Changes in source contributions to the oxidative potential of PM2.5 in urban Xiamen, China.

The toxicity of PM2.5 does not necessarily change synchronously with its mass concentration. In this study, the chemical composition (carbonaceous species, water-soluble ions, and metals) and oxidative potential (dithiothreitol assay, DTT) of PM2.5 were investigated in 2017/2018 and 2022 in Xiamen, China. The decrease rate of volume-normalized DTT (DTTv) (38%) was lower than that of PM2.5 (55%) between the two sampling periods. However, the mass-normalized DTT (DTTm) increased by 44%. Clear seasonal patterns with higher levels in winter were found for PM2.5, most chemical constituents and DTTv but not for DTTm. The large decrease in DTT activity (84%-92%) after the addition of EDTA suggested that water-soluble metals were the main contributors to DTT in Xiamen. The increased gap between the reconstructed and measured DTTv and the stronger correlations between the reconstructed/measured DTT ratio and carbonaceous species in 2022 were observed. The decrease rates of the hazard index (32.5%) and lifetime cancer risk (9.1%) differed from those of PM2.5 and DTTv due to their different main contributors. The PMF-MLR model showed that the contributions (nmol/(min·m3)) of vehicle emission, coal + biomass burning, ship emission and secondary aerosol to DTTv in 2022 decreased by 63.0%, 65.2%, 66.5%, and 22.2%, respectively, compared to those in 2017/2018, which was consistent with the emission reduction of vehicle exhaust and coal consumption, the adoption of low-sulfur fuel oil used on board ships and the reduced production of WSOC. However, the contributions of dust + sea salt and industrial emission increased.

Towards the scalable synthesis of two-dimensional heterostructures and superlattices beyond exfoliation and restacking.

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides, which feature atomically thin geometry and dangling-bond-free surfaces, have attracted intense interest for diverse technology applications, including ultra-miniaturized transistors towards the subnanometre scale. A straightforward exfoliation-and-restacking approach has been widely used for nearly arbitrary assembly of diverse two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures, superlattices and moiré superlattices, providing a versatile materials platform for fundamental investigations of exotic physical phenomena and proof-of-concept device demonstrations. While this approach has contributed importantly to the recent flourishing of 2D materials research, it is clearly unsuitable for practical technologies. Capturing the full potential of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides requires robust and scalable synthesis of these atomically thin materials and their heterostructures with designable spatial modulation of chemical compositions and electronic structures. The extreme aspect ratio, lack of intrinsic substrate and highly delicate nature of the atomically thin crystals present fundamental difficulties in material synthesis. Here we summarize the key challenges, highlight current advances and outline opportunities in the scalable synthesis of transition metal dichalcogenide-based heterostructures, superlattices and moiré superlattices.

Macrophages regulate plaque progression in diabetic Apoe-/- mice dependent on Pi4p/Nlrp3 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease complicated by diabetes mellitus (DM) is the leading cause of death in diabetic patients, and it is strongly associated with macrophages and inflammasomes. It has been found that activation of NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is closely associated with phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P) on the trans-Golgi. However, how PI4P and NLRP3 regulate macrophage function and its role in diabetic atherosclerotic plaques is unclear. METHODS: The expression of Pi4p and Nlrp3-inflammasome-related proteins in atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient (Apoe-/-) and Apoe-/- DM mice was investigated. Then, Pi4p levels were affected by shRNA-Pi4kb or cDNA-Sac1 plasmid to investigate the effects of changes in Pi4p-related metabolic enzymes on macrophage function. Finally, genetically modified macrophages were injected into diabetic Apoe-/- mice to explore the effects on atherosclerosis. RESULTS: DM promoted plaque progression in atherosclerotic mice and increased expression of Pi4p and Nlrp3 in plaques. In addition, impaired macrophage function induced by high glucose was reversed by transfected shRNA-Pi4kb or cDNA-Sac1 plasmid. Furthermore, decreased levels of Pi4p reduced plaque area in diabetic Apoe-/- mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests that Pi4p/Nlrp3 in macrophages play an important role in the exacerbation of atherosclerosis in diabetic mice. Pi4p-related metabolizing enzymes (PI4KB and SAC1) may be a potential therapeutic strategy for diabetic atherosclerosis, and macrophage therapy is also a potential treatment.

Smartphone-integrated visual inspection for enhancing agricultural product quality and safety: a review.

The increasing emphasis on the quality and safety of agricultural products, which are vital to global trade and consumer health, has driven the innovation of cost-effective, convenient, and rapid smart detection technologies. Smartphones, with their interdisciplinary functionalities, have become valuable tools in quantification and analysis research. Acting as portable, affordable, and user-friendly analytical devices, smartphones are equipped with high-resolution cameras, displays, memory, communication modules, sensors, and operating systems (Android or IOS), making them powerful, palm-sized remote computers. This review delves into how visual inspection technology and smartphones have enhanced the quality and safety of agricultural products over the past decade. It also evaluates the key features and limitations of existing smart rapid inspection methods for agricultural products and anticipates future advancements, offering insights into the application of smart rapid inspection technology in agriculture.

Cl--templated coordination polymers constructed from dragonfly-like Ln4 clusters exhibiting excellent magnetothermal properties.

Lanthanide clusters with high magnetic entropy and an exquisite structure have always been a hot research direction. Herein, two delicately structured lanthanide clusters were synthesized using isonicotinic acid (HIN) as a ligand by the solvothermal method, namely {[Gd4(IN)4(µ3-OH)4(OAc)2(H2O)6]·Cl2·7H2O}n (1) and {[Dy4(IN)4(µ3-OH)4(OAc)2(H2O)6]·Cl2·8H2O}n (2). Structural analysis indicates that the two compounds exhibit comparable structures, and both have the same cubane-like Ln4 metal skeleton and form an interesting dragonfly molecular configuration by connecting to HIN. Moreover, {Ln4} serves as the fundamental structural unit for the construction of a 1D channel of 1, with a diameter of approximately 10.08 Å, which is connected to each other by extra {Ln4} units to form an exquisite porous 3D structure of 1. Cl- exists as an anion-template in its 3D structure, balancing the charge and maintaining its structural stability. Magnetic measurements indicate that 1 exhibits a rather satisfactory magnetic entropy change, reaching a maximum value of -ΔSmaxm = 31.59 J kg-1 K-1 at 2 K for ΔH = 7 T.

Ambient air pollution, low-grade inflammation, and lung function: Evidences from the UK Biobank.

The associations of ambient air pollution exposure and low-grade inflammation with lung function remain uncertain. In this study, 276,289 subjects were enrolled in the UK Biobank. Individual exposure to ambient air pollution (including nitrogen dioxide [NO2], nitrogen oxides [NOx]), and particulate matter [PM2.5, PM10, PMcoarse]) were estimated by using the land-use regression model. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) were tested, and low-grade inflammation score (INFLA score) was calculated for each subject. In this cross-sectional study, the median concentrations of air pollution were 9.89 µg/m3 for PM2.5, 15.98 µg/m3 for PM10, 6.09 µg/m3 for PMcoarse, 25.60 µg/m3 for NO2, and 41.46 µg/m3 for NOx, respectively. We observed that PM2.5, PM10, PMcoarse, NO2, NOx was negatively associated with lung function. Besides, significant positive associations between PM exposure and low-grade inflammation were noted. Per interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5, PM10, and PMcoarse was related to higher INFLA score, and the ß (95 % CI) was 0.06 (0.03, 0.08), 0.03 (0.02, 0.05), and 0.03 (0.01, 0.04), respectively. Additionally, we found significant negative associations between INFLA scores and lung function. One-unit increase in INFLA score was linked with 12.41- and 11.31-ml decreases in FVC and FEV1, respectively. Compared with individuals with low air pollution exposure and low INFLA scores, participants with high air pollution and high INFLA scores had the lowest FVC and FEV1. Additionally, we observed that INFLA scores could modify the relationships of PM2.5, NO2, and NOx with FVC and FEV1 (Pinteraction <0.05). The negative impact of air pollutants on lung function was more pronounced in subjects with high INFLA scores in comparison to those with low INFLA scores. In conclusion, we demonstrated negative associations between ambient air pollution and lung function, and the observed associations were strengthened and modified by low-grade inflammation.

Theoretical study of piezoelectric and light absorption properties, and carrier mobilities of Janus TiPX (X = F, Cl, and Br) monolayers.

Janus TiPX (X = F, Cl, and Br) monolayers were systematically investigated through first-principles calculations. The Janus TiPX monolayers exhibit mechanical and dynamic stability. Two monolayers are indirect bandgap semiconductors, except the TiPBr monolayer, which has the features of a quasi-direct bandgap semiconductor. Biaxial strain can modify the band gap of single layers. The Janus TiPX monolayers have remarkable flexibility and piezoelectric properties. In particular, the TiPF monolayer shows high horizontal (44.18 pm V-1) and vertical piezoelectric coefficients (-3.59 pm V-1). These values exceed those of conventional bulk materials, like GaN (3.1 pm V-1) and α-quartz (2.3 pm V-1). All of the monolayers have absorption coefficients of 105 cm-1 for visible and ultraviolet (UV) light, which are one order of magnitude greater than that of MoSSe. Furthermore, TiPX monolayers have high carrier mobility. Janus TiPX monolayers represent a class of two-dimensional (2D) materials with exceptional properties and multifunctionality, holding significant promise for various applications in piezoelectric sensors, solar cells, and nano-electronic devices.

Anti-tumor and anti-metastasis of water-soluble sulfated ß-glucan derivatives from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Traditional fungi ß-glucan commonly possesses high molecular weight with poor water solubility, which remains significant challenge in the drug development and medical application. Water-soluble ß-glucan with high molecular weight (dHSCG) of 560 kDa, low molecular weight (dLSCG) of 60 kDa, and sulfated derivative (SCGS) with a molecular weight of 146 kDa and sulfate degree at 2.04 were obtained through well-controlled degradation and sulfated modification from Saccharomyces cerevisiae in this study. The structural characteristics were confirmed as ß-1,3/6-glucan by FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy. Carbohydrate microarrays and surface plasmon resonance revealed distinct and contrasting binding affinities between the natural ß-glucans and sulfated derivatives. SCGS exhibited strong binding to FGF and VEGF, while natural ß-glucan showed no response, suggesting its potential as a novel antitumor agent. Moreover, SCGS significantly inhibited the migration rate of the highly metastatic melanoma (B16F10) cells. The lung metastasis mouse model also demonstrated that SCGS significantly reduced and eliminated the nodules, achieving an inhibition rate of 86.7% in vivo, with a dramatic improvement in IFN-α, TNF-α, and IL-1ß levels. Through analysis of protein content and distribution in lung tissues, the anti-tumor and anti-metastasis mechanism of SCGS involves the regulation of degrading enzymes to protect extracellular matrix (ECM), as well as the reduction of angiogenic factor release. These findings provide a foundation for exploring the potential of SCGS in the development of new anti-tumor and anti-metastasis drugs and open up a new field in cancer research.

Correction: Long non-coding RNA LINC02163 accelerates malignant tumor behaviors in breast cancer by regulating the microRNA-511-3p/HMGA2 axis as a competing endogenous RNA.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3727/096504020X15928179818438.].

Democratizing digital microfluidics by a cloud-based design and manufacturing platform.

Akin to the impact that digital microelectronics had on electronic devices for information technology, digital microfluidics (DMF) was anticipated to transform fluidic devices for lab-on-a-chip (LoC) applications. However, despite a wealth of research and publications, electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) DMF has not achieved the anticipated wide adoption, and commercialization has been painfully slow. By identifying the technological and resource hurdles in developing DMF chip and control systems as the culprit, we envision democratizing DMF by building a standardized design and manufacturing platform. To achieve this vision, we introduce a proof-of-concept cloud platform that empowers any user to design, obtain, and operate DMF chips (https://edroplets.org). For chip design, we establish a web-based EWOD chip design platform with layout rules and automated wire routing. For chip manufacturing, we build a web-based EWOD chip manufacturing platform and fabricate four types of EWOD chips (i.e., glass, paper, PCB, and TFT) to demonstrate the foundry service workflow. For chip control, we introduce a compact EWOD control system along with web-based operating software. Although industrial fabrication services are beyond the scope of this work, we hope this perspective will inspire academic and commercial stakeholders to join the initiative toward a DMF ecosystem for the masses.

Fortunefuroic Acid J from Keteleeria hainanensis and Its Dual Inhibitory Effects on ATP-Citrate Lyase and Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase.

A previously undescribed triterpenoid (fortunefuroic acid J, 1) was isolated from the endangered conifer Keteleeria hainanensis, along with 20 other known terpenoids. Compound 1 is characterized by an unusual 3,4-seco-9ßH-lanost-3-oic acid motif, featuring a rare furoic acid moiety in its lateral chain. The structure elucidation of this compound was achieved through a combination of spectroscopic and computational methods. The C-15 epimers of 15-methoxypinusolidic acid (15R-8 and 15S-9) were successfully separated and identified for the first time. Compound 1 demonstrated dual inhibitory effects against ATP-citrate lyase (ACL, IC50: 0.92 µM) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1, IC50: 10.76 µM). Compounds 2 and 11 exclusively inhibited ACL, exhibiting IC50 values of 2.64 and 6.35 µM, respectively. Compound 1 is classified among the fortunefuroic acid-type compounds, previously isolated from K. fortunei, distinguished by the presence of a rare furoic acid moiety in their lateral chain. The chemotaxonomic significance of the 9ßH-lanost-26-oic acids in Keteleeria was briefly discussed. These findings highlight the importance of conserving plant species diversity, thereby enhancing the exploration of structurally diverse compounds and potential avenues for developing new therapeutics targeting ACL/ACC1-associated diseases.

Polycystic ovary syndrome in obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome: an updated meta-analysis.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is correlated with metabolic deterioration in patients experiencing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women diagnosed with PCOS exhibit a heightened prevalence of OSAHS. This meta-analysis aims to assess the morbidity of OSAHS in women affected by PCOS and to examine the differences in metabolism-related indicators between OSAHS-positive and OSAHS-negative in women with PCOS. Methods: A comprehensive literature analysis of OSAHS morbidity in women with PCOS was conducted, utilizing databases such as CNKI, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Wanfang. A comparison was carried out between patients with OSAHS-positive and those with OSAHS-negative in terms of their clinical characteristics and metabolic differences. The search language included English and Chinese. The acquired data were analyzed by employing RevMan 5.2 and Stata 11.0. Continuous variables with the same units were combined and analyzed through weighted mean differences (WMDs) as effect sizes, while continuous variables with different units were combined and analyzed through standardized mean differences (SMDs) as effect sizes. A conjoint analysis was performed on the basis of I2 value, using either a fixed effect model (I2 ≤ 50%) or a random effect model (I2 > 50%). Results: A total of 21 articles met the inclusion criteria for this study. The findings indicated that 20.8% of women with PCOS were found to have comorbid OSAHS. The subjects were categorized into various subgroups for meta-analysis on the basis of race, age, disease severity, body mass index (BMI), and diagnostic criteria of PCOS. The results revealed high morbidity of OSAHS in all subgroups. In addition, most metabolic indicators and parameters of metabolic syndrome were notably worse in women suffering from both PCOS and OSAHS in comparison to their counterparts solely diagnosed with PCOS. Conclusion: The current literature indicates higher morbidity of OSAHS among women with PCOS, linking OSAHS with worse metabolic status and obesity in this population. Consequently, clinicians are advised to prioritize the detection and management of OSAHS in women with PCOS. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#myprospero PROSPERO, identifier (CRD42024528264).

Risk of Parkinson's disease and depression severity in different populations: A two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis.

BACKGROUND: Depression is widely recognized as a common non-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD). Across different studies, the reported prevalence of depression in PD varies widely, ranging from 2.7% to 90%, but it is unclear whether this association is due to genetic or acquired factors. Whether there is a causal relationship remains unknown. The aim of this study was to use a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to investigate the causal effect of PD on depression. METHODS: Analyses were conducted separately for individuals of European and East Asian ancestry using publicly available summary data from genome-wide association studies. Depression was divided into two categories: ever depressed for a whole week and major depressive disorder (MDD). PD data were used as the exposure and were obtained from the International Parkinson's Disease Genomics Consortium and the BioBank Japan PheWeb, while depression data were used as the outcome and were obtained from the ntegrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU) Open GWAS Project(A public GWAS database） and the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. The influence of PD on depression was assessed using inverse variance weighted (IVW), weighted median, MR-Egger, and weighted mode methods. Heterogeneity and pleiotropy were tested, and the results were validated using FinnGen GWAS data from version R9. RESULTS: In individuals of European ancestry, there was a causal relationship between PD and ever depressed for a whole week (IVW method, odds ratio [OR] = 0.990; 95% CI, 0.984-0.996; p = .002), but no causal relationship was observed between PD and MDD (IVW method, OR = 0.974; 95% CI, 0.942-1.009; p = .141). In individuals of East Asian ancestry, no causal relationship was observed between PD and ever depressed for a whole week (IVW method, OR = 1.001; 95% CI, 0.829-1.209; p = .990) and between PD and MDD (IVW method, OR = 1.017; 95% CI, 0.982-1.052; p = .342). The results of the three additional analysis methods were similar to those of the IVW method, and there was no heterogeneity according to Cochran's Q-test. There was no evidence of pleiotropy based on MR-Egger intercept test and MR-PRESSO. The FinnGen validation dataset supported these findings. The results are stable and reliable. CONCLUSION: The observed increase in depression among PD patients could potentially be attributed to modifiable acquired factors. Consequently, there is an urgent need to strengthen the management of PD patients in order to prevent the development of depression in the future.

Association between factors in life course and physiological disorders among the middle-aged and older population in Zhoushan city of Zhejiang province. / æµ™æ±ŸçœèˆŸå±±å¸‚ä¸­è€å¹´äººç¾¤ç”Ÿå‘½åŽ†ç¨‹å› ç´ ä¸Žç”Ÿç†å¤±è°ƒçš„å ³è”ç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the associations between factors in life course and physiological disorders in the middle-aged and elderly population of Zhoushan city of Zhejiang province, and the mediating roles of lifestyle and mental health. METHODS: A total of 1553 island residents aged ≥45 years were enrolled from the Zhejiang Metabolic Syndrome Cohort Zhoushan Liuheng Sub-cohort. The demographic information, life-course information, lifestyle, and mental health information of participants were documented, and blood samples of were collected. The status of aging was evaluated by physiological disorders calculation model developed by authors previously. The Shapley value decomposition method was used to assess the cumulative and relative contribution of multiple factors in life course to the aging. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to classify subgroups. General linear regression model was used to assess the associations between the life-course subgroups and physiological disorders. Five key factors associated with aging were finally identified. Logistic regression model, general linear regression model, and mediation analysis model were used to assess the complex associations between life-course subgroups, key factors, unhealthy lifestyle, mental health, and aging. RESULTS: Shapley value decomposition method indicated that eight types of life-course factors explained 6.63% (SE=0.0008) of the individual physiological disorders variance, with the greatest relative contribution (2.78%) from adversity experiences in adulthood. The study participants were clustered into 4 subgroups, and subgroups experiencing more adversity in adulthood and having low educational attainment or experiencing more trauma and having poorer relationships in childhood had significantly higher levels of physiological disorders. Life-course subgroups and key factors (childhood trauma and health, adversity experience in adulthood, and lower education) were positively associated with unhealthy lifestyles (ß=0.12-0.41, P<0.05). In addition, life-course subgroups and key factors (adversity experience in adulthood) were positively associated with psychological problems (OR=2.14-4.68, P<0.05). Unhealthy lifestyle scores showed a marginal significant association with physiological disorders (ß=0.03, P=0.055). However, no significant association was found between psychological problems and physiological disorders (ß=0.03, P=0.748). The results of the mediation analysis model suggested that unhealthy lifestyles partially mediated the associations between life-course subgroups, adversity experience in adulthood and physiological disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple life-course factors contribute about 6% of the variance in physiological disorders in the middle aged and elderly population of the study area; subgroups with adverse life course experiences have higher levels of aging; and the association may be partially mediated by unhealthy lifestyles.

Efficient Structural Relaxation Based on the Random Phase Approximation: Applications to Water Clusters.

We report an improved implementation for evaluating the analytical gradients of the random phase approximation (RPA) electron-correlation energy based on atomic orbitals and the localized resolution of the identity scheme. The more efficient RPA force calculations allow us to relax the structures of medium-sized water clusters. Particular attention is paid to the structures and energy orderings of the low-energy isomers of (H2O)n clusters with n = 21, 22, and 25. It is found that the RPA energy ordering of the low-energy isomers of these water clusters is rather sensitive to the basis set used. For the five low-energy isomers of (H2O)25, the RPA energy ordering still undergoes a change by increasing the basis set to the quadruple to quintuple level. The standard RPA underbinds the water clusters, and this underbinding behavior becomes more pronounced by increasing the basis size to the complete basis set (CBS) limit. The renormalized single excitation (rSE) correction remedies this underbinding, giving rise to a noticeable overbinding behavior at finite basis sets. However, as the CBS limit is approached, RPA+rSE yields an accuracy for the binding energies that is comparable to that of the best available double hybrid functionals, as demonstrated for the WATER27 test set.

A 10-year retrospective cohort of diabetic patients in a large medical institution: Utilizing multiple machine learning models for diabetic kidney disease prediction.

Objective: As the prevalence of diabetes steadily increases, the burden of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is also intensifying. In response, we have utilized a 10-year diabetes cohort from our medical center to train machine learning-based models for predicting DKD and interpreting relevant factors. Methods: Employing a large dataset from 73,101 hospitalized type 2 diabetes patients at The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, we analyzed demographic and medication data. Machine learning models, including XGBoost, CatBoost, LightGBM, Random Forest, AdaBoost, GBDT (gradient boosting decision tree), and SGD (stochastic gradient descent), were trained on these data, focusing on interpretability by SHAP. SHAP explains the output of the models by assigning an importance value to each feature for a particular prediction, enabling a clear understanding of how individual features influence the prediction outcomes. Results: The XGBoost model achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.95 and an area under the precision-recall curve (AUPR) of 0.76, while CatBoost recorded an AUC of 0.97 and an AUPR of 0.84. These results underscore the effectiveness of these models in predicting DKD in patients with type 2 diabetes. Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive approach for predicting DKD in patients with type 2 diabetes, employing machine learning techniques. The findings are crucial for the early detection and intervention of DKD, offering a roadmap for future research and healthcare strategies in diabetes management. Additionally, the presence of non-diabetic kidney diseases and diabetes with complications was identified as significant factors in the development of DKD.

EXTL3 and NPC1 are mammalian host factors for Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus infection.

Baculovirus is an obligate parasitic virus of the phylum Arthropoda. Baculovirus including Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) has been widely used in the laboratory and industrial preparation of proteins or protein complexes. Due to its large packaging capacity and non-replicative and non-integrative natures in mammals, baculovirus has been proposed as a gene therapy vector for transgene delivery. However, the mechanism of baculovirus transduction in mammalian cells has not been fully illustrated. Here, we employed a cell surface protein-focused CRISPR screen to identify host dependency factors for baculovirus transduction in mammalian cells. The screening experiment uncovered a series of baculovirus host factors in human cells, including exostosin-like glycosyltransferase 3 (EXTL3) and NPC intracellular cholesterol transporter 1 (NPC1). Further investigation illustrated that EXTL3 affected baculovirus attachment and entry by participating in heparan sulfate biosynthesis. In addition, NPC1 promoted baculovirus transduction by mediating membrane fusion and endosomal escape. Moreover, in vivo, baculovirus transduction in Npc1-/+ mice showed that disruption of Npc1 gene significantly reduced baculovirus transduction in mouse liver. In summary, our study revealed the functions of EXTL3 and NPC1 in baculovirus attachment, entry, and endosomal escape in mammalian cells, which is useful for understanding baculovirus transduction in human cells.

Revealing nutrient limitation status of microorganisms in the soil of Robinia pseudoacacia plantation through soil stoichiometry and enzyme metrology.

Exploring nutrient limitation in forest soil holds significant implications for forest tending and management. However, current research on nutrient limitation status of microorganisms in Robinia pseudoacacia plantations within the Loess Plateau remains insufficient. To investigate soil microbial nutrient limitation of R. pseu-doacacia plantations on the Loess Plateau, we selected R. pseudoacacia plantations with different afforestation time series (15, 25, 35, and 45 years) and a pile of barren slope cropland (control) in Yongshou County, Shaanxi Province as the research objects. We analyzed the contents of soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus, and the activities of ß-1,4-glucosidase (BG), cellobiose hydrolase (CBH), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), ß-1,4-N-acetylglucoside (NAG) and phosphatase (AP). We analyzed the soil nutrient limitation by stoichiometry and enzyme metrology. The results showed a shift in soil pH from alkaline to acidic during vegetation restoration process, and that total phosphorus exhibited a gradual decrease over the course of 0 to 25 years. Soil orga-nic matter, total nitrogen and enzyme activities exhibited an increasing trend during the same time frame. However, between 25 and 45 years of age, soil total phosphorus, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, AP and LAP gradually declined while NAG, BG, and CBH initially increased and then decreased. Notably, the values of (BG+CBH)/(LAP+NAG), (BG+CBH)/AP and (LAP+NAG)/AP in R. pseudoacacia plantations were higher than the global average throughout the process of vegetation restoration. In the study area, the vector length was less than 1 and gradually increased, indicating that a progressive increase in microbial carbon limitation during the process of vegetation restoration. The vector angle exceeded 45° and exhibited an overall decreasing trend, suggesting that soil microorganisms were constrained by phosphorus (P) with a gradual deceleration of P limitation, without any nitrogen (N) limitation. The restoration of R. pseudoacacia plantation resulted in significant change in soil physical and chemical properties, while the time series of afforestation also influenced nutrient limitation of soil microorganisms.

Consideration on immunotherapy of liver metastases of malignant tumors.

In this editorial, we comment on the article "Analysis of the impact of immunotherapy efficacy and safety in patients with gastric cancer and liver metastasis" by Liu et al that was published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. It has prompted us to think and summarize some thoughts on immunotherapy for malignant tumor liver metastasis. Immunotherapy plays a crucial role in the treatment of malignant tumors; however, the presence of liver metastases in advanced tumors may impact its efficacy. Although patients with liver metastases can still benefit from immunotherapy, multiple clinical studies have indicated that, compared to other sites of metastasis, liver metastases may diminish the effectiveness of immunotherapy. The efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with liver metastases often fails to reach the ideal level, primarily due to the liver metastases exploiting the host's peripheral immune tolerance mechanisms to promote systemic CD8(+) T cell exhaustion, resulting in a systemic immune-tolerant environment. This article aims to summarize the reasons for the decreased efficacy of immunotherapy following liver metastasis in various malignant tumors and propose potential clinical strategies for management.

Underlying mechanisms of change in the effects of cognitive behavior therapy on posttraumatic stress disorders among Chinese children: Results from a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Evidence for the effectiveness of group-based trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy (TF-CBT) has existed, but little is known about how group-based TF-CBT works in the treatment of children with PTSD. The purpose of the present study is to explore the mediators for the reduction of PTSD severity in group-based TF-CBT. METHOD: We analyzed data from a randomized controlled trial conducted in China. In this trial, 234 children with PTSD were randomly assigned to the TF-CBT group or the treatment as usual (TAU) group. The primary outcome (reduction in severity of PTSD symptoms) and possible mediators (trauma memory quality, emotion regulation strategies, and resilience) were assessed at baseline and posttreatment. The mediation analysis was performed to investigate the indirect effects of possible mediators on treatment outcomes. RESULTS: The mediation model revealed that changes in trauma memory quality, maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, and resilience mediated the relationship between the group (TF-CBT vs. TAU) and PTSD at post-treatment. Adaptive emotion regulation strategies were not a key mechanism underlying PTSD reduction in group-based TF-CBT. CONCLUSION: Group-based TF-CBT might affect PTSD by reducing risk factors, like trauma memory quality and maladaptive emotion strategies. Group-based TF-CBT also might affect PTSD by increasing protective factors, like resilience. Thus, monitoring these mediators throughout treatment might be an important factor in optimizing treatment outcomes.