Is smart city low-carbon? Evidence from China.

Smart cities were originally conceived to address a myriad of urban challenges arising from rapid urbanization, including energy scarcity, congestion, and environmental degradation. The Chinese government has made substantial efforts to advance smart city initiatives. However, the extent to which the integration of smart technologies contributes to urban sustainability, especially within a high-carbon urbanization paradigm, poses a critical question in light of escalating extreme weather events and worsening global challenges. Urgency is underscored in prioritizing low-carbon strategies within smart city frameworks. This paper presents a Multicriteria Decision Making Network (MCDN) approach to assess and rank the low-carbon levels (LCL) of 36 pilot smart cities in China. Findings reveal that overall LCL among these cities remains relatively modest, with significant disparities attributed to varying economic, social, institutional, cultural, and environmental contexts. The study also delves into the nexus between urban intelligence and LCL, highlighting a discernible positive correlation between a city's smartness and its low-carbon profile. Moreover, empirical evidence suggests that advancements in smart technologies are conducive, albeit to varying degrees, to enhancing urban LCL. In light of these findings, recommendations are made to fortify economic and social advancement, bolster management practices, and foster multi-stakeholder collaboration to propel the coordinated development of smart and low-carbon initiatives in China.

Evaluating coupling coordination between urban smart performance and low-carbon level in China's pilot cities with mixed methods.

The construction models of smart cities and low-carbon cities are crucial for advancing global urbanization, enhancing urban governance, and addressing major urban challenges. Despite significant advancements in smart and low-carbon city research, a consensus on their coupling coordination remains elusive. This study employs mixed-method research, combining qualitative and quantitative analyses, to investigate the coupling coordination between urban smart performance (SCP) and low-carbon level (LCL) across 52 typical smart and low-carbon pilot cities in China. Independent evaluation models for SCP and LCL qualitatively assess the current state of smart and low-carbon city construction. Additionally, an Entropy-TOPSIS-Pearson correlation-Coupling coordination degree (ETPC) analysis model quantitatively examines their relationship. The results reveal that smart city initiatives in China significantly outperform low-carbon city development, with notable disparities in SCP and LCL between eastern, non-resource-based, and central cities versus western, resource-dependent, and peripheral cities. A strong positive correlation exists between urban SCP and overall LCL, with significant correlations in management, society, and economy, and moderate to weak correlations in environmental quality and culture. As SCP levels improve, the coupling coordination degree between the urban SCP and LCL systems also increases, driven primarily by economic, management, and societal factors. Conversely, the subsystems of low-carbon culture and environmental quality show poorer integration. Based on these findings, this study proposes an evaluation system for smart and low-carbon coupling coordination development, outlining pathways for future development from the perspective of urban complex systems.

Label-free multi-line immunochromatographic sensor based on TCBPE for broad-spectrum detection Salmonella in food.

BACKGROUND: Salmonella, a foodborne pathogen poses significant threats to food safety and human health. Immunochromatographic (ICTS) sensors have gained popularity in the field of food safety due to their convenience, speed, and cost-effectiveness. However, most existing ICTS sensors rely on antibody sandwich structures which are limited by their dependence on high-quality paired antibodies and restricted sensitivity. For the first time, we combined multi-line ICTS strips with fluorescent bacterial probes to develop a label-free multi-line immunochromatographic sensor capable of detecting broad-spectrum Salmonella. Salmonella was labeled with the aggregation-induced luminescence material TCBPE, resulting in its transformation into a green fluorescent probe. RESULTS: Using this sensor, we successfully detected Salmonella typhimurium within the concentration range of 104-108 CFU/mL with a visual detection limit of 6.0 × 104 CFU/mL. Compared to single-line sensors, our multi-line sensor exhibited significantly improved fluorescence intensity resulting in enhanced detection sensitivity by 50 %. Furthermore, our developed multi-line ICTS sensor demonstrated successful detection of 18 different strains of Salmonella without any cross-reaction observed with 5 common foodborne pathogens tested. The applicability and reliability were validated using milk samples, cabbage juice samples as well and drinking water samples suggesting its potential for rapid and accurate detection of Salmonella in real-world scenarios across both the food industry and clinical settings. SIGNIFICANCE: In this experiment, we developed a TCBPE-based multiline immunochromatographic sensor. Specifically, Salmonella was labeled with the aggregation-induced luminescence material TCBPE, resulting in its transformation into a green fluorescent probe. Through the multi-line analysis system, the detection sensitivity and accuracy of the sensor are improved. In brief, the sensor does not require complex antibody labeling and paired antibodies, and only one antibody is needed to complete the detection process.

The role of intestinal microbiota and metabolites in intestinal inflammation.

With the imbalance of intestinal microbiota, the body will then face an inflammatory response, which has serious implications for human health. Bodily allergies, injury or pathogens infections can trigger or promote inflammation and alter the intestinal environment. Meanwhile, excessive changes in the intestinal environment cause the imbalance of microbial homeostasis, which leads to the proliferation and colonization of opportunistic pathogens, invasion of the body's immune system, and the intensification of inflammation. Some natural compounds and gut microbiota and metabolites can reduce inflammation; however, the details of how they interact with the gut immune system and reduce the gut inflammatory response still need to be fully understood. The review focuses on inflammation and intestinal microbiota imbalance caused by pathogens. The body reacts differently to different types of pathogenic bacteria, and the ingestion of pathogens leads to inflamed gastrointestinal tract disorders or intestinal inflammation. In this paper, unraveling the interactions between the inflammation, pathogenic bacteria, and intestinal microbiota based on inflammation caused by several common pathogens. Finally, we summarize the effects of intestinal metabolites and natural anti-inflammatory substances on inflammation to provide help for related research of intestinal inflammation caused by pathogenic bacteria.

Factors influencing contractors' low-carbon construction behaviors in China: a LDA-DEMATEL-ISM approach.

Contractors' low-carbon construction behaviors (CLCB) are pivotal in advancing decarbonization during the construction phase. However, there exists a notable gap in the comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted factors and mechanisms influencing CLCB. Therefore, this study aims to systematically identify the factors influencing CLCB in China, examine the interrelationships among these factors, and pinpoint the key determinants. Based on topic modeling of Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), influencing factors are identified firstly from the pertinent literature. Subsequently, the causality degree and centrality degree between these factors are assessed by the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), followed by the establishment of a hierarchical structure using the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) method, culminating in the identification of pivotal factors. Findings reveal that (1) 21 influential factors influencing CLCB are identified. (2) "Incentive policies for relevant stakeholders" and "Low-carbon regulation and supervision" emerge as key influences. (3) CLCB should be guided by policy and subjective awareness, fortified by market and management support, underpinned by technology, and directly driven by economic considerations. This research furnishes valuable insights for promoting low-carbon development during the construction phase, thereby assisting the construction sector in achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality.

Duct ligation/de-ligation model: exploring mechanisms for salivary gland injury and regeneration.

Sialadenitis and sialadenitis-induced sialopathy are typically caused by obstruction of the salivary gland ducts. Atrophy of the salivary glands in experimental animals caused by duct ligation exhibits a histopathology similar to that of salivary gland sialadenitis. Therefore, a variety of duct ligation/de-ligation models have been commonly employed to study salivary gland injury and regeneration. Duct ligation is mainly characterised by apoptosis and activation of different signaling pathways in parenchymal cells, which eventually leads to gland atrophy and progressive dysfunction. By contrast, duct de-ligation can initiate the recovery of gland structure and function by regenerating the secretory tissue. This review summarizes the animal duct ligation/de-ligation models that have been used for the examination of pathological fundamentals in salivary disorders, in order to unravel the pathological changes and underlying mechanisms involved in salivary gland injury and regeneration. These experimental models have contributed to developing effective and curative strategies for gland dysfunction and providing plausible solutions for overcoming salivary disorders.

Research and application of omics and artificial intelligence in cancer.

Cancer has a high incidence and lethality rate, which is a significant threat to human health. With the development of high-throughput technologies, different types of cancer genomics data have been accumulated, including genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. A comprehensive analysis of various omics data is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of tumor development. However, integrating such a massive amount of data is one of the main challenges today. Artificial intelligence techniques such as machine learning are now becoming practical tools for analyzing and understanding multi-omics data on diseases. Enabling great optimization of existing research paradigms for cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment. In addition, intelligent healthcare has received widespread attention with the development of healthcare informatization. As an essential part of innovative healthcare, practical, intelligent prognosis analysis and personalized treatment for cancer patients are also necessary. This paper introduces the advanced multi-omics data analysis technology in recent years, presents the cases and advantages of the combination of both omics data and artificial intelligence applied to cancer diseases, and finally briefly describes the challenges faced by multi-omics analysis and artificial intelligence at the current stage, aiming to provide new perspectives for oncology research and the possibility of personalized cancer treatment. .

Relationship between secondary metabolites and insect loads in cabbage with different leaf shapes and positions.

INTRODUCTION: Secondary metabolites in plants play a crucial role in defense mechanisms against insects, pests, and pathogens. These metabolites exhibit varying distributions within and among plant parts under different biotic and abiotic conditions. Understanding the intricate relationships between secondary metabolites and insect populations can be helpful for elucidating plant defense mechanisms and enhancing agricultural managing efficiencies. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of the glucosinolate profile in the leaves of three cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) varieties on insect loads. METHODS: Glucosinolate profiles across different leaf positions (such as bottom, middle, and center) and leaf shapes (such as curly and non-curly leaf) of three cabbage varieties (Xiagan [XGA], Xiaguang [XGU], and Qiangxia [QIX]) were analyzed by using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The insect loads were recorded by visually inspecting the upper and lower layers of each target leaf. RESULTS: Increasing concentrations of four glucosinolates, namely, glucoiberin, progoitrin, glucoraphanin, and glucobrassicin, were positively related to insect loads. While increasing concentrations of the other four glucosinolates, such as neoglucobrassicin, 4-methoxyglucobrassicin, sinigrin, and gluconapin, were negatively related to insect loads. Furthermore, both glucosinolate synthesis and insect loads were significantly higher in the curly-shaped and middle-position leaves than in the non-curly-shaped and bottom- and central-position leaves across the cabbage varieties. CONCLUSION: Differences in glucosinolate profiles across leaf positions and shapes strongly influenced the insect loads of the three Brassica varieties. This link may further extend our understanding of the real defense power of a particular variety against herbivore damage.

The contest between artificial management and natural environment determines the adaptive strategies of leaf morphogenesis in Sabina chinensis.

Sabina chinensis is a typically heteromorphic leaf evergreen tree worldwide with both ornamental and ecological value. However, the shaping mechanism of heteromorphic leaves of S. chinensis and its adaptability to environment are important factors determining its morphology. The morphological change of S. chinensis under different habitats (tree around) and treatments (light, pruning and nutrients) was investigated. Our findings suggested that the prickle leaves proportion was associated with low light intensity and soil nutrient scarcity. Stems and leaves are pruned together to form clusters of large prickle leaves, while only pruning leaves often form alternately growing small prickle leaves and scale leaves, and the length of the prickle leaves is between 0.5 cm and 1 cm. The gene expression of prickle leaves is higher than that of scale leaves under adverse environmental conditions, and the gene expression correlations between small prickle leaf and scale leaf were the highest. Homologous and heterologous mutants of gene structure in prickle leaves were larger than those in scale leaves. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway showed that phenylpropanone and flavonoid biosynthesis were common enrichment pathways, and that the enrichment genes were mainly related to metabolism, genetic information processing and organismal systems. Therefore, we concluded that the occurrence of the heteromorphic leaf phenomenon was related to the changes in photosynthesis, mechanical damage and nutrient supplementation. The organic matter in the S. chinensis prickle leaves was reduced under environmental stresses, and it will be allocated to the expression of prickle leaf or protective cuticles formation.

Ecophysiological responses of Phragmites australis populations to a tidal flat gradient in the Yangtze River Estuary, China.

Phragmites australis is a prevalent species in the Chongming Dongtan wetland and is capable of thriving in various tidal flat environments, including high salinity habitats. P. australis population displays inconsistent ecological performances, highlighting the need to uncover their survival strategies and mechanisms in tidal flats with diverse soil salinities. Upon comparing functional traits of P. australis at multiple tidal flats (low, middle, and high) and their responses to soil physicochemical properties, this study aimed to clarify the salt-tolerant strategy of P. australis and the corresponding mechanisms. These results showed that leaf characteristics, such as specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content, demonstrated more robust stability to soil salinity than shoot height and dry weight. Furthermore, as salt stress intensified, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxisome (POD) in P. australis leaves at low tidal flat exhibited an increased upward trend compared to those at other tidal flats. The molecular mechanism of salt tolerance in Phragmites australis across various habitats was investigated using transcriptome sequencing. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) combined with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) screened out 3 modules closely related to high salt tolerance and identified 105 core genes crucial for high salt tolerance. Further research was carried out on the few degraded populations at low tidal flat, and 25 core genes were identified by combining WGCNA and DEGs. A decrease in the activity of ferroptosis marker gonyautoxin-4 and an increase in the content of Fe3+ in the degenerated group were observed, indicating that ferroptosis might participate in degradation. Furthermore, correlation analysis indicated a possible regulatory network between salt tolerance and ferroptosis. In short, this study provided new insights into the salt tolerance mechanism of P. australis population along tidal flats.

Corrosion Behavior of Homogenized and Extruded 1100 Aluminum Alloy in Acidic Salt Spray.

The 1100 aluminum alloy has been widely used in many industrial fields due to its high specific strength, fracture toughness, excellent thermal conductivity, and corrosion resistance. In this study, the corrosion behavior of the homogenized and hot-extruded 1100 aluminum alloy in acid salt spray environment for different time was studied. The microstructure of the 1100 aluminum alloy before and after corrosion was characterized by an optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and a laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM). The difference in corrosion resistance between the homogenized and extruded 1100 aluminum alloy was analyzed via the electrochemical method. The results indicate that after hot extrusion at 400 °C, the microstructure of the 1100 aluminum alloy changes from an equiaxed crystal structure with (111) preferentially distributed in a fibrous structure with (220) preferentially distributed. There was no obvious dynamic recrystallization occurring during extrusion, and the second-phase particles containing Al-Fe-Si were coarse and unevenly distributed. With the increase in corrosion time, corrosion pits appeared on the surface of the 1100 aluminum alloy, and a corrosion product layer was formed on the surface of the homogenized 1100 aluminum alloy, which reduced the corrosion rate. After 96 h of corrosion, the CPR of the extruded samples was 0.619 mm/a, and that of the homogenized samples was 0.442 mm/a. The corrosion resistance of the extruded 1100 aluminum alloy was affected by the microstructure and the second phase, and no protective layer of corrosion products was formed on the surface, resulting in a faster corrosion rate and deeper corrosion pits.

The spontaneously produced lysogenic prophage phi456 promotes bacterial resistance to adverse environments and enhances the colonization ability of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli strain DE456.

In the last decade, prophages that possess the ability of lysogenic transformation have become increasingly significant. Their transfer and subsequent activity in the host have a significant impact on the evolution of bacteria. Here, we investigate the role of prophage phi456 with high spontaneous induction in the bacterial genome of Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) DE456. The phage particles, phi456, that were released from DE456 were isolated, purified, and sequenced. Additionally, phage particles were no longer observed either during normal growth or induced by nalidixic acid in DE456Δphi456. This indicated that the released phage particles from DE456 were only phi456. We demonstrated that phi456 contributed to biofilm formation through spontaneous induction of the accompanying increase in the eDNA content. The survival ability of DE456Δphi456 was decreased in avian macrophage HD11 under oxidative stress and acidic conditions. This is likely due to a decrease in the transcription levels of three crucial genes-rpoS, katE, and oxyR-which are needed to help the bacteria adapt to and survive in adverse environments. It has been observed through animal experiments that the presence of phi456 in the DE456 genome enhances colonization ability in vivo. Additionally, the number of type I fimbriae in DE456Δphi456 was observed to be reduced under transmission electron microscopy when compared to the wild-type strain. The qRT-PCR results indicated that the expression levels of the subunit of I fimbriae (fimA) and its apical adhesin (fimH) were significantly lower in DE456Δphi456. Therefore, it can be concluded that phi456 plays a crucial role in helping bacterial hosts survive in unfavorable conditions and enhancing the colonization ability in DE456.

Deletion of Nox from Listeria monocytogenes Strain EGDe Enhances Bacterial Virulence and Reduces the Production of Reactive Oxygen Species and Inflammatory Factors In Vivo.

The foodborne pathogens have a serious threat to human health, especially Listeria monocytogenes. NADPH oxidase (NOX) is involved in cellular respiration and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), acting as messengers to host cells during the infection. However, the role of nox in the process of L. monocytogenes infection is unclear. In this study, we examined the impact of nox in L. monocytogenes by gene deletion. The results of cell experiment showed that knocking out nox from L. monocytogenes strain EGDe resulted in a twofold increase invasion ability to Caco-2 cells compared with that of wild-type strain (WT), but did not affect adhesion ability. Animal infection assays also showed that bacterial loads in the liver and spleen of mice challenged with EGDe-Δnox were approximately two times higher compared with those challenged with the WT strain. On the one hand, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that deletion of nox leads to upregulation of genes related to the internalization of L. monocytogenes (inlA, inlB, and inlC). More importantly, the expression of listeriolysin-positive regulatory (prfA) gene increased by three times in vivo compared with that of WT. On the other hand, the deletion of nox resulted in a reduction of the upregulation of proinflammatory factors in EGDe-Δnox compared with the WT and complementary strains. Thus, our study revealed that nox affected the virulence of L. monocytogenes by upregulating the expression of virulence genes and regulating the production of ROS and inflammatory factors in vivo.

Phosphorylation of Arabidopsis UVR8 photoreceptor modulates protein interactions and responses to UV-B radiation.

Exposure of plants to ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation initiates transcriptional responses that modify metabolism, physiology and development to enhance viability in sunlight. Many of these regulatory responses to UV-B radiation are mediated by the photoreceptor UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 (UVR8). Following photoreception, UVR8 interacts directly with multiple proteins to regulate gene expression, but the mechanisms that control differential protein binding to initiate distinct responses are unknown. Here we show that UVR8 is phosphorylated at several sites and that UV-B stimulates phosphorylation at Serine 402. Site-directed mutagenesis to mimic Serine 402 phosphorylation promotes binding of UVR8 to REPRESSOR OF UV-B PHOTOMORPHOGENESIS (RUP) proteins, which negatively regulate UVR8 action. Complementation of the uvr8 mutant with phosphonull or phosphomimetic variants suggests that phosphorylation of Serine 402 modifies UVR8 activity and promotes flavonoid biosynthesis, a key UV-B-stimulated response that enhances plant protection and crop nutritional quality. This research provides a basis to understand how UVR8 interacts differentially with effector proteins to regulate plant responses to UV-B radiation.

Numerical simulation of single-jet impact cooling and double-jet impact cooling of hot-rolled L-shaped steel based on multiphase flow model.

In this paper, numerical simulations of single-jet impingement cooling and double-jet impingement cooling processes of heated L-shaped steel are carried out using the VOF model. The SIMPLEC pressure-velocity coupling algorithm and realizable k-ε model are used for the solution. The effects of jet position, water flow, and jet distance in the single-jet condition are analyzed in the simulations. The distributions of impact pressure, turbulence kinetic energy, and Nusselt number were obtained, as well as the variation of the peak values of these three factors with the jet position, water flow, and jet distance. The water flow rate is 3-11 L/min, and the jet distance is 5-25 cm. The effect of the distance between the two nozzles on the jet cooling uniformity under the dual jet condition was also analyzed. The distance between the two nozzles was 15-45 mm. The results showed that the variation of water flow rate had a greater effect on the ability of jet cooling compared with the jet position and jet distance, and the heat transfer efficiency also increased gradually with the increase of water flow, but the increased rate of heat transfer efficiency decreased gradually. When the flow rate increased from 3 to 11 L/min, the maximum instantaneous cooling rates at 1/4 of the thickness of the short side upper side, long side upper side, short side lower side, and long side lower side positions increased by 38.9%, 48.5%, 48.2%, and 32.9%, respectively. To ensure that the jet does not shift, the jet distance should be less than or equal to 10 cm. In the case of the double jet, the nozzle distance is 1.5 cm, and the cooling uniformity of the cooling area between the two nozzles is better. The peak Nusselt number in the cooling area of each part under the double jet cooling condition increased by 5%, 9.4%, 10.2%, and 13.3%, respectively, compared with the single jet.

PB-LKS: a python package for predicting phage-bacteria interaction through local K-mer strategy.

Bacteriophages can help the treatment of bacterial infections yet require in-silico models to deal with the great genetic diversity between phages and bacteria. Despite the tolerable prediction performance, the application scope of current approaches is limited to the prediction at the species level, which cannot accurately predict the relationship of phages across strain mutants. This has hindered the development of phage therapeutics based on the prediction of phage-bacteria relationships. In this paper, we present, PB-LKS, to predict the phage-bacteria interaction based on local K-mer strategy with higher performance and wider applicability. The utility of PB-LKS is rigorously validated through (i) large-scale historical screening, (ii) case study at the class level and (iii) in vitro simulation of bacterial antiphage resistance at the strain mutant level. The PB-LKS approach could outperform the current state-of-the-art methods and illustrate potential clinical utility in pre-optimized phage therapy design.

Establishment and characterization of a recurrent malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor cell line: RsNF.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a highly aggressive and recurrent soft tissue sarcoma. It most commonly occurs secondary to neurofibromatosis type I, and it has a 5-year survival rate of only 8-13%. To better study the tumor heterogeneity of MPNST and to develop diverse treatment options, more tumor-derived cell lines are needed to obtain richer biological information. Here, we established a primary cell line of relapsed MPNST RsNF cells derived from a patient diagnosed with NF1 and detected the presence of NF1 mutations and SUZ12 somatic mutations through whole-exome sequencing(WES). Through tumor molecular marker targeted sequencing and single-cell transcriptome sequencing, it was found that chromosome 7 copy number variation (CNV) was gained in this cell line, and ZNF804B, EGFR, etc., were overexpressed on chromosome 7. Therefore, RsNF cells can be used as a useful tool in NF1-associated MPNST genomic amplification studies and to develop new therapeutic strategies.

RNA-based modulation of macrophage-mediated efferocytosis potentiates antitumor immunity in colorectal cancer.

Tumor-associated macrophages play pivotal roles in tumor progression and metastasis. Macrophage-mediated clearance of apoptotic cells (efferocytosis) supports inflammation resolution, contributing to immune evasion in colorectal cancers. To reverse this immunosuppressive process, we propose a readily translatable RNA therapy to selectively inhibit macrophage-mediated efferocytosis in tumor microenvironment. A clinically approved lipid nanoparticle platform (LNP) is employed to encapsulate siRNA for the phagocytic receptor MerTK (siMerTK), enabling selective MerTK inhibition in the diseased organ. Decreased MerTK expression in tumor-associated macrophages results in apoptotic cell accumulation and immune activation in tumor microenvironment, leading to suppressed tumor growth and better survival in both liver and peritoneal metastasis models of colorectal cancers. siMerTK delivery combined with PD-1 blockade further produces enhanced antimetastatic efficacy with reactivated intratumoral immune milieu. Collectively, LNP-based siMerTK delivery combined with immune checkpoint therapy may present a feasible modality for metastatic colorectal cancer therapy.