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Abstract Background Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo is a perennial epiphytic herb in traditional Chinese medicine, showing remarkable resistance to salt stress. Water-soluble sugars serve as important osmoprotectants and play crucial roles in plant stress responses. Previous studies have primarily focused on sugar metabolism in individual tissues under stress, resulting in a limited understanding of the regulatory differences between tissues and the relationship between sugar metabolism and transport. Results A variety of salt-responsive genes were identified through transcriptome analysis of D. officinale. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed functional differences among the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between leaves and roots. Expression analysis indicated that sugar metabolic genes and D. officinale S ugars W ill E ventually be E xported T ransporters (DoSWEETs) displayed distinct expression patterns in leaves and roots under salt stress. Most sugar metabolic genes were up-regulated in the leaves and down-regulated in the roots in response to salt, while DoSWEETs predominantly responded in the roots. Specifically, DoSWEET2a, 6a, 12a, 14, and 16 were confirmed via RT-qPCR. Additionally, positive correlations were observed between certain genes (scrK, INV, SUS) and DoSWEETs, with INV (LOC110096666) showing a strong positive correlation with all detected DoSWEETs in both leaves and roots. Conclusions Our findings not only illustrated the distinct responses of leaves and roots to salt stress, but also highlighted the relationship between sugar metabolic genes and DoSWEETs in adapting to such stress. This enhances our understanding of the differential responses of plant tissues to salt stress and identified candidate genes for salt-resistance breeding in D. officinale.

Highlights The acid etching Co-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid-based metal–organic frameworks (donated as AE-CoNDA) catalyst displayed an excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity for long-term stability. Integration of the AE-CoNDA cocatalyst into BiVO4 achieved a remarkable PEC-OER activity. The stretched Co-O bond length regulated the spin state transition at the Co active sites. The optimized high spin state of Co sites adjusted the orbitals hybridization of Co 3d and O 2p.

The co-agglomeration of the digital economy industry and manufacturing is significant for addressing issues such as being “large but not strong” and “comprehensive but not refined” in China’s manufacturing sector. This study uses 269 cities in China from 2006 to 2022 as the research sample, innovatively employing data from digital economy enterprises and manufacturing enterprises to measure industrial co-agglomeration, and comprehensively analyzes the mechanism of how the inflow of digital talents influences the co-agglomeration of the digital economy industry and manufacturing. The findings are as follows: (1) From 2006 to 2022, the inflow of digital talents and the level of co-agglomeration between the digital economy industry and manufacturing in Chinese cities have consistently risen, generally moving towards higher inflow and higher levels of co-agglomeration. However, the inflow of digital talent in the central and western regions is relatively low, with most cities still facing difficulties due to inadequate policy support and resource investment. Industrial co-agglomeration exhibits characteristics of “core–periphery”, “multi-core agglomeration”, and “gradient diffusion” coexisting. (2) The flow of digital talents can significantly promote the co-agglomeration of the digital economy industry and manufacturing, and this conclusion remains valid after robustness testing. The flow of digital talents drives the co-agglomeration of the digital economy industry and manufacturing by enhancing the level of digital technology innovation, promoting the spillover and flow of digital knowledge, increasing the entrepreneurial activity of urban digital economy enterprises, and upgrading industrial structures. Furthermore, digital economy policies play a regulatory role in this process. (3) The promotion effect of digital talent inflow is more pronounced in low- and mid-end manufacturing, high-grade cities, well-developed digital infrastructure, and non-resource-based cities. By contrast, this effect is relatively weaker in high-end manufacturing and low-grade cities. In cities with weak digital infrastructure and resource-based cities, this effect is not significant. (4) The inflow of digital talents and the co-agglomeration of digital economy industry and manufacturing have a significant promotion effect on cities with similar economic development levels and adjacent geographical locations, demonstrating a positive diffusion effect.

The active material of liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) is capable of harvesting energy directly from the surroundings and sustaining continuous motion in the presence of light and heat. It is extensively employed in active machinery, soft robotics, biomedicine, and other fields. To date, there is barely any research on the sustained chaotic motion system of LCE pendulum. The main objective of this paper is to put forward a sustained motion system of a simple pendulum comprising photosensitive LCE. In accordance with the LCE dynamic model, a nonlinear dynamic model of the LCE simple pendulum is established, and its motion behavior characteristics under periodic illumination are examined. The numerical outcomes demonstrate that apart from the in-situ vibration mode, the LCE pendulum experiences two types of displacement motion modes as well, namely periodic oscillation mode and chaotic motion mode. The mechanism underlying the sustained periodic oscillation and chaotic motion is revealed by compensating for the damping dissipation with work done by the LCE contraction. Moreover, the discussion also covers how the system parameters affect the motion modes of the LCE simple pendulum. Through altering the parameters such as illumination period, contraction coefficient, light intensity, damping coefficient and gravitational acceleration, it is possible to realize the distinct motion modes of the LCE simple pendulum. This research may deepen the comprehension on the motion behavior of the simple pendulum, and provide scientific guidance for the design and exploration of chaotic systems based on active materials.

Abstract Ferroptosis, which is caused by iron‐dependent accumulation of lipid peroxides, is an emerging form of regulated cell death and is considered a potential target for cancer therapy. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying ferroptosis remain unclear. This study defines a distinctive role of ferroptosis. Inhibition of CARM1 can increase the sensitivity of tumor cells to ferroptosis inducers in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, it is found that ACSL4 is methylated by CARM1 at arginine 339 (R339). Furthermore, ACSL4 R339 methylation promotes RNF25 binding to ACSL4, which contributes to the ubiquitylation of ACSL4. The blockade of CARM1 facilitates ferroptosis and effectively enhances ferroptosis‐associated cancer immunotherapy. Overall, this study demonstrates that CARM1 is a critical contributor to ferroptosis resistance and highlights CARM1 as a candidate therapeutic target for improving the effects of ferroptosis‐based antitumor therapy.

AbstractAim Renal tubular epithelial cell (RTEC) apoptosis is important in acute kidney injury (AKI). Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) plays an important role in cell apoptosis, but its potential role in AKI remains unknown.Methods Using co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, flow cytometry, and cell transfection, this study aimed to verify whether CaMKII is involved in RTEC apoptosis and to explore the underlying mechanism.Results We found that CaMKII was involved in RTEC apoptosis. In adriamycin-induced AKI mice, serum creatinine levels, cell apoptosis, CaMKII activity, and nuclear factor of activated T cells 2 (NFAT2) levels increased, whereas nuclear Yes-associated protein (YAP) expression decreased; inhibition of CaMKII activity reversed these changes. Phosphorylated CaMKII could bind to phosphorylated YAP in the cytoplasm and block it from entering the nucleus, thereby failing to inhibit NFAT2-mediated cell apoptosis. Sequestrated phosphorylated YAP in the RTEC cytoplasm was finally degraded by ubiquitination.Conclusion CaMKII may regulate RTEC apoptosis through YAP/NFAT2 in AKI mice. CaMKII may be a potent molecular target for AKI treatment.

Summary: Fatty acid metabolism plays a critical role in both tumorigenesis and cancer radiotherapy. However, the regulatory mechanism of fatty acid metabolism has not been fully elucidated. NSD2, a histone methyltransferase that catalyzes di-methylation of histone H3 at lysine 36, has been shown to play an essential role in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Here, we show that NSD2 promotes fatty acid oxidation (FAO) by methylating AROS (active regulator of SIRT1) at lysine 27, facilitating the physical interaction between AROS and SIRT1. The mutation of lysine 27 to arginine weakens the interaction between AROS and SIRT1 and impairs AROS-SIRT1-mediated FAO. Additionally, we examine the effect of NSD2 inhibition on radiotherapy efficacy and find an enhanced effectiveness of radiotherapy. Together, our findings identify a NSD2-dependent methylation regulation pattern of the AROS-SIRT1 axis, suggesting that NSD2 inhibition may be a potential adjunct for tumor radiotherapy.

IntroductionAssessing the likelihood of engaging in high-risk sexual behavior can assist in delivering tailored educational interventions. The objective of this study was to identify the most effective algorithm and assess high-risk sexual behaviors within the last six months through the utilization of machine-learning models.MethodsThe survey conducted in the Longhua District CDC, Shenzhen, involved 2023 participants who were employees of 16 different factories. The data was collected through questionnaires administered between October 2019 and November 2019. We evaluated the model's overall predictive classification performance using the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. All analyses were performed using the open-source Python version 3.9.12.ResultsAbout a quarter of the factory workers had engaged in risky sexual behavior in the past 6 months. Most of them were Han Chinese (84.53%), hukou in foreign provinces (85.12%), or rural areas (83.19%), with junior high school education (55.37%), personal monthly income between RMB3,000 (US$417.54) and RMB4,999 (US$695.76; 64.71%), and were workers (80.67%). The random forest model (RF) outperformed all other models in assessing risky sexual behavior in the past 6 months and provided acceptable performance (accuracy 78%; sensitivity 11%; specificity 98%; PPV 63%; ROC 84%).DiscussionMachine learning has aided in evaluating risky sexual behavior within the last six months. Our assessment models can be integrated into government or public health departments to guide sexual health promotion and follow-up services.

Recent urbanization and growing food consumption have had a severely detrimental effect on the ecological environment of the Jianghan Plain. The ecological fragility of the Jianghan Plain must be continually monitored for environmental conservation and sustainable development. This study utilized principal component analysis (PCA) to quantitatively assess the ecological vulnerability of the Jianghan Plain based on the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI) and analyzed the space-time changes and drivers in the Jianghan Plain from 2000 to 2020 using the Google Earth Engine Platform (GEE). The findings of this research indicated that the ecological vulnerability of the Jianghan Plain from 2000 to 2020 was predominantly Moderate or Strong level. But still, the EVI displayed a changing decreasing trend, revealing a small development towards a healthier ecological environment. The most significant ecological vulnerability deterioration occurred between 2005 and 2010, accounting for roughly 44.90 percent, whereas the highest improvement occurred between 2000 and 2005, occupying approximately 37.52% of the area. Moran’s I of EVI was greater than 0 in Jianghan Plain and displayed a growing and subsequently a falling trend, representing that the spatial distribution of regional ecological vulnerability was strongly correlated and aggregated and that the degree of aggregation has declined. The effects of heat, greenness, wetness, and dryness on the ecological vulnerability of Jianghan Plain were all significant, with greenness and wetness being the primary determinants of the change in Jianghan Plain’s ecological vulnerability. The results of this study can offer a theoretical and scientific foundation for ecological protection and restoration in the Jianghan Plain. Meanwhile, this study also provides a practical and rapid method for monitoring regional ecological vulnerability using RSEI, GEE, and PCA, which can be applied elsewhere for ecological vulnerability evaluation.

Individuals with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) have worse chemotherapy efficacy and poorer outcomes. It is still unclear whether long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve as prognostic and therapeutic targets in the chemotherapy resistance of individuals with DLBCL and HBV infection. Here we found that the core component of HBV (HBX) directly upregulated the expression of lncNBAT1, which was closely associated with the chemotherapy outcomes of HBV-infected individuals with DLBCL. Upregulation of lncNBAT1 reduced the sensitivity of DLBCL cells to chemotherapeutic agents (methotrexate [MTX] or cytarabine [Ara-C]) that induced S phase arrest, whereas knockdown of lncNBAT1 significantly relieved the chemoresistance of HBX-expressing DLBCLs. Mechanistically, lncNBAT1 could interact with the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) to prevent its enrichment at the promoter region of the functional target gene apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic subunit 3A (APOBEC3A), inhibiting expression of APOBEC3A and inducing resistance to MTX in DLBCL cells. Furthermore, clinical data analysis showed that lncNBAT1 and APOBEC3A expression was closely related to the poor prognosis and short survival of individuals with DLBCL. Our findings suggest a potential prognostic marker and a candidate lncRNA target for treating HBV-infected individuals with DLBCL.

Microencapsulation of essential oils can provide sustained release properties of their products. The reasonable selection of microcapsule wall materials is considered to be the key to effectively controlling the action time of essential oils and improving the stability of the products. From the classification of proteins and polysaccharides, the research status of the wall materials of sustained-release microcapsule of essential oils are summarized, and their development trend and prospects are introduced. It is expected to provide a useful basis for the research and industrial production of essential oil microcapsules in food industry and other related fields.

Abstract Background Migrant workers are a group susceptible for depression evolution due to occupational maladaptive triggers. The social rank theory illustrates the pathology process from defensive adaptation to depression, pointing out the early prevention of depression by discovering entrapment. This study aims to reveal the relationship between migrant workers’ entrapment and depressive symptoms. Methods A total of 1805 migrant workers in Shenzhen were recruited by stratified multi-stage sampling. Sample’s demographic, behavioral and psychosocial characteristics were described and analyzed to reveal the relationship between entrapment and depressive symptoms. The Receiver Operator Characteristic was performed to find the optimal cut-off point of Entrapment Scale for predicting depressive symptoms. Results In the binary logistic regression of sociodemographic variables, migrant workers who were married (univariate odds ratio (ORu) = 0.69, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.56–0.84), owned 1 or 2 children (ORu = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.58–0.86), had been working over 10 years (ORu = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.54–0.95), earned > 4999 yuan per month (ORu = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.47–0.99; multivariate odds ratio (ORm) = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.38–0.87) or with low risks of alcohol use disorders (ORu = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.34–0.75) had lower risks of depressive symptoms. After adjusted the aforementioned significant sociodemographic variables, migrant workers with severer entrapment were more likely to have depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.12–1.15). Besides, the study proved the reliability and validity of the Chinese version Entrapment Scale, preferring a two-dimensional structure, and 11 was the optimal cut-off value of this scale for predicting depressive symptoms among migrant workers. Conclusions This result indicates the potential value of entrapment according to the social rank theory on facilitating early prevention of migrant works’ depression and the application value of Entrapment Scale for effectively measuring mental status among migrant workers.

IL-6 is an important cytokine in the tumour microenvironment, but its role in regulating autophagy in cancer cells is unclear. Here the authors show that IL-6 activates autophagy in colorectal cancer through the interaction between JAK2 and autophagy regulator, BECN1, which leads to chemotherapeutic resistance.

BackgroundThe Coronavirus Diseases 2019 (COVID-19) directly affects HIV prevention and sexual health services utilization among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study investigated changes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing utilization among MSM before and after the COVID-19 pandemic received initial control in Shenzhen, China.MethodsThis study was a sub-analysis of a prospective observational cohort study conducted among MSM in Shenzhen, China between August 2020 and May 2021. Participants were recruited through outreaching in gay venues, online recruitment, and peer referral. Participants completed a baseline online survey between August and September 2020 and a follow-up online survey between April and May 2021. This study was based on 412 MSM who reported to be HIV-negative/unknown sero-status at baseline, 297 (72.1%) of them completed the follow-up online survey. Multilevel logistic regression models (level 1: sources of recruitment; level 2: individual participants) were fitted.ResultsWhen comparing follow-up data with baseline data, a significant increase was observed in the uptake of any type of HIV testing (77.9% at Month 6 vs. 59.2% at baseline, p < 0.001). After adjusting for age group, education level, current employment status and monthly personal income, two predisposing factors were associated with higher uptake of HIV testing during the follow-up period. They were: (1) condomless anal intercourse with male non-regular male sex partners at follow-up only (AOR: 5.29, 95%CI: 1.27, 22.01) and (2) sanitizing before and after sex at baseline (AOR: 1.26, 95%CI: 1.02, 1.47). Regarding enabling factors, utilization of HIV testing (AOR: 3.90, 95%CI: 2.27, 6.69) and STI testing (AOR: 2.43, 95%CI: 1.20, 4.93) 6 months prior to the baseline survey was associated with higher uptake of HIV testing during the follow-up period. Having the experience that HIV testing service providers reduced service hours during the follow-up period was also positively associated with the dependent variable (AOR: 3.45, 95%CI: 1.26, 9.41).ConclusionsHIV testing utilization among MSM might rebound to the level before the COVID-19 outbreak after the pandemic received initial control in China. This study offered a comprehensive overview to identify potential reasons that can influence the uptake of HIV testing among Chinese MSM.

Abstract Background Factory workers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are vulnerable to HIV transmission. Interventions are needed to prevent HIV in this population. We systematically reviewed published literature on the efficacy of various HIV interventions in reducing stigma, risk behaviors and HIV transmission among factory workers. Methods A systematic review was performed using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Four databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus and EMBASE) were searched for relevant publications between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 2018. Two independent reviewers assessed the methodological quality of studies. Results Thirteen articles were included, with 2 randomized controlled trials and 11 cohort studies. Five interventions and their combinations were summarized. Educational intervention increased condom use and reduced the use of recreational drugs and alcohol before sex. Community intervention that proactively provide HIV counselling and testing (HCT) services could increase the detection rate of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Lottery intervention increased HCT uptake and decreased HIV public stigma. Education combined with community intervention reduced the proportion of workers with casual sex and enhanced HIV knowledge. Peer education combined with community intervention increased the proportion of workers who were willing to take their partners to HCT. Policy intervention combined with peer education enhanced HIV knowledge, perceived condom accessibility and condom use with regular partners. Conclusions Various interventions improved HIV knowledge, decreased HIV stigma and reduced HIV-related risk behaviors among factory workers in LMICs. The combination of multiple interventions tended to achieve better efficacy than a single intervention. Persistent combination interventions are essential to address HIV in this population.

SMAD3 plays a central role in cancer metastasis, and its hyperactivation is linked to poor cancer outcomes. Thus, it is critical to understand the upstream signaling pathways that govern SMAD3 activation. Here, we report that SMAD3 underwent methylation at K53 and K333 (K53/K333) by EZH2, a process crucial for cell membrane recruitment, phosphorylation, and activation of SMAD3 upon TGFB1 stimulation. Mechanistically, EZH2-triggered SMAD3 methylation facilitated SMAD3 interaction with its cellular membrane localization molecule (SARA), which in turn sustained SMAD3 phosphorylation by the TGFB receptor. Pathologically, increased expression of EZH2 expression resulted in the accumulation of SMAD3 methylation to facilitate SMAD3 activation. EZH2-mediated SMAD3 K53/K333 methylation was upregulated and correlated with SMAD3 hyperactivation in breast cancer, promoted tumor metastasis, and was predictive of poor survival outcomes. We used 2 TAT peptides to abrogate SMAD3 methylation and therapeutically inhibit cancer metastasis. Collectively, these findings reveal the complicated layers involved in the regulation of SMAD3 activation coordinated by EZH2-mediated SMAD3 K53/K333 methylation to drive cancer metastasis.

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionately affected sexual minorities including men who have sex with men (MSM). This study investigated factors associated with the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among MSM in China.MethodsInclusion criteria were: (1) born biologically male, (2) had oral or anal sex with men in the past year, (3) aged at least 18 years, and (4) lived in Shenzhen, China. Prospective participants were recruited through outreach in gay bars and saunas, online recruitment, and peer referrals. Participants completed a baseline online survey between August and September 2020 and a follow-up online survey between April and May 2021. Logistic regression models were fitted for data analysis.ResultsAmong 420 participants who completed the baseline survey, 303 completed the follow-up survey. Among participants being followed up, 113 (37%) received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination during the study period. After adjusting for significant sociodemographic characteristics, five baseline predisposing factors predicted COVID-19 vaccination uptake during the follow-up period, including asking whether their partners had COVID-19 symptoms [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00–1.38], washing hands before and after sex (AOR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.03–1.46), sanitizing before and after sex (AOR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.00–1.37), perceived higher risk of COVID-19 transmission through sexual behaviors (AOR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04–1.58), and panic about COVID-19 (AOR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.16–1.89). Regarding enabling factors, receiving testing for sexually transmitted infections (STI) (AOR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.25–3.85) and other prevention measures for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/STI (AOR: 2.61, 95% CI: 1.56–4.37) 6 months prior to the baseline survey were associated with higher uptake of COVID-19 vaccination.ConclusionMSM’s uptake rate of COVID-19 vaccination was comparable to that of the general population in Shenzhen, China. This study offered an overview for us to identify tapping points that can encourage COVID-19 vaccination uptake among Chinese MSM.

Factory workers make up a large proportion of China’s internal migrants and may be highly susceptible to job and adaptation stress, negative affective states (e.g., depression and anxiety), and Internet gaming disorder (IGD). This cross-sectional study investigated the relationships between job stress, psychological adaptation, negative affective states and IGD among 1,805 factory workers recruited by stratified multi-stage sampling between October and December 2019. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to test the proposed mediation model. Among the participants, 67.3% were male and 71.7% were aged 35 years old or below. The prevalence of probable depression, probable anxiety, and IGD was 39.3, 28.7, and 7.5%. Being male, younger age, and shorter duration of living in Shenzhen were associated with higher IGD scores. Job stress was significantly associated with IGD (β = 0.11, p = 0.01) but not with negative affective states (β = 0.01, p = 0.77). Psychological adaptation was significantly associated with negative affective states (β = −0.37, p < 0.001) but not with IGD (β = 0.09, p > 0.05). Negative affective states were positively associated with IGD (β = 0.27, p < 0.001). The indirect effect of psychological adaptation (β = −0.10, p = 0.004) but not job stress (β = 0.003, p = 0.77) on IGD through negative affective states was statistically significant. The observed psychological correlates and mechanisms are modifiable, and can inform the design of evidence-based prevention programs for depression, anxiety, and IGD in this population.

China is considering to offer COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 6–35 months. This study investigated the changes in COVID-19 vaccine acceptability and associated factors among parents with children aged 6–35 months in 2020 and 2021. Two rounds of cross-sectional online surveys were conducted among adult factory workers in Shenzhen, China. A subset of 208 (first round) and 229 (second round) parents with at least one child aged 6–35 months was included in the study. Parental acceptability of COVID-19 vaccination increased significantly from 66.8% in the first round to 79.5% in the second round (p = 0.01). Positive attitudes, perceived subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control were associated with higher parental acceptability in both rounds of surveys (p values ranged from p = 0.02). No significant associations of exposure to information related to COVID-19 vaccination on social media with parental acceptability was found in either round of survey. Expanding the existing COVID-19 vaccination programs to cover children aged 6–35 months is necessary in China. Future programs should focus on modifying perceptions among parents to promote COVID-19 vaccination for children in this age group.

China started to implement COVID-19 vaccination programs for children in July 2021. This study investigated the changes in parents’ COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy for children before and after the vaccination program rollout. Repeated cross-sectional online surveys among full-time adult factory workers were conducted in Shenzhen, China. This analysis was based on 844 (first round) and 1213 parents (second round) who had at least one child aged 3–17 years. The prevalence of vaccine hesitancy for children aged 3–11 years dropped from 25.9% (first round) to 17.4% (second round), while such a prevalence for children aged 12–17 years dropped from 26.0% (first round) to 3.5% (second round) (p < 0.001). Positive attitudes, a perceived subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control related to children’s COVID-19 vaccination were associated with lower vaccine hesitancy in both rounds. In the second round and among parents with children aged 3–11 years, negative attitudes and exposure to information on SARS-CoV-2 infection after receiving a primary vaccine series were associated with higher vaccine hesitancy, while exposure to experiences shared by vaccine recipients and infectiousness of variants of concern were associated with lower vaccine hesitancy. Regular monitoring of vaccine hesitancy and its associated factors among parents should be conducted to guide health promotion.

Three novel cyclic hexapeptides, sclerotides C–E (1–3), and a new lipodepsipeptide, scopularide I (4), together with a known cyclic hexapeptide sclerotide A (5), were isolated from fermented rice cultures of a soft coral-derived fungus: Aspergillus sclerotiorum SCSIO 41031. The structures of the new peptides were determined by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis, Marfey’s method, ESIMS/MS analysis, and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Scopularide I (4) exhibited acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 15.6 μM, and weak cytotoxicity against the human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line HONE-EBV with IC50 value of 10.1 μM.

Though miRNAs have been reported to regulate bovine myoblast proliferation, but many miRNAs still need to be further explored. Specifically, miR-152 is a highly expressed miRNA in cattle skeletal muscle tissues, but its function in skeletal muscle development is unknown. Herein, we aimed to investigate the role of miR-152 in regulating bovine myoblast proliferation. Functionally, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, EdU assay, and flow cytometry detection results showed that miR-152 inhibited bovine myoblast proliferation. Mechanistically, we demonstrated transcription factor KLF6 was a target gene of miR-152 by means of bioinformatics software prediction and dual-luciferase report analysis, which had been demonstrated to be favorable for myoblast proliferation. Collectively, our research suggested that miR-152 inhibits bovine myoblast proliferation via targeting KLF6.

Background: the cool-season grass Achnatherum inebrians (drunken horse grass) is an important species in the northwest grasslands of China. This grass engages in a symbiotic relationship with Epichloë endophytes, which affect host plants by increasing growth, repelling herbivores, and increasing tolerance to stressful environments. Methods: in this work, we evaluated the interaction effects of the endophyte on various dormancy-breaking treatments on A. inebrians seeds from six different locations. We used both endophyte-infected plants and noninfected plants and applied four dormancy-breaking methods to test germination. Results: our results showed that the germination rate of endophytic Achnatherum inebrians seeds from the Xiahe site (with highest altitude) was significantly higher than that from other sites when water soaking was applied (p < 0.05). Endophytic seeds had a greater germination rate, and soluble sugar, indole acetic acid (IAA), and gibberellin (GA) contents, under any condition. There was a significant interaction among the method, endophyte status, and origin regarding germination (p < 0.001); particularly, the effects of warm water soaking and endophyte infection on the germination of seeds from the Xiahe site was significant (p < 0.05). Conclusions: the infection of Epichloë endophyte is able to increase the content of soluble sugar, IAA, and GA, and stimulate the seed germination of A. inebrians.

Since China’s launch of the COVID-19 vaccination, the situation of the public, especially the mobile population, has not been optimistic. We investigated 782 factory workers for whether they would get a COVID-19 vaccine within the next 6 months. The participants were divided into a training set and a testing set for external validation conformed to a ratio of 3:1 with R software. The variables were screened by the Lead Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression analysis. Then, the prediction model, including important variables, used a multivariate logistic regression analysis and presented as a nomogram. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K-S) test, Lift test and Population Stability Index (PSI) were performed to test the validity and stability of the model and summarize the validation results. Only 45.54% of the participants had vaccination intentions, while 339 (43.35%) were unsure. Four of the 16 screened variables—self-efficacy, risk perception, perceived support and capability—were included in the prediction model. The results indicated that the model has a high predictive power and is highly stable. The government should be in the leading position, and the whole society should be mobilized and also make full use of peer education during vaccination initiatives.

Highly efficient drug delivery systems with excellent tumor selectivity and minimal toxicity to normal tissues remain challenging for tumor treatment. Although great effort has been made to prolong the blood circulation and improve the delivery efficiency to tumor sites, nanomedicines are rarely approved for clinical application. Bacteria have the inherent properties of homing to solid tumors, presenting themselves as promising drug delivery systems. Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) is a commonly used probiotic in clinical practice. Its facultative anaerobic property drives it to selectively colonize in the hypoxic area of the tumor for survival and reproduction. EcN can be engineered as a bacteria-based microrobot for molecular imaging, drug delivery, and gene delivery. This review summarizes the progress in EcN-mediated tumor imaging and therapy and discusses the prospects and challenges for its clinical application. EcN provides a new idea as a delivery vehicle and will be a powerful weapon against cancer.

Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) are known for functions in regulating plant growth and stress resistance. This study investigated the damage on rice leaves caused by acid rain (AR) and high temperature (HT) simultaneously, as well as the alleviating effect of AOS on these stresses. The results show that plant biomass and antioxidant enzyme activities (AEAs) after AR treatment reduced more severely under HT conditions than normal-temperature conditions. Both AR and HT triggered the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in rice leaves. The suppressing effects of AR and HT were individual in most cases, except for AEAs. Microscopic analysis showed that pH 2 AR and HT injured leaf epidermis, particularly the bulliform cells, the veins and interveinal regions. Spraying AOS resulted in a slight elevation of biomass, a significant increase in AEAs and a remarkable decline in ROS concentrations under HT conditions with AR. Besides, the chlorophyll a contents of a leaf after pH 2 AR plus AOS treatment under HT conditions remained 66.1% of that after pH 7 treatment under normal-temperature conditions. Moreover, AOS protected the integrity of leaf tissue even after pH 3 treatment. Taken together, the above results suggest that AR and HT inhibited AEAs, led to the accumulation of ROS and damaged rice leaf. However, foliar applying AOS enhanced AEAs, scavenged ROS, and thus alleviated the stress induced by HT and AR.