A self-amplifying NO-HS loop mediates melatonin-induced CBF-responsive pathway and cold tolerance in watermelon.

Melatonin is a pivotal bioactive molecule that enhances plant cold stress tolerance, but the precise mechanisms remain enigmatic. Here, we have discovered that overexpressing melatonin biosynthetic gene ClCOMT1 or applying exogenous melatonin activates the C-repeat binding factor (CBF)-responsive pathway and enhances watermelon cold tolerance. This enhancement is accompanied by elevated levels of nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (HS), along with upregulation of nitrate reductase 1 (ClNR1) and L-cysteine desulfhydrase (ClLCD) genes involved in NO and HS generation respectively.

Augmenting Antitumor Immune Effects through the Coactivation of cGAS-STING and NF-κB Crosstalk in Dendritic Cells and Macrophages by Engineered Manganese Ferrite Nanohybrids.

The specific activation of dendritic cells (DCs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) can activate innate and adaptive immune responses to reverse the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment. In this study, manganese ferrite nanohybrid MnFeO@(M1M-DOX) is synthesized to activate cGAS-STING and NF-κB crosstalk in DCs and TAMs. MnFeO, as the source of Fe/Fe and Mn, is encapsulated with a microdose of doxorubicin (DOX) using an M1 macrophage cytomembrane.

Empowering local governments: How environmental fiscal federalism affects greenhouse gas emissions in China?

Fiscal decentralization holds promise in addressing inherent challenges such as incentive deficiencies and information asymmetry in command-and-control environmental regulations. However, its effectiveness in mitigating climate change remains unclear. This study examines the impacts of environmental fiscal federalism on greenhouse gas emissions by applying a high-dimensional fixed-effects panel model to a multi-source panel dataset from 2006 to 2017 for 1757 counties in China.

Effects of Perennial Alfalfa on the Structure and Function of Soil Micro-Food Webs in the Loess Plateau.

The Loess Plateau is one of the most vulnerable areas in the world. Numerous studies have been conducted to investigate alfalfa fields with different planting years. Soil microorganisms and nematodes are vital in ecosystem functionality and nutrient cycling.

Cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel 20 regulates melatonin-induced calcium signaling and cold tolerance in watermelon.

Melatonin plays a crucial role in regulating plant cold tolerance, but the mechanisms underlying signal transduction remain elusive. In this study, we discovered that overexpression of the melatonin biosynthetic gene caffeic acid O-methyltransferase1 (COMT1) enhanced watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) cold tolerance, accompanied by the accumulation of cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]cyt), a stimulation of Ca2+ influx, and upregulation of 4 Ca2+-permeable channel genes (CNGC2/10/17/20). Conversely, the knockout of COMT1 exhibited contrasting effects compared with its overexpression.

Exploring the impacts of producer services agglomeration on manufacturing carbon emissions: Empirical evidence from China.

This study employs panel data from 30 provinces and cities in China from 2004 to 2019 to empirically estimate the relationship between producer services agglomeration (PSA) and manufacturing carbon emissions. The findings suggest that such agglomeration is beneficial for lowering carbon emissions in manufacturing, and this conclusion passes multiple robustness tests. Heterogeneity analysis results show that PSA in the east and west regions significantly lowers manufacturing carbon emissions, while its impact in the central region is not significant.

Response of soil nematode community structure and metabolic footprint to nitrogen addition in alfalfa fields on the Loess Plateau.

Nematodes serve as key indicators of soil health in ecological studies. Therefore, the current study examined the community structure and metabolic footprint of soil nematodes in alfalfa fields across varying levels of N supply in the semi-arid Loess Plateau. The findings offer theoretical guidance for the sustainable management of artificial alfalfa grasslands in this region.

Monitoring Fatigue Damage of Orthotropic Steel Decks Using Nonlinear Ultrasonic Waves.

Orthotropic steel decks (OSDs) are commonly used in the construction of bridges due to their load-bearing capabilities. However, they are prone to fatigue damage over time due to the cyclic loads from vehicles. Therefore, the early structural health monitoring of fatigue damage in OSDs is crucial for ensuring bridge safety.

A simulation study of transcranial magnetoacoustic stimulation of the basal ganglia thalamic neural network to improve pathological beta oscillations in Parkinson's disease.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease. Transcranial magnetoacoustic stimulation (TMAS) is a new therapy that combines a transcranial focused acoustic pressure field with a magnetic field to excite or inhibit neurons in targeted area, which suppresses the abnormally elevated beta band amplitude in PD states, with high spatial resolution and non-invasively.

Objective: To study the effective stimulation parameters of TMAS mononuclear and multinuclear stimulation for the treatment of PD with reduced beta band energy, improved abnormal synchronization, and no thermal damage.

Perceived barriers and influencing factors of psychological help-seeking amongst Chinese nurses exposed to COVID-19.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused psychological problems among nurses worldwide. However, their willingness to seek professional help is relatively low, due to perceived barriers that have remained unknown.

Aims: This study analysed the potential barriers and influencing factors of psychological help-seeking among nurses participating in community COVID-19 epidemic prevention work.

Targeting antioxidant factor Nrf2 by raffinose ameliorates lipid dysmetabolism-induced pyroptosis, inflammation and fibrosis in NAFLD.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a persistent liver condition that affects both human health and animal productive efficiency on a global scale. A number of naturally occurring compounds activate nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) as a transcription factor with important protective effects against many liver diseases, including NAFLD. Raffinose (Ra), an oligosaccharide extracted from several plants, exhibits diverse biological functions.

Accelerated Screening of Alternative DNA Base-Organic Molecule-Base Architectures via Integrated Theory and Experiment.

Organic molecule-mediated noncanonical DNA self-assembly expands the standard DNA base-pairing alphabets. However, only a very limited number of small molecules have been recognized as mediators because of the tedious and complicated experiments like crystallization and microscopy imaging. Here we present an integrative screening protocol incorporating molecular dynamics (MD) for fast theoretical simulation and native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for convenient experimental validation.

[Research progress in surgical treatment of avascular necrosis of talus].

Objective: To summarize the surgical treatment methods for avascular necrosis of the talus.

Methods: The recent domestic and international literature related to avascular necrosis of the talus was extensively conducted. The pathogenesis, surgical treatment methods, and prognosis were summarized.

Effect of chronic cold stress on gut microbial diversity, intestinal inflammation and pyroptosis in mice.

Hypothermia is an essential environmental factor in gastrointestinal diseases, but the main molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis remain unclear. The current study sought to better understand how chronic cold stress affects gut damage and its underlying mechanisms. In this work, to establish chronic cold stress (CS)-induced intestinal injury model, mice were subjected to continuous cold exposure (4 °C) for 3 h per day for 3 weeks.

A deep learning based holistic diagnosis system for immunohistochemistry interpretation and molecular subtyping.

Background: Breast cancer in different molecular subtypes, which is determined by the overexpression rates of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and Ki67, exhibit distinct symptom characteristics and sensitivity to different treatment. The immunohistochemical method, one of the most common detecting tools for tumour markers, is heavily relied on artificial judgment and in clinical practice, with an inherent limitation in interpreting stability and operating efficiency. Here, a holistic intelligent breast tumour diagnosis system has been developed for tumour-markeromic analysis, combining the automatic interpretation and clinical suggestion.

Help-Seeking Preferences and Influencing Factors Among Chinese Nurses Exposed to COVID-19: A Person-Centered Approach.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore help-seeking preference categories and crucial influencing factors among community nurses exposed to COVID-19 in China using a new person-centered approach.

Design: A cross-sectional design including an online self-reported questionnaire survey was used.

Methods: A total of 667 nurses who participated in COVID-19 prevention and control work were recruited.

Effect of calcium plus Vitamin-D combined with calcitriol in the treatment of patients with Type-2 diabetes and osteoporosis: A retrospective observational analysis.

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of calcium plus Vitamin-D combined with calcitriol in the treatment of patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and osteoporosis.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study clinical records of 90 patients with T2DM combined with osteoporosis, treated in The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from October 2019 to April 2022 were incuded. All patients received basic hypoglycemic treatment.

Vacancies-regulated Prussian Blue Analogues through Precipitation Conversion for Cathodes in Sodium-ion Batteries with Energy Densities over 500 Wh/kg.

Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) have been widely applied in many fields, especially as cathode materials of sodium-ion batteries on account of their low cost and open framework for fast ions transport. However, the capacity of reported PBAs has a great distance from its theoretical value. Herein, we proposed that [Fe(CN)] vacancies are crucial point for the high specific capacity for the first time.

The Ameliorative Role of Lico A on Aflatoxin B-Triggered Hepatotoxicity Partially by Activating Nrf2 Signal Pathway.

Aflatoxin B (AFB) is one of the most harmful and toxic mycotoxins in foods and feeds, posing a serious health risk to both humans and animals, especially its hepatotoxicity. Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), an important nuclear transcription factor, is generally recognized as a potential target for phytochemicals to ameliorate liver injury. The current study sought to elucidate the molecular processes by which licochalcone A (Lico A), a compound derived from Xinjiang licorice , protects against AFB toxicity.

Long-term phosphorus fertilization reveals the phosphorus limitation shaping the soil micro-food web stability in the Loess Plateau.

The intricate decomposition pathways within soil micro-food webs are vital for cycling soil organic carbon and nutrients, influencing the quality, productivity, and sustainability of soil systems. However, the impact of diverse phosphorus addition on these organic decomposition pathways still needs to be explored. In an 8-year experiment, phosphorus (P) fertilizer was added at varying levels (0 kg ha, CK; 60 kg ha, P60; 120 kg ha, P120; and 180 kg ha, P180), to investigate the response of the soil micro-food web.

Exploring spatiotemporal pattern in the association between short-term exposure to fine particulate matter and COVID-19 incidence in the continental United States: a Leroux-conditional-autoregression-based strategy.

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated that fine particulate matter (PM) is adversely associated with COVID-19 incidence. However, few studies have explored the spatiotemporal heterogeneity in this association, which is critical for developing cost-effective pollution-related policies for a specific location and epidemic stage, as well as, understanding the temporal change of association between PM and an emerging infectious disease like COVID-19.

Methods: The outcome was state-level daily COVID-19 cases in 49 native United States between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021.

Debonding Detection in Grouted Sleeves Using Axisymmetric Longitudinal Guided Waves.

Grouted sleeves (GSs) are a type of precast joint that can effectively connect steel rebars with excellent performance. However, the grouting debonding problem, which can occur due to the leakage of the glue plug, can seriously affect the properties of GSs. In this paper, a guided-wave-based structural health monitoring (SHM) method is used to detect debonding in GSs.