Vaccine literacy, vaccination intention, and their correlation among adults in Mainland China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Vaccination is one of the most economic and effective strategies for preventing infectious diseases. However, public intention to be vaccinated is, to a certain degree, influenced by issues related to vaccine hesitancy, anti-vaccine movement, and public concerns about safety and adverse effects. Vaccine literacy is considered as a positive factor in improving vaccination intention, however, the correlation between vaccine literacy and vaccination intention has not been thoroughly investigated in mainland China. This study aims to (1) explore the correlation between vaccine literacy and vaccination intention among adults in mainland China; (2) investigate whether participants could seek out vaccine information on their own initiative and whether they knew basic information of common vaccines. METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted on 614 adult participants from 27 May to 8 June 2023 by a convenience sampling. Data were collected by using the questionnaire of demographic characteristics, vaccine literacy, vaccination intention, initiative of seeking out vaccine information, and basic vaccine quiz about common vaccines. Data were analyzed by using IBM SPSS version 24.0 at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: The mean scores of functional, and interactive-critical vaccine literacy were 2.97 ± 0.70 and 2.73 ± 0.66; the vaccination intentions of influenza, hepatitis B, COVID-19 and HPV were 58.5%, 80.0%, 71.3% and 62.9% respectively; interactive-critical vaccine literacy was significantly and positively associated with vaccination intention. The results also showed: 71.4% of the participants could seek out vaccine information on their own initiative, however, a certain proportion of the participants merely knew vaccine names and did not know basic information of common vaccines, especially influenza vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: There is still room for improvement in vaccine literacy, vaccination intention of influenza and HPV vaccines, and basic vaccine information. Based on the significantly positive correlation between interactive-critical vaccine literacy and vaccination intention, it is advisable to harness vaccine literacy to boost vaccination intention by communicating and learning basic information of common vaccines.

Enhancing H2-driven CO2 biomethanation performance in bidirectional flow tidal bioreactor by reducing liquid film resistance and heterogeneity.

This study presents a bidirectional flow tidal bioreactor designed to enhance H2-driven CO2 biomethanation. The bioreactor alternated biofilms between immersion in nutrient solution and exposure to H2/CO2, creating alternating dry and wet states. This tidal operation minimized liquid film thickness during dry periods and ensured uniform nutrient distribution during wet periods. Bidirectional H2/CO2 supply was used to reduce biofilm thickness heterogeneity across the reactor height. CO2 biomethanation remained stable with an empty bed residence time of 9.7 min, achieving a methane (CH4) formation rate of 26.8 Nm3 CH4/(m3·d). The product gas contained 95.0 ± 2.5 % CH4, with a H2/CO2 conversion efficiency of 90.8 %. Tidal operation mitigated the buildup of dissolved and suspended organics, such as organic acids and detached biofilms. Dominant bacteria in biofilms included fermentative species like Petrimonas and H2-utilizing homoacetogens like Sporomusa. Enriched hydrogenotrophic methanogens, particularly Methanobacterium, were observed. Overall, this study highlights the bioreactor's effectiveness in improving CO2 biomethanation.

Imaging-based surrogate classification for risk stratification of hepatocellular carcinoma with microvascular invasion to adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy: a multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with microvascular invasion (MVI)-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have shown promising results with adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) with FOLFOX after curative resection. We aim to develop an imaging-derived biomarker to depict MVI-positive HCC patients more precisely and promote individualized treatment strategies of adjuvant HAIC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with MVI-positive HCC were identified from five academic centers and utilized for model development (n=470). Validation cohorts were pooled from a previously reported prospective clinical study conducted (control cohort (n=145), adjuvant HAIC cohort (n=143)) (NCT03192618). The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival (RFS). Imaging features were thoroughly reviewed, and multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed for model development. Transcriptomic sequencing was conducted to identify the associated biological processes. RESULTS: Arterial phase peritumoral enhancement, boundary of the tumor enhancement, tumor necrosis stratification, and boundary of the necrotic area were selected and incorporated into the nomogram for RFS. The imaging-based model successfully stratified patients into two distinct prognostic subgroups in both the training, control, and adjuvant HAIC cohorts (median RFS, 6.00 vs. 66.00 mo, 4.86 vs. 24.30 mo, 11.46 vs. 39.40 mo, all P<0.01). Furthermore, no significant statistical difference was observed between patients at high-risk of adjuvant HAIC and those in the control group (P=0.61). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve at two years was found to be 0.83, 0.84, and 0.73 for the training, control, and adjuvant HAIC cohorts respectively. Transcriptomic sequencing analyses revealed associations between the radiological features and immune-regulating signal transduction pathways. CONCLUSION: The utilization of this imaging-based model could help to better characterize MVI-positive HCC patients and facilitate the precise subtyping of patients who genuinely benefit from adjuvant HAIC treatment.

Separable nanocomposite hydrogel microneedles for intradermal and sustained delivery of antigens to enhance adaptive immune responses.

Vaccines play a critical role in combating infectious diseases and cancers, yet improving their efficacy remains challenging. Here, we introduce a separable nanocomposite hydrogel microneedle (NHMN) patch designed for intradermal and sustained delivery of ovalbumin (OVA), a model antigen, to enhance adaptive immune responses. The NHMN patch consists of an array of OVA-loaded microneedles made from photo-cross-linked methacrylated hyaluronic acid and laponite (LAP), supported by a hyaluronic acid backing. The incorporation of LAP not only enhances the mechanical strength of the pure hydrogel microneedles but also significantly prolongs OVA release. Furthermore, in vitro cell experiments demonstrate that NHMNs effectively activate dendritic cells without compromising cell viability. Upon skin penetration, NHMNs detach from the backing as the hyaluronic acid rapidly dissolves upon contact with the skin interstitial fluid, thereby acting as antigen reservoirs to release antigens to abundant skin dendritic cells. NHMNs containing 0.5% w/v LAP achieved a 15-day OVA release in vivo. Immunization studies demonstrate that the intradermal and sustained release of OVA via NHMNs elicited stronger and longer-lasting adaptive immune responses compared to conventional bolus injection. Given its easy to use, painless and minimally invasive features, the NHMN patch shows promise in improving vaccination accessibility and efficacy against a range of diseases. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The study introduces a separable nanocomposite hydrogel microneedle (NHMN) patch. This patch consists of an array of ovalbumin (OVA, a model antigen)-loaded microneedles made from photo-cross-linked methacrylated hyaluronic acid and laponite, with a hyaluronic acid backing, designed for intradermal and sustained delivery of antigens. This patch addresses several key challenges in traditional vaccination methods, including poor antigen uptake and presentation, and rapid systematic clearance. The incorporation of laponite enhances mechanical strength of microneedles, promotes dendritic cell activation, and significantly slows down antigen release. NHMN-based vaccination elicits stronger and longer-lasting adaptive immune responses compared to conventional bolus injection. This NHMN patch holds great potential for improving the efficacy, accessibility, and patient comfort of vaccinations against a range of diseases.

A thorough investigation into the adsorption behavior of sophorolipid-modified fly ash towards compound pollution of lead and tetracycline.

Heavy metal ions and antibiotics were simultaneously detected in authentic water systems. This research, for the first time, employed synthesized sophorolipid-modified fly ash(SFA) to eliminate tetracycline(TC) and lead(Pb2+) from wastewater. Various characterization techniques, including SEM-EDS, FTIR, XPS, BET, and Zeta, were employed to investigate the properties of the SFA. The results showed that the sophorolipid modification significantly improved the fly ash's adsorption capacities for the target pollutants. The static adsorption experiments elucidated the adsorption behaviors of SFA towards TC and Pb2+ in single and binary systems, highlighting the effects of different Environmental factors on the adsorption behavior in both types of systems. In single systems, SFA exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 128.96 mg/g for Pb2+ and 55.57 mg/g for TC. The adsorption of Pb2+ and TC followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and Freundlich isotherm models. The adsorption reactions are endothermic and occur spontaneously. SFA demonstrates varying adsorption mechanisms for two different types of pollutants. In the case of Pb2+, the primary mechanisms include ion exchange, electrostatic interaction, cation-π interaction, and complexation, while TC primarily engages in hydrogen bonding, π-π interaction, and complexation. The interaction between Pb2+ and TC has been shown to improve adsorption efficiency at low concentrations. Additionally, adsorption-desorption experiments confirm the reliable cycling performance of modified fly ash, highlighting its potential as a cost-effective and efficient adsorbent for antibiotics and heavy metals.

The ARH score, a practical guide to decision-making for retreatment with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic arterial infusionchemotherapy (HAIC) is a promising option for large unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Identifying patients who could benefit from continuous HAIC remains a challenge. We aimed to establish an objective model to guide the decision for retreatment with HAIC. METHODS: Between 2015 and 2020, the data of patients with large unresectable HCC without macrovascular invasion or extrahepatic spread undergoing multiple HAIC cycles from 3 different centers were retrieved. We investigated the basic tumor parameters and the effect of HAIC on liver function and tumor response, and their impact on overall survival (OS). A point score (ARH, Assessment for Retreatment with HAIC) was built by using a stepwise Cox regression model in the training cohort (n = 112) and was validated in an independent validation cohort (n = 71). RESULTS: The high α-fetoprotein before the second cycle of HAIC, an increase in Child-Pugh score, and undesirable radiologic tumor responses remained independent negative prognostic factors and were used to create the ARH score. The prognosis of HCC patients deteriorated significantly with the increase in ARH score. The median OS of patients with ARH score 0-2 points and ≥ 2.5 points were 19.37 months and 11.60 months (P < 0.001). All of these results had been confirmed in the external validation cohort and demonstrated significance across multiple subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: The ARH score makes an excellent prediction of the prognosis of HCC patients who received retreatment of HAIC. Patients with an ARH score ≥ 2.5 prior to the second cycle of HAIC may not profit from further sessions.

Inspection of defects in composite structures using long pulse thermography and shearography.

Long pulse thermography (LPT) and shearography have been developed as primary methods for detecting debonding or delamination defects in composites due to their full-field imaging, non-contact operation, and high detection efficiency. Both methods utilize halogen lamps as the excitation source for thermal loading. However, the defects detected by the two techniques differ due to their distinct inspection mechanisms. In this study, LPT and shearography are employed to evaluate internal damage in various composite structures. The experimental results demonstrate that LPT, when combined with thermal signal processing algorithms, can clearly detect debonding defects in rubber-to-metal bonded plates, whereas excessive adhesive defects can only be identified by shearography. Flat-bottom holes in the CFRP panel can only be detected by LPT, and shearography is particularly effective for detecting composite materials with a metal skin. For the quantitative measurement of defect sizes, the average errors of the rubber-to-metal bonded plate and CFRP panel using LPT are 4.9 % and 2.2 %, respectively, whereas the average errors of the rubber-to-metal bonded plate and aluminum honeycomb panel using shearography are 15.12 % and 95.4 %, respectively. This indicates that LPT is superior to shearography in quantitatively measuring defect sizes. These two nondestructive testing methods, based on different principles, each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Employing a multi-modal inspection method can leverage their complementary advantages, preventing misdetection and leakage of internal defects in composites.

Targeting Smurf1 to block PDK1-Akt signaling in KRAS-mutated colorectal cancer.

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt axis is one of the most frequently activated pathways and is demonstrated as a therapeutic target in Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS)-mutated colorectal cancer (CRC). Targeting the PI3K-Akt pathway has been a challenging undertaking through the decades. Here we unveiled an essential role of E3 ligase SMAD ubiquitylation regulatory factor 1 (Smurf1)-mediated phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) neddylation in PI3K-Akt signaling and tumorigenesis. Upon growth factor stimulation, Smurf1 immediately triggers PDK1 neddylation and the poly-neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated protein 8 (poly-Nedd8) chains recruit methyltransferase SET domain bifurcated histone lysine methyltransferase 1 (SETDB1). The cytoplasmic complex of PDK1 assembled with Smurf1 and SETDB1 (cCOMPASS) consisting of PDK1, Smurf1 and SETDB1 directs Akt membrane attachment and T308 phosphorylation. Smurf1 deficiency dramatically reduces CRC tumorigenesis in a genetic mouse model. Furthermore, we developed a highly selective Smurf1 degrader, Smurf1-antagonizing repressor of tumor 1, which exhibits efficient PDK1-Akt blockade and potent tumor suppression alone or combined with PDK1 inhibitor in KRAS-mutated CRC. The findings presented here unveil previously unrecognized roles of PDK1 neddylation and offer a potential strategy for targeting the PI3K-Akt pathway and KRAS mutant cancer therapy.

A novel liver-function-indicators-based prognosis signature for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with anti-programmed cell death-1 therapy.

BACKGROUND: The liver function reserve has a significant impact on the therapeutic effects of anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the ability of liver-function-based indicators to predict prognosis and construct a novel prognostic score for HCC patients with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. METHODS: Between July 2018 and January 2020, patients diagnosed with HCC who received anti-PD-1 treatment were screened for inclusion in the study. The valuable prognostic liver-function-based indicators were selected using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to build a novel liver-function-indicators-based signature (LFIS). Concordance index (C-index), the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were utilized to access the predictive performance of LFIS. RESULTS: A total of 434 HCC patients who received anti-PD-1 treatment were included in the study. The LFIS, based on alkaline phosphatase-to-albumin ratio index, Child-Pugh score, platelet-albumin score, aspartate aminotransferase-to-lymphocyte ratio index, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-to-lymphocyte ratio index, was constructed and identified as an independent risk factor for patient survival. The C-index of LFIS for overall survival (OS) was 0.692, which was higher than the other single liver-function-based indicator. The AUC of LFIS at 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month were 0.74, 0.714, 0.747, and 0.865 for OS, respectively. Patients in the higher-risk LFIS group were associated with both worse OS and PFS. An online and easy-to-use calculator was further constructed for better application of the LFIS signature. CONCLUSION: The LFIS score had an excellent prognosis prediction ability superior to every single liver-function-based indicator for anti-PD-1 treatment in HCC patients. It is a reliable, easy-to-use tool to stratify risk for OS and PFS in HCC patients who received anti-PD-1 treatment.

Phytochemical determination and mechanistic investigation of Polygala tenuifolia root (Yuanzhi) extract for bronchitis: UPLC-MS/MS analysis, network pharmacology and in vitro/in vivo evaluation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Bronchitis is a respiratory disease characterized by a productive cough. Polygala tenuifolia Willd., commonly known as Yuan zhi, is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used for relieving cough and removing phlegm. Despite its historical use, studies are lacking on the effectiveness of P. tenuifolia in treating bronchitis. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms underlying the action of its bioactive compounds remain unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to identify the main bioactive compounds responsible for the effects of P. tenuifolia liquid extract (PLE) in treating bronchitis and to elucidate the associated molecular mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The main chemical compounds in PLE were identified and determined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The antitussive, expectorant and anti-inflammatory activities of PLE were evaluated in an ammonia-induced mouse cough model, a tracheal phenol red excretion mouse model, and a xylene-induced ear swelling mouse model, respectively. A network pharmacology analysis was conducted to investigate the associated gene targets, gene ontology, and KEGG pathways related to the main bioactives in PLE targeting bronchitis. PLE and its five bioactive compounds were assessed for their potential anti-inflammatory activities in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Western blot analysis was conducted to elucidate the associated molecular mechanisms. RESULTS: Thirty-seven compounds in PLE were identified, and twelve main compounds were further quantified in PLE using UPLC-MS/MS. PLE oral gavage administrations (0.6 and 0.12 mg/kg) for 7 days markedly reduced cough frequency, prolonged latency period of cough, reduced phlegm and inflammation in mice. The network pharmacology analysis identified 57 gene targets of PLE against bronchitis. The PI3K/AKT and MAPK signalling pathways were the top two modulated pathways. In RAW264.7 cells, PLE (12.5-50 µg/mL) significantly reduced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. PLE downregulated LPS-elevated protein targets in both PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways. In PLE, tenuifolin, polygalaxanthone ⅠⅠⅠ, polygalasaponin ⅩⅩⅤⅢ, tenuifoliside B, and 3,6'-Disinapoyl sucrose, were identified as the top five core components responsible for treating bronchitis. These compounds were also found to modulate the protein targets in the PI3K/AKT and MAPK signalling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the potential therapeutic effects of PLE on bronchitis by reducing cough, phlegm and inflammation. The anti-inflammatory action and molecular mechanisms of the 5 main bioactive compounds in PLE were partly validated through the in vitro assays. The findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the traditional use of PLE for bronchitis.

The mother-offspring transfer of chlorothalonil through human breast milk: A multi-city cross-sectional study.

4-Hydroxychlorothalonil (4-OH CHT), the main metabolite of chlorothalonil and the most widely used fungicide, has been frequently detected in human samples during monitoring. 4-OH CHT may exhibit higher toxicity and persistence in the environment compared to its prototype. In this study, a total of 540 paired serum and breast milk samples from pregnant women in three provinces in China were monitored for contaminant residues. 4-OH CHT was analyzed in the samples using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography - high-resolution mass spectrometry with a detection limit of 20 ng/L. The study investigated the effects of demographic factors, such as BMI, region of residence, and education level, on the levels of 4-OH CHT residues in serum and breast milk. Among the three provinces, the highest median concentration of 4-OH CHT in serum samples was observed in Hebei (1.04 × 103 ng/L), while the highest median concentration of 4-OH CHT in breast milk samples was observed in Hubei and Guangdong (491 ng/L). Multiple linear regression was used to investigate the significant positive correlation between 4-OH CHT in serum and breast milk (p = 0.000) after adjusting for personal characteristics. Based on this, the study further explored the influencing factors of transfer efficiencies (TEs) in conjunction with the individual TEs and the personal characteristics of the participants. Our results demonstrated that the age of the volunteers and their exercise habits had an effect on TEs, but further studies are needed to determine whether exercise leads to an increase in TEs.

Material flow analysis of heavy metals in large-scale cattle farms and ecological risk assessment of cattle manure application to fields.

This study bridges the knowledge gap pertaining to the pathways of heavy metal accumulation and migration within the industrial chain of large-scale cattle farms. Two such farms in Shaanxi serve as a basis for our exploration into Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb, As, and Cd dynamics. Employing material flow analysis complemented by predictive models, we evaluate the potential ecological risks of arable soil from heavy metal influx via manure application. Our findings indicate that Zn and Cu predominate the heavy metal export from these operations, composing up to 60.00%-95.67% of their total content. Predictive models based on 2021 data reveal a potential increase in Cd soil concentration by 0.08 mg/kg by 2035, insinuating a reduced safe usage period for cattle manure at less than 50 years. Conversely, projections from 2022 data point towards a gradual Cu rise in soil, reaching risk threshold levels after 126 years. These outcomes inform limitations in cattle manure utilisation strategies, underscoring Cu and Cd content as key barriers. The study underscores the criticality of continuous heavy metal surveillance within farm by products to ensure environmental protection and sustainable agricultural practices.

Influence of air intake from existing shafts on the safety of operating trains.

Given the influence of air intake from inclined shafts in existing tunnel ventilation systems on train comfort and aerodynamic safety, a numerical analysis method is used to study the comfort and aerodynamic safety of operating trains under three conditions-inclined shaft closed and inclined shaft open without and with air intake-and to explore the variation law of transient pressure and aerodynamic force (lift coefficient, transverse force coefficient, and overturning moment coefficient). Combined with practical engineering and requirements, the influence of inclined shaft air intake on train operation comfort and aerodynamic safety is analyzed. Through this research, the influence of using air intake from the inclined shaft of an existing tunnel, a ventilation scheme of the new Wushaoling Tunnel, on the comfort and aerodynamic force of trains is revealed, and the comfort and aerodynamic safety of trains in an actual project are evaluated, verifying the rationality of the ventilation scheme of the Wushaoling Tunnel.

Efficacy and safety of lenvatinib plus durvalumab combined with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: The prognosis for unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is poor and the efficacy of traditional chemotherapy remains unsatisfactory. Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) with oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and 5-fluorouracil (FOLFOX) is effective in patients with unresectable ICC. In this study, we determined the preliminary clinical efficacy and safety of lenvatinib plus durvalumab combined with FOLFOX-HAIC in patients with untreated, unresectable ICC. Materials and methods: Between July 2021 and July 2023, patients with unresectable ICC who initially received lenvatinib plus durvalumab combined with FOLFOX-HAIC at the Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC) were reviewed for eligibility. Efficacy was evaluated by tumor response rate and survival, and safety was assessed by the frequency of key adverse events (AEs). Results: A total of 28 eligible patients were enrolled. The objective response rates (ORRs) based on mRECIST and RECIST 1.1 criteria were 65.2% and 39.1%, respectively. The median OS was 17.9 months (95% CI, 5.7-30.1) and the median PFS was 11.9 months (95% CI, 6.7-17.1). Most patients (92.9%) experienced adverse events (AEs), whereas 46.5% (13/28) experienced grade 3 or 4 AEs. Conclusion: Lenvatinib plus durvalumab combined with FOLFOX-HAIC showed promising antitumor activity and manageable AEs in patients with treatment-naive unresectable ICC. This regimen may be suitable as a novel first-line treatment option for this patient population.

Far-red light modulates grapevine growth by increasing leaf photosynthesis efficiency and triggering organ-specific transcriptome remodelling : Author.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence demonstrates that the synergistic interaction of far-red light with shorter wavelength lights could evidently improve the photosynthesis efficiency of multiple species. However, whether/how far-red light affects sink organs and consequently modulates the source‒sink relationships are largely unknown. RESULTS: Here, equal intensities of white and far-red lights were added to natural light for grape plantlets to investigate the effects of far-red light supplementation on grapevine growth and carbon assimilate allocation, as well as to reveal the underlying mechanisms, through physiological and transcriptomic analysis. The results showed that additional far-red light increased stem length and carbohydrate contents in multiple organs and decreased leaf area, specific leaf weight and dry weight of leaves in comparison with their counterparts grown under white light. Compared to white light, the maximum net photosynthetic rate of the leaves was increased by 31.72% by far-red light supplementation, indicating that far-red light indeed elevated the photosynthesis efficiency of grapes. Transcriptome analysis revealed that leaves were most responsive to far-red light, followed by sink organs, including stems and roots. Genes related to light signaling and carbon metabolites were tightly correlated with variations in the aforementioned physiological traits. In particular, VvLHCB1 is involved in light harvesting and restoring the balance of photosystem I and photosystem II excitation, and VvCOP1 and VvPIF3, which regulate light signal transduction, were upregulated under far-red conditions. In addition, the transcript abundances of the sugar transporter-encoding genes VvSWEET1 and VvSWEET3 and the carbon metabolite-encoding genes VvG6PD, VvSUS7 and VvPGAM varied in line with the change in sugar content. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that far-red light synergistically functioning with white light has a beneficial effect on grape photosystem activity and is able to differentially affect the growth of sink organs, providing evidence for the possible addition of far-red light to the wavelength range of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR).

Increased antibody titers but induced T cell AICD and apoptosis response in COVID-19 convalescents by inactivated vaccine booster.

It is urgently needed to evaluate the necessity and benefits of booster vaccination against the coronavirus 2 of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron to facilitate clinical decision-making for 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) convalescents. We conducted a multicenter, prospective clinical trial (registration number: ChiCTR2100045810) in the first patients with COVID-19 from 28 January 2020 to 20 February 2020 to assess the long-term durability of neutralizing antibodies against live Omicron BA.5 and further assess the efficiency and safety of CoronaVac in the convalescent group. A total of 96 COVID-19 convalescents were enrolled in this study. Neutralizing antibody titers in convalescents were significantly reduced in 9-10 months. A dose-refreshing vaccination in 28 convalescents with an antibody titer below 96 significantly induced neutralizing antibodies against live Omicron by 4.84-fold. Meanwhile, the abundance of naive T cells increased dramatically, and TEMRA and TEM cells gradually decreased after vaccination. Activation-induced cell death and apoptosis-related genes were significantly elevated after vaccination in all T-cell subtypes. One-dose booster vaccination was effective in inducing a robust antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in COVID-19 convalescents with low antibody titers. However, vaccine-mediated T-cell consumption and regeneration patterns may be detrimental to the antiviral response.IMPORTANCEThe globally dominant coronavirus 2 of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant raises the possibility of repeat infections among 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) convalescents with low neutralizing antibody titers. The importance of this multicenter study lies in its evaluation of the long-term durability of neutralizing antibodies in COVID-19 convalescents and the efficacy of a booster vaccination against the live Omicron. The findings suggest that a one-dose booster vaccination is effective in inducing a robust antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in convalescents with low antibody titers. However, the study also highlights the potential detrimental effects on the antiviral response due to vaccine-mediated T-cell consumption and regeneration patterns. These results are crucial for facilitating clinical decision-making for COVID-19 convalescents and informing public health policies regarding booster vaccinations.

CTISL: a dynamic stacking multi-class classification approach for identifying cell types from single-cell RNA-seq data.

MOTIVATION: Effective identification of cell types is of critical importance in single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data analysis. To date, many supervised machine learning-based predictors have been implemented to identify cell types from scRNA-seq datasets. Despite the technical advances of these state-of-the-art tools, most existing predictors were single classifiers, of which the performances can still be significantly improved. It is therefore highly desirable to employ the ensemble learning strategy to develop more accurate computational models for robust and comprehensive identification of cell types on scRNA-seq datasets. RESULTS: We propose a two-layer stacking model, termed CTISL (Cell Type Identification by Stacking ensemble Learning), which integrates multiple classifiers to identify cell types. In the first layer, given a reference scRNA-seq dataset with known cell types, CTISL dynamically combines multiple cell-type-specific classifiers (i.e. support-vector machine and logistic regression) as the base learners to deliver the outcomes for the input of a meta-classifier in the second layer. We conducted a total of 24 benchmarking experiments on 17 human and mouse scRNA-seq datasets to evaluate and compare the prediction performance of CTISL and other state-of-the-art predictors. The experiment results demonstrate that CTISL achieves superior or competitive performance compared to these state-of-the-art approaches. We anticipate that CTISL can serve as a useful and reliable tool for cost-effective identification of cell types from scRNA-seq datasets. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: The webserver and source code are freely available at http://bigdata.biocie.cn/CTISLweb/home and https://zenodo.org/records/10568906, respectively.

Nitric oxide-releasing multifunctional catechol-modified chitosan/oxidized dextran hydrogel with antibacterial, antioxidant, and pro-angiogenic properties for MRSA-infected diabetic wound healing.

The study presents a multifunctional catechol-modified chitosan (Chi-Ca)/oxidized dextran (Dex-CHO) hydrogel (CDP-PB) that possesses antibacterial, antioxidant, and pro-angiogenic properties, aimed at improving the healing of diabetic wounds. The achievement of the as-prepared CDP-PB hydrogel with superb antibacterial property (99.9 %) can be realized through the synergistic effect of phenylboronic acid-modified polyethyleneimine (PEI-PBA) and photothermal therapy (PTT) of polydopamine nanoparticles loaded with the nitric oxide (NO) donor BNN6 (PDA@BNN6). Notably, CDP-PB hydrogel achieves ∼3.6 log10 CFU/mL MRSA of inactivation efficiency under 808 nm NIR laser irradiation. In order to mitigate oxidative stress, the Chi-Ca was synthesized and afterward subjected to a reaction with Dex-CHO via a Schiff-base reaction. The catechol-containing hydrogel demonstrated its effectiveness in scavenging DPPH, •OH, and ABTS radicals (> 85 %). In addition, the cellular experiment illustrates the increased migration and proliferation of cells by the treatment of CDP-PB hydrogel in the presence of oxidative stress conditions. Moreover, the findings from the animal model experiments provide evidence that the CDP-PB hydrogel exhibited efficacy in the eradication of wound infection, facilitation of angiogenesis, stimulation of granulation, and augmentation of collagen deposition. These results indicate the potential of the CDP-PB hydrogel for use in clinical applications.

Prevalence of prediabetes by the fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c screening criteria among the children and adolescents of Shenzhen, China.

Background: Prediabetes is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality. Rare research in China has evaluated the prevalence of prediabetes among children and adolescents using the HbA1c criterion or the combined FPG-or-HbA1c diagnostic criterion, and researchers paid no attention to the distributions of blood glucose in Shenzhen, especially for juveniles. Methods: We conducted a school-based cross-sectional study based on the first-year students from 17 primary, middle, and high schools. Prediabetes was defined as FPG of 5.6-6.9 mmol/L or HbA1c of 5.7%-6.4%. The crude and standardized prevalence of prediabetes with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was estimated. Results: A total of 7519 participants, aged 6 to 17 years, were included. For all subjects, the crude prevalence (95% CI) of prediabetes was 1.49% (1.21-1.77), 8.72% (8.08-9.36), and 9.80% (9.13-10.47) by the FPG-only, HbA1c-only, and FPG-or-HbA1c criteria, respectively. Based on the 2010 Shenzhen census population, the standardized prevalence was 1.56% (males 1.85%, females 1.19%), 11.05% (males 11.47%, females 10.53%), and 12.19% (males 13.01%, females 11.15%) by the corresponding criteria. The proportion of prediabetes was higher for males than females, and the prevalence decreased with grade for males but increased for females. The association of BMI and prediabetes was U-shaped curve, indicating higher rates of prediabetes for underweight and obesity people. Conclusion: The blood glucose status of children and adolescents in Shenzhen is worrisome, and the early detection and management of prediabetes are imperative.

Enhancing the carbon content of coal gangue for composting through sludge amendment: A feasibility study.

Cocomposting coal gangue and sludge eliminates the challenge of utilizing coal gangue. However, there is limited understanding about the feasibility of cocomposting sludge and coal gangue, as well as the composting indicators, functional microorganisms, and safety risks involved. Therefore, this study evaluated the feasibility of enhancing carbon composting in coal gangue by incorporating sludge along with sawdust as a conditioner. Three laboratory-scale reactors were designed and labeled as T1 (20 % coal gangue, 60 % sludge, and 20 % sawdust), T2 (40 % coal gangue, 40 % sludge, and 20 % sawdust), and T3 (60 % coal gangue, 20 % sludge, and 20 % sawdust). Seed germination and plant growth assessments were conducted to ensure compost stability and assess phytotoxicity to cabbage (Brassica rapa chinensis L.) in terms of growth and biomass. The results indicated that the temperature, pH, EC and ammonia nitrogen of all three reactor conditions met the requirements for product decomposition. Composting was successfully achieved when the sludge proportion was 20 % (T3). However, when the sludge proportion was markedly high (T1), the harmlessness of the compost was reduced. The germination indices of T1, T2, and T3 reached 95 %, 122 %, and 119 % at maturity, respectively. This confirmed that the harmless cycle, which involved promoting condensation and aromatization, enhancing decay, and reducing composting time, was shorter in T2 and T3 than in T1. Coal gangue can also serve as a beneficial habitat for microorganisms, promoting an increase in their population and activity. Potting experiments in sandy soil revealed that the mechanism of action of compost products in soil included not only the enhancement of soil nutrients but also the improvement of soil texture. The results of this study suggest that using coal gangue as a raw material for composting is an efficient and environmentally friendly approach for producing organic fertilizers.