The genome—the source of life and platform of evolution—is continuously exposed to harmful factors, both extra- and intra-cellular. Their activity causes different types of DNA damage, with approximately 80 different types of lesions having been identified so far. In this paper, the influence of a clustered DNA damage site containing imidazolone (Iz) or oxazolone (Oz) and 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine (^OXOdG) on the charge transfer through the double helix as well as their electronic properties were investigated. To this end, the structures of oligo-Iz, d[A₁Iz₂A₃^OXOG₄A₅]*d[T₅C₄T₃C₂T₁], and oligo-Oz, d[A₁Oz₂A₃^OXOG₄A₅]*d[T₅C₄T₃C₂T₁], were optimized at the M06-2X/6-D95**//M06-2X/sto-3G level of theory in the aqueous phase using the ONIOM methodology; all the discussed energies were obtained at the M06-2X/6-31++G** level of theory. The non-equilibrated and equilibrated solvent–solute interactions were taken into consideration. The following results were found: A) In all the discussed cases, ^OXOdG showed a higher predisposition to radical cation formation, and B) the excess electron migration toward Iz and Oz was preferred. However, in the case of oligo-Oz, the electron transfer from Oz₂ to complementary C₄ was noted during vertical to adiabatic anion relaxation, while for oligo-Iz, it was settled exclusively on the Iz₂ moiety. The above was reflected in the charge transfer rate constant, vertical/adiabatic ionization potential, and electron affinity energy values, as well as the charge and spin distribution. It can be postulated that imidazolone moiety formation within the CDL ds-oligo structure and its conversion to oxazolone can significantly influence the charge migration process, depending on the C2 carbon hybridization sp² or sp³. The above can confuse the single DNA damage recognition and removal processes, cause an increase in mutagenesis, and harm the effectiveness of anticancer therapy. Full article

Intelligent and diversified development of modern detection technology greatly affects the battlefield survivability of military targets, especially infrared, acoustic wave, and radar detection expose targets by capturing their unavoidable infrared radiation, acoustic wave, and electromagnetic wave information, greatly affecting their battlefield survival and penetration capabilities. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop stealth-protective materials that can suppress infrared radiation, reduce acoustic characteristics, and weaken electromagnetic signals. Fibrous three-dimensional porous materials, with their high porosity, excellent structural adjustability, and superior mechanical properties, possess strong potential for development in the field of stealth protection. This article introduced and reviewed the characteristics and development process of fibrous three-dimensional porous materials at both the micrometer and nanometer scales. Then, the process and characteristics of preparing fibrous three-dimensional porous materials through vacuum forming, gel solidification, freeze-casting, and impregnation stacking methods were analyzed and discussed. Meanwhile, their current application status in infrared, acoustic wave, and radar stealth fields was summarized and their existing problems and development trends in these areas from the perspectives of preparation processes and applicability were analyzed. Finally, several prospects for the current challenges faced by fibrous three-dimensional porous materials were proposed as follows: functionally modifying fibers to enhance their applicability through self-cross-linking; establishing theoretical models for the transmission of thermal energy, acoustic waves, and electromagnetic waves within fibrous porous materials; constructing fibrous porous materials resistant to impact, shear, and fracture to meet the needs of practical applications; developing multifunctional stealth fibrous porous materials to confer full-spectrum broadband stealth capability; and exploring the relationship between material size and mechanical properties as a basis for preparing large-scale samples that meet the application’s requirement. This review is very timely and aims to focus researchers’ attention on the importance and research progress of fibrous porous materials in the field of stealth protection, so as to solve the problems and challenges of fibrous porous materials in the field of stealth protection and to promote the further innovation of fibrous porous materials in terms of structure and function. Full article

The selective hydrogenation of the biomass platform molecule furfural (FAL) to produce furfuryl alcohol (FA) is of great significance to alleviate the energy crisis. Cu-based catalysts are the most commonly used catalysts, and their catalytic performance can be optimized by changing the preparation method. This paper emphasized the effect of calcination atmosphere on the performance of a Cu/Al₂O₃ catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of FAL. The precursor of the Cu/Al₂O₃ catalyst prepared by the ammonia evaporation method was treated with different calcination atmospheres (N₂ and air). On the basis of the combined results from the characterizations using in situ XRD, TEM, N₂O titration, H₂-TPR and XPS, the Cu/Al₂O₃ catalyst calcined in the N₂ atmosphere was more favorable for the dispersion and reduction of Cu species and the reduction process could produce more Cu⁺ and Cu⁰ species, which facilitated the selective hydrogenation of FAL to FA. The experimental results showed that the N₂ calcination atmosphere improved the FAL conversion and FA selectivity, and the FAL conversion was further increased after reduction. Cu/Al₂O₃-N₂-R exhibited the outstanding performance, with a high yield of 99.9% of FA after 2 h at 120 °C and an H₂ pressure of 1 MPa. This work provides a simple, efficient and economic method to improve the C=O hydrogenation performance of Cu-based catalysts. Full article

Aphidius gifuensis is the dominant parasitic natural enemy of aphids. Elucidating the molecular mechanism of host recognition of A. gifuensis would improve its biological control effect. Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) play a crucial role in insect olfactory systems and are mainly involved in host localization. In this study, a total of nine CSPs of A. gifuensis with complete open reading frames were identified based on antennal transcriptome data. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that AgifCSPs were mainly clustered into three subgroups (AgifCSP1/2/7/8, AgifCSP3/9, and AgifCSP4/5/6). AgifCSP2/5 showed high expression in the antennae of both sexes. Moreover, AgifCSP5 was found to be specifically expressed in the antennae. In addition, fluorescent binding assays revealed that AifCSP5 had greater affinities for 7 of 32 volatile odor molecules from various sources. Molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis results revealed that the residue at which AgifCSP5 binds to these seven plant volatiles is Tyr75. Behavior tests further confirmed that trans-2-nonenal, one of the seven active volatiles in the ligand binding test, significantly attracted female adults at a relatively low concentration of 10 mg/mL. In conclusion, AgifCSP5 may be involved in locating aphid-infested crops from long distances by detecting and binding trans-2-nonenal. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for further understanding the olfactory recognition mechanisms and indirect aphid localization behavior of A. gifuensis from long distances by first identifying the host plant of aphids. Full article

Differentiated high-grade thyroid carcinoma (DHGTC) is a new subset within the spectrum of thyroid malignancies. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of DHGTC, focusing on its historical perspective, diagnosis, clinical characteristics, molecular profiles, management, and prognosis. DHGTC demonstrates an intermediate prognosis that falls between well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Previously unenumerated, this entity is now recognized for its significant impact. Patients with DHGTC often present at an older age with advanced disease and exhibit aggressive clinical behavior. Molecularly, DHGTC shares similarities with other thyroid malignancies, harboring driver mutations such as BRAFV600E and RAS, along with additional late mutations. The unique behavior and histologic features of DHGTC underscore the necessity of precise classification for prognostication and treatment selection. This highlights the critical importance of accurate diagnosis and recognition by pathologists to enrich future research on this entity further. Full article

Accurate vehicle velocity prediction is of great significance in vehicle energy distribution and road traffic management. In light of the high time variability of vehicle velocity itself and the limitation of single model prediction, a velocity prediction method based on K-means-QPSO-LSTM with kinematic segment recognition is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the K-means algorithm was used to cluster samples with similar characteristics together, extract kinematic fragment samples in typical driving conditions, calculate their feature parameters, and carry out principal component analysis on the feature parameters to achieve dimensionality reduction transformation of information. Then, the vehicle velocity prediction sub-neural network models based on long short-term memory (LSTM) with the QPSO algorithm optimized were trained under different driving condition datasets. Furthermore, the kinematic segment recognition and traditional vehicle velocity prediction were integrated to form an adaptive vehicle velocity prediction method based on driving condition identification. Finally, the current driving condition type was identified and updated in real-time during vehicle velocity prediction, and then the corresponding sub-LSTM model was used for vehicle velocity prediction. The simulation experiment demonstrated a significant enhancement in both the velocity and accuracy of prediction through the proposed method. The proposed hybrid method has the potential to improve the accuracy and reliability of vehicle velocity prediction, making it applicable in various fields such as autonomous driving, traffic management, and energy management strategies for hybrid electric vehicles. Full article

Plant cells’ ability to withstand abiotic stress is strongly linked to modifications in their mechanical characteristics. Nevertheless, the lack of a workable method for consistently tracking plant cells’ mechanical properties severely restricts our comprehension of the mechanical alterations in plant cells under stress. In this study, we used the Double Resonator Piezoelectric Cytometry (DRPC) method to dynamically and non-invasively track changes in the surface stress (ΔS) generated and viscoelasticity (storage modulus G′ and loss modulus G″) of protoplasts and suspension cells of rice under a drought stress of 5–25% PEG6000. The findings demonstrate that rice suspension cells and protoplasts react mechanically differently to 5–15% PEG6000 stress, implying distinct resistance mechanisms. However, neither of them can withstand 25% PEG6000 stress; they respond mechanically similarly to 25% PEG6000 stress. The results of DRPC are further corroborated by the morphological alterations of rice cells and protoplasts observed under an optical microscope. To sum up, the DRPC technique functions as a precise cellular mechanical sensor and offers novel research tools for the evaluation of plant cell adversity and differentiating between the mechanical reactions of cells and protoplasts under abiotic stress. Full article

The motive of present work is to explore the variation in the material characteristics of steel upon multi-pass friction stir processing. Steel plates (IS2062) that were 3 mm thick, were subjected to friction stir processing in a multi-pass manner. The selected transverse speed was 150 mm/min, along with a tool rotation of 800 RPM when using a tungsten carbide tool (shoulder diameter—10 mm). Steel plates were processed using the single-pass, double-pass, and triple-pass travel of the rotating tool to observe the impact of multi-pass processing on the properties of steel plates. Multi-pass friction stir processing resulted in a higher micro-hardness of 175 VHN after the second pass, in comparison to the unprocessed metal, which had a micro-hardness of 130 VHN, owing to the collective effect of the plastic flow of the material due to the rotation of the tool and frictional heat, which also leads to grain refinement. The second pass evidenced an average grain size of 22 microns, whereas the unprocessed material had an average grain size of 57 microns. The results of EBSD and SEM characterization showed reasonably improved material properties of the processed work materials. Full article

Currently, obesity is a critical global public health burden. Numerous studies have demonstrated the regulation of the pathogenesis of obesity and metabolic abnormalities by the gut microbiota and microbial factors; however, their involvement in the various degrees of obesity is not yet well understood. Previously, obesity has been shown to be associated with decreased levels of vitamin B12. Considering exclusive microbial production of vitamin B12, we hypothesized that a decrease in cobalamin levels in obese individuals may be at least partially caused by its depleted production in the intestinal tract by the commensal microbiota. In the present study, our aim was to estimate the abundance of enzymes and metabolic pathways for vitamin B12 synthesis in the gut microbiota of mouse models of alimentary and genetically determined obesity, to evaluate the contribution of the obesogenic microbiome to vitamin B12 synthesis in the gut. We have defined a significantly lower predicted abundance of enzymes and metabolic pathways for vitamin B12 biosynthesis in obese mice compared to non-obese mice, wherein enzyme depletion was more pronounced in lepr(−/−) (db/db) mice, which developed severe obesity. The predicted abundance of enzymes involved in cobalamin synthesis is strongly correlated with the representation of several microbes in high-fat diet-fed mice, while there were almost no correlations in db/db mice. Therefore, the degree of obesity and the composition of the correspondent microbiota are the main contributors to the representation of genes and pathways for cobalamin biosynthesis in the mouse gut. Full article

Tissue hypoxia is associated with the development of organ dysfunction and death in critically ill patients commonly captured using blood lactate. The kinetic parameters of serial lactate evaluations are superior at predicting mortality compared with single values. S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), which is also associated with hypoxia, was recently established as a useful predictor of septic organ dysfunction and death. We evaluated the performance of kinetic SAH parameters for mortality prediction compared with lactate parameters in a cohort of critically ill patients. For lactate and SAH, maxima and means as well as the normalized area scores were calculated for two periods: the first 24 h and the total study period of up to five days following ICU admission. Their performance in predicting in-hospital mortality were compared in 99 patients. All evaluated parameters of lactate and SAH were significantly higher in non-survivors compared with survivors. In univariate analysis, the predictive power for mortality of SAH was higher compared with lactate in all forms of application. Multivariable models containing SAH parameters demonstrated higher predictive values for mortality than models based on lactate parameters. The optimal models for mortality prediction incorporated both lactate and SAH parameters. Compared with lactate, SAH displayed stronger predictive power for mortality in static and dynamic application in critically ill patients. Full article

According to the World Health Organization, ischemic stroke is the second leading cause of death in the world. Frequently, it is caused by brachiocephalic artery (BCA) atherosclerosis. Timely detection of atherosclerosis and its unstable course can allow for a timely response to potentially dangerous changes and reduce the risk of vascular complications. Omics technologies allow us to identify new biomarkers that we can use in diagnosing diseases. This research included 90 blood plasma samples. The study group comprised 52 patients with severe atherosclerotic lesions BCA, and the control group comprised 38 patients with no BCA atherosclerosis. Targeted and panoramic lipidomic profiling of their blood plasma was carried out. There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the values of the indices saturated fatty acids (FAs), unsaturated FAs, monounsaturated FAs, omega-3, and omega-6. Based on the results on the blood plasma lipidome, we formed models that have a fairly good ability to determine atherosclerotic lesions of the brachiocephalic arteries, as well as a model for identifying unstable atherosclerotic plaques. According only to the panoramic lipidome data, divided into groups according to stable and unstable atherosclerotic plaques, a significant difference was taken into account: p value < 0.05 and abs (fold change) > 2. Unfortunately, we did not observe significant differences according to the established plasma panoramic lipidome criteria between patients with stable and unstable plaques. Omics technologies allow us to obtain data about any changes in the body. According to our data, statistically significant differences in lipidomic profiling were obtained when comparing groups with or without BCA atherosclerosis. Full article

The Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) cascade plays a critical role in insect metamorphosis and involves cell-surface receptors known as type I and II, respectively (TβRI and TβRII). In Drosophila melanogaster, the TβRI receptor, Baboon (Babo), consists of three variants (BaboA, BaboB, and BaboC), each with isoform-specific functions. However, the isoforms and functional specifications of Babo in non-Drosophilid insects have not been established. Here, we examined babo transcripts from seven coleopteran species whose genomes have been published and found that mutually exclusive alternative splicing of the third exon produces three babo isoforms, identical to the Drosophila babo gene. The same three transcript variants were accordingly recognized from the transcriptome data of a coleopteran Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of all three babo transcripts at the fourth-instar larval stage hindered gut modeling and arrested larval development in H. vigintioctopunctata. All the resultant larvae became arrested prepupae; they were gradually dried and darkened and, eventually, died. Depletion of HvbaboA rather than HvbaboB or HvbaboC is similar to the phenotypic alterations caused by simultaneous RNAi of all three babo isoforms. Therefore, our results established diverged roles of the three Babo isoforms and highlighted the regulatory role of BaboA during larval-pupal transition in a non-Drosophilid insect species. Full article

Furosemide (FUR) is a diuretic used to relieve edema, congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, end-stage renal disease, and hypertension. FUR is a class IV according to the Biopharmaceutics Classification System. It is practically insoluble in water. This study aimed to optimize and formulate porous orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) prepared by sublimation and loaded with FUR nanoparticles prepared by using a planetary ball mill. Different functional biomaterials called stabilizers were used to stabilize the nanoparticle formula. Pluronic F-127 was the optimum stabilizer in terms of particle size (354.07 ± 6.44), zeta potential (−25.3 ± 5.65), and dissolution efficiency (56.34%). The impact of the stabilizer concentration was studied as well, and a concentration of 3% showed the smallest particle size (354.07 ± 6.44), best zeta potential value (−25.3 ± 5.65), and percentage of dissolution rate (56.34%). A FUR-loaded nanoparticle formula was successfully prepared. The nanoparticle formula was stabilized by using 3% pluronic F-127, and 3% was chosen for further study of the incorporation into oral disintegration tablets prepared by the sublimation technique. The impact of the matrix sublimating agent and superdisintegrant on the ODTs’ attributes (in vitro disintegration, wetting time, and in vitro dissolution efficiency) was studied using 3² full factorial designs. In vivo, the diuretic activity was tested for the optimized FUR ODTs by calculating the Lipschitz value using rats as an animal model. The stability of the ODTs loaded with FUR nanoparticles was assessed under accelerated conditions for 6 months. Finally, the ODT formula loaded with FUR NPs showed a rapid onset of action that was significantly faster than untreated drugs. Nanonization and ODT formulation enhances the dissolution rate and bioavailability of FUR. Many factors can be controlled to achieve optimization results, including the formulation and process parameters. Full article

Understanding the spatial–temporal patterns of air pollution is crucial for mitigation strategies, a task fostered nowadays by the generation of continuous concentration maps by remote sensing technologies. We applied spatial modelling to analyze such spatial–temporal patterns in Lombardy, Italy, one of the most polluted regions in Europe. We conducted monthly spatial autocorrelation (global and local) of the daily average concentrations of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, O₃, NO₂, SO₂, and CO from 2016 to 2020, using 10 × 10 km satellite data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), aggregated on districts of approximately 100,000 population. Land-use classes were computed on identified clusters, and the significance of the differences was evaluated through the Wilcoxon rank-sum test with Bonferroni correction. The global Moran’s I autocorrelation was overall high (>0.6), indicating a strong clustering. The local autocorrelation revealed high–high clusters of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ in the central urbanized zones in winter (January–December), and in the agrarian southern districts in summer and autumn (May–October). The temporal decomposition showed that values of PMs are particularly high in winter. Low–low clusters emerged in the northern districts for all the pollutants except O₃. Seasonal peaks for O₃ occurred in the summer months, with high–high clusters mostly in the hilly and mildly urban districts in the northwest. These findings elaborate the spatial patterns of air pollution concentration, providing insights for effective land-use-based pollution management strategies. Full article

Over the past decade, surface ozone has emerged as a significant air pollutant in China, especially in the North China Plain (NCP). For effective ozone management in the NCP, it is crucial to accurately estimate the surface ozone levels and identify the primary influencing factors for ozone pollution in this region. This study utilized ozone precursors such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NO_X), meteorological data, land cover, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), terrain, and population data to build an extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost)-based ozone estimation model in the NCP during 2019 to 2021. Four ozone estimation models were developed using different NO₂ and formaldehyde (HCHO) datasets from the Sentinel-5 TROPOMI observations and Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) reanalysis data. Site-based validation results of these four models showed high accuracy with R² values above 0.86. Among these four models, two models with higher accuracy and higher spatial coverage ratio were selected, and their results were averaged to produce the final ozone estimation products. The results indicated that VOCs and NO_X were the two main pollutants causing ozone pollution in the NCP, and their relative contributions accounted for more than 23.34% and 10.23%, respectively, while HCHO also played a significant role, contributing over 5.64%. Additionally, meteorological factors also had a notable impact, contributing 28.63% to ozone pollution, with each individual factor contributing more than 2.38%. The spatial distribution of ozone pollution identified the Hebei–Shandong–Henan junction as a pollution hotspot, with the peak occurring in summer, particularly in June. Therefore, for this hotspot region in the NCP, promoting the reduction in VOCs and NOx can play an important role in the mitigation of O₃ pollution and the improvement in air quality in this region. Full article

This study presents significant advancements in passive radiative cooling (PRC), achieved using assembled hollow yttrium oxide spherical particles (AHYOSPs). We developed PRC films with enhanced optical properties by synthesizing micro-sized hollow Y₂O₃ particles and integrating them into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix. The findings revealed that AHYOSPs achieved a remarkable solar reflectance of 73.72% and an emissivity of 91.75%, significantly outperforming nano-sized yttrium oxide (NYO) and baseline PDMS. Field tests demonstrated that the AHYOSPs maintained their lowest temperature during daylight, confirming their superior cooling efficiency. Additionally, theoretical calculations using MATLAB indicated that the cooling capacity of AHYOSPs reached 103.77 W/m², representing a substantial improvement over NYO and robustly validating the proposed nanoparticle assembly strategy. These results highlight the potential of structurally controlled particles to revolutionize PRC technologies, thereby offering a path toward more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly cooling solutions. Full article

Long COVID (LC), also referred to as Post COVID-19 Condition, Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC), and other terms, represents a complex multisystem disease persisting after the acute phase of COVID-19. Characterized by a myriad of symptoms across different organ systems, LC presents significant diagnostic and management challenges. Central to the disorder is the role of low-grade inflammation, a non-classical inflammatory response that contributes to the chronicity and diversity of symptoms observed. This review explores the pathophysiological underpinnings of LC, emphasizing the importance of low-grade inflammation as a core component. By delineating the pathogenetic relationships and clinical manifestations of LC, this article highlights the necessity for an integrated approach that employs both personalized medicine and standardized protocols aimed at mitigating long-term consequences. The insights gained not only enhance our understanding of LC but also inform the development of therapeutic strategies that could be applicable to other chronic conditions with similar pathophysiological features. Full article

Mealy peaches are dry and flavorless, which reduces their consumer acceptance. A deeper understanding of the mechanism underlying mealiness is crucial to enhancing peach fruit quality. In this study, comparative profiling was conducted on CP13, CP14, CM, and RM peaches. Sensory evaluation indicated that CP13 and CM are non-mealy clingstone and freestone peaches, respectively, and CP14 and RM are mealy freestone peaches. Both CP13 and CP14, identified as stony hard (SH) peaches, exhibited minimal ethylene release, whereas CM and RM, identified as melting flesh (MF) peaches, released high amounts of ethylene during the ripening process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) microstructure observation indicated that cells in the flesh tissue of mealy peaches, CP14 (SH) and RM (MF), were intact and separated, with large intercellular spaces and irregular arrangements. The main factor that promotes mealiness is differences in pectin metabolism, which impact cell wall composition. The fluctuations in polygalacturonase (PG) and pectin methylesterase (PME) activity between mealy and non-mealy peaches were the main factor contributing to mealiness. However, the changes in cell wall metabolism that caused these fluctuations did not have a clear direction. Using transcriptome analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we were able to identify forty differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that are associated with mealy patterns. Among these DEGs, genes encoding PG were significantly upregulated in mealy peaches (CP14 and RM) compared to non-mealy peaches (CP13 and CM). PpPG1 was the main effector gene for mealiness, while PpPG2, PpEGase2, PpEXP1, PpEXP3, PpAGP2, PpIAA4, and PpABA2 were identified as candidate genes regulating peach mealiness. These findings provide a solid experimental basis for understanding the textual distinctions between mealy and non-mealy peaches. Full article

Vaccines are one of the most effective medical interventions, playing a pivotal role in treating infectious diseases. Although traditional vaccines comprise killed, inactivated, or live-attenuated pathogens that have resulted in protective immune responses, the negative consequences of their administration have been well appreciated. Modern vaccines have evolved to contain purified antigenic subunits, epitopes, or antigen-encoding mRNAs, rendering them relatively safe. However, reduced humoral and cellular responses pose major challenges to these subunit vaccines. Protein nanoparticle (PNP)-based vaccines have garnered substantial interest in recent years for their ability to present a repetitive array of antigens for improving immunogenicity and enhancing protective responses. Discovery and characterisation of naturally occurring PNPs from various living organisms such as bacteria, archaea, viruses, insects, and eukaryotes, as well as computationally designed structures and approaches to link antigens to the PNPs, have paved the way for unprecedented advances in the field of vaccine technology. In this review, we focus on some of the widely used naturally occurring and optimally designed PNPs for their suitability as promising vaccine platforms for displaying native-like antigens from human viral pathogens for protective immune responses. Such platforms hold great promise in combating emerging and re-emerging infectious viral diseases and enhancing vaccine efficacy and safety. Full article

This study focuses on 1209 national and provincial intangible cultural heritage items and 1234 traditional Chinese villages within the Dongting Lake Basin. Using kernel density analysis, centroid models, coupling models, and quantitative spatial–structural models, the present research analyzes the spatial–structural characteristics and formation mechanisms of intangible cultural heritage and traditional villages to provide scientific support for their preservation, inheritance, and effective utilization. The results revealed the following: (1) Intangible cultural heritage and traditional villages in the Dongting Lake Basin exhibit a very concentrated spatial distribution, with similar spatial–structural characteristics. (2) High spatial coupling of intangible cultural heritage and traditional villages is observable in the sub-basins of Dongting Lake, such as the Yuanjiang, Zishui, and Lishui basins, whereas the Xiangjiang Basin and Dongting Lake area present relatively lower levels of spatial coupling. In terms of the categories of intangible cultural heritage, four of them—cultural heritage, folk literature, traditional music, traditional dance, and traditional drama—have the smallest deviation distance and index values from traditional villages. The coupling degree was higher than 0.70, and there were some differences in the coupling degree between the other six categories of intangible cultural heritage and traditional villages. (3) The spatial–structural characteristics of intangible cultural heritage and traditional villages in the Dongting Lake Basin emerged from the combined effects of multiple factors, including internal connections between the two, as well as external factors such as the natural environment, socio-economic conditions, and cultural policies, all of which play crucial roles in the formation processes of these characteristics. Full article

As the population ages worldwide, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most prevalent kind of neurodegenerative disorder among older people, has become a significant factor affecting quality of life, public health, and economies. However, the exact pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s remains elusive, and existing highly recognized pathogenesis includes the amyloid cascade hypothesis, Tau neurofibrillary tangles hypothesis, and neuroinflammation hypothesis. The major diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease include neuroimaging positron emission computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and cerebrospinal fluid molecular diagnosis. The therapy of Alzheimer’s disease primarily relies on drugs, and the approved drugs on the market include acetylcholinesterase drugs, glutamate receptor antagonists, and amyloid-β monoclonal antibodies. Still, the existing drugs can only alleviate the symptoms of the disease and cannot completely reverse it. This review aims to summarize existing research results on Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis, diagnosis, and drug therapy, with the objective of facilitating future research in this area. Full article