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Reduced ecosystem services (e.g., climate and flood regulation) due to urban expansion further amplify disaster risks (Tao et al. 2018). [...]UGB delineation must balance ecological protection and disaster risk reduction for promoting sustainability. [...]combined with statistical analysis and simulation methods based on landscape ecology, it is necessary to reveal the impacts of urban expansion on biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and ecosystem services, and assess the direct and indirect ecological risks of future urban expansion. [...]on the basis of in-depth understanding of the relationships between urban expansion and environmental stability, the hazard, and the exposure and vulnerability, it is necessary to quantitatively assess the comprehensive effects of future urban expansion on disaster risks in existing urban areas, urban expansion areas, and urban peripheries. According to the geodesign framework, the UGBs that reduce ecological and disaster risks can be delineated by integrating model simulation, scenario analysis, and visualization, and synthesizing the demands of different stakeholders.

Background Severe pneumonia is an important contributor to the high mortality of sick young children. The microRNA-125b-5p (miR-125b-5p), which is widely involved in various cancers, is closely related to a variety of lung diseases. However, its role in severe pneumonia children remains to be studied. Objective This study focused on the expression and clinical value of miR-125b-5p in severe pneumonia children. Materials and methods The study subjects included 96 pneumonia children and 127 severe pneumonia children. These children were aged between 2-10 years. The expression level of serum miR-125b-5p was assessed by qRT-PCR. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was employed to identify severe pneumonia children from pneumonia individuals. Kaplan-Meier curve was plotted based on follow-up results and multivariate Cox regression analysis was applied to evaluate the contribution of miR-125b-5p to poor prognostic in severe pneumonia children. Results MiR-125b-5p was remarkedly reduced in severe pneumonia children compared to pneumonia individuals. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.9267 and the sensitivity and specificity were 84.25% and 89.58%, respectively. The accumulative survival rate in low miR-125b-5p group showed a remarkable decrease compared to the high miR-125b-5p group ( P =  0.033). Increased procalcitonin (PCT, HR: 2.631, 95% CI: 1.029–6.732, P  = 0.043) and reduced miR-125b-5p (HR: 0.301, 95% CI: 0.110–0.826, P  = 0.020) were found to be related to the poor prognosis in severe pneumonia children. Conclusion The reduced miR-125b-5p was an underlying diagnostic indicator of severe pneumonia and was an independent risk factor of poor prognosis in severe pneumonia children.

Soluble vector family member 6 (SLC2A6) has been implicated in the aggressiveness and poor prognosis of various cancers, yet its specific role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be fully elucidated. This study utilized multiple databases to investigate the relationship between SLC2A6 expression and clinical stage, methylation status, drug sensitivity, immune infiltration, and immune checkpoint regulation. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were conducted. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to assess the impact of SLC2A6 knockout on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and underlying mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) cells. SLC2A6 expression was significantly correlated with tumor prognosis, clinical stage, and methylation levels, and was found to influence immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint gene expression. In LIHC, SLC2A6 was associated with key biological processes, including the cell cycle, P53 signaling, and ferroptosis. Knockdown of SLC2A6 markedly suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells, with this inhibition being closely tied to the ferroptosis pathway. SLC2A6 plays a pivotal role in the regulation of pan-cancer processes, particularly in tumor prognosis and immune-related mechanisms. In LIHC, it emerges as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for the regulation of ferroptosis, offering new insights for targeted cancer therapies.

Improving the lubricating properties of base oils through additives is a crucial objective of tribological research, as it helps to reduce friction and wear of materials. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a 2D nanomaterial with excellent tribological properties that is often used as a lubricant additive. Several studies have been conducted on the preparation and utilization of MoS2 and its nanocomposites as lubricant additives. This paper reviews the research progress on MoS2 nanomaterials as lubricant additives. It firstly introduces various synthesis methods of MoS2 nanomaterials while focusing on the preparation of nano-MoS2 as lubricant additives. It then summarizes the dispersion stability of nano-MoS2 in lubricating oils which has been paid extensive attention. Moreover, this paper reviews and discusses the tribological properties of nano-MoS2 and its various composites as lubricant additives. The possible anti-wear and friction reduction mechanisms of nano-MoS2 and its composites are also discussed. Finally, this paper presents the challenges faced by nano-MoS2 additives in the field of lubrication and the prospects for future research in view of previous studies.

The spider Lycosa sinensis represents a burrowing wolf spider (family Lycosidae) widely distributed in the cotton region of northern China, whose venom is rich in various bioactive peptides. In previous study, we used a combination strategy of peptidomic and transcriptomic analyses to systematically screen and identify potential antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in Lycosa sinensis venom that matched the α-helix structures. In this work, the three peptides (LS-AMP-E1, LS-AMP-F1, and LS-AMP-G1) were subjected to sequence analysis of the physicochemical properties and helical wheel projection, and then six common clinical pathogenic bacteria (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) with multiple drug-resistance were isolated and cultured for the evaluation and analysis of antimicrobial activity of these peptides. The results showed that two peptides (LS-AMP-E1 and LS-AMP-F1) had different inhibitory activity against six clinical drug-resistant bacteria; they can effectively inhibit the formation of biofilm and have no obvious hemolytic effect. Moreover, both LS-AMP-E1 and LS-AMP-F1 exhibited varying degrees of synergistic therapeutic effects with traditional antibiotics (azithromycin, erythromycin, and doxycycline), significantly reducing the working concentration of antibiotics and AMPs. In terms of antimicrobial mechanisms, LS-AMP-E1 and LS-AMP-F1 destroyed the integrity of bacterial cell membranes in a short period of time and completely inhibited bacterial growth within 10 min of action. Meanwhile, high concentrations of Mg2+ effectively reduced the antibacterial activity of LS-AMP-E1 and LS-AMP-F1. Together, it suggested that the two peptides interact directly on bacterial cell membranes. Taken together, bioinformatic and functional analyses in the present work sheds light on the structure–function relationships of LS-AMPs, and facilitates the discovery and clinical application of novel AMPs.

1-Bromoacetyl-3,3-dinitroazetidine (RRx-001) has potent antitumor effects, indicating its promising therapeutic potential against various cancers. This research investigates RRx-001 activity against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and elucidates its underlying mechanisms. Huh7, Hepa1-6, and MHCC97H cells were cultured and treated with varying RRx-001 concentrations for 24, 48, and 72 h. Cell viability was assessed using cell counting kit-8. The cells were divided into control and RRx-001 treatment groups at 0.5 × IC , 1.0 × IC , and 2.0 × IC concentrations for each cell line. Migration and invasion were evaluated using scratch and Transwell assays, and apoptosis was examined by apoptosis assays. RNA sequencing was performed on the Huh7 cells treated with RRx-001 for 24 h to identify differential gene expression. CD47 and TP53 protein levels were measured by Western blot. A xenograft mouse model was utilized to evaluate the effect of RRx-001 on HCC. RRx-001 inhibits HCC cell viability, migration, and invasion while inducing apoptosis, These effects are potentially mediated by the downregulation of CD47 and the upregulation of TP53, both of which modulate key signaling pathways. experiments demonstrated that RRx-001 effectively inhibits tumor growth. RRx-001 reduces the viability of HCC cells and induces apoptosis. This effect may be due to the downregulation of CD47 expression and the alteration of the TP53 protein regulatory pathway.

In this work, we show a high-performance GaN-on-Si quasi-vertical PiN diode based on the combination of beveled sidewall and fluorine plasma treatment (BSFP) by an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) system. The leakage current and breakdown voltage of the diode are systematically studied. Due to the beveled sidewall treated by the fluorine plasma, the diodes achieve an excellent breakdown voltage (VBR) of 790 V and a low reverse leakage current. In addition, the GaN-on-Si quasi-vertical PiN diode achieves a low specific on-resistance (Ron,sp) of 0.51 mΩ·cm2 and a high Baliga’s figure of merit (BFOM) of 1.22 GW/cm2. The relationship between the total leakage current and the device diameter shows that the sidewall leakage is the main leakage path of the device. Afterwards, the TCAD simulations based on electric field and electric potential reveal that the fluorine plasma treatment is a major factor in suppressing the leakage current and increasing the VBR for a diode with BSFP. This work systematically analyzes the effects of beveled sidewall and fluorine plasma treatment based on the reverse characteristics of the GaN-on-Si quasi-vertical PiN diode and highlights the great potential of the GaN-on-Si PiN diode for various power applications.

Objective Homer scaffold protein 1 (HOMER1), a postsynaptic scaffold protein, regulates excitatory synapses and intracellular signaling and has been implicated in tumorigenesis. This study systematically evaluates the oncogenic roles of HOMER1 through pan-cancer bioinformatics analysis and functional validation in hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC). Methods Multi-omics data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), Tumor Immune Estimation Resource 2.0 (TIMER 2.0), cBioPortal, UALCAN, and other public databases were integrated to analyze HOMER1 expression profiles, prognostic relevance, epigenetic modifications, and immune infiltration. Drug sensitivity was assessed using Gene Set Cancer Analysis Lite (GSCALite) and DrugBank databases. Protein-protein interaction networks were constructed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) and functionally annotated via Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses. HOMER1 protein expression was validated by immunohistochemistry in LIHC tissues. Cellular assays, including Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), Transwell migration and invasion assays, wound healing assay, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), were performed to investigate the effects of HOMER1 knockdown on LIHC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Results Pan-cancer analysis revealed that HOMER1 exhibits cancer-type-specific dysregulation and is significantly associated with patient prognosis, DNA methylation, RNA modifications, immune cell infiltration, and immune checkpoint gene expression. HOMER1 expression correlated with anticancer drug sensitivity and was enriched in tumor-promoting pathways such as the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway. In LIHC, HOMER1 was highly expressed, and its knockdown markedly suppressed hepatoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that HOMER1 functions as a potential oncogene across multiple cancers and actively promotes malignant phenotypes in hepatocellular carcinoma. This study highlights HOMER1 as a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target, providing new insights into cancer prognosis and immunotherapy strategies.

As a type of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), stormwater parks play a crucial role in mitigating urban heat and managing stormwater, especially in subtropical monsoon climates where high temperatures and rainfall coincide. The benefits of microclimate improvement are associated with the specific surface types of stormwater parks. However, research on how different surfaces affect the microclimates of stormwater parks remains limited. This study utilized an unmanned aerial vehicle to investigate the surface temperature characteristics of blue–green–gray underlying surfaces within a stormwater park and employed multiple linear regression to analyze their impact on the microclimate. The results indicated that (1) blue underlying surfaces functioned as a stable cold source in dry periods but warmed quickly after rainfall. (2) Green surfaces consistently provided a cooling effect on the microclimate, with cooling intensity intricately related to vegetation structure. Specifically, the cooling effects of arbor–shrub–grass and arbor–shrub combinations were greater than those of other plant configurations. (3) The warming effect of gray underlying surfaces was affected by weather conditions and permeability, with pervious concrete exhibiting lower surface temperatures than impervious pavements during dry spells, although this difference diminished significantly after rain. These findings provide scientific evidence and design guidance for enhancing the sustainability of microclimates.

Purpose This paper aims to explore the preparation and tribological performance of MoS2 nanoparticles supported on fly ash (FA) microparticles. Design/methodology/approach FA was activated by NaOH, oleic acid and HCl to obtain three modified FA samples. Nano-MoS2 was deposited on them to form MoS2/FA additives for poly-α-olefin (PAO) modification. Tribological tests were conducted on a reciprocating rig through the ball-on-disk friction manner. Using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer, Raman spectrometer and element analyzers, the products and their lubrication mechanisms were characterized. Findings At 1.5 Wt.%, nano-MoS2 and MoS2/FA could remarkably improve the tribological properties of PAO. The nano-MoS2 deposited on the HCl-activated FA presented better lubrication performance than nano-MoS2. It could reduce friction and wear by approximately 27% and approximately 66%, respectively. The lubrication of MoS2/FA can be attributed to the formation of MoS2 and carbon containing lubricating film. Originality/value FA was applied as a supporter to prepare MoS2/FA lubricants. The reuse of FA, a solid waste, is important for environmental protection. Moreover, MoS2/FA is more economical than nano-MoS2 as a lubricant, because it contains approximately 71% of low-cost FA.