Chinese Cordyceps is a valuable source of natural products with various therapeutic effects. It is rich in various active components, of which adenosine, cordycepin and polysaccharides have been ...confirmed with significant immunomodulatory and antitumor functions. However, the underlying antitumor mechanism remains poorly understood. In this review, we summarized and analyzed the chemical characteristics of the main components and their pharmacological effects and mechanism on immunomodulatory and antitumor functions. The analysis revealed that Chinese Cordyceps promotes immune cells’ antitumor function by via upregulating immune responses and downregulating immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment and resetting the immune cells’ phenotype. Moreover, Chinese Cordyceps can inhibit the growth and metastasis of tumor cells by death (including apoptosis and autophagy) induction, cell-cycle arrest, and angiogenesis inhibition. Recent evidence has revealed that the signal pathways of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB), cysteine–aspartic proteases (caspases) and serine/threonine kinase Akt were involved in the antitumor mechanisms. In conclusion, Chinese Cordyceps, one type of magic mushroom, can be potentially developed as immunomodulator and anticancer therapeutic agents.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Although workplace incivility has received increasing attention in organizational research over the past two decades, there have been recurring questions about its construct validity, especially ...vis-à-vis other forms of workplace mistreatment. Also, the antecedents of experienced incivility remain understudied, leaving an incomplete understanding of its nomological network. In this meta-analysis using Schmidt and Hunter's Methods of meta-analysis: Correcting error and bias in research findings (3rd ed.), Sage random-effect meta-analytic methods, we validate the construct of incivility by testing its reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, as well as its incremental predictive validity over other forms of mistreatment. We also extend its nomological network by drawing on the perpetrator predation framework to systematically study the antecedents of experienced incivility. Based on 105 independent samples and 51,008 participants, we find extensive support for incivility's construct validity. Besides, we demonstrate that demographic characteristics (gender, race, rank, and tenure), personality traits (agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, negative affectivity, and self-esteem), and contextual factors (perceived uncivil climate and socially supportive climate) are important antecedents of experienced incivility, with contextual factors displaying a stronger association with incivility. In a supplementary primary study with 457 participants, we find further support for the construct validity of incivility. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of this study.
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CEKLJ, FFLJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PEFLJ, UPUK
Energy‐storage technology is moving beyond lithium batteries to sodium as a result of its high abundance and low cost. However, this sensible transition requires the discovery of high‐rate and ...long‐lifespan anode materials, which remains a significant challenge. Here, the facile synthesis of an amorphous Sn2P2O7/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite and its sodium storage performance between 0.01 and 3.0 V are reported for the first time. This hybrid electrode delivers a high specific capacity of 480 mA h g−1 at a current density of 50 mA g−1 and superior rate performance of 250 and 165 mA h g−1 at 2 and 10 A g−1, respectively. Strikingly, this anode can sustain 15 000 cycles while retaining over 70% of the initial capacity. Quantitative kinetic analysis reveals that the sodium storage is governed by pseudocapacitance, particularly at high current rates. A full cell with sodium super ionic conductor (NASICON)‐structured Na3V2(PO4)2F3 and Na3V2(PO4)3 as cathodes exhibits a high energy density of over 140 W h kg−1 and a power density of nearly 9000 W kg−1 as well as stability over 1000 cycles. This exceptional performance suggests that the present system is a promising power source for promoting the substantial use of low‐cost energy storage systems.
The illustration of amorphous tin‐based composite oxide (ATCO) as a high‐performance anode for a sodium ion battery is shown with a high rate of performance of 180 mA h g−1 at current of 2 A g−1 for 15 000 cycles. Quantitative kinetic analysis reveals that the sodium storage is governed by pseudocapacitance, particularly at high current rates.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Over-application of nitrogen fertilizer in fields has had a negative impact on both environment and human health. Domesticated rice varieties with high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) reduce fertilizer ...for sustainable agriculture. Here, we perform genome-wide association analysis of a diverse rice population displaying extreme nitrogen-related phenotypes over three successive years in the field, and identify an elite haplotype of nitrate transporter OsNPF6.1
that enhances nitrate uptake and confers high NUE by increasing yield under low nitrogen supply. OsNPF6.1
differs in both the protein and promoter element with natural variations, which are differentially trans-activated by OsNAC42, a NUE-related transcription factor. The rare natural allele OsNPF6.1
, derived from variation in wild rice and selected for enhancing both NUE and yield, has been lost in 90.3% of rice varieties due to the increased application of fertilizer. Our discovery highlights this NAC42-NPF6.1 signaling cascade as a strategy for high NUE and yield breeding in rice.
Summary Background The intestinal microbiota is implicated in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. Faecal microbiota transplantation is a novel form of therapeutic microbial manipulation, but its ...efficacy in ulcerative colitis is uncertain. We aimed to establish the efficacy of intensive-dosing, multidonor, faecal microbiota transplantation in active ulcerative colitis. Methods We conducted a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial at three hospitals in Australia. We randomly allocated patients with active ulcerative colitis (Mayo score 4–10) in a 1:1 ratio, using a pre-established randomisation list, to either faecal microbiota transplantation or placebo colonoscopic infusion, followed by enemas 5 days per week for 8 weeks. Patients, treating clinicians, and other study staff were unaware of the assigned treatment. Faecal microbiota transplantation enemas were each derived from between three and seven unrelated donors. The primary outcome was steroid-free clinical remission with endoscopic remission or response (Mayo score ≤2, all subscores ≤1, and ≥1 point reduction in endoscopy subscore) at week 8. Analysis was by modified intention-to-treat and included all patients receiving one study dose. We performed 16S rRNA stool analysis to assess associated microbial changes. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT01896635 . The trial has ended; this report presents the final analysis. Findings From November, 2013, to May, 2015, 85 patients were enrolled to our trial, of whom 42 were randomly assigned faecal microbiota transplantation and 43 were allocated placebo. One patient assigned faecal microbiota transplantation and three allocated placebo did not receive study treatment and were excluded from the analysis. The primary outcome was achieved in 11 (27%) of 41 patients allocated faecal microbiota transplantation versus three (8%) of 40 who were assigned placebo (risk ratio 3·6, 95% CI 1·1–11·9; p=0·021). Adverse events were reported by 32 (78%) of 41 patients allocated faecal microbiota transplantation and 33 (83%) of 40 who were assigned placebo; most were self-limiting gastrointestinal complaints, with no significant difference in number or type of adverse events between treatment groups. Serious adverse events occurred in two patients assigned faecal microbiota transplantation and in one allocated placebo. Microbial diversity increased with and persisted after faecal microbiota transplantation. Several bacterial taxa were associated with clinical outcome; in particular, the presence of Fusobacterium spp was associated with lack of remission. Interpretation Intensive-dosing, multidonor, faecal microbiota transplantation induces clinical remission and endoscopic improvement in active ulcerative colitis and is associated with distinct microbial changes that relate to outcome. Faecal microbiota transplantation is, thus, a promising new therapeutic option for ulcerative colitis. Future work should focus on precisely defining the optimum treatment intensity and the role of donor–recipient matching based on microbial profiles. Funding Broad Medical Research Program, Gastroenterological Society of Australia, Mount Sinai (New York) SUCCESS fund, University of New South Wales.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
The development, maintenance, and use of immune defences are costly. Therefore, animals face trade-offs in terms of resource allocation within their immune system and between their immune system and ...other physiological processes. To maximize fitness, evolution may favour investment in one immunological defence or subsystem over another in a way that matches a species broader life history strategy. Here, we used phylogenetically-informed comparative analyses to test for relationships between two immunological components. Natural antibodies and complement were used as proxies for the innate branch; structural complexity of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region was used for the acquired branch. We found a negative association between the levels of natural antibodies (i.e., haemagglutination titre) and the total MHC gene copy number across the avian phylogeny, both at the species and family level. The family-level analysis indicated that this association was apparent for both MHC-I and MHC-II, when copy numbers within these two MHC regions were analysed separately. The association remained significant after controlling for basic life history components and for ecological traits commonly linked to pathogen exposure. Our results provide the first phylogenetically robust evidence for an evolutionary trade-off within the avian immune system, with a more developed acquired immune system (i.e., more complex MHC architecture) in more derived bird lineages (e.g., passerines) being accompanied by an apparent downregulation of the innate immune system.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Characterizing out-of-equilibrium many-body dynamics is a complex but crucial task for quantum applications and understanding fundamental phenomena. A central question is the role of localization in ...quenching thermalization in many-body systems and whether such localization survives in the presence of interactions. Probing this question in real systems necessitates the development of an experimentally measurable metric that can distinguish between different types of localization. While it is known that the localized phase of interacting systems many-body localization (MBL) exhibits a long-time logarithmic growth in entanglement entropy that distinguishes it from the noninteracting case of Anderson localization (AL), entanglement entropy is difficult to measure experimentally. Here, we present a novel correlation metric, capable of distinguishing MBL from AL in high-temperature spin systems. We demonstrate the use of this metric to detect localization in a natural solid-state spin system using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). We engineer the natural Hamiltonian to controllably introduce disorder and interactions, and observe the emergence of localization. In particular, while our correlation metric saturates for AL, it slowly keeps increasing for MBL, demonstrating analogous features to entanglement entropy, as we show in simulations. Our results show that our NMR techniques, akin to measuring out-of-time correlations, are well suited for studying localization in spin systems.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Indoor scene segmentation based on 3-D laser point cloud is important for rebuilding and classification, especially for permanent building structure. However, the existing segmentation methods mainly ...focus on the large-scale planar structures but ignore the other sharp structures and details, which would cause accuracy degradation in scene reconstruction. To handle this issue, an iterative Gaussian mapping-based segmentation strategy has been proposed in this article, which goes from rough segmentation to refined one iteratively to decompose the indoor scene into detectable point cloud clusters layer by layer. An improved model fitting algorithm based on the maximum likelihood estimation sampling consensus (MLESAC) algorithm is proposed for refined segmentation, which is called the Prior-MLESAC algorithm, to deal with the extraction of both vertical and nonvertical planar and cylindrical structures. The experimental results demonstrate that planar and cylindrical structures are segmented more completely by the proposed strategy, and more details of the indoor structure are restored than other existing methods.
Following the continual development of smart cities, there is a growing need for the seamless integration of design and technology to improve urban spaces. In this regard, public space odors are ...gaining importance as a key factor in urban planning. To investigate the impact of public space odors on urban environments, a study was conducted within the second ring road of Hefei. The study utilized a combination of crowd observation, questionnaires, interviews, and the collection, experimentation, and analysis of public space odors. The investigation aimed to clarify participants' perceptions of urban public space odors and odor environments. The TOPSIS method was used to determine the odor diffusion range and intensity weight for the collected odor source types and distribution intensities. Data visualization was also employed to create odor maps. Using machine scoring, the study quantified qualitative data to illustrate the degree of influence of odor on people's perception of urban behavior from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Additionally, an emotion map was drawn to further understand people's perceptions of odors. By superimposing the analysis, the study identified people's preferences for odors and created an odor map. Finally, the study explored the potential application of olfactory elements in urban design through tour route plans for different target groups, providing innovative ideas for future applications in smart cities, five-sense cities, and the metaverse.
Abstract
Recently, China’s urban construction has gradually shifted from incremental development to quality improvement, and urban residents’ demand for a better travel environment has become ...stronger. Therefore, as the main carrier of urban slow traffic and an important part of public space, streets are gradually becoming the focus of urban planning. This study starts from the perspective of the residents’ needs and selects the measurement indicators from multiple dimensions. The combination of big data analysis and field observations makes up for the shortcomings in the subjective methods, single measurement dimensions, and low data accuracy in previous studies and provides a comprehensive measurement method for the spatial quality of typical streets in China, and provides theoretical support and a scientific basis for urban sustainable development. This study used the Bijiashan Block, Hefei, Anhui Province, China, as an example. Based on the street view big data and technologies, such as point of interest (POI) spatial analysis, road network accessibility analysis, and machine learning algorithm, this study conducted a quantitative evaluation of the street space quality from four dimensions: (1) visual perception; (2) functional attribute; (3) road network structure; and (4) spatial form. In addition, quantitative measurements of pedestrian walking characteristics are conducted based on pedestrian flow rate and walking speed. Correlation and regression analyses are adopted to explore the correlation between street space quality and pedestrian walking characteristics and the impact of each indicator. The results indicate that street richness, green visibility, POI density, and vehicle interference degree show a significant correlation with walking characteristics and indicators, such as street accessibility and functional mixing degree that are believed by the public to affect walking characteristics show no significant correlation with street scale.
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