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Abstract Background Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a prominent etiological agent of lower respiratory tract infections in children, responsible for approximately 80% of cases of pediatric bronchiolitis and 50% of cases of infant pneumonia. Despite notable progress in the diagnosis and management of pediatric RSV infection, the current biomarkers for early-stage detection remain insufficient to meet clinical needs. Therefore, the development of more effective biomarkers for early-stage pediatric respiratory syncytial virus infection (EPR) is imperative. Methods The datasets used in this study were derived from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. We used GSE188427 dataset as the training set to screen for biomarkers. Biomarkers of EPR were screened by Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), three machine-learning algorithms (LASSO regression, Random Forest, XGBoost), and other comprehensive bioinformatics analysis techniques. To evaluate the diagnostic value of these biomarkers, multiple external and internal datasets were employed as validation sets. Next, an examination was performed to investigate the relationship between the screened biomarkers and the infiltration of immune cells. Furthermore, an investigation was carried out to identify potential small molecule compounds that interact with selected diagnostic markers. Finally, we confirmed that the expression levels of the selected biomarkers exhibited a significant increase following RSV infection, and they were further identified as having antiviral properties. Results The study found that lymphocyte antigen 6E (LY6E) and Transcobalamin-2 (TCN2) are two biomarkers with diagnostic significance in EPR. Analysis of immune cell infiltration showed that they were associated with activation of multiple immune cells. Furthermore, our analysis demonstrated that small molecules, 3ʹ-azido-3ʹ-deoxythymine, methotrexate, and theophylline, have the potential to bind to TCN2 and exhibit antiviral properties. These compounds may serve as promising therapeutic agents for the management of pediatric RSV infections. Additionally, our data revealed an upregulation of LY6E and TCN2 expression in PBMCs from patients with RSV infection. ROC analysis indicated that LY6E and TCN2 possessed diagnostic value for RSV infection. Finally, we confirmed that LY6E and TCN2 expression increased after RSV infection and further inhibited RSV infection in A549 and BEAS-2B cell lines. Importantly, based on TCN2, our findings revealed the antiviral properties of a potentially efficacious compound, vitamin B12. Conclusion LY6E and TCN2 are potential peripheral blood diagnostic biomarkers for pediatric RSV infection. LY6E and TCN2 inhibit RSV infection, indicating that LY6E and TCN2 are potential therapeutic target for RSV infection.

Abstract The distribution of current/voltage can be further regulated by optimising the electrical connection topology, considering a particular battery thermal management systems. This study numerically investigates a 4P6S battery module with two connection topologies: 1) a straight connection topology, where the sub-modules consist of parallel-connected cells that are serial connected in a linear configuration, and 2) a parallelogram connection topology, where the sub-modules are serial connected in a parallelogram configuration. We find that the straight topology is more advantageous, as it allows the temperature gradient to be distributed among the parallel-connected cells in the sub-modules, mitigating over(dis)charging. Consequently, it achieves a 0.8% higher effective capacity than the parallelogram topology at 1C discharge, along with a higher state of health at 80.15% compared to 80% for the parallelogram topology. Notably, the straight topology results in a maximum current maldistribution of 0.24C at 1C discharge, which is considered an acceptable trade-off.

Abstract As China’s economic and population demands grow, the need for biomass imports rises, presenting challenges for sustainable development and global ecosystem protection. Here we examine China’s increasing influence on global ecosystems through its biomass product consumption and trade using the Human Appropriation of Net Primary Productivity framework, analyzing data from 2004 to 2017 with projections until 2050. In 2017, China was the world’s largest biomass consumer, consuming approximately 1.75 petagrams of carbon per year, projected to rise by 317.6% by 2050, highlighting China’s major role in global ecosystem stress. Our findings also show an increase in biomass imports from lower-middle-income and low-income countries between 2004 and 2017, and these imports are expected to continue increasing by 402.9% in 2050. The analysis reveals that domestic product demand and changes in foreign production efficiency are key drivers of this trend, suggesting the need for China to shift towards more efficient trade practices and support cleaner production methods internationally.

Abstract Background Coccidiosis is one of the most frequently reported diseases in chickens, causing a significant economic impact on the poultry industry. However, there have been no previous studies evaluating the prevalence of this disease in broiler farms in Guangdong province. Therefore, this study aims to conduct an epidemiological investigation into the occurrence of Eimeria species and associated risk factors in intensive management conditions across four regions in Guangdong province, China. A total of 394 fecal samples were collected from 89 broiler farms in Guangdong province. The prevalence of Eimeria species infection was determined using PCR, and the occurrence of Clostridium perfringens type A was assessed using quantitative real-time PCR. Results The results showed an overall prevalence of 98.88% (88/89) at the farm level and 87.06% (343/394) at the flock level. All seven Eimeria species were identified, with E. acervulina (72.53%; 64/89), E. tenella (68.54%; 61/89), and E. mitis (66.29%; 59/89) at the farm level, and E. acervulina (36.55%; 144/394), E. mitis (35.28%; 139/394), and E. tenella (34.01%; 134/394) at the flock level. The predominant species combination observed was a co-infection of all seven Eimeria species (6.74%; 6/89), followed by a combination of E. acervulina, E. tenella, E. mitis, E. necatrix, E. brunetti, and E. maxima (5.62%, 5/89). A combination of E. acervulina, E. tenella, E. mitis, E. necatrix, E. brunetti, and E. praecox (4.49%; 4/89) was also observed at the farm level. Furthermore, the study identified several potential risk factors associated with the prevalence of Eimeria species, including farm location, chicken age, drinking water source, control strategy, and the presence of C. perfringens type A were identified as potential risk factors associated with prevalence of Eimeria species. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed a significant association between E. necatrix infection and both grower chickens (OR = 10.86; 95% CI: 1.92–61.36; p

Avian coccidiosis, a parasitic disease prevalent in poultry, is caused by Eimeria species and leads to significant economic losses. The use of attenuated live oocyst vaccines has been adopted as an alternative to the use of anticoccidial drugs. However, the accurate detection and differentiation of vaccine strains from virulent ones remain challenging. Therefore, this study presents a novel TaqMan polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection method that offers enhanced sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility compared with traditional PCR techniques. Through whole-genome resequencing and bioinformatics analysis, we identified a molecular marker gene, Em_marker6, with a unique 21-base pair deletion specific to the Eimeria maxima attenuated vaccine strain. Optimized primers and probes targeting this marker enabled rapid quantification cycle value achievement and high fluorescence intensity. The standard curve’s slope of −3.540 and correlation coefficient of 0.9971 confirmed precise quantification capabilities. The TaqMan PCR method detected as few as 30 plasmid DNA copies and 50 oocysts per reaction, outperforming traditional PCR techniques by an order of magnitude. No cross-reactivity was observed with other E. maxima wide-type strains or common intestinal pathogens, ensuring the exclusive detection of the E. maxima EMPY vaccine strain. Weekly testing over 3 weeks demonstrated minimal variability, indicating robust consistency in the method’s application. Testing on 61 clinical samples revealed a 57.38% positivity rate for E. maxima species and 13.11% for the vaccine strain. The Em_marker6 gene exhibited genetic stability across multiple generations, confirming the detection method’s robust stability for the attenuated E. maxima vaccine strain. This study significantly advances the field of avian coccidiosis research and control by providing a valuable tool for monitoring vaccine purity and preventing inadvertent infections in vaccinated flocks, aligning with global efforts to curb antibiotic use in animal feed.

Trichomonas gallinae is a protozoa that parasitizes the upper gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts of various animals and birds, including Columbidae, Passeriformes, and Falconiformes. Polymerase chain reaction-based T. gallinae ITS1/5.8S/ITS2 gene typing yields inconsistent results owing to methodological differences. To standardize the statistical analysis of T. gallinae genotype distributions, this study employed MEGA-X software with the Tamamura 3-parameter (T92) + G model in the neighbor-joining method, with 2,000 bootstrap replicates, to calculate a systematic evolutionary tree. The resulting tree comprised 12 branches, ITS-OBT-Tg-1 to ITS-OBT-Tgl, with similar phylogenetic relationships. Relevant literature review yielded T. gallinae prevalence data in Columbidae. Statistical analysis was conducted from two perspectives: non-biological and biological factors, using chi-square tests and ordered logistic regression analysis. T. gallinae positivity rates differed significantly across diverse regions (χ2 = 4,609.9, P = 0.000, df = 4) and at various times (χ2 = 2,810.8, P = 0.000, df = 3). However, temperature and precipitation did not significantly affect T. gallinae positivity rates. Additionally, T. gallinae positivity rates differed significantly among diverse hosts (χ2 = 2,958.6, P = 0.000, df = 14) and by host age (χ2 = 478.5, P = 0.000, df = 2) and sex (χ2 = 96.00, P = 0.000, df = 1). This comprehensive analysis aimed to control T. gallinae transmission, reduce economic and species resource losses, and provide a foundation for future related research.

Coccidiosis is a costly intestinal disease of chickens caused by Eimeria species. This infection is associated with high mortality, reduced feed efficiency, and slowed body weight gain. The diagnosis and control of coccidiosis becomes challenging due to the fact that chickens can be infected by seven different Eimeria species and often occur mixed-species co-infections. Grasping the epidemiology of Eimeria species is crucial to estimate the efficiency of poultry management. This study aimed to explore the distribution of Eimeria species in broiler chickens in China after administering live anticoccidial vaccines. A total of 634 samples were obtained, and the survey results showed that the prevalence of Eimeria was 86.12% (546/634), and the most common species were E. acervulina (65.62%), E. necatrix (50.95%), E. mitis (50.79%), E. tenella (48.42%), and E. praecox (41.80%). Most samples indicated mixed-species infections (an average of 3.29 species per positive sample). Notably, 63.98% of samples contain 3 to 5 Eimeria species within a single fecal sample. The most prevalent combinations were E. acervulina–E. tenella (38.96%) and E. acervulina–E. necatrix (37.22%). Statistical analysis showed that flocks vaccinated with trivalent vaccines were significantly positive for E. necatrix in grower chickens (OR = 3.30, p

Avian trichomoniasis, caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas gallinae, is a prevalent and economically significant disease in pigeons. This study investigated the drug resistance of T. gallinae isolates in Guangdong Province, China. The results revealed that 25.3% (20/79) of the isolates were resistant to one or more of the four nitroimidazole drugs tested, namely, metronidazole, dimetridazole, secnidazole, and tinidazole. Secnidazole elicited the highest resistance rate (19.0%; 15/79), followed by tinidazole (17.7%; 14/79), metronidazole (17.7%; 14/79), and dimetridazole (13.9%; 11/79). An enormous majority of the resistant isolates (70.0%; 14/20) exhibited resistance to multiple drugs. Additionally, the resistance rate was significantly higher in isolates from birds aged < 30 days (53.3%; 8/15) than in those from older birds (23.1%; 12/52). Moreover, no drug resistance was detected in female pigeons. The genotype of the isolated strain was also associated with drug resistance. Specifically, 50.0% (15/30) of ITS-B genotypes exhibited resistance to drugs, while only 10.2% (5/49) of ITS-A genotypes demonstrated resistance. This study also found the growth characteristics of different Trichomonas isolates to be influenced by their genotypes and initial inoculum concentrations. These findings underscore the urgent need for effective measures to control and prevent drug-resistant T. gallinae infections in pigeons, thus ensuring the stable development of the pigeon industry.

LUBAC is involved in adding linear ubiquitin chains to important immune signaling proteins. Here the authors show that this mechanism is effective in inhibiting STAT1-mediated interferon signaling, and that the deubiquitinase OTULIN can remove these linear ubiquitins from STAT1 to reactivate this antiviral signaling pathway.

This paper presents a literature review on the recent research progress in liquid desiccant dehumidification and air conditioning systems. The physical features of various liquid desiccant materials and their dehumidification performances have been summarized. With the aim to improve the dehumidification characteristics, mixed solvents desiccants have become research hot topics recently. Various types of dehumidifiers and their integration with liquid desiccant dehumidification system have been reviewed. The combination of liquid desiccant dehumidification system with solar collector, vapour compression system, heat pump system, CHP system, etc. have been grouped and compared. It is shown that the majority of the recent research work for liquid desiccant dehumidification systems has concentrated on numerical simulations, a considerable amount of works are still required for the practical investigations of innovative material (mixed solvents) and hybrid systems.

Decoupling economic growth from resource use and emissions is a precondition to stay within planetary boundaries. A number of countries have achieved a reduction in their production-based emissions in the past decade. However, the decline in PBE has often been achieved via outsourcing of emissions to other countries, which may even lead to higher emissions globally. Therefore, a consumption-based perspective that accounts for a country's emissions along global supply chains should also be employed when investigating progress in decoupling. Here we investigate the progress countries made in reducing their production-based and consumption-based emissions despite growth in gross domestic product (GDP). We found that 32 out of 116 countries (mainly developed ones) achieved absolute decoupling between GDP and production-based emissions in recent years (2015–2018), and 23 countries achieved absolute decoupling between GDP and consumption-based emissions. 14 countries have decoupled GDP growth from both production- and consumption-based emissions. Even countries that have achieved absolute decoupling are still adding emissions to the atmosphere thus showing the limits of ‘green growth’ and the growth paradigm. We also observed that decoupling can be temporary, and decoupled countries may switch back to increasing emissions, which means that continuous efforts are needed to maintain decoupling. An analysis of driving factors shows that whether a country can achieve decoupling mainly depends on reducing emission intensity along domestic and import supply chains. This highlights the importance of decarbonizing supply chains and international collaboration in controlling emissions.

Nef is an accessory protein encoded by human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) and plays important roles in regulating HIV-1 infection and viral replication. Interestingly, HIV-1 Nef can promote degradation of numerous host proteins to disrupt cellular antiviral immune response. However, how HIV-1 Nef is degraded by host factors remains largely unexplored. Here, we identified c-Cbl as a host ubiquitin E3 ligase of HIV-1 Nef. We found that c-Cbl interacts with Nef and reduces protein levels of HIV-1 Nef. Further studies demonstrated that c-Cbl promoted Lys48-linked polyubiquitination of HIV-1 Nef, thus attenuating protein stability of HIV-1 Nef. Importantly, cellular c-Cbl ubiquitinated and degraded Nef proteins produced by HIV-1 NL4-3 virions, and ultimately attenuated HIV-1 virulence for infection of THP1 cells. This study reveals a ubiquitination and proteasome-dependent degradation mechanism of HIV-1 Nef protein, and could provide potential strategies for fighting against HIV-1.

Townships in Southwest China are usually located in mountainous regions, which are abundant in natural and cultural landscape resources. There are additional requirements for the township’s sustainable development in these areas. However, insufficient infrastructures, due to limited resources, constrain the sustainable development of these townships. Sustainable contribution of infrastructure (SCOI) in this study is defined as the performance of infrastructure as a contribution to the coordinated development among economic, social, and environmental dimensions of township’s sustainable development. It is necessary to assess these infrastructures according to SCOI and provide choices for investment to maximize resource utilization. Therefore, an assessing model of SCOI with 26 general indicators was developed, which covers five most urgently needed infrastructures of these townships in Southwest China, including road transport, sewage treatment, waste disposal, water supply, and gas. In this model, quantitative and qualitative methods are combined to acquire different SCOI of each infrastructure. The result of the SCOI would be an important reference for infrastructure investment. A case study of Jiansheng Town, that is located in the Dadukou district of Chongqing, demonstrates the applicability of the model. It shows the assessing model of SCOI is efficient to identify the most valuable infrastructure that is appropriate for investment with the goal of township’s sustainable development. This study can provide insights for infrastructure investment and management in townships or areas.

CREB-binding protein (CBP) participates in numerous transcription events. However, cell-intrinsic inhibitors of CBP are poorly defined. Here, we found that cellular USP12 interacts with the HAT domain of CBP and inhibits CBP's acetyltransferase activity. Interestingly, USP12 positively regulates interferon (IFN) antiviral signaling independently of its deubiquitinase activity. Furthermore, we found that in IFN signaling USP12 translocates from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. The decrease in cytoplasmic USP12 facilitates CBP-induced acetylation and activation of IFN signaling proteins in the cytoplasm. Moreover, USP12 accumulation in the nucleus blocks CBP-induced acetylation of phosphorylated STAT1 (p-STAT1) and therefore inhibits the dephosphorylation effects of TCPTP on p-STAT1, which finally maintains nuclear p-STAT1 levels and IFN antiviral efficacy. USP12 nuclear translocation extends our understanding of the regulation of the strength of IFN antiviral signaling. Our study uncovers a cell-intrinsic regulation of CBP acetyltransferase activity and may provide potential strategies for IFN-based antiviral therapy.

The intrinsic ability of neurogenesis after stroke has been proven weak, which results in insufficient repair of injury in the nerve system. Recent studies suggest multiple microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the neuroremodeling process. Targeted miRNAs delivery for amplification of neurogenesis is promising in promoting the prognosis after ischemia. Here, we showed that modified exosomes, with rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG) fused to exosomal protein lysosome-associated membrane glycoprotein 2b (Lamp2b), could efficiently deliver miR-124 to the infarct site. Systemic administration of RVG-exosomes loaded with miR-124 promoted cortical neural progenitors to obtain neuronal identity and protect against ischemic injury by robust cortical neurogenesis. Our study suggests that RVG-exosomes can be utilized therapeutically for the targeted delivery of gene drugs to the brain, thus having great potential for clinical applications.

Comparing the spatial differences in the energy intensity of the Group of Twenty (G20) countries and identifying the factors that influence these differences can help the G20 countries formulate targeted policies to achieve energy conservation goals. This study analyzes the spatial differences in the G20 countries’ energy intensity at the aggregate and sectoral levels based on an input–output framework and reveals its driving factors by employing multiplicative structural decomposition analysis, obtaining the sectoral energy intensity, input structure, and final demand structure effects. The results show that: (1) the gap in aggregate energy intensity among the G20 countries tended to converge from 2000 to 2014 with the reducing energy intensity in Russia, India, China, and South Korea having great potential to reduce global energy consumption and improve global energy efficiency; (2) in 2014, the main driving forces for above-average energy intensity was the sectoral energy intensity effect in India, South Korea, and Canada, the input structure effect in Russia and China, and the final demand structure effect in Indonesia; (3) using the average of the G20 countries as a reference, the energy reduction potential of China, Russia, India, South Korea, Indonesia, and Canada is 62.75, 31.94, 21.24, 7.67, 1.47, and 0.81 exajoules (EJ), respectively. The embodied energy consumption decline in these countries was equivalent to 21.78% of the G20’s total energy consumption in 2014; and (4) the most important factor of the high embodied energy intensity of key sectors in India and South Korea is the sectoral energy intensity effect, while for Russia and China, it is the input structure effect.

【Objective】As one of the four major nutrients required by plants, sulfur is a crucial for plant growth and development, playing a pivotal role in enhancing plant resistance against both biotic and abiotic stresses. Sulfate transporters (SULTR) serve as primary regulators in the absorption and transport of sulfate in plants, playing an irreplaceable role in this process. The understanding of the fundamental characteristics and expression patterns of CaSULTR genes could help to provide theoretical support for advancing researches on SULTR in peppers.【Method】Based on the pepper genome, members of the epper CaSULTR gene family were identified at the whole-genome level. A comprehensive analysis of their physicochemical properties, conserved Motifs and gene structures was conducted. By utilizing publicly available transcriptome data and qPCR technology, the expression patterns of CaSULTR genes under various hormone stress conditions were analyzed. Additionally, differentially expressed genes were cloned for further investigation.【Result】A total of 13 CaSULTR genes were identified and designated as CaSULTR1;1~1;3, CaSULTR2;1~2;2, CaSULTR3;1~3;7 and CaSULTR4;1. These genes were distributed on seven chromosomes in pepper, with amino acid lengths ranging from 641 to 947 aa, molecular weights from 69.65 to 104.36 kD, and isoelectric points between 8.42 to 9.62. Characterized by the hydrophobicity, CaSULTR proteins were classified into four subgroups (Ⅰ-Ⅳ), with subgroup Ⅲ containing the highest number of members. Within the same subgroup, members exhibited relatively small differences in physicochemical properties, and Motifs and gene structures were relatively conserved. With the exception of CaSULTR2;1 and CaSULTR2;2, all members possessed Motif 5. Tissue expression analysis indicated that CaSULTR genes may be involved in the development of organs such as leaves, fruits and flowers, with CaSULTR4;1 exhibiting expression in leaves, roots and stems. Expression profile analysis under hormone stress, coupled with qPCR results, revealed significant up-regulation of CaSULTR1;1 and CaSULTR3;4 under hormone induction.【Conclusion】The expression patterns of CaSULTR genes under hormone stress are identified, suggesting that of CaSULTR1;1 and CaSULTR3;4 may be involved in the regulation of sulfur metabolism by exogenous hormones.