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Abstract The rapid development of drone technology has made drones one of the essential tools for acquiring aerial information. The detection and localization of text information through drones greatly enhance their understanding of the environment, enabling tasks of significant importance such as community commercial planning and autonomous navigation in intelligent environments. However, the unique perspective and complex environment during drone photography lead to various challenges in text detection, including diverse text shapes, large-scale variations, and background interference, making traditional methods inadequate. To address this issue, we propose a drone-based text detection method based on boundary adaptation. We first conduct an in-depth analysis of text characteristics from a drone’s perspective. Using ResNet50 as the backbone network, we introduce the proposed Hybrid Text Attention Mechanism into the backbone network to enhance the perception of text regions in the feature extraction module. Additionally, we propose a Spatial Feature Fusion Module to adaptively fuse text features of different scales, thereby enhancing the model’s adaptability. Furthermore, we introduce a text detail transformer by incorporating a local feature extractor into the transformer of the text detail boundary iteration optimization module. This enables the precise optimization and localization of text boundaries by reducing the interference of complex backgrounds, eliminating the need for complex post-processing. Extensive experiments on challenging text detection datasets and drone-based text detection datasets validate the high robustness and state-of-the-art performance of our proposed method, laying a solid foundation for practical applications.

BackgroundSome studies have found that exposure to heavy metals significantly increases the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and welding operators in automobile manufacturing enterprises are exposed to heavy metals in the working environment. ObjectiveTo analyze the prevalence and related factors of NAFLD in workers of an automobile company in Guangzhou. MethodsFrom January 1 of 2023 to December 31 of 2023, 5463 workers of an automobile company in Guangzhou who participated in the physical examination in the Occupational Health Surveillance Centre of Guangzhou Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment Hospital were selected as research subjects. The general data, laboratory examinations, B-ultrasound examinations, and other data of the subjects were obtained through the physical examination system. The exposed occupational hazards were identified based on the workplace hazard surveillance report provided by the automotive company. Logistic regression was used to analyze potential influencing factors of NAFLD, and stratified analysis was used to adjust confounding factors according to the stepwise model to evaluate the relationship between exposure to manganese and its inorganic compounds and NAFLD. ResultsA total of 2129 cases (38.97%) were reported positive NAFLD. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that women had a lower risk of NAFLD (OR=0.40, 95%CI: 0.25, 0.64), while age > 25 years old (OR=1.49, 95%CI: 1.39, 1.60), body mass index (BMI) ≥24 kg·m−2 (OR=7.54, 95%CI: 6.46, 8.79), and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (OR=4.87, 95%CI: 3.73, 6.36), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GGT) (OR=1.54, 95%CI: 1.17, 2.02), triglyceride (TG) (OR=3.47, 95%CI: 2.92, 4.14), and fasting blood glucose (OR=1.70, 95%CI: 1.32, 2.20) associated with a higher risk of NAFLD. NAFLD was positive in 39.40% of heavy metal exposed workers (701/1779). NAFLD was positive in 45.19% of workers exposed to manganese and its inorganic compounds (169/374), and among workers over 34 years old, exposure to manganese and its inorganic compounds (OR=1.79, 95%CI: 1.07, 2.97) significantly increased the prevalence of NAFLD. ConclusionThe association between heavy metal exposure and NAFLD in workers of an automobile enterprise in Guangzhou is not significant, but age and gender are related to the prevalence of NAFLD. BMI, ALT, γ-GGT, TG, and fasting blood glucose are positively correlated with the prevalence of NAFLD. Exposure to manganese and its inorganic compounds in welding workers of the automobile enterprise is associated with elevated risk of the disease, and the prevalence of NAFLD is significantly increased in workers over 34 years old.

Abstract Background Single-domain von Willebrand factor type C (SVWC) constitute a protein family predominantly identified in arthropods, characterized by a SVWC domain and involved in diverse physiological processes such as host defense, stress resistance, and nutrient metabolism. Nevertheless, the physiological mechanisms underlying these functions remain inadequately comprehended. Results A massive expansion of the SVWC gene family in Musca domestica (MdSVWC) was discovered, with a count of 35. MdSVWC1 was selected as the representative of the SVWC family for functional analysis, which led to the identification of the immune function of MdSVWC1 as a novel pattern recognition receptor. MdSVWC1 is highly expressed in both the fat body and intestines and displays acute induction upon bacterial infection. Recombinant MdSVWC1 binds to surfaces of both bacteria and yeast through the recognition of multiple pathogen-associated molecular patterns and exhibits Ca2+-dependent agglutination activity. MdSVWC1 mutant flies exhibited elevated mortality and hindered bacterial elimination following bacterial infection as a result of reduced hemocyte phagocytic capability and weakened expression of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes. In contrast, administration of recombinant MdSVWC1 provided protection to flies from bacterial challenges by promoting phagocytosis and AMP genes expression, thereby preventing bacterial colonization. MdSPN16, a serine protease inhibitor, was identified as a target protein of MdSVWC1. It was postulated that the interaction of MdSVWC1 with MdSPN16 would result in the activation of an extracellular proteolytic cascade, which would then initiate the Toll signaling pathway and facilitate the expression of AMP genes. Conclusions MdSVWC1 displays activity as a soluble pattern recognition receptor that regulates cellular and humoral immunity by recognizing microbial components and facilitating host defense.

Abstract Red clay as a special soil has a high liquid-plastic limit, water swelling and water loss shrinkage. To solve the problems red clay was modified by calcium carbonate produced in Hezhou, Guangxi. The Liquid-plastic limit, water loss shrinkage, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and consolidated drained (CD) triaxial shear test were carried out on the modified soils. The results show that when the calcium carbonate content is 20%, the plastic limit is 24.38 and the liquid limit is 38.67, which are reduced by 35.04% and 22.16%, respectively. The Montmorillonite content in the modified soil is reduced by 27.7%. The shrinkage coefficient decreased from 0.325 to 0.102. The NMR test shows that the content is 5% and 10% would lead to a decrease in the macropores and an increase in the micropores pores. The phenomenon is the opposite (15% and 20%). All contents led to the porosity increase. The calcium carbonate content of 5% was selected for triaxial shear tests to obtain the stress-strain curves. The Duncan-Zhang was used to predict the modified soil. The model has a large error in the prediction of the peak of the principal stress difference, but the overall trend is relatively consistent. Therefore, the correction coefficient related to the confining pressure was introduced. The corrected model fits the triaxial shear test well. The research provides a method for the liquid-plastic limits and shrinkage properties of modified red clay, explores the influence of calcium carbonate content on microscopic pores, and the correction of the model provides a theoretical basis for practical application.

Abstract Background Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is among the most common types of epilepsy and often leads to cognitive, emotional, and psychiatric issues due to the frequent seizures. A notable pathological change related to TLE is hippocampal sclerosis (HS), which is characterized by neuronal loss, gliosis, and an increased neuron fibre density. The mechanisms underlying TLE-HS development remain unclear, but the reactive transcriptomic changes in glial cells and neurons of the hippocampus post-epileptogenesis may provide insights. Methods To induce TLE, 200 nl of kainic acid (KA) was stereotactically injected into the hippocampal CA1 region of mice, followed by a 7-day postinjection period. Single-cell RNA sequencing (ScRNA-seq), single-nucleus RNA sequencing (SnRNA-seq), and Xenium-based spatial transcriptomics analyses were employed to evaluate the changes in mRNA expression in glial cells and neurons. Results From the ScRNA-seq and SnRNA-seq data, 31,390 glial cells and 48,221 neuronal nuclei were identified. Analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed significant transcriptomic alterations in the hippocampal cells of mice with TLE, affecting hundreds to thousands of mRNAs and their signalling pathways. Enrichment analysis indicated notable activation of stress and inflammatory pathways in the TLE hippocampus, while pathways related to axonal development and neural support were suppressed. Xenium analysis demonstrated the expression of all 247 genes across mouse brain sections, revealing the spatial distributions of their expression in 27 cell types. Integrated analysis of the DEGs identified via the three sequencing techniques revealed that Spp1, Trem2, and Cd68 were upregulated in all glial cell types and in the Xenium data; Penk, Sorcs3, and Plekha2 were upregulated in all neuronal cell types and in the Xenium data; and Tle4 and Sipa1l3 were downregulated in all glial cell types and in the Xenium data. Conclusion In this study, a high-resolution single-cell transcriptomic atlas of the hippocampus in mice with TLE was established, revealing potential intrinsic mechanisms driving TLE-associated inflammatory activation and altered cell interactions. These findings provide valuable insights for further exploration of HS development and epileptogenesis.

Abstract Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a well-known complication of congenital heart disease (CHD). The lack of a satisfactory animal model for PAH associated with CHD (PAH-CHD) has limited progress in understanding the pathogenesis of PAH and the development of therapeutic agents. The development of a rat model for PAH associated with atrial septal defect (ASD) was achieved through atrial septal puncture and thermal ablation. Two and 4 weeks after modeling, hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that the vascular thickness, vascular thickness index, vascular area, and vascular area index in pulmonary arteries with an outer diameter of 50–300 μm in the PAH-ASD 2 and 4 weeks group were higher than those in the sham group (all P

Introduction: Guilingji, a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has been used to combat aging and male sexual dysfunction in China for centuries. To date, there has been little evidence-based clinical research on the use of Guilingji to treat idiopathic oligo-asthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), and the therapeutic mechanism from a metabolic perspective needs to be investigated further. Methods: This was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled clinical study of 240 patients with idiopathic OAT recruited from four hospitals between January 2020 and January 2022. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1꞉1 ratio to receive oral Guilingji capsules or placebo for 12 weeks. The total progressive motile sperm count (TPMSC) was considered the primary outcome, and the other sperm parameters, seminal plasma parameters and serum hormones were considered the secondary outcome. A nontargeted metabolomics analysis of serum from OAT patients before and after Guilingji administration was performed by HPLC–MS to identify key metabolites. Furthermore, we used a rat model to show spermatogenesis phenotypes to validate the effect of the key metabolites screened from the patients. Results: At weeks 4, 8 and 12, TPMSC and other sperm parameters were significantly improved in the Guilingji group compared with the placebo group (P

Background: Frailty, cognitive decline, and depression are common syndromes among the elderly and are closely interconnected. However, it is still unclear whether the impact of frailty on depression depends on the role of cognitive decline. Method: We conducted the Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis based on the instrumental variables (IVs) from the genome-wide association study (GWAS) databases, and we also performed a cross-sectional study consisting of 1362 older adults aged ≥65 for validation. Results: The results of the multivariable MR analysis showed that frailty significantly increased the risk of depression, even after controlling for the influence of cognitive performance. Conversely, after controlling for frailty, the effect of cognitive performance on depression risk was noticeably reduced. In the cross-sectional study, frailty mediated 24.04 % of the relationship between cognition and depression, and cognition mediated 7.63 % of the relationship between frailty and depression. Conclusions: We provide evidence that frailty could increase depression risk independently of cognitive decline. Further research with a larger sample size is necessary.

The ambition of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 6.3 is to improve global water quality by 2030. SDG indicator 6.3.2 monitors progress towards this target by assessing water bodies against ‘good’ ambient water quality criteria, with nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) as part of the key metrics. However, large data gaps present a fundamental challenge, especially for Africa on how to assess the progress being made with respect to both the current and desired future situations. Here, a continental water quality model for Africa is presented to simulate river sediment load, Total Nitrogen (TN) and Total Phosphorus (TP) loads and concentrations. Furthermore, critical areas and hotspots of TN and TP pollution are mapped for the period 2017 – 2019, in relation to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) target thresholds used for the assessment of SDG indicator 6.3.2. Utilizing the UNEP’s criteria, which designates a water body as having “good ambient water quality” if 80% or more of its monitored values meet their targets, it is estimated that 44 % and 15 % of African rivers fail to meet the set water quality thresholds for simulated TP and TN, respectively. When synthesizing data for both TP and TN, 34 % of the rivers do not qualify as having “good ambient water quality”. Geographically, the most pronounced nutrient pollution hotspots were in North Africa, Niger River Delta, Nile River basin, Congo River basin and specific zones in Southern Africa. These areas correlate with regions characterized by high inputs of fertilizers, manure and wastewater discharge.

Dielectric capacitors with high energy storage performances are exceedingly desired for the next-generation advanced high/pulsed power devices that demand miniaturization and integration. However, poor energy-storage density (Urec) and low efficiency (η) resulted from the large remanent polarization (Pr) and low breakdown strength (BDS), have been the major challenge for the application of dielectric capacitors. Herein, a high-entropy strategy with superparaelectric relaxor ferroelectrics (SP-RFE) was adopted to achieve extremely low Pr and high BDS in BaTiO3 system, simultaneously. Due to the high BDS ∼800 kV/cm and low Pr ∼0.58 μC/cm2, high-entropy SP-RFE (La0.05Ba0.18Sr0.18K0.115Na0.115Ca0.18Bi0.18)TiO3 (LBSKNCBT) MLCCs exhibited high Urec ∼6.63 J/cm3 and excellent η ∼ 96%. What's more, LBSKNCBT MLCCs with high-entropy and SP-RFE characteristic also possess a good temperature and frequency stability. In a word, this work offers an excellent paradigm for achieving good energy-storage properties of BaTiO3-based dielectric capacitors to meet the demanding requirements of advanced energy storage applications.

ABSTRACT: The H10 avian influenza viruses (AIV) have been detected in both birds and mammals. Recently, the cases of human infection with H10N8 and H10N3 in China pose high risk to public health. However, the antigenic sites in hemagglutinin (HA) of H10 are poorly understood. In this study, 3 monoclonal antibodies (MAb), designated as 1F4, 6B3 and 6G12, against the HA protein of the H10N3 strain A/chicken/Taizhou/498/2021(H10N3) (TZ498), were first generated. All of these MAb could effectively inhibit TZ498 in haemagglutination inhibition assay and microneutralization assay. Four novel antigenic sites at positions 135, 208, 227, and 266 (H10 numbering) were identified in the HA of TZ498 through escape mutants selected by these 3 MAb. Moreover, natural mutations at positions 135 and 227 were found in the H10 field strains. All these not only provide novel insights into the molecular markers for monitoring the antigenic variation of H10 but also be helpful for developing efficient control strategies against H10.

In recent years, single-subject experimental courses have not been able to meet the demands of the comprehensive development of life sciences. This study is based on two fundamental disciplines, molecular biology and metabolomics, with the analysis and intervention of tumor-related genes as the starting point. A comprehensive experimental course has been set up to analyze oncological genetic abnormal induced molecular signature and metabolome feature alterations through in vitro and in vivo experimental validations. This newly designed course combines guide theories and practical instructions. Through database screening, in vitro research and in vivo research, student’s research interest and knowledge reserves are greatly enhanced and a foundation is laid for further scientific research in the future.

IntroductionWaardenburg syndrome (WS) is a genetic disorder characterized by hearing loss, hypopigmentation, and distinct facial features. Despite > 60% molecular diagnosis rate for WS patients, pathogenic variants within coding regions are predominant, with few non-coding copy number variations (CNVs) reported.MethodsIn this study, we performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) on 59 undiagnosed WS patients and analyzed the CNVs within the promoter and enhancer regions of the SOX10 gene.ResultsWe identified five novel pathogenic deletions ranging from 448 bp to 70 kb upstream of SOX10. Two deletions were in the enhancer region, while three were in the promoter and 5'UTR region. These CNVs manifested as WS type II in eight patients from five unrelated families, demonstrating phenotypic heterogeneity. Furthermore, analysis of CNV1 within the enhancer region suggested a potential mechanism involving Alu-mediated non-allelic homologous recombination (NAHR).ConclusionOur findings extend the mutation spectrum of the SOX10 gene and elucidate the pathogenic role of CNVs in cis-regulatory elements, particularly variations in enhancer and promoter regions, thereby enhancing clinical gene detection and interpretation of non-coding regions.

Abstract Plot‐scale experiments indicate that functional diversity (FD) plays a pivotal role in sustaining ecosystem functions such as net primary productivity (NPP). However, the relationships between functional diversity and NPP across larger scale under varying climatic conditions are sparsely studied, despite its significance for understanding forest–atmosphere interactions and informing policy development. Hence, we examine the relationships of community‐weighted mean (CWM) and functional dispersion (FDis) of woody plant traits on NPP across China and if such relationships are modulated by climatic conditions at the national scale. Using comprehensive datasets of distribution, functional traits, and productivity for 9120 Chinese woody plant species, we evaluated the distribution pattern of community‐weighted mean and functional dispersion (including three orthogonal trait indicators: plant size, leaf morphology, and flower duration) and its relationships with NPP. Finally, we tested the effects of climatic conditions on community‐weighted mean/functional dispersion–NPP relationships. We first found overall functional diversity–NPP relationships, but also that the magnitude of these relationships was sensitive to climate, with plant size community‐weighted mean promoting NPP in warm regions and plant size functional dispersion promoting NPP in wet regions. Second, warm and wet conditions indirectly increased NPP by its positive effects on community‐weighted mean or functional dispersion, particularly through mean plant size and leaf morphology. Our study provides comprehensive evidence for the relationships between functional diversity and NPP under varying climates at a large scale. Importantly, our results indicate a broadening significance of multidimensional plant functional traits for woody vegetation NPP in response to rising temperatures and wetter climates. Restoration, reforestation actions and natural capital accounting need to carefully consider not only community‐weighted mean and functional dispersion but also their interactions with climate, to predict how functional diversity may promote ecosystem functioning under future climatic conditions.

At present, it is widely believed that a 95–96% average nucleotide identity (ANI) value is equivalent to a 70% digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) value in the prokaryotic taxonomy. However, in the present study, comparative genome analysis of 29 pairs of Amycolatopsis type strains revealed that a 70% dDDH value did not correspond to a 95–96% ANI based on the MuMmer ultra-rapid aligning tool (ANIm) but approximately corresponded to a 96.6% ANIm value in the genus Amycolatopsis. Based on this corresponding relationship, phenotypic and chemotaxonomical characteristics, as well as phylogenetic analysis, an actinobacterial strain HUAS 11-8T isolated from the rhizosphere soil of Cynara scolymus, was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic characterization. Based on EzBioCloud alignment, it was found that strain HUAS11-8T had the 16S rRNA gene similarities of 99.78% with A. rhizosphaerae JCM 32589T, 97.8% with A. dongchuanensis YIM 75904T, and

Abstract Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive intracranial tumour, and current chemotherapy regimens have limited efficacy. Aloperine (ALO), a natural alkaline compound, has shown potential as an antitumor agent. However, the effect of ALO against GBM remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the function of ALO in treating GBM. U87, A172, and GL261 cell lines were used for in vitro experiments, and GL261 was also used to establish in vivo models. The results showed that ALO inhibited the proliferation of GBM cells by cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Furthermore, autophagy was found to play a critical role, suggested by observation of autophagosomes under the transmission electron microscopy. It was discovered for the first time that ALO targeted lysosomes directly in glioma cells, tested by fluo-rescence-labelled ALO and organelle-localizing probes. In addition, ALO inhibited late autophagy and induced paraptosis in GBM, verified by classical gene expression changes in qPCR and western blotting. Also, ALO inhibited tumour growth and acted synergistically with temozolomide in intracranial glioma mice models in vivo. Our findings suggest that ALO targets lysosomes to inhibit late autophagy in GBM, inducing cell cycle arrest, paraptosis, and apoptosis. ALO may therefore be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of GBM.

Abstract The porcine pseudorabies virus (PRV) is one of the most devastating pathogens and brings great economic losses to the swine industry worldwide. Viruses are intracellular parasites that have evolved numerous strategies to subvert and utilize different host processes for their life cycle. Among the different systems of the host cell, the cytoskeleton is one of the most important which not only facilitate viral invasion and spread into neighboring cells, but also help viruses to evade the host immune system. RhoA is a key regulator of cytoskeleton system that may participate in virus infection. In this study, we characterized the function of RhoA in the PRV replication by chemical drugs treatment, gene knockdown and gene over-expression strategy. Inhibition of RhoA by specific inhibitor and gene knockdown promoted PRV proliferation. On the contrary, overexpression of RhoA or activation of RhoA by chemical drug inhibited PRV infection. Besides, our data demonstrated that PRV infection induced the disruption of actin stress fiber, which was consistent with previous report. In turn, the actin specific inhibitor cytochalasin D markedly disrupted the normal fibrous structure of intracellular actin cytoskeleton and decreased the PRV replication, suggesting that actin cytoskeleton polymerization contributed to PRV replication in vitro. In summary, our data displayed that RhoA was a host restriction factor that inhibited PRV replication, which may deepen our understanding the pathogenesis of PRV and provide further insight into the prevention of PRV infection and the development of anti-viral drugs.

Abstract In order to solve the problems of difficult control, poor stability, and low control precision in complex autonomous non‐linear systems, and some sensors have non‐linear errors in special environments. Based on the PSO (Particle Swarm Optimization) algorithm, an PSO‐BP‐PID (Particle Swarm Optimization Back Propagation neural network PID) control method and a sensor error compensation algorithm based on BP (Back Propagation) neural network are designed for optimal temperature and humidity control and sensor error compensation in the autonomous greenhouse system. The error between the average temperature value and the target value after steady state is 0.5°C, and the error between the average humidity value and the target value is 1% RH. The results show that the control method can effectively compensate the non‐linear error of the sensor and improve the performance of the control system in a complex environment, which is suitable for the stable and control of actuators in autonomous systems. The error of temperature and humidity sensor is compensated by BP neural network; PSO (Particle Swarm Optimization) was used to optimize the BP‐PID parameters of the automatic greenhouse system.

Spermatogenesis is critical for insect reproduction and is regulated by many different genes. In this study, we found that Forkhead transcription factor Fd59a functions as a key factor in the spermatogenesis of Drosophila melanogaster. Fd59a contains a conversed Forkhead domain, and it is clustered to the FoxD subfamily with other FoxD members from some insect and vertebrate species. Mutations in Fd59a caused swelling in the apical region of the testis. More importantly, fewer mature sperm were present in the seminal vesicle of Fd59a mutant flies compared to the control flies, and the fertility of Fd59a2/2 mutant males was significantly lower than that of the control flies. Immunofluorescence staining showed that the homeostasis of the testis stem cell niche in Fd59a2/2 mutant and Fd59a RNAi flies was disrupted and the apoptosis of sperm bundles was increased. Furthermore, results from RNA sequencing and qRT-PCR suggested that Fd59a can regulate the expression of genes related to reproductive process and cell death. Taken together, our results indicated that Fd59a plays a key role in the spermatogenesis of Drosophila.

Background and objective Venous thromboembolism (VTE) as the most common cancer-associated complication has become the second death-causing reason among cancer patients. The management of VTE in patients with lung adenocarcinoma should focus on early and timely detection of risk factors. The aim of the study is to investigate the current situation of VTE in patients with lung adenocarcinoma treated with anti-tumor therapy and then explore the risk factors associated with the occurrence of VTE during anti-tumor therapy for early detection and screening of VTE. Methods The present study included patients diagnosed as lung adenocarcinoma undergoing anti-tumor therapy in First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between December 2019 and May 2021. The risk factors were identified via univariate and multivariate Cox analysis. The incidence of independent risk factors were investigated through Kaplan-Meier curves combined with Log-rank test. Results The results of univariate and multivariate Cox regression showed that history of VTE, targeted therapy and radiotherapy were risk factors for VTE in patients with lung adenocarcinoma treated with anti-tumor therapy (P

Summary: Macroautophagy/autophagy is a conserved process in eukaryotic cells to degrade and recycle damaged intracellular components. Higher level of autophagy in the brain has been observed, and autophagy dysfunction has an impact on neuronal health, but the molecular mechanism is unclear. In this study, we showed that overexpression of Toll-1 and Toll-7 receptors, as well as active Spätzle proteins in Drosophila S2 cells enhanced autophagy, and Toll-1/Toll-7 activated autophagy was dependent on Tube-Pelle-PP2A. Interestingly, Toll-1 but not Toll-7 mediated autophagy was dMyd88 dependent. Importantly, we observed that loss of functions in Toll-1 and Toll-7 receptors and PP2A activity in flies decreased autophagy level, resulting in the loss of dopamine (DA) neurons and reduced fly motion. Our results indicated that proper activation of Toll-1 and Toll-7 pathways and PP2A activity in the brain are necessary to sustain autophagy level for DA neuron survival.

Complex hydrological regimes and rugged topography in mountainous cities have increasingly compromised urban riparian zones, presenting marked restoration challenges. This study conducted restoration trials along the Jiulongtan riparian zone, located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River (URYR), China. It featured 2 major ecological engineering interventions: (a) establishing semi-natural meadows and applying braided branched meshes to the riparian slope revetment and (b) constructing littoral woods and managing microtopography and sediment in the floodplain area. Furthermore, emergy evaluation was utilized to gauge the effectiveness of these restoration strategies and to assess the sustainability of the reconstructed riparian ecosystems. The following results were obtained: (a) Both the restored slope revetment (RSR) and restored floodplain (RF) ecosystems achieved a state of performance equilibrium after their implementation, with the former benefiting from renewable energy investments and the latter effectively utilizing local resources; (b) service yield outcomes highlighted significant enhancements in species diversity within the reconstructed ecosystems; plant diversity emerged as the primary contributor to total service yield, recording 3.71 × 1018 sej/a for the RSR and 5.50 × 1018 sej/a for the RF; (c) the emergy sustainability index values of 1.98 for the RSR and 5.16 for the RF suggest robust sustainability potential, particularly for the RF, even amid intense environmental stresses. These results affirm the success of the innovative restoration strategies employed for riparian reconstruction in the URYR’s mountainous urban settings, offering valuable insights and reference for future restorative decisions in response to complex hydrological regimes and topography of urban riparian zones, both within the URYR and elsewhere.

BackgroundShort sleep duration and poor sleep quality are important risk factors for atherosclerosis. The use of smart bracelets that measure sleep parameters, such as sleep stage, can help determine the effect of sleep quality on lower-extremity atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between sleep disorders and lower-extremity atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.MethodsAfter admission, all patients were treated with lower-extremity arterial ultrasound and graded as having diabetic lower-extremity vascular lesions according to the results. A smart bracelet was used to obtain the patient sleep data. The correlation between sleep patterns and diabetic lower-extremity atherosclerosis, diabetic foot, and various metabolic indices was verified.ResultsBetween August 2021 and April 2022, we screened 100 patients with type 2 diabetes, with 80 completing sleep monitoring. Univariate ordered logistic regression analysis indicated that patients with a sleep score below 76 (OR = 2.707, 95%CI: 1.127–6.488), shallow sleep duration of 5.3 h or more (OR=3.040, 95 CI: 1.005–9.202), wakefulness at night of 2.6 times or more (OR = 4.112, 95%CI: 1.513–11.174), and a deep sleep continuity score below 70 (OR = 4.141, 95%CI: 2.460–615.674) had greater risk of high-grade lower limb atherosclerosis. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk of high-grade lower limb atherosclerosis was higher in patients with 2.6 or more instances of nighttime wakefulness (OR = 3.975, 95%CI: 1.297–12.182) compared with those with fewer occurrences. The sleep duration curve of patients with different grades of diabetic lower-extremity atherosclerosis was U-shaped. According to the results of the one-way analysis of variance, the higher the deep sleep continuity score, the lower the Wagner scale score for diabetic foot (P

ABSTRACT H6 influenza A viruses are enzootic and genetically diverse in both domestic poultry and wild birds, occasionally causing spillovers to mammals, including humans, posing threat to public health. However, the antigenic sites of the hemagglutinin (HA) of H6 are poorly understood. In this study, a panel of murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) with different reactivity spectra against HA of H6 was generated and nine key residues of antigenic epitopes in H6 were identified through escape mutants of these MAbs. Of these, residues 139 and 140 belonged to antigenic Sa, residue 89 belonged to antigenic Cb, residue 149 belonged to Ca2, while residue 221 belonged to Ca1 regarding the H1 antigenic sites. However, the other four residues 69, 120, 124, and 246 were not located in the identified antigenic regions of H1. Although most HA variants of the escape mutants had the preference for avian-like receptor, whereas escape mutants m3B9 and m4C2 increased the binding affinity for both avian and human-like receptors, and m1A5 and m6D11 decreased the binding affinity for avian-like receptors. Moreover, a single dose of MAbs 4C2 or 6E3 could fully protect mice against lethal challenge of mouse-adapted A/Eurasian teal/Jiangxi/2018WB0417(H6N2) (MA E-Teal/417) in the prophylactic treatment and also could provide partial protection in the therapeutic treatment. Overall, the generated MAbs and the identified key residues of antigenic epitopes not only provide novel insights into the key markers for monitoring the antigenic variation of H6 but also demonstrate the potential for developing MAb-based passitive treatments for H6. IMPORTANCE Since the escape immunity of influenza A viruses (IAVs) is mainly caused by the continuous antigenic variations in HA, the identification of key antigenic epitopes is crucial for better understanding of the escape immunity and vaccine development for IAVs. The antigenic sites of several HA subtypes, including H1, H3, H5, and H9, have been well characterized, whereas those of H6 subtype are poorly understood. Here, we mapped nine key residues of antigenic epitopes in H6 through escape mutants using a panel of MAbs. Moreover, MAbs 4C2 and 6E3, targeting 140 and 89 residues, respectively, could protect mice against lethal challenge of MA E-Teal/417. These key residues of antigenic epitopes identified here provide the molecular targets for further elucidating the antigenic evolution of H6 and better preparing the vaccine against H6 IAV.

Abstract In recent years, the postponement of childbearing has become a critical social issue. Male fertility is negatively associated with age because of testis aging. Spermatogenesis is impaired with age, but the molecular mechanism remains unknown. The dynamic posttranslational modification O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc), which is a type of monosaccharide modification, has been shown to drive the process of aging in various systems, but it has not yet been investigated in the testis and male reproductive aging. Thus, this study aims to investigate the alteration of O-GlcNAc with aging and explore the role of O-GlcNAc in spermatogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that the decline in spermatogenesis in aged mice is associated with elevation of O-GlcNAc. O-GlcNAc is specifically localized in differentiating spermatogonia and spermatocytes, indicating its crucial role in meiotic initiation and progression. Mimicking the age-related elevation of O-GlcNAc in young mice by disabling O-GlcNAcase (OGA) using the chemical inhibitor Thiamet-G can recapitulate the impairment of spermatogenesis in aged mice. Mechanistically, the elevation of O-GlcNAc in the testis leads to meiotic pachytene arrest due to defects in synapsis and recombination. Furthermore, decreasing O-GlcNAc in aged testes using an O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) inhibitor can partially rescue the age-related impairment of spermatogenesis. Our results highlight that O-GlcNAc, as a novel posttranslational modification, participates in meiotic progression and drives the impairment of spermatogenesis during aging.

In order to precisely reproduce the precise seeding process of the population in the air-suction seed-metering device, it is necessary to execute accurate modeling of seed particles using the bonded-particle model, in combination with the discrete element method (DEM) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Through the repose angle, slope screening, rotating container, and particle sedimentation experiments, in this paper, the influence of the filling accuracy of the bonded-particle model on the flow behavior and mixing characteristics of the seed population was first explored based on EDEM software. The viability of the suggested modeling approach for pelleted vegetable seeds, as described in this study, was confirmed by comparing experimental and simulation outcomes. The surface roughness values obtained from the studies above were utilized to assess the accuracy of the bonded-particle model in filling. Additionally, a mathematical technique for determining the surface roughness was provided. Furthermore, an analysis of the multiple contacts in the bonded-particle model was also performed. The results indicated that the simulation results closely matched the experimental data when the number of sub-spheres in the bonded-particle model was equal to or more than 70, as measured by the standard deviation. In addition, the most optimal modeling scheme for the pelletized vegetable seed bonded-particles, based on the cost of coupling simulation, was found to be the bonded-particle surface roughness (BS) with a value of 0.1. Ultimately, a practical example was utilized to demonstrate the utilization of the pelleted vegetable seed bonded-particle model and the DEM-CFD coupling approach in analyzing the accuracy of the seeding process in the air-suction seed-metering device. This example will serve as a valuable reference point for future field studies.

Phytoremediation of heavy metal-polluted soils assisted by plant-associated endophytes, is a suitable method for plant growth and manganese (Mn) removal in contaminated soils. This investigation was conducted to evaluate the Mn-resistant endophytic resources of the Mn hyperaccumulator Arabis paniculata and their functions in the phytoremediation of Mn2+ toxicity. This study isolated an endophytic bacterium with high Mn resistance and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production form A. paniculata and identified it as Bacillus sp. AP10 using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. The effects of Bacillus sp. AP10 on the alleviation of Mn2+ toxicity in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings and the molecular mechanisms were further investigated using biochemical tests and RNA-seq analysis. Under Mn2+ stress, Bacillus sp. AP10 increased the biomass, chlorophyll content and the translocation factor (TF) values of Mn in the aerial parts, while decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of A. thaliana seedlings compared with that of control plants. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enrichment analysis showed that Bacillus sp. AP10 could significantly increase the expression of key genes involved in cell-wall loosening, which may improve plant growth under Mn stress. Superoxide dismutase (SOD)-encoding genes were detected as DEGs after AP10 treatment. Moreover, AP10 regulated the expression of genes responsible for phenylpropanoid pathway, which may promote antioxidant flavonoids accumulation for reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging to improve Mn tolerance. The activation of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter gene expression especially ABCB1 after AP10 stimulation, explained the elevation of metal ion binding or transport related to enhanced Mn accumulation in plants. Futhermore, AP10 might alleviate Mn toxicity through enhancing abscisic acid (ABA) responsive gene expression and ABA biosynthesis. These findings provide new insights into the functions and regulatory mechanism of Bacillus sp. AP10 in promoting plant growth, and tolerance, improving Mn accumulation and alleviating Mn2+ toxicity in plants. The application of Bacillus sp. AP10 as potential phytoremediators may be a promising strategy in Mn2+ contaminated fields. Availability of data and materials: The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Woven lattice truss sandwich panels (WLTSPs) structure has excellent anti-stripping ability and energy absorption effect. The warp and weft distributions have an effect on the WLTSPs. Foam-filling technique and different heights of WLTSPs were double studied by the testing. Through the compression test and lateral compression test reveal the deformation, damage, failure and energy absorption. In the compression testing, the foam-filling can effectively increase peak force (PF) and energy absorption (EA), especially the weft distribution along the length direction-the specific energy absorption per unit mass of foam (△SEA) is 7.086 J/g. The foam filling transforms the piles from compression-shear coupled damage to progressive damage. In the lateral compression testing, when the WLTSPs at a low height the foam filling leads the load-displacement curve changes from brittleness to ductility. Foam filling improves the PF of PB by up to 459% at the height of 80 mm and restrain the decrease of bearing capacity with the increased height. The failure modes of the WLTSPs includes bending failure to progressive failure, concave, and the end fracture compression.

Diabetes is a significant chronic endocrine/metabolism disorder that can result in a number of life-threatening consequences. According to research, the gut microbiota is strongly linked to the development of diabetes, making it a viable target for diabetes treatment. The intestinal microbiota affects intestinal barrier function, organism immunity, and thus glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism. According to research, a disruption in the intestinal microbiota causes a decrease in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), alters the metabolism of bile acids (BAs), branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and endotoxin secretion, resulting in insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and the progression to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Astragali Radix is a medicinal herb of the same genus as food that has been extensively researched for treating diabetes mellitus with promising results in recent years. Polysaccharides, saponins, flavonoids, and other components are important. Among them, Astragaloside has a role in protecting the cellular integrity of the pancreas and liver, can leading to alleviation of insulin resistance and reducing blood glucose and triglyceride (TC) levels; The primary impact of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on diabetes is a decrease in insulin resistance, encouragement of islet cell proliferation, and suppression of islet β cell death; Astragali Radix flavonoids are known to enhance immunity, anti-inflammatory, regulate glucose metabolism and control the progression of diabetes. This study summarizes recent studies on Astragali Radix and its group formulations in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus by modulating the intestinal microbiota.

‘Water circles’ are presented as flexible water cycle diagrams aggregating the flows through a system for a specific region and time period, categorized by flow type and organized by magnitude. Water circles for an entire system and separate storage components can be interpreted as water cycle speedometers and can help compare and communicate different climate and human impacts on different regions, time periods, and storage components. Water circles can facilitate comparisons between hydrological models and other methods for deriving water balances.

As the raw material for tea making, the quality of tea leaves directly affects the quality of finished tea. The quality of fresh tea leaves is mainly assessed by manual judgment or physical and chemical testing of the content of internal components. Physical and chemical methods are more mature, and the test results are more accurate and objective, but traditional chemical methods for measuring the biochemical indexes of tea leaves are time-consuming, labor-costly, complicated, and destructive. With the rapid development of imaging and spectroscopic technology, spectroscopic technology as an emerging technology has been widely used in rapid non-destructive testing of the quality and safety of agricultural products. Due to the existence of spectral information with a low signal-to-noise ratio, high information redundancy, and strong autocorrelation, scholars have conducted a series of studies on spectral data preprocessing. The correlation between spectral data and target data is improved by smoothing noise reduction, correction, extraction of feature bands, and so on, to construct a stable, highly accurate estimation or discrimination model with strong generalization ability. There have been more research papers published on spectroscopic techniques to detect the quality of tea fresh leaves. This study summarizes the principles, analytical methods, and applications of Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) in the nondestructive testing of the quality and safety of fresh tea leaves for the purpose of tracking the latest research advances at home and abroad. At the same time, the principles and applications of other spectroscopic techniques including Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), Mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIRS), Raman spectroscopy (RS), and other spectroscopic techniques for non-destructive testing of quality and safety of fresh tea leaves are also briefly introduced. Finally, in terms of technical obstacles and practical applications, the challenges and development trends of spectral analysis technology in the nondestructive assessment of tea leaf quality are examined.

Abstract Background Venous thromboembolism has been a major public health problem and caused a heavy disease burden. Venous thromboembolism clinical decision support system was proved to have a positive influence on the prevention and management of venous thromboembolism. As the direct users, nurses' acceptance of this system is of great importance to support the successful implementation of it. However, there are few relevant studies to investigate nurses' acceptance and the associated factors are still unclear. Objective To investigate the determinant factors of nurses' acceptance of venous thromboembolism clinical decision support system with the modified Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. Methods We designed a questionnaire based on the modified Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology and then a cross-sectional survey was conducted among nurses in a tertiary hospital in Nanjing, China. Statistically, a Structural Equation Modeling -Partial Least Squares path modeling approach was applied to examine the research model. Results A total of 1100 valid questionnaires were recycled. The modified model explained 74.7%, 83.0% and 86% of the variance in user satisfaction, behavioral intention and user behavior, respectively. The results showed that performance expectancy (β = 0.254, p = 0.000), social influence (β = 0.136, p = 0.047), facilitating conditions (β = 0.245, p = 0.000), self-efficacy (β = 0.121, p = 0.048) and user satisfaction (β = 0.193, p = 0.001) all had significant effects on nurses' intention. Although effort expectancy (β = 0.010, p = 0.785) did not have a direct effect on nurses' intention, it could indirectly influence nurses' intention with user satisfaction as the mediator (β = 0.296, p = 0.000). User behavior was significantly predicted by facilitating conditions (β = 0.298, p = 0.000) and user intention (β = 0.654, p = 0.001). Conclusion The research enhances our understanding of the determinants of nurses' acceptance of venous thromboembolism clinical decision support system. Among these factors, performance expectancy was considered as the top priority. It highlights the importance of optimizing system performance to fit the users' needs. Generally, the findings in our research provide clinical technology designers and administrators with valuable information to better meet users' requirements and promote the implementation of venous thromboembolism clinical decision support system.

Introduction: The tumor microenvironment (TME) is mainly characterized by abnormally elevated intracellular redox levels and excessive oxidative stress. However, the balance of the TME is also very fragile and susceptible to be disturbed by external factors. Therefore, several researchers are now focusing on intervening in redox processes as a therapeutic strategy to treat tumors. Here, we have developed a liposomal drug delivery platform that can load a Pt(IV) prodrug (DSCP) and cinnamaldehyde (CA) into a pH-responsive liposome to enrich more drugs in the tumor region for better therapeutic efficacy through enhanced permeability and retention effect.Methods: Using the glutathione-depleting properties of DSCP together with the ROS-generating properties of cisplatin and CA, we synergistically altered ROS levels in the tumor microenvironment to damage tumor cells and achieve anti-tumor effects in vitro.Results: A liposome loaded with DSCP and CA was successfully established, and this liposome effectively increased the level of ROS in the tumor microenvironment and achieved effective killing of tumor cells in vitro.Conclusion: In this study, novel liposomal nanodrugs loaded with DSCP and CA provided a synergistic strategy between conventional chemotherapy and disruption of TME redox homeostasis, leading to a significant increase in antitumor effects in vitro.

The mulberry (Mori Fructus), which is rich in many nutrients needed by the human body, serves as both food and medicine. Polysaccharides, which are considered to be important pharmacological components of mulberry, have received a lot of study for their structure and biological activity. In this study, six mulberry fruit polysaccharides (MFPs) were extracted by different extraction methods, and their physicochemical structures, antioxidant, and hypoglycemic biological activities were investigated and compared. According to the findings, MFP-III exhibited the best α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition, whereas MFP-IV had the strongest scavenging activity against DPPH and ABTS. Scanner electron microscopy (SEM) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that the apparent morphology and monosaccharide content of MFP were significantly impacted by the different extraction techniques. The results of experiments using Congo red, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and the Congo red experiment showed that the MFP functional groups, glycosidic bonds, triple helix structure, and thermal stability were not significantly different between the extraction methods. According to the aforementioned research, various extraction methods had different effects on the chemical composition and biological activity of mulberry polysaccharides. This information can provide a scientific basis for selecting suitable extraction methods to obtain mulberry polysaccharides with ideal biological activity.

Summary: Ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) in the follicle are the important mediator of steroidogenesis and foster oocyte maturation. Evidences suggested that the function of GCs could be regulated by S-palmitoylation. However, the role of S-palmitoylation of GCs in ovarian hyperandrogenism remains elusive. Here, we demonstrated that the protein from GCs in ovarian hyperandrogenism phenotype mouse group exhibits lower palmitoylation level compared with that in the control group. Using S-palmitoylation-enriched quantitative proteomics, we identified heat shock protein isoform α (HSP90α) with lower S-palmitoylation levels in ovarian hyperandrogenism phenotype group. Mechanistically, S-palmitoylation of HSP90α modulates the conversion of androgen to estrogens via the androgen receptor (AR) signalling pathway, and its level is regulated by PPT1. Targeting AR signaling by using dipyridamole attenuated ovarian hyperandrogenism symptoms. Our data help elucidate ovarian hyperandrogenism from perspective of protein modification and provide new evidence showing that HSP90α S-palmitoylation modification might be a potential pharmacological target for ovarian hyperandrogenism treatment.

In view of most current studies on text sentiment classification focus on the deep learning model to obtain the sentimental characteristics of English text. Chinese text sentiment analysis is rarely involved, and only the context information of the statement is considered, but the syntax information of the statement is rarely considered. In this paper, a novel sentiment classification model is proposed (Dependency Tree Graph Convolutional Network, DTGCN) combined Chinese syntactically dependent tree with graph convolution. Firstly, the Bi-GRU (Bi-directional Gated Recurrent Unit) model is used to learn the contextual feature representation of a given text. Secondly, the syntax-dependent tree structure of a given text is constructed, then obtain its adjacency matrix according to the syntax-dependent tree, with the initial features extracted from the bidirectional gate control network, input into the graph convolutional neural network (GCN) to extract the sentimental features of the text; the obtained sentimental characteristics are then input into the classifier SoftMax for text sentimental polarity classification. Finally, the data set is compared with the mainstream neural network model. The experimental results show that the accuracy of the proposed DTGCN model proposed on the data set is 90.51% and the recall rate is 90.34%. Compared with the benchmark models (LSTM, CNN, TextCNN and Bi-GRU), the proposed DTGCN model shows a 4.45% advantage in accuracy. It shows that the proposed DTGCN model can effectively use the grammatical information of Chinese text to mine the hidden relationship in statements, it can improve the accuracy of Chinese text sentiment classification. In addition, the proposed DTGCN model not only improves the performance of sentiment classification in the essay, it also provides a new research method for social network public opinion identification.

Nitrogen content is one of the essential elements in citrus leaves (CL), and many studies have been conducted to determine the nutrient content in CL using hyperspectral technology. To address the key problem that the conventional spectral data-denoising algorithms directly discard high-frequency signals, resulting in missing effective signals, this study proposes a denoising preprocessing algorithm, complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise joint sparse representation (CEEMDAN–SR), for CL hyperspectral data. For this purpose, 225 sets of fresh CL were collected at the Institute of Fruit Tree Research of the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, to measure their elemental nitrogen content and the corresponding hyperspectral data. First, the spectral data were preprocessed using CEEMDAN–SR, Stein’s unbiased risk estimate and the linear expansion of thresholds (SURE–LET), sparse representation (SR), Savitzky–Golay (SG), and the first derivative (FD). Second, feature extraction was carried out using principal component analysis (PCA), uninformative variables elimination (UVE), and the competitive adaptive re-weighted sampling (CARS) algorithm. Finally, partial least squares regression (PLSR), support vector regression (SVR), random forest (RF), and Gaussian process regression (GPR) were used to construct a CL nitrogen prediction model. The results showed that most of the prediction models preprocessed using the CEEMDAN–SR algorithm had better accuracy and robustness. The prediction models based on CEEMDAN–SR preprocessing, PCA feature extraction, and GPR modeling had an R2 of 0.944, NRMSE of 0.057, and RPD of 4.219. The study showed that the CEEMDAN–SR algorithm can be effectively used to denoise CL hyperspectral data and reduce the loss of effective information. The prediction model using the CEEMDAN–SR+PCA+GPR algorithm could accurately obtain the nitrogen content of CL and provide a reference for the accurate fertilization of citrus trees.

Diabetes mellitus is a serious metabolic disorder that can lead to a number of life-threatening complications. Studies have shown that intestinal microbiota is closely related to the development of diabetes, making it a potential target for the treatment of diabetes. In recent years, research on the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), TCM compounds, and prepared Chinese medicines to regulate intestinal microbiota and improve the symptoms of diabetes mellitus is very extensive. We focus on the research progress of TCM active ingredients, herbal compounds, and prepared Chinese medicines in the treatment of diabetes mellitus in this paper. When diabetes occurs, changes in the abundance and function of the intestinal microbiota disrupt the intestinal environment by disrupting the intestinal barrier and fermentation. TCM and its components can increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria while decreasing the abundance of harmful bacteria, regulate the concentration of microbial metabolites, improve insulin sensitivity, regulate lipid metabolism and blood glucose, and reduce inflammation. TCM can be converted into active substances with pharmacological effects by intestinal microbiota, and these active substances can reverse intestinal microecological disorders and improve diabetes symptoms. This can be used as a reference for diabetes prevention and treatment.

Addressing global biodiversity loss requires an expanded focus on multiple dimensions of biodiversity. While most studies have focused on the consequences of plant interspecific diversity, our mechanistic understanding of how genetic diversity within plant species affects plant productivity remains limited. Here, we use a tree species × genetic diversity experiment to disentangle the effects of species diversity and genetic diversity on tree productivity, and how they are related to tree functional diversity and trophic feedbacks. We found that tree species diversity increased tree productivity via increased tree functional diversity, reduced soil fungal diversity, and marginally reduced herbivory. The effects of tree genetic diversity on productivity via functional diversity and soil fungal diversity were negative in monocultures but positive in the mixture of the four tree species tested. Given the complexity of interactions between species and genetic diversity, tree functional diversity and trophic feedbacks on productivity, we suggest that both tree species and genetic diversity should be considered in afforestation.

H6 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) not only continue to circulate in both domestic poultry and wild waterfowl, but also have occasionally caused spillovers infections in pigs and humans, posing a potential threat to public health. However, the molecular mechanism of H6 AIV adaptation to mammals remains largely unknown. In this study, two mouse-adapted (MA) H6 AIV strains, named as MA E-Teal/417 and MA GWF-Goose/740, were generated through blind passages in BALB/c mice. The two MA H6 strains replicated more efficiently and showed higher virulence than the corresponding wild type (WT) H6 strains in mice. Genome sequencing revealed that MA E-Teal/417 and MA GWF-Goose/740 carried six amino acid mutations (PB2-T224A/E627K, HA-G124R, NA-F167L/Y356H and M1-M92R), and four amino acid mutations (PB1-K577E, PA-T97I/D514E and HA-T276K), respectively, when compared to the corresponding WT virus. Receptor binding assay showed MA E-Teal/417 had stronger binding activity to α-2,3 SA than WT E-Teal/417. Moreover, the polymerase activity analysis found the RNP polymerase activity of both MA H6 viruses was significantly higher than that of the corresponding WT virus in 293T cells. All these demonstrate that H6 AIV can acquire limit amino acid substitutions to adapt to mammals and increase virulence, highlighting the significance of monitoring such mutations of H6 AIV in the field for alarming the potential of its cross-transmission and pathogenesis in mammals.

As a noninvasive “hot-spot” imaging technology, fluorine-19 magnetic resonance imaging (19F MRI) has been extensively used in cell tracking. However, the peculiar physicochemical properties of perfluorocarbons (PFCs), the most commonly used 19F MRI agents, sometimes cause low sensitivity, poor cell uptake, and misleading results. In this study, a partially fluorinated agent, perfluoro-tert-butyl benzyl ether, was used to formulate a 19F MRI-fluorescence imaging (FLI) dual-modal nanoemulsion for cell tracking. Compared with PFCs, the partially fluorinated agent showed considerably improved physicochemical properties, such as lower density, shorter longitudinal relaxation times, and higher solubility to fluorophores, while maintaining high 19F MRI sensitivity. After being formulated into stable, monodisperse, and paramagnetic Fe3+-promoted nanoemulsions, the partially fluorinated agent was used in 19F MRI-FLI dual imaging tracking of lung cancer A549 cells and macrophages in an inflammation mouse model.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is among the common drug resistant bacteria, which has gained worldwide attention due to its high drug resistance and infection rates. Biofilms produced by S. aureus are known to increase antibiotic resistance, making the treatment of S. aureus infections even more challenging. Hence, inhibition of biofilm formation has become an alternative strategy for controlling persistent infections. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of geraniol as a treatment for MRSA biofilm infection. The results of crystal violet staining indicated that 256 μg/mL concentration of geraniol inhibited USA300 biofilm formation by 86.13% and removed mature biofilms by 49.87%. Geraniol exerted its anti-biofilm effect by influencing the major components of the MRSA biofilm structure. We found that geraniol inhibited the synthesis of major virulence factors, including staphyloxanthin and autolysins. The colony count revealed that geraniol inhibited staphyloxanthin and sensitized USA300 cells to hydrogen peroxide. Interestingly, geraniol not only reduced the release of extracellular nucleic acids (eDNA) but also inhibited cell autolysis. Real-time polymerase chain reaction data revealed the downregulation of genes involved in biofilm formation, which verified the results of the phenotypic analysis. Geraniol increased the effect of vancomycin in eliminating USA300 biofilms in a mouse infection model. Our findings revealed that geraniol effectively inhibits biofilm formation in vitro. Furthermore, in combination with vancomycin, geraniol can reduce the biofilm adhesion to the implant in mice. This suggests the potential of geraniol as an anti-MRSA biofilm drug and can provide a solution for the clinical treatment of biofilm infection.

Abstract Background Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and sleep disturbances have been reported in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The influence of vitamin A (VA) levels on sleep regulation and sleep disturbances in ASD has garnered concern. The present study aimed to characterize the association of VA levels with sleep disturbances in children with ASD. Methods This cross-sectional study compared children with ASD (n = 856) to typically developing children (TDC; n = 316). We used the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire to assess sleep disturbances, Childhood Autism Rating Scale to evaluate the severity of autism symptoms, and Autism Behavior Checklist and Social Responsiveness Scale to assess autism behaviors. Serum VA levels were estimated using high-performance liquid chromatography. Multivariable linear regression and two-way analysis of variance were performed to investigate if VAD was related to sleep disturbances in children with ASD. Results Children with ASD had lower serum VA levels and a higher prevalence of sleep disturbances than TDC did. The incidence of VAD in ASD children with sleep disturbances was higher, and the symptoms more severe than those without sleep disturbances and TDC. Interestingly, the interaction between VAD and sleep disturbances was associated with the severity of autism symptoms. Conclusion VAD and sleep disturbances are associated with the core symptoms of ASD in children. Regular monitoring of sleep and VA levels may be beneficial for children with ASD. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, registration number: ChiCTR-ROC-14005442 , registration date: December 9th 2014.

Abstract Antibiotic exposure during pregnancy will adversely affect the growth of offspring; however, this remains controversial and the mechanism is poorly understood. To study this phenomenon, we added ceftriaxone sodium to the drinking water of pregnant rats and continuously monitored the body weight of their offspring. The results showed that compared with the control group, the offspring exposed to antibiotics during pregnancy had a higher body weight up to 3 weeks old but had a lower body weight at 6 weeks old. To determine the role of the gut microbiota and its metabolites in the growth of offspring, we collected feces for sequencing and further established that the experimental group has a different composition ratio of dominant bacteria at 6 week old, among which S24–7 correlated negatively with body weight and the metabolites that correlated with body weight-related unique flora were L-Valine, L-Leucine, Glutaric acid, N-Acetyl-L-glutamate, and 5-Methylcytosine. To further explore how they affect the growth of offspring, we submitted these data to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes website for relevant pathway analysis. The results showed that compared with the control, the following metabolic pathways changed significantly: Valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis; Protein digestion and absorption; and Mineral absorption. Therefore, we believe that our findings support the conclusion that ceftriaxone sodium exposure in pregnancy has a long-lasting adverse effect on the growth of offspring because of an imbalance of gut microbiota, especially S24–7, via different metabolic pathways.

Manganese (Mn) contamination limits the production and quality of crops, and affects human health by disrupting the food chain. Arabis paniculata is a pioneer species of Brassicaceae found in mining areas, and has the ability to accumulate heavy metals. However, little is known about the genetic mechanisms of Mn tolerance in A. paniculata. In this study, we found that Mn tolerance and ability to accumulate Mn were higher in A. paniculata than in Arabidopsis thaliana. The mechanisms underlying the response and recovery of A. paniculata to Mn toxicity were further investigated using transcriptome analysis. A total of 69,862,281 base pair clean reads were assembled into 61,627 high-quality unigenes, of which 41,591 (67.5%) and 39,297 (63.8%) were aligned in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO), respectively. In response to Mn toxicity, genes were expressed in twelve distinct patterns, which can be divided into four general categories: initial, stable, dose-dependent, and lineage. Genes that were differentially expressed during Mn response and recovery belong to several dominant KEGG pathways. An early response to Mn toxicity in A. paniculata includes the upregulation of genes involved in glutathione metabolism. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter proteins were up-regulated during the entire response phase, and genes involved in glycerophospholipid metabolism were up-regulated during the late phase of the Mn response. Genes in the phenylpropanoid pathway were differentially expressed in the repair process after Mn treatment. These findings reveal ideal material and genetic resources for phytoremediation in Mn-contaminated areas and highlight new knowledge and theoretical perspectives on the mechanisms of Mn tolerance.

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) have emerged as crucial regulators for a myriad of biological processes, and perturbations in their cellular expression levels have often been associated with cancer pathogenesis. In this study, we identified AATBC (apoptosis‐associated transcript in bladder cancer, LOC284837) as a novel lncRNA. AATBC was found to be highly expressed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), and increased AATBC expression was associated with poor survival in patients with NPC. Furthermore, AATBC promoted migration and invasion of NPC cells in vitro, as well as metastasis in vivo. AATBC upregulated the expression of the desmosome‐associated protein pinin (PNN) through miR‐1237‐3p sponging. In turn, PNN interacted with the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) activator ZEB1 and upregulated ZEB1 expression to promote EMT in NPC cells. Collectively, our results indicate that AATBC promotes NPC progression through the miR‐1237‐3p–PNN–ZEB1 axis. Our findings indicate AATBC as a potential prognostic biomarker or therapeutic target in NPC.

Abstract Non-coding RNAs do not encode proteins and regulate various oncological processes. They are also important potential cancer diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Bioinformatics and translation omics have begun to elucidate the roles and modes of action of the functional peptides encoded by ncRNA. Here, recent advances in long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA)-encoded small peptides are compiled and synthesized. We introduce both the computational and analytical methods used to forecast prospective ncRNAs encoding oncologically functional oligopeptides. We also present numerous specific lncRNA and circRNA-encoded proteins and their cancer-promoting or cancer-inhibiting molecular mechanisms. This information may expedite the discovery, development, and optimization of novel and efficacious cancer diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic protein-based tools derived from non-coding RNAs. The role of ncRNA-encoding functional peptides has promising application perspectives and potential challenges in cancer research. The aim of this review is to provide a theoretical basis and relevant references, which may promote the discovery of more functional peptides encoded by ncRNAs, and further develop novel anticancer therapeutic targets, as well as diagnostic and prognostic cancer markers.

Eutrophication is a major global concern in lakes, caused by excessive nutrient loadings (nitrogen and phosphorus) from human activities and likely exacerbated by climate change. Present use of indicators to monitor and assess lake eutrophication is restricted to water quality constituents (e.g. total phosphorus, total nitrogen) and does not necessarily represent global environmental changes and the anthropogenic influences within the lake’s drainage basin. Nutrients interact in multiple ways with climate, basin conditions (e.g. socio-economic development, point-source, diffuse source pollutants), and lake systems. It is therefore essential to account for complex feedback mechanisms and non-linear interactions that exist between nutrients and lake ecosystems in eutrophication assessments. However, the lack of a set of water quality indicators that represent a holistic understanding of lake eutrophication challenges such assessments, in addition to the limited water quality monitoring data available. In this review, we synthesize the main indicators of eutrophication for global freshwater lake basins that not only include the water quality constituents but also the sources, biogeochemical pathways and responses of nutrient emissions. We develop a new causal network (i.e. multiple links of indicators) using the DPSIR (drivers-pressure-state-impact-response) framework that highlights complex interrelationships among the indicators and provides a holistic perspective of eutrophication dynamics in freshwater lake basins. We further review the 30 key indicators of drivers and pressures using seven cross-cutting themes: (i) hydro-climatology, (ii) socio-economy, (iii) land use, (iv) lake characteristics, (v) crop farming and livestock, (vi) hydrology and water management, and (vii) fishing and aquaculture. This study indicates a need for more comprehensive indicators that represent the complex mechanisms of eutrophication in lake systems, to guide the global expansion of water quality monitoring networks, and support integrated assessments to manage eutrophication. Finally, the indicators proposed in this study can be used by managers and decision-makers to monitor water quality and set realistic targets for sustainable water quality management to achieve clean water for all, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 6.

Detection rapidity and model accuracy are the keys to hyperspectral nondestructive testing technology, especially for Pennisetum sinese Roxb (PsR) due to its extremely high adsorptive heavy metal content. The study of the resolution of PsR is conducive to the analysis of the accumulated heavy metal content in its different parts. In this paper, the contents of Cd, Cu and Zn accumulated in the old leaves, young leaves, upper stem, middle stem and lower stem, as well as the hyperspectral data of the corresponding parts, were measured simultaneously in both fresh and dry states. To begin, the spectral data of PsR were preprocessed by using Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition-Daubechies3 (EEMD-db3), Savitzky–Golay (SG), Symlet3 (sym3), Symlet5 (sym5), and multiplicative scatter correction (MSC). The 40 samples were divided into 32 training sets and 8 validation sets. The preprocessed spectral data were transformed by the first derivative (FD) and reciprocal logarithm (log(1/R)) to highlight the singularities using binary wavelet decomposition. After screening the significant bands from the correlation curve, the competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) and successive projection algorithm (SPA) were applied to extract the spectral characteristic variables, which were used to establish the partial least-squares (PLS) regression and multiple stepwise linear regression (MSLR) inversion models of Cd, Cu, and Zn contents. Based on EEMD-db3 pretreatment, the inversion model of Zn in the dry (fresh) state had R2 values of 0.884 (0.880), NRMSE values of 0.179 (0.253) and RPD values of 3.191 (3.221), indicating excellent stability and predictive performance. The findings of this study can not only aid in the rapid nondestructive detection of heavy metal adsorption in various parts of PsR, but can also be applied to guide the development and use of animal feed.