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Abstract Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common critical respiratory disease in clinical practice, especially in the ICU, with a high mortality rate. The pathogenesis of ALI is relatively complex, mainly involving inflammatory response imbalance, oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, and other aspects. However, currently, the treatment measures taken based on the above mechanisms have not had significant effects. Recent research shows that mitochondrial dysfunction and pyroptosis play an important role in ALI, but there is not much analysis on the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and pyroptosis at present. This article reviews the situation of mitochondrial dysfunction in ALI, pyroptosis in ALI, whether mitochondrial dysfunction is related to pyroptosis in ALI, and how to do so, and further analyzes the relationship between them in ALI. This review describes how to alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction, and then suppress the associated immunological pyroptosis, providing new ideas for the clinical treatment of ALI.

An eco-friendly selective hydrolysis of chain α-oxo ketene N,S-acetals in water for the switchable synthesis of β-keto thioesters and β-keto amides is reported. In refluxing water, the hydrolysis reactions of α-oxo ketene N,S-acetals in the presence of 1.0 equiv of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid effectively afforded β-keto thioesters in excellent yield, while β-keto amides were successfully obtained in excellent yield when the hydrolysis reactions were carried out in the presence of 3.0 equiv of NaOH. The green approach to β-keto thioesters and β-keto amides avoids the use of harmful organic solvents, thiols and thiolacetates as well as amines, which could result in serious environmental and safety issues.

Abstract The main purpose of this paper is to consider the multiple birth properties for multi-type Markov branching processes. We first construct a new multi-dimensional Markov process based on the multi-type Markov branching process, which can reveal the multiple birth characteristics. Then the joint probability distribution of multiple birth of multi-type Markov branching process until any time t is obtained by using the new process. Furthermore, the probability distribution of multiple birth until the extinction of the process is also given.

Effects of the propellant, propellant mass-flow rate, and discharge voltage on the characteristics of the plume of small Hall thrusters are studied using a particle-in-cell Monte Carlo collisions program. It is shown that with the same discharge voltage and mass flow, the divergence angle of the xenon plume is smaller than that of argon and is not linearly dependent on the propellant mass flow rate. Moreover, the effect of the discharge voltage on the plume divergence angle can be significant. As the discharge voltage increases from 100 to 300 V, the plume divergence angle decreases, but in the range 300–400 V, it increases with the discharge voltage. The obtained data can be useful for the design and improving the efficiency of Hall thrusters.

Dimensional data directly reflects the growth rate of individual fish, an important economic trait of interest to fish researchers. Efficiently obtaining large-scale fish dimension data would be valuable for both selective breeding and production. To address this, our study proposes a custom dimension measurement method for fish using the YOLOv5-keypoint framework with multi-attention mechanisms. We optimized the YOLOv5 framework, incorporated the SimAM attention mechanism to achieve more accurate and faster fish detection, and added customizable landmarks to the network structure, enabling flexible configuration of the number and location of feature points in the training dataset. This method is applicable to various aquacultural species and other objects. We tested the effectiveness of the method using the economically important grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). The proposed method outperforms pure YOLOv5, Faster R-CNN, and SSD in terms of precision and recall rates, achieving an impressive average precision of 0.9781. Notably, field trials confirmed the method's exceptional measurement accuracy, exceeding 97% compatibility with manual measurements, while demonstrating a real-time speed of 38 frames per second on the NVIDIA RTX A4000. This enables efficient and accurate large-scale surface dimension measurements of economic fish. To facilitate massive measurements in agricultural research, we have implemented this method as an online platform, called Mode-recognition Ruler (MrRuler, http://bioinfo.ihb.ac.cn/mrruler). The platform identifies objects in a single image at an average speed of 0.486 ​± ​0.005 ​s, based on a dataset of 10,000 images. MrRuler includes two preset carp models and allows users to upload training datasets for custom models of their targets of interest.

Abstract The progress of aquaculture heavily depends on the efficient utilization of diverse genetic resources to enhance production efficiency and maximize profitability. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been widely used in the study of aquaculture genomics, genetics, and breeding research since they are the most prevalent molecular markers on the genome. Currently, a large number of SNP markers from cultured fish species are scattered in individual studies, making querying complicated and data reuse problematic. We compiled relevant SNP data from literature and public databases to create a fish SNP database, FishSNP ( http://bioinfo.ihb.ac.cn/fishsnp ), and also used a unified analysis pipeline to process raw data that the author of the literature did not perform SNP calling on to obtain SNPs with high reliability. This database presently contains 45,690,243 (45 million) nonredundant SNP data for 13 fish species, with 30,288,958 (30 million) of those being high-quality SNPs. The main function of FishSNP is to search, browse, annotate and download SNPs, which provide researchers various and comprehensive associated information.

Biochar addition to soil is widely utilized to enhance carbon sequestration and reduce fertilizer N losses. However, little research has been studied on the effect of biochar on reactive gaseous N losses, N leaching and grain yield in paddy ecosystems under water stress, especially in the Lower Liaohe River Plain with a higher water percolation. Our experiment was carried out in 2020 and 2021 utilizing a split-plot design with continuously flooding irrigation and alternate wetting and drying irrigation as main plots and without biochar addition and with 20 t·ha−1 rice husk-derived biochar addition as sub-plots. The results showed that alternate wetting and drying irrigation respectively, decreased N leaching and reactive N losses by 15.9 % and 11.3 % but also respectively, increased seasonal cumulative NH3 volatilization and N2O emissions by 5.0 % and 210 % on average. Rice husk-derived biochar addition significantly mitigated seasonal cumulative NH3 volatilization and N2O emissions by 8.8 % and 19.7 % in 2020, 20.7 % and 19.2 % in 2021, respectively, and decreased inorganic N leaching and reactive N losses by 8.3 % and 14.1 % in 2021. Biochar addition coupling with alternate wetting and drying respectively, mitigated cumulative NH3 volatilization and N2O emissions by 7.3 % and 19.3 % in 2020, and, 22.7 % and 22.0 % in 2021 as compared to that without biochar. Biochar did not differ from without biochar in inorganic N leaching under alternate wetting and drying irrigation in both years but significantly reduced reactive N losses by 17.8 % in 2021, which efficiently inhibited the alternate wetting and drying induced negative effects on the increase in reactive N losses. Therefore, biochar addition to paddy ecosystems under alternate wetting and drying could realize sustainable utilization of water resources, increase soil N fixation, and mitigate N losses.

ABSTRACTPertussis is a vaccine-preventable infectious disease; however, data on pertussis antibody levels in a nationwide population are still limited in China. We aimed to pool the seropositivity rates of IgG antibodies against pertussis toxin (PT-IgG) across the country. We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database for studies published between January 1, 2010, and June 30, 2023. Studies reporting the seroprevalence of PT-IgG among a healthy Chinese population were included. Pooled estimates were obtained using random-effects meta-analyzes. The meta-analysis included 39 studies (47,778 participants) reporting anti-PT IgG seropositivity rates. The pooled rate for all ages was 7.06% (95% CI, 5.50%-9.07%). Subgroup analyzes showed rates ranging from 6.36% to 12.50% across different age groups. This meta-analysis indicated a low anti-PT IgG seropositivity rate in the Chinese population, particularly among school-aged children and young adults. This finding underscores the urgent need to refine immunization strategies.

Mobile application (app), with its expansive reservoir of data and content, harbors considerable promise in advancing health outcomes at both the individual and population levels. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of scholars that concretely examine the dynamics of health information acquisition within mobile app. This research presents a conceptual model aimed at investigating the potential ramifications of health information acquisition on both individuals' psychological and physical well-being. Concurrently, this research attempts to illuminate the underlying mechanisms behind these correlations through evaluating the mediating role of bonding and bridging social capital. The obtained results of a web-based survey conducted among 656 college students in mainland China suggest a positive association between health information acquisition and bonding and bridging social capital. Moreover, the study reveals that the impact of health information acquisition via mobile applications on psychological and physical well-being is significantly mediated by college students' bonding and bridging social capital. The cultivation of bonding social capital could exert a direct and positive influence on college students' physical well-being. However, there appears to be no discernible correlation between bridging social capital and physical well-being. Taken collectively, these findings not only complement extant theoretical perspectives within the scholarship concerning mobile app usage for health improvement, but also furnish several pragmatic guidelines for healthcare professionals and mobile app designers.

Within the context of contemporary society, the propagation of information is often subject to the influence of inter-individual connectivity, and individuals may exhibit divergent receptive attitudes towards identical information, a phenomenon denoted as the Hesitant-Common (HECO) trait. In light of this, the present study initially constructs a propagation network model devoid of correlation configurations to investigate the HECO characteristics within weighted social networks. Subsequently, the study employs a theoretical framework for edge partitioning, predicated on edge weights and HECO traits, to quantitatively analyze the mechanisms of individual information dissemination. Theoretical analyses and simulation outcomes consistently demonstrate that an augmentation in the proportion of common individuals facilitates both the diffusion and adoption of information. Concurrently, a phase transition crossover is observed, wherein the growth pattern of the ultimate adoption range, denoted as R(∞), transitions from a first-order discontinuous phase transition to a second-order continuous phase transition as the proportion of common individuals increases. An escalation in the weight distribution exponent is found to enhance information propagation. Furthermore, a reduction in the heterogeneity of degree distribution is conducive to the spread of information. Conversely, an increase in degree distribution heterogeneity and a diminution in the collective decision-making capacity can both exert inhibitory effects on the propagation of information.

As the preeminent mobile social media platform in Mainland China, WeChat's meteoric expansion has revolutionized the dynamics of interpersonal communication and the modalities of mutual interaction among individuals. Despite the escalating significance of mobile social media in the cross-cultural adaptation of international students, existing scholarly works have largely neglected the underlying relationship between psychological motivations, excessive WeChat use, academic performance, and sociocultural adaptation of these students. Anchored in uses and gratifications theory and cross-cultural adaptation paradigm, the primary objectives of this study are to devise a theoretical model and to scrutinize differential psychological motivations propelling international students' WeChat usage, its association with excessive WeChat use, and impacts on academic performance and sociocultural adjustment. The proposed model undergoes meticulous evaluation through data amassed online from 598 Chinese international students studying in Germany. Sequential analytical techniques, especially Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling, were employed to elucidate the dynamic interplay among key variables. The final results validate the path effect suggesting that both hedonic and social motivations are positive predictors of excessive WeChat use. Moreover, excessive WeChat use is negatively correlated with academic performance and sociocultural adjustment. However, utilitarian motivation is not significantly related to excessive WeChat use. By demystifying the driving factors and consequences of excessive WeChat use, these findings not only accentuate the pivotal role of mobile social media in the cross-cultural adaptation of international students but also enrich the theoretical landscape and enhance the strategic approaches for educators and academic institutions.

Abstract Body-centered cubic refractory metallic materials exhibit excellent high-temperature strength, but often suffer from brittle intergranular fracture due to the recrystallization-induced enrichment of trace elements at grain boundaries (GBs). Here, we report a fully-recrystallized pure molybdenum (Mo) material with room temperature (RT) superplasticity, fabricated by a facile method of powder metallurgy, Y-type hot rolling and annealing. By engineering the ultralow concentration of O at GBs, the inherent GB brittleness of Mo can be largely eliminated, which, in conjunction with high fractions of soft texture and low angle GBs, enables a significant development of ordered dislocation networks and the effective dislocation transmission across low angle GBs. Synergy of these factors greatly suppress the brittle intergranular fracture of Mo, contributing to an enhanced deformability of 108.7% at RT. These findings should have general implication for fabricating a broad class of refractory metals and alloys toward harsh applications.

Summary: Cooperative vehicle-infrastructure system (CVIS) is an important part of the intelligent transport system (ITS). Autonomous vehicles have the potential to improve safety, efficiency, and energy saving through CVIS. Although a few CVIS studies have been conducted in the transportation field recently, a comprehensive analysis of CVIS is necessary, especially about how CVIS is applied in autonomous vehicles. In this paper, we overview the relevant architectures and components of CVIS. After that, state-of-the-art research and applications of CVIS in autonomous vehicles are reviewed from the perspective of improving vehicle safety, efficiency, and energy saving, including scenarios such as straight road segments, intersections, ramps, etc. In addition, the datasets and simulators used in CVIS-related studies are summarized. Finally, challenges and future directions are discussed to promote the development of CVIS and provide inspiration and reference for researchers in the field of ITS.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) is the template for protein biosynthesis and is emerging as an essential active molecule to combat various diseases, including viral infection and cancer. Especially, mRNA-based vaccines, as a new type of vaccine, have played a leading role in fighting against the current global pandemic of COVID-19. However, the inherent drawbacks, including large size, negative charge, and instability, hinder its use as a therapeutic agent. Lipid carriers are distinguishable and promising vehicles for mRNA delivery, owning the capacity to encapsulate and deliver negatively charged drugs to the targeted tissues and release cargoes at the desired time. Here, we first summarized the structure and properties of different lipid carriers, such as liposomes, liposome-like nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, exosomes and lipoprotein particles, and their applications in delivering mRNA. Then, the development of lipid-based formulations as vaccine delivery systems was discussed and highlighted. Recent advancements in the mRNA vaccine of COVID-19 were emphasized. Finally, we described our future vision and perspectives in this field.

The use of checkpoint-blockade antibodies is still restricted in several malignancies due to the modest efficacy, despite considerable success in anti-tumor immunotherapy. The poor response of cancer cells to immune destruction is an essential contributor to the failure of checkpoint therapy. We hypothesized that combining checkpoint therapy with natural-product chemosensitizer could enhance immune response. Herein, a targeted diterpenoid derivative was integrated with the checkpoint blockade (anti-CTLA-4) to improve immunotherapy using thermosensitive liposomes as carriers. In vivo, the liposomes enabled the co-delivery of the two drug payloads into the tumor. Consequently, the regulatory T cell proliferation was restrained, the cytotoxic T cell infiltration was enhanced, and the profound immunotherapeutic effect was achieved. In addition, the immunotherapeutic effect of another clinically used checkpoint antibody, anti-PD-1, also benefited from the diterpenoid derivative. Of note, our mechanism study revealed that the targeted diterpenoid derivative increased the sensitivity of cancer cells to immune attack via THBS1 downregulation and the resultant destruction of THBS1-CD47 interaction. Collectively, co-delivering THBS1 inhibitor and checkpoint blockade is promising to boost cancer immunotherapy. We first time discovered that THBS1 suppression could strengthen checkpoint therapy.

Installing a three-phase saturated core fault current limiter (TSFCL) is an effective method to limit the increasing short-circuit current in high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) systems. However, the traditional TSFCL uses silicon steels as its working material for the iron core, resulting in poor current-limiting effects, requiring a large DC excitation current, and having a slow response speed. Nanocrystalline alloys have advantages such as a lower saturation point, higher permeability in the unsaturated zone, and a steep B–H curve, making them highly suitable for TSFCL’s applications. However, their poor capability which withstands fault hindered their large-scale commercialization. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel hybrid magnetic material based on TSFCL (HMTFCL), where the materials of the working limbs are replaced by nanocrystalline alloys. Compared to TSFCL, the DC excitation current of HMTFCL decreases by 60.5%. And, the HMTFCL reduces the peak short-circuit current by 23%. Last, the magnetic flux intensity inside the working limb of HMTFCL is reduced to zero more quickly.

Multimodal public transport network (MPTN) plays an important role in relieving road traffic pressure for metropolitan area. Nevertheless, the impact of an accident happened in an individual station may not only disrupt the station itself or the single lines that go through the station but also spread over the whole network. Therefore, identifying the vulnerable stations is essential for improving the MPTN management against the systematic risk caused by accidents. In this paper, we proposed a route diversity-based approach to measure the vulnerability of stations in MPTN based on the complex network theory. The route constraint parameters were established to reflect the travel time restriction in constructing the set of passengers’ acceptable routes. In addition, an algorithm was formulated to rapidly calculate the route diversity index and meanwhile avoid the “overlapping routes” problem. A simple virtual network was used as a numerical example to compare the proposed approach with the vulnerability evaluation approaches based on degree centrality and betweenness centrality. Finally, the proposed approach was applied to the MPTN of Beijing to explain its effectiveness and potential applications. The results show that the proposed method can efficaciously estimate vulnerable nodes compared with degree centrality and betweenness centrality. Meanwhile, the acceptable routes between any OD pairs in the MPTN are 1–10 according to the constrained parameter. In addition, the average number of acceptable routes between OD pairs of Beijing MPTN is 3.649. By ranking the stations according to their vulnerability, it can be found that the top 5 vulnerable stations are all external traffic hubs or the stations around famous commercial areas. The results suggest that these stations are significant for external transport as well as crucial for internal urban transportation systems. The research output could contribute to the MPTN management in accident prevention and emergency handling.

A layered Ti3C2Tx MXene structure was prepared by etching MAX-phase Ti3AlC2 with hydro-fluoric acid (HF), followed by alkalization in sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solutions of varying concentrations and for varying durations. Compared to sensors utilizing unalkalized Ti3C2Tx, those employing alkalized Ti3C2Tx MXene exhibited enhanced sensitivity for NH3 detection at room temperature and a relative humidity of 40%. Both the concentration of NaOH and duration of alkalization significantly influenced sensor performance. Among the tested conditions, Ti3C2Tx MXene alkalized with a 5 M NaOH solution for 12 h exhibited optimal performance, with high response values of 100.3% and a rapid response/recovery time of 73 s and 38 s, respectively. The improved sensitivity of NH3 detection can be attributed to the heightened NH3 adsorption capability of oxygen-rich terminals obtained through the alkalization treatment. This is consistent with the observed increase in the ratio of oxygen to fluorine atoms on the surface terminations of the alkalization-treated Ti3C2Tx. These findings suggest that the gas-sensing characteristics of Ti3C2Tx MXene can be finely tuned and optimized through a carefully tailored alkalization process, offering a viable approach to realizing high-performance Ti3C2Tx MXene gas sensors, particularly for NH3 sensing applications.

The discharge characteristics of the Hall thruster are numerically studied at different discharge voltages when the magnetic field does not change based on the particle in cell plus Monte Carlo collision methods. The distributions of electrons and Ar+ ions densities at different discharge voltages show that the change of the discharge voltage significantly influences the distribution of electrons and Ar+ ions. The electron density is relatively large when the discharge voltage is 100 V, up to 6.01 × 1018 m−3. At a discharge voltage of 400 V, the high-density region formed by electrons is significantly smaller than in other cases. The ion density rises less when reaching a steady state with increasing discharge voltage. The Ar+ ions density decreases after the discharge voltage reaches 400 V, up to 4.42 × 1018 m−3. After calculation, it was found that under a specific mass flow, the discharge voltage significantly impacts the thrust of the Hall thruster. The results have reference values for the performance testing and application of Hall thrusters.

Abstract Background Cervical cancer screening is vital for its prevention. Adherence is a crucial indicator that implies the individual willingness to take cervical cancer screening. We aimed to estimate the global and regional adherence rates of cervical cancer screening in 2019 and identify its associated factors among general women. Method We searched studies in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, ProQuest theses database and Google Web, without a lower time limit and until 23 June, 2021. Survey studies were considered eligible if they investigated cervical cancer screening adherence among general women, with data on sample size, the number of adherent subjects, and/or adherence rate. Random-effects were used to pool the odds ratios (ORs) of associated factors of adherence. Using modelling analysis, we estimated 2019 overall and age-specific adherence rates at the global and regional levels in women aged 20–69 years. Results Eight thousand two hundred ninety records were identified, and 153 articles were included. Being married (vs not married: OR, 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23–1.46), higher educational attainment (higher than high school vs less than high school: OR, 1.44; 95% CI: 1.35–1.53), having healthcare (OR, 1.64; 95% CI: 1.43–1.88), former smoking (OR, 1.20; 95% CI: 1.07–1.34), physical activity (OR, 1.19; 95% CI: 1.05–1.36), parity (OR, 1.07; 95% CI: 1.01–1.12), and chronic disease (OR, 1.17; 95% CI: 1.04–1.32) were associated with better adherence, whereas obesity (vs normal: OR, 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74–0.97) and current smoking (vs former/never: OR, 0.64; 95% CI: 0.54–0.76) were associated with worse adherence. In 2019, the adherence was at 33.66% (95% CI: 23.34–39.30%) worldwide, and was higher in high-income countries (HICs) (75.66, 95% CI: 66.74–82.81%) than in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) (24.91, 95% CI: 14.30–30.24%). It varied across regions, the highest in the European region (65.36, 95% CI: 55.40–74.19%), but the lowest in the African region (5.28, 95% CI: 3.43–8.03%). Conclusions Cervical cancer screening adherence remained low globally, exhibiting geographical discrepancy with HICs higher than LMICs. Further implementations of screening programs should comprehensively consider the local economy, social benefits, and demographic structure to adapt delivery for vulnerable or underserved women to boost screening adherence.

The liposome is the first nanomedicine transformed into the market and applied to human patients. Since then, such phospholipid bilayer vesicles have undergone technological advancements in delivering small molecular-weight compounds and biological drugs. Numerous investigations about liposome uses were conducted in different treatment fields, including anti-tumor, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and clinical analgesia, owing to liposome's ability to reduce drug cytotoxicity and improve the therapeutic efficacy and combinatorial delivery. In particular, two liposomal vaccines were approved in 2021 to combat COVID-19. Herein, the clinically used liposomes are reviewed by introducing various liposomal preparations in detail that are currently proceeding in the clinic or on the market. Finally, we discuss the challenges of developing liposomes and cutting-edge liposomal delivery for biological drugs and combination therapy.

Abstract Reaumuria soongorica is an important biological barrier for ecological protection in the Gobi Desert in northwestern China, where soil nitrogen availability is low. N deposition has recently increased significantly in Gobi Desert, and the responses of R. soongorica to N enrichment may become a problem for ecological restoration and protection. However, little is known about the effects of N addition on the biomass, non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), and carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus (C:N:P) stoichiometry of R. soongorica in this region. Here, we examined changes in biomass, NSC and C:N:P ratios of different organs of R. soongorica seedlings in four N addition treatments: 0 (N0), 4.6 (N1), 9.2 (N2), and 13.8 (N3) g m−2 year−1. N addition up to 9.2 g m−2 year−1 significantly increased the biomass of different organs, simultaneously increasing the belowground: aboveground ratio of R. soongorica seedlings. Root NSC concentrations significantly increased under all N addition treatments, but leaf and stem NSC concentrations only increased under the N1 and N2 addition treatments. Nitrogen addition enhanced the soluble sugar concentrations (SSC) of leaves and roots, and reduced starch concentrations (SC) of all organs. Stem and root N concentrations significantly increased under the N2 and N3 treatments, and leaf N concentrations only increased under the N3 treatment, but N addition had no significant effect on plant C and P concentrations. Leaf and stem C:N ratios decreased significantly under the N2 and N3 treatments, but root C:N decreased significantly in all N addition treatments. The N3 treatment significantly increased the N:P ratio of all organs. N addition significantly enhanced available N (AN), available P (AP) and total phosphorus (TP) in rhizosphere soil. Our results suggest that N addition alters the biomass, NSC, N concentrations, C:N and N:P ratios of all plant organs, but roots responded more strongly than stems or leaves to N addition, potentially allowing the plants to absorb more water from the arid soil in this region ensuring the survival of R. soongorica seedlings. Rhizosphere soil AP, AN and TP concentrations were important factors affecting the NSC concentrations and stoichiometric characteristics of R. soongorica.

Parentage assignment is a genetic test that utilizes genetic characteristics, such as molecular markers, to identify the parental relationships within populations, which, in commercial fish farming, are almost always large and where full information on potential parents is known. To accurately find the true parents, the genotypes of all loci in the parentage marker set (PMS) are required for each individual being tested. With the same accuracy, a PMS containing a smaller number of markers will undoubtedly save experimental costs. Thus, this study established a scheme to screen low-redundancy PMSs using the exhaustive algorithm and greedy algorithm. When screening PMSs, the greedy algorithm selects markers based on the parental dispersity index (PDI), a uniquely defined metric that outperforms the probability of exclusion (PE). With the conjunctive use of the two algorithms, non-redundant PMSs were found for more than 99.7% of solvable cases in three groups of random sample experiments in this study. Then, a low-redundancy PMS can be composed using two or more of these non-redundant PMSs. This scheme effectively reduces the number of markers in PMSs, thus conserving human and experimental resources and laying the groundwork for the widespread implementation of parentage assignment technology in economic species breeding.

Abstract Introduction Women living with HIV (WLWH) are more likely to develop cervical cancer. Screening and available healthcare can effectively reduce its incidence and mortality rates. We aimed to summarize the lifetime prevalence and adherence rate of cervical cancer screening among WLWH across low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs), and high‐income countries (HICs). Methods We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science and Embase for studies published between database inception and 2 September 2022, without language or geographical restrictions. Those reporting the lifetime prevalence and/or adherence rate of cervical cancer screening among WLWH were included. Pooled estimates across LMICs and HICs were obtained using DerSimonian–Laird random‐effects models. When the number of eligible studies was greater than 10, we further conducted stratified analyses by the World Health Organization (WHO) region, setting (rural vs. urban), investigation year, screening method, type of cervical cancer screening programme, age and education level. Results Among the 63 included articles, 26 provided data on lifetime prevalence, 24 on adherence rate and 13 on both. The pooled lifetime prevalence in LMICs was 30.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 21.0–41.3), compared to 92.4% in HICs (95% CI: 89.6–94.6). The pooled adherence rate was 20.1% in LMICs (95% CI: 16.4–24.3) and 59.5% in HICs (95% CI: 51.2–67.2). Discussion There was a large gap in cervical cancer screening among WLWH between LMICs and HICs. Further analysis found that those in LMICs had higher lifetime prevalence in subgroups with urban settings, with older age and with higher education levels; and those in HICs had higher adherence in subgroups with younger age and with higher education levels. Conclusions Cervical cancer screening among WLWH falls considerably short of the WHO's goal. There should be continuous efforts to further increase screening among these women, especially those residing in the rural areas of LMICs and with lower education levels.

BackgroundAlthough zebrafish are commonly used to study intestinal mucosal immunity, no dedicated procedure for isolating immune cells from zebrafish intestines is currently available. A speedy and simple operating approach for preparing cell suspension from mucosa has been devised to better understanding of intestinal cellular immunity in zebrafish.Methods and resultsThe mucosal villi were separated away from the muscle layer by repeated blows. The complete deprivation of mucosa was done and evidenced by HE and qPCR results. Higher expression of both innate (mpeg1, mpx, and lck) and adaptive immune genes (zap70, blnk, foxp3a, and foxp3b) was revealed compared to cells obtained by typical mesh rubbing. The cytometric results also revealed that the tested operation group had a higher concentration and viability. Further, fluorescent-labelled immune cells from 3mo Tg(lyz:DsRED2), Tg(mpeg1:EGFP), Tg(Rag2:DsRED), and Tg(lck:EGFP), were isolated and evaluated for the proportion, and immune cells’ type could be inferred from the expression of marker genes. The transcriptomic data demonstrated that the intestinal immune cell suspension made using the new technique was enriched in immune-related genes and pathways, including il17a/f, il22, cd59, and zap70, as well as pattern recognition receptor signaling and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. In addition, the low expression of DEG for the adherent and close junctions indicated less muscular contamination. Also, lower expression of gel-forming mucus-associated genes in the mucosal cell suspension was consistent with the current less viscous cell suspension. To apply and validate the developed manipulation, enteritis was induced by soybean meal diet, and immune cell suspensions were analyzed by flow cytometry and qPCR. The finding that in enteritis samples, there was inflammatory increase of neutrophils and macrophages, was in line with upregulated cytokines (il8 and il10) and cell markers (mpeg1 and mpx).ConclusionAs a result, the current work created a realistic technique for studying intestinal immune cells in zebrafish. The immune cells acquired may aid in further research and knowledge of intestinal illness at the cellular level.

SOCS8, also known as CISHb, is a fish-specific type II SOCS. Because CISH binds to cytokine receptors and may inhibit STAT5 activation (a substrate of the insulin receptor), SOCS8 may be involved in the control of metaflammation. The socs8−/− zebrafish were created, and both longer trunks and intestinal villi were observed in 1-month-old (mo) fish. Altered mucosal immunity and gut-liver metabolism were also found in socs8−/− fish. Increased intestinal neutrophils and macrophages, together with overexpression of cytokines and T cell markers in this mutant fish, suggested SOCS8's immunoregulating role. During modeling of soybean-induced enteritis using the 3 ​mo zebrafish, lower expression levels of inflammatory genes but more mucosa barrier disruption were discovered in socs8−/− zebrafish, compared with wide type counterparts. Furthermore, the shrunk villi at 6 ​mo in socs8−/− fish suggested that the mucosa might have been protected by SOCS8. This is also consistent with the assertion that metaflammation eventually leads to tissue degeneration and premature death. The fact that socs8−/− fish had more hepatic oil droplets compared to their wild-type counterparts suggested SOCS8's role in inhibiting hepatic metaflammation. Transcriptomic analysis as well as 16S rRNA gene sequencing were done on 3 ​mo socs8−/− fish to methodically reveal the altered immunity and metabolic reprogramming in the gut and liver caused by socs8−/−. The enriched GO terms for the intestinal tract, such as ''cytokine-mediated signaling pathway'' and ''response to external biotic stimulus'', as well as KEGG pathways in both gut and liver like ''carbon metabolism'' and ''glycolysis/gluconeogenesis'', were consistent with previously revealed pathological clues and improved growth performance at early age, respectively. In addition, the microbiota in the socs8−/− strain had adapted to the host's increased carbohydrate metabolism, as evidenced by higher levels of Bacteroidota. Furthermore, Verrucomicrobiota associated with immunoregulation were found in lower abundance in socs8−/− fish. As a result, current findings indicate that SOCS8 plays immunoregulatory and mucosa-protective roles in the fish gut and liver by inhibiting carbohydrate metabolism.

Summary: With the rapid expansion of transcriptome studies in many fishes, a great number of RNA-seq data have been published, allowing for a more systematic understanding of the general profiles and details of gene expression in fish. FishGET is dedicated to gathering and curating fish RNA-seq data to discover more new RNAs, including mRNA and lncRNA, thereby getting a more complete reference transcriptome and providing more comprehensive and accurate transcriptome annotations. We obtained a total of 1362 RNA-seq paired-end data of 8 fishes from 97 different studies, and then we performed transcript assembly, meta-assembly, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), functional annotations, neighbor location annotation, lncRNA type annotation, homology annotation. To promote research into fish genes at the transcriptional level, we developed a user-friendly web interface that allows users to view all information and makes use of multiple types of dynamic interactive visualization services.

BackgroundSignificant progress has been made in the investigation of neoadjuvant immune-chemoradiotherapy (NICRT) and neoadjuvant immune-chemotherapy (NICT) on the outcomes of esophageal cancer patients. To summarize the current developments, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy.MethodsA search strategy of prospective studies on esophageal cancer receiving neoadjuvant immunotherapy was predefined to scan PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and additional major conferences for prospective studies. Efficacy was assessed by pathological complete response (pCR), major pathological response (MPR), and R0 resection rates. Safety was evaluated based on the incidence of grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), neoadjuvant therapy completion rate, surgical resection rate, and surgical delay rate. Differences between the NICRT and NICT groups were also analyzed.ResultsA total of 38 studies qualified for the analysis. The pooled pCR, MPR, and R0 resection rates were 30, 58, and 99%, respectively. The pCR and MPR in the NICRT vs. NICT group were 38% vs. 28% (p=0.078) and 67% vs. 57% (p=0.181), respectively. The pooled incidence of grade ≥ 3 TRAEs was 24% (NICRT,58%, I2 = 61% vs. NICT,18%, I2 = 79%; p

Rapid economic development and industrialization may include environmentally harmful human activities that cause heavy-metal accumulation in soils, ultimately threatening the quality of the soil environment and human health. Therefore, accurate identification of pollution sources is an important weapon in efforts to control and prevent pollution. The self-organizing map (SOM) method is widely used in pollution source identification because of its capacity for visualization of high-dimensional data. The SOM ignores the graph structure relationship among chemical elements in soils; the SOM analysis of pollution sources has high uncertainty. Here, we propose a new analysis method, i.e., the graph convolutional self-organizing map (GCSOM), which uses a graph convolutional network (GCN) to extract the graph structure relationship among the chemical elements in soils, then performs data visualization using an SOM. We compared the performances of GCSOM and SOM, then assessed the pollution source characteristics of trace metal(loid)s (TMs, mostly heavy metals) in Jiangmen City using the GCSOM. Our experimental results showed that the GCSOM is superior to the SOM for identification of TM sources, while the TMs in the soil of Jiangmen originate from three main sources: agricultural activities (mainly in Taishan City, Jiangmen), traffic emissions (mainly in Xinhui and Pengjiang Districts), and industrial activities (mainly in Xinhui District). The risk assessment indicated that the risk of all TMs was within threshold.

The goldstripe ponyfish is a small tropical economic fish in the Leiognathidae family. The genome of this fish was assembled as 24 chromosomes with a total length of 577.66 Mb and 54.81 Mb unanchored contigs using HiFi and Hi-C sequencing technologies. There are 256.7 Mb of repeat elements, which cover 40.59% of the genome, and 21,506 coding genes, which cover 47.68%. According to phylogenetic analysis, the goldstripe ponyfish is closely related to the Sillaginidae family’s Chinese sillago. The distance between goldstripe ponyfish and Chinese sillago in the hierarchical clustering of gene family contractions and expansions is also the shortest, indicating a similarity even greater than that between croakers of the same family (Sciaenidae). The goldstripe ponyfish and Chinese sillago share 25 identical contracted gene families, the majority of which are immune recognition receptors, such as innate immunity-related C-type lectin and butyrophilin families, as well as acquired immunity-related T-cell receptor region V and the surface glycoprotein CD4, implying that these two fishes’ immune systems may adopt similar evolutionary strategy at the genomic level. Additionally, the positively selected genes of the Chinese sillago and the goldstripe ponyfish were enriched in biological functions involved in the cell cycle, such as telomeres, which may account for the disparities in body size and lifespan between the two species.

For the purpose of reducing the harm of expressway traffic accidents and improving the accuracy of traffic accident black spots identification, this paper proposes a method for black spots identification of expressway accidents based on road unit secondary division and empirical Bayes method. Based on the modelling ideas of expressway accident prediction models in HSM (Highway Safety Manual), an expressway accident prediction model is established as a prior distribution and combined with empirical Bayes method safety estimation to obtain a Bayes posterior estimate. The posterior estimated value is substituted into the quality control method to obtain the black spots identification threshold. Finally, combining the Xi'an-Baoji expressway related data and using the method proposed in this paper, a case study of Xibao Expressway is carried out, and sections 9, 19, and 25 of Xibao Expressway are identified as black spots. The results show that the method of secondary segmentation based on dynamic clustering can objectively describe the concentration and dispersion of accident spots on the expressway, and the proposed black point recognition method based on empirical Bayes method can accurately identify accident black spots. The research results of this paper can provide a basis for decision-making of expressway management departments, take targeted safety improvement measures.

Although China possesses a large number of islands, knowledge of their overall ecological condition is limited on a national scale. Accordingly, this study developed a comprehensive and quantitative island ecosystem assessment framework that incorporates environmental quality, biological structure, and landscape patterns. The framework was applied to 42 typical, representative islands within China’s coastal regions, including different climatic zones, area sizes, populations, and substratum lithologies. Results showed that the value range of the comprehensive index of island ecosystem condition (CIisland) was significant (from 52.33 to 89.53, 71.72 average), and 85.4% of islands scored either “high” or “good,” indicative of their exceptional condition. However, conditions varied among different island components, indicating different challenges. Environmental quality index (Ienv) values ranged from 60.70 to 94.80 (79.72 average), where primary threats were seawater nutrient pollution, petroleum, and marine organism metal contamination. Biological structure index (Ibio) values ranged from 43.50 to 89.40 (66.10 average), where primary threats were vegetation destruction and a reduction in marine biodiversity within intertidal and subtidal zones. Landscape pattern index (Iland) values varied significantly (from 6 to 100, 72.36 average), where a key characteristic of highly developed islands was low natural landscape (vegetation) coverage. Conditions also varied among island climate zones, lithologies, area sizes, and levels of human habitation. Additionally, island ecosystem conditions were influenced by both natural and anthropogenic factors as well as area size, population, and GDP. Although distance to the mainland significantly correlated to (Ibio), and (CIisland), these parameters did not significantly correlate to (Ienv), which might be explained by that environmental quality was generally conditional on large-scale environments. This assessment is intended to provide a holistic perspective on island conditions in China while identifying key challenges and associated driving factors, which will greatly aid in establishing island-specific sustainable management practices.

We propose a cascaded neural network (NN) to simultaneously identify the modulation formats and monitor the optical-signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR). In the second-level network, it is a single deep NN (DNN) rather than multiple sub-networks, which makes the architecture more compact and can save the resource for real implementation. However, since the data set is constituted from all modulation formats, the universality can be guaranteed but not for the accuracy and the complexity. To accelerate the estimation process and improve the accuracy, we introduce the transfer learning (TL) and reconstruct the data set with a part from all of the modulation formats for universality and another part from a specific modulation format for TL to pursue higher accuracy. In the experiment, we compare the proposed cascaded single neural network (CSNN) with or without TL, cascaded multiple neural networks (CMNN) and adaptive multi-task learning (MTL) for MFI and OSNR monitoring. In the first-level NN, all of the three schemes can achieve the accuracy of MFI as 100%. In the second-level NN, the CSNN with TL (TL-CSNN) can significantly improve the training speed and decline the RMSE of 0.19 dB compared with CSNN without TL. The TL-CSNN also has faster convergence speed and is more stable compared with CMNN and adaptive MTL.

To help prevent foodborne enteritis in aquaculture, several feed additives, such as herbal medicine, have been added to fish diets. Predictions of effective herb medicines for treating fish foodborne enteritis from key regulated DEGs (differentially expressed genes) in transcriptomic data can aid in the development of feed additives using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database. Seabuckthorn has been assessed as a promising candidate for treating grass carp soybean-induced enteritis (SBMIE). In the present study, the SBMIE zebrafish model was used to assess seabuckthorn’s therapeutic or preventative effects. The results showed that intestinal and hepatic inflammation was reduced when seabuckthorn was added, either pathologically (improved intestinal villi morphology, less oil-drops) or growth-related (body fat deposition). Moreover, seabuckthorn may block the intestinal p53 signaling pathway, while activating the PPAR signaling pathway and fatty acid metabolism in the liver. 16S rRNA gene sequencing results also indicated a significant increase in OTU numbers and skewed overlapping with the fish meal group following the addition of seabuckthorn. Additionally, there were signs of altered gut microbiota taxa composition, particularly for reduced TM7, Sphingomonas, and Shigella, following the addition of seabuckthorn. Hindgut imaging of fluorescent immune cells in SBMIE larvae revealed the immune regulatory mechanisms at the cellular level. Seabuckthorn may significantly inhibit the inflammatory gathering of neutrophils, macrophages, and mature T cells, as well as cellular protrusions’ formation. On the other hand, in larvae, seabuckthorn inhibited the inflammatory aggregation of lck+ T cells but not immature lymphocytes, indicating that it affected intestinal adaptive immunity. Although seabuckthorn did not affect the distribution of intestinal CD4+ cells, the number of hepatic CD4+ cells were reduced in fish from the seabuckthorn supplementation group. Thus, the current data indicate that seabuckthorn may alleviate foodborne gut-liver symptoms by enhancing intestinal mucosal immunity and microbiota while simultaneously inhibiting hepatic adipose disposition, making it a potential additive for preventing fish foodborne gut-liver symptoms.

Understanding diversity patterns and associated driving factors are the critical topics in macroecology and conservation biology. Phytoplankton are highly susceptible to environmental changes in estuaries, particularly eutrophication. This study examined phytoplankton alpha and beta diversity using investigation data in May (springtime), August (summer) and November (autumn) 2009 in China’s Jiulong River estuary, where it was easily polluted because of considerable discharge from a highly dense human population and low self-purification capacity with its limited river basin area, potentially resulting in eutrophication and then influencing phytoplankton diversity. Potential influencing factors were also explored, including dissolved oxygen, salinity, nutrients, nutrient ratios, geographic and hydrologic distance, and so on. The results indicated that Shannon’s index (H’) and Pielou’s index (J) decreased from the estuary’s upper to middle and then increased from middle to lower reaches, Simpson’s (D) observed the opposite trend and species number (S) gradually increased from the estuary’s upper to lower reaches. For beta diversity, all the indices showed a gradual decrease trend from the estuary’s upper to lower reaches, where also, turnover dominated beta diversity for all seasons. It is noteworthy that the significant roles that nutrients and nutrient ratios played in shaping phytoplankton diversity patterns and the nutrient balance were characterized by excess nitrogen (N) and silicon (Si) and limited phosphorus (P), which could potentially cause diatom blooms. Findings also showed that decreasing Si concentrations can help to reduce overall pollution levels as well as the restoration of the estuary’s ecosystem better than just reducing N alone. Accordingly, this study advocates for the protection of the entire estuary system with particular emphasis on its upper reaches. Moreover, greater attention should also be paid to impacts associated with N input and nutrient ratio trade-offs to the prospective watershed management of this estuary. This study provides a practical approach to explore estuarine diversity in a comprehensive way, which can inform effective biodiversity conservation and also be applied to other marine ecosystems to better guide sustainable management and conservation practices.

Abstract Background Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) are important species in Asian aquaculture. A draft genome for grass carp has already been published in 2015. However, there is still a requirement for a suitable genetic linkage map to arrange scaffolds on chromosomal frameworks. QTL analysis is a powerful tool to detect key locations for quantitative traits, especially in aquaculture. There no growth related QTLs of grass carp have been published yet. Even the growth trait is one of the focuses in grass carp culture. Results In this study, a pair of distantly related parent grass carps and their 100 six-month-old full-sib offspring were used to construct a high-density genetic map with 6429 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by 2b-RAD technology. The total length of the consensus map is 5553.43 cM with the average marker interval of 1.92 cM. The map has a good collinearity with both the grass carp draft genome and the zebrafish genome, and it assembled 89.91% of the draft genome to a chromosomal level. Additionally, according to the growth-related traits of progenies, 30 quantitative trait loci (QTLs), including 7 for body weight, 9 for body length, 5 for body height and 9 for total length, were identified in 16 locations on 5 linkage groups. The phenotypic variance explained for these QTLs varies from 13.4 to 21.6%. Finally, 17 genes located in these regions were considered to be growth-related because they either had functional mutations predicted from the resequencing data of the parents. Conclusion A high density genetic linkage map of grass carp was built and it assembled the draft genome to a chromosomal level. Thirty growth related QTLs were detected. After the cross analysis of Parents resequencing data, 17 candidate genes were obtained for further researches.

Coastal bays, situated within Earth’s critical zone, play important ecological and socioeconomic roles. This study developed an integrated ecosystem health assessment framework based on ecosystem services specific to coastal bays, particularly exploring approaches to determine critical indicators and establish a reference benchmark. The framework was applied to two typical coastal bays (Jiaozhou Bay and Daya Bay) to ascertain significant health differences, subsequent challenges and prospective management. Comparatively, Daya Bay was healthier. Daya Bay received an overall comprehensive index ecosystem health score of 69.42 (good); however, its ecosystem services scores differed significantly (supporting services = 71.34, regulating services = 87.29, provisioning services = 3.59, cultural services = 74.30), indicating severe degradation in its ecosystem food provisioning function. Jiaozhou Bay received corresponding score of 55.79 (moderate), and its ecosystem services scores were relatively lower (supporting services = 63.31, regulating service = 54.30, provisioning services = 6.18, and cultural services = 54.74), indicating widespread ecosystem degradation. The health status of coastal bays is closely associated with both natural characteristics and human interventions. The narrow bay mouth of Jiaozhou Bay, its limited enclosed seawater area, and the intensive land reclamation that has taken place since the 1950s have directly or indirectly led to the low score of most of its indicators, particularly regarding the significant reductions in its water area and shoreline. The geological advantages of Daya Bay is its large area of water and that it is open to the outer sea, which have contributed to its comparatively healthier status, wherein scores of only a few indicators were bad (i.e., biological indicators of sensitive organisms in the upper food chain). Results from this study provide important information for prospective bay management. For Jiaozhou Bay, more effort should be paid to improving ecosystem health in a comprehensive way, particularly fishing control, land reclamation control and habitat restoration. For Daya Bay, overfishing should be better controlled, while more emphasis should be paid to protecting and restoring certain moderately specific habitats and species. For effective management, we highlight that ecosystem management strategies needs to be differentiated among different bays based on their significant natural and social features. Our approach provides a practical ecosystem health assessment tool that can be applied to other coastal bays to better inform sustainable management and conservation initiatives.

Nanomedicine is a branch of medicine using nanotechnology to prevent and treat diseases. Nanotechnology represents one of the most effective approaches in elevating a drug‘s treatment efficacy and reducing toxicity by improving drug solubility, altering biodistribution, and controlling the release. The development of nanotechnology and materials has brought a profound revolution to medicine, significantly affecting the treatment of various major diseases such as cancer, injection, and cardiovascular diseases. Nanomedicine has experienced explosive growth in the past few years. Although the clinical transition of nanomedicine is not very satisfactory, traditional drugs still occupy a dominant position in formulation development, but increasingly active drugs have adopted nanoscale forms to limit side effects and improve efficacy. The review summarized the approved nanomedicine, its indications, and the properties of commonly used nanocarriers and nanotechnology.

Intermuscular bones (IBs) are small spicule-like bones in the muscular septum of fish, which affect their edible and economic value. The molecular mechanism of IB development is still uncertain. Numerous studies have shown that the ceRNA network, which is composed of mRNA, lncRNA, and miRNA, plays an important regulatory role in bone development. In this study, we compared the mRNA, lncRNA, and miRNA expression profiles in different IB development segments of zebrafish. The development of IBs includes two main processes, which are formation and growth. A series of genes implicated in the formation and growth of IBs were identified through gene differential expression analysis and expression pattern analysis. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the functions of genes implicated in the regulation of the formation and growth of IBs were quite different. Ribosome and oxidative phosphorylation signaling pathways were significantly enriched during the formation of IBs, suggesting that many proteins are required to form IBs. Several pathways known to be associated with bone development have been shown to play an important role in the growth of IBs, including calcium, ECM-receptor interaction, Wnt, TGF-β, and hedgehog signaling pathways. According to the targeting relationship and expression correlation of mRNA, lncRNA, and miRNA, the ceRNA networks associated with the growth of IBs were constructed, which comprised 33 mRNAs, 9 lncRNAs, and 7 miRNAs. This study provides new insight into the molecular mechanism of the development of IBs.

Foodborne intestinal inflammation is a major health and welfare issue in aquaculture. To prevent enteritis, various additives have been incorporated into the fish diet. Considering anti-inflammatory immune regulation, an effective natural compound could potentially treat or prevent intestinal inflammation. Our previous study has revealed galantamine’s effect on soybean induced enteritis (SBMIE) and has highlighted the possible role of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in the fish gut. To further activate the intestinal cholinergic related anti-inflammatory function, α7nAchR signaling was considered. In this study, sinomenine, a typical agonist of α7nAChR in mammals, was tested to treat fish foodborne enteritis via its potential anti-inflammation effect using the zebrafish foodborne enteritis model. After sinomenine’s dietary inclusion, results suggested that there was an alleviation of intestinal inflammation at a pathological level. This outcome was demonstrated through the improved morphology of intestinal villi. At a molecular level, SN suppressed inflammatory cytokines’ expression (especially for tnf-α) and upregulated anti-inflammation-related functions (indicated by expression of il-10, il-22, and foxp3a). To systematically understand sinomenine’s intestinal effect on SBMIE, transcriptomic analysis was done on the SBMIE adult fish model. DEGs (sinomenine vs soybean meal groups) were enriched in GO terms related to the negative regulation of lymphocyte/leukocyte activation and alpha-beta T cell proliferation, as well as the regulation of lymphocyte migration. The KEGG pathways for glycolysis and insulin signaling indicated metabolic adjustments of α7nAchR mediated anti-inflammatory effect. To demonstrate the immune cells’ response, in the SBMIE larva model, inflammatory gatherings of neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes caused by soybean meal could be relieved significantly with the inclusion of sinomenine. This was consistent within the sinomenine group as CD4+ or Foxp3+ lymphocytes were found with a higher proportion at the base of mucosal folds, which may suggest the Treg population. Echoing, the sinomenine group’s 16s sequencing result, there were fewer enteritis-related TM7, Sphingomonas and Shigella, but more Cetobacterium, which were related to glucose metabolism. Our findings indicate that sinomenine hydrochloride could be important in the prevention of fish foodborne enteritis at both immune and microbiota levels.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, has been considered as a potentially effective treatment for the cognitive impairment in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). However, the effectiveness of this therapy is still under debate due to the variety of rTMS parameters and individual differences including distinctive stages of AD in the previous studies. The current meta-analysis is aiming to assess the cognitive enhancement of rTMS treatment on patients of MCI and early AD. Three datasets (PubMed, Web of Science and CKNI) were searched with relative terms and finally twelve studies with 438 participants (231 in the rTMS group and 207 in the control group) in thirteen randomized, double-blind and controlled trials were included. Random effects analysis revealed that rTMS stimulation significantly introduced cognitive benefits in patients of MCI and early AD compared with the control group (mean effect size, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.76 - 1.57). Most settings of rTMS parameters (frequency, session number, stimulation site number) significantly enhanced global cognitive function, and the results revealed that protocols with 10 Hz repetition frequency and DLPFC as the stimulation site for 20 sessions can already be able to produce cognitive improvement. The cognitive enhancement of rTMS could last for one month after the end of treatment and patients with MCI were likely to benefit more from the rTMS stimulation. Our meta-analysis added important evidence to the cognitive enhancement of rTMS in patients with MCI and early AD and discussed potential underlying mechanisms about the effect induced by rTMS.

Abstract Background In recent years, the opportunistic fungus C.albicans has been linked to ECC.It is important to investigate the relationship between the distribution of C.albicans and early childhood caries (ECC) in 3–5-year-old Uygur and Han children in Kashgar, and the role of C.albicans of distinct genotypes in caries. Methods Two hundred fifty-six Uygur and 141 Han children were enrolled in the study. The identified C.albicans isolates were genotyped based on 25S rDNA Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR) amplification, and their acidogenicity, aciduricity, and adhesiveness were examined. Moreover, secreted aspartic protease (Sap) activity and SAP1–5 transcriptional levels were compared in the ECC and caries-free (CF) groups of Uygur children. Results C.albicans detection rate was significantly higher in Uygur children than in Han children (44. 5% vs. 31. 2%; χ2= 6.739, P = 0.009);the A genotype was dominant in Uygur and Han children with ECC, the C genotype was dominant in Uygur CF children(P = 0.022). C.albicans acidogenicity and growth were more pronounced in the Uygur ECC group than in CF group, especially at pH 4.0 and 4. 5(pH 4.0, P = 0.012; pH 4. 5, P = 0.029); the average ratios of glass-wall adhesion and the Sap activity was higher in ECC group than in CF group(P

BackgroundObservational studies have shown an inverse association between circulating linoleic acid (LA) and risk of ischemic stroke (IS).ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore whether genetic variants predicting levels of circulating LA are associated with IS and its subtypes using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.MethodsLA-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected from a genome-wide association study of 8,631 participants, and summary statistics of IS and IS subtypes were obtained from the MEGASTROKE consortium. MR analysis was performed using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method complemented with other approaches, including weighted-median, weighted-mode, MR Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier test and MR-Egger regression, to test for the robustness of the association. Moreover, we conducted bidirectional MR analysis to assess the impact of IS-associated SNPs on circulating LA levels. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated.ResultsWe found that genetically predicted circulating LA levels were inversely associated with the risk of IS by the IVW method (OR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97–0.99, and P = 0.003). Subgroup analyses showed a statistically significant association between LA and risk of large artery stroke (LAS; OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92–0.98, and P = 0.004), but not for other IS subtypes. The results were stable in sensitivity analyses, and no evidence of reverse association between LA and risk of IS, or LAS was observed.ConclusionOur study supports a potential inverse association of genetically predicted circulating LA levels with risk of IS, particularly LAS.

Grass carp is an important commercial fish widely cultivated in China. A wide range of temperatures, particularly extremely low temperatures, have dramatic effects on the aquaculture of this teleost. However, relatively few studies have characterized the molecular responses of grass carp exposed to acute cooling in natural environment. Here, we investigated the transcriptome profiles of the grass carp brain in response to cooling. Through regulation pattern analyses, we identified 2,513 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that responded to moderate cold stress (12°C), while 99 DEGs were induced by severe low temperature (4°C).The pathway analyses revealed that the DEGs sensitive to moderate cold were largely enriched in steroid biosynthesis, spliceosome, translation, protein metabolism, phagosome, gap junction and estrogen signaling pathways. Additionally, we discerned genes most likely involved in low temperature tolerance, of which the MAPK signaling pathway was dominantly enriched. Further examination and characterization of the candidate genes may help to elucidate the mechanisms underpinning extreme plasticity to severe cold stress in grass carp.

As an important index of solar activity, the 10.7-cm solar radio flux (F10.7) can indicate changes in the solar EUV radiation, which plays an important role in the relationship between the Sun and the Earth. Therefore, it is valuable to study and forecast F10.7. In this study, the long short-term memory (LSTM) method in machine learning is used to predict the daily value of F10.7. The F10.7 series from 1947 to 2019 are used. Among them, the data during 1947–1995 are adopted as the training dataset, and the data during 1996–2019 (solar cycles 23 and 24) are adopted as the test dataset. The fourfold cross validation method is used to group the training set for multiple validations. We find that the root mean square error (RMSE) of the prediction results is only 6.20~6.35 sfu, and the correlation coefficient (R) is as high as 0.9883~0.9889. The overall prediction accuracy of the LSTM method is equivalent to those of the widely used autoregressive (AR) and backpropagation neural network (BP) models. Especially for 2-day and 3-day forecasts, the LSTM model is slightly better. All this demonstrates the potentiality of the LSTM method in the real-time forecasting of F10.7 in future.

Radish is a kind of moderately salt-sensitive vegetable. Salt stress seriously decreases the yield and quality of radish. The plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter protein Salt Overly Sensitive 1 (SOS1) plays a crucial role in protecting plant cells against salt stress, but the biological function of the RsSOS1 gene in radish remains to be elucidated. In this study, the RsSOS1 gene was isolated from radish genotype ‘NAU-TR17’, and contains an open reading frame of 3414 bp encoding 1137 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis showed that RsSOS1 had a high homology with BnSOS1, and clustered together with Arabidopsis plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter (AtNHX7). The result of subcellular localization indicated that the RsSOS1 was localized in the plasma membrane. Furthermore, RsSOS1 was strongly induced in roots of radish under 150 mmol/L NaCl treatment, and its expression level in salt-tolerant genotypes was significantly higher than that in salt-sensitive ones. In addition, overexpression of RsSOS1 in Arabidopsis could significantly improve the salt tolerance of transgenic plants. Meanwhile, the transformation of RsSOS1△999 could rescue Na+ efflux function of AXT3 yeast. In summary, the plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter RsSOS1 plays a vital role in regulating salt-tolerance of radish by controlling Na+ homeostasis. These results provided useful information for further functional characterization of RsSOS1 and facilitate clarifying the molecular mechanism underlying salt stress response in radish.

GTPase immune-associated protein 5 (Gimap5) plays a key role in maintaining T cell homeostasis, immunological tolerance and inflammatory processes. However, there are no reports on the chicken Gimap5 gene. In this study, the Gimap5 gene was first cloned from chicken and characterized its tissue expression characteristics in different developmental stages. The transcriptional activities of the Gimap5 gene in immune response were identified. The results showed that full-length cDNA sequence of Gimap5 contained 771 bp and encoded a 256-amino acid protein. The Gimap5 gene was transcribed in various tissues and different development stages. The transcriptional activities of Gimap5 gene in the most tissues increased with the development of chicken, but significantly up to peak in liver and large intestine of 10-month-old chicken. The Gimap5 gene exhibited differential transcriptional activities in immune-related tissues in immune responses, with down-regulated in liver (P < 0.01), spleen (P < 0.05) and bursa of Fabricius (P < 0.05), and up-regulated in thymus (P < 0.01). The results show that Gimap5 may be a multifunctional gene involved in tissue function, development and immune response in chicken. These data can provide the foundation for further study of Gimap5.

Volunteer computing (VC) is a distributed computing paradigm, which provides unlimited computing resources in the form of donated idle resources for many large-scale scientific computing applications. Task scheduling is one of the most challenging problems in VC. Although, dynamic scheduling problem with deadline constraint has been extensively studied in prior studies in the heterogeneous system, such as cloud computing and clusters, these algorithms can’t be fully applied to VC. This is because volunteer nodes can get offline whenever they want without taking any responsibility, which is different from other distributed computing. For this situation, this paper proposes a dynamic task scheduling algorithm for heterogeneous VC with deadline constraint, called deadline preference dispatch scheduling (DPDS). The DPDS algorithm selects tasks with the nearest deadline each time and assigns them to volunteer nodes (VN), which solves the dynamic task scheduling problem with deadline constraint. To make full use of resources and maximize the number of completed tasks before the deadline constraint, on the basis of the DPDS algorithm, improved dispatch constraint scheduling (IDCS) is further proposed. To verify our algorithms, we conducted experiments, and the results show that the proposed algorithms can effectively solve the dynamic task assignment problem with deadline constraint in VC.