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All-solid-state sodium (Na)-metal batteries (ASSSMBs) are considered promising candidates for large-scale energy storage systems due to their abundant sodium resources, unparalleled safety performance, and impressive energy density. Na superionic conductors (NASICONs) are among the best enablers of ASSSMBs in view of their high ionic conductivity, ease of synthesis, and excellent thermal stability and good electrochemical/chemical compatibility with common electrodes. However, challenges surrounding the NASICON/electrode interface, such as high interfacial resistance and dendrite formation, have hindered the development of practical ASSSMBs based on NASICONs. This review starts with an explicit summary of the interface problems between the metallic Na anode and NASICON arising from mechanical, chemical, and electrochemical aspects (i.e., poor interface contact, insulating side-reaction products, and irregular dendrite growth). Subsequently, we systematically analyze and logically categorize modification strategies for addressing anode interface problems and provide a comprehensive discussion on the underlying enhancement mechanisms. As such, we identify underlying and universal interface enhancement mechanisms by comparatively studying various modification strategies. Furthermore, we briefly summarize the challenges in the cathode/electrolyte interface and early-stage research efforts in constructing stable cathode/electrolyte interface and fabricating high-performance composite cathodes. Finally, key suggestions and future prospectives for the advancement of NASICON-based ASSSMBs are outlined.

Abstract Background There are relatively few studies investigating C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) level in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP), and the relationship between CCL2 level in BALF and refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP) is unclear. This study aims to explore the relationship between chemokine CCL2 level in BALF and clinical characteristics and clinical outcome in children with MPP. Methods A total of 51 children with confirmed acute MPP and requiring bronchoalveolar lavage in Department of Pediatrics, Huanghe Sanmenxia Hospital and The First Clinical College of Xinxiang Medical University from October 2021 to February 2023 were selected as the study group. And 11 children with bronchial foreign body were selected as the control group. The study group was divided into the non-refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (NRMPP) group and the RMPP group based on the response to treatment. BALF and clinical data of the patients were collected. And CCL2 levels were tested in the patients. Differences in CCL2 level in BALF and clinical characteristics were tested and compared. Results The CCL2 level in BALF of the study group was higher than that of the control group, with significant difference (P

Abstract Background There is still a lack of effective scoring criteria for assessing the severity of pulmonary infection associated with changes in the endobronchial lining of the bronchus in children. This study aimed to ascertain the timing and value of endoscopic scoring of fibreoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in children with severe pneumonia. Method The clinical data of 229 children with severe pneumonia treated with BAL in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University between November 2018 and December 2021 were collected. According to the severity of the disease, patients were divided into an invasive ventilation group and a non-invasive ventilation group, as well as an early BAL group (receiving BAL within 1 day of admission) and a late BAL group (receiving BAL 2 days after admission). A Student’s t-test, Chi-square test, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and survival curve were used to analyse the bronchitis score, aetiology of BAL fluid and survival data. Results The scores of endoscopic mucosal oedema, erythema and pallor and the total score in the invasive ventilation group were higher than those in the non-invasive ventilation group (P < 0.05), and they were consistent with the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores. The secretion colour score was lower in the early BAL group than in the late BAL group (P < 0.05). On the bronchitis scores, which were evaluated using a ROC curve, the difference in the mucosal erythema, pallor, oedema and total score of the invasive and non-invasive groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05), which was consistent with the area under the ROC of the SOFA scores. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Assessment II and SOFA scores after FOB were lower than those before treatment (P < 0.05). In terms of ICU hospitalisation days and total hospitalisation days, the time of the early FOB patients was shorter than that of the late FOB patients (P < 0.05). A total of 22 patients (9.61%) died. The Kaplan–Meier analysis and log-rank test showed that the survival rate of the non-invasive ventilation group was higher than that of the invasive ventilation group (P < 0.05). Conclusion This study found that FOB combined with BAL is an important method for the diagnosis and treatment of severe pneumonia. Early BAL can reduce hospitalisation and ICU time; however, it cannot improve the survival rate. The endoscopic score has a certain role to play in assessing the severity of pulmonary inflammation, but studies with a large sample are still needed to confirm this.

Transition metal complexes are potential low-cost electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction. Here, using accessible spectrochemistry, the authors observe an intriguing baton relay-like mechanism of active site transfer during CO2 reduction to CO on a carbon-supported copper bis-(terpyridine) complex.

Abstract Solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) hold a critical role in enabling high‐energy‐density and safe rechargeable batteries with Li metal anode. Unfortunately, nonuniform lithium deposition and dendrite penetration due to poor interfacial solid–solid contact are hindering their practical applications. Here, solid‐state lithium naphthalenide (Li‐Naph(s)) is introduced as a plastic monolithic mixed‐conducting interlayer (PMMCI) between the garnet electrolyte and the Li anode via a facile cold process. The thin PMMCI shows a well‐ordered layered crystalline structure with excellent mixed‐conducting capability for both Li+ (4.38 × 10–3 S cm–1) and delocalized electrons (1.01 × 10–3 S cm–1). In contrast to previous composite interlayers, this monolithic material enables an intrinsically homogenous electric field and Li+ transport at the Li/garnet interface, thus significantly reducing the interfacial resistance and achieving uniform and dendrite‐free Li anode plating/stripping. As a result, Li symmetric cells with the PMMCI‐modified garnet electrolyte show highly stable cycling for 1200 h at 0.2 mA cm–2 and 500 h at a high current density of 1 mA cm–2. The findings provide a new interface design strategy for solid‐state batteries using monolithic mixed‐conducting interlayers.

The rule-based logic threshold control strategy has been frequently used in energy management strategies for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) owing to its convenience in adjusting parameters, real-time performance, stability, and robustness. However, the logic threshold control parameters cannot usually ensure the best vehicle performance at different driving cycles and conditions. For this reason, the optimization of key parameters is important to improve the fuel economy, dynamic performance, and drivability. In principle, this is a multiparameter nonlinear optimization problem. The logic threshold energy management strategy for an all-wheel-drive HEV is comprehensively analyzed and developed in this study. Seven key parameters to be optimized are extracted. The optimization model of key parameters is proposed from the perspective of fuel economy. The global optimization method, DIRECT algorithm, which has good real-time performance, low computational burden, rapid convergence, is selected to optimize the extracted key parameters globally. The results show that with the optimized parameters, the engine operates more at the high efficiency range resulting into a fuel savings of 7% compared with non-optimized parameters. The proposed method can provide guidance for calibrating the parameters of the vehicle energy management strategy from the perspective of fuel economy.

Chemo-dynamic therapy (CDT) has a great potential in tumor extirpation. It entails producing hypertoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) that damage the DNA of tumor cells and other biomacromolecules. However, the efficiency of CDT is severely hampered by the massive presence of glutathione (GSH) in tumor cells and the interference of ROS defense systems, such as Mutt homolog 1 (MTH1) protein sanitizes ROS-oxidized nucleotide pools. In this research, DNA-mediated self-assembly nanoparticles (HTCG@TA NPs) were engineered with high-performance amplified oxidative damage and gene therapy effect for synergistic anti-tumor treatment. Cu2+ was converted into Cu + by redox reactions to deplete GSH while H2O2 was catalyzed to generate hydroxyl radicals (·OH). As a result, the ROS level was evidently improved. Moreover, controllable-released TH588 prevented MTH1-mediated DNA repairing, thus aggravated oxidative damage to tumor cells. Meanwhile, the released functional nucleic acid G3139 downregulated the expression of Bcl-2, and accelerated the apoptosis of tumor cells. In conclusion, the HTCG@TA demonstrated significant effect in oxidative damage amplification and tumor inhibition both in vitro and in vivo, which has provided a new outlook for the clinical application of chemo-dynamic tumor treatment and synergistic gene therapy with self-delivery nanoplatforms.

Abstract Background With the backdrop of global climate change, the impact of climate change on respiratory diseases like asthma is receiving increasing attention. However, the effects of temperature and diurnal temperature range (DTR) on asthma are complex, and understanding these effects across different seasons, age groups, and sex is of utmost importance. Methods This study utilized asthma hospitalization data from Lanzhou, China, and implemented a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) to investigate the relationship between temperature and DTR and asthma hospitalizations. It considered differences in the effects across various seasons and population subgroups. Results The study revealed that low temperatures immediately increase the risk of asthma hospitalization (RR = 1.2010, 95% CI: 1.1464, 1.2580), and this risk persists for a period of time. Meanwhile, both high and low DTR were associated with an increased risk of asthma hospitalization. Lower temperatures (RR = 2.9798, 95% CI: 1.1154, 7.9606) were associated with higher asthma risk in the warm season, while in the cold season, the risk significantly rose for the general population (RR = 3.6867, 95% CI: 1.7494, 7.7696), females (RR = 7.2417, 95% CI: 2.7171, 19.3003), and older individuals (RR = 18.5425, 95% CI: 5.1436, 66.8458). In the warm season, low DTR conditions exhibited a significant association with asthma hospitalization risk in males (RR = 7.2547, 95% CI: 1.2612, 41.7295) and adults aged 15–64 (RR = 9.9494, 95% CI: 2.2723, 43.5643). Children also exhibited noticeable risk within specific DTR ranges. In the cold season, lower DTR increases the risk of asthma hospitalization for the general population (RR = 3.1257, 95% CI: 1.4004, 6.9767). High DTR significantly increases the risk of asthma hospitalization in adults (RR = 5.2563, 95% CI: 2.4131, 11.4498). Conclusion This study provides crucial insights into the complex relationship between temperature, DTR, and asthma hospitalization, highlighting the variations in asthma risk across different seasons and population subgroups.

Super-resolution (SR) models in cosmological simulations use deep learning (DL) to rapidly enhance low-resolution (LR) runs with statistically correct fine details. These models preserves large-scale structures by conditioning on an LR version of the simulation. On smaller scales, the generative process is inherently stochastic, producing multiple possible SR realizations with distinct small-scale structures. Validation of reconstructed SR runs from LR simulations requires ensuring that specific statistics of interest are accurately reproduced by comparing SR outputs with target high resolution (HR) runs. In this study, we develop an emulator designed to reproduce the small-scale structures of target HR simulation with high fidelity. By processing an SR realization alongside the high-resolution initial condition (HRIC), we transform the SR output to emulate the result of a full simulation with that HRIC. By comparing various metrics, from visualization to individual halo measurements, we demonstrate that the emulated SR runs closely align with the target HR simulation, even at length scales an order of magnitude smaller than the corresponding LR run. These results show the potential of this method for efficiently generating accurate simulations and mock observations for large galaxy surveys.

Soybean (Glycine max) is a key crop rich in bioactive compounds, particularly isoflavones, which play a significant role in plant defense against biotic stress like fungal infections. In this study, nine soybean varieties with varying susceptibility to mildew were evaluated. Isoflavone profiles in seeds and pods were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), and metabolomics analysis via orthogonal signal correction partial least squares discriminant analysis (OSC-PLS-DA) identified differences between mildew-affected and unaffected samples. Results showed organ-specific changes, with isoflavone aglycones increasing in seeds, while malonylglucosides (M-type) varied in pods. β-Glucoside (G-type) and M-type isoflavones were identified as differential metabolites. Antifungal assays revealed that genistin, among six isoflavone glycosides and aglycones tested, had the strongest inhibitory effects on Aspergillus flavus. Additionally, the identification of G-type and M-type isoflavone glycosides underscores the necessity for further investigation into the roles these metabolites play in the overall antifungal activity observed.

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Background and aimsAcquired resistance to thyroid hormone appears to exist in the general population. We aimed to evaluate the association between indices of thyroid hormone sensitivity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and made stratified analyses by diabetic status.MethodsWe included 26,413 participants from a health screening program and 8,246 hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes. Thyroid Feedback Quantile-based Index (TFQI), thyroid stimulating hormone index (TSHI) and thyrotroph thyroxine resistance index (TT4RI) were calculated. Advanced fibrosis risk was determined using the FIB-4 score. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed.ResultsTFQI was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD in patients with diabetes (fourth quartile vs. first quartile: odds ratio [OR]=1.39 and 1.82 in hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients, respectively, both P

Background To evaluate the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of fermented Ophiocordyceps sinensis mycelium (FOSM) products for preventing contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI).Methods Randomized controlled trials were searched from four Chinese and four English electronic databases and three clinical trial registries up to July 2023. Methodological quality was assessed by using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool 2.0. Risk difference (RD) or risk ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD) were calculated along with the 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Results Fourteen trials testing three types of FOSM products (Bailing, Zhiling, and Jinshuibao capsules) involving 1271 participants injected contrast agents were included. For the risk of bias, all trials were rated as some concerns. Compared with routine preventive procedure (RPP) (saline hydration and alprostadil), FOSM products plus RPP showed beneficial effects in reducing the incidence of CA-AKI (14.62% and 5.35%, respectively; RD −0.06, 95% CI −0.09 to −0.03). Subgroup analysis showed that Bailing/Jinshuibao plus RPP demonstrated lower incidence of CA-AKI compared to RPP. However, there was no statistically significant difference between Zhiling with RPP and RPP in the incidence of CA-AKI. Additionally, only when FOSM products were taken before injection of the contrast, it was superior to RPP in reducing the incidence of CA-AKI. There was no statistical difference in adverse events between these two groups.Conclusions Low certainty evidence suggests that preventive oral use of FOSM products as an adjuvant agent was safe and might decrease the incidence of CA-AKI. However, high-quality placebo-controlled trials are needed to confirm its benefit.

Abstract Cloud computing has evolved into an indispensable tool for facilitating scientific research due to its ability to efficiently distribute and process workloads in a virtual environment. Scientific tasks that involve complicated task dependencies and user-defined constraints related to quality of service (QoS) and time constraints require the efficient use of cloud resources. Planning these scientific workflow tasks represents an NP-complete problem, prompting researchers to explore various solutions, including conventional planners and evolutionary optimization algorithms. In this study, we present a novel, multistage algorithm specifically designed to schedule scientific workflows in cloud computing contexts. This approach addresses the challenges of efficiently mapping complex workflows onto distributed cloud resources while considering factors like resource heterogeneity, dynamic workloads, and stringent performance requirements. The algorithm uses the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) with a two-phase approach to shorten execution time, minimize financial costs, and effectively maintain load balancing.

Abstract Background Dysfunction or deficiency of corneal epithelium results in vision impairment or blindness in severe cases. The rapid and effective regeneration of corneal epithelial cells relies on the limbal stem cells (LSCs). However, the molecular and functional responses of LSCs and their niche cells to injury remain elusive. Methods Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on corneal tissues from normal mice and corneal epithelium defect models. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to confirm the distinct characteristics and cell fates of LSCs. Knockdown of Creb5 and OSM treatment experiment were performed to determine their roles of in corneal epithelial wound healing. Results Our data defined the molecular signatures of LSCs and reconstructed the pseudotime trajectory of corneal epithelial cells. Gene network analyses characterized transcriptional landmarks that potentially regulate LSC dynamics, and identified a transcription factor Creb5, that was expressed in LSCs and significantly upregulated after injury. Loss-of-function experiments revealed that silencing Creb5 delayed the corneal epithelial healing and LSC mobilization. Through cell–cell communication analysis, we identified 609 candidate regeneration-associated ligand-receptor interaction pairs between LSCs and distinct niche cells, and discovered a unique subset of Arg1 + macrophages infiltrated after injury, which were present as the source of Oncostatin M (OSM), an IL-6 family cytokine, that were demonstrated to effectively accelerate the corneal epithelial wound healing. Conclusions This research provides a valuable single-cell resource and reference for the discovery of mechanisms and potential clinical interventions aimed at ocular surface reconstruction.

Abstract The invasion of Mikania micrantha by climbing and covering trees has rapidly caused the death of many shrubs and trees, seriously endangering forest biodiversity. In this study, M. micrantha seedlings were planted together with local tree species (Cryptocarya concinna) to simulate the process of M. micrantha climbing under the forest. We found that the upper part of the M. micrantha stem lost its support after climbing to the top of the tree, grew in a turning and creeping manner, and then grew branches rapidly to cover the tree canopy. Then, we simulated the branching process through turning treatment. We found that a large number of branches had been formed near the turning part of the M. micrantha stem (TP). Compared with the upper part of the main stem (UP), the contents of plant hormones (auxin, cytokinin, gibberellin), soluble sugars (sucrose, glucose, fructose) and trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) were significantly accumulated at TP. Further combining the transcriptome data of different parts of the main stem under erect or turning treatment, a hypothetical regulation model to illustrate how M. micrantha can quickly cover trees was proposed based on the regulation of sugars and hormones on plant branching; that is, the lack of support after ascending the top of the tree led to turning growth of the main stem, and the enhancement of sugars and T6P levels in the TP may first drive the release of nearby dormant buds. Plant hormone accumulation may regulate the entrance of buds into sustained growth and maintain the elongation of branches together with sugars to successfully covering trees.

Abstract This study seeks to examine the multifaceted influences of diverse motivational factors on the live streaming engagement of e-sports fans based on self-determination theory. While previous research has focused on the offline participation in e-sports events, the shift towards live streaming engagement has created a new and underexplored area: the motivations for live streaming viewing among e-sports fans. Consequently, this research develops an e-sports Live Streaming Viewing Motivation Scale for evaluating both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations underlying e-sports fans’ live streaming engagement, and then utilises SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 26.0 to assess the reliability and validity of the scale. Subsequently, multiple linear regression analysis of 1052 questionnaires is employed to construct models and evaluate hypotheses. Findings indicate that : (1) Intrinsic motivation exhibits significant impact on the live viewing behaviour of e-sports fans. (2) However, the impact of extrinsic motivation is insignificant. (3) When both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations coexist, intrinsic motivation maintains a positive impact, whereas extrinsic motivation demonstrates a negative influence. (4) The motivational influence is multifaceted; notably, dimensions such as idol worship, leisure entertainment, and competitive stimulation positively affect live viewing motivation, while belonging identification, social engagement, and peripheral activities exert a negative impact. In conclusion, intrinsic motivation emerges as the primary driving force behind e-sports fans’ live streaming viewing behaviour. Extrinsic motivation fails to independently influence live streaming engagement and even dampens enthusiasm when combined with intrinsic motivation. Theoretically, this study contributes to the existing literature on Self-determination theory and motivations behind e-sports live streaming viewing behaviour. It not only refines the motivation scale, but also elucidates the impact of various motivations on viewing behaviour. Practically, it provides insights for optimising e-sports products and services.

Objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) shares a complex relationship with bone metabolism and few studies investigated the effect of impaired bone health on the risk of T2DM. This study was conducted to investigate the association between hip fractures and the risk of incident T2DM. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study using data from the real-world hip fracture cohort. Hong Kong Chinese patients aged ≥ 65 years without T2DM who were admitted to public hospitals due to a fall between 2008 and 2015 were included in the study. Patients who sustained falls with and without hip fractures were matched by propensity score (PS) at a 1:1 ratio. Competing risk regression was used to evaluate the association between hip fracture and incident T2DM, with death being the competing event. Results: A total of 23,314 hip fracture cases were matched to 23,314 controls. The median follow-up time was 5.09 years. The incidence rate of T2DM was 11.947 and 14.505 per 1000 person-years for the hip fracture and control group respectively. After accounting for the competing risk of death, the hip fracture group had a significantly lower risk of developing T2DM (HR: 0.771, 95% CI: 0.719–0.827). Similar results were observed in all subgroups after stratification by age and sex. Conclusions: Hip fracture was found to be associated with a reduced risk of T2DM. These findings provide insight into the topic of bone and glucose metabolism and prompt further research in evaluating the role of bone health in the management of T2DM.

Abstract Background Liver disease and dementia are both highly prevalent and share common pathological mechanisms. We aimed to investigate the associations between metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and the risk of all-cause and cause-specific dementia. Methods We conducted a prospective study with 403,506 participants from the UK Biobank. Outcomes included all-cause dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and vascular dementia. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used for analyses. Results 155,068 (38.4%) participants had MAFLD, and 111,938 (27.7%) had MASLD at baseline. During a median follow-up of 13.7 years, 5,732 participants developed dementia (2,355 Alzheimer’s disease and 1,274 vascular dementia). MAFLD was associated with an increased risk of vascular dementia (HR 1.32 [95% CI 1.18–1.48]) but a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease (0.92 [0.84–1.0]). Differing risks emerged among MAFLD subtypes, with the diabetes subtype increasing risk of all-cause dementia (1.8 [1.65–1.96]), vascular dementia (2.95 [2.53–3.45]) and Alzheimer’s disease (1.46 [1.26–1.69]), the lean metabolic disorder subtype only increasing vascular dementia risk (2.01 [1.25–3.22]), whereas the overweight/obesity subtype decreasing risk of Alzheimer’s disease (0.83 [0.75–0.91]) and all-cause dementia (0.9 [0.84–0.95]). MASLD was associated with an increased risk of vascular dementia (1.24 [1.1–1.39]) but not Alzheimer’s disease (1.0 [0.91–1.09]). The effect of MAFLD on vascular dementia was consistent regardless of MASLD presence, whereas associations with Alzheimer’s disease were only present in those without MASLD (0.78 [0.67–0.91]). Conclusions MAFLD and MASLD are associated with an increased risk of vascular dementia, with subtype-specific variations observed in dementia risks. Further research is needed to refine MAFLD and SLD subtyping and explore the underlying mechanisms contributing to dementia risk.

Summary: In Parkinson’s disease (PD), the loss of dopaminergic signaling remodels striatal circuits, causing abnormal network activity. The timing and impact on various striatal cell types during this reorganization are unclear. Here we demonstrate that dopamine depletion rapidly reduces parvalbumin (PV) expression. At the synaptic input level, PV interneurons shift toward inhibition in the excitation-inhibition balance early on, a week before a similar shift in spiny projection neurons (SPNs). At the cellular level, both PV interneurons and SPNs experience a significant decrease in their spiking and bursting rates, respectively, which corresponds to a reduction in gamma and beta (early beta) oscillations during the early stage of PD. Importantly, the pharmacogenetic activation of PV interneurons reverses gamma deficits and suppresses beta (late beta) oscillation in the striatum of parkinsonian mice. Collectively, our findings underscore the vulnerability of PV interneurons to dopamine depletion and their responsibility for the evolution of abnormal activities in parkinsonian striatum.

Heterogeneous drought stress (HED) is prevalent in drought-resistant practices such as deficit irrigation, root zone irrigation and strip intercropping. The mechanisms and improvement of crop drought resistance under HED are not fully understood. This study used double-root grafted Nandou 12 (ND12) soybean seedlings to simulate HED treatment under controlled conditions. Seedlings were transplanted into root cups with waterproof partitions to establish different soil moisture treatments: sufficient irrigation (SI) with 80 % soil moisture on both sides, HED with 80 % on one side and 40 % on the other, and homogeneous drought stress (HOD) with 60 % on both sides. The results indicated that soybean plants treated with HED exhibited healthier growth compared to those treated with HOD. Photosynthesis rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (cond.), transpiration rate (Tr), and relative water content (RWC) decreased by 10.24 %, 43.90 %, 152.66 %, and 8.69 % in HED-treated plants, respectively, but dry biomass increased by 3.38 %. Conversely, HOD conditions led to a significant decline in these parameters. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed significant changes in the biosynthesis and signaling pathways of key phytohormones and metabolites, including abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellin (GA), jasmonic acid (JA), isoflavones, starch, and sugars. In HED-treated plants, GmNCED downregulation resulted in 54.22 % less ABA than HOD. GA levels increased under HED with upregulation of GmGA3OX1 and GmGA3OX2. JA content in HED-treated roots was 90.90 % higher than in HOD-treated roots. Isoflavones concentration including genistein (73.01 %), genistin (63.63 %), malonylgenistin (20.58 %), malonylgenistin (65 %), diadzin (38.15 %), and malonyldiadzin (47.61 %) levels, were significantly higher in HED-treated plants. Antioxidant enzyme activities indicated a 20 % increase in peroxidase (POD) activity under HED, while malondialdehyde (MDA) content was 27 % higher in HOD-treated plants, indicating greater oxidative stress. Chlorophyll content remained stable, and starch concentration increased by 33.33 % in HED-treated plants compared to HOD-treated plants. HED enhances phytohormonal responses and metabolic adjustments in soybean plants, boosting photosynthetic efficiency, antioxidant capabilities, growth, and drought resilience. This regulatory mechanism balances growth promotion and drought resistance, highlighting HED potential in improving crop resilience.

Salt marshes are pivotal in the global carbon cycle, serving as significant contributors to the blue carbon sink. Accurately estimating carbon stock in salt marshes relies on precise vegetation classification. Here, we developed the Salt Marsh Vegetation Classification Network (SVCN), a deep learning algorithm designed to classify three primary vegetation canopies (S. alterniflora, P. australis, and S. mariqueter) spanning from 2016 to 2023 over the Yangtze River estuary, China. The SVCN was initially trained using 412 vegetation samples and Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data in 2018. Additionally, we trained three traditional machine learning models – Classification and Regression Trees, Random Forests, and K-Nearest Neighbors – to facilitate a comparative analysis of model performance. Leveraging the classified vegetation outcomes, we conducted salt marsh carbon stock estimations using the InVEST model. The results showed that the SVCN model outperformed the other three models, achieving an overall accuracy of 0.97. Salt marsh carbon stocks in the Yangtze River estuary exhibited an overall increasing trend from 2016 to 2023, with an average annual increase of 3.13 ×103Mg⋅year−1. However, there was a notable decrease of 10.36% in 2017, primarily attributed to reductions in the area covered by S. alterniflora and P. australis, which decreased by 11.18% and 10.11%, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of deep learning models and the incorporation of salt marshes in carbon stock estimates to enhance accuracy.

Abstract Background B7‐H3 protein is an important regulator of the adaptive immune response in human tumorigenesis. 4‐1BB is a co‐stimulatory receptor expressed on activated CD8+ T cells, and regulates T cell immunity. Here, we investigated the role of B7‐H3 in the growth and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and the effect of its interaction with 4‐1BB on tumor immunity. Methods Short hairpin (sh) RNA was designed to knock down B7‐H3 expression in NPC cells. NPC cells with stable knockdown of B7‐H3 were established and injected into nude mice. The effects of B7‐H3 on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) were detected by the CCK8 assay, flow cytometry, TUNEL assay, and western blot analysis. The migration and invasion abilities were determined using the Transwell assay and scratch assay. Co‐immunoprecipitation (Co‐IP) assays were performed to study the interaction between B7‐H3 and 4‐1BB. Anti‐4‐1BB antibody was used in a co‐culture system and xenograft mice to study the effect of 4‐1BB on NPC development. Results NPC cells transfected with sh‐B7‐H3 showed a higher rate of apoptosis, slower growth rate, impaired migration, and less EMT in vitro. Xenograft mice with stable knockout of B7‐H3 had lower tumor burdens, and the stripped tumors had lower rates of cell proliferation, higher rates of apoptosis, and less EMT in vivo. Additionally, decreased B7‐H3 expression was positively correlated with interferon‐γ, tumor necrosis factor‐α, and 4‐1BB+CD8+ tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes. Co‐IP studies showed that B7‐H3 interacts with 4‐1BB. Also, the inhibitory effects of sh‐B7‐H3 on NPC tumor growth, invasion, and tumor immunity could be alleviated by the anti‐4‐1BB antibody both in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion Our findings suggest that B7‐H3 may accelerate tumor growth, tumor cell invasion, and EMT, and interact with 4‐1BB to produce CD8+ T cell exhaustion that inhibits tumor immunity. B7‐H3 might serve as a novel target for treating NPC.

Abstract Compared to transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) monolayers, rhombohedral-stacked (R-stacked) TMD bilayers exhibit remarkable electrical performance, enhanced nonlinear optical response, giant piezo-photovoltaic effect and intrinsic interfacial ferroelectricity. However, from a thermodynamics perspective, the formation energies of R-stacked and hexagonal-stacked (H-stacked) TMD bilayers are nearly identical, leading to mixed stacking of both H- and R-stacked bilayers in epitaxial films. Here, we report the remote epitaxy of centimetre-scale single-crystal R-stacked WS2 bilayer films on sapphire substrates. The bilayer growth is realized by a high flux feeding of the tungsten source at high temperature on substrates. The R-stacked configuration is achieved by the symmetry breaking in a-plane sapphire, where the influence of atomic steps passes through the lower TMD layer and controls the R-stacking of the upper layer. The as-grown R-stacked bilayers show up-to-30-fold enhancements in carrier mobility (34 cm2V−1s−1), nearly doubled circular helicity (61%) and interfacial ferroelectricity, in contrast to monolayer films. Our work reveals a growth mechanism to obtain stacking-controlled bilayer TMD single crystals, and promotes large-scale applications of R-stacked TMD.

Abstract Background Phosphorus plays a key role in plant adaptation to adversity and plays a positive role in the yield and quality formation of apples. Genes of the SPX domain-containing family are widely involved in the regulation of phosphorus signalling networks. However, the mechanisms controlling phosphorus deficiency are not completely understood in self-rooted apple stock. Results In this study, 26 members of the apple SPX gene family were identified by genome-wide analysis, and further divided into four subfamilies (SPX, SPX-MFS, SPX-EXS, and SPX-RING) based on their structural features. The chromosome distribution and gene duplications of MdSPXs were also examined. The promoter regions of MdSPXs were enriched for multiple biotic/abiotic stresses, hormone responses and typical P1BS-related elements. Analysis of the expression levels of 26 MdSPXs showed that some members were remarkably induced when subjected to low phosphate (Pi) stress, and in particular MdSPX2, MdSPX3, and MdPHO1.5 exhibited an intense response to low Pi stress. MdSPX2 and MdSPX3 showed significantly divergent expression levels in low Pi sensitive and insensitive apple species. Protein interaction networks were predicted for 26 MdSPX proteins. The interaction of MdPHR1 with MdSPX2, MdSPX3, MdSPX4, and MdSPX6 was demonstrated by yeast two-hybrid assay, suggesting that these proteins might be involved in the Pi-signaling pathway by interacting with MdPHR1. Conclusion This research improved the understanding of the apple SPX gene family and contribute to future biological studies of MdSPX genes in self-rooted apple stock.

Abstract Cardiovascular events are the leading cause of death among hip fracture patients. This study aims to identify subphenotypes of hip fracture patients and investigate their association with incident cardiovascular events, all-cause mortality, and health service utilisation in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom populations. By the latent class analysis, we show three distinct clusters in the Hong Kong cohort (n = 78,417): Cluster 1 has cerebrovascular and hypertensive diseases, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes; Cluster 2 has congestive heart failure; Cluster 3 consists of relatively healthy patients. Compared to Cluster 3, higher risks of major adverse cardiovascular events are observed in Cluster 1 (hazard ratio 1.97, 95% CI 1.83 to 2.12) and Cluster 2 (hazard ratio 4.06, 95% CI 3.78 to 4.35). Clusters 1 and 2 are also associated with a higher risk of mortality, more unplanned accident and emergency visits and longer hospital stays. Self-controlled case series analysis shows a significantly elevated risk of major adverse cardiovascular events within 60 days post-hip fracture. Similar associations are observed in the United Kingdom cohort (n = 27,948). Pre-existing heart failure is identified as a unique subphenotype associated with poor prognosis after hip fractures.

Abstract Objective There has been some confusion in earlier research on the connection between thyroid function and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This research is aimed to probe into the correlation between thyroid condition and the risk of PCOS from a new standpoint of thyroid hormone sensitivity. Methods This research comprised 415 females with PCOS from Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated with the Medical School of Nanjing University, and 137 non-PCOS individuals were selected as the normal control. Based on free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), we calculated the thyroid hormone sensitivity indices, which consist of Thyroid Feedback Quantile-based Index (TFQI), Thyroid-stimulating Hormone Index (TSHI), Thyrotroph Thyroxine Resistance Index (TT4RI) and Free Triiodothyronine /Free thyroxine (FT3/FT4). The binary logistic regression model was adopted to investigate the correlation between thyroid hormone sensitivity indices with the risk of PCOS. Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis was employed to explore the association among thyroid-related measures with metabolic parameters in PCOS. Results Results of this research showed that females with PCOS had rising TFQI, TSHI, TT4RI, and FT3/FT4 levels compared with the control group. After adjustment for the impact of various covariates, there was no significant correlation between FT3/FT4 and the risk of PCOS; However, the odds ratio of the third and fourth vs. the first quartile of TFQI were 3.57(95% confidence interval [CI]:1.08,11.87) and 4.90(95% CI:1.38,17.38) respectively; The odds ratio of the fourth vs. the first quartile of TSHI was 5.35(95% CI:1.48,19.37); The odds ratio of the second vs. the first quartile of TT4RI was 0.27(95%CI 0.09,0.82). In addition, no significant correlation was observed between thyroid-related measures and metabolic measures in females with PCOS. Conclusions A reduction in the sensitivity of central thyroid hormone is closely correlated with a higher risk of PCOS. Further research is necessary to corroborate our findings and the supporting mechanisms.

Abstract The long-term high-fat diet (HFD) can cause myocardial lipotoxicity, which is characterized pathologically by myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis, and remodeling and clinically by cardiac dysfunction and heart failure in patients with obesity and diabetes. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel class of noncoding RNA characterized by a ring formation through covalent bonds, play a critical role in various cardiovascular diseases. However, few studies have been conducted to investigate the role and mechanism of circRNA in myocardial lipotoxicity. Here, we found that circ_005077, formed by exon 2–4 of Crmp1, was significantly upregulated in the myocardium of an HFD-fed rat. Furthermore, we identified circ_005077 as a novel ferroptosis-related regulator that plays a role in palmitic acid (PA) and HFD-induced myocardial lipotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, circ_005077 interacted with Cyclophilin A (CyPA) and inhibited its degradation via the ubiquitination proteasome system (UBS), thus promoting the interaction between CyPA and p47phox to enhance the activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase responsible for ROS generation, subsequently inducing ferroptosis. Therefore, our results provide new insights into the mechanisms of myocardial lipotoxicity, potentially leading to the identification of a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of myocardial lipotoxicity in the future.

Abstract In single unit-cell FeSe grown on SrTiO3, the superconductivity transition temperature features a significant enhancement. Local phonon modes at the interface associated with electron-phonon coupling may play an important role in the interface-induced enhancement. However, such phonon modes have eluded direct experimental observations. The complicated atomic structure of the interface brings challenges to obtain the accurate structure-phonon relation knowledge. Here, we achieve direct characterizations of atomic structure and phonon modes at the FeSe/SrTiO3 interface with atomically resolved imaging and electron energy loss spectroscopy in an electron microscope. We find several phonon modes highly localized (~1.3 nm) at the unique double layer Ti-O terminated interface, one of which (~ 83 meV) engages in strong interactions with the electrons in FeSe based on ab initio calculations. This finding of the localized interfacial phonon associated with strong electron-phonon coupling provides new insights into understanding the origin of superconductivity enhancement at the FeSe/SrTiO3 interface.