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Recent advances in the preparation of shape-shifting and size-growing nanostructures are hot topics in development of nanoscience, because many intelligent functions are always relied on their shape and dimension. Here we report a tunable manipulation of sequential self-assembled transformation in situ via a hierarchical assembly strategy based on a living thiol–disulfide exchange reaction. By tailoring the external stimuli, the reactive points can be generated at the ends of initially unimolecular micelles, which subsequently drive the pre-assemblies to periodically proceed into the hierarchically micellar connection, axial growth, bending, and cyclization processes from nanoscopic assemblies to macroscopic particles. Of particular interest would be systems that acquired the shape control and size adjustment of self-assemblies after termination or reactivation of disulfide reshuffling reaction by regulating external stimuli whenever needed. Such a hierarchical strategy for self-assembled evolution is universally applicable not only for other disulfide-linked dendritic polymers but also for exploitation of biological applications. Controlling shape-shift and size-growth in nanostructures are important developments in nanoscience but controlling morphology change with an instant on/off function remains challenging. Here the authors demonstrate control over morphology and size transformation of POSS molecules based on living thiol-disulfide exchange reactions.

In a dynamic and competitive business environment, managerial ability emerges as a pivotal strategic factor for capitalizing on new opportunities within the technological revolution and digital transformation of enterprises. Based on data from Chinese A-share listed firms spanning from 2009 to 2019, this study integrates insights from the upper echelons theory and the behavioral theory of the firm to investigate the moderating roles of historical aspiration shortfalls and industrial competitiveness on the relationship between managerial ability and enterprise digital transformation from internal and external pressure perspectives. Our findings indicate a positive impact of managerial ability on digital transformation. The relationship between managerial ability and digital transformation is reinforced by historical aspiration shortfalls; nevertheless, industrial competitiveness has attenuated the aforementioned relationship. This study contributes to a better understanding of the strategic implications of managerial ability within the context of organizational innovation strategies. It offers valuable insights into the decision-making processes of firms as they navigate the challenges of digital transformation within an ever-evolving business environment.

Phosphorus (P) scarcity and pollution demand sustainable recovery strategies. This study engineered a functional straw biochar (F-SBC) from corn straw through synergistic KOH activation and MgCl2 modification for efficient P recovery and slow release. Characterization revealed that KOH pretreatment expanded pore size and enhanced MgO loading. Batch adsorption experiments demonstrated F-SBC achieved a remarkable P adsorption capacity of 24.70 ± 0.57 mg·g−1, and exhibited > 95% removal efficiency across pH 5~9. Adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model, and isotherms fitted the Langmuir model, indicating chemisorption-dominated monolayer adsorption. Mechanistic studies identified synergistic contributions from chemical precipitation, inner-sphere complexation, bi-metallic electrostatic attraction, and physical confinement. F-SBC exhibited slow-release properties, alongside sustained adsorption capacity. Competitive anions (HCO3−/CO32−) significantly promoted desorption, while Cl− showed minimal impact. This KOH/MgCl2 co-modification strategy creates a cost-effective, regenerable biochar with superior P recovery and controlled-release potential, advancing sustainable P management from agricultural waste towards a circular bioeconomy.

ObjectivesTo evaluate the associations between alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) intake and intermediate disease markers in overweight or obese adults.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesPubMed, EMBASE, Medline, APA PsycINFO, SocINDEX, CINAHL, SSRN, SocArXiv, PsyArXiv, medRxiv, and Google Scholar (from inception to October 2024).Eligibility criteriaThis study included English-language randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on adults (body mass index ≥25 kg/m²) to assess the impact of ALA on intermediate disease markers. Studies lacking outcome data, duplicates or inaccessible full texts were excluded.Data extraction and synthesisPaired reviewers independently extracted the data. We used frequentist meta-analysis to summarise the evidence, employing the DerSimonian and Laird estimator to account for heterogeneity across study designs, settings and measurement methods. Heterogeneity was assessed via the I² statistic with CIs and τ² values. The risk of bias was independently assessed by two reviewers according to the Cochrane Handbook, covering domains such as randomisation, blinding and data completeness. Publication bias was assessed using Begg’s test, while funnel plots and Egger’s test were applied to outcomes with 10 or more studies.ResultsThis meta-analysis included 11 RCTs from an initial screening of 431 studies, encompassing a total of 704 adults. The meta-analysis results revealed no significant associations were detected between ALA supplementation and changes in intermediate disease markers, including triglyceride (TG) (standardised mean difference (SMD): −0.08, 95% CI: −0.24 to 0.09, p=0.36, I²=0.00%, τ²=0.00), total cholesterol (TC) (SMD: 0.08, 95% CI: −0.55 to 0.71, p=0.80, I²=87.50%, τ²=0.52), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (SMD: −0.05, 95% CI: −0.22 to 0.11, p=0.52, I²=0.00%, τ²=0.00), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (SMD: −0.13, 95% CI: −0.40 to 0.15, p=0.37, I²=0.00%, τ²=0.00), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (SMD: −0.23, 95% CI: −0.60 to 0.15, p=0.23, I²=26.20%, τ²=0.05) and fasting blood glucose (FBS) (SMD: 0.13, 95% CI: −0.16 to 0.41, p=0.39, I²=29.40%, τ²=0.04). According to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation bias assessment approach, eight studies were rated as having low bias (grade A), and three studies were rated as having moderate bias (grade B). Begg’s test indicated no evidence of publication bias.ConclusionsNo significant associations were detected between ALA intake and intermediate disease markers, including TG, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, HOMA-IR and FBS levels, in overweight or obese adults. Further research is needed to explore the potential associations of ALA, especially in high-risk populations with metabolic disorders, by employing longer intervention durations, higher dosages and optimised formulations.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42023450239.

Background Delayed care-seeking in heart failure patients is associated with adverse clinical outcomes, yet the factors contributing to such delays remain inconsistently defined and poorly understood. This scoping review aimed to systematically summarize existing evidence regarding definitions, durations, and influencing factors of delays in seeking medical care among heart failure patients, thereby providing a foundation for future intervention research. Methods A systematic search was conducted across eight electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and VIP Database, from database inception to May 1, 2023. Additional studies were identified by manually screening reference lists. Articles were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thematic analysis was performed to extract and categorize definitions of delay, reported delay durations, and associated influencing factors. Results Fifteen studies, published between 1997 and 2021, comprising 7,303 patients with HF were identified as eligible. They were predominantly conducted in the United States (10/15), with the remainder from China, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, and Sweden. The study designs included cross-sectional ( n = 7), retrospective ( n = 5), descriptive ( n = 2), and prospective ( n = 1) approaches. Definitions of delay varied, most commonly describing the interval from symptom onset or exacerbation to hospital arrival. The median delay time ranged from 2 to 168 h, while the average delay time spanned 13.3 to 392.2 h. Thematic analysis identified five major categories of influencing factors: (1) sociodemographic factors (e.g., age, sex, ethnicity); (2) environmental factors (e.g., geographic location, time of symptom onset); (3) psychological factors (e.g., depression, anxiety); (4) disease-related factors (e.g., comorbidities, symptom burden); and (5) symptom experience (e.g., perception, evaluation, and response to symptoms). Considerable variability in definitions of delay, measurement tools, and analytic methods contributed to inconsistencies across studies. Conclusion Delays in seeking medical care are common among patients with HF and are shaped by multiple interacting factors. Future studies should adopt standardized definitions, apply validated assessment tools, and utilize longitudinal designs to clarify causal relationships. Interventions targeting symptom awareness, health literacy, and psychological support—particularly among older adults and those in rural areas—may help reduce avoidable delays and improve clinical outcomes.

Plant extracts contain many active compounds, which are tremendously fruitful for plant defence against several insect pests. The prime objectives of the present study were to calculate the extraction yield and to evaluate the leaf extracts of Citrullus colocynthis (L.), Cannabis indica (L.) and Artemisia argyi (L.) against Brevicoryne brassicae and to conduct biochemical analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results suggested that when using ethanol, C. colocynthis produced a high dry yield (12.45%), followed by that of C. indica and A. argyi , which were 12.37% and 10.95%, respectively. The toxicity results showed that A. argyi was toxic to B. brassicae with an LC 50 of 3.91 mg mL −1 , followed by the toxicity of C. colocynthis and C. indica , exhibiting LC 50 values of 6.26 and 10.04 mg mL −1 , respectively, which were obtained via a residual assay; with a contact assay, the LC 50 values of C. colocynthis , C. indica and A. argyi were 0.22 mg mL −1 , 1.96 and 2.87 mg mL −1 , respectively. The interaction of plant extracts, concentration and time revealed that the maximum mortality based on a concentration of 20 mg L −1 was 55.50%, the time-based mortality was 55% at 72 h of exposure, and the treatment-based mortality was 44.13% for A. argyi via the residual assay. On the other hand, the maximum concentration-based mortality was 74.44% at 20 mg mL −1 , the time-based mortality was 66.38% after 72 h of exposure, and 57.30% treatment-based mortality was afforded by A. argyi via the contact assay. The biochemical analysis presented ten constituents in both the A. argyi and C. colocynthis extracts and twenty in that of C. indica , corresponding to 99.80%, 99.99% and 97% of the total extracts, respectively. Moreover, the detected caryophylleneonides (sesquiterpenes), α-bisabolol and dronabinol (Δ 9 -THC) from C. indica and erucylamide and octasiloxane hexamethyl from C. colocynthis exhibited insecticidal properties, which might be responsible for aphid mortality. However, A. argyi was evaluated for the first time against B. brassicae . It was concluded that all the plant extracts possessed significant insecticidal properties and could be introduced as botanical insecticides after field evaluations.

Background The aim was to determine the potential association of the gut microbiota composition, especially the abundance of Actinobacteria , as well as the differentiation of functional and resistance genes with age (young adults vs elderly subjects) in China. Results The patterns of relative abundance of all bacteria isolated from fecal samples differed between young adults and elderly subjects, but the alpha diversity (Chao1 P  = 0.370, Shannon P  = 0.560 and Simpson P  = 0.270) and beta diversity (ANOSIM R = 0.031, P  = 0.226) were not significantly different. There were 3 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) metabolic pathways (carbon metabolism, inositol phosphate metabolism, and sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis) and 7 antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) (macrolide lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB), tetracycline, aminoglycoside, sulfonamide, fosmidomycin, lincomycin, and vancomycin) that showed significant differences between the 2 groups (all P  < 0.05). The abundance of Actinomycetes was enriched (about 2.4-fold) in young adults. Bifidobacteria dominated in both young adults and elderly subjects, with overall higher abundances in young adults ( P  > 0.05). Only the Bifidobacterium_dentium species showed significant differences between the 2 groups ( P  = 0.013), with a higher abundance in elderly subjects but absent in young adults. Conclusions The present study revealed that there were 3 KEGG metabolic pathways and 7 ARGs as well as enhanced Bifidobacterium_dentium species abundance in elderly compared to young subjects.

Brevicoryne brassicae is a problematic pest in cabbage and other field crops. Synthetic pesticides are used to control this pest, but they are injurious for human health and the environment. The present study aimed to purify and identify the active compounds from Citrullus colocynthis leaves with an appraisal of their efficacy against B. brassicae. Separation and purification were performed via different chromatographic techniques. Molecular analysis and chemical structures were recognized by mass spectrum (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), respectively. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo aphicidal activity was assessed using various concentrations, i.e., 6.25, 12.5, 25 and 50 µg/mL at 12, 24, 48 and 72 h exposure. The outcome shows that mass spectrum analyses of the purified compounds suggested the molecular formulae are C30H50O and C29H50O, C29H48O. The compounds were characterized as fernenol and a mixture of spinasterol, 22,23-dihydrospinasterol by 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectrum analysis. The toxicity results showed that the mixture of spinasterol and 22,23-dihydrospinasterol showed LC50 values of 32.36, 44.49 and 37.50 µg/mL by contact, residual and greenhouse assay at 72 h exposure, respectively. In contrast, fernenol recorded LC50 values as 47.99, 57.46 and 58.67 µg/mL, respectively. On the other hand, spinasterol, 22,23-dihydrospinasterol showed the highest mortality, i.e., 66.67%, 53.33% and 60% while, 30%, 23.33% and 25% mortality was recorded by fernenol after 72 h at 50 µg/mL by contact, residual and greenhouse assay, respectively. This study suggests that spinasterol, 22,23-dihydrospinasterol are more effective against B. brassicae which may be introduced as an effective and suitable substitute of synthetic chemical pesticides.

Background Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) have been highly valued and an integral part of the health care system. Development and establishment of new APN roles is a complex process that has resulted from a wide variety of reasons, key component is a lack of a competency map delineation and role evaluation. Currently, however, competence framework has not been compared at an international level. In mainland China, APN have been introduced in some organizations but their competency domains have not yet been clearly defined, this study aimed to identify the core competencies for advanced practice nursing. Methods This study was performed in two phases: first, in-depth and semi-structured individual interviews with 46 participants from key stakeholders were carried out followed by a qualitative content analysis, then an item pool of core competencies was constructed by extracting data from the first phase and the results from previous studies, scales and documents; second, a Delphi technique was conducted with the participation of 28 experts from 7 areas of China to form the final core competency framework for advanced practice nursing. Results Through the qualitative phase, the core competency framework with six domains and 70 items emerged and then entered into the Delphi phase. Twenty-eight of 30 experts finished 2 rounds of Delphi approaches. The final core competencies for advanced practice nursing consisted of six domains with 61 items, including direct clinical nursing practice, research and evidence-based nursing practice, professional development, organization and management, mentoring and consultation, and ethical/legal practice. Conclusion This core competency framework consisted of six domains with 61 items can be used in competency-based education to cultivate advanced practice nurses as well as competency level assessment.

Objectives The study aimed to investigate a non-invasive biomarker for predicting coronary heart disease by analyzing fecal sulfatide levels. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 593 patients with coronary heart disease, divided into acute myocardial infarction (AMI), unstable angina pectoris (UAP), and stable angina pectoris groups (SAP), and a control group of 200 healthy adults. General information was collected for analysis, and fecal sulfatide levels were compared among groups. Binary logistic regression analysis assessed the correlation between fecal sulfatide levels and coronary heart disease. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the risk factors, and predictive value was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results Statistically significant differences were observed in the characteristics of age, complete blood cell count, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol between the group of patients with coronary heart disease and the control group ( P  <  0.05 ). Noteworthy, fecal sulfatide levels were notably higher in coronary heart disease groups. Furthermore, fecal sulfatide levels in AMI group significantly exceeded those in SAP and UAP groups ( P  <  0.05 ). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified fecal sulfatide as an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.893 (95% CI 0.869, 0.921), indicating strong predictive value. Conclusions Fecal sulfatide may serve as a novel, non-invasive biomarker for early coronary heart disease prediction and risk stratification. However, the retrospective and single-center design of this study limits the generalizability of the results, and future large-scale, multi-center prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.