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Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and ozone (O₃) are key air pollutants linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, the effects of combined PM_2.5 and O₃ exposure on cardiovascular health remain unclear. In this study, C57BL/6 J mice were exposed to PM_2.5 suspension (6 mg/kg body weight) and/or O₃ (1.00 ppm) for 8 weeks, resulting in abnormal myocardial enzyme profiles. Sirius Red and Masson's trichrome staining confirmed myocardial fibrosis and collagen deposition in the mice. Further experiments demonstrated that PM_2.5 and O₃ subchronic co-exposure increased cardiac inflammatory factors, phosphorylation of p38, ERK1/2, and JNK, as well as cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Subsequently, an atherosclerosis model was established using ApoE-/- mice, which were exposed to PM_2.5 suspension (6 mg/kg b.w.) and O₃ (1.00 ppm) for 8 consecutive weeks. During this period, the mice were treated with quercetin, a flavonoid antioxidant derived from plants. Our findings demonstrated that PM_2.5 and O₃ co-exposure promoted the progression of atherosclerosis. In contrast, administration of quercetin in PM_2.5- and O₃-exposed ApoE-/- mice significantly reduced cardiac enzyme markers, myocardial fibrosis, collagen deposition, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. Omics results revealed that quercetin primarily exerted its protective effects in atherosclerotic mice by modulating phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, as well as the inflammatory signaling pathways. In summary, subchronic exposure to PM_2.5 and O₃ contributes to cardiac injury and accelerates the progression of atherosclerosis in mice and this detrimental effect can be mitigated by the administration of quercetin. Our study presents novel strategies aimed at mitigating the cardiovascular health impacts of air pollution.

The joint presence of various contaminant categories in soil reduces the remediation potential of numerous plant species. However, the mechanisms remain poorly understood, and particularly for tree species. To achieve this goal, we performed a co-contamination experiment with Salix aquatica grandis cuttings cultivated for two months under controlled conditions in two soils with two levels (low and high) of trace element (TE) contamination, spiked or not spiked with 600 mg·kg⁻¹ polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Our results revealed a significant negative impact of PAH spiking on the mobility of Zn, Cd, and Ni, with average reductions of approximately 35 %. These changes in mobility were associated with lower concentrations in Pb and Cd in plant shoots and a decrease in the total amount of Zn extracted by the plants. These findings emphasize the influence of co-contamination on the phytoremediation potential of high-biomass species. The physiological responses of plants were also affected. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in leaves increased in response to PAH contamination, indicating oxidative stress, whereas the total antioxidant content varied in relation to TE concentrations in the soil. Furthermore, analysis of the root exudates revealed that peroxidase activity-specifically when the diamonifluorene substrate was used-responded positively to the presence of PAHs, suggesting the activation of enzymatic pathways. Overall, the combination of PAHs and TEs induced diverse and complex effects on both contaminant dynamics and plant physiological health. These results highlight the need to consider co-contamination scenarios in the evaluation and design of phytoremediation strategies particularly for long time protocols.

Students' negative emotions are likely to arise when they are engaged in writing graduation theses due to intense academic pressure. There have been many studies concerning negative emotions of MA or Ph.D. students in thesis writing but little attention has been paid to undergraduate students in English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts. In this study, a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods was adopted to examine the negative emotions of 113 senior English majors in their undergraduate thesis writing. Results indicate that: (1) Students' negative emotions primarily fall into 4 categories: Self-deficiency Anxiety, Task-induced Stress, Cognitive Fragmentation and Communication Apprehension. (2) Academic publication experience, participation in Innovative Practical Training Program, and English proficiency exert, to some extent, an influence on these negative emotions. (3) The dynamic evolution of negative emotions is characterized by stage-specific differences in occurrence frequency, coexistence or alternation with positive emotions, and diachronic impacts on students. The findings provide valuable insights for alleviating negative emotions of English majors during thesis writing and improving thesis quality.

Internet adaptability on artificial intelligence (AI) healthcare platforms is a key factor influencing users' continued usage and the effectiveness of platform outcomes. It has emerged as a major challenge in the era of digital healthcare transformation. However, it remains unclear to what extent users' Internet adaptability and platform usage behaviors interact, predict each other, and sustain a dynamic pattern of co-evolution. Therefore, this study employed cross-lagged panel network (CLPN) analysis with a multi-wave longitudinal design to uncover the network structure and dynamic interaction mechanisms underlying the co-occurrence of users' network adaptability and usage behaviors on AI-driven healthcare platforms. The results show that (1) In the cross-sectional network, there was a relatively dispersed structure during the early stage. As user experience accumulated, the network became increasingly centralized around a few core pathways, with self-efficacy and disease prevention emerging as key nodes. (2) According to the CLPN analysis, network adaptability factors (such as information protection, learning ability, and self-control) significantly promoted later usage behavior on AI-driven healthcare platforms (particularly self-diagnosis and disease prevention), forming a causal chain from adaptation to usage. (3) There are gender differences in the predictive effects of various dimensions of Internet adaptability on platform usage behaviors. Female users tend to adopt a socially oriented and holistic approach to health information processing, whereas male users are more inclined towards a tool-oriented and functional usage pattern. Interpreting user behavior evolution in intelligent healthcare environments, this research provides theoretical insights for the personalized design and precision service of AI-driven healthcare platforms.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills contribute ∼20% of global anthropogenic methane (CH₄) emissions which can be mitigated using methanotrophic bacteria that become enriched in "hotspots" in the landfill's oxic cover soil. Methanotrophic activity is highly influenced by soil moisture, and local precipitation patterns can therefore have an important impact on CH₄ removal rates and efficiencies. In this study, soil columns simulating MSW landfill "hotspots" were constructed using cover soil from a former MSW landfill site. Columns were incubated over a 35-day experiment under landfill conditions by injecting synthetic landfill gas (48% CH₄ and 52% CO₂) to the bottom. Synthetic rainfall events were performed weekly by adding 146 mL to the top of each column to simulate the regional rainfall conditions. The aim was to delineate the effects of soil moisture dynamics on CH₄ consumption, with the hypothesis that rainfall would gradually decrease CH₄ consumption rates as soil moisture increased. CH₄ removal rates ranged from 108 to 248 g CH₄ m^-2 d^-1 while CH₄ removal efficiency (MRE) ranged from 37 to 100% and decreased by approximately 25% between the first and last rainfall events. Gas concentration depth profiles further supported a reduction in CH₄ oxidation with increased moisture. Changes in gas cycling were not reflected in the soil microbial communities, which were dominated by methanotrophic lineages, and which remained essentially unchanged over the course of the experiment. The relatively high initial MREs observed when moisture conditions were optimal, combined with the unchanging microbial community composition, suggest that there was a well-established methanotroph community in the landfill soil used. Overall, our findings support the need for soil moisture considerations in MSW landfill mitigation plans, particularly for those located in regions with high and variable precipitation which could exacerbate CH₄ emissions.

Climate change, rapid urbanization and increasing impervious surfaces influence urban flooding and groundwater depletion in developing cities, leading to chronic water scarcity and posing a severe threat to urban water security. These challenges can be addressed through integrated water management strategies that enhance infiltration and aquifer recharge. This study evaluates the application of Aquifer Storage Transfer and Recovery (ASTR) as a Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) approach by repurposing 23 abandoned wells to inject stormwater during peak rainfall events. A 5-year, 6-h design storm, along with 14 years of historical data (2009-2023), including groundwater levels, well discharge, rainfall, and evaporation, was used to evaluate the performance of the ASTR system through SWMM and MODFLOW models. The results indicate that the ASTR system can reduce flood volume by up to 5% during a single storm event, and the water table rises by 0.5 m to 12 m over 14 years of historical stress periods on groundwater, depending on the availability of flow and soil conditions at the abandoned well locations. Additionally, the annual groundwater recharge potential is estimated to be up to 1 million m³yearfor Chattogram, Bangladesh. The study highlights the dual benefits of MAR through ASTR: mitigating urban flooding while replenishing aquifers. It demonstrates that abandoned wells can be effectively repurposed for sustainable stormwater management, offering a cost-effective and scalable solution for water-scarce, flood-prone urban environments. This study emphasizes the importance of integrating surface and subsurface hydrologic models in urban planning to improve climate resilience and ensure long-term water security.

Saline-alkali soils significantly constrain agricultural productivity, demanding effective remediation approaches. This study systematically investigated the individual and combined effects of plastic mulching (M) and microbial fertilizer (F) on soil microbial activity, metabolic profiles, and potato yield under saline-alkali conditions. The combined treatment (MF) resulted in substantial improvements in soil health, including a 181.8% increase in organic matter, elevated total nitrogen (49.7%), phosphorus (37.8%), and potassium (21.9%), along with enhanced nutrient availability. MF also increased microbial biomass carbon (21.8%), nitrogen (150.0%), and phosphorus (38.3%), boosted key enzyme activities by 17.0-85.7%, and reduced soil pH (5.9%) and salt content (27.8%). These improvements led to a 2.4-fold higher soil quality index and a 57.0% increase in potato yield. Metabolomic analysis identified 8 key metabolites involved in critical pathways such as ABC transporters and purine metabolism. Structural equation modeling revealed that soil enzyme activities and metabolites are major drivers enhancing soil quality and yield, with soil quality being the primary factor determining productivity. These findings demonstrate that MF alleviates saline-alkali stress by synergistically regulating soil enzyme activities and metabolic pathways. This study provides a sustainable strategy for improving saline soil productivity. One future direction is to include treatments with individual microbial agent to quantify their specific contributions and disentangle their interactive effects.

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a hereditary autoinflammatory disease with variable manifestations across Mediterranean regions. This study compares FMF cohorts from Italy (Apulia) and Lebanon. We analyzed a cohort of 443 FMF patients, 165 Italians (females: males = 90:75) and 278 Lebanese (females: males = 173:105). Clinical records/interviews provided data on demographics, MEFV genetic testing, and treatments. A 55-item questionnaire in 54 Italians and 42 Lebanese patients assessed disease knowledge, management, misdiagnoses, attack frequency (yearly), duration (days), body temperature, symptoms prevalence and frequency, and severity score before/after treatment. Italians were significantly older at disease onset, diagnosis, and had longer diagnostic delay than Lebanese patients (p < 0.00001). The most common MEFV variants were E148Q and R202Q in Italians, and M694V and E148Q in Lebanese, with fewer pathogenic and homozygous cases in Italians. Italian patients had lower prevalence of FMF symptoms (10-92% vs. 30-99%; p < 0.00001) and fewer attacks. All Italians received treatment compared to 88.5% of Lebanese. Colchicine was first-line treatment, while biological drug use was higher in Italians. In the subgroups study, Italians reported lower disease knowledge and were followed up mainly by internists, while Lebanese were followed up by gastroenterologists or pediatricians. Italians were misdiagnosed with appendicitis, whereas Lebanese were misdiagnosed with gastrointestinal diseases. Italians exhibited lower symptom frequency, lower severity scores, and a better response compared to Lebanese patients. In conclusion, FMF presentation differed by country, with Italians showing milder symptoms and better treatment response, while Lebanese showed severe symptoms linked to pathogenic MEFV variants. Gene-environment interactions require further studies.