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Microplastics, which are tiny plastic particles less than 5 mm in diameter, are widely present in the environment, have become a serious threat to aquatic life and human health, potentially causing ecosystem disorders and health problems. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of microplastics, specifically microplastics-polystyrene (MPs-PS), on the structural integrity, gene expression related to tight junctions, and gut microbiota in mice. A total of 24 Kunming mice aged 30 days were randomly assigned into four groups: control male (CM), control female (CF), PS-exposed male (PSM), and PS-exposed female (PSF)(n = 6). There were significant differences in villus height, width, intestinal surface area, and villus height to crypt depth ratio (V/C) between the PS group and the control group(C) (p <0.05). Gene expression analysis demonstrated the downregulation of Claudin-1, Claudin-2, Claudin-15, and Occludin, in both duodenum and jejunum of the PS group (p < 0.05). Analysis of microbial species using 16S rRNA sequencing indicated decreased diversity in the PSF group, as well as reduced diversity in the PSM group at various taxonomic levels. Beta diversity analysis showed a significant difference in gut microbiota distribution between the PS-exposed and C groups (R2 = 0.113, p<0.01), with this difference being more pronounced among females exposed to MPs-PS. KEGG analysis revealed enrichment of differential microbiota mainly involved in seven signaling pathways, such as nucleotide metabolism(p<0.05). The relative abundance ratio of transcriptional pathways was significantly increased for the PSF group (p<0.01), while excretory system pathways were for PSM group(p<0.05). Overall findings suggest that MPs-PS exhibit a notable sex-dependent impact on mouse gut microbiota, with a stronger effect observed among females; reduced expression of tight junction genes may be associated with dysbiosis, particularly elevated levels of Prevotellaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced glycation end product (AGE) accumulation due to diabetes causes vascular and neurological lesions, delaying healing. The use of stem cells could overcome these problems. Although many studies have shown the potential beneficial effects of stem cell therapies in the treatment of chronic and refractory skin ulcers, their delivery methods are still under investigation. Human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) can spontaneously differentiate into myofibroblasts in specific cultures; therefore, they have the potential to effectively treat diabetic wounds and may also have applications in the field of medical cosmetics. The myofibroblastic differentiation ability of hPDLSCs in the presence of AGEs was evaluated by the expression of α-SMA and COL1A1 using RT-qPCR and WB technology. Wound healing in diabetic mice, induced by streptozotocin (STZ) and assessed using H&E staining, Masson staining, and immunohistochemical (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) staining, was used to validate the effects of hPDLSCs. In the wound tissues, the expression of α-SMA, COL1A1, CD31, CD206, iNOS, and vimentin was detected. The findings indicated that in H-DMEM, the expression of COL1A1 exhibited a significant decrease, while α-SMA demonstrated an increase in P7 cells, ignoring the damage from AGEs (p < 0.05). In an STZ-induced diabetic C57BL/6J mice whole-skin defect model, the healing rate of the hPDLSCs treatment group was significantly higher than that in the models (on the 7th day, the rate was 65.247% vs. 48.938%, p < 0.05). hPDLSCs have been shown to spontaneously differentiate into myofibroblasts in H-DMEM and resist damage from AGEs in both in vivo and in vitro models, suggesting their potential in the field of cosmetic dermatology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) affects over 65 million individuals worldwide but treatment options are scarce. We aimed to assess a synbiotic preparation (SIM01) for the alleviation of PACS symptoms. In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at a tertiary referral centre in Hong Kong, patients with PACS according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria were randomly assigned (1:1) by random permuted blocks to receive SIM01 (10 billion colony-forming units in sachets twice daily) or placebo orally for 6 months. Inclusion criterion was the presence of at least one of 14 PACS symptoms for 4 weeks or more after confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, including fatigue, memory loss, difficulty in concentration, insomnia, mood disturbance, hair loss, shortness of breath, coughing, inability to exercise, chest pain, muscle pain, joint pain, gastrointestinal upset, or general unwellness. Individuals were excluded if they were immunocompromised, were pregnant or breastfeeding, were unable to receive oral fluids, or if they had received gastrointestinal surgery in the 30 days before randomisation. Participants, care providers, and investigators were masked to group assignment. The primary outcome was alleviation of PACS symptoms by 6 months, assessed by an interviewer-administered 14-item questionnaire in the intention-to-treat population. Forward stepwise multivariable logistical regression was performed to identify predictors of symptom alleviation. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT04950803. Between June 25, 2021, and Aug 12, 2022, 463 patients were randomly assigned to receive SIM01 (n=232) or placebo (n=231). At 6 months, significantly higher proportions of the SIM01 group had alleviation of fatigue (OR 2·273, 95% CI 1·520–3·397, p=0·0001), memory loss (1·967, 1·271–3·044, p=0·0024), difficulty in concentration (2·644, 1·687–4·143, p<0·0001), gastrointestinal upset (1·995, 1·304–3·051, p=0·0014), and general unwellness (2·360, 1·428–3·900, p=0·0008) compared with the placebo group. Adverse event rates were similar between groups during treatment (SIM01 22 [10%] of 232 vs placebo 25 [11%] of 231; p=0·63). Treatment with SIM01, infection with omicron variants, vaccination before COVID-19, and mild acute COVID-19, were predictors of symptom alleviation (p<0·0036). Treatment with SIM01 alleviates multiple symptoms of PACS. Our findings have implications on the management of PACS through gut microbiome modulation. Further studies are warranted to explore the beneficial effects of SIM01 in other chronic or post-infection conditions. Health and Medical Research Fund of Hong Kong, Hui Hoy and Chow Sin Lan Charity Fund, and InnoHK of the HKSAR Government. For the Chinese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we propose a new evaluation scheme to assess the strengths and limitations of collocation extraction measures and explore type-sensitive methods for extracting collocations. We introduced the pooling strategy widely used in Information Retrieval and automated the evaluation process using online dictionaries. Sixteen well-known metrics are evaluated based on their effectiveness and then distributional and linguistic compared. The results show that Group A methods (e.g. z-score, Dice, PMI) are more effective in extracting low-frequency collocations with relatively small extraction scales. In contrast, Group B methods (e.g. t-test, LMI, LLR) perform better at finding high-frequency collocations, most of which outperform Group A methods as the extraction scale increases. Moreover, Group A prefers NN collocations, while Group B identifies collocations with a wide range of syntactic structures. This study provides suggestions for studies to identify hybrid extraction methods as well as for language educators and dictionary compilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The W-type entangled states are very useful in quantum computing and quantum communication. Many works have been devoted to preparing non-hybrid W states (i.e., all qubits with the same encoding) in various physical systems. On the other hand, hybrid W entangled states are key ingredients for hybrid quantum computing and quantum communication. In this work, we propose to create a hybrid W entangled state of three photonic qubits each with a different encoding. The hybrid W state is prepared by employing three microwave cavities coupled to a superconducting flux qutrit (i.e., a three-level quantum system). This proposal requires only a single qutrit to couple the three cavities, thus the system architecture is greatly simplified. Since there is no need of making any measurement, the W state is created deterministically. As an example, our numerical simulation demonstrates that within current experimental technology, the proposed hybrid W state can be created with a high fidelity. This proposal is universal and can be applied to create the proposed hybrid W state, by using three microwave or optical cavities coupled to a three-level natural or artificial atom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near-infrared dyes, particularly cyanine dyes, have shown great potential in biomedical imaging due to their deep tissue penetration, high resolution, and minimal tissue autofluorescence/scattering. These dyes can be adjusted in terms of absorption and emission wavelengths by modifying their chemical structures. The current issues with cyanine dyes include aggregation-induced quenching, poor photostability, and short in vivo circulation time. Encapsulating cyanine dyes with albumin, whether exogenous or endogenous, has been proven to be an effective strategy for improving their brightness and pharmacokinetics. In detail, the chloride-containing (Cl-containing) cyanine dyes have been found to selectively bind to albumin to achieve site-specific albumin tagging, resulting in enhanced optical properties and improved biosafety. This feature article provides an overview of the progress in the covalent binding of Cl-containing cyanine dyes with albumin, including molecular engineering methods, binding sites, and the selective binding mechanism. The improved optical properties of cyanine dyes and albumin complexes have led to cutting-edge applications in biological imaging, such as tumor imaging (diagnostics) and imaging-guided surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been shown to improve symptoms in a proportion of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Aim: We performed a randomised trial to assess the efficacy of FMT in patients with IBS. Methods: We randomised 56 patients with diarrhoea‐predominant IBS 1:1 to FMT or placebo via the duodenal route at baseline and week 4. The primary outcome was > 50 points decrease in IBS severity scoring system (IBS‐SSS) score at week 12. Secondary outcomes were improvement in bloating and change in gut microbiota at week 12. After 12‐week follow‐up, those in the placebo group were assigned to receive open‐label FMT. Results: At week 12, 57.1% in the FMT group and 46.4% in the placebo group achieved the primary endpoint (p = 0.42). More patients receiving FMT than placebo had improvement in bloating (72% vs 30%; p = 0.005). In an open‐label extension, 65.2% and 82.4% of patients achieved, respectively, the primary endpoint and improvement in bloating. Faecal microbiome of patients in the FMT group showed a reduction in bacteria like Ruminococcus gnavus and enrichment of bacteria such as Lawsonibacter at week 12, while no change in the placebo group. Functional analyses showed that the hydrogen sulphide‐producing pathway decreased in patients who had FMT (p < 0.05) accompanied by a reduction in contributing bacteria. There were no serious adverse events related to FMT. Conclusion: FMT performed twice at an interval of four weeks did not significantly reduce IBS‐SSS score. However, more patients had improvement in abdominal bloating, which was associated with a reduction in hydrogen sulphide‐producing bacteria. (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03125564). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polarization is one of the unique properties of ferroelectric materials; yet the polarization mechanism for enhancing ferroelectric photovoltaic performance is rarely been investigated, particularly in terms of bandgap variation. In this work, the effect of high‐field polarization on the enhanced photovoltaic performance of a ferroelectric ceramic, 0.98KNbO3–0.02SrCo0.5Hf0.5O3−δ (KNSCH2), was explored in terms of bandgap variation. The bandgap of the KNSCH2 sample shrank after polarization because of the increase in potential energy band overlap and the upward shift of the valence band due to increased oxygen‐vacancy defects. The polarization optimized the energy band structure of KNSCH2, promoting the separation and transport of photoinduced carriers and thus further enhancing its photovoltaic performance. The KNSCH2 sample shows a twofold enhancement in Jsc after 60 kV/cm polarization. The degree of the lattice distortion of KNSNH2 increased following polarization, causing a minute increase in its cell asymmetry. The reasons for the bandgap narrowing and the creation of sub‐bandgaps in the KNSCH samples were also investigated. This work opened new doors to understanding the mechanisms underlying the polarization‐enhanced photovoltaic performance of ferroelectric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agmatinase (AGMAT) is an enzyme that hydrolyzes agmatine to putrescine and urea. In this study, we explored the functions of AGMAT in colorectal cancer (CRC). By performing gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments, we investigated the roles of AGMAT in proliferation, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis of CRC cells. We also established a colitis-associated colorectal cancer model by challenging mice with azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), and we subsequently silenced AGMAT expression in mice by adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9)-mediated delivery of short hairpin RNA (shRNA). In vitro experiments showed that overexpression of AGMAT accelerated the proliferation and inhibited the apoptosis of CRC cells, and AGMAT knockdown exhibited the opposite effects. Interestingly, the oncogenic transcription factor, c-Myc, could bind to the AGMAT promoter and transcriptionally increase AGMAT expression in CRC cells. Additionally, c-Myc and AGMAT were upregulated in the colon of AOM/DSS-treated mice, and AGMAT silencing significantly mitigated colitis in AOM/DSS-treated mice, as evidenced by the increased colon length, attenuated crypt damage, and reduced levels of inflammatory indicators (myeloperoxidase, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and phosphorylated p65) in colon tissues. Notably, AGMAT silencing decreased both the number and size of tumors, reduced expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and inhibited phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase in the colon of AOM/DSS-treated mice. Overall, we determined that AGMAT facilitates tumor progression in CRC. Our findings will be helpful in the search for potential therapeutic targets for CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a piercing-sucking herbivore that reduces the yields of crops both by feeding on plants and transmitting plant viruses. Like most plant feeders, B. tabaci has evolved ways to avoid plant defence responses. For example, B. tabaci is known to secrete salivary effectors to suppress host defences. However, the nature of B. tabaci effectors is not completely understood. In this study, we used B. tabaci genomic and salivary gland transcriptomic data and an overexpression system to identify a previously unknown B. tabaci salivary effector, BtE3. BtE 3 is specifically expressed in the head (containing primary salivary glands) and is secreted into hosts during B. tabaci feeding. In planta overexpression of BtE3 blocked Burkholderia glumae -induced hypersensitive response (HR) in both Nicotiana benthamiana and Solanum lycopersicum. Silencing of BtE3 by plant-mediated RNAi prevented B. tabaci from continuously ingesting phloem sap, and reduced B. tabaci survival and fecundity. Moreover, overexpression of BtE3 in planta up-regulated the salicylic acid- (SA-) signalling pathway, but suppressed the downstream jasmonic acid- (JA-) mediated defences. Taken together, these results indicate that BtE3 is a B. tabaci -specific novel effector involved in B. tabaci -plant interactions. These findings increase our understanding of B. tabaci effectors and suggest novel strategies for B. tabaci pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a simple method to realize a hybrid controlled–controlled-Z (CCZ) gate with two photonic qubits simultaneously controlling a superconducting (SC) target qubit, by employing two microwave cavities coupled to a SC ququart (a four-level quantum system). In this proposal, each control qubit is a photonic qubit, which is encoded by two arbitrary orthogonal eigenstates (with eigenvalues ±1, respectively) of the photon-number parity operator. Since the two arbitrary encoding states can take various quantum states, this proposal can be applied to realize the hybrid CCZ gate, for which the two control photonic qubits can have various encodings. The gate realization is quite simple because only a basic operation is needed. During the gate operation, the higher energy intermediate levels of the ququart are not occupied, and, thus, decoherence from these levels is greatly suppressed. We further discuss how to apply this gate to generate a hybrid Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger (GHZ) entangled state of a SC qubit and two photonic qubits, which takes a general form. As an example, our numerical simulation demonstrates that high-fidelity generation of a cat–cat–spin hybrid GHZ state is feasible within current circuit QED technology. This proposal is quite general, which can be applied to realize the hybrid CCZ gate as well as to prepare various hybrid GHZ states of a matter qubit and two photonic qubits in other physical systems, such as two microwave or optical cavities coupled to a four-level natural or artificial atom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemic damage to the central nervous system (CNS) is a catastrophic postoperative complication of aortic occlusion subsequent to cardiovascular surgery that can cause brain impairment and sometimes even paraplegia. Over recent years, numerous studies have investigated techniques for protecting and revascularizing the nervous system during intraoperative ischemia; however, owing to a lack of knowledge of the physiological distinctions between the brain and spinal cord, as well as the limited availability of testing techniques and treatments for ischemia–reperfusion injury, the cause of brain and spinal cord ischemia–reperfusion injury remains poorly understood, and no adequate response steps are currently available in the clinic. Given the limited ability of the CNS to repair itself, it is of great clinical value to make full use of the proliferative and differentiation potential of stem cells to repair nerves in degenerated and necrotic regions by stem cell transplantation or mobilization, thereby introducing a novel concept for the treatment of severe CNS ischemia–reperfusion injury. This review summarizes the most recent advances in stem cell therapy for ischemia–reperfusion injury in the brain and spinal cord, aiming to advance basic research and the clinical use of stem cell therapy as a promising treatment for this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The data of online public opinion updates quickly and new information plays a greater role than old information, this paper proposes a novel new information variable weight fractional rolling grey model for predicting online public opinion trends. Firstly, the new information variable weight buffer operator is proposed, and it follows the principle of "New information priority". The new information is assigned larger weight under the action of the buffer operator. On the basis of the buffer operator, the new information variable weight fractional order accumulating generated operator is proposed, which has the dual functions of accumulation and weighting. In addition, the idea of metabolism is introduced to the model, which adds the latest online public opinion time point data and eliminates the earliest data. Finally, this model is applied to forecast the online public opinion trends with monotonically increasing sequence, monotonically decreasing sequence, and oscillation sequence. Compared with other models, the new information variable-weight fractional rolling grey model has better prediction performance in the online public opinion. • The rolling fractional grey model predicting the trend of online public opinion is proposed. • The new information variable-weight fractional order accumulating generated operator is proposed. • The idea of metabolism is introduced into the model, and the prediction results are dynamically revised. • The model is applicable to the prediction of monotone sequences and oscillation sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic form of cell death caused by excessive iron exposure. The role played by the ferroptosis-related genes and pathways in multiple myeloma (MM) is poorly understood. Here, we show that the ferroptosis-related pathways might be involved in tumorigenesis and are closely correlated with the prognosis of MM. The ferroptosis suppressor genes are progressively enriched with the progression of plasma cell dyscrasias. Furthermore, high expression of ferroptosis suppressor genes is correlated with high International Staging System and Revised-ISS staging of MM, as well as the poor outcomes of poor outcomes in progression-free survival and overall survival. The ferroptosis driver genes and the ferroptosis suppressor genes have the opposite effects on the progression and prognosis of MM. Moreover, we reveal that ferroptosis-related genes are associated with cytogenetic abnormalities in MM. The ferroptosis-related pathways and genes might impact the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells in MM patients. A better understanding of the participation of ferroptosis in MM will pave the way for design of new therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease of joints. Currently, there is still a lack of effective tools to predict the long-term efficacy of surgical treatment of OA. The purpose of this study was to explore the prognostic factors of endoscopic surgery for OA and to predict the long-term efficacy of this type of surgery for OA by establishing a prognostic model. Methods. Baseline and follow-up data on 236 OA patients who underwent surgery in our hospital from January 2017 to December 2021 were selected and patients were randomly assigned to a training set (n = 165) and a test set (n = 71). The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between features. Feature selection was performed by recursive feature elimination (RFE) and linear regression. K -means clustering analysis was performed on the selected features to obtain the number of output layers. Finally, a single hidden layer error backpropagation (BP)-artificial neural network (ANN) model was established on the training set, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn on the test set for verification. Results. Correlation analysis revealed no redundancy among features. RFE and linear regression screened out the features associated with postoperative prognosis under endoscopic surgery: sex, age, BMI, region, morning stiffness time, step count, and osteophyte area. K -means clustering yielded that the optimal number of categories was three, the same as the number of categories for the outcome variable. Therefore, a 7-1-3 BP neural network model was established based on these 7 features, and this model could predict the postoperative situation within one year to a relatively accurate extent: area under curve values (AUC) were 0.814, 0.700, and 0.761 in patients with worse, unchanged, and improved conditions one year after surgery, respectively, higher than the multiclass AUC value (0.646). Conclusion. The prognostic model of endoscopic surgery for OA constructed in this study can well predict the disease progression of patients within one year after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A homogeneous polysaccharide coded as CPP−1 was extracted and purified from the root of Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. by water extraction, ethanol precipitation, and column chromatography. Its structure was analyzed by HPGPC-ELSD, HPLC, GC-MS, FT-IR, and NMR techniques. The results indicated that CPP−1 was composed of mannose (Man), glucose (Glc), galactose (Gal), and arabinose (Ara) at a molar ratio of 5.86 : 51.69 : 34.34 : 8.08. The methylation analysis revealed that the main glycosidic linkage types of CPP−1 were (1→)-linked-Glc residue, (1→3)-linked-Glc residues, (1→4)-linked-Gal residue, (1→2,3,4)-linked-Glc residue, (1→)-linked-Man residue, (1→3,4)-linked-Glc residue, and (1→)-linked-Ara residue. In vivo efficacy trial illustrated that CPP−1 supplements could alleviate HFD-induced mice obesity significantly, as well as improve obesity-induced disorders of glucose metabolism, alleviate insulin resistance, and improve the effects of lipid metabolism. The findings indicate that this polysaccharide has the potential for the treatment of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, channel steepness and main divide migration analysis were conducted on the Qinghai Nanshan to confirm the activity and evolution of the range. The results showed that the broad and gently dipping northern limbs correspond to relatively low steepness values, while the narrow and steeply dipping southern limbs are characterized by higher steepness distribution. In addition, main divide of the range is currently stable, despite its tendency migrating northward. Based on previous numerical simulations and our geomorphological results, we suggested that the Qinghai Nanshan thrust Fault is tectonically active. The sustained thrust activities of the fault have uplifted the Qinghai Nanshan, driven southward migration of the main divide and caused obvious regional crustal shortening and thickening. Given the same landscape characteristics as the Qinghai Nanshan, the Gonghe Nanshan was found to have appreciable influence on regional crust deformation. Secondary active tectonics (e.g. the Qinghai Nanshan and Gonghe Nanshan) could subdivide rigid blocks into smaller ones and promote the slip transferring and strain regulation between boundary strike‐slip faults. In summary, we concluded that continuous crustal deformation within the northeastern Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau is implemented through strain assimilation by minor faults in minor blocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LINKED CONTENT: This article is linked to Yau et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17703 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17724 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Reactions between Mg and H2O could provide on‐demand, high‐purity hydrogen gas; however, the reaction rate is slow at ambient temperature. In this work, the hydrogen evolution of Mg in Mg(Ac)2,Zn(Ac)2, Co(Ac)2, and Ni(Ac)2 solution is examined. The formed Mg(OH)2 precipitate pushes the chemical equation forward and induces a continuous reaction between Mg and water in Mg(Ac)2. Approximately ~952 mL g−1 hydrogen is obtained. Metallic Zn is detected in the whole process and almost no Zn(OH)2 is detected in Zn(Ac)2. Both Mg(OH)2 and Co(OH)2/Ni(OH)2 are detected in Co(Ac)2 and Ni(Ac)2. Meanwhile, the generated magnetic Co and Ni not only compose the micro‐galvanic cell with Mg but also catalyze the hydrogen evolution. The detected maximum H2 volume in Co(Ac)2 and Ni(Ac)2 is 847 and 950 mL g−1, respectively. Correspondingly, the reaction rate varies from 54 to 275 mL g−1 min−1 in Co(Ac)2 and 22 to 45 mL g−1 min−1 in Ni(Ac)2, suggesting that the catalytic capability of Co is better than that of Ni. However, the change of Co morphology seriously affects the catalytic capability compared with Ni. In short, the formed precipitate pushes the chemical reaction forward and Co or Ni catalyst accelerates hydrogen evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed transmission is among the primary strategies utilized by plant viruses for long-distance dissemination, leading to the widespread occurrence of viral diseases globally. Watermelon virus A (WVA) is a novel wamavirus first found in watermelon. However, the pathogenicity and transmission mode of WVA are still unclear. Our previous work found that the incidence of WVA in bottle gourd is very high. Based on that, the pathogenicity and seed transmission mode of WVA in bottle gourd were studied. Compared with healthy plant, bottle gourd infected by WVA showed no visible disease symptom. Moreover, in the seeds of 20 bottle gourd cultivars, the occurrence of WVA varies from 0 to 90%, and one cultivar even reaches 100%. We also found that the transmission rate from seeds to the resulting seedlings was 100%. Furthermore, WVA was present in both the seed coat and embryo, and seed disinfection cannot eliminate WVA. Besides the seed and leaf, WVA can also be detected in stem, flower, and fruit, but not in the root. To our surprise, the level of transmission from WVA-infected plants to seeds was more than 85%. In addition, the viral accumulations of both WVA and CGMMV were increased in plants with co-infection of WVA and CGMMV. Taken together, these findings reveal that WVA is a seed-transmitted virus which causes no disease symptom in bottle gourd, and there may be synergism between WVA and CGMMV. • WVA is a wamavirus which causes no symptom in bottle gourd. • WVA is a seed-transmitted virus with high transmission rate. • There is synergism between WVA and CGMMV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating spent coffee grounds into single-use drinking straws for enhanced biodegradability also raises safety concerns due to increased chemical complexity. Here, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in coffee ground straws (CGS), polylactic acid straws (PLAS), and polypropylene straws (PPS) were characterized using headspace – solid-phase microextraction and migration assays, by which 430 and 153 VOCs of 10 chemical categories were identified by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry, respectively. Further, the VOCs were assessed for potential genetic toxicity by quantitative structure-activity relationship profiling and estimated daily intake (EDI) calculation, revealing that the VOCs identified in the CGS generally triggered the most structural alerts of genetic toxicity, and the EDIs of 37.9% of which exceeded the threshold of 0.15 μg person−1 d−1, also outnumbering that of the PLAS and PPS. Finally, 14 VOCs were prioritized due to their definite hazards, and generally higher EDIs or detection frequencies in the CGS. Meanwhile, the probability of producing safer CGS was also illustrated. Moreover, it was uncovered by chemical space that the VOCs with higher risk potentials tended to gather in the region defined by the molecular descriptor related to electronegativity or octanol/water partition coefficient. Our results provided valuable references to improve the chemical safety of the CGS, to promote consumer health, and to advance the sustainable development of food contact materials. [Display omitted] • 20 CGS, PLAS, and PPS samples were collected and VOCs therein were characterized. • 430 and 153 VOCs were identified by HS-SPME and migration assays, respectively. • CGS was not safer than the others in terms of the VOCs with potential genetic toxicity. • VOCs with higher risk potentials correlated with XLogP and Mse in chemical spaces. • The chemical safety of the CGS should deserve more attention than the PLAS and PPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycled PET (rPET) is gaining popularity for use in the production of new food contact materials (FCMs) under the context of circular economy. However, the limited information on contaminants in rPET from China and concerns about their potential risk are major obstacles to their use in FCM in China. Fifty-five non-volatile compounds were tentatively identified in 126 batches of hot-washed rPET flakes aimed for food packaging applications in China. Although the 55 substances are not necessarily migratable and may not end up in the contacting media, their presence indicates a need for proper management and control across the value chain. For this reason, the 55 substances prioritized on the basis of level of concerns and in-silico genotoxicity profiler. Among them, dimethoxyethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate were classified as level V substances, and Michler's ketone and 4-nitrophenol were both categorized as level V substances and had the genotoxic structure alert, while 2,4,5-trimethylaniline was specified with genotoxic structure alert. The above substances have high priority and may pose a potential risk to human health, therefore special attention should be paid to their migration from rPET. Aside from providing valuable information on non-volatile contaminants present in hot-washed rPET flakes coming from China, this article proposed a prioritization workflow that can be of great help to identify priority substances deserving special attention across the value chain. [Display omitted] • Limited information and potential risk in rPET are major obstacles their use as FCM in China. • A survey on non-volatile contamination of rPET in China was conducted. • Six compounds categorized as level V or with alert structure deserved further attention. • Prioritization workflow to identify priority substances deserving attention was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common and aggressive type of B-cell lymphoma. Unfortunately, about one-third of patients either relapse after the initial treatment or are refractory to first-line therapy, indicating a need for new treatment modalities. PIM serine/threonine kinases are proteins that are associated with genetic mutations, overexpression, or translocation events in B-cell lymphomas. We conducted an integrative analysis of whole-exome sequencing in 52 DLBCL patients, and no amplification, mutation, or translocation of the PIM1 gene was detected. Instead, analyses of TCGA and GTEx databases identified that PIM1 expression was increased in DLBCL samples compared to normal tissue, and high expression levels were associated with poor overall survival. Moreover, interference of PIM1 significantly suppressed DLBCL cell proliferation. In addition, we identified anwulignan, a natural small-molecule compound, as a PIM1 inhibitor. Anwulignan directly binds to PIM1 and exerts antitumor effects on DLBCL in vitro and in vivo by inducing apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and autophagic cell death. Furthermore, we identified an effective synergistic combination between anwulignan and chidamide. Our findings suggested that PIM1 could be a therapeutic target and prognostic factor for DLBCL, and anwulignan holds promise for future development as a natural product for treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell signaling is a complex process. The faithful transduction of information into specific cellular actions depends on the synergistic effects of many regulatory molecules, nurtured by their strict spatiotemporal regulation. Over the years, we have gained copious insights into the subcellular architecture supporting this spatiotemporal control, including the roles of membrane-bound organelles and various signaling nanodomains. Recently, liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) has been recognized as another potentially ubiquitous framework for organizing signaling molecules with high specificity and precise spatiotemporal control in cells. Here, we review the pervasive role of LLPS in signal transduction, highlighting several key pathways that intersect with LLPS, including examples in which LLPS is controlled by signaling events. We also examine how LLPS orchestrates signaling by compartmentalizing signaling molecules, amplifying signals non-linearly, and moderating signaling dynamics. We focus on the specific molecules that drive LLPS and highlight the known functional and pathological consequences of LLPS in each pathway. Su et al. review the broad impact of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) on various cellular processes and signaling pathways, emphasizing the spatiotemporal regulation of cell signaling by LLPS and the underlying molecular mechanisms involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi-supervised learning has achieved extraordinary success in prevalent image-classification benchmarks. However, a class-balanced distribution that differs notably from real-world data distribution is required. In general, models trained under class-imbalanced semi-supervised learning conditions are severely biased towards the majority classes. To address this issue, we propose a novel framework called ABAE by implanting an Auxiliary Balanced AutoEncoder branch into existing semi-supervised learning algorithms. Considering that adaptive feature augmentation for different classes can alleviate confirmation bias, we devise a class-aware reconstruction loss to train the AutoEncoder module. To further smooth the output, we adopt a graph-based label propagation scheme at the end of the AutoEncoder. Extensive experiments on CIFAR-10/100-LT, SVHN-LT and Small ImageNet-127 demonstrate the effectiveness of ABAE. • Propose an Auxiliary Balanced AutoEncoder branch(ABAE) with a class-aware reconstruction loss for CISSL. • Utilize the adaptive feature augmentation for different classes to alleviate the confirmation bias. • Adopt a graph-based label propagation scheme to smooth the output of the ABAE. • Demonstrate the effectiveness of the ABAE through experiments on various imbalanced datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Located at the outer edge of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, the Qilian Shan has long been considered to be the key area to address the issue of how the Tibetan Plateau generates its high topography. However, in spite of the fruitful achievements on the growth pattern and subtle crustal structures of the Qilian Shan, what we know about the regional topography evolution and its relationship with the deep structures are still lacking. In this study, the landscape features of the eastern Qilian Shan and the probable drainage evolution history of the Lenglong Ling, located within the central part of the eastern Qilian Shan, are investigated, based on the multiple geomorphic analyses (i.e., HI and steepness distributions, and the Gilbert and χ metrics). The topographic results show that high HI and steepness values distribute mainly in areas controlled by active faults (i.e., the mountain areas). In addition, the Gilbert and χ metrics suggest that the main Lenglong Ling divide is stable. According to the drainage divide stability criteria, we suggest that the presence of the uplift rate gradient in the eastern Qilian Shan (i.e., with higher uplift in the Lenglong Ling area), which is suggested by the topographic results, has driven the main divide to migrate southward and is now "holding" the divide in place. Taking the previously published magnetotelluric imaging into account, we reveal the coupling relationship between the deep structures and the regional geomorphic features, and further suggest that the Lenglong Ling Fault, or the Qilian‐Haiyuan Fault, makes a difference in regional strain transferring and relief generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a critical problem of public health worldwide; however, there is limited data about the clinical features and indicators of outcome in adults with severe Japanese encephalitis. Methods: The clinical manifestations and laboratory study on brain neuroimaging of patients with severe JE were statistically analyzed retrospectively. All patients were followed up for 6 months after discharge. The patients were grouped into good outcome and poor outcome according to the results of the follow-up. Results: This retrospective study consists of 9 adults with severe JE, including 5 cases with poor outcome, defined as the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores of greater than or equal to 4 points, and remained ventilator dependent. Typical clinical manifestations of JE include fever (100%), altered consciousness (100%), headache (66.7%), flaccid weakness (66.7%), and status epilepticus (44.4%). Serological examination revealed that a higher percentage of neutrophils and a lower percentage of lymphocytes at admission may be associated with a poor outcome. Abnormal neuroimaging of the thalamus (85.7%), hippocampal (71.4%), midbrain (28.6%), and basal ganglia (14.3%) was found. 42.9% of patients left severe irreversible disability, and the most prominent were mental symptoms (71.4%) and memory or understanding disorder (57.1%). Conclusion: Our data suggest that respiratory failure is one of the important causes of early death. Serologic examination, coma, and status epilepticus may indicate a poor outcome for severe JE. Additionally, the hippocampus is the second most common lesion in the adults with severe JE. A large-scale clinical trial is required to further confirm these conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a quadruped robot, consisting of a main body, four cantilever legs, four eccentric wheel vibration motors, a battery, and a circuit control module, is proposed and tested. Vibration motors are used to motivate the cantilever legs to form elliptical trajectories at the feet. Forward, backward, and turning movements could be accomplished by the cooperations of the four cantilever legs, and the driving force or torque for the movements was generated from the frictional forces between the feet and the ground. A prototype is designed, fabricated, and tested after the mode analysis and the harmonic analysis by the finite-element method. The size of the robot is 72 × 76 × 35 mm, and its weight was only 61.8 g. The test results demonstrate that the forward, backward, steering, and in situ steering motions of the robot are achieved on three contact surfaces: terrazzo, wood, and glass. The robot achieve a maximum speed of 206 mm/s and the maximum load capacity of 110 g on the terrazzo surface. The proposed robot show the superiorities of high motion velocity without the transmission system, multiple movements, and onboard power; it also has certain environmental adaptability, load capacity, and obstacle crossing ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel two-degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) micro scratching platform driven by inchworm type piezoelectric actuator with parallel mechanisms is proposed, designed, fabricated, and tested aiming for accomplishing cross-scale plane trajectory tracking. Through the hybrid compliant notch parallelogram flexure hinges (HCNPs), the actuation mechanism can realize output decoupling and parasitic displacement limitation simultaneously, which is of great importance to improve the positioning precision. The structural stiffness and maximum stress are analyzed through theoretical modeling and finite element modeling of HCNPs. The symmetric operating mode of parallel actuator accomplishes plane motion using only six driving and clamping elements, and the trajectory tracking control strategy is completed based on it. The results indicate that the scratching platform can implement 2-DOF decoupled motion with a travel range of 40 × 40 mm2, and the minimum step distance is 0.78 µm. The precise planar synthesis is also accomplished and the open-loop trajectory synthesis errors are lower than 2.87 %. Besides, the triangular and circular trajectories with depth of 1 µm are one-step scratched successfully due to the high horizontal payload capacity up to 41.5 N. Moreover, the platform has potential to be used in probe tip-based micro scratching for other planar trajectories. [Display omitted] • An inchworm type micro scratching platform with parallel mechanisms is developed. • Micro scratching platform achieves trajectory tracking without principal errors. • Micro scratching platform implements 2-DOF decoupled motion with high capacity. • Planar trajectories with depth of 1 µm are one-step scratched successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fistulas have puzzled us all the time and stem cell therapy for it is still in its infancy. We conducted a meta-analysis and systematic review to evaluate the efficacy of stem cells and its potential mechanisms in the management of Crohn's fistula. Methods: Electronic databases were searched comprehensively for studies reporting the efficacy and safety of stem cells in patients with any form of Crohn's fistula. A random-effects model was used, and all outcomes were calculated by SPSS 24.0. Results: Twenty-nine articles with 1252 patients were included. It showed that stem cell group had a higher rate of fistula healing compared to placebo group in patients of Crohn's fistula (61.75% vs 40.46%, OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.19 to 4.11, P < 0.05). 3 × 107 cells/mL stem cell (SC) group had an advantage in fistula healing rate with 71.0% compared to other doses group of stem cells (RR 1.3, 95% CI 0.76 to 2.22). And the healing rates of patients with perianal and transsphincteric fistulas (77.95%, 76.41%) were higher than those with rectovaginal fistulas. It was an amazing phenomenon that CDAI and PDAI scores occurred an obviously transient rise with the use of stem cells after 1 month (both of P < 0.05), while they returned to the baseline level by giving stem cells 3 months later. Furthermore, the incidence rate of treatment-related adverse events in the stem cell group was significantly lower than in the placebo group (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.30 to 1.14). Conclusions: Our study has highlighted that stem cells was a promising method in the treatment of Crohn's fistula based on its higher efficacy and lower incidence of adverse events, especially ADSCs and Cx601. While it also needs more clinical and pre-clinical studies to strengthen evidences in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wound management remains a major concern in clinical care. Conventional dressings and hydrogels delivering drugs or cells can drive wound healing. However, these approaches are limited either by unnecessary bleeding and tissue tearing, or sophisticated fabrication, high cost, and drug‐related side effects. Herein, a novel bioinspired glycopeptide hydrogel is rationally designed to mimic the glycoprotein components and nanofibrous architecture of cutaneous extracellular matrix (ECM) for self‐accelerating the wound healing by regulating macrophage polarization without any additional therapeutic agents. The glycopeptide hydrogel, termed as GM‐peptide hybrid hydrogel (GPgel), is established by the self‐assembly of β‐sheet Q11 peptide‐grafted glucomannan, with nanofibrous structure, high water content, porosity, and self‐healing properties. It is observed that GPgel displays remarkable capability of polarizing primary macrophages to M2‐type phenotype in vitro and in vivo by inducing the activation of mannose receptors through ERK/STAT6 pathway. GPgel unprecedentedly expedites the wound closure rate and the regeneration of epidermis tissues in full‐thickness skin excision models without drugs, exogenous cytokines, or seeded cells. More significantly, GPgel could promote angiogenesis in the repaired skin tissues. Collectively, such a novel ECM‐mimicking glycopeptide hydrogel provides a highly effective treatment approach for skin wounds and may serve as a promising scaffold in regenerative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green leaf volatiles (GLVs) can induce defence priming, that is, can enable plants to respond faster or more strongly to future stress. The effects of priming by GLVs on defence against insect herbivores and pathogens have been investigated, but little is known about the potential of GLVs to prime crops against virus transmission by vector insects. Here, we tested the hypothesis that exposure to the GLV Z‐3‐hexenol (Z‐3‐HOL) can prime tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) for an enhanced defence against subsequent Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) transmission by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Bioassays showed that Z‐3‐HOL priming reduced subsequent plant susceptibility to TYLCV transmission by whiteflies. Z‐3‐HOL treatment increased transcripts of jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthetic genes and increased whitefly‐induced transcripts of salicylic acid (SA) biosynthetic genes in plants. Using chemical inducers, transgenics and mutants, we demonstrated that induction of JA reduced whitefly settling and successful whitefly inoculation, while induction of SA reduced TYLCV transmission by whiteflies. Defence gene transcripts and flavonoid levels were enhanced when whiteflies fed on Z‐3‐HOL‐treated plants. Moreover, Z‐3‐HOL treatment reduced the negative impact of whitefly infestation on tomato growth. These findings suggest that Z‐3‐HOL priming may be a valuable tool for improving management of insect‐transmitted plant viruses. Priming of tomato with Z‐3‐hexenol reduces subsequent TYLCV transmission by the whitefly. The plant defense triggered by Z‐3‐hexenol was found to be related to an increase in defense gene expression and flavonoid production after whitefly infestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avian hepatitis E virus (HEV) is highly variable and has multiple genotypes. Previous studies showed that the current epidemic strain in China is genotype 5, but the relevant detection was only carried out in flocks with hepatic rupture haemorrhage syndrome, which does not mean that other genotypes do not exist. In this study, a broader analysis involving different chicken flocks was performed to understand the epidemic status of avian HEV in China. The results showed that the HEV‐positive rate of all samples was 7.92% (78/985), and four different genotypes have been identified by analysing a truncate capsid gene fragment, while the homology between them is about 80%. Two of them are separately known as genotype 3 and genotype 5, while the other two are completely unidentified, indicating that there are multiple genotypes of avian HEV prevalent in China. At the same time, the distribution of these genotypes has no obvious geographical clustering pattern, only slightly different in commercial layers, broilers and some indigenous species. This study shows the genetic diversity of avian HEV in China and reminds us to pay more attention to its variation and evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hylyphantes graminicola is a resident spider species found in maize and cotton fields and is an important biological control agent of various pests. Previous studies have demonstrated that stress from elevated CO2 and Wolbachia infection can strongly affect spider species. Thus, based on CO2 levels (400 ppm, current atmospheric CO2 concentration and 800 ppm, high CO2 concentration) and Wolbachia status (Wolbachia‐infected, W+ and Wolbachia‐uninfected, W−), we divided H. graminicola individuals into four treatment groups: W− 400 ppm, W− 800 ppm, W+ 400 ppm, and W+ 800 ppm. To investigate the effects of elevated CO2 levels (W− 400 vs W− 800), Wolbachia infection (W− 400 vs W+ 400), and the interactions between these two factors (W− 400 vs W+ 800), high‐throughput transcriptome sequencing was employed to characterize the de novo transcriptome of the spiders and identify stress‐related differentially expressed genes (DEGs). De novo assembly of complementary DNA sequences generated 86 688 unigenes, 23 938 of which were annotated in public databases. A total of 84, 21, and 157 DEGs were found among W− 400 vs W− 800, W− 400 vs W+ 400, and W− 400 vs W+ 800, respectively. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that metabolic processes, signaling, and catalytic activity were significantly affected by elevated CO2 levels and Wolbachia infection. Our findings suggest that the impact of elevated CO2 levels and Wolbachia infection on the H. graminicola transcriptome was, to a large extent, on genes involved in metabolic processes. This study is the first description of transcriptome changes in response to elevated CO2 levels and Wolbachia infection in spiders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial insemination is common practice in mass livestock farming. Recently, it was shown that chemicals leaching from multilayer plastic bags affect the fertility of boars, although common quality tests did not show any impact on the sperm. It is not clear whether this incidence was a single case or whether it could be a systematic problem. Therefore, we studied six multilayer plastic bags. A total of 49 compounds were found, but most of them were at very low intensity. Nonylphenols in the range of 19-99 μg/g plastic were found. Migration tests using water and 10% ethanol as simulants, to mimic the behavior of semen with the extender, were performed. The most interesting migrants in terms of potential reprotoxicity were identified as nonylphenols. The identification in depth demonstrated the presence of 10 isomers of nonylphenol with a total concentration range between 16 to 58 μg/Kg simulant, among other migrants at lower concentration. The influence of these nonylphenols and their maximum tolerable concentration in direct contact with semen from boars was studied. Motility, viability, mitochondrial activity and acrosomes reacted were significantly affected at 10 mg/Kg of nonylphenols in contact with the sperm, but in vitro penetration rate was significantly decreased with only 2 mg/Kg. Insight into the mode of action is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avian leukosis virus (ALV) is the cause of a variety of tumour diseases in poultry, causing huge economic losses all over the world. As a retrovirus, its genome is highly variable and easily recombined between different subgroups. Previous studies found several recombinant events among subgroup A, B and E, but few data show that in subgroup J, which is the most prevalent and pathogenic in chickens. This study identified and sequenced an emerging recombinant ALV from yellow chicken, and analysis showed that the homology between the env gene of the new isolate and the representative strain (BR119) of subgroup J is as high as 98.7%, while its long terminal repeat (LTR) was highly consistent with some representative strains of subgroup E (94.9%–98.4%). This study also found that such LTR has appeared in some published strains of subgroup B and subgroup K, indicating that it can combine with the coding region of many different subgroups of ALV, thus forming natural recombinant strains. At the same time, a pair of polymerase chain reaction primers were selected according to the sequence, which can specifically detect the recombinant strains in wild, facilitating the future ALV eradication program. Overall, this study reminds us to pay more attention to tracking the genome variation of ALV in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gnat, Bradysia odoriphaga Yang et Zhang, is an important underground pest in Asia. B. odoriphaga differ in heat and cold tolerance and exhibit quite different developmental strategies. To understand the underlying mechanisms, we sequenced and compared the transcriptome of B. odoriphaga under 40 °C (a stressful high temperature), 25 °C, and 4 °C (a stressful low temperature) for 1 h. We found that metabolism- and ribosome-related genes were modulated. In high temperature (40 °C), heat shock protein (HSP) genes, detoxication genes, metabolism genes, protein turnover genes, and stress signal transduction genes were differentially expressed. In low temperature (4 °C), genes related with heat shock protein (HSP) and detoxication were differentially expressed. Our study increases our understanding of the complex molecular mechanisms involved in the responses of B. odoriphaga to acute temperature stress and provides a potential strategy for pest management. • Genes related to acute temperature were analyzed in Bradysia odoriphaga Yang et Zhang. • Some Hsp genes and detoxication genes were significantly upregulated at high acute temperature. • Results will provide insights into responses to acute temperature in Bradysia odoriphaga. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biotinylated metallacage was prepared via metal-coordination-driven self-assembly, combining fluorescence, anti-cancer and targeted properties into a single entity. The metallacage was successfully employed for targeted cell imaging and therapy, offering a platform for cancer theranostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vectors and viruses exist in communities consisting of many interacting species. Although the cascading effects of predators or parasitoids on disease spread via direct effects on vectors have been investigated, little is known about the effects of other free‐living species in communities on the transmission of vector‐borne viruses via indirect (host‐plant mediated) effects on vectors.In the present study, we used a food web consisting of tomato plants Solanum lycopersicum, two tomato herbivores (the vector whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, and the non‐vector two‐spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae) and a whitefly‐vectored plant virus (Tomato yellow leaf curl virus, TYLCV) to study how T. urticae may affect TYLCV transmission by B. tabaci via host‐plant mediated effects on B. tabaci.We found that T. urticae infestation promoted B. tabaci feeding, thereby increasing TYLCV transmission to tomato plants. These increases were associated with T. urticae‐induced reductions in two flavonoids (rutin and quercetin trisaccharide) of tomato plants. Elevation of rutin and quercetin trisaccharide levels in T. urticae‐infested plants via exogenous stem applications reduced B. tabaci feeding and TYLCV transmission. Therefore, suppression of these flavonoids by T. urticae infestation was the most likely explanation for the observed changes in B. tabaci feeding behaviour and TYLCV transmission.Our results show that by reducing flavonoids in tomato plants, a non‐vector herbivore can indirectly increase the transmission of a vector‐borne plant virus. These findings indicate that species that are far removed from the direct vector–virus interactions can indirectly affect vector‐borne virus transmission by altering the chemical defences of the shared host plant. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since early 2018, avian leukosis virus (ALV) has re‐emerged throughout six provinces in Northeast and East of China and caused huge economic losses. In different farms, there are significant differences in clinical symptoms, including morbidity, mortality and location of tumours, on affected animals, which implies that the present strains may have different origins and molecular characteristics. In this study, a systematic epidemiological investigation was conducted in 21 farms in six provinces. Results showed that the virus strains present in this outbreak are highly consistent but carry different mutations. All the strains shared 97.0%–99.0% identity with each other and were highly similar to the GD14J2 strain isolated previously, while different insertion fragments can be found in the env gene of different strains, suggesting that the strains of ALV in this outbreak may have the same ancestors but have gone through different evolutionary trajectories. This study demonstrated that these viruses may point to multiple sources of infection, and all should be identified and taken seriously in the formulation of control plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although increasing evidence have confirmed that carbon monoxide release molecule-2(CORM-2) plays an active role in the treatment of inflammation and tumors, poor aqueous solubility and short CO-release duration restrict its extensive application. Our previous work synthesized styrene-maleic acid copolymer-encapsulated CORM-2 (SMA/CORM-2) to overcome above-mentioned deficiencies and demonstrated satisfactory effects in colitis. This study is to investigate the function of SMA/CORM-2 on colorectal cancer proliferation and metastasis. CCK-8 experiment is used to clarify the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of SMA/CORM-2 and to detect cell proliferation. Transwell assay coated with or without matrigel was to detect cell invasion and migration. Western blot was used to detect β-catenin, AKT, p-AKT, VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins. At last, nude mice xenograft was used to further investigate the anti-tumor effect of SMA/CORM-2 in vivo. After SW480 and C26 cells were treated with 0.5 mg/ml SMA/CORM-2, CRC cells proliferation, migration and invasion were inhibited. In vivo , SMA/CORM-2 treatment remarkably suppressed tumor growth and lung metastasis in nude mice. Furthermore, the expression of β-catenin, p-AKT, VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins could be down-regulated after SMA/CORM-2 treatment. SMA/CORM-2 exerted both in vitro and in vivo anti-proliferation and anti-metastatic effects, which may yield a novel therapeutic strategy for CRC. • CO release molecules (CORMs) acts as a cytoprotective regulator with anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties. • Poor aqueous solubility and short CO-release duration restrict CORMs' extensive application. • We synthesized a new CORM, SMA/CORM-2 with better aqueous solubility and longer CO-release duration. • SMA/CORM-2 exerted anti-proliferation and anti-metastatic effects in colorectal cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. • SMA/CORM-2 inhibited β-catenin, p-AKT, VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric pressure gas chromatography (APGC) coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) and electron ionization mass spectrometry together with commercial library search are two complementary techniques for non-target screening of volatile and semi-volatile compounds. Optimization was first conducted to achieve easier search of correspondent peaks between the two systems. Analytical strategy for the determination of volatile and semi-volatile compound with different identification confidence levels was then proposed and applied to food contact grade polypropylene (PP) samples. Identification was found to be much easier and less time-consuming especially when correspondent peak was found in the two systems with the help of library search, exact mass of precursor and fragment ions as well as Kovats Index (KI). The behavior of APGC-QTOF-MS was also further investigated. Apart from the M+. ion and the well-known adduct [M+H]+ others such as [M-3H + O]+, [M-3H+2O]+ and [M-H+3O]+ were also observed for n-alkanes. Besides, new reaction products were found, formed by diol compounds (1-Monostearoylglycerol, 2-Monostearoylglycerol and NX 8000K) and silanediol dimethyl, which would be a transformation product of the silicone base septum or the methyl 5% phenyl polysiloxane based column. These new compounds were only detected in APGC-MS-QTOF as EI-GC-MS was not enough sensitive for this purpose. Image 1 • Non target analysis strategy using APGC-QTOF-MS and GC-MS has been proposed and optimized for screening of PP samples. • APGC was unfavorable for alkanes ionization. • Precursor ions like [M-H]+, [M-3H + O]+, [M-3H+2O]+, and [M-H+3O]+ were found for alkanes depending on the number of carbons. • New reaction products formed by diol compounds and silanediol dimethyl were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Mijia Shan area is an ideal area to differentiate factors affecting fluvial incision. • River incision in the Mijia Shan is much stronger than that from the Laolongwan Basin, with a difference of 1.21 mm/a. • The Haiyuan fault plays an important role in accelerating the incision rate in the Mijia Shan. In this study, we employed cosmogenic nuclide 10Be analysis to determine the formation ages of the Yellow River terraces in the Mijia Shan and the Laolongwan Basin at the northeastern periphery of the Tibetan Plateau. The aim of this study is to determine local fluvial incision rates and the effect from tectonic activities. The two sets of terraces were surveyed in field and dated by cosmogenic 10Be exposure dating method. The results show that the best-fitting terrace ages in the Mijia Shan are respective 68.0 - 9.4 + 11.2 ka for T11 and 174.7 - 38.4 + 52 ka for T14. In addition, in the Laolongwan basin, sample S3 constrains an age of 123.9 ± 2.7 ka and S2 yields an age of 45.0 ± 1.8 ka. Combining the strath heights of the sampled terraces, the fluvial incision rates were determined. The results showed that the fluvial incision rate of the Yellow River is ∼1.94 mm/a in the Mijia Shan over the last 175 ka, while a much lower incision rate of ∼0.73 mm/a is yielded in the Laolongwan Basin since the last ∼120 ka. The incision rate in the Mijia Shan is almost twice more than that in the Laolongwan Basin. Considering the same climatic condition in both the Mijia Shan and the Laolongwan Basin, the difference between the two incision rates (∼1.21 mm/a) might be due to local tectonic deformation which is derived from the Haiyuan active strike-slip fault. Consequently, our results showed that the Haiyuan fault plays an important role in accelerating the incision rate in the Mijia Shan. Hence, it is suggested that the role of the main geological structures across the main river should also be considered when studying the evolution of terraces of big rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In industrial wastewater treatment, organic pollutants are usually removed by in-situ microorganisms and exogenous bactericides. Benzo [a] pyrene (BaP) is a typical persistent organic pollutant and difficult to be removed. In this study, a new strain of BaP degrading bacteria Acinetobacter XS-4 was obtained and the degradation rate was optimized by response surface method. The results showed that the degradation rate of BaP was 62.73% when pH= 8, substrate concentration was 10 mg/L, temperature was 25 °C, inoculation amount was 15% and culture rate was 180 r/min. Its degradation rate was better than that of the reported degrading bacteria. XS-4 is active in the degradation of BaP. BaP is degraded into phenanthrene by 3, 4-dioxygenase (α subunit and β subunit) in pathway Ⅰ and rapidly forms aldehydes, esters and alkanes. The pathway Ⅱ is realized by the action of salicylic acid hydroxylase. When sodium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol were added to the actual coking wastewater to immobilize XS-4 , the degradation rate of BaP was 72.68% after 7 days, and the removal effect was better than that of single BaP wastewater (62.36%), which has the application potential. This study provides theoretical and technical support for microbial degradation of BaP in industrial wastewater. [Display omitted] • A new strain of BaP degrading bacterium Acinetobacter XS-4 was obtained. • Among the BaP degrading bacteria, the degradation rate of XS-4 was higher. • XS-4 degrades BaP through the salicylic acid and phthalic acid pathways. • The immobilized XS-4 pellet has a good removal effect on coking wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible mushrooms are not only delicious, but they also offer significant nutritional and medicinal benefits, making them a valuable resource in both cuisine and healthcare. Their unique flavors and remarkable nutritional content have firmly established their presence on dining tables, while their medicinal attributes have propelled them to prominence within the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Polysaccharides stand out as a paramount active constituent within edible fungi. These polysaccharides are typically diverse in their composition, and their intricate structure equips them with a wide range of biologically active functions. These functions encompass antitumor, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, and antiradiation properties, among others. This paper presents the structural compositions of various prevalent polysaccharides found in edible fungi. It proceeds to evaluate and contrast the merits and drawbacks of several frequently employed extraction techniques. Subsequently, it provides an overview of advancements in the fermentation processes, and ultimately, it encapsulates methods for the degradation of polysaccharides and delves into their associated biological functions. These research breakthroughs have been meticulously organized, summarized, and expounded upon, thereby offering valuable insights into their utilization and advancement within the realm of functional foods and medicinal applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Geomorphic evolution of the eastern Qilian Shan is mainly controlled by tectonics. • Local denudation will soon reach close match with local mountain building. • F4 is the leading edge of the northeastward expansion of the eastern Qilian Shan. The eastern Qilian Shan is a tectonically-active region consisting of a series of faults with bounded intermountain basins and is located within the transition zone between the mainland Tibetan Plateau and the Alax Block. Active deformation affecting the topography in this region can be quantified based on geomorphic indices. Therefore, we applied the geomorphic indices (hypsometry and stream-power incision model) to evaluate the tectonic deformation pattern of the eastern Qilian Shan. Hypsometric curves and S-A plots of the selected seven rivers were determined. HI values of every single sub-basins were also calculated. The results show that the local topographic evolution of the eastern Qilian Shan is in pre-steady state and will soon reach its equilibrium state. According to the analysis of regional climate condition (e.g., rainfall and glaciers distribution) and fault characteristics, it is suggested that abundant glacial snowmelt water sustains fluvial incision, and tectonic deformation from sustained northeastward expansion of the Tibetan Plateau is the main reason for the landscape growth. Combining the research of the deep electric structure beneath the Gulang Boundary Zone, we claimed that the eastern Qilian Shan (even the northeastern Tibet) has been growing and expanding northeastward since the middle Miocene, and its leading edge now is the Hexibao-Sidaoshan Fault. On the premise of synthetically considering the western and middle parts of the Qilian Shan, it is suggested that the Hexibao-Sidaoshan Fault area will rise into a mountain in 1–2 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is an important pest of worldwide agriculture. Previous work has shown that B. tabaci actively suppresses host plant defenses, but our knowledge of the specific mechanisms involved remains limited. Here we describe a B. tabaci salivary protein, the ferritin BtFer1, and its role in facilitating exploitation of host plants. We show that BtFer1 exhibits Fe2+ binding ability and ferroxidase activity, and that secretion of BtFer1 during B. tabaci feeding suppresses H2O2-generated oxidative signals in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Silencing BtFer1 enhanced the induction of the jasmonic acid (JA)-mediated defense signaling pathway in response to whitefly feeding, and led to increased callose deposition and the production of proteinase inhibitors that prevent whiteflies from continuously ingesting and digesting phloem sap. Consistent with these effects, silencing BtFer1 reduced whitefly survival on tomato but not on artificial diet. Using a JA-deficient spr2 mutant plant further showed that suppression of JA defenses by BtFer1 is sufficient to increase B. tabaci survival. Taken together, these results demonstrate that BtFer1 acts as an effector protein that mediates whitefly–tomato interactions. These findings represent an important step forward in understanding the molecular mechanisms by which whiteflies and other insect herbivores suppress host plant defenses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Pomegranate-like nanoparticle with ketjen black as core and coated carbon layer as shell was fabricated. • Ketjen black enhances the conductivity and porous coated layer acts as host to storage Selenium. • Pomegranate-like Se/C composite exhibit high Coulombic efficiency ∼98%. Abstract Selenium has received increasing attention as a potential alternative to sulfur cathode for rechargeable lithium batteries because of its high electronic conductivity and better electrochemical performance. However, the shuttle effect of polyselenides in lithium-selenium batteries, similar to that of polysulfides in lithium-sulfur batteries, is still one of the main drawbacks. Here, we designed and synthesized a new pomegranate-like porous carbon/Se (PPC/Se) cathode that could effectively improve the shuttle effect of polyselenides. The pomegranate-like carbon nanoparticles used as the host materials for Se were prepared via carbonization of well-assembled ketjen black nanosubunits. The batteries assembled with such new-synthesized PPC/Se cathodes exhibit relatively high specific capacity of 380 mA h g−1 at 1 C and high Coulombic efficiency of ∼ 98% due to the restrained dissolution of polyselenides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-attenuated vaccine has been widely used to prevent ND in poultry flocks, while many reports also mentioned the exogenous virus contamination in attenuated vaccines, which might be the reason for the widespread of some contagious diseases. Recently, the chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) contamination in the NDV-attenuated vaccine was also found in China, though no systemic study has studied the pathogenicity or infection mechanism of this special transmission route. Accordingly, simulation experiments were launched using CIAV isolated from a contaminated NDV-attenuated vaccine. Results showed that using NDV-attenuated vaccine contaminated with CIAV could cause CIA in chickens with obvious symptoms, including anemia, hemorrhage, lymphoatrophy, and growth retardation, while the synergistic reaction of CIAV and LaSota prompted their multiplication in vivo and disturbed the production of antibodies against each other. And CIAV could significantly reduce the NDV antibody titers and decrease the protective effectiveness. This study showed the synergetic pathogenicity of CIAV and LaSota strain after using contaminated NDV-attenuated vaccine, helping us to understand how the CIAV causes infection and induces severe diseases with a relatively low dose through the mouth, as well as reminding us that the damage of an attenuated vaccine contaminated with CIAV even in extremely low dose is not insignificant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]