Amorphous-Crystalline Interface Induced Internal Electric Fields for Electrochromic Smart Window.

Balancing optical modulation and response time is crucial for achieving high coloration efficiency in electrochromic materials. Here, internal electric fields are introduced to titanium dioxide nanosheets by constructing abundant amorphous-crystalline interfaces, ensuring large optical modulation while reducing response time and therefore improving coloration efficiency. Aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) reveals the presence of numerous amorphous-crystalline phase boundaries in titanium dioxide nanosheets. Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) exhibits an intense surface potential distribution, demonstrating the presence of internal electric fields. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm that the amorphous-crystalline heterointerfaces can generate internal electric fields and reduce diffusion barriers of lithium ions. As a result, the amorphous-crystalline titanium dioxide nanosheets exhibit better coloration efficiency (35.1 cm2 C-1) than pure amorphous and crystalline titanium dioxide nanosheets.

Silencing of maternally expressed RNAs in Dlk1-Dio3 domain causes fatal vascular injury in the fetal liver.

The mammalian imprinted Dlk1-Dio3 domain contains multiple lncRNAs, mRNAs, the largest miRNA cluster in the genome and four differentially methylated regions (DMRs), and deletion of maternally expressed RNA within this locus results in embryonic lethality, but the mechanism by which this occurs is not clear. Here, we optimized the model of maternally expressed RNAs transcription termination in the domain and found that the cause of embryonic death was apoptosis in the embryo, particularly in the liver. We generated a mouse model of maternally expressed RNAs silencing in the Dlk1-Dio3 domain by inserting a 3 × polyA termination sequence into the Gtl2 locus. By analyzing RNA-seq data of mouse embryos combined with histological analysis, we found that silencing of maternally expressed RNAs in the domain activated apoptosis, causing vascular rupture of the fetal liver, resulting in hemorrhage and injury. Mechanistically, termination of Gtl2 transcription results in the silencing of maternally expressed RNAs and activation of paternally expressed genes in the interval, and it is the gene itself rather than the IG-DMR and Gtl2-DMR that causes the aforementioned phenotypes. In conclusion, these findings illuminate a novel mechanism by which the silencing of maternally expressed RNAs within Dlk1-Dio3 domain leads to hepatic hemorrhage and embryonic death through the activation of apoptosis.

Electric field simulation, structure and properties of nanofiber- coated yarn prepared by multi-needle water bath electrospinning.

To address the issue of low yield in the preparation of nanofiber materials using single-needle electrospinning technology, multi-needle electrospinning technology has emerged as a crucial solution for mass production. However, the mutual interference of multiple electric fields between the needles can cause significant randomness in the morphology of the produced nanofibers. To better predict the influence of electric field distribution on nanofiber morphology, simulation analysis of the multi-needle arrangement was conducted using finite element analysis software. Nanofiber-coated yarn was produced continuously with the core yarn rotating. The water bath was utilized as the receiver of nanofibers on self-made water bath electrospinning equipment. The electric field distribution and mutual interference under seven different needle arrangements was simulated and analyzed by finite element analysis software ANSYS Maxwell. The results indicated that when the needles were arranged diagonally in a staggered pattern and directly above the core yarn, the simulated electric field distribution was relatively uniform, with less mutual interference. The produced nanofibers exhibited a finer diameter and the diameter distribution was more concentrated. In addition, the nanofiber coating showed higher crystallinity and better mechanical properties. .

Spatiotemporal variations of farmland crop residue burning in China from 2013 to 2022.

Farmland crop residue burning (FCRB) significantly impacts air quality, necessitating understanding its spatiotemporal variations to evaluate control measures and guide future policies. This study analyzes FCRB across China from 2013 to 2022 using remote sensing technology and spatiotemporal analysis. Results indicate that the first phase (2013-2017) of the "Clean Air Action" control measures has been proven ineffective, with a 30.9 % increase in FCRB. Effective measures implemented in the second phase (2018-2020) resulted in a reduction of 41.4 % and led to a decrease of 34.3 % in 2022 compared to 2013. FCRB exhibits significant seasonal and regional variations, with a 69 % decrease in autumn and a 23 % increase in spring. While the variations in FCRB across regions are found to be significantly negatively correlated with the stringency of control measures, there is a 61.2 % reduction in the central region, 42.4 % in the western region, 29.7 % in the eastern region with the highest intra-regional disparities, and only 4.5 % in the northeastern region, which is attributed to the high FCRB in Heilongjiang province. FCRB demonstrates the "club convergence" phenomenon and the spillover effects of adjacent provinces, leading to high-high clusters in the northeastern region, emphasizing the need for region-specific control measures (e.g., Heilongjiang province in the northeastern) and the implementation of similar control measures in adjacent areas. Additionally, it is necessary to avoid the rebound phenomenon determined by the analysis of the kernel density estimation curve. Our findings underscore the importance of tailored strategies in managing FCRB and improving air quality in critical areas.

A circuit from lateral hypothalamic to dorsal hippocampal dentate gyrus modulates behavioral despair in mice.

Behavioral despair is one of the clinical manifestations of major depressive disorder and an important cause of disability and death. However, the neural circuit mechanisms underlying behavioral despair are poorly understood. In a well-established chronic behavioral despair (CBD) mouse model, using a combination of viral tracing, in vivo fiber photometry, chemogenetic and optogenetic manipulations, in vitro electrophysiology, pharmacological profiling techniques, and behavioral tests, we investigated the neural circuit mechanisms in regulating behavioral despair. Here, we found that CBD enhanced CaMKIIα neuronal excitability in the dorsal dentate gyrus (dDG) and dDGCaMKIIα neurons involved in regulating behavioral despair in CBD mice. Besides, dDGCaMKIIα neurons received 5-HT inputs from median raphe nucleus (MRN) and were mediated by 5-HT1A receptors, whereas MRN5-HT neurons received CaMKIIα inputs from lateral hypothalamic (LH) and were mediated by AMPA receptors to regulate behavioral despair. Furthermore, fluvoxamine exerted its role in resisting behavioral despair through the LH-MRN-dDG circuit. These findings suggest that a previously unidentified circuit of LHCaMKIIα-MRN5-HT-dDGCaMKIIα mediates behavioral despair induced by CBD. Furthermore, these support the important role of AMPA receptors in MRN and 5-HT1A receptors in dDG that might be the potential targets for treatment of behavioral despair, and explain the neural circuit mechanism of fluvoxamine-resistant behavioral despair.

Effect of acidification pretreatment on two-phase anaerobic digestion of acidified food waste.

Acidified food waste significantly disrupts anaerobic digestion, highlighting the need for effective solutions to mitigate its impact. This study presents a method that utilizes acidified sludge to pretreat acidified food waste, thereby significantly improving the efficiency of hydrolysis and acidogenesis. After acidification pretreatment, hydrolysis efficiency improved from 64.54 % to 96.51 %, while acidogenesis efficiency increased from 34.82 % to 49.95 %. Additionally, the concentration of short-chain fatty acids and hydrogen production in the acidification pretreatment group increased by 45.89 % and 48.67 %, respectively. The pretreatment group exhibited a biochemical methane potential of 512.84 ± 13.73 mL/(g volatile suspended solids), which was 35.77 % higher than that of the control group. Mechanism analysis revealed that the higher abundance of genes associated with lactate dehydrogenase in the acidified sludge facilitated the rapid degradation of lactic acid. Moreover, the abundant Clostridium butyricum in the acidified sludge promoted the targeted conversion of lactic acid and other organic matter into butyric acid within the food waste system. This efficient butyric acid fermentation improved the fermentation environment and provided abundant substrates for methane production. This study introduces a promising bio-based strategy to improve the anaerobic digestion efficiency of acidified food waste.

In situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for membrane protein analysis and sensing.

Membrane proteins are involved in a variety of dynamic cellular processes and exploration of the structural basis of membrane proteins is of significance for a better understanding of their functions. In situ analysis of membrane proteins and their dynamics is, however, challenging for conventional techniques. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is powerful in protein structural characterization, allowing for sensitive, in-situ and real-time identification and dynamic monitoring under physiological conditions. In this review, the applications of SERS in probing membrane proteins are outlined, discussed and prospected. It starts with a brief introduction to membrane proteins, SERS theories and SERS-based strategies that commonly-used for membrane proteins. How to assemble phospholipid biolayers on SERS-active materials is highlighted, followed by respectively discussing about direct and indirect strategies for membrane protein sensing. SERS-based monitoring of protein-ligand interactions is finally introduced and its potential in biomedical applications is discussed in detail. The review ends with critical discussion about current challenges and limitations of this research field, and the promising perspectives in both fundamental and applied sciences.

Rnf111 has a pivotal role in regulating development of definitive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells through the Smad2/3-Gcsfr/NO axis in zebrafish.

The ubiquitination or SUMOylation of hematopoietic related factors plays pivotal roles in hematopoiesis. RNF111, known as a ubiquitin ligase (Ubl), is a newly discovered SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase (STUbl) involved in multiple signaling pathways mediated by TGF-ß family members. However, its role in hematopoiesis remains unclear. Herein, a heritable Rnf111 mutant zebrafish line was generated by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing. Impaired hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) of definitive hematopoiesis was found in Rnf111 deficient mutants. Ablation of Rnf111 resulted in decreased phosphorylation of Smad2/3 in HSPC. Definitive endoderm 2 inducer (IDE2), which specifically activates TGF-ß signaling and downstream Smad2 phosphorylation, can restore the definitive hematopoiesis in Rnf111-deficient embryos. Further molecular mechanism studies revealed that Gcsfr/NO signaling was an important target pathway of Smad2/3 involved in Rnf111-mediated HSPC development. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that Rnf111 contributes to the development of HSPC by maintaining Smad2/3 phosphorylation and the Gcsfr/NO signaling pathway activation. Keywords: Rnf111, Ubiquitin ligase (UbL), HSPC, Smad2/3, Gcsfr/NO.

Catestatin as a predictor for cardiac death in heart failure with mildly reduced and preserved ejection fraction.

AIMS: Endogenous catecholamine release-inhibitory peptide catestatin has been associated with heart failure (HF). This subgroup analysis of our cohort of HF compared the different effects of catestatin as a predictor for cardiac outcomes in patients with HF with reduced (HFrEF), mildly reduced (HFmrEF) or preserved (HFpEF) ejection fraction. METHODS: Plasma catestatin was measured in the HF patient cohort of 228 cases with a whole spectrum of ejection fraction. The cardiac deaths were analysed according to prespecified subgroups. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 52.5 months, the association between plasma catestatin and cardiac death was different in patients with HFrEF, HFmrEF or HFpEF [hazard ratio (HR) 1.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.99-2.37 and HR 2.73, 95% CI 1.56-4.75, respectively; interaction P = 0.022]. Patients with HFmrEF/HFpEF were older and more likely to be female, with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation but lower levels of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). Similar adverse cardiac events occurred in patients with HFmrEF/HFpEF as in HFrEF. Plasma catestatin was a better predictor for cardiovascular death in the HFmrEF/HFpEF patients [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) = 0.72, 95% CI 0.45-0.74] than in the HFrEF patients (AUC = 0.59, 95% CI 0.587-0.849). The optimal cut point of plasma catestatin level of 0.86 ng/mL predicted a 2.80-fold elevated risk for cardiac death in HFmrEF/HFpEF. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated plasma catestatin might be a more sensitive predictor for cardiac outcome in patients with HFmrEF/HFpEF than in HFrEF.

Th1/Th2 associated transcription factors and cytokines in pregnancies with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: Th1/Th2 shift occurs during pregnancy. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flares may induce the dysregulation of Th1 and Th2 cells. We aimed to investigate the dynamic changes of Th1/Th2 associated transcription factors and cytokines in patients with SLE during pregnancy. METHODS: Twenty-five pregnant patients with SLE and twenty-two healthy age-matched women served as controls from September 2021 to March 2022 were enrolled in the study. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were performed to measure the expression of Th1 specific transcription factors T-bet, cytokine IFN-γ, and Th2 specific transcription factors GATA3, cytokine IL-4. The main statistical analysis methods were t test, Mann-Whitney U-test, Pearson correlation and Spearman rank correlation analysis. RESULTS: The mRNA level of IFN-γ and the relative expression of T-bet/GATA3 and IFN-γ/IL-4 in SLE patients were significantly higher than those in healthy individuals, whereas the GATA3 expression is lower in pregnant patients with SLE (p<0.001, p<0.05, p<0.05 and p<0.01 during the whole pregnancy, respectively; p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.05 and p<0.05 specifically for the 3rd trimester, respectively). There were significant correlations between T-bet and IFN-γ (r=0.492, p<0.05), and between T-bet/GATA3 and IFN-γ/IL-4 (r=0.482, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our work indicates that in SLE patients Th1/Th2 shift is blocked with up-regulation of Th1 cell function and insufficient Th2 polarisation during pregnancy, which may be involved in adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Characterization of Limbus Biomechanical Properties Using Optical Coherence Elastography.

The elasticity of the limbus is crucial for ocular health, yet it remains inadequately explored. This study employs acoustic radiation force optical coherence elastography (ARF-OCE) to evaluate the biomechanical properties of the limbus under varying intraocular pressures. The method was validated using a heterogeneous phantom and subsequently applied to ex vivo porcine limbus samples. Elastic wave velocity at specific locations within the limbus was calculated, and the corresponding Young's modulus values were obtained. Spatial elasticity distribution maps were generated by correlating Young's modulus values with their respective locations in the two-dimensional structural images. The results indicate that ARF-OCE enhances the understanding of limbus biomechanical behavior and holds potential for diagnosing regional variations caused by ocular diseases.

Efficacy of targeted next generation sequencing for pathogen detection in lower respiratory tract infections.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic utility of targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) in the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections. METHODS: Patients with lower respiratory tract infection in East Area of Yantai Yantaishan Hospital from December 2021 to September 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Sputum samples were tested using both tNGS technology and conventional microbiological examination. Data were collected on general clinical features and test outcomes. The study evaluated the efficacy of tNGS by comparing its positive detection rate against traditional methods and analyzing detection differences among patients with varying clinical characteristics. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the diagnostic accuracy of both testing methods. RESULTS: A total of 281 patients were included, with corresponding sputum specimens. The tNGS method showed a higher positivity rate of 90.0%, significantly outperforming the conventional method's rate of 70.82% (P<0.05). Among 199 patients with concordant positive results, 38.22% fully agreed, while 53.40% completely disagreed between the two methods. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Candida albicans, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most frequently detected pathogens, respectively. tNGS significantly reduced the time required for pathogen detection (P<0.001) and identified a higher rate of mixed infections compared to conventional methods (49.11% vs 2.85%, P<0.001). Positive tNGS detection rates significantly differed between patients with abnormal vs normal C-reactive protein or procalcitonin levels. The AUC for tNGS was 0.867, indicating superior diagnostic accuracy over the conventional method (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: tNGS technology demonstrates a high positivity rate and rapid pathogen detection in lower respiratory tract infections, with notable advantages in identifying mixed infections. This method shows potential for enhancing diagnostic accuracy and treatment decisions in clinical settings.

Rapid Construction of Cycloheptatriene through Organocatalyzed [4 + 3] Annulation of Coumalates.

A protocol for the construction of cycloheptatrienes has been developed. 4-(Dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) was found to be an efficient catalyst to promote the [4 + 3] annulation between coumalates and γ-alkyl-substituted allenoate or γ-aryl-3-butynoates to deliver a variety of cycloheptatrienes in moderate to good yield with excellent chemoselectivity. The asymmetric version of this annulation was also realized by using bifunctional phosphine catalyst to provide the chiral products with 32-97% ee and 29-64% yield.

The impact of long-term care insurance on the utilization of inpatient service: Evidence and mechanisms in China.

This paper empirically investigates the impact of public long-term care insurance (LTCI) on the utilization of inpatient services and associated expenditures among disabled Chinese individuals, using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study from 2011 to 2018. Employing a staggered difference-in-difference approach within a propensity score matching framework (PSM-DID), the study finds that the introduction of LTCI significantly reduces the likelihood of inpatient service usage by 4.2%, the annual number of inpatient admissions by 10.2%, the annual inpatient cost by 16.2%, the out-of-pocket expenses by 20.7%, and the reimbursement expenditure by the public medical insurer by 9.9%. The study further explores the mechanisms underlying these effects and identifies that the Substitution Effect, where care services in community healthcare centers and nursing homes replace hospitalizations, outweighs the Income Effect generated by LTCI benefits. By leveraging the quasi-natural experimental setting of diverse LTCI policies across cities, the study also examines the heterogeneous impacts of LTCI based on household income, eligibility criteria, and reimbursement methods. The findings underscore the positive role of LTCI in controlling medical expenses and alleviating congestion in urban hospitals, offering valuable insights for promoting "Healthy Aging".

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Variations in Enzyme Production of Saccharopolyspora rosea A22 under Different Temperatures.

Saccharopolyspora is a key microorganism in the fermentation of traditional fermented foods, capable of producing saccharifying and liquefying enzymes at elevated temperatures. However, the specific mechanisms and regulatory pathways governing Saccharopolyspora's response to ambient temperatures are not yet fully understood. In this study, the morphological differences in Saccharopolyspora rosea screened from traditional handmade wheat Qu at different temperatures were initially explored. At 37 °C, the mycelium exhibited abundant growth and radiated in a network-like pattern. As the temperature increased, the mycelium aggregated into clusters. At 50 °C, it formed highly aggregated ellipsoidal structures, with the mycelium distributed on the spherical surface. Subsequently, we assessed the biomass, saccharifying enzyme activity and liquefying enzyme activity of Saccharopolyspora rosea cultured at 37 °C, 42 °C and 50 °C. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis demonstrated that Saccharopolyspora rosea employs mechanisms related to the carbon metabolism, the TCA cycle, glycine, serine and threonine metabolisms, and microbial metabolism in diverse environments to coordinate its responses to changes in environmental temperature, as verified by the expression of typical genes. This study enhances our understanding of the differences in high-temperature enzyme production by Saccharopolyspora, and offers valuable guidance for the traditional fermented food industry to drive innovation.

The combined application of electromagnetic navigation and porcine fibrin sealant in microwave ablation of lung tumors.

Purpose: This retrospective study aims to assess the efficacy of the combined application of electromagnetic navigation (EMN) and porcine fibrin sealant (PFS) in the microwave ablation (MWA) treatment of lung tumors. Material and methods: In our department from January 2022 to August 2023, 73 patients underwent MWA under standard computed tomography (CT) guidance (CT group) or CT guidance with additional application of EMN and PFS (CT-EMN-PFS group), respectively. The basic data of patients were recorded and analyzed using the Student's t-test and Chi-square test between the two groups, and single factor and multi-factors binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the risk factors of pneumothorax; meanwhile the incidence of complications, the number of CT scans and dose length product (DLP) were calculated and compared between the two guidance modes. Results: Forty-seven patients underwent standard CT-guided MWA, meanwhile the remaining 26 patients underwent CT-guided MWA with combined application of EMN and PFS. The patients with lesions close to the bronchi or interlobar fissures, and underlying emphysema had a higher risk of pneumothorax, the corresponding odds ratio (OR) was 23.290 (p = 0.004), 33.300 (p = 0.019), and 8.007 (p = 0.012), respectively; the combined use of EMN and PFS could reduce the incidence of pneumothorax, with an OR of 0.094 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.015-0.602, p = 0.013). The incidence rates of pneumothorax, pneumorrhagia and pleural effusion were 59.57 %, 61.70 %, and 19.15 % respectively in the CT group, and 30.77 %, 50.00 % and 7.69 % respectively in the CT-EMN-PFS group. The incidence rate of pneumothorax in the CT-EMN-PFS group was significantly lower than that in the CT group (p = 0.017). The median number of CT scans was 9 in the CT group and 5 in the CT-EMN-PFS group, respectively, meanwhile the median DLP was 1060.69 mGy*cm in the CT group and 600.04 mGy*cm in the CT-EMN-PFS group, respectively, which indicated there was a statistical difference in the amount of radiation exposure between the two groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The combined application of EMN and PFS demonstrates for the first time that there is a lower incidence rate of pneumothorax and significantly less radiation exposure during the MWA of the lung tumors.

Diagnostic Value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in Benign and Malignant Adnexal Masses: A Meta-Analysis.

In the diagnosis of gynecological tumors, determining the benign or malignant nature of adnexal masses is a crucial and complex issue. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a relatively novel and increasingly used diagnostic method. Therefore, this study evaluated the diagnostic value of CEUS in differentiating benign and malignant adnexal masses through meta-analysis and systematic review. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for studies published up to April 2024 regarding the use of CEUS in diagnosing benign and malignant adnexal masses. STATA 14.0 software was used for data analysis, pooling the sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of eligible studies. After initial screening, 305 studies were identified, 13 of which met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and DOR of CEUS for the diagnosis of benign and malignant adnexal masses were 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.88-0.95), 0.88 (95% CI: 0.82-0.93), 8.00 (95% CI: 5.00-12.90), 0.09 (95% CI: 0.06-0.14), and 91.00 (95% CI: 45.00-185.00), respectively. The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.93-0.97). CEUS is a noninvasive, nonradiative imaging modality with high accuracy and reliability in the diagnosis of benign and malignant adnexal masses. To provide an effective adjunct tool in the clinic, future studies can further explore the specific application value of CEUS and its performance in different populations.

[Relationship between macrophage pyroptosis and atherosclerosis based on theory of "spleen in correlation with endoplasmic reticulum"].

The key pathogenesis of atherosclerosis(AS) in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) lies in the combination of phlegm and stasis due to spleen deficiency. In Western medicine, it is believed that pyroptosis can lead to atherosclerosis, and endoplasmic reticulum stress has been shown to promote pyroptosis. According to the theories of " spleen in correlation with endoplasmic reticulum",guided by spleen governing transportation and transformation, and endoplasmic reticulum processing proteins, it is believed that the syndrome of phlegm combined with stasis due to spleen deficiency has similarities with the mechanism of macrophage pyroptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress in accelerating the progression of AS. This study explored the correlation between phlegm combined with stasis due to spleen deficiency and pyroptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress, and then analyzed the modern medical mechanisms of phlegm combined with stasis due to spleen deficiency in mediating atherosclerosis. The discussion enriches the theory of spleen in correlation with endoplasmic reticulum, provides research ideas on the prevention and treatment of AS by invigorating spleen,eliminating phlegm, and resolving stasis, and lays a theoretical foundation for the clinical application of spleen-invigorating TCM in the treatment of AS.

Early positive tactile stimulation reverses the increase of anxiety and decrease of sociality induced by early chronic mechanical pain in mandarin voles.

Animals may experience early negative (mechanical pain: being retrieved using an incisor by parents or attacked) or positive stimulation (being licked and groomed) that may affect emotional and social behaviors in adulthood. Whether positive tactile stimulation can reverse adverse consequences on emotional and social behaviors in adulthood resulting from chronic mechanical pain and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study used a tail-pinching model during development to simulate mechanical pain experienced by pups in high-social mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus). Subsequently, brush-like positive tactile stimuli were applied to the backs of the mandarin voles. Various behavioral tests were used to measure levels of anxiety, depression, and sociability. The results showed that early tail-pinching delayed the eye opening of pups, increased levels of anxiety, reduced levels of sociality in male mandarin voles, and impaired social cognition in females during adulthood. Brushing on the back reversed some of these effects. While mandarin voles that were exposed to tail-pinching during development were exposed to sub-threshold variable stress as adults, they were more likely to show a stress-induced increase of anxiety-like behavior, reduction of sociability, and impairment of social cognition, displaying heightened susceptibility to stress, particularly in males. However, back-brushing reversed some of these effects, implying that these adults display enhanced stress resilience. In addition, tail-pinching reduced levels of serum oxytocin and increased corticosterone levels in serum, but back-brushing reversed these effects. Overall, it was found that positive tactile stimulation reversed increases in anxiety and impairments of social behavior induced by negative stimulation in male mandarin voles via alteration of oxytocin and corticosterone levels.

One becomes three: An integrative morphological and molecular analysis of the windowpane oyster Placuna (Bivalvia: Pectinida) reveals new species.

For decades, many marine animals have been considered to exhibit cosmopolitan or transoceanic distribution. This situation is prevalent in Asia, where many species were collected and named by American or European experts in the 1700s to early 1900s. Using the windowpane oysters Placuna-a small genus of bivalves with five recognized species-we show that careful analysis is required to reassess the validity of these species. Currently, only two species of Placuna (P. placenta and P. ephippium) widely reported in the Indo-Pacific region have been recorded from Chinese coastal waters. Here, we described two new species of Placuna from China. Placuna vitream sp. nov. can be distinguished from P. placenta by its larger ridge angle. Phylogenetic analysis using five gene fragments fully supported that P. vitream sp. nov. is a sister to the specimen from Singapore identified as P. placenta and more distant from other Placuna species with available molecular data. Besides, based on subfossil shells, we describe Placuna aestuaria sp. nov. that differs from its congeneric species by its broad hinge, medium ridge angle, and nearly straight ridges. Finally, we suggest a combination of hinge structure and ridge angle that can be used for identifying Placuna species and preparing a key to this genus. Our findings of two new species expand the diversity of Placuna and prompt reassessment of the many presumably widely distributed marine species in Asia.