Evaluating the spatiotemporal land ecological changes in the Yangtze-to-Huaihe Water Diversion Project area.

As a fundamental component of human existence, land is inextricably linked to human development, and its ecological functions are closely associated with multiple sustainable development goals. This paper presents a framework for constructing and optimizing ecological function space, with the Yangtze-to-Huaihe Water Diversion Project area serving as a case study. A comprehensive land ecological index system is established, encompassing natural foundation, land degradation, land production, ecological structure, and ecological protection. An identity-discrepancy-contrary connection method is employed to investigate changes in regional land ecological functions before (2013) and during (2017, 2020, and 2022) the project's construction based on remote sensing data. The results indicated that the mean values of the land ecological index for each period were 0.1883, 0.1981, 0.2253, and 0.1370, respectively. The study calculated the connection, differences, and contradictions in the land ecological impacts across the counties, revealing a gradual decrease in differences and a growing prominence of contradictions. The land ecology of the Yangtze-to-Huaihe Water Diversion Project area is affected by the project construction, particularly within the construction area, showing an overall improvement. Most counties exhibited a trend of ecological improvement compared to the land ecology before the project's construction. However, after the project implementation, most districts demonstrated a trend of ecological deterioration. As the distance from the construction canal increases, the characteristics of each section and stage vary, generally exhibiting an exponential decrease in the land ecological index. The study highlighted the significance of enhancing the land ecological pattern, improving water quality, increasing water supply along the project, and alleviating groundwater overexploitation. The study can serve as a reference for land ecological protection and restoration in water transfer areas and river basins worldwide.

Brain-Targeted Cas12a Ribonucleoprotein Nanocapsules Enable Synergetic Gene Co-Editing Leading to Potent Inhibition of Orthotopic Glioblastoma.

Gene-editing technology shows great potential in glioblastoma (GBM) therapy. Due to the complexity of GBM pathogenesis, a single gene-editing-based therapy is unlikely to be successful; therefore, a multi-gene knockout strategy is preferred for effective GBM inhibition. Here, a non-invasive, biodegradable brain-targeted CRISPR/Cas12a nanocapsule is used that simultaneously targeted dual oncogenes, EGFR and PLK1, for effective GBM therapy. This cargo nanoencapsulation technology enables the CRISPR/Cas12a system to achieve extended blood half-life, efficient blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration, active tumor targeting, and selective release. In U87MG cells, the combinatorial gene editing system resulted in 61% and 33% knockout of EGFR and PLK1, respectively. Following systemic administration, the CRISPR/Cas12a system demonstrated promising brain tumor accumulation that led to extensive EGFR and PLK1 gene editing in both U87MG and patient-derived GSC xenograft mouse models with negligible off-target gene editing detected through NGS. Additionally, CRISPR/Cas12a nanocapsules that concurrently targeted the EGFR and PLK1 oncogenes showed superior tumor growth suppression and significantly improved the median survival time relative to nanocapsules containing single oncogene knockouts, signifying the potency of the multi-oncogene targeting strategy. The findings indicate that utilization of the CRISPR/Cas12a combinatorial gene editing technique presents a practical option for gene therapy in GBM.

Vitamin D add on the standard treatment for myasthenia gravis symptoms following total gastrectomy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a long-term autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction, causing muscle weakness and fatigue as its primary clinical features. Vitamin D is crucial for both the autoimmune response and skeletal muscle function. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we presented a case report documenting the substantial improvement in symptoms experienced by a patient who underwent subtotal gastrectomy for gastric cancer following high-dose Vitamin D supplementation. The patient developed generalized MG two months after the surgery and did not respond adequately to pyridostigmine therapy, experiencing a progressive deterioration of the condition. A significant reduction in vitamin D concentration was observed following subtotal gastrectomy. In response, high-dose vitamin D supplementation was administered to the patient. Within one week of treatment, swallowing symptoms improved, enabling the consumption of a small amount of liquid food. By the second week, substantial swallowing and neck function improvements were evident. After one month, the patient regained the ability to straighten the neck while walking and consumed a regular diet despite persistent difficulties chewing hard food. CONCLUSIONS: This case underscores the therapeutic potential of vitamin D in alleviating MG symptoms, particularly in individuals with compromised vitamin D levels following gastrectomy. The observed improvements present a new perspective on the possible involvement of vitamin D supplementation in the management of postoperative MG cases.

Crystalline MnCO3@Amorphous MnOx Composite as Cathode Material for High-Performance Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (RAZIBs) have received extensive attention because of their advantages of low cost, high safety, and nontoxicity. However, problems such as dissolution of the active cathode material, dendrites/passivation of the zinc anode, and slow reaction kinetics hindered their further applications. In this work, a crystalline/amorphous composite-type material composed of crystalline MnCO3 and amorphous MnOx was prepared and used as the cathode material for RAZIBs. The MnCO3@amorphous MnOx (MnCO3@A-MnOx) composite possesses the merits of both the pure crystalline phase of MnCO3 and the amorphous phase of MnOx, which can deliver better electrochemical performance than the corresponding single component in repeated cycles. In addition, crystalline MnCO3 undergoes a complex phase transition to the active MnO2 during the first charge process, providing the composite with a stable structure and additional electrochemical capacity. The electrochemical measurement results indicate that the MnCO3@A-MnOx electrode can display high reversible discharge capacity at 0.1 A g-1, excellent rate performance at 5.0 A g-1, and long cycling stability over 2000 cycles, showing great potential as a cathode material for high-performance RAZIBs.

Vertebral Artery Stenting for Acute Multiple Cerebral Infarctions Caused by Vertebral Artery Dissection After Massage: A Case Report.

Vertebral artery dissection is a rare pathology that can cause ischemic stroke in young people. Cervical massage, especially improper pulling manipulation, is a cause of vertebral artery dissection. We present a case of 32-year-old woman who developed acute multiple posterior circulation ischemic cerebral infarctions as a result of left vertebral artery V4 segment dissection after receiving neck massage. She underwent emergency vertebral artery stent implantation at the site of the dissection. Symptoms were relieved the day after treatment. The patient recovered without adverse complications or endovascular restenosis in the following year.

Biomimetic Adaptive Pure Pursuit Control for Robot Path Tracking Inspired by Natural Motion Constraints.

The essence of biomimetics in human-computer interaction (HCI) is the inspiration derived from natural systems to drive innovations in modern-day technologies. With this in mind, this paper introduces a biomimetic adaptive pure pursuit (A-PP) algorithm tailored for the four-wheel differential drive robot (FWDDR). Drawing inspiration from the intricate natural motions subjected to constraints, the FWDDR's kinematic model mirrors non-holonomic constraints found in biological entities. Recognizing the limitations of traditional pure pursuit (PP) algorithms, which often mimic a static behavioral approach, our proposed A-PP algorithm infuses adaptive techniques observed in nature. Integrated with a quadratic polynomial, this algorithm introduces adaptability in both lateral and longitudinal dimensions. Experimental validations demonstrate that our biomimetically inspired A-PP approach achieves superior path-following accuracy, mirroring the efficiency and fluidity seen in natural organisms.

FeNbO4 nanochains with a five-electron transfer reaction toward high capacity and fast Li storage.

High capacity and outstanding rate performance of the FeNbO4 nanochain anode with both intercalation and conversion reactions for lithium-ion batteries are demonstrated. The unique one-dimensional structure and intercalation pseudocapacitive behavior of FeNbO4 accelerate the reaction kinetics. In situ X-ray diffractometer measurement confirms a five-electron transfer mechanism for Li storage.

Assessment of urban blue-green space cooling effect linking maximum and accumulative perspectives in the Yangtze River Delta, China.

The development of urban blue-green spaces is highly recommended as a nature-based solution for mitigating the urban heat island phenomenon, improving urban sustainability, and enhancing resident well-being. However, limited attention has been given to the accumulative impact of the cooling effect and the comparison of different types of landscapes. Based on the maximum and accumulative perspectives, this study selected 375 green spaces, water bodies, and urban parks in 25 cities of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region in China to quantify their cooling effect. Correlation and regression analyses were employed to identify the dominant factors influencing the cooling performance. The results indicated that (1) compared to other landscape patches, water areas, and parks exhibited a reduction in daily average air temperature by 3.04 and 0.57 °C, respectively. Urban parks provided the largest cooling area (CA) of 56.44 ha in the YRD region, while water bodies demonstrated the highest cooling effect (CE) of 6.88, cooling intensity (CI) of 0.02, and cooling gradient (CG) of 0.99. (2) From the maximum perspective, the perimeter of the patches played a dominant role in CA and CE for all landscape patch types, contributing more than 40% in CA variation. (3) The dominant factors varied among different landscape types from accumulative perspectives. Green spaces were influenced by road density, shape index, and the proportion of water bodies within the CA, whereas water bodies were primarily affected by the coverage of blue spaces. Vegetation growth and densely populated surroundings contributed the most to the cooling of parks. These findings enhanced the comprehension of the cooling effect in comparable urban contexts and provided valuable insights for sustainable urban management.

Ion-catalyzed synthesis of N/O co-doped carbon nanorods with hierarchical pores for high-rate Na-ion storage.

Appropriate heteroatom doping and pore structure optimization are cost-effective technologies to improve the electronic conductivity and ion diffusion kinetics of hard carbons (HCs). Here, we report an ion-catalyzed synthesis of N/O co-doped carbon nanorods (NOCNRs) with abundant hierarchical pores, achieving high-capacity and high-rate Na-ion storage (336 mA h g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 and 196 mA h g-1 at 20.0 A g-1).

[Tiaoshen acupuncture for primary insomnia: a pilot randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Tiaoshen (regulating the spirit) acupuncture on cognitive function and sleep quality in patients with primary insomnia (PI). METHODS: Sixty patients with PI were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off, 1 case was excluded). The patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), and bilateral Benshen (GB 13), Shenmen (HT 7), Neiguan (PC 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6). The patients in the control group were treated with shallow needling at non-effective points. Each treatment was provided for 30 min, once every other day, 3 treatments per week for 4 weeks. The Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), digit span test (DST), trail making test (TMT)-A, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and fatigue scale-14 (FS-14) were used to assess cognitive function and sleep quality before and after treatment, as well as in follow-up of 4-week after treatment completion. Correlation analysis was conducted between the differences in PSQI scores and differences in MoCA scores before and after treatment in the observation group. RESULTS: Compared with before treatment, the total score, visuospatial and executive function score and delayed memory score of MoCA as well as DST backward score were increased (P<0.01), while TMT-A time, PSQI and FS-14 scores were significantly reduced (P<0.01) after treatment and in follow-up in the observation group. Compared with before treatment, the PSQI score in the control group was reduced (P<0.01, P<0.05). After treatment and in follow-up, the observation group had significantly higher total score, visuospatial and executive function score, delayed memory score of MoCA, and DST backward score compared to the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). In the observation group, the TMT-A time was significantly shorter than that in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the PSQI and FS-14 scores were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). In the observation group, there was a negative correlation between the difference in PSQI scores (post-treatment minus pre-treatment) and the difference in MoCA scores (post-treatment minus pre-treatment) (r=-0.481, P<0.01). A similar negative correlation was found between the difference in PSQI scores (follow-up minus pre-treatment) and the difference in MoCA scores (follow-up minus pre-treatment) (r=-0.282, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Tiaoshen acupuncture could improve cognitive function, enhance sleep quality, and alleviate daytime fatigue in patients with PI. The improvement in cognitive function in patients with PI is correlated with the improvement in sleep quality.