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Abstract Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a disease characterized by heterogeneously progressive loss of islet β cell insulin secretion usually occurring after the presence of insulin resistance (IR) and it is one component of metabolic syndrome (MS), and we named it metabolic dysfunction syndrome (MDS). The pathogenesis of T2D is not fully understood, with IR and β cell dysfunction playing central roles in its pathophysiology. Dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, along with other metabolic disorders, results in IR and/or islet β cell dysfunction via some shared pathways, such as inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), oxidative stress, and ectopic lipid deposition. There is currently no cure for T2D, but it can be prevented or in remission by lifestyle intervention and/or some medication. If prevention fails, holistic and personalized management should be taken as soon as possible through timely detection and diagnosis, considering target organ protection, comorbidities, treatment goals, and other factors in reality. T2D is often accompanied by other components of MDS, such as preobesity/obesity, metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease, dyslipidemia, which usually occurs before it, and they are considered as the upstream diseases of T2D. It is more appropriate to call “diabetic complications” as “MDS-related target organ damage (TOD)”, since their development involves not only hyperglycemia but also other metabolic disorders of MDS, promoting an up-to-date management philosophy. In this review, we aim to summarize the underlying mechanism, screening, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of T2D, especially regarding the personalized selection of hypoglycemic agents and holistic management based on the concept of “MDS-related TOD”.

With China's aging population on the rise, the incidence of senile dementia, particularly neurodegenerative diseases Alzheimer's disease ( AD), is also increasing, leading to significant economic and emotional burdens for patients and their families. Consequently, research on brain senescence and AD has become imperative. This review delves into recent advancements in understanding the pathogenesis of AD, offering crucial insights into the neurodegenerative processes associated with brain senescence and informing strategies for managing and treating AD and related conditions.

Abstract Universal and equitable access to affordable safely managed drinking water (SMDW) is a significant challenge and is highlighted by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals-6.1. However, SMDW coverage by 2030 is estimated to reach only 81% of the global population. Solar water evaporation (SWE) represents one potential method to ensure decentralized water purification, but its potential for addressing the global SMDW challenge remains unclear. We use a condensation-enhanced strategy and develop a physics-guided machine learning model for assessing the global potential of SWE technology to meet SMDW demand for unserved populations without external electricity input. We find that a condensation-enhanced SWE device (1 m2) can supply enough drinking water (2.5 L day−1) to 95.8% of the population lacking SMDW. SWE can help fulfill universal SMDW coverage by 2030 with an annual cost of 10.4 billion U.S. dollars, saving 66.7% of the current investment and fulfilling the SDG-6.1 goal.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety of co-vaccination with domestic 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) and split influenza virus vaccine (sFlu) in key populations aged 3 years and older and to provide a reference for formulating co-vaccination strategies. MethodsThe study participants were 5 502 healthy and unhealthy (with chronic diseases) volunteers (including 2 072 children aged 3 – < 8 years, 1 598 residents aged 8 – < 60 years, and 1 832 elderly aged 60 years and older) vaccinated simultaneously with one dose of PPSV23 (intramuscular injection into the deltoid muscle of the left upper arm) and one dose of sFlu (into the right upper arm) in 8 cities of Anhui province from October 2021 to February 2023. Active surveillance for adverse reactions within 28 days of co-vaccination with PPSV23 and sFlu was conducted among participants through active reporting via the Ark Immunization mobile application and telephone or home interviews by health care workers. Reported current/historic chronic diseases and observed adverse events after co-vaccination were categorized according to the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) and the Guiding Principles for the Classification of Adverse Events in Clinical Trials of Preventive Vaccines issued by the National Medical Products Administration. ResultsThe prevalence of underlying chronic diseases was 1.45%, 100.00%, and 37.61% in participants aged 3 – < 8, 8 – < 60, and ≥ 60 years, respectively. All adverse events occurred within 7 days of co-vaccination, with an incidence rate of 2.67%. The incidence rates of grade 1, 2, and 3 adverse events were 1.62%, 0.93%, and 0.13%, respectively. The incidence rates of local and systemic adverse events were 2.25% and 1.00%, respectively. Local reactions were mainly pain at the vaccination site, while systemic reactions were mainly fever. The incidence of local adverse events was higher for PPSV23 than for sFlu when administered at the same time. The incidence rates of adverse reactions in participants aged 3 – < 8, 8 – < 60, and 60 years and older were 2.03%, 3.25%, and 2.89%, respectively, without significant difference (χ2 = 5.741, P > 0.05). The grades of adverse reactions in the participants of the three age groups were mainly grade 1 and 2. The overall incidence rate of adverse reactions in healthy participants was 2.32% and that in unhealthy participants was 3.15%, without significant difference between the two groups (χ2 = 3.530, P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidence and severity of adverse events between the healthy and unhealthy participants aged 3 – < 8 years and 60 years and older (P > 0.05). ConclusionSimultaneous vaccination with domestic PPSV23 and sFlu has shown good safety in key populations of different ages, health status and simultaneous vaccination with the two vaccines is recommended.

The β-1–6-linked poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG) polymer is a conserved surface polysaccharide produced by many bacteria, fungi, and protozoan (and even filarial) parasites. This wide-ranging expression makes PNAG an attractive target for vaccine development, as it potentially encompasses a broad range of microorganisms. Significant progress has been made in discovering important properties of the biology of PNAG expression in recent years. The molecular characterization and regulation of operons for the production of PNAG biosynthetic proteins and enzymes have been studied in many bacteria. In addition, the physiological function of PNAG has been further elucidated. PNAG-based vaccines and PNAG-targeting antibodies have shown great efficacy in preclinical research. Furthermore, clinical tests for both vaccines and antibodies have been carried out in humans and economically important animals, and the results are promising. Although it is not destined to be a smooth road, we are optimistic about new vaccines and immunotherapeutics targeting PNAG becoming validated and eventually licensed for clinical use against multiple infectious agents.

Abstract Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is currently recognized as the primary carcinogenic pathogen associated with gastric tumorigenesis, and its high prevalence and resistance make it difficult to tackle. A graph neural network-based deep learning model, employing different training sets of 13,638 molecules for pre-training and fine-tuning, was aided in predicting and exploring novel molecules against H. pylori. A positively predicted novel berberine derivative 8 with 3,13-disubstituted alkene exhibited a potency against all tested drug-susceptible and resistant H. pylori strains with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.25–0.5 μg/mL. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated an ideal gastric retention of 8, with the stomach concentration significantly higher than its MIC at 24 h post dose. Oral administration of 8 and omeprazole (OPZ) showed a comparable gastric bacterial reduction (2.2-log reduction) to the triple-therapy, namely OPZ + amoxicillin (AMX) + clarithromycin (CLA) without obvious disturbance on the intestinal flora. A combination of OPZ, AMX, CLA, and 8 could further decrease the bacteria load (2.8-log reduction). More importantly, the mono-therapy of 8 exhibited comparable eradication to both triple-therapy (OPZ + AMX + CLA) and quadruple-therapy (OPZ + AMX + CLA + bismuth citrate) groups. SecA and BamD, playing a major role in outer membrane protein (OMP) transport and assembling, were identified and verified as the direct targets of 8 by employing the chemoproteomics technique. In summary, by targeting the relatively conserved OMPs transport and assembling system, 8 has the potential to be developed as a novel anti-H. pylori candidate, especially for the eradication of drug-resistant strains.

The global health landscape has been persistently challenged by the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases. Traditional epidemiological models, rooted in the early 20th century, have provided foundational insights into disease dynamics. However, the intricate web of modern global interactions and the exponential growth of available data demand more advanced predictive tools. This is where AI for Science (AI4S) comes into play, offering a transformative approach by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into infectious disease prediction. This paper elucidates the pivotal role of AI4S in enhancing and, in some instances, superseding traditional epidemiological methodologies. By harnessing AI's capabilities, AI4S facilitates real-time monitoring, sophisticated data integration, and predictive modeling with enhanced precision. The comparative analysis highlights the stark contrast between conventional models and the innovative strategies enabled by AI4S. In essence, AI4S represents a paradigm shift in infectious disease research. It addresses the limitations of traditional models and paves the way for a more proactive and informed response to future outbreaks. As we navigate the complexities of global health challenges, AI4S stands as a beacon, signifying the next phase of evolution in disease prediction, characterized by increased accuracy, adaptability, and efficiency.

Abstract Diabetes mellitus is one of the most significant global burden diseases. It is well established that a chronic, systemic, low-grade inflammatory condition is strongly correlated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and the development of target-organ damage (TOD). Sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors (SGLTis), novel oral drugs for the treatment of diabetes, act mainly by reducing glucose reabsorption in proximal renal tubules and/or the intestine. Several high-quality clinical trials and large observational studies have revealed that SGLTis significantly improve cardiovascular and renal outcomes in T2D patients. Increasing evidence suggests that this is closely related to their anti-inflammatory properties, which are mainly manifested by a reduction in plasma concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers. This review analyses the potential mechanisms behind the anti-inflammatory effects of SGLTis in diabetes and presents recent evidence of their therapeutic efficacy in treating diabetes and related TOD. Graphic Abstract

Abstract Hot Flow anomalies (HFAs), one of the most well‐analyzed transient phenomena in the Earth's foreshock, are known as kinetic structures driven by tangential discontinuities (TDs). Recently, a 2‐dimensional (2D) magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) model reproduced HFAs with either a high‐ or low‐density core. Further investigation of an HFA with two cores observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission is reported. The observation via the Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence and Electrodynamics of the Moon's Interaction with the Sun (ARTEMIS) mission suggests this MHD HFA is associated with a foreshock density hole‐like structure. The trailing flux tube in simulation may propagate with a TD in the foreshock. Our work suggests that HFAs with two low‐density cores can also be achieved in MHD process. Results show the total ram pressure can be an excellent diagnostic for the presence of transient structures, such as HFAs, at the bow shock.

Wastewater treatment plants produce large amounts of sludge requiring stabilization before safe disposal. Traditional biological stabilization approaches are cost-effective but generally require either an extended retention time (10–40 days), or elevated temperatures (40–80 °C) for effective pathogens inactivation. This study overcomes these limitations via a novel acidic aerobic digestion process, leveraging an acid-tolerant ammonia-oxidizing bacterium (AOB) Candidatus Nitrosoglobus. To retain this novel but slowly growing AOB, we proposed the first-ever application of a classical wastewater configuration—moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR)—for sludge treatment. The AOB in biofilm maintains acidic pH and high nitrite levels in sludge, generating free nitrous acid in situ to expedite sludge stabilization. This process was tested in two laboratory-scale aerobic digesters processing full-scale anaerobically digested sludge. At an ambient temperature of 20 °C, pathogens were reduced to levels well below the threshold specified for the highest stabilization level (Class A), within a retention time of 3.5 days. A high volatile solids reduction of 27.4 ± 5.2% was achieved. Through drastically accelerating stabilization and enhancing reduction, this process substantially saves capital and operational costs for sludge disposal.

The goal of this study was to assess the impacts or benefits of sludge in situ reduction (SIR) within wastewater treatment processes with relation to global warming potential in wastewater treatment plants, with a comprehensive consideration of wastewater and sludge treatment. The anaerobic side-stream reactor (ASSR) and the sludge process reduction activated sludge (SPRAS), two typical SIR technologies, were used to compare the carbon footprint analysis results with the conventional anaerobic - anoxic - oxic (AAO) process. Compared to the AAO, the ASSR with a typical sludge reduction efficiency (SRE) of 30 % increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 1.1 - 1.7 %, while the SPRAS with a SRE of 74 % reduced GHG emissions by 12.3 - 17.6 %. Electricity consumption (0.025 - 0.027 kg CO2-eq/m3), CO2 emissions (0.016 - 0.059 kg CO2-eq/m3), and N2O emissions (0.009 - 0.023 kg CO2-eq/m3) for the removal of secondary substrates released from sludge decay in the SIR processes were the major contributor to the increased GHG emissions from the wastewater treatment system. By lowering sludge production and the organic matter content in the sludge, the SIR processes significantly decreased the carbon footprints associated with sludge treatment and disposal. The threshold SREs of the ASSR for GHG reduction were 27.7 % and 34.6 % for the advanced dewatering - sanitary landfill and conventional dewatering - drying-incinerating routes, respectively. Overall, the SPRAS process could be considered as a cost-effective and sustainable low-carbon SIR technology for wastewater treatment.

Chemicals are commonly dosed in sewer systems to reduce the emission of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and methane (CH4), incurring high costs and environmental concerns. Nitrite dosing is a promising approach as nitrite can be produced from urine wastewater, which is a feasible integrated water management strategy. However, nitrite dosing usually requires strict conditions, e.g., relatively high nitrite concentration (e.g., ∼200 mg N/L) and acidic environment, to inhibit microorganisms. In contrast to “microbial inhibition”, this study proposes “microbial utilization” concept, i.e., utilizing nitrite as a substrate for H2S and CH4 consumption in sewer. In a laboratory-scale sewer reactor, nitrite at a relatively low concentrations of 25–48 mg N/L was continuously dosed. Two nitrite-dependent microbial utilization processes, i.e., nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-DAMO) and microbial sulfide oxidation, successfully occurred in conjunction with nitrite reduction. The occurrence of both processes achieved a 58 % reduction in dissolved methane and over 90 % sulfide removal in the sewer reactor, with microbial activities measured as 15.6 mg CH4/(L·h) and 29.4 mg S/(L·h), respectively. High copy numbers of n-DAMO bacteria and sulfide-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) were detected in both sewer biofilms and sediments. Mechanism analysis confirmed that the dosed nitrite at a relatively low level did not cause the inhibition of sulfidogenic process due to the downward migration of activity zones in sewer sediments. Therefore, the proposed “microbial utilization” concept offers a new alternative for simultaneous removal of sulfide and methane in sewers.

China is the largest coke producer and consumer. There is a pressing need to address the high emissions of air pollutants and carbon dioxide associated with traditional coking production. As the nation pursues a transition towards carbon neutrality, expanding supply chains for coking plants to produce hydrogen, methanol, and other green alternatives has garnered significant attention. However, the relative advantages of these strategies have remained uncertain. In this study, we integrate a life cycle assessment-economic analysis-scenario analysis model to evaluate various coke oven gas (COG) utilization routes (COGtM: COG-to-methanol, COGtLNG: COG-to-liquefied natural gas, COGtSA: COG-to-synthetic ammonia, and COGtH: COG-to-hydrogen). The results indicate that COGtSA emerges as the preferred option for balancing environmental and economic benefits. Meanwhile, COGtM demonstrates economic viability but is associated with higher environmental impacts. Despite being recognized as a significant strategic direction under carbon neutrality initiatives, COGtH faces economic feasibility and risk resilience limitations. COGtLNG encounters both financial and environmental challenges, necessitating strategic development from an energy security perspective. The projected coking capacity is anticipated to experience a slight increase in the mid-term yet a significant decline in the long term, influenced by steel production capacity. In potential future markets, COGtM is estimated to potentially capture a maximum market share of 16–34% in the methanol market. Furthermore, against the backdrop of continuously expanding potential demand for hydrogen, COGtH holds advantages as a transitional solution, but in the long run, it can only meet a small portion of the market. COGtSA can meet 7–14% of market demand and emerges as the most viable pathway from the viewpoint of balancing environmental and economic aspects and covering future markets.

Dravet syndrome (DS) is a devastating early-onset refractory epilepsy syndrome caused by variants in the SCN1A gene. A disturbed GABAergic interneuron function is implicated in the progression to DS but the underlying developmental and pathophysiological mechanisms remain elusive, in particularly at the chromatin level. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from DS cases and healthy donors were used to model disease-associated epigenetic abnormalities of GABAergic development. Chromatin accessibility was assessed at multiple time points (Day 0, Day 19, Day 35, and Day 65) of GABAergic differentiation. Additionally, the effects of the commonly used anti-seizure drug valproic acid (VPA) on chromatin accessibility were elucidated in GABAergic cells. The distinct dynamics in the chromatin profile of DS iPSC predicted accelerated early GABAergic development, evident at D19, and diverged further from the pattern in control iPSC with continued differentiation, indicating a disrupted GABAergic maturation. Exposure to VPA at D65 reshaped the chromatin landscape at a variable extent in different iPSC-lines and rescued the observed dysfunctional development of some DS iPSC-GABA. The comprehensive investigation on the chromatin landscape of GABAergic differentiation in DS-patient iPSC offers valuable insights into the epigenetic dysregulations associated with interneuronal dysfunction in DS. Moreover, the detailed analysis of the chromatin changes induced by VPA in iPSC-GABA holds the potential to improve the development of personalized and targeted anti-epileptic therapies.

Abstract Background Obesity and hypertension are major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases that affect millions of people worldwide. Both conditions are associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, which is mediated by adipokines such as adiponectin. Adiponectin is the most abundant adipokine that has a beneficial impact on metabolic and vascular biology, while high serum concentrations are associated with some syndromes. This “adiponectin paradox” still needs to be clarified in obesity-associated hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate how adiponectin affects blood pressure, inflammation, and metabolic function in obesity hypertension using a Chinese adult case-control study. Methods A case-control study that had finished recruiting 153 subjects divided as four characteristic groups. Adiponectin serum levels were tested by ELISA in these subjects among these four characteristic Chinese adult physical examination groups. Waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SB), diastolic blood pressure (DB), and other clinical laboratory data were collected. Analyzation of correlations between the research index and differences between groups was done by SPSS. Results Serum adiponectin levels in the| normal healthy group (NH group) were significantly higher than those in the newly diagnosed untreated just-obesity group (JO group), and negatively correlated with the visceral adiposity index. With multiple linear egression analysis, it was found that, for serum adiponectin, gender, serum albumin (ALB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) were the significant independent correlates, and for SB, age and HDLC were the significant independent correlates, and for DB, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was the significant independent correlate. The other variables did not reach significance in the model. Conclusions Our study reveals that adiponectin’s role in obesity-hypertension is multifaceted and is influenced by the systemic metabolic homeostasis signaling axis. In obesity-related hypertension, compensatory effects, adiponectin resistance, and reduced adiponectin clearance from impaired kidneys and liver all contribute to the “adiponectin paradox”.

【Objective】It aims to establish an efficient propagation technology system of Ficus formosana.【Method】Taking the stem segments of F. formosana as test materials, the effects of different basic media on the induction rate and germination number of stem segments were studied. The effects of different plant growth regulators, activated carbon and their concentration ratio on the proliferation coefficient, rooting rate and growth of cluster buds were studied by orthogonal tests Finally, different transplanting substrates were set up to study the transplanting and domestication of tissue culture seedlings, and the substrates that could improve the survival rate and quality of tissue culture seedlings were screened.【Result】Under the same condition of adding 1.0 mg/L 6-BA, 0.5 mg/L KT and 0.2 mg/L NAA, the induction effect of WPM basic medium on stem segment of F. formosana was better than that of MS basic medium. After 30 days of culture, the induction rate was 97.13% and the germination number was 3.38. The range results of orthogonal tests showed that NAA was the main plant growth regulator affecting the proliferation of cluster buds, followed by 6-BA. The optimum medium for proliferation of cluster bud was WPM+2.0 mg/L 6-BA+0.5 mg/L KT+0.1 mg/L NAA, and the proliferation coefficient reached 5.77 after 60 days of inoculation, with robust cluster buds. Meanwhile, NAA was also the main factor affecting the rooting rate of cluster buds, and there was no significant difference in the effects of IBA and activated carbon on rooting rate. The optimum medium for rooting of cluster bud was WPM+0.1 mg/L IBA+0.1 mg/L NAA+1 g/L activated carbon, the rooting rate reached 100% after 60 days of inoculation, and the tissue culture seedlings were robust with developed roots, not prone to break. The best substrate for tissue culture seedlings was: river sand∶vermiculite∶perlite = 1∶1∶1. After 30 days of transplanting, the survival rate was 97.78% and the plant grew well.【Conclusion】The best rapid propagation system of F. formosanus is : the stem segment is induced by WPM+1.0 mg/L 6-BA+0.5 mg/L KT+0.2 mg/L NAA, the proliferation and rooting of cluster buds are conducted by adding WPM+2.0 mg/L 6-BA+0.5 mg/L KT+0.1 mg/L NAA and WPM+0.1 mg/L IBA+0.1 mg/L NAA+1 g/L activated carbon, the transplanting and domestication are performed in river sand: vermiculit: perlite = 1∶1∶1.

Abstract Background Demodex blepharitis (DB) is a common disease of the ocular surface. The characteristics of the bacterial community in eyelash roots after Demodex infestation are still unknown. Knowledge of the characteristics of the bacterial community of eyelash follicles in patients with DB can provide valuable insights for guiding the diagnosis and treatment of DB. Methods Twenty-five patients with DB (DB group) and 21 non-DB volunteers (control group) were enrolled in the study. Eyelashes from the upper eyelid of the right eye were sampled, and 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing was performed to determine the V3-V4 regions of the microbial 16S rDNA gene within 1 month of infestation. The sequencing data of the two groups were analyzed and compared. The effect of the bacterium Burkholderia on the survival of Demodex mites was evaluated using Demodex obtained from 12 patients with DB other that the patients in the DB group. Results A total of 31 phyla and 862 genera were identified in the DB and control groups. The five most abundant phyla in the two groups were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Cyanobacteria. The abundance of Actinomycetes was significantly higher in the DB group than in the control group. At the genus level, the five most abundant genera in the two groups were Pseudomonas, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Rolstonia and Acinetobacter; Clostridium sensu stricto 1 was abundant in the control group and Corynebacterium_1 was abundant in the DB group. Compared with the control group, the abundance of Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia was 2.36-fold lower in the DB group. Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis revealed Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, SC_I_84_unclassified, Nonmyxobacteria and Succinvibrio to be the major biomarkers in the control group and Catenibacterium and Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group to be the major biomarkers in the DB group. To explore the performance of these optimal marker models, receiver operational characteristic curve analysis was performed, and the average area under the curve value of Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia was 0.7448. Burkholderia cepacia isolated from normal human eyelashes was fermented, and the Demodex mites isolated from patient eyelashes were cultured together with its fermented supernatant. The results showed that the fermentation supernatant could significantly reduce the survival time of the Demodex mites, suggesting the potential therapeutic value of this bacterium against Demodex. Conclusions The composition of the bacterial community in the eyelashes of DB patients differed from that in eyelashes of healthy volunteers, revealing a decrease in bacterial diversity in infested eyelashes. This decrease may be related to the occurrence and development of DB. The supernatant of Burkholderia cepacia culture medium was found to inhibit the growth of Demodex in eyelash hair follicles, providing a new insight with potential applications for the clinical treatment of Demodex infestation. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Detecting and analyzing lung lesion regions using artificial intelligence is of great significance in the medical diagnosis of lung CT images, which can substantially improve the efficiency of doctors. However, segmentation of the inflammatory region in the CT image of the lung remains challenging due to the varied sizes, blurry local details, irregular shapes, and limited sizes of datasets. Faced with these challenges, this paper proposes a novel lung lesion segmentation network that incorporates two feature extraction branches to achieve a balance of speed and accuracy. We first design a context branch (CB) to preserve the scale-invariant global context information by the transformer-like module. Besides, a shallow detail branch (DB) based on a deep aggregation pyramid (DAP) module is designed to provide detailed information. Extensive experiments are conducted on two datasets, including the public COVID-19 dataset and a private dataset. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms state-of-the-art methods. Moreover, the trade-off between accuracy and inference speed is achieved.

The unclear developmental potential of hydrogen production technologies in China hinders policy formulation and industrial planning. This study explores the evolution of nine hydrogen production pathways in China from 2020 to 2060, using a dynamic integrated assessment model. The results project a significant increase in hydrogen supply from 29.69 Mt in 2020 to 86.34 Mt by 2060, primarily green hydrogen post-2042, with an 83 % reduction in average carbon footprint during the forty years. The levelized cost when not considering carbon prices is projected to peak in 2033. The findings suggest a phased transition strategy, carbon pricing, and increased investments to promote a cost-effective, low-carbon hydrogen economy in China. This study provides a multi-dimensional perspective on China's long-term hydrogen industry development, offering insights for policymaking.

Wind energy has become one of the most important measures for China to achieve its carbon neutrality goal. The spatial and temporal evolvement of economic competitiveness for wind energy becomes an important concern in shaping the decarbonization pathway in China. There has been an urgent need in power system planning to model the future dynamics of cost decline and supply potential for wind power in the context of carbon neutrality until 2060. Existing studies often fail to capture the rapid decline in the cost of wind power generation in recent years, and the prediction of wind power cost decline is more conservative than the reality. This study constructs an integrated model to evaluate the cost-competitiveness and grid parity potential of China's onshore wind electricity at fine spatial resolution with updated parameters. Results indicate that the total onshore wind potential amounts to 54.0 PWh. The average levelized cost of wind power is expected to decline from CNY 0.39 kWh−1 in 2020 to CNY 0.30 and CNY 0.21 kWh−1 in 2030 and 2060. 28.3%, 67.6%, and 97.6% of the technical potentials hold power costs lower than coal power in 2020, 2030, and 2060.

China is now confronting the intertwined challenges of air pollution and climate change. Given the high synergies between air pollution abatement and climate change mitigation, the Chinese government is actively promoting synergetic control of these two issues. The Synergetic Roadmap project was launched in 2021 to track and analyze the progress of synergetic control in China by developing and monitoring key indicators. The Synergetic Roadmap 2022 report is the first annual update, featuring 20 indicators across five aspects: synergetic governance system and practices, progress in structural transition, air pollution and associated weather-climate interactions, sources, sinks, and mitigation pathway of atmospheric composition, and health impacts and benefits of coordinated control. Compared to the comprehensive review presented in the 2021 report, the Synergetic Roadmap 2022 report places particular emphasis on progress in 2021 with highlights on actions in key sectors and the relevant milestones. These milestones include the proportion of non-fossil power generation capacity surpassing coal-fired capacity for the first time, a decline in the production of crude steel and cement after years of growth, and the surging penetration of electric vehicles. Additionally, in 2022, China issued the first national policy that synergizes abatements of pollution and carbon emissions, marking a new era for China's pollution-carbon co-control. These changes highlight China's efforts to reshape its energy, economic, and transportation structures to meet the demand for synergetic control and sustainable development. Consequently, the country has witnessed a slowdown in carbon emission growth, improved air quality, and increased health benefits in recent years.

Abstract As a kind of environmental noise, infrasonic noise has negative effects on various human organs. To date, research has shown that infrasound impairs cognitive function, especially the ability for learning and memory. Previously, we demonstrated that impaired learning and memory induced by infrasound was closely related with glia activation; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Connexin 43 hemichannels (Cx43 HCs), which are mainly expressed in hippocampal astrocytes, are activated under pathological conditions, lending support to the hypothesis that Cx43 HCs might function in the impaired learning and memory induced by infrasound. This study revealed that that blocking hippocampal Cx43 HCs or downregulating hippocampal Cx43 expression significantly alleviated impaired learning and memory induced by infrasound. We also observed that infrasound exposure led to the abundant release of glutamate and ATP through Cx43 HCs. In addition, the abundant release of glutamate and ATP depended on proinflammatory cytokines. Our finds suggested that the enhanced release of ATP and glutamate by astroglial Cx43 HCs may be involved in the learning and memory deficits caused by infrasound exposure.

An essential aspect of harnessing the potential of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) and their derivatives for regenerative medicine is the development of animal-free and chemically defined conditions for ex vivo cultivation. PSCs, including embryonic and induced PSCs (iPSCs), are in the early stages of clinical trials for various indications, including degenerative diseases and traumatic injury. A key step in the workflows generating these cells for more widespread clinical use is their safe and robust ex vivo cultivation. This entails optimization of cell culture media and substrates that are safe and consistent while maintaining robust functionality. Here, we describe the design of a human vitronectin (hVTN) variant with improved manufacturability in a bacterial expression system along with improved function in comparison to wild-type VTN and other previously characterized polypeptide fragments. In conjunction with an animal component-free media formulation, our hVTN fragment provides animal-free conditions for the enhanced expansion of iPSCs. This hVTN variant also supports the reprogramming of PBMCs into iPSCs. Furthermore, we show that these iPSCs can be efficiently differentiated into the three major germ layers and cortical neurons, thereby closing the loop on a completely defined animal-free workflow for cell types relevant for regenerative medicine.

Variable selection methods have been extensively developed for and applied to cancer genomics data to identify important omics features associated with complex disease traits, including cancer outcomes. However, the reliability and reproducibility of the findings are in question if valid inferential procedures are not available to quantify the uncertainty of the findings. In this article, we provide a gentle but systematic review of high-dimensional frequentist and Bayesian inferential tools under sparse models which can yield uncertainty quantification measures, including confidence (or Bayesian credible) intervals, p values and false discovery rates (FDR). Connections in high-dimensional inferences between the two realms have been fully exploited under the “unpenalized loss function + penalty term” formulation for regularization methods and the “likelihood function × shrinkage prior” framework for regularized Bayesian analysis. In particular, we advocate for robust Bayesian variable selection in cancer genomics studies due to its ability to accommodate disease heterogeneity in the form of heavy-tailed errors and structured sparsity while providing valid statistical inference. The numerical results show that robust Bayesian analysis incorporating exact sparsity has yielded not only superior estimation and identification results but also valid Bayesian credible intervals under nominal coverage probabilities compared with alternative methods, especially in the presence of heavy-tailed model errors and outliers.

The inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine (IIV4) and the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) have been administered for years and could be administered concomitantly if necessary. However, the immunogenicity and safety of the concomitant administration of these two vaccines have not been well documented, especially in the Chinese population. In this study, 480 participants aged 60 years and older were randomly assigned to the concomitant administration group (C group) or the separate administration group (S group) to receive IIV4 and PPSV23 either concomitantly or separately. Blood samples were collected before and 28 days after each vaccination. The antibodies against four influenza virus strains and twenty-three pneumococcus serotypes were tested. The results showed that the geometric mean titer (GMT) ratios (C group to S group) for the four influenza strains ranged from 0.72 to 0.95, with the lower limits of the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) ranging from 0.51 to 0.75, and the geometric mean concentration (GMC) ratios for the 23 pneumococcal serotypes ranged from 0.80 to 1.00, with the lower limits of 95% CIs ranging from 0.67 to 0.86. All values met the predefined criteria for non-inferiority. The incidence of adverse events was 0.63% in the C group and 1.56% in the S group. No serious adverse events were observed. In conclusion, the immunogenicity of the concomitant administration of IIV4 and PPSV23 was non-inferior to that of the separate administration, and the safety profile was favorable in adults aged 60 years and older in China.

Abstract The transient electron donor–acceptor (EDA) complex has been an emerging area in the photoinduced organic synthesis field, generating radicals without exogenous transition‐metal or organic dye‐based photoredox catalysts. The catalytic platform to form suitable photoactive EDA complexes for photochemical reduction reactions remains underdeveloped. Herein, a general photoinduced reductive alkylation via the EDA complex strategy is described. A simple yet multifunctional system, triphenylphosphine and iodide salt, promotes the photoinduced decarboxylative hydroalkylation, and reductive defluorinative decarboxylative alkylation of trifluoromethyl alkenes, to access trifluoromethyl alkanes and gem‐difluoroalkenes. Moreover, decarboxylative hydroalkylation can be applied to more kinds of electron‐deficient alkenes as a general Giese addition reaction.

Abstract The global surge in solar photovoltaic (PV) power has featured spatial specialization from manufacturing to installation along its industrial chain. Yet how to improve PV climate benefits are under-investigated. Here we explore the evolution of net greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation of PV industry from 2009–2060 with a spatialized-dynamic life-cycle-analysis. Results suggest a net GHG mitigation of 1.29 Gt CO2-equivalent from 2009–2019, achieved by 1.97 Gt of mitigation from installation minus 0.68 Gt of emissions from manufacturing. The highest net GHG mitigation among future manufacturing-installation-scenarios to meet 40% global power demand in 2060 is as high as 204.7 Gt from 2020–2060, featuring manufacturing concentrated in Europe and North America and prioritized PV installations in carbon-intensive nations. This represents 97.5 Gt more net mitigation than the worst-case scenario, equivalent to 1.9 times 2020 global GHG emissions. The results call for strategic international coordination of PV industrial chain to increase GHG net mitigation.

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of death in the world. In most cases, drug resistance and tumor recurrence are ultimately inevitable. One obstacle is the presence of chemotherapy-insensitive quiescent cancer cells (QCCs). Identification of unique features of QCCs may facilitate the development of new targeted therapeutic strategies to eliminate tumor cells and thereby delay tumor recurrence. Here, using single-cell RNA sequencing, we classified proliferating and quiescent cancer cell populations in the human colorectal cancer spheroid model and identified ATF3 as a novel signature of QCCs that could support cells living in a metabolically restricted microenvironment. RNA velocity further showed a shift from the QCC group to the PCC group indicating the regenerative capacity of the QCCs. Our further results of epigenetic analysis, STING analysis, and evaluation of TCGA COAD datasets build a conclusion that ATF3 can interact with DDIT4 and TRIB3 at the transcriptional level. In addition, decreasing the expression level of ATF3 could enhance the efficacy of 5-FU on CRC MCTS models. In conclusion, ATF3 was identified as a novel marker of QCCs, and combining conventional drugs targeting PCCs with an option to target QCCs by reducing ATF3 expression levels may be a promising strategy for more efficient removal of tumor cells.

Abstract Decarbonized power systems are critical to mitigate climate change, yet methods to achieve a reliable and resilient near-zero power system are still under exploration. This study develops an hourly power system simulation model considering high-resolution geological constraints for carbon-capture-utilization-and-storage to explore the optimal solution for a reliable and resilient near-zero power system. This is applied to 31 provinces in China by simulating 10,450 scenarios combining different electricity storage durations and interprovincial transmission capacities, with various shares of abated fossil power with carbon-capture-utilization-and-storage. Here, we show that allowing up to 20% abated fossil fuel power generation in the power system could reduce the national total power shortage rate by up to 9.0 percentages in 2050 compared with a zero fossil fuel system. A lowest-cost scenario with 16% abated fossil fuel power generation in the system even causes 2.5% lower investment costs in the network (or $16.8 billion), and also increases system resilience by reducing power shortage during extreme climatic events.

Abstract Background The determination of nutrient content in the petiole is one of the important methods for achieving cotton fertilization management. The establishment of a monitoring system for the nutrient content of cotton petioles during important growth periods under drip irrigation is of great significance for achieving precise fertilization and environmental protection. Methods A total of 100 cotton fields with an annual yield of 4500–7500 kg/ha were selected among the main cotton-growing areas of Northern Xinjiang. The nitrate nitrogen (NO3 −–N), inorganic phosphorus (PO4 3−–P) and inorganic potassium (K+–K) content and yield of cotton petioles were recorded. Based on a yield of 6000 kg/ha as the dividing line, a two-level and yield-graded monitoring system for NO3 −–N, PO4 3−–P and K+–K in cotton petioles during important growth periods was established, and predictive yield models for NO3 −–N, PO4 3−–P and K+–K in petioles during important growth periods were established. Results The results showed found that the yields of the 100 cotton fields surveyed were normally distributed. Therefore, two yield grades were classified using 6000 kg/ha as a criterion. Under different yield-graded, the NO3 −–N, PO4 3−–P and K+–K content of petiole at important growth stages was significantly positively correlated with yield. Further, the variation range of NO3 −–N, PO4 3−–P and K+–K content in petioles could be used as a standard for yield-graded. In addition, a yield prediction model for the NO3 −–N, PO4 3−–P and K+–K content of petioles was developed. The SSO-BP validation model performed the best (R2 = 0.96, RMSE = 0.06 t/ha, MAE = 0.05 t/ha) in the full bud stage, which was 12.9% higher than the BP validation model. However, the RMSE and MAE were decreased by 86.7% and 88.1%, respectively. Conclusion The establishment of NPK nutrition monitor system of cotton petioles under drip irrigation based on yield-graded provides an important basis for nutrition monitor of cotton petiole under drip irrigation in Xinjiang. It also provides a new method for cotton yield prediction.

Abstract Solar and wind resources are vital for the sustainable energy transition. Although renewable potentials have been widely assessed in existing literature, few studies have examined the statistical characteristics of the inherent renewable uncertainties arising from natural randomness, which is inevitable in stochastic-aware research and applications. Here we develop a rule-of-thumb statistical learning model for wind and solar power prediction and generate a year-long dataset of hourly prediction errors of 30 provinces in China. We reveal diversified spatiotemporal distribution patterns of prediction errors, indicating that over 60% of wind prediction errors and 50% of solar prediction errors arise from scenarios with high utilization rates. The first-order difference and peak ratio of generation series are two primary indicators explaining the uncertainty distribution. Additionally, we analyze the seasonal distributions of the provincial prediction errors that reveal a consistent law in China. Finally, policies including incentive improvements and interprovincial scheduling are suggested.

Abstract In order to elucidate the effects of different nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilization timing sequences management on nutrient absorption and utilization in drip irrigation cotton, field experiments were conducted from 2020 to 2021. There are six timing sequences management methods for NPK fertilization (S1–S6: 1/3Time N–1/3Time PK–1/3Time W, 1/3Time PK–1/3Time N–1/3Time W, 1/2Time NPK–1/2Time W, 1/4Time W–1/4Time N–1/4Time PK–1/4Time W, 1/3Time W–1/3Time NPK–1/3Time W), among which S6 is the current management method for field fertilization timing sequences, and S7 is the non N. The results showed that during the main growth stage, S5 accumulated more nitrate nitrogen (NO3 –-N) and ammonium nitrogen (NH4 +-N) content in soil between 20 and 40 cm, and accumulated more available phosphorus content in soil between 5–15 cm and 15–25 cm, S5 reducing N leaching and increasing P mobility. It is recommended to change the timing sequences management method of NPK fertilization for drip irrigation cotton to 1/4Time W–1/4Time PK–1/4Time N–1/4Time W, which is beneficial for plant nutrient absorption and utilization while reducing environmental pollution.

With the development of artificial intelligence, reinforcement-learning-based intelligent control algorithms, which generally learn control strategies through trial and error, have received more attention in the automation equipment and manufacturing fields. Although they can intelligently adjust their control strategy without the need for human effort, the most relevant algorithms for servo motors only consider the overall performance, while ignoring the risks in special cases. Therefore, overcurrent problems are often triggered in the training process of the reinforcement learning agent. This can damage the motors’ service life and even burn it out directly. To solve this problem, in this study we propose a risk-sensitive intelligent control algorithm based on value distribution, which uses the quantile function to model the probability distribution of cumulative discount returns and employs the condition value at risk to measure the loss caused by overcurrent. The agent can accordingly learn a control strategy that is more sensitive to environmental restrictions and avoid the overcurrent problem. The performance is verified on three different servo motors with six control tasks, and the experimental results show that the proposed method can achieve fewer overcurrent occurrences than others in most cases.

Iris typhifolia Kitag is a perennial herbaceous species with high ornamental and applied value. Elucidating the mechanism of saline–alkali tolerance in Iris is crucial for their promotion in saline–alkali areas. Saline–alkali stress is one of the factors that affects plant growth, which has become a significant global issue. In this study, we measured the physiological and biochemical indexes of I. typhifolia, through germination and potting trials, to evaluate the resistance of I. typhifolia to different levels of artificial saline–alkali stress (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mmol·L−1). The results showed that artificial saline–alkali stress negatively impacted germination parameters, cell membrane integrity, and photosynthetic parameters. Different trends in osmoregulatory substances and endogenous hormones were observed. It was shown that I. typhifolia had a potential adaptability to the saline–alkali environment by enhancing its internal defense mechanism. Based on regression analyses, the germination threshold of I. typhifolia was calculated to be 87.15 mmol·L−1, which provided a theoretical basis for the application in soil saline–alkalization areas.

Whether the phosphorus removal chemical in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can be accurately dosed not only affects the compliance of the effluent total phosphorus but also has a huge impact on sludge production and energy consumption during the wastewater treatment process. For the effluent from the secondary sedimentation tank of a wastewater treatment plant in southern China, based on experimental screening of the optimal pH value, chemical types and concentrations of chemicals, coagulation time, etc., a dynamic dosage prediction feedforward model for chemical phosphorus removal agents in the effluent from the secondary sedimentation tank of the WWTPs was developed to predict the most economical dosage of the chemicals. Meanwhile, combined with the adaptive fuzzy neural network P feedback control algorithm, dynamic real-time control of chemical dosing was achieved. Through micro-control design, a software model for signal collection and feedback in a specific phosphorus removal scenario was formed, and an automatic control system for chemical dosing was ultimately developed for a WWTP in a city in southern China. After stable operation for two months, the system achieved a 100% compliance rate for effluent total phosphorus (TP) concentration and a 67% improvement in effluent stability, helping the wastewater treatment plant achieve stable and precise control of the phosphorus removal process in the secondary sedimentation tank effluent, which is conducive to further promoting its implementation of low-carbon pathways.

A series of new monobactam sulfonates is continuously synthesized and evaluated for their antimicrobial efficacies against Gram-negative bacteria. Compound 33a (IMBZ18G) is highly effective in vitro and in vivo against clinically intractable multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative strains, with a highly druglike nature. The checkerboard assay reveals its significant synergistic effect with β-lactamase inhibitor avibactam, and the MIC values against MDR enterobacteria were reduced up to 4–512 folds. X-ray co-crystal and chemoproteomic assays indicate that the anti-MDR bacteria effect of 33a results from the dual inhibition of the common PBP3 and some class A and C β-lactamases. Accordingly, preclinical studies of 33a alone and 33a‒avibactam combination as potential innovative candidates are actively going on, in the treatment of β-lactamase-producing MDR Gram-negative bacterial infections.

Abstract Background In Japan, there are currently no definitive conclusions regarding the characteristics of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS). This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlation of MCS and EHS with age, sex, and depression in the Japanese population. Methods An anonymous self-report questionnaire was distributed to 2,007 participants. Variables such as MCS, EHS, depression score, and demographic characteristics were individually evaluated using the U-test, chi-squared test, and correlation analyses. Moreover, we performed a covariance structure analysis to build a structural equation model. Results Older individuals and women were more likely to exhibit MCS and EHS symptoms. Moreover, depression was correlated with MCS and EHS. Conclusions Although MCS and EHS are strongly correlated, they exhibit distinct characteristics and symptoms, indicating that they can be regarded as separate conditions.

Extra-pair paternity (EPP) is commonly found in socially monogamous birds, especially in small passerine birds, and there are interspecific and intraspecific variations in the extent of EPP. The Chestnut-vented Nuthatch (Sitta nagaensis) is a socially monogamous passerine bird, and verifying whether this species has EPP relies on parentage testing—S. nagaensis is not known to have EPP. In this study, we developed SNP markers of this species that are informative for parentage analysis from double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) data. A panel consisting of 50 SNP markers, with a mean heterozygosity of 0.343, was used to resolve 95% of nestlings to fathers. The combined exclusion probabilities for the first parent and second parent were 0.991 and 0.9999, respectively. This panel of SNP markers is a powerful tool for parentage assignments in S. nagaensis. In addition, we found that three offspring (7.9%) from three nests (23.1%) were the result of extra-pair fertilization out of 38 offspring in 13 nests. Our study provided information on parentage analysis that has not been reported before in S. nagaensis. It also supplemented the understudied EPP behavior of birds in Asia, contributing to a general understanding of the EPP behaviors of birds.

BackgroundCoronaVac has been authorized worldwide for preventing coronavirus disease 2019. Information on the safety, immunogenicity and consistency of different lots and workshops of CoronaVac is presented here.MethodsIn this randomized, double-blind, phase IV clinical trial in healthy children and adolescents aged 3-17 years, we aimed to assess the lot-to-lot and workshop-to-workshop consistency, as well as immunogenicity and safety of seven lots of commercial-scale CoronaVac from three workshops. Eligible participants were enrolled into three age cohorts (3-5, 6-11 and 12-17 years). Within each cohort, participants were randomly assigned to seven groups to receive two doses of CoronaVac, with four weeks apart. Serum samples were collected before the first dose and 28 days after the second dose for neutralizing antibody testing. The primary objective was to evaluate the consistency of immune response among different lots within workshop 2 or 3, as well as among different workshops. The primary endpoint was geometric mean titer (GMT) of neutralizing antibody at 28 days after full-course vaccination.ResultsBetween July 27th and November 19th, 2021, a total of 2,520 eligible participants were enrolled. Results showed that 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of GMT ratios for all comparative groups among different lots or workshops were within the equivalence criteria of [0.67, 1.5]. The GMT and seroconversion rate for all participants were 126.42 (95%CI: 121.82, 131.19) and 99.86% (95%CI: 99.59%, 99.97%) at 28 days after two-dose vaccination. The incidences of adverse reactions were similar among seven lots, and most adverse reactions were mild in Grade 1, with no serious adverse event.ConclusionCoronaVac is well-tolerated and can elicit a good immune response among children and adolescents. Lot-to-lot consistency results indicate stable manufacturing of commercial-scale CoronaVac.

Cuproptosis is a novel discovered mode of programmed cell death. To identify the molecular regulatory patterns related to cuproptosis, this study was designed for exploring the correlation between cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) and the prognosis, metabolism, and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to screen 363 HCC samples, which were categorized into 2 clusters based on the expression of CRGs. Survival analysis demonstrated that overall survival (OS) was better in Cluster 1 than Cluster 2 which might to be relevant to differences in metabolic based on functional analysis. With LASSO regression analysis and univariate COX regression, 8 prognosis-related genes were screened, a differently expressed genes (DEGs) were then constructed (HCC patients' DEGs)-based signature. The signature's stability was also validated in the 2 independent cohorts and test cohorts (GSE14520, HCC dataset in PCAWG). The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year area under the curve (AUC) were 0.756, 0.706, and 0.722, respectively. The signature could also well predict the response to chemotherapy, targeted and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) by providing a risk score. Moreover, the correlation was uncovered by the research between the metabolism and risk score. In conclusion, a unique cuproptosis-related signature that be capable of predicting patients' prognosis with HCC, and offered valuable insights into chemotherapy, TACE and targeted therapies for these patients has been developed.

BackgroundClonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis) is a epidemiologically significant food-borne parasite, causing several hepatobiliary diseases. Biliary microbiota community structure might be influenced by infection with pathogens. However, the biliary microbiome of biliary obstruction patients infected with C. sinensis is still an unexplored aspect.MethodsA total of 50 biliary obstruction patients were enrolled, including 24 infected with C. sinensis and 26 non-infected subjects. The bile samples were collected by Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancretography. Biliary microbiota alteration was analyzed through high-throughput 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing.ResultsOur findings revealed that there was significant increase in both richness and diversity, as well as changes in the taxonomic composition of the biliary microbiota of C. sinensis infected patients. At the phylum level, C. sinensis infection induced Proteobacteria increased and Firmicutes reduced. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus increased significantly, while Enterococcus decreased prominently in infected groups (P < 0.05). The PICRUSt analysis further showed remarkably different metabolic pathways between the two groups.ConclusionC. sinensis infection could modify the biliary microbiota, increasing the abundance and changing the phylogenetic composition of bacterial in biliary obstruction patients. This study may help deepen the understanding of the host-biliary microbiota interplay with C. sinensis infection on the background of biliary obstruction and provide new insights into understanding the pathogenesis of clonorchiasis.

Abstract The Makassar Strait throughflow (MST) constitutes a significant component of the Indonesian throughflow (ITF) and plays a pivotal role in the interbasin exchange between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. While previous studies have suggested that the buoyancy forcing plays a role in influencing the seasonality of the MST, the quantitative contribution of salinity effect on MST seasonality remains unclear. Here we use the measurements from the Monitoring ITF program and the Global Ocean Physics Reanalysis product to investigate the seasonality of MST and quantify the impact of the salinity effect. We find that the halosteric variability due to the salinity effect contributes to approximately (69.6 ± 11.7) % of the total seasonal variability of surface dynamic height gradient along the Makassar Strait, and dominates the seasonality of the upper layer MST. The primary drivers for freshwater forcing are horizontal advection through the Karimata Strait and precipitation in the Java Sea.

Abstract This paper applies thermal imaging technology to gearbox fault diagnosis. The temperature field calculation model is established to obtain the temperature field images of various faults. A deep learning network model combining transfer learning of convolutional neural network with supervised training and unsupervised training of deep belief network is proposed. The model requires one-fifth of the training time of the convolutional neural network model. The data set used for training the deep learning network model is expanded by using the temperature field simulation image of the gearbox. The results show that the network model has over 97% accuracy for the diagnosis of simulation faults. The finite element model of gearbox can be modified with experimental data to obtain more accurate thermal images, and this method can be better used in practice.

Highlights A flexible freestanding TaS2 film (thickness = 3.1 μm) exhibits an ultralow void ratio of 6.01%, an ultra-high electrical conductivity of 2,666 S cm−1, an electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of 41.8 dB, an absolute EMI SE (SSE/t) of 27,859 dB cm2 g−1, and excellent flexibility withstand 1,000 bends without rupture. The TaS2 composite films exhibit excellent EMI shielding properties and higher tensile strength with better mechanical flexibility, making them suitable for EMI shielding practical applications.

Objective: To isolate and identify Lactobacillus gasseri from 125 fecal samples of healthy infants, and to evaluate its safety and antimicrobial activity. Methods: In this study, fecal samples of 1-month-old healthy infants were taken, and the strains were separated by MRS medium, Gram staining, biochemical identification and 16S rRNA sequencing technology were used to strain identification. Subsequently, the hemolysis of the isolated L. gasseri was evaluated by blood agar. The drug sensitivity of antibiotics was determined by micro broth dilution method, and the safety of the isolated strains were evaluated. Finally, the inhibitory effects of the 15 isolated L. gasseri strains on E. coli ATCC 25922 and S. aureus ATCC 25923 were detected by Oxford cup method. Results: Fifteen strains of L. gasseri were successfully isolated from 125 fecal samples of healthy infants. Hemolysis test results showed that 14 strains of them was hemolytic negative. The 15 tested strains were highly sensitive to tetracycline, vancomycin, linezolid and rifampicin, completely sensitive to imipenem and completely resistant to trimethoprim. The results of antibacterial activity test showed that 6 strains could effectively in inhibiting both E. coli and S. aureus. Conclusion: In this study, three strains of L. gasseri were successfully isolated from healthy infant’s fecal samples, which could not only inhibit E. coli and S. aureus, but also passed the safety test (LGI 6-1, LGI 6-2 and LGI 6-3). As potential probiotic resources, they could provide a research target for further research on function exploring.

Sympatric closely related species may experience interspecific trophic competition due to ecological similarity; they may isolate in terms of diet or habitat use as a strategy to avoid competition. The body tissues of consumers contain stable isotope signatures information that can be applied to infer their dietary information. In this study, δ13C and δ15N stable isotopes were analyzed to determine the dietary information and trophic niches of sympatric coexisting Sitta yunnanensis and Sitta nagaensis. The results showed that the food sources of S. yunnanensis and S. nagaensis were from six orders, including Orthoptera, and the cumulative contribution rate was 99.97%, with the two species eating similar diets but at different rates. The larger δ13C of S. yunnanensis indicates that it had a wider range of habitats for feeding, while the difference in δ15N values was not significant (p > 0.05), indicating that both species feed on similar nutrient levels. As determined by Bayesian ellipses, the isotopic niches of S. yunnanensis and S. nagaensis were differentiated; the isotopic niche width of S. yunnanensis is 2.69‰2, which was larger than that of S. nagaensis (0.73‰2), indicates that differentiation between the two species in diet or habitat use reduced competition. Trophic niche differentiation and differences in foraging proportions may be the principal resource allocation mechanisms behind S. yunnanensis and S. nagaensis coexistence.

Antibiotics cannot be effectively removed by traditional wastewater treatment processes, and have become widespread pollutants in various environments. In this study, a Z-type heterojunction photo-catalyst Pg-C3N4 (PCN)/Nitrogen doped biochar (N-Biochar)/BiVO4 (NCBN) for the degradation of norfloxacin (NOR) was prepared by the hydrothermal method. The specific surface area of the NCBN (42.88 m2/g) was further improved compared to BiVO4 (4.528 m2/g). The photo-catalytic performance of the catalyst was investigated, and the N-Biochar acted as a charge transfer channel to promote carrier separation and form Z-type heterojunctions. Moreover, the NCBN exhibited excellent performance (92.5%) in removing NOR, which maintained 70% degradation after four cycles. The main active substance of the NCBN was •O2−, and the possible degradation pathways are provided. This work will provide a theoretical basis for the construction of heterojunction photo-catalysts.

Streptococcus suis is an important zoonotic pathogen that mainly causes meningitis, septicemia, and arthritis. Due to the limited cross-protection between numerous serotypes, the existing inactive vaccines in clinical use fail to offer sufficient protection. In this study, a gene deletion-attenuated strain Δcps/ssna-msly (P353L)-SC-19 was constructed by deleting cps and ssna genes from the epidemic strain SC-19 with a mutation of SLY (P353L). The safety of Δcps/ssna-msly (P353L)-SC-19 was confirmed in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. We further demonstrated that immunization with Δcps/ssna-msly (P353L)-SC-19 induced significant cellular immunity and humoral immunity in mice and protected against infections caused by type 2 strain SC-19 (100% protection) and type 9 strain S29 (50% protection), while also preventing meningitis induced by S29. This study highlights the potential of using CPS-deficient strains to achieve cross-protection against different Streptococcus suis serotypes and develop a promising universal live vaccine.

AimTo probe the appropriate iodine nutritional status for patients with Graves’disease (GD) hyperthyroidism and on antithyroid drugs (ATD) or after drugwithdrawal.MethodStudies were retrieved from three databases (Embase, Medline, and Cochrane Library) and were screened and evaluated using predefined criteria. The risk of bias of each trial was assessed using a tool from Cochrane. The iodine nutritional status of the subjects was redefined according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria and classified as insufficient/adequate/above requirements/excessive iodine intake.ResultTwo randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 3 observational studies were selected from the 376 retrieved papers, which had different degrees of risk of bias in study design. The heterogeneity among them prevented us from further synthesizing effect indicators and subsequent statistical analyses. Two RCTs with high quality showed that insufficient or above requirements iodine intake was detrimental for ATD-treated GD patients; adequate iodine intake was associated with a lower risk of recurrence and better efficacy in controlling thyrotoxicosis. It could be speculated from three low-quality observational studies that excessive iodine intake may be associated with higher (or similar) recurrence rates and lower remission rates compared to above requirements iodine intake in these patients, but none of them could answer the question of the effect of insufficient or adequate iodine intake on this issue.ConclusionAlthough the available evidence is suboptimal, this systematic review tentatively suggests that in adult patients with GD hyperthyroidism receiving ATDs and according to WHO criteria for iodine nutritional status, adequate iodine intake is associated with a lower recurrence rate, a higher remission rate and a better efficacy to control thyrotoxicosis than insufficient, above requirement, or excessive iodine intake. Future RCTs with large samples are expected to elucidate the actual impact of different iodine nutritional statuses on the recurrence rate of hyperthyroidism and the efficacy of ATD to control thyrotoxicosis in these patients.Systematic review registrationidentifier CRD42022359451.