Gender Differences in Negative Life Events, Present-Moment Awareness, Problem-Solving, and Perceived Stress Among Rural Adolescents.

Drawing on the stressor-perception-coping-response model of stress, this study examined the associations between negative life events, present-moment awareness, problem-solving, and perceived stress among rural adolescents, focusing specifically on gender differences. Using a cross-sectional design, 3519 Chinese rural adolescents completed measures assessing negative life events, present-moment awareness, problem-solving, and perceived stress. Structural equation modeling was employed to examine the hypothesized serial mediation model. The results revealed a positive association between negative life events and perceived stress in rural adolescents, which was serially mediated by present-moment awareness and problem-solving. Furthermore, significant gender differences were observed. Specifically, girls exhibited larger effects than boys in the overall effect of negative life events on perceived stress, the indirect effect of present-moment awareness, and the serial mediating effect. These findings suggest that present-moment awareness and problem-solving may serve as crucial mechanisms for understanding rural adolescents' perceived stress in response to negative life events, particularly among female rural adolescents.

A smartphone-assisted photoelectrochemical POCT method via Z-scheme CuCo2S4/Fe3O4 for simultaneously detecting co-contamination with microplastics in food and the environment.

As emerging contaminants, microplastics threaten food and environmental safety. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP, released from microplastics) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP, adsorbed on microplastics) coexisted in food and the environment, harming human health, requesting a sensitive and simultaneous testing method to monitor. To address current sensitivity, simultaneousness, and on-site portability challenges during dual targets in complex matrixes, CuCo2S4/Fe3O4 nanoflower was designed to develop a smartphone-assisted photoelectrochemical point-of-care test (PEC POCT). The carrier transfer mechanism in CuCo2S4/Fe3O4 was proven via density functional theory calculation. Under optimal conditions, the PEC POCT showed low detection limits of 0.126, and 0.132 pg/mL, wide linearity of 0.001-500, and 0.0005-50 ng/mL for DBP and BaP, respectively. The smartphone-assisted PEC POCT demonstrated satisfied recoveries (80.00%-119.63%) in real samples. Coherent results were recorded by comparing the PEC POCT to GC-MS (DBP) and HPLC (BaP). This novel method provides a practical platform for simultaneous POCT for food safety and environment monitoring.

Construction and validation of a nomogram for predicting disease-free survival after radical resection of rectal cancer using perioperative inflammatory indicators.

Background: Colorectal cancer is a common digestive tract malignancy that seriously affects patients' quality of life and survival time. Surgery is the main treatment modality, but postoperative prognosis varies greatly. This study sought to explore the impact of perioperative inflammatory indicators on disease-free survival (DFS) in patients after radical resection of rectal cancer and to construct a nomogram for clinical reference. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 304 primary rectal adenocarcinoma patients who underwent laparoscopic radical resection of rectal cancer at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from May 1, 2018 to September 30, 2020. The patients were divided into a training set (n=213) and a validation set (n=91) at a ratio of 7:3. The cut-off values of each inflammatory indicator based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were determined and each indicator was divided into high and low groups. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-Cox regression model was used to analyze the independent risk factors affecting DFS, and a nomogram was established. The model was internally validated using the validation set, and the discrimination, calibration, and clinical application value of the nomogram were evaluated using ROC curve, calibration curve, and clinical decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: Tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage III, neural invasion, preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) ≥1.995, postoperative systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) ≥451.05, and Δpan-immune-inflammation value (ΔPIV) ≥144.36 (P<0.05) were independent factors for predicting the 3-year DFS of patients after rectal cancer surgery. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the nomogram was 0.811 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.778-0.889] in the training set and 0.808 (95% CI: 0.785-0.942) in the validation set. The nomogram showed good calibration, indicating good consistency between predicted and actual risks. DCA demonstrated the clinical utility of the nomogram. Conclusions: The nomogram constructed based on TNM stage III, neural invasion, preoperative NLR ≥1.995, postoperative SII ≥451.05, and ΔPIV ≥144.36 can predict the risk of 3-year DFS in patients undergoing curative surgery for rectal cancer, enabling strict postoperative follow-up and timely adjuvant treatment for high-risk patients.

20(S)-ginsenoside Rh2 ameliorates ATRA resistance in APL by modulating lactylation-driven METTL3.

Background: 20(S)-ginsenoside Rh2(GRh2), an effective natural histone deacetylase inhibitor, can inhibit acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell proliferation. Lactate regulated histone lactylation, which has different temporal dynamics from acetylation. However, whether the high level of lactylation modification that we first detected in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is associated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) resistance has not been reported. Furthermore, Whether GRh2 can regulate lactylation modification in ATRA-resistant APL remains unknown. Methods: Lactylation and METTL3 expression levels in ATRA-sensitive and ATRA-resistant APL cells were detected by Western blot analysis, qRT-PCR and CO-IP. Flow cytometry (FCM) and APL xenograft mouse models were used to determine the effect of METTL3 and GRh2 on ATRA-resistance. Results: Histone lactylation and METTL3 expression levels were considerably upregulated in ATRA-resistant APL cells. METTL3 was regulated by histone lactylation and direct lactylation modification. Overexpression of METTL3 promoted ATRA-resistance. GRh2 ameliorated ATRA-resistance by downregulated lactylation level and directly inhibiting METTL3. Conclusions: This study suggests that lactylation-modified METTL3 could provide a promising strategy for ameliorating ATRA-resistance in APL, and GRh2 could act as a potential lactylation-modified METTL3 inhibitor to ameliorate ATRA-resistance in APL.

Casein phosphopeptide interferes the interactions between ferritin and ion irons.

Ferritin, a vital protein required to store iron in a cage-like structure, is critical for maintaining iron balance. Ferritin can be attacked by free radicals during iron reduction and release, thereby leading to oxidative damage. Whether other biomacromolecules such as casein phosphopeptides (CPP) could influence the ferritin's function in iron oxidation and release and affect the ferritin stability remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the effect of CPP on the ferritin­iron ion interaction, thereby focusing on role of CPP on ferritin stability. Results showed that CPP weakened the iron oxidation activity of ferritin but promoted iron release. Moreover, CPP could effectively chelate iron, capture hydroxyl radicals, and reduce the degradation of ferritin. This study highlights the role of CPP in the ferritin­iron relationship, and lays a foundation for understanding the interaction between ferritin, peptides, and metal ions.

Advances in miniature CRISPR-Cas proteins and their applications in gene editing.

The CRISPR-Cas system consists of Cas proteins and single-stranded RNAs that recruit Cas proteins and specifically target the nucleic acid. Some Cas proteins can accurately cleave the target nucleic acid under the guidance of the single-stranded RNAs. Due to its exceptionally high specificity, the CRISPR-Cas system is now widely used in various fields such as gene editing, transcription regulation, and molecular diagnosis. However, the huge size of the most frequently utilized Cas proteins (Cas9, Cas12a, and Cas13, which contain 950-1,400 amino acids) can limit their applicability, especially in eukaryotic gene editing, where larger Cas proteins are difficult to deliver into the target cells. Recently discovered miniature CRISPR-Cas proteins, consisting of only 400 to 800 amino acids, offer the possibility of overcoming this limitation. This article systematically reviews the latest research progress of several miniature CRISPR-Cas proteins (Cas12f, Cas12j, Cas12k, and Cas12m) and their practical applications in the field of gene editing.

RhMED15a-like, a subunit of the Mediator complex, is involved in the drought stress response in Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND: Rose (Rosa hybrida) is a globally recognized ornamental plant whose growth and distribution are strongly limited by drought stress. The role of Mediator, a multiprotein complex crucial for RNA polymerase II-driven transcription, has been elucidated in drought stress responses in plants. However, its physiological function and regulatory mechanism in horticultural crop species remain elusive. RESULTS: In this study, we identified a Tail module subunit of Mediator, RhMED15a-like, in rose. Drought stress, as well as treatment with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and abscisic acid (ABA), significantly suppressed the transcript level of RhMED15a-like. Overexpressing RhMED15a-like markedly bolstered the osmotic stress tolerance of Arabidopsis, as evidenced by increased germination rate, root length, and fresh weight. In contrast, the silencing of RhMED15a-like through virus induced gene silencing in rose resulted in elevated malondialdehyde accumulation, exacerbated leaf wilting, reduced survival rate, and downregulated expression of drought-responsive genes during drought stress. Additionally, using RNA-seq, we identified 972 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-RhMED15a-like plants and TRV controls. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that some DEGs were predominantly associated with terms related to the oxidative stress response, such as 'response to reactive oxygen species' and 'peroxisome'. Furthermore, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment highlighted pathways related to 'plant hormone signal transduction', in which the majority of DEGs in the jasmonate (JA) and ABA signalling pathways were induced in TRV-RhMED15a-like plants. CONCLUSION: Our findings underscore the pivotal role of the Mediator subunit RhMED15a-like in the ability of rose to withstand drought stress, probably by controlling the transcript levels of drought-responsive genes and signalling pathway elements of stress-related hormones, providing a solid foundation for future research into the molecular mechanisms underlying drought tolerance in rose.

Hybrid Bioactive Hydrogel Promotes Liver Regeneration through the Activation of Kupffer Cells and ECM Remodeling After Partial Hepatectomy.

Partial hepatectomy is an essential surgical technique used to treat advanced liver diseases such as liver tumors, as well as for performing liver transplants from living donors. However, postoperative complications such as bleeding, abdominal adhesions, wound infections, and inadequate liver regeneration pose significant challenges and increase morbidity and mortality rates. A self-repairing mixed hydrogel (O5H2/Cu2+/SCCK), containing stem cell derived cytokine (SCCK) derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs) treated with the traditional Chinese remedy Tanshinone IIA (TSA), is developed. This SCCK, in conjunction with O5H2, demonstrates remarkable effects on Kupffer cell activation and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. This leads to the secretion of critical growth factors promoting enhanced proliferation of hepatocytes and endothelial cells, thereby facilitating liver regeneration and repair after partial hepatectomy. Furthermore, the hydrogel, featuring macrophage-regulating properties, effectively mitigates inflammation and oxidative stress damage in the incision area, creating an optimal environment for postoperative liver regeneration. The injectability and strong adhesion of the hydrogel enables rapid hemostasis at the incision site, while its physical barrier function prevents postoperative abdominal adhesions. Furthermore, the hydrogel's incorporation of Cu2+ provides comprehensive antibacterial effects, protecting against a wide range of bacteria types and reducing the chances of infections after surgery.

The Role of Hydrogen Bonds in Thermally Responsive Crystallization-Driven Template Autocatalysis.

Autocatalysis has been recognized to be involved in the emergence of life and intrinsic to biomolecular replication. Recently, an efficient template autocatalysis driven by solvent-free crystallization has been reported. Herein, we unveil the role of intermolecular hydrogen bonds formed by amides in crystallization-driven template autocatalysis (CDTA), which involves the autocatalytic activity, template selectivity, and thermal responsiveness. We found that the thermal-induced cis-trans isomerization of amides possibly affects the H-bonding-mediated template ability of products for autocatalytic transformation. As a result, CDTA can be reversibly inhibited and activated by tuning the reaction temperatures. Our work sheds light on the significance of noncovalent H-bonding interactions in artificial self-replicators.

Evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of sequential vaccination with inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and Ad5-nCoV booster in pediatric liver transplant recipients.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, uncertainty persists among caregivers regarding the vaccination of pediatric liver transplant recipients (PLTRs). This study evaluates the immunogenicity and safety of COVID-19 vaccination in this vulnerable population. A cohort of 30 PLTRs underwent sequential vaccinations with an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine followed by an Ad5-nCoV booster. We collected and analyzed blood samples pre-vaccination and four weeks post-vaccination to quantify antibody and IGRA (IFN-γ Release Assay) levels. We also documented any adverse reactions occurring within seven days post-vaccination and monitored participants for infections over six months post-vaccination, culminating in a comprehensive statistical analysis. The Ad5-nCoV booster substantially elevated IgG (T1: 18.01, 20%; T2: 66.61, 55%) and nAb (T1: 119.29, 8%; T2: 3799.75, 80%) levels, as well as T-cell responses, in comparison to the initial dose. The first dose was associated with some common adverse reactions, such as injection site pain (13.3%) and fever (16.6%), but a low rate of systemic reactions (16.0%). There was no significant difference in Omicron infection rates or RTPCR conversion times between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. Notably, following Omicron infection, vaccinated individuals exhibited significantly higher SARS-CoV-2 IgG and nAb titers (average IgG: 231.21 vs. 62.09 S/CO, p = 0.0003; nAb: 5246.11 vs. 2592.07 IU/mL, p = 0.0002). The use of inactivated vaccines followed by an Ad5-nCoV booster in PLTRs is generally safe and elicits a robust humoral response, albeit with limited T-cell responses.

Sulfonate-modified fullerenes mimicking tentacle structures for humidity sensors.

In this work, a straightforward method for synthesizing fullerene derivatives with tentacle structures has been explored for monitoring environmental humidity, which involves introducing sulfonate onto the fullerenes. The structure and number of polar groups in three fullerene derivatives determined by a series of structural tests greatly affect their hydrophilicity and morphology, resulting in changes in humidity sensitive properties. In particular, the hysteresis and response time of the sensors display a great correlation with hydrophilicity. C60-Ho, the best performing derivative of this work, has exhibited high response values (∼3500 times), good linearity (R2 = 97.3 %), and rapid response/recovery times (0.3/4.4 s), making it suitable for various applications such as non-contact detection of respiration, finger distance, and soil humidity.

Short-term robust plant overcompensatory growth was observed in a degraded alpine meadow on the southeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Plant overcompensatory growth (OCG) is an important mechanism by which plant communities adapt to environmental disturbance. However, it is not clear whether plant OCG can occur in degraded alpine meadows. Here, we conducted a mowing experiment in an alpine meadow at three degradation levels (i.e., severe degradation, SD; moderate degradation, MD; and light degradation, LD) on the southeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau from 2018 to 2020 to investigate plant OCG and its relationships with soil available nutrients, plant nutrient use efficiency (i.e., nitrogen use efficiency, NUE; and phosphorus use efficiency, PUE), and precipitation. The results showed that 1) the OCG of the plant community generally occurred across all degradation levels, and the OCG strength of the plant community decreased with mowing duration. Moreover, the OCG strength of the plant community in the SD treatment was significantly greater than that in the MD and LD treatments after two years of mowing (p < 0.05). 2) In LD and MD, the soil nitrate nitrogen (NO3-) and available phosphorus (AP) concentrations exhibited a decreasing trend (p < 0.05), while the soil ammonium nitrogen (NH4+) concentration did not change from 2018 to 2020 (p > 0.05). In the SD treatment, the soil NO3- concentration tended to decrease (p < 0.05), the NH4+ concentration tended to increase (p < 0.05), and the AP concentration exhibited an inverse parabolic trend (p < 0.05) from 2018 to 2020. 3) From 2018 to 2020, plant NUE and PUE exhibited decreasing trends at all degradation levels. 4) Plant nutrient use efficiency, which is regulated by complex plant-soil interactions, strongly controlled the OCG of the plant community along each degradation gradient. Moreover, precipitation not only directly promoted the OCG of the plant community but also indirectly affected it by regulating the structure of the plant community and plant nutrient use efficiency. These results suggest that the OCG of the plant community in degraded alpine meadows may benefit not only from the strong self-regulating capacity of the plant-soil system but also from humid climatic conditions.

Prognostic value of preoperative combined with postoperative systemic immune-inflammation index for disease-free survival after radical rectal cancer surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks highly in malignant tumor incidence and mortality rates, severely affecting human health. The predictive value of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in CRC prognosis is gaining attention, but there is limited research on the combined preoperative and postoperative SII. This study aims to explore the prognostic value of combined SII on disease-free survival (DFS) in patients undergoing radical surgery for rectal cancer. Methods: We enrolled 292 patients with rectal cancer who underwent radical resection at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from May 2018 to September 2020, along with regular follow-ups to document the DFS. Patients' complete blood cell counts were assessed before surgery and between 21-56 days postoperatively. Calculating preoperative and postoperative SII, patients were categorized into four groups based on the optimal cutoff values: (I) low-low group (preoperative SII <449.325 and postoperative SII <568.13); (II) high-low group (preoperative SII ≥449.325 and postoperative SII <568.13); (III) low-high group (preoperative SII <449.325 and postoperative SII ≥568.13); and (IV) high-high group (preoperative SII ≥449.325 and postoperative SII ≥568.13). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis evaluated the prediction efficacy of preoperative, postoperative, and combined SII. Kaplan-Meier analysis generated DFS curves, and Cox regression analysis determined prognostic factors. Results: With a median follow-up of 41 months, 65.4% (191/292) patients reached DFS. The clinical pathological features between the four groups are balanced and comparable (P>0.05). The area under the ROC curve for preoperative, postoperative, and combined SII was 0.668 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.6-0.737], 0.696 (95%CI: 0.63-0.763), and 0.741 (95% CI: 0.681-0.802), respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors such as adjuvant therapy, differentiation, vascular invasion, neural invasion, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), significant differences were observed between the high-low group [hazard ratio (HR) =2.403; 95% CI: 1.255-4.602; P=0.008], low-high group (HR =5.058; 95% CI: 2.389-10.71; P<0.001), and high-high group (HR =6.214; 95% CI: 3.474-11.115; P<0.001) compared to the low-low group, with higher risks of adverse outcomes. Conclusions: Combined SII has better predictive efficacy than monitoring preoperative or postoperative SII alone in rectal cancer patients undergoing radical surgery.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation regulates effective connectivity patterns of brain networks in the spectrum of preclinical Alzheimer's disease.

Objectives: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) are considered as the spectrum of preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD), with abnormal brain network connectivity as the main neuroimaging feature. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been proven to be an effective non-invasive technique for addressing neuropsychiatric disorders. This study aims to explore the potential of targeted rTMS to regulate effective connectivity within the default mode network (DMN) and the executive control network (CEN), thereby improving cognitive function. Methods: This study included 86 healthy controls (HCs), 72 SCDs, and 86 aMCIs. Among them, 10 SCDs and 11 aMCIs received a 2-week rTMS course of 5-day, once-daily. Cross-sectional analysis with the spectral dynamic causal model (spDCM) was used to analyze the DMN and CEN effective connectivity patterns of the three groups. Afterwards, longitudinal analysis was conducted on the changes in effective connectivity patterns and cognitive function before and after rTMS for SCD and aMCI, and the correlation between them was analyzed. Results: Cross-sectional analysis showed different effective connectivity patterns in the DMN and CEN among the three groups. Longitudinal analysis showed that the effective connectivity pattern of the SCD had changed, accompanied by improvements in episodic memory. Correlation analysis indicated a negative relationship between effective connectivity from the left angular gyrus (ANG) to the anterior cingulate gyrus and the ANG.R to the right middle frontal gyrus, with visuospatial and executive function, respectively. In patients with aMCI, episodic memory and executive function improved, while the effective connectivity pattern remained unchanged. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that PCUN-targeted rTMS in SCD regulates the abnormal effective connectivity patterns in DMN and CEN, thereby improving cognition function. Conversely, in aMCI, the mechanism of improvement may differ. Our findings further suggest that rTMS is more effective in preventing or delaying disease progression in the earlier stages of the AD spectrum. Clinical Trial Registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR2000034533.

Longitudinal analysis of the mediating role of self-perception of aging in the relationship between frailty and intrinsic capacity: A cross-lagged mediation model.

OBJECTIVES: The causal relationship between intrinsic capacity and frailty in older adults, as well as the underlying temporal mechanisms, remained poorly understood. The study aimed to investigate the causal association between intrinsic capacity and frailty while exploring the potential mediating role of self-perception of aging. MEASUREMENTS: A survey was conducted with a sample of 429 participants who completed measures of intrinsic capacity, self-perception of aging, and frailty at baseline and were followed for one year. The relationships between these variables were assessed using an autoregressive cross-lagged model. RESULTS: The study found reciprocal associations between intrinsic capacity and frailty (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the results indicated that self-perception of aging partially mediated the effect of frailty at baseline (T1) on intrinsic capacity at one-year follow-up (T2) (ß = -0.02, confidence interval: [-0.055, -0.004]). However, the reverse causation was not observed. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This study demonstrates a bidirectional causal relationship between intrinsic capacity and frailty in older adults. Self-perception of aging plays a significant mediating role in this relationship. Older adults with a worse level of frailty should be made aware of the potentially vicious cycle related to self-perception of aging, which can negatively affect their intrinsic capacity. Maintaining a positive self-perception of aging may help preserve physical and psychological reserves, maintain intrinsic capacity, and slow the decline of frailty.

Rapid review of ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction.

Ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction is gaining increased recognition. Evidence of diaphragm weakness can manifest within 12 h to a few days after the initiation of mechanical ventilation. Various noninvasive and invasive methods have been developed to assess diaphragm function. The implementation of diaphragm-protective ventilation strategies is crucial for preventing diaphragm injuries. Furthermore, diaphragm neurostimulation emerges as a promising and novel treatment option. In this rapid review, our objective is to discuss the current understanding of ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction, diagnostic approaches, and updates on strategies for prevention and management.

The application of ferritin in transporting and binding diverse metal ions.

The ferritin cage can not only load iron ions in its inner cavity, but also has the capacity to carry other metal ions, thus constructing a new biological nano-transport system. The nanoparticles formed by ferritin and minerals can be used as ingredients of mineral supplements, which overcome the shortcomings of traditional mineral ingredients such as low bioavailability. Moreover, ferritin can be used to remove heavy metal ions from contaminated food. Silver and palladium nanoparticles formed by ferritin are also applied as anticancer agents. Ferritin combined with metal ions can be also used to detect harmful substances. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of ferritin's function in transporting and binding metal ions, and discusses the limitations and future prospects, which offers valuable insights for the application of ferritin in mineral supplements, food detoxifiers, anticancer agents, and food detections.

Molecular epidemiology, phenotypic and genomic characterization of antibiotic-resistant enterococcal isolates from diverse farm animals in Xinjiang, China.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in farm environments can be transferred to humans through the food chain and occupational exposure. Enterococcus infections caused by linezolid resistant enterococci (LRE) are becoming more challenging to treat as their resistance to antibiotics intensifies. Therefore, this study investigated the molecular epidemiology, phenotypic and genomic characterization of enterococci in seven species of farm animals (sheep, chicken, swine, camel, cattle, equine, pigeon) anal swab from Xinjiang, China by agar dilution method, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatics analysis. A total of 771 samples were collected, 599 (78 %) were contaminated with Enterococcus spp., among which Enterococcus faecalis (350/599) was dominant. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that high resistance was observed in rifampicin (80 %), tetracycline (71 %), doxycycline (71 %), and erythromycin (69 %). The results of PCR showed the highest prevalent antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were aac(6')-aph(2″) (85 %), followed by tet(M) (73 %), erm(B) (62 %), and aph(3')-IIIa (61 %). Besides, 29 optrA-carrying E. faecalis isolates belonging to 13 STs (including 3 new alleles) were detected, with ST714 (31 %, 9/29) being the dominant ST type. The phylogenetic tree showed that optrA-carrying E. faecalis prevalent in the intensive swine farm is mainly caused by clonal transmission. Notably, optrA gene in Enterococcus spp. isolate from camel was first characterized here. WGS of E. faecalis F109 isolate from camel confirmed the colocalization of optrA with other five ARGs in the same plasmid (pAFL-109F). The optrA-harboring genetic context is IS1216E-fexA-optrA-erm(A)-IS1216E. This study highlights the prevalence of MDR Enterococcus (≥88 %) and four ARGs (≥75 %) in swine (intensive farming), cattle (commercial farming), and chickens (backyard farming) are high and also highlights that optrA-carrying E. faecalis of farm animals incur a transmission risk to humans through environment, food consumption and others. Therefore, antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) monitoring and effective control measures should be strengthened and implemented in diverse animals.

Self-esteem and cortical thickness correlate with aggression in healthy children: A surface-based analysis.

Aggressive behavior can have serious physical, psychological, and social consequences. However, little is known about the personality and neurological antecedents underlying aggressive behavior in children. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-esteem, aggression, and brain structure (i.e., cortical thickness and surface area) in a population of healthy children (N = 78; 9-12 years; mean age: 9.95 ± 0.90 years). The results revealed that self-esteem showed a negative association with aggression and significantly predicted aggressive behavior. No gender differences were found in aggression and its neural correlates. We performed the cortical parcellation method to further explore the neural foundations underlying the association of self-esteem with aggression. Children with higher aggression had increased cortical thickness in four clusters after multiple comparison correction: right medial orbitofrontal cortex, right lateral orbitofrontal cortex, right superior frontal gyrus, and left insula. In a mediation analysis, cortical thickness in the right medial orbitofrontal cortex contributed to the effect of self-esteem on aggression. These findings extend our understanding of morphological correlates of aggression in children, suggesting that an increased cortical thickness in childhood is a potential mechanism linking low self-esteem to aggression.

rTMS regulates homotopic functional connectivity in the SCD and MCI patients.

Objective: Impaired interhemispheric connectivity and corpus callosum atrophy have been linked to cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Existing evidence indicates that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the bilateral precuneus may enhance cognitive function in AD. This study aims to investigate the effects of precuneus rTMS on cognitive function, as well as alterations in interhemispheric functional connectivity (FC) and its structural basis in patients with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: A total of 14 patients with SCD and 16 patients with MCI were enrolled in this study and received 10 Hz rTMS intervention on the bilateral precuneus for 2 weeks. Neurocognitive scales, structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging were collected at enrollment and after the rTMS intervention. Interhemispheric FC was assessed using mirror homotopic functional connectivity (VMHC), while the structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the relationship between corpus callosum volume, interhemispheric connectivity, and cognitive function after rTMS intervention. Results: The precuneus rTMS not only enhanced episodic memory in SCD, but also improved multiple cognitive domains in MCI. Post-rTMS intervention, decreased VMHC values in the lingual cortex, middle occipital gyrus, putamen, and fusiform gyrus were observed in SCD, and an increased VMHC value in the postcentral gyrus along with reduced VMHC value in the cerebellum and putamen in MCI. After intervention, more brain regions show decreased FC in SCD and MCI patients, suggesting that precuneus rTMS may protect cerebral cortical plasticity by reducing excessive functional compensation, and thus improve cognitive function. The SEM indicated that the corpus callosum serves as the structural foundation for rTMS regulation of interhemispheric FC to further improve cognitive function. Conclusion: 10 Hz rTMS in the bilateral precuneus could be a promising strategy to improve cognitive function in patients with SCD and MCI. Our study implies that improvements in cognition brought about by precuneus rTMS may result from the remodeling of interhemispheric FC, with the corpus callosum possibly acting as the anatomical basis for functional modulation.