Breeding pairs with color aberrations in oriental reed warblers.

In 2017, one pair of Oriental reed warblers (Acrocephalus orientalis) with color aberrations was found in Yongnianwa National Wetland Park, Hebei, China. The female bird exhibited white feathers on the head, neck, and upper back, and the base of the beak was flesh-red in color. The male had a few feathers on the outer edges of the left and right primary wing coverts that were white, which was determined to be leucism after analysis. The breeding pairs laid their first egg on May 29, with a clutch size of four eggs. After an incubation period of 13 days, two chicks hatched on June 13, 2017. The nest was found empty on June 20 when the chicks were 7 days old and before fledging age; therefore, it was presumed that the chicks had been predated. A white parrot egg was added to the nest during the incubation period to test the egg recognition ability of breeding pairs and was successfully rejected. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of color aberrations in the Oriental reed warbler, and we found that this color aberrations did not affect some reproductive and antiparasitic behaviors of the birds, but whether it affects their breeding success needs to be further studied.

Efficient photoanode with a MoS2/TiO2/Au nanoparticle heterostructure for ultraviolet-visible photoelectrocatalysis.

Green energy technology is generally becoming one of hot issues that need to be solved due to the adverse effects on the environment of fossil fuels. One of the strategies being studied and developed by theorists and experimentalists is the use of photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells, which are emerging as a candidate to produce hydrogen from water splitting. However, creating photoelectrodes that meet the requirements for PEC water splitting has emerged as the primary obstacle in bringing this technology to commercial fruition. Here, we construct a heterostructure, which consists of MoS2/TiO2/Au nanoparticles (NPs) to overcome the drawbacks of the photoanode. Owing to the dependence on charge transfer, the bandgap of MoS2/TiO2and the utilization the Au NPs as a stimulant for charges separation of TiO2by localized surface plasmon resonances effect as well as the increase of hot electron injection to cathode, leading to photocatalytic activities are improved. The results have recorded a significant increase in the photocurrent density from 2.3µAcm-2of TiO2to approximately 16.3µAcm-2of MoS2/TiO2/Au NPs. This work unveils a promising route to enhance the visible light adsorption and charge transfer in photo-electrode of the PEC cells by combining two-dimensional materials with metal NPs.

Discovery of interspecific alloparental care of silver-eared mesia nestlings by a mountain bulbul.

Although brood parasitism has been well documented among bird species, interspecific alloparenting, which is parenting behavior of adult individuals of one species toward the progeny of another species, is increasingly being reported. However, compared with the many reports of interspecific alloparenting behavior in North America and Europe, this phenomenon is less well known in China, with only two prior cases of interspecific alloparenting behavior in birds having been recorded. On June 23, 2022, we observed an instance of interspecific alloparental care provided by a mountain bulbul (Ixos mcclellandii) towards silver-eared mesia (Leiothrix argentauris) nestlings in Caihu Village, Jingdong County, Yunnan Province, southwestern China. We recorded 19.5 h of footage during the period in which the mountain bulbul provided care for the nestlings with the aim of documenting detailed observations of interspecific alloparenting to contribute to our overall understanding of this behavior. The alloparenting behavior of the mountain bulbul lasted for at least 5 days. During this period, both silver-eared mesia parents fed their nestlings 157 times and removed their nestlings' fecal sacs 5 times, while the mountain bulbul fed the nestlings 30 times and removed the nestlings' fecal sacs 4 times. In addition, the male silver-eared mesia parent chased the mountain bulbul away during nestling feeding. As there was no life history information for the mountain bulbul at that time, we were unable to directly determine why it exhibited interspecific alloparental care. Regardless of the reason for the mountain bulbul's behavior, these findings provide valuable information for future studies on the reproductive ecology of these two bird species.

Sequential effects of autoclaved heat treatment and electron beam irradiation on acorn starch: Multiscale structural differences and related mechanisms.

In this study, the differences in the modification effects and related mechanisms of different times (20 and 40 min) of autoclaved heat (AH) treatment and different doses (2 and 4 kGy) of electron beam irradiation (EBI) in different sequences of effects on acorn starch were investigated. The results showed that both AH and EBI reduced the amylose content (22.70 to 19.59%) and enthalpy (10.28 to 1.84%) of starch but increased the resistant starch content (53.69 to 64.11%). AH treatment made the crystalline regions of the residual starch granules denser, which was resistant to the action of amylase enzymes. EBI degraded the long chain of starch, which increased the solubility. Notably, EBI pretreatment improves the reactive sites by inducing depolymerization and disorder in starch internal structure, thus increasing the modification extent of AH-modified starch, forming starch with lower viscosity, better hydration, and digestibility resistance, therefore being used as an ingredient for functional foods.

Digestion and absorption characteristics of iron-chelating silver carp scale collagen peptide and insights into their chelation mechanism.

Iron deficiency is widespread throughout the world, supplementing sufficient iron or improving the bioavailability of iron is the fundamental strategy to solve the problem of iron scarcity. Herein, we explored a new form of iron supplement, iron chelates of silver carp scales (SCSCP-Fe) were prepared from collagen peptide of silver carp scales (SCSCP) and FeCl2·4H2O, the effects of external environment and simulated gastrointestinal digestive environment on the stability of SCSCP-Fe and the structural changes of peptide iron chelates during digestion were investigated. The results of in vitro iron absorption promotion showed that the iron bioavailability of SCSCP-Fe was higher than that of FeSO4. Two potential high iron chelating peptides DTSGGYDEY (DY) and LQGSNEIEIR (LR) were screened and synthesized from the SCSCP sequence by molecular dynamics and LC-MS/MS techniques. The FTIR results displayed that the binding sites of DY and LR for Fe2+ were the carboxyl group, the amino group, and the nitrogen atom on the amide group on the peptide. ITC results indicated that the chelation reactions of DY and LR with Fe2+ were mainly dominated by electrostatic interactions, forming chelates in stoichiometric ratios of 1:2 and 1:1, respectively. Both DY and LR had a certain ability to promote iron absorption. The transport of DY-Fe chelate may be a combination of the three pathways: PepT1 vector pathway, cell bypass, and endocytosis, while LR-Fe chelate was dominated by bivalent metal ion transporters. This study is expected to provide theoretical reference and technical support for the high-value utilization of silver carp scales and the development of novel iron supplements.

Moderate regulation of wheat B-starch ratio: Improvement of molecular structure, spatial conformation, aggregation behavior of reconstituted fermented doughs and its processing suitability.

Aiming to investigate the changes and effects of different particle sizes of wheat A/B starch during dough fermentation, the present study reconstituted A/B starch fractions in ratios of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100, further blended with gluten and subjected to slight (20 min), medium (30 min), and high (60 min) fermentation processes by yeasts. Results showed that fermentation gas production promoted gluten network extension, inducing starch granule exposure and dough surface roughness. Also, fermentation fractured protein intermolecular disulfide bonds and decreased α-helix and ß-folded structure content, contributing to GMP, LPP, and SPP content decreases. Moreover, moderately increasing the B-starch ratio in the dough can improve gluten network stability, continuity, and air-holding capacity. The 25A-75B steam bread exhibited optimal processing suitability (better morphology, texture, and quality) due to its higher GMP and polymer protein content with lower free sulfhydryl and monomeric protein content. Further, conformational relationships indicated the key indicators influencing dough products' properties were free sulfhydryl content, GMP content, protein molecular weight distribution, and secondary structure. The obtained findings contributed to understanding the effect of wheat starch granule size distribution on dough processing behavior, and future targeted breeding for wheat cultivars with high B-starch content for improved fermentation pasta product qualities.

Mindfulness and acceptance-based training for elite adolescent athletes: a mixed-method exploratory study.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a specifically designed mindfulness-acceptance-insight-commitment (MAIC) training program on relevant psychological factors (i.e., mindfulness, acceptance, performance-related satisfaction) as well as sport training performance for elite adolescent athletes from Hong Kong. And it also aimed to explore the athletes' real experiences (i.e., receptiveness and perceptions) of completing the MAIC program. Methods and design: The mixed-method was used in this study, including a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and a qualitative exploration. The RCT employed a 2 (groups) x 3 (data collection points) design involving 40 elite adolescent athletes from the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI). These athletes were randomly assigned to either the MAIC training group (MT; n = 20, Mage = 15.65) or the control group (CG; n = 20, Mage = 15.85) to further test the effectiveness of the MAIC intervention on mindfulness, acceptance, performance-related satisfaction, and sport training performance. Subsequent to the RCT, the qualitative exploration was used to explore the athletes' real experiences towards the MAIC program. In the qualitative exploration, all athletes who participated in the MAIC program were invited to participate in voluntary semi-structured interviews. Of these, 14 athletes chose to take part in the interviews. The RCT employed a 2×3 mixed-design ANOVA, while thematic analysis was applied to the qualitative exploration. Results: The results revealed that the MAIC training program significantly enhanced athletes' mindfulness, acceptance, satisfaction with performance, and sport training performance. However, these effects diminished at the follow-up assessment compared to post-training. Notably, the acceptance level of MT athletes did not significantly differ from CG athletes at the follow-up assessment. Additionally, the qualitative analysis identified four key dimensions: (a) Attitude towards MAIC training, (b) Reflection on the MAIC learning process, (c) Outcomes of MAIC training, and (d) Recommendations for future MAIC training. Overall, the qualitative findings complemented and reinforced the quantitative results, offering deeper insights into athletes' experiences and valuable suggestions for further enhancing the MAIC program. Conclusion: The findings suggested that the specifically designed MAIC training program in this study effectively enhanced sport training performance and various psychological factors among elite adolescent athletes from Hong Kong. Nevertheless, further investigations are still required to comprehensively evaluate and further develop the MAIC training program.

Can Chinese herbal medicine offer feasible solutions for newly diagnosed esophageal cancer patients with malnutrition? a multi-institutional real-world study.

Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) is a major cause of cancer-related mortality in Taiwan and globally. Patients with EC are highly prone to malnutrition, which adversely affects their prognosis. While Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is commonly used alongside conventional anti-cancer treatments, its long-term impact on EC patients with malnutrition remains unclear. Methods: This study utilized a multi-center cohort from the Chang Gung Research Database, focusing on the long-term outcomes of CHM in EC patients with malnutrition between 1 January 2001, and 31 December 2018. Patients were monitored for up to 5 years or until death. Overall survival (OS) rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Overlap weighting and landmark analysis were employed to address confounding and immortal time biases. Additionally, the study analyzed prescription data using a CHM network to identify key CHMs for EC with malnutrition, and potential molecular pathways were investigated using the Reactome database. Results: EC patients with malnutrition who used CHM had a higher 5-year OS compared with nonusers (22.5% vs. 9% without overlap weighting; 24.3% vs. 13.3% with overlap weighting; log-rank test: p = 0.006 and 0.016, respectively). The median OS of CHM users was significantly longer than that of nonusers (19.8 vs. 12.9 months, respectively). Hazard ratio (HR) analysis showed a 31% reduction in all-cause mortality risk for CHM users compared with nonusers (HR: 0.69, 95% confidence interval: 0.50-0.94, p = 0.019). We also examined 665 prescriptions involving 306 CHM, with Hedyotis diffusa Willd. exhibiting the highest frequency of use. A CHM network was created to determine the primary CHMs and their combinations. The identified CHMs were associated with the regulation of immune and metabolic pathways, particularly in areas related to immune modulation, anti-cancer cachexia, promotion of digestion, and anti-tumor activity. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest a correlation between CHM use and improved clinical outcomes in EC patients with malnutrition. The analysis identified core CHMs and combinations of formulations that play a crucial role in immunomodulation and metabolic regulation. These findings lay the groundwork for more extensive research on the use of CHM for the management of malnutrition in patients with EC.

Electronic Health Literacy Scale-Web3.0 for Older Adults with Noncommunicable Diseases: Validation Study.

BACKGROUND: In the current digital era, eHealth literacy plays an indispensable role in health care and self-management among older adults with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Measuring eHealth literacy appropriately and accurately ensures the successful implementation and evaluation of pertinent research and interventions. However, existing eHealth literacy measures focus mainly on individuals' abilities of accessing and comprehending eHealth information (Web1.0), whereas the capabilities for web-based interaction (Web2.0) and using eHealth information (Web3.0) have not been adequately evaluated. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the reliability, validity, and measurement invariance of the eHealth Literacy Scale-Web3.0 (eHLS-Web3.0) among older adults with NCDs. METHODS: A total of 642 Chinese older adults with NCDs (mean age 65.78, SD 3.91 years; 55.8% female) were recruited in the baseline assessment, of whom 134 (mean age 65.63, SD 3.99 years; 58.2% female) completed the 1-month follow-up assessment. Baseline measures included the Chinese version of the 24-item 3D eHLS-Web3.0, the Chinese version of the 8-item unidimensional eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS), and demographic information. Follow-up measures included the 24-item eHLS-Web3.0 and accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary behavior. A series of statistical analyses, for example, Cronbach α, composite reliability coefficient (CR), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and multigroup CFA, were performed to examine the internal consistency and test-retest reliabilities, as well as the construct, concurrent, convergent, discriminant, and predictive validities, and the measurement invariance of the eHLS-Web3.0 across gender, education level, and residence. RESULTS: Cronbach α and CR were within acceptable ranges of 0.89-0.94 and 0.90-0.97, respectively, indicating adequate internal consistency of the eHLS-Web3.0 and its subscales. The eHLS-Web3.0 also demonstrated cross-time stability, with baseline and follow-up measures showing a significant intraclass correlation of 0.81-0.91. The construct validity of the 3D structure model of the eHLS-Web3.0 was supported by confirmatory factor analyses. The eHLS-Web3.0 exhibited convergent validity with an average variance extracted value of 0.58 and a CR value of 0.97. Discriminant validity was supported by CFA results for a proposed 4-factor model integrating the 3 eHLS-Web3.0 subscales and eHEALS. The predictive validity of the eHLS-Web3.0 for health behaviors was supported by significant associations of the eHLS-Web3.0 with light physical activity (ß=.36, P=.004), moderate to vigorous physical activity (ß=.49, P<.001), and sedentary behavior (ß=-.26, P=.002). Finally, the measurement invariance of the eHLS-Web3.0 across gender, education level, and residence was supported by the establishment of configural, metric, strong, and strict invariances. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides timely empirical evidence on the reliability, validity, and measurement invariance of the eHLS-Web3.0, suggesting that the 24-item 3D eHLS-Web3.0 is an appropriate and valid tool for measuring eHealth literacy among older adults with NCDs within the Web3.0 sphere.

Multi-omic Analysis of Human B-cell Activation Reveals a Key Lysosomal BCAT1 Role in mTOR Hyperactivation by B-cell receptor and TLR9.

B-lymphocytes play major adaptive immune roles, producing antibody and driving T-cell responses. However, how immunometabolism networks support B-cell activation and differentiation in response to distinct receptor stimuli remains incompletely understood. To gain insights, we systematically investigated acute primary human B-cell transcriptional, translational and metabolomic responses to B-cell receptor (BCR), Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), CD40-ligand (CD40L), interleukin-4 (IL4) or combinations thereof. T-independent BCR/TLR9 co-stimulation, which drives malignant and autoimmune B-cell states, jointly induced PD-L1 plasma membrane expression, supported by NAD metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. BCR/TLR9 also highly induced the transaminase BCAT1, which localized to lysosomal membranes to support branched chain amino acid synthesis and mTORC1 hyperactivation. BCAT1 inhibition blunted BCR/TLR9, but not CD40L/IL4-triggered B-cell proliferation, IL10 expression and BCR/TLR pathway-driven lymphoma xenograft outgrowth. These results provide a valuable resource, reveal receptor-mediated immunometabolism remodeling to support key B-cell phenotypes including PD-L1 checkpoint signaling, and identify BCAT1 as a novel B-cell therapeutic target.

Adherence to 24-Hour Movement Guidelines Among Chinese Older Adults: Prevalence, Correlates, and Associations With Physical and Mental Health Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: It is known that 24-hour movement behaviors, including physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep, are crucial components affecting older adults' health. Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines for older adults were launched in 2020, emphasizing the combined role of these 3 movement behaviors in promoting older adults' health. However, research on the prevalence and correlates of guideline adherence and its associations with health-related outcomes is limited, especially among Chinese older adults. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and correlates of meeting 24-hour movement guidelines among Chinese older adults. Furthermore, this study aimed to examine the associations of guideline adherence with older adults' physical and mental health outcomes. METHODS: Using a stratified cluster random sampling approach, a total of 4562 older adults (mean age 67.68 years, SD 5.03 years; female proportion: 2544/4562, 55.8%) were recruited from the latest provincial health surveillance of Hubei China from July 25 to November 19, 2020. Measures included demographics, movement behaviors (PA, SB, and sleep), BMI, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio (WHR), percentage body fat (PBF), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, physical fitness, depressive symptoms, and loneliness. Generalized linear mixed models were employed to examine the associations between variables using SPSS 28.0 (IBM Corp). RESULTS: Only 1.8% (83/4562) of participants met all 3 movement guidelines, while 32.1% (1466/4562), 3.4% (155/4562), and 66.4% (3031/4562) met the individual behavioral guidelines for PA, SB, and sleep, respectively. Participants who were older, were female, and lived in municipalities with lower economic levels were less likely to meet all 3 movement guidelines. Adhering to individual or combined movement guidelines was associated with greater physical fitness and lower values of BMI, waist circumference, WHR, PBF, depressive symptoms, and loneliness, with the exception of the relationship of SB+sleep guidelines with loneliness. Furthermore, only meeting SB guidelines or meeting both PA and SB guidelines was associated with lower systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to investigate adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines among Chinese older adults with regard to prevalence, correlates, and associations with physical and mental health outcomes. The findings emphasize the urgent need for promoting healthy movement behaviors among Chinese older adults. Future interventions to improve older adults' physical and mental health should involve enhancing their overall movement behaviors and should consider demographic differences.

Associations of Reallocating Sedentary Time to Physical Activity and Sleep with Physical and Mental Health of Older Adults.

INTRODUCTION: 24-hour movement behaviors: moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA), sedentary behavior (SB) and sleep are crucial factors affecting older adults' health. Using a compositional data analysis approach, this study examined the associations of time spent in these four movement behaviors with cardiometabolic health, physical fitness, and mental health among older adults. Furthermore, this study identified the estimated changes in aforementioned health outcomes by reallocating SB time to other movement behaviors. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study of 4,562 participants (67.68 ± 5.03 years; 55.8% female) were implemented in Hubei China between 25-Jul and 19-Nov 2020. Measures included demographics, movement behaviors, cardiometabolic indicators (body mass index, BMI; waist circumference; waist-hip ratio, WHR; percentage body fat; systolic and diastolic blood pressure), physical fitness, and mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms and loneliness). Compositional data analyses were implemented in R. RESULTS: MVPA and sleep time was associated with greater health outcomes (all P < 0.001), except blood pressure (P = 0.13-0.83). LPA time was associated with waist circumference (B = 0.313, P = 0.009), WHR (B = 0.003, P = 0.003), physical fitness (B = 0.36, P < 0.001), and mental health indicators (both P < 0.001). Reallocating 30-min SB to MVPA and sleep was associated with predicated improvements in all health outcomes, except blood pressure, while reallocating 30-min SB to LPA resulted in predicted improvements in physical fitness (0.187 units), depressive symptoms (-0.264 units) and loneliness (-0.395 units). For dose-effect relationships, reallocating 5-60 min of SB to MVPA showed greatest benefits for all health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides timely empirical evidence for future interventions and policymaking on promoting healthy aging during the post-covid-19 era. The findings underline the importance of including 24-hour movement behaviors in future health promotion among older adults.

To elucidate the mechanism of "Scrophulariae Radix-Fritillaria" in goiter by integrated metabolomics and serum pharmaco-chemistry.

The pharmacodynamic substances in "Scrophulariae Radix-Fritillaria" and the molecular mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects against goiter were analyzed through metabolomics and serum pharmaco-chemistry. A rat model of goiter was established using propylthiouracil (PTU), and the animals were treated using "Scrophulariae Radix-Fritillaria." The efficacy of the drug pair was evaluated in terms of thyroid gland histopathology and blood biochemical indices. Serum and urine samples of the rats were analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were performed to screen potential biomarkers in urine and the corresponding metabolic pathways. The blood components of "Scrophulariae Radix-Fritillaria" were also identified, and their correlation with urine biomarkers was analyzed in order to screen for potential bioactive compounds. "Scrophulariae Radix-Fritillaria" mitigated injury to thyroid tissues and normalized the levels of the thyroid hormones FT3, FT4, and TSH. We also identified 22 urine biomarkers related to goiter, of which 19 were regulated by "Scrophulariae Radix-Fritillaria." Moreover, urine biomarkers are involved in tryptophan metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and beta-alanine metabolism, and these pathways may be targeted by the drug pair. In addition, 47 compounds of "Scrophulariae Radix-Fritillaria" were detected by serum pharmacochemistry, of which nine components, namely, syringic acid, paeonol, cedrol, and cis-ferulic acid, fetisinine, aucubigenin, linolenic acid, ussuriedine, and 5-(methylsulfanyl)pentanenitrile, were identified as potential effective substances against goiter. To summarize, we characterized the chemical components and mechanisms of "Scrophulariae Radix-Fritillaria" involved in the treatment of goiter, and our findings provide an experimental basis for its clinical application.

Association of 24-hour movement guideline adherence, mental health and quality of life in young adults: the role of e-Health literacy.

Background: The spread of Covid-19 and resultant infection prevention strategies have disturbed the life routine of Chinese young adults, led to reduced physical activity (PA), prolonged screen time (ST) and inadequate sleep duration (SP), and made immense influence on their mental health (MH) and quality of life (QoL). E-Health literacy (EHL) can enable citizens to use available online information to respond to the highly complex information environment and make appropriate health decisions. Objective: This study aims to examine associations between adhering to 24-h movement (24HM) guidelines and MH and QoL among young adults, as well as to identify any mediating or moderating role of EHL in these associations. Methods: 1742 young adults (20.03 ± 1.54 years old, 68.6% females) from north and south China completed self-report measures of 24HM (PA, ST and SP), health indicators (MH and QoL), EHL and demographic information through an online survey between 4 Apr and 16 Jun 2022. Generalized linear mixed models were applied for data analysis. Results: Results showed that adhering to PA, ST and SP guidelines were all positively connected with QoL while MH was associated with adhering ST or SP guidelines. Adhering to more of 24HM guidelines was linked to better MH and QoL. EHL significantly mediated the association of guideline adherence and QoL and moderate that of guideline adherence and MH. Conclusion: This is the first study to investigate the role of EHL on the associations between 24HM and MH as well as QoL during the Covid-19. The findings may contribute to further empirical research or intervention that aims to promote MH or QoL among young adults more effectively or provide valuable references for developing relevant strategies or policy of health promotion or public health events in China.

"Isolation by Gentes with Asymmetric Migration" shapes the genetic structure of the common cuckoo in China.

Amid coevolutionary arms races between brood parasitic birds and their diverse host species, the formation of host-specific races, or gentes, has drawn significant research focus. Nevertheless, numerous questions about gentes evolutionary patterns persist. Here, we investigated the potential for gentes evolution across multiple common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) populations parasitizing diverse host species in China. Using maternal (mitochondrial and W-linked DNA) and biparental (autosomal and Z-linked DNA) markers, we found consistent clustering of cuckoo gentes (rather than geographical populations) into distinct clades in matrilineal gene trees, indicating robust differentiation. In contrast, biparental markers indicated intermixing of all gentes, suggesting asymmetric gene flow regardless of geography. Unlike the mitonuclear discordance commonly resulting from incomplete lineage sorting, adaptive introgression, or demographic disparities, the observed pattern in brood parasitic cuckoos might reflect biased host preferences between sexes. We hereby present the "Isolation by Gentes with Asymmetric Migration" model. According to this model, the maternal line differentiation of the common cuckoo in China is potentially driven by host preferences in females, whereas males maintained the integrity of the cuckoo species through random mating. To achieve this, cuckoo males could perform flexible migration among gentes or engage in early copulation with females before reaching the breeding sites, allowing female cuckoos to store sperm from various gentes. Future studies collecting additional samples from diverse cuckoo gentes with overlapping distribution and investigating the migratory and copulation patterns of each sex would enhance our understanding of sex-biased differentiation among cuckoo populations in China.

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variants Show Attenuated Neurovirulence Compared with the Wild-Type Strain in Elderly Human Brain Spheroids.

Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron variants still causes neurological complications in elderly individuals. However, whether and how aging brains are affected by Omicron variants in terms of neuroinvasiveness and neurovirulence are unknown. Here, we utilize resected paracarcinoma brain tissue from elderly individuals to generate primary brain spheroids (BSs) for investigating the replication capability of live wild-type (WT) strain and Omicron (BA.1/BA.2), as well as the mechanisms underlying their neurobiological effects. We find that both WT and Omicron BA.1/BA.2 are able to enter BSs but weakly replicate. There is no difference between Omicron BA.1/BA.2 and WT strains in neurotropism in aging BSs. However, Omicron BA.1/BA.2 exhibits ameliorating neurological damage. Transcriptional profiling indicates that Omicron BA.1/BA.2 induces a lower neuroinflammatory response than WT strain in elderly BSs, suggesting a mechanistic explanation for their attenuated neuropathogenicity. Moreover, we find that both Omicron BA.1/BA.2 and WT strain infections disrupt neural network activity associated with neurodegenerative disorders by causing neuron degeneration and amyloid-ß deposition in elderly BSs. These results uncover Omicron-specific mechanisms and cellular immune responses associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-induced neurological complications.

Bevacizumab is associated with a higher gastrointestinal/genitourinary fistula or perforation risk in cervical cancer patients undergoing pelvic radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Bevacizumab serves as an effective treatment in cervical cancer patients with metastatic, recurrent, or advanced disease. However, gastrointestinal (GI)/genitourinary (GU) toxicities have been observed after bevacizumab treatment. Radiotherapy (RT) is the mainstay of treatment of cervical cancer. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the risk of GI/GU toxicities with bevacizumab plus RT compared with RT alone in cervical cancer patients. SEARCH STRATEGY: In this meta-analysis, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to September 25, 2022. SELECTION CRITERIA: Cohort studies evaluating the association between bevacizumab and GI/GU fistula or perforation in irradiated metastatic, recurrent, or advanced cervical cancer patients. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Results are expressed as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The inconsistency test (I2) was used to assess heterogeneity. Egger's regression test with a two-tailed P value was used to evaluate publication bias. MAIN RESULTS: Four cohort studies met the inclusion criteria with a total of 597 women included. There was a significant association between GI fistula/perforation and GU fistula/perforation in irradiated cervical cancer patients receiving bevacizumab (OR 4.03 [95% CI: 1.76-9.20] and OR 4.71 [95% CI: 1.51-14.70], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The bevacizumab-containing regimen was associated with an increased risk of GI or GU toxicities in cervical cancer individuals undergoing pelvic RT. These results suggest the bevacizumab-associated benefits and risk should be better weighted to reach an optimal treatment strategy. Further investigation on optimal dosage and timing of bevacizumab and RT is vital to minimize the adverse events and maximize the benefits.

Codonopsis radix: a review of resource utilisation, postharvest processing, quality assessment, and its polysaccharide composition.

Codonopsis radix is the dried root of C. pilosula (Franch.) Nannf., C. pilosula Nannf. var. modesta (Nannf.) L. T. Shen, or C. tangshen Oliv., constitutes a botanical medicine with a profound historical lineage. It encompasses an array of bioactive constituents, including polyacetylenes, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids, triterpenoids, and polysaccharides, conferring upon it substantial medicinal and edible values. Consequently, it has garnered widespread attention from numerous scholars. In recent years, driven by advancements in modern traditional Chinese medicine, considerable strides have been taken in exploring resources utilization, traditional processing, quality evaluation and polysaccharide research of Codonopsis radix. However, there is a lack of systematic and comprehensive reporting on these research results. This paper provides a summary of recent advances in Codonopsis research, identifies existing issues in Codonopsis studies, and offers insights into future research directions. The aim is to provide insights and literature support for forthcoming investigations into Codonopsis.

Prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio change in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with thoracic radiotherapy.

In prior investigations, a correlation was established between patient outcomes in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) following thoracic irradiation and parameters, such as pre/post-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and NLR change (ΔNLR). However, these parameters could potentially be influenced by radiation-related variables, such as gross tumor volume (GTV). The primary aim of this study was to elucidate the factors impacting post-treatment NLR and ΔNLR and to further assess their prognostic relevance. In this retrospective study, a cohort of 188 LA-NSCLC patients who underwent thoracic radiation between 2012 and 2017 was assessed. The calculation of pre/post-treatment NLR involved the use of absolute neutrophil and lymphocyte counts. ΔNLR was defined as the difference between post- and pre-treatment NLR values. To assess the relationships between various variables and overall survival (OS), local progression-free survival (LPFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), the Kaplan-Meier technique and Cox proportional hazards regression were employed. Additionally, Spearman's rank correlation analysis was carried out to investigate correlations between the variables. The analysis revealed that both post-treatment NLR (r = 0.315, P < 0.001) and ΔNLR (r = 0.156, P = 0.032) were associated with GTV. However, OS, LPFS, and DMFS were not independently correlated with pre/post-treatment NLR. ΔNLR, on the other hand, exhibited independent associations with OS and DMFS (HR = 1.054, P = 0.020, and P = 0.046, respectively). Elevated ΔNLR values were linked to poorer OS (P = 0.023) and DMFS (P = 0.018) in the Kaplan-Meier analysis. Furthermore, when stratifying by GTV, a higher ΔNLR remained to be associated with worse OS and DMFS (P = 0.047 and P = 0.035, respectively) in the GTV ≤ 67.41 cm3 group, and in the GTV > 67.41 cm3 group (P = 0.028 and P = 0.042, respectively), highlighting ΔNLR as the sole independent predictive factor for survival and metastasis, irrespective of GTV.