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Rational agronomic practice enhances crop productivity and resource use efficiency. Plastic film mulching and phosphorus (P) fertilization are widely applied in alpine agriculture to improve soil water content, temperature, and P availability. However, their effects on soil P transformation and nutrient uptake in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) remain unclear. This study conducted a field experiment to explore the effects of mulching methods and P levels on soil P fractions and nitrogen (N), P uptake in faba bean. The experiment followed a randomized block design with three film mulching treatments—no-mulching with flat planting (NMF), double ridges and furrows mulched with one film (DRM), and three ridges and furrows mulched with one film (TRM) and three P levels—P0 (0 kg P ha−1), P1 (9.10 kg P ha−1), and P2 (18.2 kg P ha−1). The results showed that soil medium- and highly active P increased, while low-active P decreased with increasing P levels. Compared with DRM and TRM, NMF had lower low-active P and higher medium- and highly active P, particularly under P2. These changes contributed to increases in soil total P and available P. The aboveground N, P uptake and N/P ratio under NMF were significantly higher than under DRM and TRM. As P levels increased, the aboveground N, P uptake and N/P ratio increased in NMF and DRM, but decreased in TRM. In all treatments, the aboveground N/P ratio was below 14, indicating N limitation. NMF, especially with P2, alleviated N limitation to faba bean growth. Overall, NMF combined with about 18.2 kg P ha−1 P fertilizer is a sustainable practice for faba bean cultivation in alpine regions. However, attention should be paid to achieving a balanced supply of N and P fertilizers.

Forest soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation is regulated by plant-derived carbon inputs and soil environmental conditions, but the relative roles of litter composition and soil physicochemical properties in regulating SOC fractions remain unclear in high-elevation forest ecosystems. This study aimed to determine whether variation in SOC among different forest types was mainly associated with particulate organic carbon (POC) or mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC), and to identify the relative roles of litter characteristics, soil physicochemical properties, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities in regulating SOC fractions. Four forest types on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau were investigated: broadleaved poplar forest (PLF), larch forest (LXF), seabuckthorn forest (SBF), and Dasiphora shrubland (DS). PLF had the highest SOC and POC contents (75.8 and 48.5 g kg , respectively), whereas MAOC did not differ significantly among forest types. SOC was strongly positively correlated with POC (R = 0.74, < 0.001), but not with MAOC, indicating that SOC variation was mainly associated with POC accumulation. PLF litter contained higher labile and recalcitrant carbon components, including soluble sugar (19.9 g kg ), starch (30.1 g kg ), lignin (94.6 g kg ), and litter carbon (404 g kg ). Partial least squares path modeling showed that soil physicochemical properties had the strongest direct path relationship with SOC variation ( < 0.001), while litter composition was positively associated with microbial biomass and POC formation ( < 0.01). These findings suggest that POC formation was the main fraction-level feature associated with SOC accumulation, while soil properties and litter composition were related to SOC through different pathways.

Background Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a sterile inflammation, and 10–20% of cases can progress to severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), which seriously threatens human life and health. Neutrophils and their extracellular traps (NETs) play an important role in the progression of AP. However, the immunodynamic factors between the excessive infiltration of neutrophils during the occurrence of AP have not been fully elucidated. Methods Adult male C57BL/6 J mice were selected. An AP model was induced by cerulein, and a control group was set up. Single-cell sequencing technology was used to reveal the cell atlas of AP pancreatitis tissue. In vivo, the model mice were treated with anti-Ly6G antibody, DNase I, SC75741, PX-478, and SRT3109 respectively. In vitro, human pancreatic stellate cells were treated with hypoxia, H 2 O 2 , NAC, and JSH-2, and co-cultured with neutrophils in Transwell chambers. The severity of inflammation was evaluated, and the molecular mechanism by which fibroblasts exacerbate AP was revealed through techniques such as cell colony formation assay, cell migration assay, cell transfection, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, Western blot, reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP). Results The study showed that the elimination of neutrophils and NETs could significantly improve AP. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) indicated that both neutrophils and fibroblasts in pancreatic tissue exhibited heterogeneity during AP. Among them, neutrophils highly expressed CXCR2, and fibroblasts highly expressed CXCL1. Further experimental results demonstrated that the infiltration of neutrophils in the early stage of AP was related to the activation of fibroblasts. The activation of fibroblasts depended on the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway induced by hypoxia. NF-κB enhanced the activation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) and the secretion of CXCL1 by directly promoting the transcription of HIF-1α and indirectly inhibiting PHD2, resulting in the accumulation of HIF-1α protein. The NF-κB–HIF-1α signal promoted the secretion of CXCL1 by fibroblasts through glycolysis and induced the infiltration of neutrophils. Finally, blocking the NF-κB–HIF-1α–CXCL1 signaling axis in vivo reduced the infiltration of neutrophils and improved AP. Conclusions This study, for the first time, demonstrated that activation of fibroblasts is one of the immunological driving factors for neutrophil infiltration and elucidated that glycolysis driven by the NF-κB–HIF-1α pathway is the intrinsic molecular mechanism by which fibroblasts secrete CXCL1 to chemotactically attract neutrophils. This finding provides a highly promising target for the treatment of AP.

Autonomous landing of aircraft during the approaching stage is a crucial part of the autonomous driving of aircraft. This paper mainly investigates the localization problem of aircraft during the end stage of the approaching process via a visual technique. To robustly identify the mark corners, a dedicated algorithm was proposed for a convex quadrilateral. The results proved its effectiveness, and the way for the marks′ edge line optimization was also presented. Moreover, different ways for updating runway parameters as well as selecting key points for pose estimation were also investigated in detail. It proved that continuously updating runway parameters related to mark corners distant from the camera with those close to the camera helps greatly improve the quality of runway parameter estimation. Besides, updating runway parameters forward favors the accuracy of runway parameters estimated, as runway parameters related to mark corners close to the camera hold better accuracy than those far from the camera. It also proved that taking mark corners as the key points is not a good way for pose estimation, as it involves errors at both the x and y coordinates. However, using the cross points between the side lines′ edges and the runway marks′ horizontal edge lines as the key points was much better, as it only involves an inaccuracy in the y coordinate. According to this investigation, cross points related to horizontal lines close to the camera are essential for ensuring pose estimation accuracy, while taking as many horizontal lines as possible for generating key points with side lines helps improve pose estimation accuracy.

China’s poultry industry is characterized by large-scale production and rich breeds, presenting both opportunities and challenges. In 2023, the industry produced 10.79 billion broilers, 28.38 million tons of eggs, and 4.88 billion waterfowl. The foundation of a thriving poultry industry lies in the continuous improvement of breeds. For instance, new lines of Lueyang black-boned chickens have been developed using genomic selection breeding, with a focus on improving production performance and unlocking their high-quality genetic potential. Precision nutrition programs enhance the expression of poultry’s genetic potential and improve feed utilization efficiency. The five-dimensional feed evaluation system and the comprehensive National Feed Database provide formulators with accurate nutritional parameters of feed. Additionally, the concept of “nutrition power” and the “five-ring gold standard” enable researchers to analyze poultry’s digestive physiology more effectively. Feeding management plays a crucial role in optimizing genetic potential and the effectiveness of precision nutrition. To further boost production efficiency, smart farming systems have been implemented, incorporating intelligent management of environmental factors, animal parameters, and poultry health tracking. Meanwhile, in order to improve material utilization efficiency across the entire poultry production chain and support the sustainable development of the poultry industry, it is essential to optimize and promote the application of the Poultry-Crop interaction systems. In summary, strengthening fundamental research in poultry, optimizing smart poultry farm platforms, and implementing Poultry-Crop Interacting systems will drive the sustainable development of China’s poultry industry.

Port wine stain (PWS) is a congenital and progressive capillary malformation characterized by structural abnormalities of intradermal capillaries and postcapillary venules. The visible manifestation is often considered a disfigurement and the accompanying social stigma often causes serious emotional and physical impact. Hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME) is a newly authorized photosensitizer for treating PWS in China. Hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether photodynamic therapy (HMME-PDT) has successfully treated thousands of Chinese patients with PWS since 2017, and HMME-PDT may be one of the most promising strategies for the treatment of PWS. However, there are few reviews published about the clinical use of HMME-PDT. So in this article, we want to briefly review the mechanism, efficacy evaluation, effectiveness and influencing factors, and the common postoperative reactions and treatment suggestions of HMME-PDT in the treatment of PWS.

Background The interleukin-23p19-subunit inhibitor guselkumab effectively treats signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). We evaluated the effect of guselkumab on fatigue. Methods Across two phase 3 trials of guselkumab (DISCOVER-1, DISCOVER-2), patients with active PsA despite standard therapy were randomized to subcutaneous injections of guselkumab 100 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W, N = 373); guselkumab 100 mg at week 0, week 4, and then Q8W ( N = 375); or placebo ( N = 372) through week 24, after which patients in the placebo group crossed over to guselkumab Q4W. Fatigue was measured as a secondary endpoint using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue instrument (range 0–52, higher scores indicate less fatigue). Least-squares mean changes in FACIT-Fatigue scores were compared between treatments using a mixed-effect model for repeated measures. Mediation analysis was used to adjust for indirect effects on fatigue deriving from improvement in other outcomes, including ≥20% improvement in American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR20; prespecified), minimal disease activity (MDA; post hoc), or C-reactive protein (CRP; post hoc). Results Baseline mean (SD) FACIT-Fatigue scores in DISCOVER-1 ( N = 381) and DISCOVER-2 ( N = 739), ranging from 29.1 (9.5) to 31.4 (10.1), indicated substantial levels of fatigue relative to the United States general population (43.6 [9.4]). Across studies, mean improvements, and proportions of patients with ≥4-point improvements, in FACIT-Fatigue scores at week 24 with guselkumab Q4W and Q8W (5.6–7.6 and 54–63%, respectively) were larger vs placebo (2.2–3.6 and 35–46%). Improvement in FACIT-Fatigue scores with guselkumab was sustained from week 24 to week 52, with moderate-to-large effect sizes (Cohen’s d = 0.52–0.81 at week 24; 0.66–0.91 at week 52). Mediation analyses demonstrated that substantial proportions of the effects of guselkumab vs placebo on fatigue were direct effect, after adjusting for achievement of ACR20 (Q4W 69–70%, Q8W 12–36% direct effect) or MDA (72–92% across dosing regimens) response or for change in serum CRP concentrations (82–88% across dosing regimens). Conclusions In patients with active PsA, guselkumab 100 mg Q4W or Q8W led to clinically meaningful and sustained improvements in fatigue through 1 year. A substantial portion of the improvement in FACIT-Fatigue scores induced by guselkumab was independent of effects on the achievement of other select outcomes. Trial registration Name of the registry: ClinicalTrials.gov Trial registrations: DISCOVER-1, NCT03162796; DISCOVER-2, NCT03158285 Date of registration: DISCOVER-1, May 22, 2017; DISCOVER-2, May 18, 2017 URLs of the trial registry record: DISCOVER-1, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03162796?term=NCT03162796&draw=1&rank=1 DISCOVER-2, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03158285?term=NCT03158285&draw=2&rank=1

INTRODUCTION:We evaluated the effect of ustekinumab (UST) on work productivity and daily activity in patients with moderate-severe active ulcerative colitis (UC) in the UNIFI induction and maintenance studies.METHODS:In the induction study, patients were randomized to a single intravenous (IV) dose of placebo (PBO, n = 319), UST 130 mg (n = 320), or UST ∼6 mg/kg (n = 322). Patients who were in clinical response 8 wks after receiving UST IV induction were eligible for the maintenance study and randomized to subcutaneous (SC) PBO (n = 175), UST 90 mg q12w (n = 172), or UST 90 mg q8w (n = 176). Work productivity was assessed using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI), a validated tool that assesses work time missed (absenteeism), reduced job effectiveness (presenteeism), overall work impairment, and daily activity impairment due to health over the previous week. The impact of UC on overall daily productivity at home, school, and work was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS, 0 to 10, 0 = no impact at all, 10 = impacts very much).RESULTS:At induction baseline, patients had a mean percent work time missed ranging from 17.7% to 19.3%, impairment while working from 39.1% to 45.3%, overall work impairment from 43.7% to 49.1%, and activity impairment from 51.8% to 52.8%. At Wk 8, patients who received UST IV had significantly greater improvement in WPAI domains and daily productivity VAS compared with PBO (Table 1). In the maintenance study, UST-treated patients generally maintained or numerically improved WPAI scores, while scores for patients in the PBO group worsened. The mean changes from baseline to Wk 44 in work time missed was 4.7% in the SC PBO group, -2.0% (P = 0.133) in the SC UST 90-mg-q12w group, and 2.1% (P = 0.172) in the SC UST 90-mg-q8w group, impairment while working was 7.4%, −1.6 (P = 0.017), and −6.4% (P < 0.001), respectively; overall work impairment was 7.7%, −2.2% (P = 0.013), and −6.1% (P < 0.001), respectively; and activity impairment was 9.3%, 0.8% (P = 0.002), and −4.2% (P < 0.001), respectively. Mean changes from baseline to Wk 44 in daily productivity VAS scores were 1.0, −0.2 (P < 0.001), and −0.5 (P < 0.001), respectively.CONCLUSION:Patients who received UST IV induction reported significantly greater improvement in work productivity and daily activity compared with PBO. In patients who responded to UST IV induction, those who received UST SC maintenance through Wk 44 sustained or improved the levels of work productivity and activity that were achieved during induction.