Search

BackgroundCOVID-19 has plagued the globe, with multiple SARS-CoV-2 clusters hinting at its evolving epidemiology. Since the disease course is governed by important epidemiological parameters, including containment delays (time between symptom onset and mandatory isolation) and serial intervals (time between symptom onsets of infector-infectee pairs), understanding their temporal changes helps to guide interventions. ObjectiveThis study aims to characterize the epidemiology of the first two epidemic waves of COVID-19 in Hong Kong by doing the following: (1) estimating the containment delays, serial intervals, effective reproductive number (Rt), and proportion of asymptomatic cases; (2) identifying factors associated with the temporal changes of the containment delays and serial intervals; and (3) depicting COVID-19 transmission by age assortativity and types of social settings. MethodsWe retrieved the official case series and the Apple mobility data of Hong Kong from January-August 2020. The empirical containment delays and serial intervals were fitted to theoretical distributions, and factors associated with their temporal changes were quantified in terms of percentage contribution (the percentage change in the predicted outcome from multivariable regression models relative to a predefined comparator). Rt was estimated with the best fitted distribution for serial intervals. ResultsThe two epidemic waves were characterized by imported cases and clusters of local cases, respectively. Rt peaked at 2.39 (wave 1) and 3.04 (wave 2). The proportion of asymptomatic cases decreased from 34.9% (0-9 years) to 12.9% (≥80 years). Log-normal distribution best fitted the 1574 containment delays (mean 5.18 [SD 3.04] days) and the 558 serial intervals (17 negative; mean 4.74 [SD 4.24] days). Containment delays decreased with involvement in a cluster (percentage contribution: 10.08%-20.73%) and case detection in the public health care sector (percentage contribution: 27.56%, 95% CI 22.52%-32.33%). Serial intervals decreased over time (6.70 days in wave 1 versus 4.35 days in wave 2) and with tertiary transmission or beyond (percentage contribution: –50.75% to –17.31%), but were lengthened by mobility (percentage contribution: 0.83%). Transmission within the same age band was high (18.1%). Households (69.9%) and social settings (20.3%) were where transmission commonly occurred. ConclusionsFirst, the factors associated with reduced containment delays suggested government-enacted interventions were useful for achieving outbreak control and should be further encouraged. Second, the shorter serial intervals associated with the composite mobility index calls for empirical surveys to disentangle the role of different contact dimensions in disease transmission. Third, the presymptomatic transmission and asymptomatic cases underscore the importance of remaining vigilant about COVID-19. Fourth, the time-varying epidemiological parameters suggest the need to incorporate their temporal variations when depicting the epidemic trajectory. Fifth, the high proportion of transmission events occurring within the same age group supports the ban on gatherings outside of households, and underscores the need for residence-centered preventive measures.

BackgroundGiven the public health responses to previous respiratory disease pandemics, and in the absence of treatments and vaccines, the mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic relies on population engagement in nonpharmaceutical interventions. This engagement is largely driven by risk perception, anxiety levels, and knowledge, as well as by historical exposure to disease outbreaks, government responses, and cultural factors. ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to compare psychobehavioral responses in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsComparable cross-sectional surveys were administered to adults in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom during the early phase of the epidemic in each setting. Explanatory variables included demographics, risk perception, knowledge of COVID-19, anxiety level, and preventive behaviors. Responses were weighted according to census data. Logistic regression models, including effect modification to quantify setting differences, were used to assess the association between the explanatory variables and the adoption of social distancing measures. ResultsData from 3431 complete responses (Hong Kong, 1663; United Kingdom, 1768) were analyzed. Perceived severity of symptoms differed by setting, with weighted percentages of 96.8% for Hong Kong (1621/1663) and 19.9% for the United Kingdom (366/1768). A large proportion of respondents were abnormally or borderline anxious (Hong Kong: 1077/1603, 60.0%; United Kingdom: 812/1768, 46.5%) and regarded direct contact with infected individuals as the transmission route of COVID-19 (Hong Kong: 94.0%-98.5%; United Kingdom: 69.2%-93.5%; all percentages weighted), with Hong Kong identifying additional routes. Hong Kong reported high levels of adoption of various social distancing measures (Hong Kong: 32.6%-93.7%; United Kingdom: 17.6%-59.0%) and mask-wearing (Hong Kong: 98.8% (1647/1663); United Kingdom: 3.1% (53/1768)). The impact of perceived severity of symptoms and perceived ease of transmission of COVID-19 on the adoption of social distancing measures varied by setting. In Hong Kong, these factors had no impact, whereas in the United Kingdom, those who perceived their symptom severity as “high” were more likely to adopt social distancing (adjusted odds ratios [aORs] 1.58-3.01), and those who perceived transmission as “easy” were prone to adopt both general social distancing (aOR 2.00, 95% CI 1.57-2.55) and contact avoidance (aOR 1.80, 95% CI 1.41-2.30). The impact of anxiety on adopting social distancing did not vary by setting. ConclusionsOur results suggest that health officials should ascertain baseline levels of risk perception and knowledge in populations, as well as prior sensitization to infectious disease outbreaks, during the development of mitigation strategies. Risk should be communicated through suitable media channels—and trust should be maintained—while early intervention remains the cornerstone of effective outbreak response.

Global inland surface water bodies such as lakes and reservoirs, important components of the hydrosphere and ecosphere, are increasingly affected by climate change. Generating bathymetric volume-area-height (BVAH) curves for global inland surface water bodies can enhance our understanding of their topography and climate impacts. However, accurately quantifying the topographic patterns of these water bodies remains challenging due to the difficulties in collecting comprehensive bathymetric data. Therefore, we collected and processed over 2000 bathymetric maps of global water bodies from over 50 different data sources and then developed the BVAH model. Finally, the BVAH hydrological curves of 16671 global inland surface water bodies (larger than 10 km2) were generated. The results include but are not limited to (1) For most targeted water bodies, area (A) and volume (V) exhibit significant power function relationships with surface heights (H), with optimal power values quantified as 1.42 for A and 2.42 for V. (2) The BVAH model outperforms GLOBathy in estimating area and volume changes, achieving higher correlation coefficients (CC) of approximately 0.962 for the area and 0.991 for volume, and demonstrating lower percentages of root mean squared errors (PRMSE) around 10.9% for the area and 4.8% for volume. (3) In the case study of the Xizang Plateau and various large global reservoirs, the BVAH curve database can capture dynamic volume changes. As a unified simulation of the bathymetric topographical patterns, our bathymetric dataset and corresponding BVAH curve database have great potential to contribute to effective water resource management and ecological conservation efforts worldwide.

Abstract In this study, the adsorption of dibenzothiophene sulfone (DBTO) was investigated using clay minerals as adsorbents. Raw bentonite (BR) and raw activated clay (ACR) were impregnated with Fe3+ and Fe6+, creating bentonite-Fe3+ (BF3), bentonite-Fe6+ (BF6), activated clay-Fe3+ (ACF3), and activated clay-Fe6+ (ACF6). The surface functional groups, surface morphology, and surface area of the raw and modified adsorbents were studied through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, a scanning electron microscope, and Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller analysis, respectively. Batch experiments on simulated oil were done to test the effect of adsorption time (0.5–24 h), adsorption dosage (0.3–1.5 g), and adsorption temperature (30–50 °C). The results of the experiments showed the suitability of the pseudo-second order kinetic model on the clay adsorbent and sulfone system. This suggests that chemisorption is the rate-limiting step of the reaction. Equilibrium isotherms indicated the adherence of DBTO onto BR and BF3 to the Freundlich model, implying the heterogeneous adsorption of the sulfones onto the adsorbents. The systems of DBTO with BF6, ACR, ACF3, and ACF6 showed a better fit with the Dubinin-Radushkevich model. This denotes that adsorption happens through the filling of sulfones of the micropores on the adsorbent. Lastly, thermodynamic studies revealed the endothermic and non-spontaneous nature of the clay adsorbents and sulfone systems. The experiments showed that the impregnation of Fe3+ and Fe6+ lowered the desulfurization ability of the adsorbents. This could be due to the iron ions being hard acids and the sulfones being soft bases, thus showing lower compatibility than the raw counterparts of the adsorbents. Comparison with related studies showed that the prepared adsorbents, namely BF3 (5.1 mg g−1) and BF6 (6.4 mg g−1), had a higher adsorption capacity than Ni2+-loaded activated carbon (4.9 mg g−1) and activated clay (4.1 mg g−1). The study shows that BR (7.2 mg g−1) is the best-performing adsorbent, which can be set as the direction for future research. This study is a step toward the commercialization of oxidative desulfurization methods.

The school-to-work transition can be extraordinarily challenging in the turbulent labor market, and the uncertainty about employment outlooks can cause intense anxiety for college students. Drawing from psychology of working theory (PWT), the current study examined the predictor section of the PWT model in relation to employment anxiety with a sample of impoverished undergraduates in China ("N" = 362). Findings suggest that (1) economic constraints were negatively associated with work volition and future decent work perceptions; (2) work volition mediated the relation between economic constraints and future decent work perceptions; (3) future decent work perceptions were negatively related to employment anxiety; and (4) proactive personality and social support attenuated the adverse influence of economic constraints on work volition. Overall, this study contributes to PWT by adding a new outcome (employment anxiety) and also providing evidence of moderation effects. Implications for universities and career counselors are discussed.

Abstract Clean fire extinguishing systems applicable to the pottery jar liquor warehouse are in demand. In this study, taking 53vol% liquor as the research subject, fire models of various clean fire extinguishing systems comprising water mist, liquid carbon dioxide (LCO2) and liquid nitrogen (LN2) were established using a fire dynamic simulator to determine their fire extinguishing effect. A feasibility assessment of systems was performed under different fire source types, fire source sizes, and ventilation conditions. The fire extinguishing efficiency was analyzed in terms of the fire extinguishing time, oxygen concentration, and space temperature. The results showed that the success rate of the LCO2 and LN2 fire extinguishing systems was 100%, whereas the success rate of the water mist fire extinguishing system was 95%. In terms of reducing the oxygen concentration at the bottom of the space and the temperature in the space, the LCO2 system exhibited the best performance, followed by the LN2 system, and lastly the water mist. Under different ventilation conditions and fire source types, the LCO2 fire extinguishing system was least affected, whereas the effectiveness of the water mist fire extinguishing system reduced under natural ventilation conditions, and the extinguishing efficiency of the LN2 fire extinguishing system was affected by the fire source type. Overall, the LCO2 system presented more advantages in extinguishing fires in pottery jar liquor warehouses and can provide a new idea for the development and application of clean and efficient fire extinguishing systems.

IntroductionThe neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) subtype of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is an enzyme required for learning and memory. Overactivation of nNOS can lead to oxidative/nitrite stress, which is complicit in the pathophysiology of various neurological and psychiatric disorders. Previous studies have shown that calmodulin (CaM) forms complexes with Ca2+ and binds to the calmodulin-binding domain (CaMBD) of nNOS, thereby upregulating its catalytic activity in hippocampal neurons. To date, there has been no explanation for the non-covalent interactions in the CaMBD-CaM binding structure model of nNOS.MethodsIn this study, we aimed to investigate the intrinsic factors involved in the binding of CaM to NOS-CaMBD and designed interfering peptides based on the N0 peptide structure of the original nNOS-CaMBD sequence: N1 (obtained from the L734F mutation), N2 (obtained from the F731Y and F740Y mutations), and N3 (obtained from the F731L, V738L, and F740L mutations). We employed homology modeling to construct six CaM-peptide complex models, aiming to elucidate the roles of key amino acid residues within the N0 peptide in its interaction with CaM by means of molecular dynamics simulations. The effect of the peptides on the activation and release of NO by nNOS in neurons was assessed using murine primary neuronal cells.ResultsWhen measuring neuronal NO content, it was found that adding N2 and N3 to cultivated neurons significantly increased nNOS activity, leading to the increased NO production. We found that interfering peptides could stably bind to CaM. Among them, N2 and CaM exhibited the strongest binding ability, indicating that the polarized benzene ring significantly enhanced the binding between nNOS-CaMBD and CaM. Conversely, the binding ability between N0 and CaM was the weakest, as they exhibited the worst polar contact, weakest hydrogen bonding, and the lowest binding free energy. The simulation results also highlighted several important amino acid residues: The K76 of CaM plays an important role in polar contact and hydrogen bonding formation, the L734 residue suppressed model flexibility to a certain extent and had an adverse effect on the overall binding free energy of the model. These results, compared with the results of cellular NO content, a preliminary verification of the antagonistic competitive mechanism between CaM allosteric activation of nNOS and SUMOylation hyperactivation was performed.DiscussionIn summary, this study explored the ability and mode of action of key residues in nNOS-CaMBD on the binding of interfering peptides to CaM, thereby providing new structural perspectives for the activation of nNOS by CaM and recommendations for drug design targeting the specific inhibition of nNOS.

In this paper, we will conclude the results of Bufeng-1 (BF-1) A/B data processing, calibration workflow, and validation of the calibrated sea surface winds, land surface soil moisture, and sea surface height measurements. Since 2019, the BF-1 mission has operated in-orbit for over 4 years. The Earth reflected delay Doppler maps (DDMs) are continuously collected to perform global sea surface and land observations. At the same time, the intermediate frequency (IF) raw data are also obtained for 12 seconds every pass in diagnostic mode. To begin with, a brief description of the spaceborne Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R) technique will be provided in the introduction. Next, we will present the overview of Chinese BF-1 mission and the data specifications used in our research. In the next section, the BF-1 mission-related spaceborne power calibration and validation are presented to show the support to power DDM observable production for sea surface and land surface applications. Then, the status of Chinese Beidou System (BDS) Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) acquisition programme is then introduced. Furthermore, the latest sea surface height (SSH) measurements results including two modes (group delay and carrier phase) and wind speed derivation based on machine learning (ML) method will be spatial-temporal aligned and validated with auxiliary datasets including Denmark Technology University (DTU) mean sea surface (MSS) products and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) ERA5 reanalysis. The previous published results of sea surface winds retrieval under Hurricane conditions and soil moisture retrieval are also reviewed for the BF-1 mission applications. Finally, the conclusion of BF-1 derived results will be discussed to draw out ongoing/future works.

The high recurrence rate of cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths in women. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is an antitumor drug used to treat many types of cancer, but its diminishing effectiveness and side effects limit its use. Norcantharidin (NCTD), a demethylated derivative of cantharidin, exhibits various biological activities. Here, we investigated whether NCTD could potentiate 5-FU to induce cervical cancer cell death. To assess the cell viability and synergistic effects of the drugs, cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays were performed using HR-HPV-positive cervical cancer cell lines. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and TUNEL assays were performed to confirm the induction of apoptosis. The synergistic effect of NCTD on the antitumor activity of 5-FU was analyzed using network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations. Apoptosis-related proteins were examined using immunoblotting. The combination of NCTD and 5-FU was synergistic in cervical cancer cell lines. Network pharmacological analysis identified 10 common targets of NCTD and 5-FU for cervical cancer treatment. Molecular docking showed the strong binding affinity of both compounds with CA12, CASP9, and PTGS1. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the complex system of both drugs with caspase-9 could be in a stable state. NCTD enhanced 5-FU-mediated cytotoxicity by activating apoptosis-related proteins. NCTD acts synergistically with 5-FU to inhibit cervical cancer cell proliferation. NCTD enhances 5-FU-induced apoptosis in cervical cancer cell lines via the caspase-dependent pathway.

BackgroundAlcohol use disorder （AUD） is a common chronic and relapsing psychiatric disorders. Identifying severe AUD early and intervening promptly is crucial to prevent irreversible harm. Currently， the assessment of AUD severity primarily relies on psychiatric examination by clinicians， and there is limited research on the factors influencing AUD severity and the development of prediction models.ObjectiveTo analyze the factors influencing AUD severity， and construct a risk prediction model to aid in the assessment of disease progression in AUD patients.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 1 358 first-time hospitalized patients admitted to Nanning Fifth People's Hospital from January 1， 2017 to December 31， 2022. These patients met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fifth edition （DSM-5） criteria for AUD. Basic patient data was collected， and the patients were divided into two groups based on disease severity： mild-moderate group （n=330） and severe group （n=1 028）. The patients were randomly divided into training and test sets in a 7∶3 ratio. A Logistic regression model was constructed in the training set， and the predictive ability of the model for disease severity was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve in the test set.ResultsCompared with the mild-moderate group， the severe group had a higher proportion of patients living in urban areas （χ2=7.804）， were farmers （χ2=17.991）， had a higher frequency of alcohol consumption （more than 1 to 2 drinks/day） （χ2=35.267）， had a higher age at first drinking （t=-3.858）， had a greater number of comorbid somatic disorders （Z=-22.782）， and had higher proportions of γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase （χ2=259.940） and total bilirubin abnormalities （χ2=148.552） （P

Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (CRP) has both culinary and medicinal uses, with high medicinal and economic value. However, CRP fraud such as mislabeling of the geographical origin, passing off, and aging time cheating has occurred frequently, which damages consumer interests. In order to ensure the safety and quality of CRP, it is urgent to establish effective techniques for its geographical origin traceability and authentication. In this article, we review recent progress on the application of metabolomics, spectroscopy, DNA analysis, elemental analysis and intelligent sensory analysis in identifying the geographical origin, variety, harvest period and aging time of CRP. Meanwhile, we compare and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each technique, and propose the existing problems and future research priorities in the field of geographical origin traceability and authentication of CRP.

This qualitative study sought to explore how women entrepreneurs leverage the Internet to empower their entrepreneurial activities in the Chinese context. To this end, we first conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 women entrepreneurs, and then analyzed their transcripts by following the principles of thematic analysis from grounded theory method. After the three-phase coding procedure, we developed a conceptual model of Internet use of women entrepreneurs which were composed of Internet marketing, Internet purchasing, and Internet learning. The current study provides the first evidence for the multidimensional construct of Internet use with a sample of women entrepreneurs in China. A hypothesis concerning the relationship between Internet use and women entrepreneurial performance is proposed for future investigation. Implications for women entrepreneurs and policymakers are discussed.

Non-point source pollution (NPSP) significantly affects regional water environments worldwide. Identifying critical source areas (CSAs) and implementing best management practices (BMPs) are essential to prevent and control NPSP. This study used the Soil and Water Assessment Tool model to simulate and evaluate the characteristics of NPSP in the Gongjiang Watershed, a typical, hilly mountainous area in Southern China. The study identified CSAs of NPSP using total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), water quality level, and population density factors. The reduction effect of different BMPs on the NPSP load was evaluated, and the cost-effectiveness (CE) of various BMPs was evaluated for the control of NPSP in the watershed. The interannual variation in NPSP load was high from 2013 to 2018, with the largest pollution load in 2016 (wet year) and the smallest in 2018 (dry year). The pollution load fluctuated throughout the year and was related to fertilization and precipitation runoff. The spatial heterogeneity of NPSP was large, with TN and TP losses showing a spatial pattern of high in the south, low in the north, and highest in the center. The CSAs of the NPSP covered 1566.66 km2, representing 9.77 % of the total watershed area. However, TN and TP loads accounted for 19.39 % and 23.53 % of total watershed production. The order of effectiveness of individual management measures in reducing TN was stubble coverage (SC) > vegetative buffer strips (VBS) > terrace engineering (TE) > grassed waterways (GW) > 20 % fertilizer reduction (FR20) > 10 % fertilizer reduction (FR10). The order of effectiveness of TP reduction was SC > VBS > TE > FR20 > GW > FR10. Combined management measures were much more effective in reducing TN and TP than individual measures, with an average increase in TN and TP reduction of 20.59 % and 25.23 %, respectively. Based on the results of the CE evaluation of BMPs, a combination of FR20, GW, and VBS was more effective than individual measures. We suggest a combination of FR20, GW, and VBS measures for effective NPSP prevention and control in Southern China’s typical, hilly mountainous areas.

The characteristics and stages of collapse–filling in paleo-underground rivers vary in recharge–runoff–discharge zones, constraining the associated fracture-caved reservoirs in carbonate strata. This paper comprehensively uses core, fluid inclusion, and carbon–oxygen isotope to probe the evolution process and migration of collapse–filling in paleo-underground rivers in the Northern Uplift of the Tarim Basin. The results show that 1) more than three stages of collapse–filling were identified in recharge–runoff–discharge zones, and a four-stage differential collapse–filling process was proposed to summarize the evolution of paleo-underground rivers. 2) The collapse–filling process varies spatiotemporally in the recharge, runoff, and discharge zones. Hydrodynamic strength and filling capacity migrate gradually from the recharge zone to the discharge zone. 3) Collapse–filling mechanisms, including gravity, suffusion, and suction–erosion mechanisms, also vary along with the collapse–filling evolution process of paleo-underground rivers. The research provided a new insight to recognize and interpret the differential planar distribution and vertical filling of the paleo-underground river system, which can be further applied to investigate the fracture-caved karst reservoirs.

The land controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) method dynamically monitors reservoir fluid by contrasting electrical conductivity between hydraulic fracturing fluids and surrounding rock formations. In hydraulic fracturing monitoring, the underground steel casings represent significant high-conductivity objects that require accurate and rapid numerical modeling for understanding the CSEM responses and optimizing the survey configurations. To efficiently simulate the steel well casings, we made use of the modified finite volume method (FVM) with the concept of edge conductivity equivalence that avoids the computational cost of grid refinement down to millimeters or centimeters for the casing. The new algorithm is satisfactorily validated by a numerical comparison against a trusted program Dipole1D and a commercial program COMSOL. Then the algorithm is used to investigate the characteristic CSEM responses of injected fracturing fluid due to a galvanic electromagnetic (EM) source grounded near the head of steel-cased well, an unconventional configuration that can maximize the data anomaly by channeling more excitation current to the deep reservoir. In particularly, we simulated two fracturing scenarios with different fluid migration directions: one with a high-resistivity cap layer as the background and the other with a realistic heavy oil fracturing site from Karamay in Xinjiang, China. Our simulation shows that the configuration of near-casing excitation significantly enhances the electric-field anomalies of the fluid injection, which is the most prominent as the galvanic effect at low frequencies. These phenomena highlight the crucial role of steel casing in the CSEM method for hydraulic fracturing monitoring.

Objective Recurrent giant cell tumor (RGCT) of the spine represents a clinical challenge for surgeons, and the treatment strategy remains controversial. This study aims to describe the long‐term follow‐up outcomes and compare the efficacy of en bloc spondylectomy versus piecemeal spondylectomy in treating RGCT of the thoracolumbar spine. Methods A total of 32 patients with RGCT of the thoracolumbar spine treated from June 2012 to June 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 15 patients received total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) with wide or marginal margin while 17 patients received total piecemeal spondylectomy (TPS) with intralesional margin. Postoperative Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Score (ECOG‐PS), Frankel classification and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) were evaluated after surgery. Survival curves were estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method and differences were analyzed with the log‐rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed with Cox regression to identify the independent prognostic factors affecting RFS. Results During a median follow‐up of 41.9 ± 17.5 months, all patients with compromised neurologic functions exhibit significant improvement, with the mean ECOG‐PS decreasing from 1.5 ± 1.3 to 0.13 ± 0.3 (p

Women have become an increasingly important force in entrepreneurship, and their relatively low entrepreneurial competence has aroused widespread attention from the academia. Drawing from the resource-based theory and the social support theory, this study aims to explore the impact of Internet use on women’s entrepreneurial competence and the roles of entrepreneurial resource acquisition and family support in this relationship. After collecting a sample of 328 women entrepreneurs in China, this study demonstrates that Internet use is positively related to women’s entrepreneurial competence, and this relation is partially mediated by entrepreneurial resource acquisition. Moreover, family support moderates the relation between Internet use and entrepreneurial resource acquisition as well as the mediating effect of entrepreneurial resource acquisition. The results of the current study contribute to revealing how Internet use affects women’s entrepreneurial competence, including its direct and indirect effects and boundary conditions. Practical implications for policy-makers and female entrepreneurs are also provided.

Neuroinflammation is a common pathological process in various neurological disorders, including stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and others. It involves the activation of glial cells, particularly astrocytes, and the release of inflammatory mediators. Lipocalin-2 (Lcn-2) is a secretory protein mainly secreted by activated astrocytes, which can affect neuroinflammation through various pathways. It can also act as a pro-inflammatory factor by modulating astrocyte activation and polarization through different signaling pathways, such as NF-κB, and JAK-STAT, amplifying the inflammatory response and aggravating neural injury. Consequently, Lcn-2 and astrocytes may be potential therapeutic targets for neuroinflammation and related diseases. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the role mechanisms, interactions, and therapeutic implications of Lcn-2 and astrocytes in neuroinflammation.

Net ecosystem productivity (NEP) serves as a pivotal metric for quantitatively elucidating the carbon sink function of terrestrial ecosystems. As a prototype county for the development of an ecological civilization in China, the quantitative estimation of the ecotypic county’s ecosystem carbon sink capacity holds immense significance in comprehending the carbon cycle and facilitating the sustainable advancement of regional ecosystems. This study undertook the estimation of NEP in Wuning County from 2000 to 2020, employing a fusion of multi-source remote sensing data, the Spatial and Temporal Adaptive Reflectance Fusion Model (STARFM), the improved Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach model, and the soil respiration model. Furthermore, we delved into the differences in NEP across various types of land cover. In addition, we employed the Theil-Sen Median trend analysis and Mann-Kendall test to discern the spatio-temporal trends of NEP. The findings indicated the following: (1) The downscaled NDVI generated by STARFM exhibited a remarkable consistency with Landsat NDVI overall (R2 > 0.95, P grassland > cropland. The application of STARFM has provided valuable insights into the methodology for precise delineation of spatio-temporal dynamics of NEP at the county scale. The outcomes of this study have furnished support for implementing climate change mitigation strategies in ecologically-oriented counties and the bottom-up promotion of China's carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.

Food grinding is an abnormal behavior in rodents and its influencing factors are unknown. Our study investigated the potential relationships between gut microbiota and food grinding in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii (Radde, 1861)) by comparing the differences between groups with different degrees of food grinding. The strong food-grinding group showed more relative food ground, higher ratio of ground food to food consumption, and lower percentage of time spent in the central area. The structure of fecal microbiota community differed between the strong and weak food-grinding groups. Strong and weak food-grinding voles showed higher abundances of Alistipes and Aerococcus and Atopostipes, Paenalcaligenes, Un--s-Clostridiaceae bacterium GMl, and Streptococcus, respectively. Strong correlations between the food ground to consumption ratio and abundances of fecal microbiota were found in Streptococcus and Paenalcaligenes. Fecal acetate and isobutyrate contents were higher in strong food-grinding voles and positively correlated with relative ground food and food ground to consumption ratio. Our study suggests that gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids may contribute to the regulation of food-grinding behavior. Key words: food grinding, Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii), short-chain fatty acids, gut microbiota, Introduction Food grinding, also known as food wasting, is a phenomenon that occurs in laboratory rodents through which food is ground into small fragments that are then left uneaten and [...]

Mononuclear macrophage infiltration in the central nervous system is a prominent feature of neuroinflammation. Recent studies on the pathogenesis and progression of multiple sclerosis have highlighted the multiple roles of mononuclear macrophages in the neuroinflammatory process. Monocytes play a significant role in neuroinflammation, and managing neuroinflammation by manipulating peripheral monocytes stands out as an effective strategy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, leading to improved patient outcomes. This review outlines the steps involved in the entry of myeloid monocytes into the central nervous system that are targets for effective intervention: the activation of bone marrow hematopoiesis, migration of monocytes in the blood, and penetration of the blood–brain barrier by monocytes. Finally, we summarize the different monocyte subpopulations and their effects on the central nervous system based on phenotypic differences. As activated microglia resemble monocyte-derived macrophages, it is important to accurately identify the role of monocyte-derived macrophages in disease. Depending on the roles played by monocyte-derived macrophages at different stages of the disease, several of these processes can be interrupted to limit neuroinflammation and improve patient prognosis. Here, we discuss possible strategies to target monocytes in neurological diseases, focusing on three key aspects of monocyte infiltration into the central nervous system, to provide new ideas for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract Background Global climate change poses a grave threat to biodiversity and underscores the importance of identifying the genes and corresponding environmental factors involved in the adaptation of tree species for the purposes of conservation and forestry. This holds particularly true for spruce species, given their pivotal role as key constituents of the montane, boreal, and sub-alpine forests in the Northern Hemisphere. Results Here, we used transcriptomes, species occurrence records, and environmental data to investigate the spatial genetic distribution of and the climate-associated genetic variation in Picea crassifolia. Our comprehensive analysis employing ADMIXTURE, principal component analysis (PCA) and phylogenetic methodologies showed that the species has a complex population structure with obvious differentiation among populations in different regions. Concurrently, our investigations into isolation by distance (IBD), isolation by environment (IBE), and niche differentiation among populations collectively suggests that local adaptations are driven by environmental heterogeneity. By integrating population genomics and environmental data using redundancy analysis (RDA), we identified a set of climate-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and showed that environmental isolation had a more significant impact than geographic isolation in promoting genetic differentiation. We also found that the candidate genes associated with altitude, temperature seasonality (Bio4) and precipitation in the wettest month (Bio13) may be useful for forest tree breeding. Conclusions Our findings deepen our understanding of how species respond to climate change and highlight the importance of integrating genomic and environmental data in untangling local adaptations.

The composition and spatial distribution of tree species are pivotal for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem productivity, and carbon sequestration. However, the accurate classification of tree species in subtropical forests remains a formidable challenge due to their complex canopy structures and dense vegetation. This study addresses these challenges within the Jiangxi Lushan National Nature Reserve by leveraging high-resolution GF-2 remote sensing imagery and UAV multispectral images collected in 2018 and 2022. We extracted spectral, texture, vegetation indices, geometric, and topographic features to devise 12 classification schemes. Utilizing an object-oriented approach, we employed three machine learning algorithms—Random Forest (RF), k-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), and Classification and Regression Tree (CART)—to identify 12 forest types in these regions. Our findings indicate that all three algorithms were effective in identifying forest type in subtropical forests, and the optimal overall accuracy (OA) was more than 72%; RF outperformed KNN and CART; S12 based on feature selection was the optimal feature combination scheme; and the combination of RF and Scheme S12 (S12) yielded the highest classification accuracy, with OA and Kappa coefficients for 2018-RF-S12 of 90.33% and 0.82 and OA and Kappa coefficients for 2022-RF-S12 of 89.59% and 0.81. This study underscores the utility of combining multiple feature types and feature selection for enhanced forest type recognition, noting that topographic features significantly improved accuracy, whereas geometric features detracted from it. Altitude emerged as the most influential characteristic, alongside significant variables such as the Normalized Difference Greenness Index (NDVI) and the mean value of reflectance in the blue band of the GF-2 image (Mean_B). Species such as Masson pine, shrub, and moso bamboo were accurately classified, with the optimal F1-Scores surpassing 89.50%. Notably, a shift from single-species to mixed-species stands was observed over the study period, enhancing ecological diversity and stability. These results highlight the effectiveness of GF-2 imagery for refined, large-scale forest-type identification and dynamic diversity monitoring in complex subtropical forests.

The Xujiashan Sb deposit located at the Mufushan fold thrust belt of the Yangtze block is one of the most important Sb deposits in this district. Stibnite in this deposit contains high and various contents of Se, but research on the distribution and enrichment of Se in stibnite remains limited. This paper conducts geochemical composition, C-H-O isotopic composition, and scanning electron microscopy morphology of the Xujiashan deposit to discuss the sources of ore-forming materials and fluid, as well as the distribution and enrichment mechanisms of selenium in stibnite. The results showed that the ores have trace element compositions comparable with the wall rocks, and Sb and Se contents are significantly higher than the average carbonate rocks. The δ13CPDB values of calcite and quartz range from −12.8‰ to 5.5‰, the δ18OSMOW values range from 20.4‰ to 24‰, and the δDV-SMOW values range from −57.8‰ to −86.9‰. Trace element and isotope compositions indicate that the ore-forming materials were mainly derived from the wall rocks (sedimentary–metamorphic rocks) that S, Se, and Sb dissolved during fluid–rock interactions. The ore-forming fluids were metamorphic water produced by metamorphism, which had experienced multistage mixing with meteoric water and organic-rich fluids. Selenium substitutes for sulfur in the stibnite crystal lattice, causing rhythmically distributed Se contents in stibnite, which resulted from multistage physicochemical changes in ore-forming fluids during crystallization. The varied patterns of Se contents are the result of different cross-sections of the stibnite.