Vegetation at the former open-pit Ningyo-toge mine, 36 years after closure treatment: Impact of soil cover on woody plant establishment and dominance of the perennial herb Miscanthus sinensis.

Soil cover is a prevailing method used at mine sites to ensure the safety of hazardous materials and restore ecological functions when the base materials are unfavorable for plant growth. The former open-pit Ningyo-toge Mine was backfilled with overburden and neutralized smelting residues and covered with soil in 1987. After 36 years, the vegetation remained dominated by the perennial herb Miscanthus sinensis, and woody plant establishment did not progress successfully. This study investigated the factors that inhibited woody plant establishment at the site. The soil profile survey revealed that the soil cover formed Bg horizons (pseudogley soil) with cloudy mottling, representative of poorly drained soil. In the Bg horizon, woody plant roots of Pinus densiflora and Weigela hortensis exhibited growth inhibition. Elemental analysis revealed that in the Bg horizon the roots of P. densiflora and W. hortensis accumulated high Fe concentrations exceeding 10,000 mg/kg DW at critical levels. Our results suggested that woody plant roots in the Bg horizon may have suffered from chronic oxygen deficiency accompanied by excessive Fe stress in the soil cover. Topsoil water content (<50 mm) and microtopographic features were not critical factors disrupting woody plant establishment because some individuals were growing in areas with high soil water content, exceeding 60%. Considering that woody plant roots were developed primarily in the shallow A horizon, A horizon formation by M. sinensis is a key step in initiating woody plant establishment by improving the soil structure and physiochemical characteristics of the soil cover, such as carbon content, exchangeable nutrients, and air-filled porosity. For successful mine pollution control and vegetation recovery, implementing an appropriate topsoil system, such as native forest soil, loosely graded and minor infiltration layer above the overburden would be necessary.

Differential isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 mutation-related landscape in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) are prone to recurrence and poor survival. Targeted therapy related to isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) is an extremely important treatment. IDH1 and IDH2 mutations are generally thought to have similar effects on the tumor landscape. However, it is doubtful whether these 2 mutations have exactly the same effects on tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. METHODS: All collected tumor samples were subjected to simultaneous whole-exon sequencing and proteome sequencing. RESULTS: IDH1 mutations accounted for 12.2%, and IDH2 mutations accounted for 5.5%, all missense mutations. Tumors with IDH mutations had lower proportions of KRAS and TP53 mutations. Mutated genes were obviously enriched in the kinase pathway in the tumors with IDH2 mutations. The signaling pathways were mainly enriched in the activation of cellular metabolic activities and an increase of inhibitory immune cells in the tumors with IDH mutations. Moreover, tumors had unique enrichment in DNA repair in IDH1 mutants and secretion of biological molecules in IDH2 mutants. Inhibitory immune cells might be more prominent in IDH2 mutants, and the expression of immune checkpoints PVR and HLA-DQB1 was more prominent in IDH1 mutants. IDH mutants were more related to metabolism-related and inflammation-immune response clusters, and some belonged to the DNA replication and repair cluster. CONCLUSIONS: These results revealed the differential IDH1 and IDH2 mutation-related landscapes, and we have provided an important reference database to guide ICC treatment.

Association of dietary inflammatory indices with sarcopenia and all-cause mortality in COPD patients.

Background: Sarcopenia frequently occurs as a comorbidity in individuals with COPD. However, research on the impact of Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass (ASM) on survival in COPD patients is scarce. Moreover, there is a lack of research on the association between dietary pro-inflammatory capacity and sarcopenia in COPD. Methods: We analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) covering the years 1999 to 2006 and 2011 to 2018. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and sarcopenia prevalence among adults diagnosed with COPD in the United States. Furthermore, we sought to explore the relationship between sarcopenia, ASMI, and all-cause mortality. The study included a total of 1,429 eligible adult participants, divided into four groups based on quartiles of DII, with adjustments for sample weights. Methodologically, we used multivariable logistic regression analyses and to examine the association between DII and sarcopenia. Additionally, we used restricted cubic spline (RCS) tests to evaluate potential non-linear relationships. To assess the effect of sarcopenia on overall all-cause mortality, we used Kaplan-Meier models and Cox proportional hazards models. Moreover, we used RCS analyses to investigate potential non-linear relationships between ASMI and all-cause mortality. Subgroup analyses were conducted to confirm the reliability of our study findings. Results: In our COPD participant cohort, individuals with higher DII scores were more likely to be female, unmarried, have lower educational attainment, and show lower ASMI. Using multivariable logistic regression models, we found a positive association between the highest quartile of DII levels and sarcopenia incidence [Odds Ratio (OR) 2.37; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.26-4.48; p = 0.01]. However, analysis of RCS curves did not show a non-linear relationship between DII and sarcopenia. Throughout the entire follow-up period, a total of 367 deaths occurred among all COPD patients. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed a significantly higher all-cause mortality rate among individuals with concurrent sarcopenia (p < 0.0001). Cox proportional hazards model analysis showed a 44% higher risk of all-cause mortality among COPD patients with sarcopenia compared to those without sarcopenia [Hazard Ratio (HR): 1.44; 95% CI 1.05-1.99; p < 0.05]. Additionally, our final RCS analyses revealed a significant non-linear association between ASMI levels and all-cause mortality among COPD patients, with a turning point identified at 8.32 kg/m2. Participants with ASMI levels above this inflection point had a 42% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those with ASMI levels below it (HR 0.58; 95% CI 0.48-0.7). Conclusion: We observed a significant association between concurrent sarcopenia and an increased risk of all-cause mortality in COPD patients within the United States. Moreover, ASMI demonstrated a non-linear association with all-cause mortality, with a critical threshold identified at 8.32 kg/m2. Our findings also revealed an association between DII and the presence of sarcopenia. Consequently, further investigations are warranted to explore the feasibility of dietary DII adjustments as a means to mitigate muscle wasting and enhance the prognosis of COPD.

Seismic performance of soft soil foundation with a new type of assembled wall tuned mass damper.

The design of tuned mass damper (TMD) parameters is influenced by the soil-structure-TMD coupling system; thus, it is important to consider the soil-structure interaction (SSI) for the vibration control effect of the TMD. Recently, the acquisition of TMD parameters considering soil-structure interactions has only remained at the theoretical stage, lacking relevant experimental verification. Traditional TMD face the problems of occupying a large building space, increasing construction costs, and non-replaceable components. In this study, an assembled wall-type damping TMD was designed. By comparing the dynamic response of the uncontrolled and controlled structures equipped with the newly assembled wall-type damping TMD in the shaking table test on a soft soil foundation, we analyzed whether the SSI effect was considered in the TMD design parameters on the damping effect of the newly assembled wall-type tuned mass damper. The TMD parameters optimized using the artificial intelligence algorithm were verified experimentally. The results indicated that the traditional TMD design parameters were discordant because the SSI effect was not considered. The SSI effect in the soil effectively reduces the dynamic response of the superstructure. By considering the SSI effect and improving the multi-population genetic algorithm, a wall-type damping TMD with optimized parameters can achieve a good damping effect.

Cellular communication network factor 1 promotes retinal leakage in diabetic retinopathy via inducing neutrophil stasis and neutrophil extracellular traps extrusion.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of blindness and is characterized by dysfunction of the retinal microvasculature. Neutrophil stasis, resulting in retinal inflammation and the occlusion of retinal microvessels, is a key mechanism driving DR. These plugging neutrophils subsequently release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which further disrupts the retinal vasculature. Nevertheless, the primary catalyst for NETs extrusion in the retinal microenvironment under diabetic conditions remains unidentified. In recent studies, cellular communication network factor 1 (CCN1) has emerged as a central molecule modulating inflammation in pathological settings. Additionally, our previous research has shed light on the pathogenic role of CCN1 in maintaining endothelial integrity. However, the precise role of CCN1 in microvascular occlusion and its potential interaction with neutrophils in diabetic retinopathy have not yet been investigated. METHODS: We first examined the circulating level of CCN1 and NETs in our study cohort and analyzed related clinical parameters. To further evaluate the effects of CCN1 in vivo, we used recombinant CCN1 protein and CCN1 overexpression for gain-of-function, and CCN1 knockdown for loss-of-function by intravitreal injection in diabetic mice. The underlying mechanisms were further validated on human and mouse primary neutrophils and dHL60 cells. RESULTS: We detected increases in CCN1 and neutrophil elastase in the plasma of DR patients and the retinas of diabetic mice. CCN1 gain-of-function in the retina resulted in neutrophil stasis, NETs extrusion, capillary degeneration, and retinal leakage. Pre-treatment with DNase I to reduce NETs effectively eliminated CCN1-induced retinal leakage. Notably, both CCN1 knockdown and DNase I treatment rescued the retinal leakage in the context of diabetes. In vitro, CCN1 promoted adherence, migration, and NETs extrusion of neutrophils. CONCLUSION: In this study, we uncover that CCN1 contributed to retinal inflammation, vessel occlusion and leakage by recruiting neutrophils and triggering NETs extrusion under diabetic conditions. Notably, manipulating CCN1 was able to hold therapeutic promise for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.

Mild hyperthermia enhanced synergistic uric acid degradation and multiple ROS elimination for an effective acute gout therapy.

BACKGROUND: Acute gouty is caused by the excessive accumulation of Monosodium Urate (MSU) crystals within various parts of the body, which leads to a deterioration of the local microenvironment. This degradation is marked by elevated levels of uric acid (UA), increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, hypoxic conditions, an upsurge in pro-inflammatory mediators, and mitochondrial dysfunction. RESULTS: In this study, we developed a multifunctional nanoparticle of polydopamine-platinum (PDA@Pt) to combat acute gout by leveraging mild hyperthermia to synergistically enhance UA degradation and anti-inflammatory effect. Herein, PDA acts as a foundational template that facilitates the growth of a Pt shell on the surface of its nanospheres, leading to the formation of the PDA@Pt nanomedicine. Within this therapeutic agent, the Pt nanoparticle catalyzes the decomposition of UA and actively breaks down endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to produce O2, which helps to alleviate hypoxic conditions. Concurrently, the PDA component possesses exceptional capacity for ROS scavenging. Most significantly, Both PDA and Pt shell exhibit absorption in the Near-Infrared-II (NIR-II) region, which not only endow PDA@Pt with superior photothermal conversion efficiency for effective photothermal therapy (PTT) but also substantially enhances the nanomedicine's capacity for UA degradation, O2 production and ROS scavenging enzymatic activities. This photothermally-enhanced approach effectively facilitates the repair of mitochondrial damage and downregulates the NF-κB signaling pathway to inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. CONCLUSIONS: The multifunctional nanomedicine PDA@Pt exhibits exceptional efficacy in UA reduction and anti-inflammatory effects, presenting a promising potential therapeutic strategy for the management of acute gout.

Study on triaxial compression performance and damage characteristics of fiber-reinforced ecological matrix cementing gangue gypsum fill material.

Polypropylene fiber was equally mixed into alkali-activated slag fly ash geopolymer in order to ensure the filling effect of mine goaf and improve the stability of cemented gangue paste filling material with ecological matrix. Triaxial compression tests were then conducted under various conditions. The mechanical properties and damage characteristics of composite paste filling materials are studied, and the damage evolution model of paste filling materials under triaxial compression is established, based on the deviatoric stress-strain curve generated by the progressive failure behavior of samples. Internal physical and chemical mechanisms of the evolution of structure and characteristics are elucidated and comprehended via the use of SEM-EDS and XRD micro-techniques. The results show that the fiber can effectively improve the ultimate strength and the corresponding effective stress strength index of the sample within the scope of the experimental study. The best strengthening effect is achieved when the amount of NaOH is 3% of the mass of the solid material, the amount of fiber is 5‰ of the mass of the solid material, and the length of the fiber is about 12 mm. The action mode of the fiber in the sample is mainly divided into single-grip anchoring and three-dimensional mesh traction. As the crack initiates and develops, connection occurs in the matrix, where the fiber has an obvious interference and retardation effect on the crack propagation, thereby transforming the brittle failure into a ductile failure and consequently improving the fracture properties of the ecological cementitious coal gangue matrix. The theoretical damage evolution model of a segmented filling body is constructed by taking the initial compaction stage end point as the critical point, and the curve of the damage evolution model of the specimen under different conditions is obtained. The theoretical model is verified by the results from the triaxial compression test. We concluded that the experimental curve is in good agreement with the theoretical curve. Therefore, the established theoretical model has a certain reference value for the analysis and evaluation of the mechanical properties of paste filling materials. The research results can improve the utilization rate of solid waste resources.

The safety and efficacy of endoscopic submucosal fenestration in the treatment of completely embedded upper gastrointestinal foreign body.

BACKGROUND: Upper gastrointestinal foreign body ingestion is a common digestive tract emergency, of which completely embedded ones were challenging for most endoscopists. We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal fenestration in the treatment of completely embedded upper gastrointestinal foreign bodies. METHODS: From December 2018 to December 2021, 19 patients with completely embedded upper gastrointestinal foreign bodies who underwent endoscopic submucosal fenestration in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University were included. The safety, efficacy, and outcome were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Among the 19 patients, 15 foreign bodies were embedded in the esophagus, 3 located in the gastric wall, and 1 located in the duodenal bulb. The foreign bodies were successfully managed in 12 cases, and 7 failed after attempts of repeated exploration. Two cases confirmed completely traversing into the mediastinum were successfully removed after transfer to surgery. One case had retrieval of a foreign body in a half-year examination. Till now, 3 failed patients had great relief of symptoms and only one patient claimed occasional thoracodynia. Of note, there were neither serious adverse events, nor long-term complications during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: In disposing of foreign bodies completely embedded in the upper gastrointestinal tract, ESF is a safe and effective alternative to surgery.

The Significance of the 98th Amino Acid in GP2a for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Adaptation in Marc-145 Cells.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is one of the most important pathogens in the pig industry. Marc-145 cells are widely used for PRRSV isolation, vaccine production, and investigations into virus biological characteristics. Despite their significance in PRRSV research, Marc-145 cells struggle to isolate specific strains of the North American virus genotype (PRRSV-2). The involvement of viral GP2a, GP2b, and GP3 in this phenomenon has been noted. However, the vital amino acids have not yet been identified. In this study, we increased the number of blind passages and successfully isolated two strains that were previously difficult to isolate with Marc-145 cells. Both strains carried an amino acid substitution in GP2a, specifically phenylalanine to leucine at the 98th amino acid position. Through a phylogenetic and epidemiologic analysis of 32 strains, those that were not amenable to isolation widely exhibited this mutation. Then, by using the PRRSV reverse genetics system, IFA, and Western blotting, we identified the mutation that could affect the tropism of PRRSV-2 for Marc-145 cells. Furthermore, an animal experiment was conducted. Through comparisons of clinical signs, mortality rates, and viral load in the organs and sera, we found that mutation did not affect the pathogenicity of PRRSV-2. In conclusion, our study firmly establishes the 98th amino acid in GP2a as a key determinant of PRRSV-2 tropism for Marc-145 cells.

Technological advances and challenges of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) application in road engineering-a bibliometric analysis from 2000 to 2022.

Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) is a valuable material that can be recycled and reused in road engineering to reduce environmental impact, resource utilization, and economic costs. However, the application of RAP in road engineering presents both opportunities and challenges. This study visually analyzes the knowledge background, research status, and latest knowledge structure of literature related to RAP using scientific metric methods such as VOSviewer and Citespace. The Web of Science (WoS) core collection database identified 2963 research publications from 2000 to 2022. Collaborative networks between highly cited references, journals, authors, academic institutions, countries, and funding organizations are analyzed in this study, along with a co-occurrence analysis of keywords for the RAP research publications. Results showed that the USA has long been a leader in RAP research, China surpassed the USA in annual publication output in 2019, increasing from 2 publications in 2002 to 177 publications in 2022, and has made significant investments in technological aspects. Chang'an University ranked first in total publication output (131 publications, 4.4%). Current major research themes include road performance, recycling technology, regeneration mechanisms, and the life cycle assessment of RAP. In addition, based on cluster analysis of keywords, text content analysis, and SWOT analysis, this study also discusses RAP's challenges and future development directions in road engineering. These findings provide scholars with valuable information to gain insight into technological advances and challenges in the field of RAP.

Upgraded and Light-Up Biosensing Platform: Entropy-Driven Catalysis Circuit Manipulates the Configuration Transformation of Novel DNA Silver Nanoclusters on the Graphene Oxide Surface.

To tackle the predicament of the traditional turn-off mechanism, exploring an activated turn-on system remains an intriguing and crucial objective in biosensing fields. Herein, a dark DNA Ag nanocluster (NC) with hairpin-structured DNA containing a six-base cytosine loop (6C loop) as a template is atypically synthesized. Intriguingly, the dark DNA Ag NCs can be lit to display strong red-emission nanoclusters. Building upon these exciting findings, an unprecedented and upgraded turn-on biosensing system [entropy-driven catalysis circuit (EDCC)-Ag NCs/graphene oxide (GO)] has been created, which employs an EDCC to precisely manipulate the conformational transition of DNA Ag NCs on the GO surface from adsorption to desorption. Benefiting from the effective quenching of GO and signal amplification capability of the EDCC, the newly developed EDCC-Ag NCs/GO biosensing system displays a high signal-to-background (S/B) ratio (26-fold) and sensitivity (limit of detection as low as 0.4 pM). Meanwhile, it has good specificity, excellent stability, and reliability in both buffer and biological samples. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first example that adopts an EDCC to precisely modulate the configuration transformation of DNA Ag NCs on the GO surface to obtain a biosensor with low background, strong fluorescence, high contrast, and sensitivity. This exciting finding may provide a new route to fabricate a novel turn-on biosensor based on hairpin-templated DNA Ag NCs in the optical imaging and bioanalytical fields.

Research on the Mechanical, Thermal and Induction Healing Properties of Asphalt Wearing Course with Steel Fibers.

Induction healing technology can effectively repair microcracks in asphalt mixtures and is a promising maintenance technology for asphalt pavements. However, it requires the addition of steel wool fibers to asphalt mixtures and cannot be directly used to repair existing pavements. In order to improve the practicality of the induction healing technology, this article designs a wearing course asphalt mixture with induction healing function that is going to be paved above the existing road surface. The AC-10 asphalt wearing course for induction heating was prepared by adding steel fiber (SF). Analysis of the overall temperature of the surface revealed the unevenness of the temperature distribution, and the healing properties were investigated through protective heating that controlled the maximum temperature of the upper surface. The results show that the addition of SF can improve the high-temperature stability, low-temperature and intermediate-temperature crack resistance, and moisture stability of asphalt wearing courses; however, it has adverse effects on volumetric performance and skid resistance. The heating temperature increases with the increase in SF content, but higher maximum temperature heating rate causes worse heating uniformity and lower healing effect. The maximum heating rate of the sample with 10% SF reaches 3.92 °C/s, while its heating rate at minimum temperature is similar to that of the sample with 6% SF, which is only 0.7 °C/s, indicating the worst heating uniformity. The best healing effect occurs when the maximum temperature of the upper surface reaches 160 °C. The recommended optimal SF content is 6% of the asphalt volume. The asphalt mixture with 6% SF has an appropriate volume performance, moisture stability, and skid resistance; additionally, it has the best high-temperature stability, as well as low-temperature and intermediate-temperature crack resistance. Meanwhile, it also has uniform temperature distribution and efficient healing efficiency.

Modified double-pulley fixation provides better reduction of bone fragments and union compared to single-point fixation in bony Bankart lesions.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare clinical scores and imaging outcomes of bony Bankart lesions that underwent single-point and modified double-pulley fixation after at least 2 years of follow-up. METHODS: Patients who underwent surgery to treat bony Bankart injuries were included and divided into groups A and B. A total of 69 patients were included (32 in group A and 37 in group B). Patients in group A underwent arthroscopic modified double-pulley fixation and patients in group B underwent arthroscopic single-point fixation. Three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) was used to assess glenoid reduction one day after surgery. Postoperative bony union was assessed using 3D-CT and multiplanar reconstruction images 6 months after surgery. Constant-Murley, Rowe rating system, visual analogue scale and University of California at Los Angeles and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores were recorded before and after surgery. RESULTS: In terms of imaging measurements, there was no significant group difference in the preoperative size of the glenoid defect, the size of the bony fragment or the expected postoperative size of the glenoid defect. The sizes of the actual postoperative glenoid defects differed significantly between the groups (p = 0.027), as did the absolute difference between the expected and actual glenoid defect sizes (p < 0.001). At 6 months postoperatively, 50.0% of group A patients and 24.3% of group B patients exhibited complete bony union (p = 0.027); the rates of partial union were 37.5% and 56.8%, respectively. At the final follow-up, all clinical scores were significantly better than the preoperative scores (all p < 0.05), with no significant group differences (not significant). CONCLUSIONS: The use of the modified double-pulley technique with two anchors to treat bony Bankart injuries provides a better reduction of bone fragments than single-point fixation with two anchors and was associated with a higher rate of early bone union. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

A Portable, Integrated, Sample-In Result-Out Nucleic Acid Diagnostic Device for Rapid and Sensitive Chikungunya Virus Detection.

Chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne virus that causes epidemics, is often misdiagnosed due to symptom similarities with other arboviruses. Here, a portable and integrated nucleic acid-based diagnostic device, which combines reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification and lateral-flow detection, was developed. The device is simple to use, precise, equipment-free, and highly sensitive, enabling rapid chikungunya virus identification. The result can be obtained by the naked eye within 40 min. The assay can effectively distinguish chikungunya virus from dengue virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, Zika virus, and yellow fever virus with high specificity and sensitivity as low as 598.46 copies mL-1. It has many benefits for the community screening and monitoring of chikungunya virus in resource-limited areas because of its effectiveness and simplicity. The platform has great potential for the rapid nucleic acid detection of other viruses.

Nano-Enhanced Phase Reinforced Magnesium Matrix Composites: A Review of the Matrix, Reinforcement, Interface Design, Properties and Potential Applications.

Magnesium matrix composites are essential lightweight metal matrix composites, following aluminum matrix composites, with outstanding application prospects in automotive, aerospace lightweight and biomedical materials because of their high specific strength, low density and specific stiffness, good casting performance and rich resources. However, the inherent low plasticity and poor fatigue resistance of magnesium hamper its further application to a certain extent. Many researchers have tried many strengthening methods to improve the properties of magnesium alloys, while the relationship between wear resistance and plasticity still needs to be further improved. The nanoparticles added exhibit a good strengthening effect, especially the ceramic nanoparticles. Nanoparticle-reinforced magnesium matrix composites not only exhibit a high impact toughness, but also maintain the high strength and wear resistance of ceramic materials, effectively balancing the restriction between the strength and toughness. Therefore, this work aims to provide a review of the state of the art of research on the matrix, reinforcement, design, properties and potential applications of nano-reinforced phase-reinforced magnesium matrix composites (especially ceramic nanoparticle-reinforced ones). The conventional and potential matrices for the fabrication of magnesium matrix composites are introduced. The classification and influence of ceramic reinforcements are assessed, and the factors influencing interface bonding strength between reinforcements and matrix, regulation and design, performance and application are analyzed. Finally, the scope of future research in this field is discussed.

Soybean steroids improve crop abiotic stress tolerance and increase yield.

Sterols have long been associated with diverse fields, such as cancer treatment, drug development, and plant growth; however, their underlying mechanisms and functions remain enigmatic. Here, we unveil a critical role played by a GmNF-YC9-mediated CCAAT-box transcription complex in modulating the steroid metabolism pathway within soybeans. Specifically, this complex directly activates squalene monooxygenase (GmSQE1), which is a rate-limiting enzyme in steroid synthesis. Our findings demonstrate that overexpression of either GmNF-YC9 or GmSQE1 significantly enhances soybean stress tolerance, while the inhibition of SQE weakens this tolerance. Field experiments conducted over two seasons further reveal increased yields per plant in both GmNF-YC9 and GmSQE1 overexpressing plants under drought stress conditions. This enhanced stress tolerance is attributed to the reduction of abiotic stress-induced cell oxidative damage. Transcriptome and metabolome analyses shed light on the upregulation of multiple sterol compounds, including fucosterol and soyasaponin II, in GmNF-YC9 and GmSQE1 overexpressing soybean plants under stress conditions. Intriguingly, the application of soybean steroids, including fucosterol and soyasaponin II, significantly improves drought tolerance in soybean, wheat, foxtail millet, and maize. These findings underscore the pivotal role of soybean steroids in countering oxidative stress in plants and offer a new research strategy for enhancing crop stress tolerance and quality from gene regulation to chemical intervention.

Longitudinal Associations Between Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms in Chinese Children: Evidence from the Tongji Mental Health Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to examine the associations between depressive symptoms and physical activity parameters (e.g., intensity, frequency, and duration) among Chinese school-aged children. METHOD: Participants in this study were extracted from the Tongji Mental Health Cohort Study. The baseline survey was conducted in June 2020 involving 2588 school-aged children from two primary schools in Hubei Province, China. A total of 2435 children were followed up successfully in December 2020. The Children's Depression Inventory Short Form (CDI-S) was applied to evaluate depressive symptoms among school-aged children. The Physical Activity Rating Scale-3 (PARS-3) was adopted to estimate children's physical activity parameters including the intensity, frequency, and duration. Generalized estimation equation models were used to explore the longitudinal associations between physical activity and depressive symptoms among school-aged children. RESULTS: Engaging in moderate levels of physical activity (OR, 0.800; 95%CI, 0.692-0.924) or high levels of physical activity (OR, 0.808; 95%CI, 0.689-0.947) in the baseline survey was associated with a reduced risk of developing depressive symptoms in the follow-up survey compared with children engaging in low levels of physical activity. Stratified analyses revealed that the associations between physical activity and depressive symptoms exhibited a significant correlation among boys and children in the older age group (11-12 years). Our findings showed that engaging in physical activity more than once a week, with each session lasting 20 min or longer, was related to significant reductions in depressive symptoms by 43.8% and 22.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Self-reported physical activity is positively associated with improved mental health among Chinese school-aged children, especially when considering parameters such as frequency and duration. The association between vigorous-intensity physical activity and depressive symptoms in children should be cautiously interpreted. Future research should continue to explore the effects of vigorous-intensity physical activity on depressive symptoms in children.

Clinical characteristics of ulcerative colitis patients with different types of Helicobacter pylori infection.

There has been a suggestion of a potential protective effect of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in the development of ulcerative colitis (UC). Virulence factor is an important factor in H. pylori, but little is known about the clinical characteristics of ulcerative colitis. In this retrospective study, a total of 322 patients with UC were analyzed. They were divided into three groups based on H. pylori antibody typing classification: type I H. pylori infection group, type II H. pylori infection group, and H. pylori-negative group. The study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of different types of H. pylori infection groups. The proportions of disease course, nationality, clinical type, and disease severity among UC patients in different types of H. pylori infection groups exhibited statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in terms of sex, age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, body mass index (BMI), or lesion range (P > 0.05). Among the extraintestinal manifestations, the incidence of joint lesions in the type I H. pylori infection group was significantly lower compared with H. pylori-negative group (P < 0.05). The levels of red blood cell, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, albumin, A/G, and alanine aminotransferase were significantly higher in the type I H. pylori infection group compared with both the type II H. pylori infection group and H. pylori-negative group in the hematology index. Conversely, the levels of D-Dimer, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were significantly lower in the type II H. pylori infection group (P < 0.05). In patients with UC, infections with the highly virulent type I H. pylori exhibit a negative correlation with both the severity of the disease and extraintestinal manifestations. While infections with the less virulent type II H. pylori are negatively correlated only with the disease severity. Therefore, the virulence factors of H. pylori play an important role in the regulation of UC. IMPORTANCE: The number of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) has increased dramatically worldwide, posing a global public health challenge, There has been a suggestion of a potential protective effect of Helicobacter pylori in the development of UC. Virulence factor is an important factor in H. pylori, but high-quality clinical evidence is lacking. This study comprehensively analyzed the clinical characteristics of UC patients with different types of H. pylori infection. Infections with the highly virulent type I H. pylori are found to be negatively correlated with the severity of the disease as well as extraintestinal manifestations, whereas infections with the less virulent type II H. pylori demonstrate a negative correlation solely with disease severity. These results suggest that the virulence factors of H. pylori play a pivotal role in UC. Consequently, virulence factors should be taken into consideration when targeting H. pylori eradication in clinical practice, particularly in UC patients. It is crucial to evaluate the individual benefits to optimize personalized eradication therapies.

Association between urinary BTEX metabolites and dyslexic odds among school-aged children.

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) are ubiquitous in the environment, and all of them can cause neurotoxicity. However, the association between BTEX exposure and dyslexia, a disorder with language network-related regions in left hemisphere affected, remains unclear. We aimed to assess the relationship between BTEX exposure and dyslexic odds among school-aged children. A case-control study, including 355 dyslexics and 390 controls from three cities in China, was conducted. Six BTEX metabolites were measured in their urine samples. Logistic regression model was used to explore the association between the BTEX metabolites and the dyslexic odds. Urinary trans,trans-muconic acid (MU: a metabolite of benzene) was significantly associated with an increased dyslexic odds [odds ratio (OR) = 1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.50], and the adjusted OR of the dyslexic odds in the third tertile was 1.72 (95% CI: 1.06, 2.77) compared to that in the lowest tertile regarding urinary MU concentration. Furthermore, the association between urinary MU level and the dyslexic odds was more pronounced among children from low-income families based on stratified analyses. Urinary metabolite levels of toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene were not found to be associated with the dyslexic odds. In summary, elevated MU concentrations may be associated with an increased dyslexic odds. We should take measures to reduce MU related exposure among children, particularly those with low family income.