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Abstract Background Myocardial infarction (MI) is a major disease with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, existing treatments are far from satisfactory, making the exploration of potent molecular targets more imperative. The E3 ubiquitin ligase RING finger protein 5 (RNF5) has been previously reported to be involved in several diseases by regulating ubiquitination-mediated protein degradation. Nevertheless, few reports have focused on its function in cardiovascular diseases, including MI. Methods In this study, we established RNF5 knockout mice through precise CRISPR-mediated genome editing and utilized left anterior descending coronary artery ligation in 9-11-week-old male C57BL/6 mice. Subsequently, serum biochemical analysis and histopathological examination of heart tissues were performed. Furthermore, we engineered adenoviruses for modulating RNF5 expression and subjected neonatal rat cardiomyocytes to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) to mimic ischemic conditions, demonstrating the impact of RNF5 manipulation on cellular viability. Gene and protein expression analysis provided insights into the molecular mechanisms. Statistical methods were rigorously employed to assess the significance of experimental findings. Results We found RNF5 was downregulated in infarcted heart tissue of mice and NRCMs subjected to OGD treatment. RNF5 knockout in mice resulted in exacerbated heart dysfunction, more severe inflammatory responses, and increased apoptosis after MI surgery. In vitro, RNF5 knockdown exacerbated the OGD-induced decline in cell activity, increased apoptosis, while RNF5 overexpression had the opposite effect. Mechanistically, it was proven that the kinase cascade initiated by apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) activation was closely regulated by RNF5 and mediated RNF5’s protective function during MI. Conclusions We demonstrated the protective effect of RNF5 on myocardial infarction and its function was dependent on inhibiting the activation of ASK1, which adds a new regulatory component to the myocardial infarction associated network and promises to enable new therapeutic strategy.

Abstract Since the advent of Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies have gained substantial popularity, and crypto wallets have evolved into the predominant tool for safeguarding and managing cryptographic keys to access cryptocurrency funds. Deterministic wallets are proposed as an advanced wallet mechanism to provide benefits such as low-maintenance, easy backup and recovery, and support for functionalities required by cryptocurrencies. Alkeilani Alkadri et al. (ACM CCS’20) presented the first post-quantum secure deterministic wallet scheme, but it exhibits a gap to bridge before achieving practical applicability, as reflected in both their concrete parameters size and computational efficiency. In this paper, we propose an efficient post-quantum secure deterministic wallet scheme. In particular, we present a new construction method for deterministic wallets, prove the security in the quantum random oracle model, and provide an efficient instantiation. The comparison result, with the work of Alkeilani Alkadri et al. (ACM CCS’20), shows our work has a comprehensive improvement on efficiency, e.g., the pk size is $$\approx 40.7$$ ≈ 40.7 times shorter, sk is $$\approx 9.2$$ ≈ 9.2 times shorter, and the signing time is $$\approx 3.1$$ ≈ 3.1 times faster.

Abstract It is of great significance to develop a novel approach to treat bacterial infections, as the frequent misuse of antibiotics leads to the serious problem of bacterial resistance. This study proposed antibiotic-free antibacterial nanoparticles for eliminating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) based on a multi-model synergistic antibacterial ability of chemodynamic therapy (CDT), photothermal effect, and innate immunomodulation. Specifically, a polydopamine (PDA) layer coated and Ag nanoparticles loaded core-shell structure Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4@PDA-Ag) is prepared. The Fe3O4 catalyzes H2O2 present in acidic microenvironment of bacterial infection into more toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and synergizes with the released Ag ions to exert a stronger bactericidal capacity, which can be augmented by photothermal action of PDA triggered by near-infrared light and loosen the biofilm by photothermal action to promote the penetration of ROS and Ag ion into the biofilm, result in disrupting biofilm structure along with killing encapsulated bacteria. Furthermore, Fe3O4@PDA-Ag exerts indirect antibacterial effects by promoting M1 macrophage polarizing. Animal models demonstrated that Fe3O4@PDA-Ag effectively controlled MRSA-induced infections through photothermal enhanced CDT, Ag+ releasing, and macrophage-mediated bactericidal properties. The acid-triggered antibacterial nanoparticles are expected to combat drug-resistant bacteria infection. Graphical abstract

Abstract Background It is not fully established whether plasma β-amyloid(Aβ)42/Aβ40 and phosphorylated Tau181 (p-Tau181) can effectively detect Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathophysiology in older Chinese adults and how these biomarkers correlate with astrocyte reactivity, Aβ plaque deposition, tau tangle aggregation, and neurodegeneration. Methods We recruited 470 older adults and analyzed plasma Aβ42/Aβ40, p-Tau181, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light (NfL) using the Simoa platform. Among them, 301, 195, and 70 underwent magnetic resonance imaging, Aβ and tau positron emission tomography imaging. The plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 and p-Tau181 thresholds were defined as ≤0.0609 and ≥2.418 based on the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis using the Youden index by comparing Aβ-PET negative cognitively unimpaired individuals and Aβ-PET positive cognitively impaired patients. To evaluate the feasibility of using plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 (A) and p-Tau181 (T) to detect AD and understand how astrocyte reactivity affects this process, we compared plasma GFAP, Aβ plaque, tau tangle, plasma NfL, hippocampal volume, and temporal-metaROI cortical thickness between different plasma A/T profiles and explored their relations with each other using general linear models, including age, sex, APOE-ε4, and diagnosis as covariates. Results Plasma A+/T + individuals showed the highest levels of astrocyte reactivity, Aβ plaque, tau tangle, and axonal degeneration, and the lowest hippocampal volume and temporal-metaROI cortical thickness. Lower plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 and higher plasma p-Tau181 were independently and synergistically correlated with higher plasma GFAP and Aβ plaque. Elevated plasma p-Tau181 and GFAP concentrations were directly and interactively associated with more tau tangle formation. Regarding neurodegeneration, higher plasma p-Tau181 and GFAP concentrations strongly correlated with more axonal degeneration, as measured by plasma NfL, and lower plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 and higher plasma p-Tau181 were related to greater hippocampal atrophy. Higher plasma GFAP levels were associated with thinner cortical thickness and significantly interacted with lower plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 and higher plasma p-Tau181 in predicting more temporal-metaROI cortical thinning. Voxel-wise imaging analysis confirmed these findings. Discussion This study provides a valuable reference for using plasma biomarkers to detect AD in the Chinese community population and offers novel insights into how astrocyte reactivity contributes to AD progression, highlighting the importance of targeting reactive astrogliosis to prevent AD.

Abstract Recent computer science advancements are now integrated into the workplace, where management increasingly uses algorithm systems. However, despite numerous studies focusing on the impact of algorithms on employees, research on employee creative and adaptive performance remains relatively scarce. To address this research gap, we applied the ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) theory and developed a moderated mediation model to examine how algorithmic management affects employee creative and adaptive performance. We administered a survey questionnaire within an information technology service firm in northern China and collected valid responses from 327 employees. We then analyzed the gathered data using SPSS 27.0 and Mplus 8.3 to test the proposed hypotheses. The research findings revealed a potential negative impact of algorithmic management on employee creative and adaptive performance. Specifically, we found that algorithmic management inhibits employees’ improvisation capability, resulting in decreased creative and adaptive performance. Furthermore, we discovered that algorithmic dependence can magnify the negative impact of algorithmic management on improvisation capability. This study offers fresh perspectives on algorithmic management’s impact on employee creative and adaptive performance, contributing to the existing literature. This research delves into the theoretical and practical significance of these findings.

Objective Surgical decision‐making for congenital kyphosis (CK) with failure of anterior segmentation (type II) has been contradictory regarding the trade‐off between the pursuit of correction rate and the inherent risk of the osteotomy procedure. This study was designed to compare the clinical and radiographic measurement in type II CK underwent SRS‐Schwab Grade 4 osteotomy and vertebral column resection (VCR), the most‐adapted osteotomy techniques for CK, and to propose the strategy to select between the two procedures. Methods This retrospective observational comparative study evaluated surgical outcomes in type II CK patients underwent VCR or SRS‐Schwab Grade 4 osteotomy at our institution between January 2015 and January 2020. Patients operated with VCR and SRS‐Schwab Grade 4 osteotomy were allocated to Group 1 and Group 2 respectively. Radiographic parameters and SRS‐22 quality of life metrics were assessed at pre‐operation, post‐operation, and during follow‐up visits for both groups, allowing for a comprehensive comparison of surgical outcomes. Results Thirty‐one patients (19 patients in Group 1 and 12 patients in Group 2) aged 16.3 ± 10.4 years were recruited. Correction of segmental kyphosis was similar between groups (51.1 ± 17.6° in Group 1 and 48.4 ± 19.8° in Group 2, p = 0.694). Group 1 had significantly longer operation time (365.9 ± 81.2 vs 221.4 ± 78.9, p

Objective To establish a novel classification system for predicting the risk of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) events in surgically-treated patients with kyphotic deformity. Methods Patients with kyphotic deformity who underwent surgical correction of cervicothoracic, thoracic, or thoracolumbar kyphosis in our center from July 2005 to December 2020 were recruited. We proposed a classification system to describe the morphology of the spinal cord on T2-weighted sagittal magnetic resonance imaging: type A, circular/symmetric cord with visible cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) between the cord and vertebral body; type B, circular/oval/symmetric cord with no visible CSF between the cord and vertebral body; type C, spinal cord that is fattened/deformed by the vertebral body, with no visible CSF between the cord and vertebral body. Furthermore, based on type C, the spinal cord compression ratio (CR) < 50% was defined as the subtype C-, while the spinal cord CR ≥ 50% was defined as the subtype C+. IONM event was documented, and a comparative analysis was made to evaluate the prevalence of IONM events among patients with diverse spinal cord types. Results A total of 294 patients were reviewed, including 73 in type A; 153 in type B; 53 in subtype C- and 15 in subtype C+. Lower extremity transcranial motor-evoked potentials and/or somatosensory evoked potentials were lost intraoperatively in 41 cases (13.9%), among which 4 patients with type C showed no return of spinal cord monitoring data. The 14 subtype C+ patients (93.3%) had IONM events. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that patients with a type C spinal cord (subtype C-: odds ratio [OR], 10.390; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.215–48.735; p = 0.003; subtype C+, OR, 497.000; 95% CI, 42.126– 5,863.611; p < 0.001) are at significantly higher risk of a positive IONM event during deformity correction compared to those with a type A. In further multiple logistic regression analysis, the spinal cord classification (OR, 5.371; 95% CI, 2.966–9.727; p < 0.001) was confirmed as an independent risk factor for IONM events. Conclusion We presented a new spinal cord classification system based on the relative position of the spinal cord and vertebrae to predict the risk of IONM events in patients with kyphotic deformity. In patients with type C spinal cord, especially those in C+ cases, it is essential to be aware of potential IONM events, and adopt standard operating procedures to facilitate neurological recovery.

A new species, Astragalus liuaiminii Z. Z. Yang & Q. R. Liu (Fabaceae), is described and illustrated from Xinjiang Province, China. The new species is close to A. wenquanensis S. B. Ho, but differs from the latter by leaves having a single leaflet (vs. 3–5 leaflets), and inflorescences with 1–2 flowers (vs. inflorescences with 5–7 flowers). It is also similar to A. monophyllus Maxim in leaf shape, but differs by its calyx expanding to become saccate and totally enveloping the pod (vs. calyx tubular, and ruptured by pod after flowering).

Abstract A comprehensive emergency medical service (EMS) system significantly enhances a city’s capacity to prevent and mitigate disasters. Using Huangshi as a case study, this research evaluated the service radium coverage rate of the current EMS system by examining its transport capacity, population density, and prevalence rate, finding it to be only 61.49% with an inefficient spatial layout. To address this, we proposed transforming urban brownfields into EMS parks. By selecting the most suitable brownfields based on capacity and service radius, we increased the coverage rate to 90.21%. We introduced a new "consultation-referral" model, where existing EMS facilities serve as pre-diagnosis and triage centers, and the urban brownfield EMS parks function as isolation and centralized treatment centers. GIS network analysis confirmed the feasibility, showing all transit times to be under 30 min. The methodology outlined in this study—comprising "demand assessment, supply optimization, and feasibility verification"—not only strengthens the city’s EMS system but also facilitates the renewal of urban brownfields. This approach can serve as a valuable reference for enhancing EMS systems in other cities.

Abstract Dry reforming of methane (DRM) is a highly endothermic process, with its development hindered by the harsh thermocatalytic conditions required. We propose an innovative DRM approach utilizing a 16 W pulsed laser in combination with a cost-effective Mo2C catalyst, enabling DRM under milder conditions. The pulsed laser serves a dual function by inducing localized high temperatures and generating *CH plasma on the Mo2C surface. This activates CH4 and CO2, significantly accelerating the DRM reaction. Notably, the laser directly generates *CH plasma from CH4 through thermionic emission and cascade ionization, bypassing the traditional step-by-step dehydrogenation process and eliminating the rate-limiting step of methane cracking. This method maintains a carbon-oxygen balanced environment, thus preventing the deactivation of the Mo2C catalyst due to CO2 oxidation. The laser-catalytic DRM achieves high yields of H2 (14300.8 mmol h−1 g−1) and CO (14949.9 mmol h−1 g−1) with satisfactory energy efficiency (0.98 mmol kJ−1), providing a promising alternative for high-energy-consuming catalytic systems.

Abstract Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is one of the major risk factors of heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying pathological cardiac hypertrophy remain largely unknown. Here, we identified the first evidence that TNFAIP3 interacting protein 3 (TNIP3) was a negative regulator of pathological cardiac hypertrophy. We observed a significant upregulation of TNIP3 in mouse hearts subjected to transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery and in primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes stimulated by phenylephrine (PE). In Tnip3-deficient mice, cardiac hypertrophy was aggravated after TAC surgery. Conversely, cardiac-specific Tnip3 transgenic (TG) mice showed a notable reversal of the same phenotype. Accordingly, TNIP3 alleviated PE-induced cardiomyocyte enlargement in vitro. Mechanistically, RNA-sequencing and interactome analysis were combined to identify the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) as a potential target to clarify the molecular mechanism of TNIP3 in pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Via immunoprecipitation and Glutathione S-transferase assay, we found that TNIP3 could interact with STAT1 directly and suppress its degradation by suppressing K48-type ubiquitination in response to hypertrophic stimulation. Remarkably, preservation effect of TNIP3 on cardiac hypertrophy was blocked by STAT1 inhibitor Fludaradbine or STAT1 knockdown. Our study found that TNIP3 serves as a novel suppressor of pathological cardiac hypertrophy by promoting STAT1 stability, which suggests that TNIP3 could be a promising therapeutic target of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.

Abstract Drug exposure during pregnancy lacks global fetal safety data. The maternal drug exposure birth cohort (DEBC) study, a prospective longitudinal investigation, aims to explore the correlation of maternal drug exposure during pregnancy with pregnancy outcomes, and establish a human biospecimen biobank. Here we describe the process of establishing DEBC and show that the drug exposure rate in the first trimester of pregnant women in DEBC (n = 112,986) is 30.70%. Among the drugs used, dydrogesterone and progesterone have the highest exposure rates, which are 11.97% and 10.82%, respectively. The overall incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes is 13.49%. Dydrogesterone exposure during the first trimester is correlated with higher incidences of stillbirth, preterm birth, low birth weight, and birth defects, along with a lower incidence of miscarriage/abortion. Due to the limitations of this cohort study, causative conclusions cannot be drawn. Further follow-up and in-depth data analysis are planned for future studies.

Abstract Dielectric ceramic capacitors with ultrahigh power densities are fundamental to modern electrical devices. Nonetheless, the poor energy density confined to the low breakdown strength is a long-standing bottleneck in developing desirable dielectric materials for practical applications. In this instance, we present a high-entropy tungsten bronze-type relaxor ferroelectric achieved through an equimolar-ratio element design, which realizes a giant recoverable energy density of 11.0 J·cm−3 and a high efficiency of 81.9%. Moreover, the atomic-scale microstructural study confirms that the excellent comprehensive energy storage performance is attributed to the increased atomic-scale compositional heterogeneity from high configuration entropy, which modulates the relaxor features as well as induces lattice distortion, resulting in reduced polarization hysteresis and enhanced breakdown endurance. This study provides evidence that developing high-entropy relaxor ferroelectric material via equimolar-ratio element design is an effective strategy for achieving ultrahigh energy storage characteristics. Our results also uncover the immense potential of tetragonal tungsten bronze-type materials for advanced energy storage applications.

Abstract Background The standard care for resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) involves perioperative therapy combining chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors, typically lasting 6 to 12 months. However, the optimal treatment strategies for potentially resectable squamous cell lung carcinoma (SCC) remain unclear. This Phase 2 trial aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a condensed four-cycle perioperative treatment regimen with tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy in patients with potentially resectable stage III SCC. Methods Patients with potentially resectable stage IIIA-IIIB (N2) SCC received intravenous tislelizumab, albumin-bound paclitaxel, and carboplatin for up to four cycles. The primary endpoints were major pathologic response (MPR) and incidence of treatment-related adverse events. Safety and potential biomarkers for efficacy prediction were also assessed. Results Among 35 enrolled patients, 32 underwent surgery with R0 resection achieved in all cases. MPR was achieved in 24 patients and pathological complete response (pCR) in 14 patients. Radiographic objective response was observed in 31 patients. The 12-month and 24-month event-free survival rate was 85.7 and 61.0%, respectively. Four patients experienced grade 3 or 4 adverse events. Tumor tissue based next-generation sequencing revealed the potential associations between several biomarkers and pathological response, including tumor neoantigen burden score, 18-gene expression profile score, CD8 + T cells, M1/M2 macrophages ratio and interferon‐gamma expression level. Besides, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) dynamics and concentration were also associated with pathological response and the presence of ctDNA at postoperative month 1 was a strong predictor for disease relapse. Furthermore, metagenomic sequencing in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid demonstrated Streptococcus was the most abundant genus in the pCR group. Conclusions A condensed four-cycle perioperative treatment regimen of tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy demonstrated promising efficacy and manageable toxicities in potentially resectable stage III SCC. Specific biomarkers showed potential for predicting treatment efficacy and the mechanism of superior antitumor response of pCR patients was preliminarily and indirectly explored. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05024266. Registered August 27, 2021.

Abstract Background ATPase activity and the antioxidant function of intestinal tissue can reflect intestinal cell metabolic activity and oxidative damage, which might be related to intestinal function. However, the specific influence of intestinal ATPase activity and antioxidant function on growth performance, feed conversion efficiency, and the intestinal microbiota in sheep remains unclear. Results This study analyzed the correlation between ATPase activity and antioxidant function in the jejunum of 92 Hu sheep and their growth performance and feed conversion efficiency. Additionally, individuals with the highest (H group) and lowest (L group) jejunum MDA content and Na+ K+-ATPase activity were further screened, and the effects of jejunum ATPase activity and MDA content on the morphology and microbial community of sheep intestines were analyzed. There was a significant correlation between jejunum ATPase and SOD activity and the initial weight of Hu sheep (P < 0.01). The H-MDA group exhibited significantly higher average daily gain (ADG) from 0 to 80 days old and higher body weight (BW) after 80 days. ATPase and SOD activities, and MDA levels correlated significantly and positively with heart weight. The jejunum crypt depth and circular muscle thickness in the H-ATP group were significantly higher than in the L-ATP group, and the villus length, crypt depth, and longitudinal muscle thickness in the H-MDA group were significantly higher than in the L-MDA group (P < 0.01). High ATPase activity and MDA content significantly reduced the jejunum microbial diversity, as indicated by the Chao1 index and observed species, and affected the relative abundance of specific taxa. Among species, the relative abundance of Olsenella umbonata was significantly higher in the H-MDA group than in the L-MDA group (P < 0.05), while Methanobrevibacter ruminantium abundance was significantly lower than in the L-MDA group (P < 0.05). In vitro culture experiments confirmed that MDA promoted the proliferation of Olsenella umbonata. Thus, ATPase and SOD activities in the jejunum tissues of Hu sheep are predominantly influenced by congenital factors, and lambs with higher birth weights exhibit lower Na+ K+-ATPase, Ca2+ Mg2+-ATPase, and SOD activities. Conclusions The ATPase activity and antioxidant performance of intestinal tissue are closely related to growth performance, heart development, and intestinal tissue morphology. High ATPase activity and MDA content reduced the microbial diversity of intestinal tissue and affect the relative abundance of specific taxa, representing a potential interaction between the host and its intestinal microbiota.

Abstract Innate lymphoid cell precursors (ILCPs) develop into distinct subsets of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) with specific functions. The epigenetic program underlying the differentiation of ILCPs into ILC subsets remains poorly understood. Here, we reveal the genome-wide distribution and dynamics of the DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in ILC subsets and their respective precursors. Additionally, we find that the DNA hydroxymethyltransferase TET1 suppresses ILC1 but not ILC2 or ILC3 differentiation. TET1 deficiency promotes ILC1 differentiation by inhibiting TGF-β signaling. Throughout ILCP differentiation at postnatal stage, gut microbiota contributes to the downregulation of TET1 level. Microbiota decreases the level of cholic acid in the gut, impairs TET1 expression and suppresses DNA hydroxymethylation, ultimately resulting in an expansion of ILC1s. In adult mice, TET1 suppresses the hyperactivation of ILC1s to maintain intestinal homeostasis. Our findings provide insights into the microbiota-mediated epigenetic programming of ILCs, which links microbiota-DNA methylation crosstalk to ILC differentiation.

Abstract With the expansion of the metropolitan area, the application of express/local mode is gradually increasing. In contrast to the normal mode, the express/local mode has advantages in reducing energy consumption and saving total travel time by having express trains skipping some stops. This paper aims to minimize the total energy consumption of express and local train throughout the day by optimizing the train operation strategy in the same power supply section and increasing the overlap time between train traction acceleration and train regenerative braking to obtain the optimal energy‐efficient timetable. As the consumed energy of a train is highly dependent on the rolling stock weight and the on‐board passengers’ weight. An integer programming model is proposed with on‐board passengers considered accurately, in which the dwell times, departure headway, and total turnaround time of express and local trains are determined. An improved grey wolf algorithm is designed by improving convergence factor and incorporating differential evolution to solve the proposed problem. The real data on Guangzhou Metro Line 18 is adopted for numerical studies. The results show that the optimized timetable increases the regenerative energy utilization rate by 21.37% and reduces the total energy consumption by 5.02% compared to the operational timetable.

Objective(s): Chronic alcohol abuse causes cognitive deficits. Huangqi Gegen Decoction (HGD), a traditional Chinese herbal formula comprising Huangqi and Gegen, has been documented for its therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of alcoholic liver injury. However, its potential neuroprotective effects against alcohol-induced brain injury remain unexplored. This study aims to evaluate the neuroprotection of HGD on alcohol-induced cognitive dysfunction and the associated mechanism.Materials and Methods: Wistar rats were orally administered 50% ethanol for 10 weeks, followed by treatment with HGD at doses of 16, 32, or 64 mg/kg/day for an additional 6 weeks. The spatial learning and memory abilities of rats were assessed through the Morris Water Maze experiment. The pathological condition in the hippocampus was assessed using H&E and Nissl staining. Tight junction proteins, oxidative stress, and inflammation cytokines were measured by IF, ELISA, PCR, and western blot. The mRNA and protein expression of Keap1, Nrf-2, HO-1, and NQO-1 were tested by PCR and western blot.Results: Results showed that HGD effectively mitigated cognitive dysfunction and pathological changes in alcohol-induced rats while enhancing the expression of ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-5. Furthermore, HGD effectively mitigated oxidative stress by reducing levels of ROS and MDA, while elevating levels of SOD, CAT, and GSH-PX in brain tissue. Moreover, HGD significantly suppressed microglial activation and down-regulated expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Mechanistically, HGD remarkably up-regulated the expression of Nrf-2, HO-1, and NQO-1 while down-regulating Keap1 expression.Conclusion: These findings suggest that HGD may be a promising therapeutic agent for alleviating alcohol-induced cognitive dysfunction.

With the rapid development of the social economy, the importance of water resources is becoming increasingly prominent. Urban water demand in Beijing has been growing rapidly. Accurate water consumption forecasting is of utmost importance for reasonable allocation and optimization of water supply systems. In this study, an innovative multi-variable grey prediction model with adjacent accumulation (AOGM(1,N)) is proposed to predict Beijing's annual water consumption for four different water usage scenarios (domestic water, agricultural water, industrial water, and environmental water) by incorporating the adjacent accumulation into the optimized grey model. Grey relational analysis is used to select the key influence factors. The adjustable parameter of the prediction model is chosen by using the particle swarm optimization algorithm. By comparing with other models in the existing literature, the proposed AOGM(1,N) model has evidently superior prediction performance based on the error indicators, which supports the novel method's merits and validity. This study could help us better understand water usage and be applied to the planning and management problems of urban water supply systems. HIGHLIGHTS An improved multi-variable grey model is proposed for water consumption prediction.; Adjacent accumulation is introduced into the proposed prediction model.; The effects of different external factors on water consumption are quantified.; The optimization method of adjustable parameter in the model is proposed.;

The recent surge in carbon emissions from the building sector has raised significant environmental concerns. While green building practices have proven effective, their widespread adoption has been hindered by high costs. This study aims to explore the factors impacting the life cycle costs of green buildings, with the aim of achieving “double carbon” reduction. Through an analysis of 42 articles, 24 factors were distilled based on expert opinion. After collecting 322 data through questionnaires, a model of the factors influencing the life cycle cost of green buildings was constructed using structural equation modeling, and a cost simulation study was carried out through the system dynamics method in the practical case to examine how the cost changed. The findings highlight the pivotal role of planning and design, implementation, and operation and maintenance phases. Notably, green building design programs, green construction programs, and the property management level stand out as critical factors emerged as critical factors. These insights can inform strategies to reduce the cost of green buildings, thereby fostering energy conservation and emission reduction in the construction industry.

Abstract Background In observational and experimental studies, diabetes has been reported as a protective factor for aortic dissection. 3-Hydroxybutyrate, a key constituent of ketone bodies, has been found to favor improvements in cardiovascular disease. However, whether the protective effect of diabetes on aortic dissection is mediated by 3-hydroxybutyrate is unclear. We aimed to investigate the causal effects of diabetes on the risk of aortic dissection and the mediating role of 3-hydroxybutyrate in them through two-step Mendelian randomization. Materials and methods We performed a two-step Mendelian randomization to investigate the causal connections between diabetes, 3-hydroxybutyrate, and aortic dissection and calculate the mediating effect of 3-hydroxybutyrate. Publicly accessible data for Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, dissection of aorta and 3-hydroxybutyrate were obtained from genome-wide association studies. The association between Type 1 diabetes and dissection of aorta, the association between Type 2 diabetes and dissection of aorta, and mediation effect of 3-hydroxybutyrate were carried out separately. Results The IVW method showed that Type 1 diabetes was negatively associated with the risk of aortic dissection (OR 0.912, 95% CI 0.836–0.995), The weighted median, simple mode and weighted mode method showed consistent results. The mediated proportion of 3-hydroxybutyrate on the relationship between Type 1 diabetes and dissection of aorta was 24.80% (95% CI 5.12–44.47%). The IVW method showed that Type 2 diabetes was negatively associated with the risk of aortic dissection (OR 0.763, 95% CI 0.607–0.960), The weighted median, simple mode and weighted mode method showed consistent results. 3-Hydroxybutyrate does not have causal mediation effect on the relationship between Type 2 diabetes and dissection of aorta. Conclusion Mendelian randomization study revealed diabetes as a protective factor for dissection of aorta. The protective effect of type 1 diabetes on aortic dissection was partially mediated by 3-hydroxybutyrate, but type 2 diabetes was not 3-hydroxybutyrate mediated. Graphical abstract

Abstract The structure of rocks plays a crucial role in their failure process. However, it is ignored that the interactions between rock internal structure and the effect of its own evolution on the rock fracture process. To investigate the effect between the evolution law of rock regionalized structures and their interaction relationships during failure. We conducted an experiment using visual acoustic imaging monitoring to study rock failure, introducing a new concept of characteristics of rock structure—regionalized structures. The findings reveal three main types of regionalized structures in rocks: skeleton regions, variable regions, and damage regions. These structures combine to form four categories of complex rock structures: block-type support skeletons, point column-type support skeletons, suspension-type weak support skeletons, and no skeletons. During the failure process, we found that these regionalized structures worked together synergistically to control rock failure. Although the evolutionary relationships among the structures show some similarities, the final fracture states vary significantly. Stress and strain distribution patterns clearly demonstrate that variations in the force capacities and roles of the regionalized structures influence the synergistic evolutionary relationships, ultimately impacting the mode of rock failure. This work provides new insights for further research on rock failure mechanisms and can significantly contribute to preventing rock engineering disasters related to regionalized structures.

Abstract Efficient milk production in mammals confers evolutionary advantages by facilitating the transmission of energy from mother to offspring. However, the regulatory mechanism responsible for the gradual establishment of milk production efficiency in mammals, from marsupials to eutherians, remains elusive. Here, we find that mammary gland of the marsupial sugar glider contained milk components during adolescence, and that mammary gland development is less dynamically cyclic compared to that in placental mammals. Furthermore, fused in sarcoma (FUS) is found to be partially responsible for this establishment of low efficiency. In mouse model, FUS inhibit mammary epithelial cell differentiation through the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p57Kip2, leading to lactation failure and pup starvation. Clinically, FUS levels are negatively correlated with milk production in lactating women. Overall, our results shed light on FUS as a negative regulator of milk production, providing a potential mechanism for the establishment of milk production from marsupial to eutherian mammals.

Abstract Introduction The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater-Bay-Area of South China has an 86 million population and faces a significant challenge of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the characteristics and prevalence of AD in this area are still unclear due to the rarely available community-based neuroimaging AD cohort. Methods Following the standard protocols of the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, the Greater-Bay-Area Healthy Aging Brain Study (GHABS) was initiated in 2021. GHABS participants completed clinical assessments, plasma biomarkers, genotyping, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), β-amyloid (Aβ) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, and tau PET imaging. The GHABS cohort focuses on pathophysiology characterization and early AD detection in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In this study, we analyzed plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 (A), p-Tau181 (T), neurofilament light, and GFAP by Simoa in 470 Chinese older adults, and 301, 195, and 70 had MRI, Aβ PET, and tau PET, respectively. Plasma biomarkers, Aβ PET, tau PET, hippocampal volume, and temporal-metaROI cortical thickness were compared between normal control (NC), subjective cognitive decline (SCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia groups, controlling for age, sex, and APOE-ε4. The prevalence of plasma A/T profiles and Aβ PET positivity were also determined in different diagnostic groups. Results The aims, study design, data collection, and potential applications of GHABS are summarized. SCD individuals had significantly higher plasma p-Tau181 and plasma GFAP than the NC individuals. MCI and dementia patients showed more abnormal changes in all the plasma and neuroimaging biomarkers than NC and SCD individuals. The frequencies of plasma A+/T+ (NC; 5.9%, SCD: 8.2%, MCI: 25.3%, dementia: 64.9%) and Aβ PET positivity (NC: 25.6%, SCD: 22.5%, MCI: 47.7%, dementia: 89.3%) were reported. Discussion The GHABS cohort may provide helpful guidance toward designing standard AD community cohorts in South China. This study, for the first time, reported the pathophysiology characterization of plasma biomarkers, Aβ PET, tau PET, hippocampal atrophy, and AD-signature cortical thinning, as well as the prevalence of Aβ PET positivity in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area of China. These findings provide novel insights into understanding the characteristics of abnormal AD pathological changes in South China’s older population.

Abstract Lymphatic invasion (LI) is extremely aggressive and induces worse prognosis among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Thus, it is critical to characterize the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying LI in order to establish novel and efficacious therapeutic targets that enhance the prognosis of CRC patients. RNA-seq data, clinical and survival information of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) patients were obtained from the TCGA database. In addition, three scRNA-seq datasets of CRC patients were acquired from the GEO database. Data analyses were conducted with the R packages. We assessed the tumor microenvironment (TME) differences between LI+ and LI− based scRNA-seq data, LI+ cells exhibited augmented abundance of immunosuppression and invasive subset. Marked extracellular matrix network activation was also observed in LI+ cells within SPP1+ macrophages. We revealed that an immunosuppressive and pro-angiogenic TME strongly enhanced LI, as was evidenced by the CD4+ Tregs, CD8+ GZMK+, SPP1+ macrophages, e-myCAFs, and w-myCAFs subcluster infiltrations. Furthermore, we identified potential LI targets that influenced tumor development, metastasis, and immunotherapeutic response. Finally, a novel LIRS model was established based on the expression of 14 LI-related signatures, and in the two testing cohorts, LIRS was also proved to have accurate prognostic predictive ability. In this report, we provided a valuable resource and extensive insights into the LI of CRC. Our conclusions can potentially benefit the establishment of highly efficacious therapeutic targets as well as diagnostic biomarkers that improve patient outcomes.

Abstract Background GAox is a key enzyme involved in GA biosynthesis pathway and plays an important role in regulating various processes in plant life cycle. However, it has not been systematic, studies have been conducted in potato, which is the world's fourth largest food crop. Methods In this work, we systematically identified GAox gene family (StGAox) in potato by analyzing the potato genome sequence using a set of bioinformatics approaches, and analyze their physical, chemical properties, distribution on chromosomes, gene structure, conserved motifs, gene duplication events and expression patterns were analyzed. Results The results showed that a total of 33 GAox proteins were identified and unevenly distributed on 10 chromosomes. Based on their protein structure and phylogenetic characteristics, these 33 StGAoxes were divided into 5 distinct subclasses. Collinearity analysis revealed that there were 5 pairs of duplicated genes in the StGAox gene family, and all of which evolved under purifying selection. Analysis of RNA-seq data of double haploid (DM) potatoes under different tissues, abiotic stresses and hormone treatments showed that PG0002068, PG0024249 and PG0027963 were higher expressed in leaves, PG009427, PG0026762, PG0009021 and PG0021095 were higher expressed in tubers, PG2003479, PG0024249, PG0005698, and PG0009021were higher expressed in shoots than those of other tissues. In addition, the expression of PG0002068, PG2003479, PG0032156, PG0024249, and PG0021292 were up-regulated under mannitol and drought stress. Conclusions Comparative genome-wide analysis of StGAox genes and their expression analyses revealed that members of this family may be involved in tissue-specific developmental and abiotic stress responses. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a life-threatening subtype of breast cancer with limited treatment options. Therefore, this network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of various neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) options on the long-term survival of patients with TNBC. Methods PubMed, Embase, Medline, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and major international conference databases were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy of various NCT options in patients with TNBC. Searches were performed from January 2000 to June 2023. Study heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were used to evaluate the pathologic complete response (pCR). The primary outcome was DFS. Results We conducted an NMA of 21 RCTs involving 8873 patients with TNBC. Our study defined the combination of anthracyclines and taxanes as the preferred treatment option. On this basis, the addition of any of the following new drugs is considered a new treatment option: bevacizumab (B), platinum (P), poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi), and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI). Based on the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) values, the top three SUCRA area values of DFS were taxanes, anthracycline, and cyclophosphamide (TAC; 89.23%); CT (84.53%); and B (81.06%). The top three SUCRA area values of OS were CT (83.70%), TAC (62.02%), and B-containing regimens (60.06%). The top three SUCRA area values of pCR were B + P-containing regimens (82.7%), ICI + P-containing regimens (80.2%), and ICI-containing regimens (61.8%). Conclusions This NMA showed that standard chemotherapy is a good choice with respect to long-term survival. Moreover, B associated with P-containing regimens is likely to be the optimal treatment option for neoadjuvant TNBC in terms of pCR.

Abstract Background The pig (Sus Scrofa) is one of the oldest domesticated livestock species that has undergone extensive improvement through modern breeding. European breeds have advantages in lean meat development and highly-productive body type, whereas Asian breeds possess extraordinary fat deposition and reproductive performance. Consequently, Eurasian breeds have been extensively used to develop modern commercial breeds for fast-growing and high prolificacy. However, limited by the sequencing technology, the genome architecture of some nascent developed breeds and the human-mediated impact on their genomes are still unknown. Results Through whole-genome analysis of 178 individuals from an Asian locally developed pig breed, Beijing Black pig, and its two ancestors from two different continents, we found the pervasive inconsistent gene trees and species trees across the genome of Beijing Black pig, which suggests its introgressive hybrid origin. Interestingly, we discovered that this developed breed has more genetic relationships with European pigs and an unexpected introgression from Asian pigs to this breed, which indicated that human-mediated introgression could form the porcine genome architecture in a completely different type compared to native introgression. We identified 554 genomic regions occupied 63.30 Mb with signals of introgression from the Asian ancestry to Beijing Black pig, and the genes in these regions enriched in pathways associated with meat quality, fertility, and disease-resistant. Additionally, a proportion of 7.77% of genomic regions were recognized as regions that have been under selection. Moreover, combined with the results of a genome-wide association study for meat quality traits in the 1537 Beijing Black pig population, two important candidate genes related to meat quality traits were identified. DNAJC6 is related to intramuscular fat content and fat deposition, and RUFY4 is related to meat pH and tenderness. Conclusions Our research provides insight for analyzing the origins of nascent developed breeds and genome-wide selection remaining in the developed breeds mediated by humans during modern breeding.

Objective Low bone mineral density is the major prognostic factor for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Accumulating evidence suggests that gut microbiota (GM) have the potential to affect bone development, and the GM signatures are altered in AIS patients. However, the effect of GM alterations on aberrant bone homeostasis in AIS remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the GM profile in AIS patients with different bone mineral density (BMD) and explore the association between GM, osteopenia, and aberrant bone turnover. Methods A total of 126 patients with AIS who received surgical treatment were retrospectively included in this study. We analyzed the composition of the GM by 16S rRNA sequencing and BMD by dual X‐ray absorptiometry. Based on the BMD of the femur neck, the patients were divided into the osteopenia group (OPN) if the Z score

Background: Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) is an aggressive histological subtype with poor prognosis. Several first-line treatments are currently available for mTNBC. This study conducted a network meta-analysis to compare these first-line regimens and to determine the regimen with the best efficacy. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Bases, and minutes of major conferences was performed. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and objective response rate (ORR) were analyzed via network meta-analysis using the R software (R Core Team, Vienna, Austria). The efficacy of the treatment regimens was compared using hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: A total of 29 randomized controlled trials involving 4607 patients were analyzed. The ranking was based on the surface under the cumulative ranking curve. Network meta-analysis results showed that cisplatin combined with nab-paclitaxel or paclitaxel was superior to docetaxel plus capecitabine in terms of PFS and ORR. For programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA) mutation-positive tumors, atezolizumab/pembrolizumab combined with nab-paclitaxel and talazoparib was superior to docetaxel plus capecitabine. No significant difference was observed among the treatments in OS. Neutropenia, diarrhea, and fatigue were common serious adverse events. Conclusion: Cisplatin combined with nab-paclitaxel or paclitaxel is the preferred first-line treatment for mTNBC. For PD-L1 and BRCA mutation-positive tumors, atezolizumab/pembrolizumab combined with nab-paclitaxel and talazoparib is an effective treatment option. Neutropenia, diarrhea, and fatigue are frequently occurring serious adverse events.

Abstract As a major carbon emitter, the power sector plays a crucial role in realizing the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. This study constructed a low-carbon power system based on the LEAP model (LEAP-GBA) with 2020 as a statistic base aiming of exploring the low-carbon transformation pathway of the power sector in the Guangdong–Hong Kong, and Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Five scenarios are set up to simulate the demand, power generation structure, carbon emissions, and power generation costs in the power sector under different scenarios. The results indicate that total electricity demand will peak after 2050, with 80% of it coming from industry, buildings and residential use. To achieve net-zero emissions from the power sector in the GBA, a future power generation mix dominated by nuclear and renewable energy generation and supplemented by fossil energy generation equipped with CCUS technologies. BECCS technology and nuclear power are the key to realize zero carbon emissions from the power sector in the GBA, so it should be the first to promote BECCS technology testing and commercial application, improve the deployment of nuclear power sites, and push forward the construction of nuclear power and technology improvement in the next 40 years.

Abstract Cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide. Survival analysis and prediction of cancer patients is of great significance for their precision medicine. The robustness and interpretability of the survival prediction models are important, where robustness tells whether a model has learned the knowledge, and interpretability means if a model can show human what it has learned. In this paper, we propose a robust and interpretable model SurvConvMixer, which uses pathways customized gene expression images and ConvMixer for cancer short-term, mid-term and long-term overall survival prediction. With ConvMixer, the representation of each pathway can be learned respectively. We show the robustness of our model by testing the trained model on absolutely untrained external datasets. The interpretability of SurvConvMixer depends on gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-Cam), by which we can obtain the pathway-level activation heat map. Then wilcoxon rank-sum tests are conducted to obtain the statistically significant pathways, thereby revealing which pathways the model focuses on more. SurvConvMixer achieves remarkable performance on the short-term, mid-term and long-term overall survival of lung adenocarcinoma, lung squamous cell carcinoma and skin cutaneous melanoma, and the external validation tests show that SurvConvMixer can generalize to external datasets so that it is robust. Finally, we investigate the activation maps generated by Grad-Cam, after wilcoxon rank-sum test and Kaplan–Meier estimation, we find that some survival-related pathways play important role in SurvConvMixer.

Conventional photodynamic therapy (PDT) approaches face challenges including limited light penetration, low uptake of photosensitizers by tumors, and lack of oxygen in tumor microenvironments. One promising solution is to internally generate light, photosensitizers, and oxygen. This can be accomplished through endogenous production, such as using bioluminescence as an endogenous light source, synthesizing genetically encodable photosensitizers in situ, and modifying cells genetically to express catalase enzymes. Furthermore, these strategies have been reinforced by the recent rapid advancements in synthetic biology. In this review, we summarize and discuss the approaches to overcome PDT obstacles by means of endogenous production of excitation light, photosensitizers, and oxygen. We envision that as synthetic biology advances, genetically engineered cells could act as precise and targeted “living factories” to produce PDT components, leading to enhanced performance of PDT.

The external pressure is one of the essential parameters for regulating the structure and energy conversion properties of antiferroelectric AgNbO3. For pure AgNbO3, however, there has been still a blank of its real lattice structure under the stress field. Here, high-pressure lattice structures and phase transitions of AgNbO3 have been explored by spectroscopic experiments and theoretical models. A successive phase transition process from Pbcm to C2221 to P21 has been observed at the pressure range of 0–30 GPa, associated with displacive-type characterized by soft-mode kinetics. Note that the paraelectric phase cannot be achieved under high-pressure at room temperature. Significantly, the competition of long-range Coulomb force, short-range interatomic interaction, and covalent interaction in AgNbO3 lattice were demonstrated under the stress field. The present work can provide fundamental guidelines to reveal the high-pressure phase transitions of AgNbO3, which will open up possibilities for the designing device with functional properties at extremes.

Camellia drupifera, a significant woody oil crop in southern China, produces oil from its fruit seeds. Understanding sugar metabolism enzyme regulation is crucial for sugar accumulation and oil synthesis in fruit organs. This study examines the dynamic changes in sugar metabolism across four developmental stages of C. drupifera fruits, from rapid fruit enlargement to oil conversion. We analyzed sugar content, enzyme activity, and transcriptomic data to identify key periods and mechanisms involved in sugar metabolism. Our findings indicate that photosynthetic products are rapidly transported from leaves to fruit organs after synthesis, with transport efficiency decreasing significantly after 48 hours. September was identified as a critical period for oil conversion, during which the highest sucrose levels and SuSy-II enzyme activity were detected in the kernels. A positive correlation was found between high expression of ten genes related to sugar metabolism enzymes and sugar transport proteins and sucrose content. Notably, the expression levels of c158337.graph_c0 (SPS), c166323.graph_c0 (SuSy), c159295.graph_c0 (SUC2-like), and c156402.graph_c0 (SUC2-like) significantly increased during the oil conversion phase.These findings provide a crucial theoretical foundation for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of sugar metabolism in C. drupifera fruits, offering insights that could enhance its economic yield.

The soil three-dimensional (3D) pore structure information model has become a new hotspot in the research of cross-scale disposal of information such as ecology, engineering, and geology. It can solve problems such as the intelligent evaluation of ecological water–soil–air–plant feedback, intelligent risk control of foundation compression deformation, and multiscale intelligent disaster prediction and prevention. However, the current soil 3D pore structure model primarily draws on the global one-time static generation in simulation software, leading to low reliability, low stability of multiple generations, poor variability, difficulty in real-time transformation, high consumption of computing resources, and long generation time, making it challenging to meet the requirements of the rapid processing of information models. Therefore, this study adopts the 3D Drawing Protocol (WebGL) technology and implements the scaling, rotation, and translation transformation of 3D pore structures based on the principle of dynamic affine transformation. The random generation and distribution of pores are realized using the improved Monte Carlo method, and the loading response efficiency of the system is optimized. The dynamic interactive operation of arbitrary increasing and decreasing of pore model is realized using the ray and plane intersection detection principle. Finally, this information system established a visual correlation between the content and reaction time of water-retaining agents and soil porosity and pore distribution through tests on the impact of water-retaining agents on soil pore changes. The information system achieved the real-time tracking of soil pore changes under the action of water-retaining agents. This research solves the problems of static and low generation efficiency of the soil mesopore structure in traditional models and realizes the real-time characterization and visualization of dynamic changes and the distribution of the soil pore structure under the influence of external conditions, which can provide an intuitive visualization platform for mesogeological structure research.

Background and objective: The B19 virus is mainly transmitted through the respiratory tract; however, studies have shown that it can also be transmitted through blood transfusions or plasma products. This study investigated B19V antibodies, DNA, and gene typing in blood donors at a central blood station in China to evaluate the status of B19V infection. Materials and methods: A total of 7728 samples from Suzhou Blood Center were collected from July 2022 to April 2023. Samples were detected for the B19V DNA using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, 893 selected samples were screened for the seroprevalence of B19V antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The NS1-VP1u fragment of the B19V DNA-positive samples was amplified using nested PCR, and the sequences were determined. A B19V phylogenetic tree was constructed using neighborhood joint and maximum parsimony methods to discriminate genotypes using the NS1-VP1u sequences. Results: The percentages of IgG, IgM, and DNA were 19.4 %, 1.9 %, and 0.09 %, respectively. IgG positivity increased with age, and there was a significant difference among the blood groups. The IgG levels of repeat donors were greater than those of first-time donors. There were no apparent differences in the IgM levels in all the participants. Genotyping revealed that the B19 genotype was 1. Conclusions: The prevalence of B19V antibodies and DNA was lower in these areas than in rest of China, indicating that the risk of B19V transmission via transfusion may be relatively low. However, during transfusion, particular attention should be paid to the B19V-susceptible populations, especially those in high-risk groups.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease with unclear pathogenesis that involves neuroinflammation and intestinal microbial dysbiosis. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), an inflammatory marker, participates in neuroinflammation during dopaminergic neuronal damage. However, the explicit mechanisms of action of ICAM-1 in PD have not been elucidated. We established a subacute PD mouse model by the intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and observed motor symptoms and gastrointestinal dysfunction in mice. Immunofluorescence was used to examine the survival of dopaminergic neurons, expression of microglial and astrocyte markers, and intestinal tight junction-associated proteins. Then, we use 16 S rRNA sequencing to identify alterations in the microbiota. Our findings revealed that ICAM-1-specific antibody (Ab) treatment relieved behavioural defects, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and dopaminergic neuronal death in MPTP-induced PD mice. Further mechanistic investigations indicated that ICAM-1Ab might suppress neuroinflammation by inhibiting the activation of astrocytes and microglia in the substantia nigra and relieving colon barrier impairment and intestinal inflammation. Furthermore, 16 S rRNA sequencing revealed that the relative abundances of bacterial Firmicutes, Clostridia, and Lachnospiraceae were elevated in the PD mice. However, ICAM-1Ab treatment ameliorated the MPTP-induced disorders in the intestinal microbiota. Collectively, we concluded that the suppressing ICAM-1 might lead to the a significant decrease of inflammation and restore the gut microbial community, thus ameliorating the damage of DA neurons.

Summary: Background: Whether hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection of women prior to pregnancy can influence risk of congenital malformations in offspring remains controversial. We assessed the association between them by considering congenital malformations in the aggregate as well as risk of organs systems using a large national sample of Chinese women. Methods: We performed a record-linkage cohort study of women who participated in National Free Preconception Health Examination Project, between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019 for whom data on congenital malformations in their offspring were available from the National Population-Based Birth Defects Surveillance Network. A total of 498,968 linked records were obtained, of which 127,371 were excluded because HBV status before pregnancy was unknown, the records involved multiple pregnancies, or pre-pregnancy examinations were conducted after conception. Based on pre-pregnancy status, mothers were assigned to two categories of HBsAg− or HBsAg+ and, in certain analyses, to three categories of HBsAg−, HBsAg+/HBeAg− or HBsAg+/HBeAg+. Potential associations of serological status with risk of congenital malformations, considered separately or in aggregate, were explored using multilevel logistic regression. Factors that might influence such associations were also explored. Findings: Among the 371,597 women analyzed, 21,482 (5.78%) were HBsAg+ before pregnancy, and 8333 (2.24%) had a fetus or child diagnosed with congenital malformations, composed of 7744 HBsAg− women and 589 HBsAg+ women. HBsAg+ status was associated with increased risk of congenital malformations in the aggregate (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03–1.25) and of cardiovascular malformations specifically (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.03–1.35). HBsAg+/HBeAg− status was associated with significantly higher risk of cardiovascular malformations (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.01–1.39) as well as reproductive malformations (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.02–2.23). Associations between HBsAg+ status before pregnancy and risk of congenital malformations was modified by alanine aminotransferase activity (Pinteraction < 0.05). Interpretation: Prepregnancy HBV infection might be associated with fetal malformations. This association needs further investigation to confirm whether it is a causal association, and assess whether antiviral therapy of women with HBsAg+ planning to conceive might reduce the risk of fetal malformations. Funding: The National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, China; Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province, China; and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China.

BackgroundSince the outbreak of COVID-19, China has implemented a series of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), effectively containing the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as well as various respiratory pathogens. With the continuous relaxation of restrictions, China has entered a new phase of the post-pandemic era. However, the epidemiological differences of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) between the two phases in Ningbo and even in China remain unclear.MethodsData of children aged 0–14 years who visited the Ningbo Medical Center LiHuiLi Hospital due to acute respiratory tract infections from January 2020 to December 2023 were collected. PCR was used to detect 13 respiratory pathogens and the macrolide-resistance of Mycoplasma pneumoniae.ResultsAmong 10,206 children, 2,360 were infected with MP (23.12%). Among the total, the MP positive rate during the NPI phase (6.35%) was significantly lower than that during the non-NPI phase (34.28%), while the macrolide resistance rate increased from 62.5% (NPI phase) to 81.1% (non-NPI phase). The rate of MP co-infection increased from 11.2% (NPI phase) to 30.3% (non-NPI phase). MP infection exhibited obvious seasonality, with the highest prevalence in autumn (30.0%) followed by summer (23.6%). There were differences in MP positivity rates among different age groups, with the highest among school-age children at 39.5%. During the NPI phase, all age groups were less susceptible to MP, while during the non-NPI phase, the susceptible age for MP was 4–12 years, with 8 years being the most susceptible. The susceptible age for MP co-infection was 0–6 years. MP exhibited antagonistic effects against numerous pathogens. Compared to MP single infection, the proportion of pneumonia was higher in MP co-infection cases.ConclusionThe removal of NPIs significantly impacted the spread of MP, altering population characteristics including age, seasonality, macrolide resistance, and MP co-infection rates.

PURPOSETo characterize the pattern of post-treatment quality of life (QoL) for esophageal cancer (EC) survivors and construct models predicting their long-term QoL.METHODSOn the basis of a randomized trial in an EC high-risk region in China, we interviewed 363 EC survivors and 25,245 permanent residents matched with the survivors on age, sex, and township as the baseline. QoL was measured using three-level version of European Quality of Life 5-Dimensions instrument. We constructed piecewise mixed models estimating the QoL of EC survivors that varied by age, sex, patient type, hospital level, and therapy to ascertain QoL determinants.RESULTSThe post-treatment QoL of EC survivors dropped by 15.7% within the first year and recovered by 9.3% between 1 and 9 years compared with the baseline. Therapy was found to be a determinant of QoL, and a series of therapy-specific models were fitted accordingly, which all showed the pattern of decreasing rapidly and recovering gradually. Endoscopic treatment had the least impact on post-treatment QoL (7.5% drop within 5 years) compared with esophagectomy (12.2% drop within 1 year) and chemoradiotherapy (37.8% drop within 2 years). The usual activities dimension showed the greatest impairment among those patients (34.4% drop within 1 year).CONCLUSIONThis community-based study described the long-term QoL trajectory for EC survivors after different therapeutic modalities and constructed models to predict therapy-specific QoL at different time points after treatment. It provided new insights into decision making in treatment for EC from the perspective of QoL protection, offering a convenient tool for estimating quality-adjusted life-years.

Expansive soils are widely distributed around the world. They have significant characteristics of both hygroscopic expansion and water-loss shrinkage, which have caused serious damage to road paving, construction of low-rise houses, and construction of slopes along the banks of rivers. Similarly, the implementation of low impact development measures can cause considerable difficulties in the distribution area of expansive soil. The entire urban area of Hefei is situated on expansive soil. Although Hefei city has developed a sponge city plan, it has not been carried out on a large scale for implementation of low impact development technical measures. Experimental studies have shown that exposed expansive soils produce fissures that run up and down during wet and dry cycles. These fissures are extremely unfavorable to the infiltration of surface runoff formed by short-term heavy rainfall. This is also one of the reasons for short-term rainfall in Hefei city, resulting in serious flooding in low-lying areas with a poor drainage system. At the same time, initial rainfall is ineffective in cleaning up surface source pollution. Therefore, we can enhance the characteristics of expansive soil, keep the expansive soil unexposed, and maintain a certain level of humidity. These approaches can play a better role in the control of rainfall runoff and surface source pollution. The characteristics of expansive soils can be enhanced by mixing them with weathered sand, a physical improvement, to meet the technical requirements for infiltration, interception, and purification. It is recommended to carefully select low impact development measures in the distribution area of expansive soil to avoid the occurrence of wasteful investment and poor results.

Summary: Breast cancer (BC) is currently the most prevalent malignancy worldwide, and finding effective non-invasive biomarkers for routine clinical detection of BC remains a significant challenge. Here, we performed non-targeted and targeted metabolomics analysis on the screening, training and validation cohorts of serum samples from 1,947 participants. A metabolite biomarker model including glutamate, erythronate, docosahexaenoate, propionylcarnitine, and patient’s age was established for detecting BC. This model demonstrated better diagnostic performance than carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) alone in discriminating BC from healthy controls both in the training and validation cohorts [area under the curve (AUC), 0.954; sensitivity, 87.1% and specificity, 93.5% for the training cohort and 0.834, 68.3%, and 85.2%, respectively, for the validation cohort 1]. This study has established a noninvasive approach for the detection of BC, which shows potential as a suitable supplement to the clinical screening methods currently employed for BC.

Abstract The engineering of ferroic orders, which involves the evolution of atomic structure and local ferroic configuration in the development of next‐generation electronic devices. Until now, diverse polarization structures and topological domains are obtained in ferroelectric thin films or heterostructures, and the polarization switching and subsequent domain nucleation are found to be more conducive to building energy‐efficient and multifunctional polarization structures. In this work, a continuous and periodic strain in a flexible freestanding BaTiO3 membrane to achieve a zigzag morphology is introduced. The polar head/tail boundaries and vortex/anti‐vortex domains are constructed by a compressive strain as low as ≈0.5%, which is extremely lower than that used in epitaxial rigid ferroelectrics. Overall, this study c efficient polarization structures, which is of both theoretical value and practical significance for the development of next‐generation flexible multifunctional devices.

In this study, we investigate the enhancement of effective transconductance and gain linearity in submicrometer gate AlGaN-barrier-based transistors utilizing ScAlN/GaN coupling-channel structures. A novel asymmetric gate design, incorporating an AlGaN cap on ScAlN/GaN HEMT, is proposed. This configuration demonstrates a flat transconductance profile and significantly reduced transconductance derivative, thereby improving the linearity of GaN-based transistors. For transistors with a gate length of 0.5 μm, both the current gain cut-off frequency and power gain cut-off frequency are measured at 53.52 GHz and 72.98 GHz, respectively. These values represent a more than threefold increase from the corresponding frequencies of conventional devices. Moreover, the theoretical Output Third-Order Intercept value of the proposed structure has increased by 7.5 dBm compared to conventional HEMTs. This superior linear performance can be attributed to the combined effect of AlGaN cap layer and air cavity. Furthermore, the introduction of the ScAlN layer results in a substantial impact, including a decrease in electron concentration from 4.96 × 1019/cm3 to 1.98 × 1019/cm3 and an increase in electron velocity from 4.5 × 107 to 7.6 × 108 cm/s. These findings underscore the potential of the proposed device for high-frequency applications requiring superior linearity.

Debris flow is a common geological disaster in mountainous areas, which occurs frequently in the rainy season and has strong mobility and destructiveness, often bringing serious loss of life and property. Previous studies have focused more on single outbreaks of debris flow disasters, and less on multiple outbreaks of debris flow disasters in the same gully during the rainy season, which makes it more difficult to carry out prevention and control work for similar disasters. Because the occurrence of the disaster has its corresponding geomechanical model as the basis, which provides the necessary scientific basis for the prevention and control of the disaster. Through data collection, field investigation, drone aerial photography, modelling and rainfall data analysis, the geological environment of Yizhong River Basin and the frequent occurrence mechanism of debris flow disasters were investigated, and a conjugate shear-type disaster-inducing geomechanical model was proposed. With the help of RAMMS numerical simulation software, the dynamic mechanism of the disaster threatening the life and property safety of the residents in Deqin County was analysed to provide the necessary scientific basis for the prevention and control of the Yizhong River debris flow disaster. Base on the characteristics of the geological environment in alpine and gorge areas, the necessity and advantage of applying the nap-of-the-object photogrammetry technology to engineering geological survey in alpine and gorge areas are put forward.

Abstract Although it is known that the frequency and intensity of heatwaves are affected by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), unknown are the ENSO modulations on the moving properties (e.g., moving distance and speed) of spatiotemporally contiguous heatwaves. Here, we investigate the relationship between ENSO and the moving patterns of contiguous heatwaves. We show that contiguous heatwaves are likely more frequent, more persistent, and longer‐traveling, but slower‐moving during El Niño than La Niña episodes. The differences in the tropical contiguous heatwaves between El Niño and La Niña are influenced by persistent high‐pressure anomalies. During the following summers, El Niño can induce anomalous atmospheric circulation characterized by an intensified subsidence over the western North Pacific and ascending motion over the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans. These features provide favorable conditions for the occurrence and maintenance of contiguous heatwaves.

The braconid subfamily Miracinae is recorded for the first time from Borneo. Two new species are described: Rugosimirax obsolescens sp. nov. and Rugosimirax bimacula sp. nov. based on specimens in the Natural History Museum, UK. The relationships of Miracinae genera are discussed.