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Previous studies suggested that pyrethroid exposure was associated with elevated type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk, while it remains uncertain whether genetic predisposition modifies this association. A nested case-control study within the prospective Dongfeng-Tongji cohort comprised 1832 T2D cases, age- (±5 years) and sex-matched controls with qualified genotyping data. Serum pyrethroids were measured by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Overall diabetes-related genetic risk score (GRS) or pathway-specific GRS, including unweighted GRSs (uGRS) and weighted GRSs (wGRS), was developed by genetic variants identified in Asian populations. Higher overall diabetes-related GRS and GRS specific to the pathway of impaired beta cell function (Beta-cell GRS) were associated with a higher incident T2D risk. Beta-cell uGRS significantly modified the association of serum permethrin (Pinteraction=0.04) and deltamethrin (Pinteraction=0.01) with T2D. Specifically, for each doubling increase in serum deltamethrin, the odds ratios (ORs) (95 % confidence intervals [CIs]) for T2D were 1.23 (0.98–1.56) and 0.91 (0.77–1.07) in the highest and lowest Beta-cell uGRS group, as well as 1.23 (1.02–1.47) and 0.95 (0.78–1.15) for Beta-cell wGRS group, respectively. When considering jointly, those with the highest deltamethrin levels and highest Beta-cell GRS had a substantially higher T2D risk, compared with the reference group (OR for uGRS: 3.79 [95 % CI: 2.03–7.07], Pinteraction=0.03 and 3.23 [95 % CI: 1.78–5.87], Pinteraction=0.05 for wGRS). Our findings suggested that genetic susceptibility to impaired beta-cell function should be considered for T2D prevention targeting pyrethroid exposure, particularly deltamethrin.

Abstract Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) are considered as promising candidates in the application of nonvolatile high‐density, low‐cost resistive switching (RS) memories and artificial synapses, resulting from their excellent electronic and optoelectronic properties including large light absorption coefficient, fast ion migration, long carrier diffusion length, low trap density, high defect tolerance. Among MHPs, 2D halide perovskites have exotic layered structure and great environment stability as compared with 3D counterparts. Herein, recent advances of 2D MHPs for the RS memories and artificial synapses realms are comprehensively summarized and discussed, as well as the layered structure properties and the related physical mechanisms are presented. Furthermore, the current issues and developing roadmap for the next‐generation 2D MHPs RS memories and artificial synapse are elucidated.

Urban vitality, intricately connected to urban morphology, has long been a cornerstone of urban planning and design. The accelerated pace of urbanization has created abundant living and working spaces, but it has also brought about a series of issues such as traffic congestion, environmental pollution, insufficient public spaces, and uneven urban development, leading to a decline in urban vitality. The spatial distribution patterns of urban vitality and their influencing factors are diverse and vary across different cities, necessitating a multidimensional exploration of the relationship between urban vitality and the built environment. Utilizing the central urban area of Beijing as a case study, this research leverages multi-source urban spatial data to delineate the spatial characteristics of social, economic, cultural, and comprehensive vitality. Furthermore, a comprehensive set of built-environment indicators is developed across five dimensions to analyze their correlation with urban vitality. The results indicate: (1) There is a significant spatial clustering of various vitality types in Beijing, with a pronounced correlation between high-density population aggregation and vigorous economic activities. (2) Subdistricts exhibiting high social vitality display an “n”-shaped distribution around the Second Ring Road. In contrast, those with high economic vitality are concentrated along Chang’an Street and various district commercial centers. High cultural vitality subdistricts are distributed in a northwest–southeast trajectory from the Fourth Ring Road to the Second Ring Road, and subdistricts with high comprehensive vitality exhibit a concentric distribution radiating outwards from the center. (3) Social vitality is most closely related to comprehensive vitality, and the various vitality types in Beijing’s central urban area develop relatively evenly. (4) The built environment significantly affects all types of urban vitality. Factors such as floor area ratio, POI density, POI mixing degree, and intersection density are fundamental to enhancing urban vitality, whereas the greening rate somewhat inhibits it. (5) Future spatial planning should utilize the radiating effect of high-vitality subdistricts to optimize population distribution, enhance POI mixing, increase metro station density, and strengthen critical urban structures for synergistic economic and cultural development. This study provides a foundation and promotion strategies for optimizing the layout and enhancing vitality at the subdistrict scale within Beijing’s central urban area.

Ensuring the accuracy of wind power prediction is paramount for the reliable and stable operation of power systems. This study introduces a novel approach aimed at enhancing the precision of wind power prediction through the development of a multiscale hybrid model. This model integrates advanced methodologies including Improved Intrinsic Mode Function with Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise (ICEEMDAN), permutation entropy (PE), Least Squares Support Vector Regression (LSSVR), Regularized Extreme Learning Machine (RELM), multi-head attention (MHA), and Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (BiGRU). Firstly, the ICEEMDAN technique is employed to decompose the non-stationary raw wind power data into multiple relatively stable sub-modes, while concurrently utilizing PE to assess the complexity of each sub-mode. Secondly, the dataset is reconstituted into three distinct components as follows: high-frequency, mid-frequency, and low-frequency, to alleviate data complexity. Following this, the LSSVR, RELM, and MHA-BiGRU models are individually applied to predict the high-, mid-, and low-frequency components, respectively. Thirdly, the parameters of the low-frequency prediction model are optimized utilizing the Dung Beetle Optimizer (DBO) algorithm. Ultimately, the predicted results of each component are aggregated to derive the final prediction. The empirical findings illustrate the exceptional predictive performance of the multiscale hybrid model incorporating LSSVR, RELM, and MHA-BiGRU. In comparison with other benchmark models, the proposed model exhibits a reduction in Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) values of over 10%, conclusively affirming its superior predictive accuracy.

Mountain cities with complex topographies have always been highly vulnerable areas to global environmental change, prone to geological hazards, climate change, and human activities. Exploring and analyzing the vulnerability of coupling systems in mountain cities is highly important for improving regional resilience and promoting sustainable regional development. Therefore, a comprehensive framework for assessing the spatial vulnerability of mountain cities is proposed. A vulnerability assessment index system is constructed using three functional systems, ecological protection, agricultural production, and urban construction. Subsequently, the BP neural network and the genetic algorithm (GA) are combined to establish a vulnerability assessment model, and geographically weighted regression (GWR) is introduced to analyze the spatial influence of one-dimensional systems on the coupling system. Linzhou, a typical mountain city at the boundary between China’s second- and third-step terrains, was selected as a case study to demonstrate the feasibility of the framework. The results showed that the vulnerability of the ecological protection system was highly aggregated in the east–central region, that of the agricultural production system was high in the west, and that of the urban construction system was low in the central region and high in the northwestern region. The coupling system vulnerability was characterized by multispatial distribution. The complex topography and geomorphology and the resulting natural hazards are the underlying causes of the vulnerability results. The impact of ecological and urban systems on the coupling system vulnerability is more prominent. The proposed framework can serve as a reference for vulnerability assessments of other similar mountain cities with stepped topographies to support the formulation of sustainable development strategies.

Prospective epidemiological evidence was lacking on the association of phthalates (PAEs) exposure with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk. In present nested case-control study, we identified 1006 T2DM cases and matched 1006 controls based on Dongfeng-Tongji cohort study, and 6 PAEs were detected in baseline serum. The conditional logistic regression model, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model and Quantile-based g-computation were applied to evaluate the associations of determined PAEs, either as individuals or as a mixture, with incident T2DM risk. Subgroup analysis was conducted to identify the potential sensitive population of PAEs effects on T2DM. After multiple adjustment, no statistically significant association was observed between single or mixture of PAEs and incident T2DM risk in the whole population. However, serum levels of Di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) [OR= 2.06; 95% CI: (1.11–3.96)], Σdibutyl phthalate (ΣDBP) [OR= 1.96; 95% CI: (1.06–3.76)], and Σlow-molecular- weight phthalate (ΣLMW) [OR= 2.27; 95% CI: (1.17–4.57)] were significantly associated with T2DM in current drinker group. Moreover, significant potential interactions were observed among Di-iso-butyl phthalate (DiBP), DnBP, Butyl-benzyl phthalate (BBP), ΣDBP, and ΣLMW with drinking status on T2DM risk (P for interaction = 0.036, 0.005, 0.049. 0.010, and 0.005). We did not find significant associations between serum PAEs levels and T2DM in the whole population. However, current alcohol drinkers expose to higher levels of DnBP, ΣDBP, and ΣLMW had higher risk of T2DM.

BackgroundArylsulfatase D (ARSD) belongs to the sulfatase family and plays a crucial role in maintaining the proper structure of bone and cartilage matrix. Although several researches have revealed the functions of ARSD in tumor progression, the prognostic value of ARSD in glioma and the related mechanisms have not been fully investigated.MethodsWe performed a pan-cancer analysis of ARSD, and investigated the relationship between expression of ARSD and overall survival (OS) in multiple glioma datasets. ROC curves and nomograms were created to investigate the predictive capacity of ARSD. Immune and analysis were conducted to investigate the mechanisms underlying the roles of ARSD in glioma. Glioma tissue samples were collected to verify the expression of ARSD in glioma, while the functions of ARSD were explored using cell experiment. M2 macrophage infiltration assay was used to determine the relation between ARSD and tumor immune microenvironment.ResultsSurvival analysis indicated that individuals with high ARSD expression in glioma had a shorter survival time. Cox analysis showed that ARSD had a good ability for predicting prognosis in glioma. Immune analysis suggested that ARSD could regulate immune cell infiltration and affect the Cancer-Immunity Cycle to create an immunosuppressive environment. Combined with cell experiment and bioinformatic analysis, we found that ARSD can promote glioma progression through regulation of JAK2/STAT3 pathway and M2 macrophage infiltration.ConclusionOur study found that ARSD can promote glioma development by regulating immune microenvironment and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, which provided a potential therapy target for glioma treatment.

Surface defects on the permanent magnetic ferrite magnet rotor are the primary cause for the decline in performance and safety hazards in permanent magnet motors. Machine-vision methods offer the possibility to identify defects automatically. In response to the challenges in the permanent magnetic ferrite magnet rotor, this study proposes an improved You Only Look Once (YOLO) algorithm named SAB-YOLOv5. Utilizing a line-scan camera, images capturing the complete surface of a general object are obtained, and a dataset containing surface defects is constructed. Simultaneously, an improved YOLOv5-based surface defect algorithm is introduced. Firstly, the algorithm enhances the capability to extract features at different scales by incorporating the Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling (ASPP) structure. Then, the fusion of features is improved by combining the tensor concatenation operation of the feature-melting network with the Bidirectional Feature Pyramid Network (BiFPN) structure. Finally, the introduction of the spatial pyramid dilated (SPD) convolutional structure into the backbone network and output end enhances the detection performance for minute defects on the target surface. In the study, the SAB-YOlOv5 algorithm shows an obvious increase from 84.2% to 98.3% in the mean average precision (mAP) compared to that of the original YOLOv5 algorithm. The results demonstrate that the data acquisition method and detection algorithm designed in this paper effectively enhance the efficiency of defect detection permanent magnetic ferrite magnet rotors.

Optic never fibers in the visual pathway play significant roles in vision formation. Damages of optic nerve fibers are biomarkers for the diagnosis of various ophthalmological and neurological diseases; also, there is a need to prevent the optic nerve fibers from getting damaged in neurosurgery and radiation therapy. Reconstruction of optic nerve fibers from medical images can facilitate all these clinical applications. Although many computational methods are developed for the reconstruction of optic nerve fibers, a comprehensive review of these methods is still lacking. This paper described both the two strategies for optic nerve fiber reconstruction applied in existing studies, i.e., image segmentation and fiber tracking. In comparison to image segmentation, fiber tracking can delineate more detailed structures of optic nerve fibers. For each strategy, both conventional and AI-based approaches were introduced, and the latter usually demonstrates better performance than the former. From the review, we concluded that AI-based methods are the trend for optic nerve fiber reconstruction and some new techniques like generative AI can help address the current challenges in optic nerve fiber reconstruction.

Public sub-health has emerged as a pressing concern in densely populated urban areas. The urban environment, with its innate ability to modulate public emotions, harbors a precious resource in the form of urban rivers, which provide a serene and verdant space. This study focuses on the Liangma River in Chaoyang District, Beijing, selecting two rivers with diverse landscape features as the subjects of research. By employing physiological feedback data in conjunction with a subjective questionnaire, the emotional impact of high-density urban riverside spaces on individuals is quantitatively analyzed. Electrocardiogram (ECG) data, eye movement data, and the positive–negative emotion scale (PANAS) are subjected to data analysis. The study reveals the following key findings: (1) The riverside landscape in high-density urban areas exerts a positive influence on emotional well-being. Individuals in more natural river settings experience greater levels of contentment and relaxation, while those in areas with a higher proportion of artificial elements exhibit increased excitement and happiness. Moreover, scenes characterized by a greater degree of greening have a more pronounced soothing effect on mood. (2) A specific correlation between visual characteristics and emotional fluctuations is observed. The waterfront side of the trail exerts a stronger spatial attraction, and a higher proportion of blue and green spaces significantly contributes to stress relief. (3) The utilization of human-induced engineering technology, which captures emotional changes through physiological feedback, demonstrates a higher level of accuracy and is well-suited for small-scale studies. These findings highlight the potential of arranging diverse types of waterfront footpath landscapes in high-density urban areas and approaching waterfront landscape design and transformation from a novel perspective centered on health intervention. Such efforts hold promise for alleviating the daily pressures faced by the general public and fostering the development of a “healthy city”.

ObjectiveDue to the difficulty of accurately converting the experimental results of acoustic radiation and vibration from scale models of complex stiffened combined shells into prototypes, the acoustic vibration similarity laws of this type of combined shell are studied in order to provide a basis for scale model experimental research on the acoustic vibration of such underwater structures. MethodFirst, a complex stiffened cone-cylinder combined shell model and its scale model are constructed by shell element reinforcement simulation. Next, based on the hybrid finite element method-boundary element method (FEM-BEM) method, the acoustic vibration response of the combined shell is calculated. Combined with the model experiment, the accuracy of the calculated response of the complex shell structure using the hybrid FEM-BEM method is then verified. Finally, the acoustic vibration similarity laws of the complex stiffened cone-cylinder combined shell are studied systematically. ResultsThe vibration modal frequency of the complex combined shell is in inverse proportion to the geometric scale ratio with the model under the same material parameter boundary conditions and excitation force, while the vibration modal in the corresponding frequency is the same. Under conditions of the same excitation force, the vibration response of the combined shell is also in inverse proportion to the geometric scale ratio, whereas the acoustic pressure is in inverse proportion to the product of the geometric scale ratio and measurement distance of the shell. The radiation efficiency and acoustic directivity of the scale model and prototype are the same. ConclusionThe stiffened cone-cylinder combined shell shows good acoustic and vibration similarity under similar conditions to those of the model, and the model constructed using shell element reinforcement simulation is more consistent with the experimental results.

IntroductionSalinization affects more than 25% of the world's arable land, and Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb (T. ramosissima), the representative of Tamarix plants, is widely grown in salinized soil. In contrast, less is known about the mechanism of potassium's antioxidative enzyme activity in preventing NaCl stress damage to plants.MethodThis study examined changes in root growth for T. ramosissima at 0h, 48h, and 168h, performed antioxidant enzyme activity assays, transcriptome sequencing, and non-targeted metabolite analysis to understand changes in their roots as well as changes in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differential metabolites associated with antioxidant enzyme activities.ResultAs the time increased, the results showed that compared with the 200 Mm NaCl group, the root growth of the 200 mM NaCl + 10 mM KCl group increased, the activities of SOD, POD and CAT increased the most, but the contents of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) increased less. Meanwhile, 58 DEGs related to SOD, POD and CAT activities were changed during the application of exogenous K+ for 48h and 168h in T. ramosissima. Based on association analysis of transcriptomic and metabolomic data, we found coniferyl alcohol, which can act as a substrate to label catalytic POD. It is worth noting that Unigene0013825 and Unigene0014843, as POD-related genes, have positively regulated the downstream of coniferyl alcohol, and they have a significant correlation with coniferyl alcohol.DiscussionIn summary, 48h and 168h of exogenous K+ applied to the roots of T. ramosissima under NaCl stress can resist NaCl stress by scavenging the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by high salt stress by enhancing the mechanism of antioxidant enzyme activity, relieving NaCl toxicity and maintaining growth. This study provides genetic resources and a scientific theoretical basis for further breeding of salt-tolerant Tamarix plants and the molecular mechanism of K+ alleviating NaCl toxicity.

The photocatalytic degradation of TiO2 as the best method to solve the pollution of dye wastewater has been widely studied. However, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of TiO2 needs to be further improved even though much effort has been paid, especially under visible (Vis) light. TiO2/MXene composites were synthesized by low temperature hydrothermal reaction using TiO2 (P25) and MXene nanosheets as raw materials for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. The removal rate of MB was effectively improved by the combination of TiO2 with MXene materials. The best removal efficiency was achieved at a mass ratio (4:1) of TiO2 to MXene. The removal rate of TiO2/MXene composite materials for MB under ultraviolet light was 96.44%, which was 29.83% higher than that of pure TiO2. Under Vis light, the removal rate of MB was 8.26 times higher (40.19%) than that of pure TiO2. In addition, the degradation process of MB dye was significantly promoted under both external and visible light. Therefore, the utilization efficiency of Vis light was greatly improved, and the degradation process of MB dye was promoted. The enhancement of removal efficiency was attributed to the enhanced charge anti-recombination and high adsorption capability toward MB. This work successfully improved the rate of dye removal of TiO2 by incorporating MXene nanosheets, heralding the exciting prospects of TiO2/MXene composites in dye wastewater treatment.

Intensive aquaculture usually produces large volumes of nutrient-rich wastewater, which is essential to treat to avoid eutrophication. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of five continuously aerated biofilm reactors treating simulated high-strength aquaculture wastewater under different dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, and the effects of DO increments on simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND). Continuous aeration was beneficial to complete nitrification. Total inorganic nitrogen (TIN), principally ammonium, was mainly removed by SND. The SND rate response to different DO levels was fitted well by the power function of y = 54.81 + 371.58/(1 − 0.16*x)^(−1/0.24) (R2 = 0.897, P = 0.000). When the TIN was removed completely, the optimal SND rate was defined and corresponded to a value of 121.8%. Accordingly, the optimal DO concentration was calculated as 2.10 mg/L, close to the actual level of 1.83 mg/L, at which the highest proportional removals of total nitrogen (58.0%) and TIN (57.3%) were obtained. Phosphorus was also removed by denitrifying polyphosphate-accumulating organisms. HIGHLIGHTS Dissolved ammonium was mainly removed by simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND) process.; The optimal SND rate for the current wastewater was 121.8%.; The optimal DO corresponding to the best SND rate was 2.10 mg/L.; Phosphorus was mainly removed by denitrifying phosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs).;

Abstract Background Circular RNA (circRNA) plays an important role in regulating cell biological function and has been shown to be involved in cancer progression, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Circ-KIAA0907 has been found to play an anti-cancer role in OSCC, so it is worth exploring more functions and new mechanisms of circ-KIAA0907 in OSCC progression. Methods Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of circ-KIAA0907, microRNA (miR)-96-5p, and unc-13 homolog C (UNC13C). Transwell assay, flow cytometry, and colony formation assay were employed to measure the migration, invasion, apoptosis, and radiosensitivity of cells. Besides, glucose uptake, lactate production, and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) were determined to evaluate the glycolysis ability of cells. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay were performed to confirm the interactions among circ-KIAA0907, miR-96-5p, and UNC13C. And RNA pull-down assay was used to verify the binding degree of miR-96-5p to its targets. Moreover, UNC13C protein level was examined using western blot (WB) analysis. OSCC xenograft models were constructed to perform in vivo experiments. Results Circ-KIAA0907 was a stability circRNA with lowly expression in OSCC. Overexpressed circ-KIAA0907 could inhibit migration, invasion, and glycolysis, while promoting apoptosis and radiosensitivity in OSCC cells. In the terms of mechanism, circ-KIAA0907 could sponge miR-96-5p to regulate UNC13C expression. MiR-96-5p overexpression could reverse the inhibitory effect of circ-KIAA0907 on OSCC progression, and UNC13C knockdown also could overturn the suppressive effect of miR-96-5p inhibitor on OSCC progression. Animal experiments revealed that circ-KIAA0907 could reduce the tumor growth of OSCC by regulating the miR-96-5p/UNC13C axis. Conclusion Our study suggests that circ-KIAA0907 restrains OSCC progression via the miR-96-5p/UNC13C axis, indicating that it may be a potential target for OSCC treatment.

Abstract Conductive and degradable nanofibrous scaffolds have great potential in promoting cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation under an external electric field. Although the issue of inferior electrical conductivity in body fluids still exists, polyaniline (PANI)-based degradable nanofibers can promote cell adhesion, growth, and proliferation. To investigate whether the effect is caused by the PANI morphology, we selected three inorganic acids as dopants in the process of PANI in situ oxidative polymerization: hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and perchloric acid. The obtained polyaniline/polylactic acid (PANI/PLA) composite nanofibers were characterized via SEM, FTIR, and XPS analysis, and we confirmed that the PLA nanofibers were successfully coated by PANI without any change to the porous structure of the PLA nanofibers. The in vitro mechanical properties and degradability indicated that the oxidation of acid dopants should be considered and that it was likely to have a higher oxidation degradation effect on PLA nanofibers. The contact angle test demonstrated that PANI/PLA composite nanofibers with different surface morphologies have good wettability, implying that they meet the requirements of bone tissue engineering scaffolds. The surface roughness and cell viability demonstrated that different PANI morphologies on the surface can promote cell proliferation. The higher the surface roughness of the PANI, the better the biocompatibility. Consequently, the regulated surface morphology of PANI/PLA composite nanofibers via different acids doping has positive effect on biocompatibility in tissue engineering.

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein ID (CAMK1D) is widely expressed in many tissues and involved in tumor cell growth. However, its role in gliomas has not yet been elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the roles of CAMK1D in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of glioma. Through online datasets, Western blot, and immunohistochemical analysis, glioma tissue has significantly lower CAMK1D expression levels than normal brain (NB) tissues, and CAMK1D expression was positively correlated with the WHO classification. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis shows that CAMK1D can be used as a potential prognostic indicator to predict the overall survival of glioma patients. In addition, colony formation assay, cell counting Kit-8, and xenograft experiment identified that knockdown of CAMK1D promotes the proliferation of glioma cells. Transwell and wound healing assays identified that knockdown of CAMK1D promoted the invasion and migration of glioma cells. In the above experiments, the results of overexpression of CAMK1D were all contrary to those of knockdown. In terms of mechanism, this study found that CAMK1D regulates the function of glioma cells by the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. In conclusion, these findings suggest that CAMK1D serves as a prognostic predictor and a new target for developing therapeutics to treat glioma.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common comorbidity among patients with type 2 diabetes. Exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) has been linked to poorer kidney function in general population, but the related studies in individuals with diabetes were very limited. We aimed to examine the longitudinal associations of PFOA and PFOS exposure and CKD incidence among diabetes patients. Baseline levels of PFOA and PFOS were measured in serum in 967 diabetes patients from the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to characterize the relationship between serum PFOA and PFOS levels and incident CKD risk (defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)

Objective Inflammation is an important factor in the pathological process of cerebral ischemia. Artesunate exhibits a broad range of anti-inflammatory properties in many diseases. We investigated the potential protective effect of artesunate against cerebral ischemia and the related mechanisms. Methods Mice were divided into distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAO), sham, low dose, and high dose groups and subjected to dMCAO, except for the sham group. The low and high dose groups were administered artesunate (15 and 30 mg/kg), and the neuroprotective effects were analyzed by evaluating infarct volumes and neurological deficits. Microglial activation and neutrophil infiltration were evaluated by immunofluorescence, immunohistochemical staining, and western blotting. Inflammatory mediators were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Nuclear factor (NF)-κB nuclear translocation was detected by immunofluorescence and western blotting. Results Compared with the dMCAO group, artesunate significantly improved neurological deficit scores and infarct volumes and ameliorated inflammation by reducing neutrophil infiltration, suppressing microglial activation, and downregulating tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β expression. Furthermore, artesunate inhibited nuclear translocation of NF-κB and inhibitor protein α proteolysis. Conclusions Artesunate protected against inflammatory injury by reducing neutrophil infiltration and microglial activation, suppressing inflammatory cytokines, and inhibiting the NF-κB pathway. Therefore, artesunate is a potential ischemic stroke treatment.

There is a serious problem with soil salinization that affects the growth and development of plants. Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb (T. ramosissima), as a halophyte, is widely used for afforestation in salinized soils. At present, there are few reports on the antioxidant mechanism of T. ramosissima under NaCl stress. In this study, we learned about the superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content changes in T. ramosissima. We also mined the relevant metabolic pathways in the antioxidant mechanism, candidate key genes, and their related differential metabolites and verified them using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The results show that the SOD, POD, and CAT activities, and the H2O2 and MDA content reached the highest values in the roots of T. ramosissima. Simultaneously, 92 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to antioxidant enzyme activities changed during 48 and 168 h of NaCl stress, and these DEGs were mainly upregulated in 168 h. Based on the association analysis of transcriptomic and metabolomic data, we found Unigene0089358 and Unigene0007782 as genes related to key enzymes in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. They were located in the upstream positive regulation at 48 and 168 h under NaCl stress, and their respective related metabolites (phloretin and pinocembrin) were involved in resistance to NaCl stress, and they were significantly correlated with their respective metabolites. In conclusion, at 48 and 168 h under NaCl stress, the roots of T. ramosissima resist NaCl stress by enhancing enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant mechanisms, scavenging ROS generated by high-salt stress, alleviating NaCl toxicity, and maintaining the growth of T. ramosissima. This study provides genetic resources and a scientific theoretical basis for further breeding of salt-tolerant Tamarix plants and the molecular mechanism of antioxidants to alleviate NaCl toxicity.

Abstract Objectives We assessed the role of social support in presenteeism by examining organizational commitment among Chinese healthcare workers. Methods One thousand four hundred thirty-four healthcare workers from 6 hospitals in 4 Chinese cities completed a questionnaire measuring presenteeism, social support, and organizational commitment. With organizational commitment as the mediator, regression analyses and structural equation modeling were used to test the model. Results Organizational commitment was directly inversely associated with presenteeism (β = − 0.42, p < 0.001). Coworker support was moderately but significantly inversely associated with presenteeism (β = − 0.15, p < 0.001), but the path from supervisor support to presenteeism was not significant (β = 0.05, p > 0.05). The correlation between supervisor support and coworker support was significant (β = 0.71, p

Abstract Background Gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases such as chemotherapy-induced diarrhea (CID). Shenzhu Capsule (SZC) is a Chinese herbal formula, which is composed of Renshen (rhizomes of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey.) and Baizhu (rhizomes of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.). Many Chinese traditional anti-diarrheal formulae that contain Renshen and Baizhu are capable of effectively alleviating CID. However, the efficacy in vivo and potential mechanism of SZC (the form of compatibility of Renshen and Baizhu) in the treatment of CID had not been elucidated. Here, this study aimed to investigate whether SZC exhibited the anti-diarrheal activity, and whether gut microbiota was involved in the therapeutic effect of SZC on CID. Methods High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) and infrared spectroscopy (IR) analyses were used to characterize the extracted components in SZC. The mice were orally administrated with SZC in a preventive mode on the first 2 days of this experiment, and then intraperitoneally injected with 5-FU (40 mg/kg/d) for 6 days. SZC treatment lasted until the 3rd day after the end of 5-FU chemotherapy. We investigated the effects of SZC on body weights, diarrhea, thymus/spleen indexes, colonic tissues, and gut microbiota. Colonic histology was examined by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. 16S rDNA Amplicon Sequencing was used to analyze the gut microbial structure from fecal samples. Results SZC significantly increased the body weights and thymus/spleen indexes, alleviated diarrhea, and reversed histopathological changes of colons. In addition, gut microbiota analysis revealed that the overall structure of gut microbiota in CID mice was disturbed, but reversed to the normal state after SZC treatment. At genus level, SZC significantly inhibited the growth of some potential pathogens associated with diarrhea, such as Clostridiumm, Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Alloprevotella, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas. Conclusions In our study, these data illustrated that SZC inhibited the growth of many potential pathogens during the alleviation of CID. Gut microbial modulation was associated with the anti-diarrheal activity of SZC.

Due to its unique physical and chemical properties, MXene has recently attracted much attention as a promising candidate for wastewater treatment. However, the low water permeation flux of MXene membrane remains a challenge that has not been fully solved. In this study, attapulgite was used to increase the flux of MXene membrane through a facile one-pot method, during which the MXene nanosheets were self-assembled while being intercalated by the attapulgite nanorods to finally form the composite membranes. Under optimal conditions, an increase of water permeation flux of 97.31% could be observed, which was attributed to the broadened nano-channel upon the adequate intercalation of attapulgite nanorods. Its permeation flux and rejection rate for methylene blue (MB) were further studied for diverse applications. In contrast to bare MXene, the permeation flux increased by 61.72% with a still high rejection rate of 90.67%, owing to the size rejection. Overcoming a key technique barrier, this work successfully improved the water permeability of MXene by inserting attapulgite nanorods, heralding the exciting prospects of MXene-based lamellar membrane in dye wastewater treatment.

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has infected a large number of patients, increasing the importance of adequate disinfection of the hospital environment. We conducted this study to explore environmental virus contamination and the effect of terminal disinfection in the isolation ward of patients with COVID-19. A swab kit was used to sample various surfaces in the isolation and observation wards using the smear method. The samples were immediately sent to the PCR department of the laboratory for nucleic acid detection of COVID-19. We analyzed 31 high-frequency contact sites in three isolation wards of actively sick patients, of which seven were positive (22.58%, 7/31). Positive sites included the transfer window, bed rail, buffer room door handle, toilet door handle, and toilet faucet. All 55 samples taken from the wards of cured patients and the wards after terminal disinfection were negative. Virus contamination in areas frequently touched by patients in the isolation ward was high, so the awareness of correct disinfection must be increased. Use of 1,000–2,000 mg/L chlorine-containing disinfectant in the isolation ward was effective.

Constitutive models that reflect the microstructure evolution is of great significance to accurately predict the forming process of forging. Through thermal tension of 300M steel under various temperatures (950~1150 °C) and strain rates (0.01~10 s−1), the material flow and microstructure evolutions were investigated. In order to describe both the exponential hardening phenomenon at a higher temperature, and the softening phenomenon due to recrystallization at a lower temperature, a constitutive model considering microstructure evolution was proposed based on the Kocks–Mecking model. It was found that considering the stress-strain curve to be exponential in the work-hardening stage could improve the constitutive model prediction precision. The average error was 2.43% (3.59 MPa), showing that the proposed model was more precise than the modified Arrhenius model and the Kocks–Mecking model. The models to describe recrystallization kinetics and average grain size were also constructed. This work enabled the Kocks–Mecking model to predict stress-strain curves with a higher accuracy, and broadened the applicable range of the Kocks–Mecking model.