induction of ubiquitin-proteasome system stress, we observe dynamic alterations in PTEN assembly and its interacting partners during translocation. These changes, including the identification of components and interaction sites, are characterized using the SPACX approach. Notably, SPACX enables identification of unique interacting proteins specific to PTEN isoforms, including PTEN and PTEN-Long, through the determination of sequence-specific cross-linking interfaces. These findings underscore the potential of SPACX to elucidate the functional diversity of proteins within distinct subcellular sociology.

With the boom of the communication systems on some independent platforms (such as satellites, space stations, airplanes, and vessels), co-site interference is becoming prominent. The adaptive interference cancellation method has been adopted to solve the co-site interference problem. But the broadband interference cancellation performance of traditional Adaptive Co-site Interference Cancellation System (ACICS) with large delay mismatching and antenna sway is relatively poor. This study put forward an Adaptive Co-site Broadband Interference Cancellation System With Two Auxiliary Channels (ACBICS-2A). The system model was established, and the steady state weights and Interference Cancellation Ratio (ICR) were deduced by solving a time-varying differential equation. The relationship of ICR, system gain, modulation factor, interference signal bandwidth and delay mismatching degree was acquired through an in-depth analysis. Compared with traditional adaptive interference cancellation system, the proposed ACBICS-2A can improve broadband interference cancellation ability remarkably with large delay mismatching and antenna sway for the effect of auxiliary channel. The maximum improved ICR is more than 25 ​dB. Finally, the theoretical and simulation results were verified by experiments.

Fermented fruit and vegetable products are an important part of traditional fermented food in China. During production, fresh vegetables and fruits are used as raw materials. The fermentation is conducted by the interactions between microorganisms including lactic acid bacteria and fungi which are naturally carried by raw materials. After fermentation, the composition and quantity of microorganisms in fruits and vegetables tend to become out of control, which often leads to post-acidification, softening, spoilage and other problems. Therefore, the development of sterilization technology suitable for fermented fruit and vegetable products has important industrial value. Compared with the destructive effect of traditional heat sterilization, the non-thermal sterilization technology without heating can not only kill the spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms, but also reduce the impact on probiotics, and greatly alleviate the deterioration of fermented fruit and vegetable products. Therefore, non-thermal sterilization technologies have gradually become one of the research hotspots in the field of fermented fruit and vegetable products sterilization. In this paper, the application progress of common non-thermal sterilization technologies in fermented fruit and vegetable products is reviewed. The sterile effect and influencing factors of non-thermal sterilization technologies in fermented fruit and vegetable products are summarized. Its influence on quality and safety attributes of products is discussed. The aim of this study is to provide a theoretical basis for the large-scale application of non-thermal sterilization technologies in the industrial production of fermented fruit and vegetable products.

Abstract Prenatal exposure to Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) has been suggested to increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, the role of placental apoptosis on BaP reproductive toxicity is poorly understood. We conducted a maternal animal model of C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and transformation-related protein 53 (Trp53) heterozygous knockout (p53KO) mice, as well as a nested case–control study involving 83 women with PB and 82 term birth from a birth cohort on prenatal exposure to BaP and preterm birth (PB). Pregnant WT and p53KO mice were randomly allocated to BaP treatment and control groups, intraperitoneally injected of low (7.8 mg/kg), medium (35 mg/kg), and high (78 mg/kg) doses of 3,4-BaP per day and equal volume of vegetable oil, from gestational day 10.5 until delivery. Results show that high-dose BaP treatment increased the incidence of preterm birth in WT mice. The number of fetal deaths and resorptions increased with increasing doses of BaP exposure in mice. Notably, significant reductions in maternal and birth weights, increases in placental weights, and decrease in the number of livebirths were observed in higher-dose BaP groups in dose-dependent manner. We additionally observed elevated p53-mediated placental apoptosis in higher BaP exposure groups, with altered expression levels of p53 and Bax/Bcl-2. In case–control study, the expression level of MMP2 was increased among women with high BaP exposure and associated with the increased risk of all PB and moderate PB. Our study provides the first evidence of BaP-induced reproductive toxicity and its adverse effects on maternal–fetal outcomes in both animal and population studies.

Abstract Electrocatalytic alkynes semi-hydrogenation to produce alkenes with high yield and Faradaic efficiency remains technically challenging because of kinetically favorable hydrogen evolution reaction and over-hydrogenation. Here, we propose a hierarchically nanoporous Cu50Au50 alloy to improve electrocatalytic performance toward semi-hydrogenation of alkynes. Using Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations, we find that Au modulate the electronic structure of Cu, which could intrinsically inhibit the combination of H* to form H2 and weaken alkene adsorption, thus promoting alkyne semi-hydrogenation and hampering alkene over-hydrogenation. Finite element method simulations and experimental results unveil that hierarchically nanoporous catalysts induce a local microenvironment with abundant K+ cations by enhancing the electric field within the nanopore, accelerating water electrolysis to form more H*, thereby promoting the conversion of alkynes. As a result, the nanoporous Cu50Au50 electrocatalyst achieves highly efficient electrocatalytic semi-hydrogenation of alkynes with 94% conversion, 100% selectivity, and a 92% Faradaic efficiency over wide potential window. This work provides a general guidance of the rational design for high-performance electrocatalytic transfer semi-hydrogenation catalysts.

The unique flavor properties and rich nutrients of traditional fermented food are closely related to its complex and variable microbial structure, which also makes it difficult to control the quality of final fermented product. In order to explore the changes of microbial structure and sensory property and nutritional property in the process of food fermentation and the internal relationship between them, the data analysis process is a key step. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a fast and accurate data analysis method for quality control of fermented food. Machine learning has the advantages of high-dimensional simplification rate, large data throughput and high prediction accuracy, showing great application potential in the field of quality control of fermented food. Hence, machine learning has become one of the research hotspots. This paper reviews the application of machine learning in the quality control of fermented food. On the basis of an overview of common models of machine learning, this paper systematically summarizes the application of machine learning in the prediction of microbial structure evolution, flavor compound composition analysis and customization of personalized consumption in the process of food fermentation. The problems and developmental trends in the application of machine learning to quality control of traditional fermented food are summarized and prospected. Although the application of machine learning in fermented food is still confined by the problems such as insufficient general applicability of the model, limited quality indicators, and limited personalized consumption scenario, etc., with the iterative update of the technical model, the adaptation for multi-factors and whole process, and the application expansion in the background of personalized consumption, machine learning will show a greater value for practical application in the field of fermented food. The purpose of this study is to provide guidance for the further application of machine learning in the standardized and controllable production of traditional fermented food.

Abstract Keratoconus, a disorder characterized by corneal thinning and weakening, results in vision loss. Corneal crosslinking (CXL) can halt the progression of keratoconus. The development of accelerated corneal crosslinking (A-CXL) protocols to shorten the treatment time has been hampered by the rapid depletion of stromal oxygen when higher UVA intensities are used, resulting in a reduced cross-linking effect. It is therefore imperative to develop better methods to increase the oxygen concentration within the corneal stroma during the A-CXL process. Photocatalytic oxygen-generating nanomaterials are promising candidates to solve the hypoxia problem during A-CXL. Biocompatible graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) quantum dots (QDs)-based oxygen self-sufficient platforms including g-C3N4 QDs and riboflavin/g-C3N4 QDs composites (RF@g-C3N4 QDs) have been developed in this study. Both display excellent photocatalytic oxygen generation ability, high reactive oxygen species (ROS) yield, and excellent biosafety. More importantly, the A-CXL effect of the g-C3N4 QDs or RF@g-C3N4 QDs composite on male New Zealand white rabbits is better than that of the riboflavin 5’-phosphate sodium (RF) A-CXL protocol under the same conditions, indicating excellent strengthening of the cornea after A-CXL treatments. These lead us to suggest the potential application of g-C3N4 QDs in A-CXL for corneal ectasias and other corneal diseases.

Abstract Recent studies have highlighted ChatGPT’s remarkable capabilities in machine translation. However, little attention has been paid to its application in literary translation, particularly within the realm of Chinese classical poetry. To explore the potential of ChatGPT’s abilities in poetry translation, we conducted a comparative analysis of poetry translation quality, contrasting ChatGPT (with two different prompts) with Google Translate and DeepL Translator regarding fidelity, fluency, language style, and machine translation style. The results revealed that ChatGPT outperformed Google Translate and DeepL Translator in all evaluation criteria, suggesting its exceptional ability in poetry translation. Furthermore, when employing a prompt that instructs ChatGPT to preserve the rhythm and rhyme of poems, ChatGPT demonstrated a remarkable ability to retain the beauty of the original poetic language, setting itself apart from conventional machine translation systems. Our analysis further elucidated ChatGPT’s proficiency in comprehending and translating some common symbols, imagery, and underlined semantic components which contributes to coherent and fluent translations. Our research opens up ChatGPT’s new possibilities in translating ancient literary texts into foreign languages.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) have emerged as a critical component in maintaining power system stability through frequency regulation. Their rapid response and flexible characteristics have generated considerable interest among researchers. This study focuses on the provision of a fast frequency response service, known as Dynamic Containment Frequency Response (DCFR), in Great Britain (GB). It conducts a detailed assessment of BESS-based DCFR service for frequency regulation and State-of-charge (SOC) management, including the configuration constraints set out by the energy recovery rules and SOC management impact. A methodology is presented to investigate the performance of DCFR-based BESS in a power system, alongside a stability analysis focusing on the impact of the SOC management mechanism. The stability study investigates the potential influential factors of battery SOC management when providing DCFR via root locus. For simulation case studies, a power imbalance estimation method is utilized for gaining the input. Based on the stability analysis results, key BESS configuration parameters are examined in an integrated power system model: C-rate, SOC management range, ratio and target. Another influential factor, SOC management time delay, is also analyzed. Finally, a comparison between DCFR and the previous frequency regulation service, Enhanced Frequency Response (EFR), is conducted. The study reveals that improper SOC management in DCFR can lead to SOC oscillation, adversely affecting performance. However, with proper configuration, DCFR offers more favorable outcomes than EFR in terms of frequency quality, SOC levels, and battery degradation.

The bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) family proteins serve as primary readers of acetylated lysine residues and play crucial roles in cell proliferation and differentiation. Dysregulation of BET proteins has been implicated in tumorigenesis, making them important therapeutic targets. BET-bromodomain (BD) inhibitors and BET-targeting degraders have been developed to inhibit BET proteins. In this study, we found that the BET inhibitor MS645 exhibited superior antiproliferative activity than BET degraders including ARV771, AT1, MZ1 and dBET1 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Treatment with MS645 led to the dissociation of BETs, MED1 and RNA polymerase II from the E2F1–3 promoter, resulting in the suppression of E2F1–3 transcription and subsequent inhibition of cell growth in TNBC. In contrast, while ARV771 displaced BET proteins from chromatin, it did not significantly alter E2F1–3 expression. Mechanistically, ARV771 induced BRD4 depletion at protein level, which markedly increased EGR1 expression. This elevation of EGR1 subsequently recruited septin 2 and septin 9 to E2F1–3 promoters, enhancing E2F1–3 transcription and promoting cell proliferation rate in vitro and in vivo. Our findings provide valuable insights into differential mechanisms of BET inhibition and highlight potential of developing BET-targeting molecules as therapeutic strategies for TNBC.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gaseous signaling molecule that influences digestive and nervous system functions. Enteric glial cells (EGCs) are integral to the enteric nervous system and play a role in regulating gastrointestinal motility. This study explored the dual effects of exogenous H2S on EGCs and the influence of apoptosis-related pathways and ion channels in EGCs. We also administered honokiol for further interventional studies. The results revealed that low-concentration H2S increased the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of EGCs, decreased the whole-cell membrane potential, downregulated BAX and caspase-3, upregulated Bcl2 expression, reduced apoptosis, and promoted cell proliferation. The Ca2+ concentration, Cx43 mRNA, and protein expression were also increased. A high concentration of H2S had the opposite effect. In addition, GFAP mRNA expression was upregulated in the test-low group, downregulated in the test-high group, and upregulated in the test-high + Hon group. Honokiol treatment increased MMP, reduced whole-cell membrane potential, inhibited BAX and caspase-3 expression, increased Bcl2 expression, decreased cell apoptosis, and increased cell proliferation. The Ca2+ concentration, Cx43 mRNA, and protein expression were also upregulated. In conclusion, our study showed that exogenous H2S can bidirectionally regulate EGC proliferation and apoptosis by affecting MMP and cell membrane potential via the Bcl2/BAX/caspase-3 pathway and modulate Cx43-mediated Ca2+ responses in EGCs to regulate colonic motility bidirectionally. Honokiol can ameliorate the damage to EGCs induced by high H2S concentrations through the Bcl2/BAX/caspase-3 pathway and improve colon motility by increasing Cx43 expression and Ca2+ concentration.

Abstract In this study, a newly developed composite of biochar-poly(m-phenylenediamine) (BC-PmPD) exhibiting a distinct skeletal structure was synthesized for the purpose of extracting Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions. BC was employed as a supportive carrier onto which PmPD nanoparticles were uniformly affixed through in-situ polymerization and oxidation synthesis, both within and outside the layered configuration of BC. The structural stability and morphologies of BC-PmPD were assessed utilizing Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, analysis of specific surface area and pore size, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction. In comparison to other modified BCs reported, BC-PmPD exhibited the highest Cr(VI) removal rate. Specifically, at 303 K, BC-PmPD achieved a maximum Cr(VI) removal capacity of 775 mg g−1, surpassing the capabilities of unmodified BC and PmPD by 10.4 and 2.13 times, respectively. Analyses involving XPS, FTIR, and density functional theory calculation confirmed that proton transfer happened between protonated amine (−NH2) functional group within the structure of BC-PmPD and HCrO4 − before the formation of hydrogen bond. Subsequently, environmentally persistent free radicals facilitated the reduction of the adsorbed Cr(VI). Quantification of the functional groups indicated that the amino group was responsible for 93.0% of the Cr(VI) adsorption in BC-PmPD. BC-PmPD displayed potent adsorption and reduction capabilities, alongside notable stability, repeatability, and promising potential for application in the remediation for high concentrations of Cr(VI) in electroplating wastewater scenarios. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Understanding the physiological and biochemical responses of tree seedlings under extreme drought stress, along with recovery during rewatering, and potential intra-species differences, will allow us to more accurately predict forest responses under future climate change. Here, we selected seedlings from four provenances (AH (Anhui), JX (Jiangxi), HN (Hunan) and GX (Guangxi)) of Schima superba and carried out a simulated drought-rewatering experiment in a field-based rain-out shelter. Seedlings were progressively dried until they reached 50% and 88% loss of xylem hydraulic conductivity (PLC) (i.e. P 50 and P 88), respectively, before they were rehydrated and maintained at field capacity for 30 days. Leaf photosynthesis (A sat), water status, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and proline (Pro) concentration were monitored and their associations were determined. Increasing drought significantly reduced A sat, relative water content (RWC) and SOD activity in all provenances, and Pro concentration was increased to improve water retention; all four provenances exhibited similar response patterns, associated with similar leaf ultrastructure at pre-drought. Upon rewatering, physiological and biochemical traits were restored to well-watered control values in P 50-stressed seedlings. In P 88-stressed seedlings, Pro was restored to control values, while SOD was not fully recovered. The recovery pattern differed partially among provenances. There was a progression of recovery following watering, with RWC firstly recovered, followed by SOD and Pro, and then A sat, but with significant associations among these traits. Collectively, the intra-specific differences of S. superba seedlings in recovery of physiology and biochemistry following rewatering highlight the need to consider variations within a given tree species coping with future more frequent drought stress.

Abstract Funduscopic diseases, including diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age‐related macular degeneration (AMD), significantly impact global visual health, leading to impaired vision and irreversible blindness. Delivering drugs to the posterior segment of the eye remains a challenge due to the presence of multiple physiological and anatomical barriers. Conventional drug delivery methods often prove ineffective and may cause side effects. Nanomaterials, characterized by their small size, large surface area, tunable properties, and biocompatibility, enhance the permeability, stability, and targeting of drugs. Ocular nanomaterials encompass a wide range, including lipid nanomaterials, polymer nanomaterials, metal nanomaterials, carbon nanomaterials, quantum dot nanomaterials, and so on. These innovative materials, often combined with hydrogels and exosomes, are engineered to address multiple mechanisms, including macrophage polarization, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, and anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Compared to conventional modalities, nanomedicines achieve regulated and sustained delivery, reduced administration frequency, prolonged drug action, and minimized side effects. This study delves into the obstacles encountered in drug delivery to the posterior segment and highlights the progress facilitated by nanomedicine. Prospectively, these findings pave the way for next‐generation ocular drug delivery systems and deeper clinical research, aiming to refine treatments, alleviate the burden on patients, and ultimately improve visual health globally.

In field hydraulic fracturing operation of shale gas development, the high pressure and large displacement liquid-particle two-phase fracturing fluid can be forced to change direction many times through high-pressure double-elbow, and be transported from the outlet pipeline of the fracturing pump to the main pipeline. The high-pressure double-elbow is prone to be affected by erosion wear and Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI), resulting in perforation and fracture, posing a potential safety threat to field operation. In this study, we conducted the erosion wear experiments on 35CrMo steel used for high-pressure double-elbow in shale-gas fracturing. The erosion rates under different impact angles and flow velocities were obtained, and proposed a novel model of erosion prediction for high-pressure double-elbow. Then the numerical investigation was employed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of erosion wear, structural stress and deformation by the coupling of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The effects of structural parameters such as connection straight pipe length, pipe inner diameter and fluid turning direction were discussed. The results indicate that with the increase of connection straight pipe length, the flow erosion decreases first then varies little, and the deformation gradually increases. Slight erosion wear but large structural stress and deformation in major inner diameter pipe. And the minimum degree of erosion and flow-induced deformation present with the fluid turning direction of double-elbow as 0°. The study can provide references for the design, installation and detection of high-pressure double-elbow and ensure safety in the process of shale gas fracturing.

Abstract Fusarium wilt (FW) is widespread in global cotton production, but the mechanism underlying FW resistance in superior‐fiber‐quality Sea Island cotton is unclear. This study reveals that FW resistance has been the target of genetic improvement of Sea Island cotton in China since the 2010s. The key nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP, T/C) of gene Gbar_D03G001670 encoding protein phosphatase 2C 80 (PP2C80) results in an amino acid shift (L/S), which is significantly associated with FW resistance of Sea Island cotton. Silencing GbPP2C80 increases FW resistance in Sea Island cotton, whereas overexpressing GbPP2C80 reduces FW resistance in Arabidopsis. GbPP2C80 and GbWAKL14 exist synergistically in Sea Island cotton accessions with haplotype forms “susceptible–susceptible” (TA) and “resistant–resistant” (CC), and interact with each other. CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated knockout of GbWAKL14 enhances FW and Verticillium wilt (VW) resistance in upland cotton and overexpression of GbWAKL14 and GbPP2C80 weakens FW and VW resistance in Arabidopsis. GbPP2C80 and GbWAKL14 respond to FW and VW by modulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) content via affecting MPK3 expression. In summary, two tandem genes on chromosome D03, GbPP2C80, and GbWAKL14, functions as cooperative negative regulators in cotton wilt disease defense, providing novel genetic resources and molecular markers for the development of resistant cotton cultivars.

The maintenance of nuclear shape is essential for cellular homeostasis and disruptions in this process have been linked to various pathological conditions, including cancer, laminopathies, and aging. Despite the significance of nuclear shape, the precise molecular mechanisms controlling it are not fully understood. In this study, we have identified the YEATS domain-containing protein 4 (GAS41) as a previously unidentified factor involved in regulating nuclear morphology. Genetic ablation of GAS41 in colorectal cancer cells resulted in significant abnormalities in nuclear shape and inhibited cancer cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. Restoration experiments revealed that wild-type GAS41, but not a YEATS domain mutant devoid of histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation or crotonylation (H3K27ac/cr) binding, rescued the aberrant nuclear phenotypes in GAS41-deficient cells, highlighting the importance of GAS41’s binding to H3K27ac/cr in nuclear shape regulation. Further experiments showed that GAS41 interacts with H3K27ac/cr to regulate the expression of key nuclear shape regulators, including LMNB1, LMNB2, SYNE4, and LEMD2. Mechanistically, GAS41 recruited BRD2 and the Mediator complex to gene loci of these regulators, promoting their transcriptional activation. Disruption of GAS41-H3K27ac/cr binding caused BRD2, MED14 and MED23 to dissociate from gene loci, leading to nuclear shape abnormalities. Overall, our findings demonstrate that GAS41 collaborates with BRD2 and the Mediator complex to control the expression of crucial nuclear shape regulators.

A 36-year-old unmarried male chef was incidentally diagnosed with hypokalemia during an evaluation for an acute perianal abscess. Despite potassium supplementation, he developed progressive weakness in his lower limbs, culminating in an inability to stand. Investigations confirmed severe hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, hypomagnesemia, secondary hyperaldosteronism, and low urinary calcium excretion, with normotension. The patient’s long-standing stunted growth and lean physique since childhood were noted. Biochemical assays further identified type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. Genetic analysis revealed three heterozygous SLC12A3 mutations (M1: c.421G>A: p.G141R, M2: c.509T>A:p.L170Q, and M3: c.704C>A: p.T235K), compound heterozygo us and derived from both parents, with M1 and M3 reported here for the first time. Treatment with spironolactone and oral potassium chloride stabilized his potassium levels. Following the administration of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients receiving hypoglycemic therapy, we observed a mild decrease in serum sodium levels. This case highlights the criticality of vigilant metabolic surveillance in Gitelman syndrome and advises prudence with SGLT2 inhibitors in those with concurrent type 2 diabetes, given the risk of potentially aggravate sodium loss.

ObjectiveDespite the fact that China amounts to one-fifth of the world’s population, has a higher proportion of the elderly, and has a higher prevalence of osteoporosis and fracture, limited studies have investigated the association between dietary patterns and bone mineral density (BMD) as well as fracture risk among the elderly Chinese population. We aimed to investigate the association between different dietary patterns and BMD as well as the risk of fractures, and this association may vary between elderly women and men.MethodsBuilding upon the China Osteoporosis Prevalence Study, we included 17,489 subjects aged ≥40 years old randomly sampled across 44 counties/districts of 11 provinces or municipalities in China who completed a food frequency questionnaire. BMD was measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry. Vertebral fracture was defined based on lateral spine radiographs using the semi-quantitative technique of Genant.ResultsA diet rich in “carnivorous”, “vegetarian”, “dairy, fruit, and egg” was significantly associated with higher BMD at total hip (TH), femoral neck (FN), and lumbar spine 1–4 (L1–4). Yet, a diet rich in “beverage and fried food” was associated with a lower BMD at the FN and L1–4. High quartiles of the carnivorous diet were associated with 34%–39% reduced risk of clinical fracture in the past 5 years and vertebral fracture. Stronger associations were observed among women. Sensitivity analysis among postmenopausal women presented even stronger positive associations between carnivorous and vegetarian diets and high BMD, as well as between carnivorous diet and reduced risk of fractures.ConclusionsOur study suggested that a diet rich in meat, vegetables, and dairy, fruit, and eggs might be associated with greater BMD and a lower fracture risk, while beverage and fried foods may be associated with a lower BMD at L1–4, especially among elderly women. These findings are relevant to provide recommendations on dietary nutrition regarding the elderly population at high risk of osteoporosis and fractures, especially postmenopausal women.

Abstract Incomplete biomass burning produces considerable amounts of pyrogenic carbonaceous materials (PCMs), which are widely distributed in environmental matrices. Those PCMs undergo different environmental processes and consequently have non-negligible impacts on the global carbon cycle, ecological functions and environmental security. This review provided a comprehensive review of qualitative and quantitative methods, carbon sequestration capabilities and other ecosystem functions of PCMs. In addition, the generation mechanism and environmental health risks of emerging contaminants, especially persistent free radicals (EPFRs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with PCMs were discussed. The results showed that the coexisting kerogen and coal may interfere with PCMs quantification, and that estimates of PCMs pools vary significantly due to methodological differences, natural variability and limited spatial coverage. The input of PCMs into soils increased soil carbon sequestration through direct carbon contribution and indirect negative priming effect on native SOC. In addition, PCMs can improve soil structure and properties and immobilize/degrade pollutants, which is conducive to the restoration of soil ecology. However, various contaminants associated with PCMs may threaten ecological safety, and thus their formation mechanisms and toxicological pathway to living organisms need to be further investigated. The development of standards for PCMs identification and quantification, application protocols of PCMs in pilot scale, and assessing the effects of PCMs on soil health deserve extended studies.

Integrated sensing and communication enhances the spectral efficiency by using shared resources, eliminating the need for separate bandwidth allocations. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs) play a key role in this, offering mobility, flexibility, and extended coverage for serving multiple users, especially in scenarios like disaster response and environmental monitoring. This paper explores multiple UAVs with integrated sensing and communication capabilities, using the Age of Information (AoI) metric to optimize resource allocation for timely data transmission. We propose two algorithms, Variable Particle Swarm Optimization (VPSO) and Twin Variable Neighborhood Particle Swarm Optimization (TVPSO), to jointly optimize power, bandwidth, and UAV trajectories to minimize AoI. Numerical results show the effects of the sensing and communication power ratio, the number of UAVs and the number of users on AoI and energy consumption. Furthermore, TVPSO is shown to outperform other PSO variants and the Deep Q Networks (DQN)-based approach, offering faster convergence and superior performance.

The optimization control of the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) denitrification system holds significant importance in the power generation industry. This paper presents an engineering fastest controller combined with active disturbance rejection control (EFC-ADRC) to enhance the control performance in SCR denitrification process. Compared with EFC, EFC-ADRC strategy has better performance in disturbances rejection when using the extended state observer(ESO) to compensate for uncertain disturbances. Two optimization methods are adopted including online Simultaneous Perturbation Stochastic Approximation (SPSA) and offline whale optimization algorithm (WOA), to tune the filter parameters in EFC by matching the time-varying characteristics of the process. Finally, the superior performance of the proposed control strategy in terms of set point tracking and disturbance rejection is verified through simulation experiments.

Road target detection is essential for enhancing vehicle safety, increasing operational efficiency, and optimizing user experience. It also forms a crucial part of autonomous driving and intelligent monitoring systems. However, current technologies face significant limitations in multi-level feature fusion and the accurate identification of key targets in complex data environments. To address these challenges, this paper proposes an innovative algorithmic model called BiFPN GAM SimC2f-YOLO (BGS-YOLO), aimed at improving detection performance. Initially, this paper employs the Bidirectional Feature Pyramid Network (BiFPN) to effectively integrate multi-level features. This integration overcomes the limitations in feature extraction and recognition found in existing target detection algorithms. Following this, this paper introduces the Global Attention Module (GAM), which markedly improves the efficiency and accuracy of extracting key target information in complex data environments. Additionally, this paper innovatively designs the SimAM-C2f (SimC2f) network, further advancing feature expressiveness and fusion efficiency. Experiments on the public COCO dataset demonstrate that the BGS-YOLO model significantly outperforms the existing YOLOv8n model. Notably, it shows a 7.3% increase in mean average precision (mAP) and a 2.4% improvement in accuracy. These results highlight the model’s high precision and swift response in detecting road targets in complex traffic scenarios. Consequently, the BGS-YOLO model has the potential to significantly enhance road safety and contribute to a considerable reduction in traffic accident rates.

Vital signs are important indicators to evaluate the health status of patients. Channel state information (CSI) can sense the displacement of the chest wall caused by cardiorespiratory activity in a non-contact manner. Due to the influence of clutter, DC components, and respiratory harmonics, it is difficult to detect reliable heartbeat signals. To address this problem, this paper proposes a robust and novel method for simultaneously extracting breath and heartbeat signals using software defined radios (SDR). Specifically, we model and analyze the signal and propose singular value decomposition (SVD)-based clutter suppression method to enhance the vital sign signals. The DC is estimated and compensated by the circle fitting method. Then, the heartbeat signal and respiratory signal are obtained by the modified variational modal decomposition (VMD). The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can accurately separate the respiratory signal and the heartbeat signal from the filtered signal. The Bland-Altman analysis shows that the proposed system is in good agreement with the medical sensors. In addition, the proposed system can accurately measure the heart rate variability (HRV) within 0.5m. In summary, our system can be used as a preferred contactless alternative to traditional contact medical sensors, which can provide advanced patient-centered healthcare solutions.

Abstract Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are novel therapeutics for the treatment of Crohn’s disease. However, their mechanism of action is unclear, especially in disease-relevant chronic models of inflammation. Thus, we used SAMP-1/YitFc (SAMP), a chronic and spontaneous murine model of small intestinal inflammation, to study the therapeutic effects and mechanism of action of human bone marrow-derived MSCs (hMSC). hMSC dose-dependently inhibited naïve T lymphocyte proliferation via prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) secretion and reprogrammed macrophages to an anti-inflammatory phenotype. We found that the hMSCs promoted mucosal healing and immunologic response early after administration in SAMP when live hMSCs are present (until day 9) and resulted in a complete response characterized by mucosal, histological, immunologic, and radiological healing by day 28 when no live hMSCs are present. hMSCs mediate their effect via modulation of T cells and macrophages in the mesentery and mesenteric lymph nodes (mLN). Sc-RNAseq confirmed the anti-inflammatory phenotype of macrophages and identified macrophage efferocytosis of apoptotic hMSCs as a mechanism that explains their long-term efficacy. Taken together, our findings show that hMSCs result in healing and tissue regeneration in a chronic model of small intestinal inflammation and despite being short-lived, exert long-term effects via sustained anti-inflammatory programming of macrophages via efferocytosis.

Abstract Objectives Most signatures are constructed on the basis of RNA or protein expression levels. The value of vascular invasion-related signatures based on lncRNA pairs, regardless of their specific expression level in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is not yet clear. Methods Vascular invasion-related differentially expressed lncRNA (DElncRNA) pairs were identified with a two-lncRNA combination strategy by using a novel modeling algorithm. Based on the optimal cutoff value of the ROC curve, patients with HCC were classified into high- and low-risk subgroups. We used KM survival analysis to evaluate the overall survival rate of patients in the high- and low-risk subgroups. The independent indicators of survival were identified using univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. Results Five pairs of vascular invasion-related DElncRNAs were selected to develop a predictive model for HCC. High-risk subgroups were closely associated with aggressive clinicopathological characteristics and genes, chemotherapeutic sensitivity, and highly expressed immune checkpoint inhibitors. Conclusions We identified a signature composed of 5 pairs of vascular invasion-related lncRNAs that does not require absolute expression levels of lncRNAs and shows promising clinical predictive value for HCC prognosis. This predictive model provides deep insight into the value of vascular invasion-related lncRNAs in prognosis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract which affects millions of individuals worldwide. Despite advancements in treatment options, there is increasing interest in exploring natural interventions with minimal side effects. Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, and radishes, contain bioactive compounds known as glucosinolates (GLSs), which have shown promising effects in alleviating IBD symptoms. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the physiological functions and mechanisms of cruciferous GLSs and their metabolites in the context of IBD. Reviewed studies demonstrated that GLSs attenuated all aspects of IBD, including regulating the intestinal microbiota composition, exerting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, restoring intestinal barrier function, and regulating epigenetic mechanisms. In addition, a few interventions with GLS supplementation in clinical studies were also discussed. However, there are still several challenges and remaining knowledge gaps, including variations in animals’ experimental outcomes, the bioavailability of certain compounds, and few clinical trials to validate their effectiveness in human subjects. Addressing these issues will contribute to a better understanding of the therapeutic potential of cruciferous GLSs and their metabolites in the management of IBD.

Objectives: Overuse of antibiotics in healthcare remains prevalent and requires urgent attention in China, particularly in primary healthcare (PHC) facilities. This study aimed to describe the patterns of antibiotic prescriptions for acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in PHC facilities in China and to investigate how PHC physicians’ knowledge influences their antibiotic prescribing behavior. Methods: A cross-sectional survey linking physician questionnaire responses and their prescription data was conducted in Shaanxi Province, China. The proportions of URTI visits that received at least one antibiotic, combined antibiotics, and broad-spectrum antibiotics were the main outcomes reflecting antibiotic prescribing behavior. Multivariate mixed-effects logistic regressions were applied to analyze the relationship between PHC physicians’ knowledge about antibiotics and their antibiotic prescribing behavior. Results: A total of 108 physicians filled out the questionnaires between February 2021 and July 2021, and a sample of 11,217 URTI visits attended by these physicians from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 were included in the analysis. The overall mean score of our respondents on the knowledge questions was 5.2 (total score of 10). Over sixty percent (61.2%; IQR 50.2–72.1) of the URTI visits received antibiotics. The percentages of URTI visits prescribed with combined and broad-spectrum antibiotics were 7.8% (IQR 2.3–10.2) and 48.3% (IQR 36.7–58.7), respectively. Third-generation cephalosporins were the most frequently used antibiotics. Physicians with lower antibiotic knowledge scores were more inclined to prescribe antibiotics (p < 0.001), combined antibiotics (p = 0.001), and broad-spectrum antibiotics (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Physicians’ insufficient knowledge was significantly associated with antibiotic overprescribing. Professional training targeting physicians’ knowledge of antibiotics is urgently needed to improve the rational use of antibiotics in grassroots healthcare facilities in China.

Achieving enzymatic food processing at high substrate concentrations can significantly enhance production efficiency; however, related studies are notably insufficient. This study focused on the enzymatic synthesis of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) at high temperature and high substrate concentration. Results revealed that increased viscosity and limited substrate solubility in high-concentration systems could be alleviated by raising the reaction temperature, provided it aligned with the enzyme’s thermostability. Further analysis of enzyme thermostability in real sucrose solutions demonstrates that the enzyme’s thermostability was remarkedly improved at higher sucrose concentrations, evidenced by a 10.3 °C increase in melting temperature (Tm) in an 800 g/L sucrose solution. Building upon these findings, we developed a novel method for enzymatic FOS synthesis at elevated temperatures and high sucrose concentrations. Compared to existing commercial methods, the initial transglycosylation rate and volumetric productivity for FOS synthesis increased by 155.9% and 113.5%, respectively, at 65 °C in an 800 g/L sucrose solution. This study underscores the pivotal role of substrate concentration, incubation temperature, and the enzyme’s actual status in advancing enzyme-catalyzed processes and demonstrates the potential of enzymatic applications in enhancing food processing technologies, providing innovative strategies for the food industry.

Abstract Intracellular proteome aggregation is a ubiquitous disease hallmark with its composition associated with pathogenicity. Herein, this work reports on a cell‐permeable photosensitizer (P8, Rose Bengal derivative) for selective photo induced proximity labeling and crosslinking of cellular aggregated proteome. Rose Bengal is identified out of common photosensitizer scaffolds for its unique intrinsic binding affinity to various protein aggregates driven by the hydrophobic effect. Further acetylation permeabilizes Rose Bengal to selectively image, label, and crosslink aggregated proteome in live stressed cells. A combination of photo‐chemical, tandem mass spectrometry, and protein biochemistry characterizations reveals the complexity in photosensitizing pathways (both Type I & II), modification sites and labeling mechanisms. The diverse labeling sites and reaction types result in highly effective enrichment and identification of aggregated proteome. Finally, aggregated proteomics and interaction analyses thereby reveal extensive entangling of proteostasis network components mediated by HSP70 chaperone (HSPA1B) and active participation of autophagy pathway in combating proteasome inhibition. Overall, this work exemplifies the first photo induced proximity labeling and crosslinking method (namely AggID) to profile intracellular aggregated proteome and analyze its interactions.

Background and aimsRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of lower respiratory tract infections in children and the elderly, often progressing to pneumonia and severe sequelae. However, there are currently no feasible and cost-effective interventions with proven efficacy for children, making medications with anti-RSV activity urgently needed. Traditional Chinese medicine has shown promising therapeutic efficacy in alleviating viral infection symptoms. Therefore, we aimed to develop effective strategies for RSV treatment based on traditional Chinese medicine.Methods and resultsThe infection status was assessed in BALB/c mice with or without Xuanfei Formula (XFF) treatment over a one-week period using H&E staining, cytokine assays and RSV titer testing after RSV challenge. Remarkably, on the first day of XFF intervention, both the pro-inflammation cytokine levels in the serum and RSV-N gene copies in the lung of mice were plummeted, compared to the RSV-infected group. This implied that XFF might possess the immune-independent anti-RSV capability. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we employed transcriptome analysis followed by k-means analysis. The reversal effects of XFF against RSV primarily focused on the processes of innate and adaptive immunity. Additionally, we found that XFF administration corrected the disordered fatty acid and cholesterol metabolism processes during RSV infection. Lipidomics profiling indicated consistent cholesterol abundance with transcriptional changes but not fatty acids. Cholesterol synthesis-related genes mRNA levels and cholesterol synthesis intermediates detection supported XFF’s repression upon cholesterol biosynthesis. Aberrantly increased cholesterol production has been reported as necessary for RSV infection. To mimic that, we observed lovastatin treatment inhibited RSV replication and pro-inflammation cytokine expression in vitro. Transcription factor prediction of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in cholesterol synthesis implicated SREBP2. Through network pharmacology, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol were identified as the effective active ingredients within the XFF, with the help of further molecular docking and mass spectrum detection. In vitro experiments demonstrated β-sitosterol and stigmasterol reinforced the bonding between SREBP cleavage-activation protein (SCAP) and insulin-induced gene proteins (INSIGs) to inhibit SREBP2 cleavage maturation and consequent RSV infection.ConclusionXuanfei Formula (XFF) exhibits excellent anti-RSV efficacy by inhibiting SREBP2-mediated cholesterol synthesis to reduce RSV replication and ameliorate inflammation in the lung of infected mice.

Local differential privacy (LDP) is a state-of-the-art privacy notion that enables terminal participants to share their private data safely while controlling the privacy disclosure at the source. In most recent works, it is assumed that the privacy parameter is determined solely by collectors and then dispatched to all participants. However, it is inelegant and unpromising for all participants to accept the same level of privacy preservation due to their personalized preferences. Here, an adaptive data collection scheme is proposed to realize personalized privacy preservation while achieving higher data utility, in which two different LDP perturbation methods are adaptively chosen by data participants according to their personalized privacy preferences. The adaptive boundary based on the minimum mean square error (MSE) is theoretically and accurately derived to allow participants to adaptively choose the best perturbation method. Then, a weighted combination method is demonstrated to do effective data aggregation from multiple privacy groups. Moreover, an expanded data strategy (EDS) with multiple privacy perturbations is presented to equivalently increase the sample size without harming others privacy, thereby further improving the accuracy of statistics. Finally, the experiments show that the proposed scheme performs better than the previous proposal in terms of MSE and average error rate (AER), especially using the EDS method.

High cadmium (Cd, 50 µM) caused transcriptional upregulation of Ca2+-dependent protein kinase 21 (CPK21) in roots and leaves of Populus euphratica. The promoter region (1803 bp) of PeCPK21 was engineered to fuse PeCPK21-pro::GUS and transformed in Arabidopsis. The activity of GUS significantly increased in roots, cotyledons, and hypocotyls under 100 μM CdCl2 treatment. The 1599 bp coding sequence of PeCPK21 was transferred into Arabidopsis, and overexpression of PeCPK21 increased Cd tolerance as evidenced by less reduction in root length and plant growth under CdCl2 stress conditions (100 µM, 7 d). PeCPK21-interacting proteins were enriched by HaloTag pull-down and corresponding expression profiles after Cd exposure indicate that PeCPK21 interacts with heavy metal stress-associated proteins (HMAPs) to mediate Cd tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis. PeCPK21 interacted with the Cd-regulated cation/heavy metal transport proteins annexin, OPT3, COPT5, and PDF2.2 to limit Cd uptake and accumulation in transgenic plants. PeCPK21 may also interact with the V-type proton ATPase subunits, VHA-B1, VHA-C, and AVA-P2, which were transcriptionally upregulated by Cd to accelerate vacuolar Cd compartmentalization. Cd-triggered H2O2 production was limited in plants overexpressing PeCPK21, which was due to the activated antioxidant enzymes. The interaction of PeCPK21 with the antioxidant enzymes TAPX, APX1, APX2, TRXM4, GPX3, CDSP32, and PRXQ, which showed transcriptional upregulation by Cd, could enhance antioxidant defense in transgenic Arabidopsis. It is also possible that PeCPK21 interacts with plasma membrane intrinsic proteins, PIP1–1, PIP2A, and PIP2–7, which had an Cd-enhanced transcript, to improve water status in transgenic Arabidopsis. In summary, we hypothesize that the calcium sensor PeCPK21 can attenuate Cd toxicity by interacting with HMAPs to effectively limit Cd accumulation, increase ROS scavenging, and improve water status in transgenic Arabidopsis.

Abstract The application of DNA barcoding has been significantly limited by the scarcity of reliable specimens and inadequate coverage and replication across all species. The deficiency of DNA barcode reference coverage is particularly striking for highly biodiverse subtropical and tropical regions. In this study, we present a comprehensive barcode library for woody plants in tropical and subtropical China. Our dataset includes a standard barcode library comprising the four most widely used barcodes (rbcL, matK, ITS, and ITS2) for 2,520 species from 4,654 samples across 49 orders, 144 families, and 693 genera, along with 79 samples identified at the genus level. This dataset also provides a super-barcode library consisting of 1,239 samples from 1,139 species, 411 genera, 113 families, and 40 orders. This newly developed library will serve as a valuable resource for DNA barcoding research in tropical and subtropical China and bordering countries, enable more accurate species identification, and contribute to the conservation and management of tropical and subtropical forests.

Abstract Background Shared decision-making (SDM) may influence the clinical outcomes of patients with endocrine disorders. There are few studies describing perspectives towards SDM among endocrinologists in China. Methods In the first stage, we conducted a national survey using an online questionnaire about SDM among endocrinologists in China. The national survey focused on attitude and propensity, potential barriers, and the effectiveness of SDM implementation strategies. In the second stage, survey participants were further recruited to participate in a prospective cohort study in the online continuing medical education (CME) program of Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing. The Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire (SDM-Q-Doc) was employed to assess the effects of online CME on physicians’ perspectives during the process of SDM, which was conducted before and after the CME course was provided. Results In the national survey, 280 endocrinologists (75.7% female, mean age 38.0 ± 4.5 years, 62.5% with a duration of practice of more than ten years) completed the questionnaire. Participants had a generally positive attitude towards SDM in clinical practice. The main perceived barriers included time consumption, information inequality between doctors and patients, and a lack of technical support and training for SDM. The main uncertainties of implementation steps included inviting patients to participate in SDM (16.3%), assisting in decision-making (15.3%), facilitating deliberation and decision-making (13.7%), and providing information on benefits and risks (12.6%). Of the physicians who participated in the national survey, 84 registered for the eight-day online CME course. The SDM-Q-Doc score increased from 87.3 ± 18.2 at baseline to 93.0 ± 9.3 at the end of the 8-day online CME training (p = 0.003, paired t test). The participants’ age, sex, education level, practice duration, the annual number of patients with rare endocrine diseases, and the annual number of patients requiring MDT or CME were not significantly related to increased SDM-Q-Doc scores after online CME (all p > 0.05). Conclusions Chinese endocrinologists had a generally positive attitude towards SDM in clinical practice. There were also several uncertainties in the implementation steps of SDM. Regardless of a physician’s educational background or prior professional experience, CME may help to improve their perspectives regarding SDM.

Abstract Objective To explore the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients’ attitude, subjective norms (SN), perceived behavioral control (PBC), behavioral intention (BI) and behavior associated with integrated treatment and preventive (ITP) services. Methods A convenient sampling method was employed at a community health center in Nanjing, China between January and July 2022. The collected data were processed using Epidata 3.1, SPSS 26.0, and AMOS 24.0. Descriptive statistics and a structural equation model based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) were used to explore the correlation between the study variables. Results 430 participants were eventually included, with a response rate of 98.6%. The mean age was 72.50 ± 5.69 years. The TPB model proved to be suitable and explained 41% of the variance in the BI. Attitude (β = 0.289, P

Abstract Background The use of regorafenib in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is widespread. Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) has been shown to be a potential prognostic marker for regorafenib treatment, but its prognostic value remains controversial. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the value of the baseline ALBI grade in predicting the efficacy and survival outcomes of HCC patients after regorafenib treatment. Methods PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wan Fang Data, and Vip Database were searched from January 2010 to October 2022. Studies treating HCC patients with regorafenib and with ALBI as a categorical variable, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) as outcome indicators were included. After applying Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) to evaluate the quality of the included studies, Review Manager 5.4 was used to statistically analyze. Chi-square Q test and I2 statistics were used to detect heterogeneity. Funnel plot asymmetry, Egger’s and Begg’s test were used to evaluate publication bias. Results A total of 12 studies, comprising 1,918 patients, were included in the meta-analysis. The included studies were all evaluated as high quality. Compared to the high-grade baseline ALBI group, patients in the low-grade group had a longer survival time after receiving regorafenib and also more suitable for regorafenib treatment [odds ratio (OR) = 6.50, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.22–18.96, P

AIM: To explore the efficacy of preoperative intravitreal injection of conbercept combined with 25G+ pars plana vitrectomy(PPV)in the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR).METHODS: The clinical data of 154 patients(176 eyes)with PDR admitted to our hospital from January 2019 to June 2021 were collected for retrospective analysis. According to the treatment methods, 80 patients(92 eyes)in combined treatment group were treated with preoperative intravitreal injection of conbercept combined with 25G+PPV, and 74 patients(84 eyes)in control group were given 25G+PPV only. The postoperative clinical efficacy and levels of adipokines [adiponectin(APN), retinol binding protein 4(RBP4)] before and after surgery were compared between both groups of patients.RESULTS: The combined treatment group showed better clinical efficacy than the control group at 1mo after surgery(P

Abstract The discussion of inequality has been an enduring topic in sociology and economics. With the intensification of inequality, an increasing amount of research has begun to focus on the impact of inequality on various aspects of the economy and society. However, research on how inequality affects families’ education investment behavior currently remains relatively scarce. This study contributes to filling this gap by presenting one of the first analyses of the effect of intergenerational mobility-based opportunity inequality on family education investment. Specifically, based on a Chinese population sample survey conducted in 2015 and the China Family Panel Studies survey conducted in 2018, this paper measures the intergenerational mobility of regions using an index of intergenerational educational rank correlation, and it uses extracurricular tutoring expenses to measure families’ investment in their children’s education. The benchmark regression results show that intergenerational mobility significantly negatively impacts family education investment, with the average family education investment decreasing by 25.75 percent for every 0.1-unit increase in intergenerational mobility. This negative effect remains significant after robustness tests, such as replacing the explanatory variables and dependent variables, considering the influence of important omitted variables, evaluating the impact of unobservable factors, and introducing an instrumental variable for two-stage least squares regression analysis. In addition, this negative impact is more prevalent among families with high socioeconomic status, while it is not significant in families with low socioeconomic status. The reason is that families with low socioeconomic status face greater credit constraints and intergenerational mobility incentives. Furthermore, an examination of the mechanisms involved reveals that although the improvement in intergenerational mobility may increase people’s confidence in investing, it ultimately reduces family education investment by lowering excessive anxiety and the extent of status-seeking behavior among families. According to the analysis, promoting equality of opportunity could mitigate China’s negative educational competition and facilitate the realization of the “Double Reduction” policy.

The box girder’s condition significantly impacts the safety and overall performance of the entire ship because it is the primary stress component of the hull construction. This work used experimental research on the long-span hull box girder based on IFEM (Inverse Finite Element Method) technology to ensure the structural safety of the hull box girder. Due to the limitations of conventional experiments in this technical field, such as their reliance on finite element data and lack of input from physical tests, numerous research methods combining the strain sensing data from physical tests with the strain data from virtual sensors were conducted. The strain fields of the top plate, side plate, and bottom plate were each reconstructed in turn, and the verifier measuring points in the physical model test were used to assess the accuracy of the reconstruction results. The findings demonstrate that the top plate, side plate, and bottom plate reconstructions had relative errors of 0.24–7.86%, 0.75–8.13%, and 3.31–2.52%, respectively. This enables the reconstruction of the strain field of the long-span hull box girder using physical test data and promotes the use of iFEM technology in the field of structural health monitoring of large marine structures.

Expansins are cell wall (CW) proteins that mediate the CW loosening and regulate salt tolerance in a positive or negative way. However, the role of Populus trichocarpa expansin A6 (PtEXPA6) in salt tolerance and the relevance to cell wall loosening is still unclear in poplars. PtEXPA6 gene was transferred into the hybrid species, Populus alba × P. tremula var. glandulosa (84K) and Populus tremula × P. alba INRA ‘717-1B4’ (717-1B4). Under salt stress, the stem growth, gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, activity and transcription of antioxidant enzymes, Na+ content, and Na+ flux of root xylem and petiole vascular bundle were investigated in wild-type and transgenic poplars. The correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to analyze the correlations among the characteristics and principal components. Our results show that the transcription of PtEXPA6 was downregulated upon a prolonged duration of salt stress (48 h) after a transient increase induced by NaCl (100 mM). The PtEXPA6-transgenic poplars of 84K and 717-1B4 showed a greater reduction (42–65%) in stem height and diameter growth after 15 days of NaCl treatment compared with wild-type (WT) poplars (11–41%). The Na+ accumulation in roots, stems, and leaves was 14–83% higher in the transgenic lines than in the WT. The Na+ buildup in the transgenic poplars affects photosynthesis; the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT); and the transcription of PODa2, SOD [Cu-Zn], and CAT1. Transient flux kinetics showed that the Na+ efflux of root xylem and leaf petiole vascular bundle were 1.9–3.5-fold greater in the PtEXPA6-transgenic poplars than in the WT poplars. PtEXPA6 overexpression increased root contractility and extensibility by 33% and 32%, indicating that PtEXPA6 increased the CW loosening in the transgenic poplars of 84K and 717-1B4. Noteworthily, the PtEXPA6-promoted CW loosening was shown to facilitate Na+ efflux of root xylem and petiole vascular bundle in the transgenic poplars. We conclude that the overexpression of PtEXPA6 leads to CW loosening that facilitates the radial translocation of Na+ into the root xylem and the subsequent Na+ translocation from roots to leaves, resulting in an excessive Na+ accumulation and consequently, reducing salt tolerance in transgenic poplars. Therefore, the downregulation of PtEXPA6 in NaCl-treated Populus trichocarpa favors the maintenance of ionic and reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis under long-term salt stress.