Long noncoding RNA and microRNA are regulatory noncoding RNAs that are implicated in Alzheimer's disease, but the role of long noncoding RNA-associated competitive endogenous RNA has not been fully elucidated. The...Long noncoding RNA and microRNA are regulatory noncoding RNAs that are implicated in Alzheimer's disease, but the role of long noncoding RNA-associated competitive endogenous RNA has not been fully elucidated. The long noncoding RNA growth arrest-specific 5(GAS5) is a member of the 5′-terminal oligopyrimidine gene family that may be involved in neurological disorders, but its role in Alzheimer's disease remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the function of GAS5 and construct a GAS5-associated competitive endogenous RNA network comprising potential targets. RNA sequencing results showed that GAS5 was upregulated in five familial Alzheimer's disease(5×FAD) mice, APPswe/PSEN1dE9(APP/PS1) mice, Alzheimer's disease-related APPswe cells, and serum from patients with Alzheimer's disease. Functional experiments with targeted overexpression and silencing demonstrated that GAS5 played a role in cognitive dysfunction and multiple Alzheimer's disease-associated pathologies, including tau hyperphosphorylation, amyloid-beta accumulation, and neuronal apoptosis. Mechanistic studies indicated that GAS5 acted as an endogenous sponge by competing for microRNA-23b-3p(miR-23b-3p) binding to regulate its targets glycogen synthase kinase 3beta(GSK-3β) and phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10(PTEN) expression in an Argonaute 2-induced RNA silencing complex(RISC)-dependent manner. GAS5 inhibited miR-23b-3p-mediated GSK-3β and PTEN cascades with a feedforward PTEN/protein kinase B(Akt)/GSK-3β linkage. Furthermore, recovery of GAS5/miR-23b-3p/GSK-3β/PTEN pathways relieved Alzheimer's disease-like symptoms in vivo, indicated by the amelioration of spatial cognition, neuronal degeneration, amyloid-beta load, and tau phosphorylation. Together, these findings suggest that GAS5 promotes Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. This study establishes the functional convergence of the GAS5/miR-23b-3p/GSK-3β/PTEN pathway on multiple pathologies, suggesting a candidate therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease.展开更多
The deep sea holds vital resources and spatial potential for future human survival and development,reflecting the common interests and concerns of all mankind.Amidst unprecedented global transformations in a hundred y...The deep sea holds vital resources and spatial potential for future human survival and development,reflecting the common interests and concerns of all mankind.Amidst unprecedented global transformations in a hundred years,the deep sea has emerged as a critical area of international competition and serves as a new frontier for resource extraction,a strategic space for military competition,and a contested space for great power rivalry and rule-making.展开更多
Quantifying and mapping how ecosystem services impact agricultural competitiveness is crucial for attaining the Sustainable Development Goals of United Nations.However,few study quantified agricultural competitiveness...Quantifying and mapping how ecosystem services impact agricultural competitiveness is crucial for attaining the Sustainable Development Goals of United Nations.However,few study quantified agricultural competitiveness and mapped the effects of ecosystem services on agricultural competitiveness using multiple models.In this study,multi-source data from 2000 to 2020 were utilized to establish the indicator system of agricultural competitiveness;five ecosystem services were quantified using computation models;Geographic Information System(GIS)spatial analysis was used to explore the spatial patterns of agricultural competitiveness and ecosystem services;geographic detector models were applied to investigate the effects and driving mechanisms of ecosystem services on agricultural competitiveness.Shandong Province of China was selected as the case study area.The results demonstrated that:1)there was a significant increase in agricultural competitiveness during the study period,with high levels observed mainly in the east region of the study area.2)The spatial distribution patterns of ecosystem services and agricultural competitiveness primarily exhibited High-High and Low-Low Cluster types.3)Habitat quality emerged as the main driving factor of agricultural competitiveness in 2000 and 2020,while water yield played a substantial role in 2010.4)The coupling of two ecosystem services exerted a greater effect on agricultural competitiveness compared to individual ecosystem service.The innovations of this study are constructing an indicator system to quantify agricultural competitiveness,and exploring the effects of ecosystem services on agricultural competitiveness.This study proposed an indicator system to quantify agricultural competitiveness,which can be applied in other regions,and explored the effects of ecosystem services on agricultural competitiveness.The findings of this study can serve as valuable insights for policymakers to formulate tailored agricultural development policies that take into account the synergistic effects of ecosystem services on agricultural competitiveness.展开更多
During the development of the nervous system,there is an overproduction of neurons and synapses.Hebbian competition between neighboring nerve endings and synapses performing different activity levels leads to their el...During the development of the nervous system,there is an overproduction of neurons and synapses.Hebbian competition between neighboring nerve endings and synapses performing different activity levels leads to their elimination or strengthening.We have extensively studied the involvement of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor-Tropomyosin-related kinase B receptor neurotrophic retrograde pathway,at the neuromuscular junction,in the axonal development and synapse elimination process versus the synapse consolidation.The purpose of this review is to describe the neurotrophic influence on developmental synapse elimination,in relation to other molecular pathways that we and others have found to regulate this process.In particular,we summarize our published results based on transmitter release analysis and axonal counts to show the different involvement of the presynaptic acetylcholine muscarinic autoreceptors,coupled to downstream serine-threonine protein kinases A and C(PKA and PKC)and voltage-gated calcium channels,at different nerve endings in developmental competition.The dynamic changes that occur simultaneously in several nerve terminals and synapses converge across a postsynaptic site,influence each other,and require careful studies to individualize the mechanisms of specific endings.We describe an activity-dependent balance(related to the extent of transmitter release)between the presynaptic muscarinic subtypes and the neurotrophin-mediated TrkB/p75NTR pathways that can influence the timing and fate of the competitive interactions between the different axon terminals.The downstream displacement of the PKA/PKC activity ratio to lower values,both in competing nerve terminals and at postsynaptic sites,plays a relevant role in controlling the elimination of supernumerary synapses.Finally,calcium entry through L-and P/Q-subtypes of voltage-gated calcium channels(both channels are present,together with the N-type channel in developing nerve terminals)contributes to reduce transmitter release and promote withdrawal of the most unfavorable nerve terminals during elimination(the weakest in acetylcholine release and those that have already become silent).The main findings contribute to a better understanding of punishment-rewarding interactions between nerve endings during development.Identifying the molecular targets and signaling pathways that allow synapse consolidation or withdrawal of synapses in different situations is important for potential therapies in neurodegenerative diseases.展开更多
Background: Understanding the role of species identity in interactions among individuals is crucial for assessing the productivity and stability of mixed forests over time. However, there is limited knowledge concerni...Background: Understanding the role of species identity in interactions among individuals is crucial for assessing the productivity and stability of mixed forests over time. However, there is limited knowledge concerning the variation in competitive effect and response of different species along climatic gradients. In this study, we investigated the importance of climate, tree size, and competition on the growth of three tree species: spruce(Picea abies), fir(Abies alba), and beech(Fagus sylvatica), and examined their competitive response and effect along a climatic gradient.Methods: We selected 39 plots distributed across the European mountains with records of the position and growth of 5,759 individuals. For each target species, models relating tree growth to tree size, climate and competition were proposed. Competition was modelled using a neighbourhood competition index that considered the effects of inter-and intraspecific competition on target trees. Competitive responses and effects were related to climate.Likelihood methods and information theory were used to select the best model.Results: Our findings revealed that competition had a greater impact on target species growth than tree size or climate. Climate did influence the competitive effects of neighbouring species, but it did not affect the target species? response to competition. The strength of competitive effects varied along the gradient, contingent on the identity of the interacting species. When the target species exhibited an intermediate competitive effect relative to neighbouring species, both higher inter-than intraspecific competitive effects and competition reduction occurred along the gradient. Notably, species competitive effects were most pronounced when the target species' growth was at its peak and weakest when growing conditions were far from their maximum.Conclusions: Climate modulates the effects of competition from neighbouring trees on the target tree and not the susceptibility of the target tree to competition. The modelling approach should be useful in future research to expand our knowledge of how competition modulates forest communities across environmental gradients.展开更多
An orderly competition mechanism is used to change unexpected competition into predictable competition so as to reduce access collision during access process.The scheme is realized by learning,queuing,and accessing.Qu...An orderly competition mechanism is used to change unexpected competition into predictable competition so as to reduce access collision during access process.The scheme is realized by learning,queuing,and accessing.Queuing is the key step to reduce random and realize orderly competition.Related parameters leading to access random including the arrival rate,the delay requirements,the number of devices,and so on,are defined as queue factors in this paper.The queue factors are obtained from the improved double deep Q network(DDQN)algorithm which is proposed here by setting asynchronous weights of two target networks.By learning,the queue factors will guide the devices with diverse delay requirements to queue.Then the queued devices start the access process according to their learning optimal access slot and preamble.Different from traditional competition solutions,markov decision process of the orderly competition mechanism has only two states,which remarkably cuts down the back-off rate and reduces the access delay.The simulation results show that the access success rate of this method can be close to 100%before the system capacity approaches the maximum value.展开更多
Droughts have caused tree growth decline and high tree mortality across temperate forests,however,how to manage planted forests to alleviate drought stress is still challenging.We used tree-ring and forest inventory d...Droughts have caused tree growth decline and high tree mortality across temperate forests,however,how to manage planted forests to alleviate drought stress is still challenging.We used tree-ring and forest inventory data from different density stands to investigate how competition,tree diameter at breast height(DBH),tree age,and their interactions influence drought sensitivity and resistance for three widely-distributed and planted conifer species(Larix principis-rupprechtii,Picea meyeri,and Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica).Our results showed that the drought sensitivity of the three species was influenced by competition,tree size,and their interactions.Large L.principis-rupprechtii trees were particularly sensitive to drought during the growing season in medium to high-density stands,while the growth of large P.sylvestris var.mongolica was most affected by precipitation at low to medium density stands.Drought resistance of L.principis-rupprechtii trees decreased as tree size increased.Large L.principis-rupprechtii trees had lower drought resistance than small trees in all stands.Drought resistance of large P.meyeri trees exhibited high resistance to drought only in high-density stands.However,drought resistance of P.sylvestris var.mongolica trees was affected by tree size,competition,and their interactions.These results indicated that targeted silvicultural interventions,such as thinning,can be implemented to enhance drought resistance specifically for large L.principis-rupprechtii trees and small P.sylvestris var.mongolica trees in medium and high competition stands,and small P.meyeri trees in high competition stands.Our results highlight that properly conducted thinning can in some cases enhance growth resistance to droughts,depending on stand density,tree size,and tree species.展开更多
Brain size varies dramatically across populations and species in anuran species.The differences in structure,function,or size of brains are linked to processing specific cognitive tasks by different behaviors.In parti...Brain size varies dramatically across populations and species in anuran species.The differences in structure,function,or size of brains are linked to processing specific cognitive tasks by different behaviors.In particular,the causes of how male-male competition promotes the increased cognitive abilities to increase brains are as yet unexplored in anurans.To evaluate the effect of male-male competition on variation in brain size in B.andrewsi,we compared the differences in relative brain size between mated males and unpaired males under natural and experimental conditions.We found that mated males had relatively larger brains than unpaired males in a natural population when controlling the effect of body size.Likewise,we also found that there were larger brains in mated males than in unpaired males in both experiment 1 where two males competed for a female and experiment 2 where three males competed for a female,suggesting that males with mating success during male-male competition possess increased brain size and cognitive abilities.When we compared difference in relative brain size in mated males between experiment2 and experiment 1 we found that males experiencing more intense competition did not display larger brains than males experiencing relatively weak competition,suggesting that low intensity competition is already enough to trigger the increase in relative brain size in B.andrewsi.展开更多
As India vigorously reclaims its cost advantages in textiles,the apparel trade landscape in South Asia is set for a reshuffle,with Bangladesh,Vietnam,and China becoming key reference points in India's new competit...As India vigorously reclaims its cost advantages in textiles,the apparel trade landscape in South Asia is set for a reshuffle,with Bangladesh,Vietnam,and China becoming key reference points in India's new competitiveness roadmap.According to India's Ministry of Textiles,the government has formulated a fourpoint action plan divided into short-term(two years),medium-term(five years),and two long-term stages.It aims to reduce production costs,enhance labor productivity,and strengthen export competitiveness in the textile sector.The plan seeks to increase India's textile and apparel exports to$100 billion by 2030,a significant leap from the$37.7 billion projected for the 2024-25 fiscal year.The trigger for this plan was the US imposition of 50%tariffs on Indian textiles earlier this year,raising concerns about India's competitiveness relative to Bangladesh,Vietnam,and China.展开更多
As the EU's carbon border tax approaches implementation and Generation Z increasingly prioritizes sustainability in their purchasing decisions,ESG has evolved from a moral concern to business survival challenges.B...As the EU's carbon border tax approaches implementation and Generation Z increasingly prioritizes sustainability in their purchasing decisions,ESG has evolved from a moral concern to business survival challenges.By analyzing the latest ESG reports released by prominent apparel brands in the China garment industry,including Bosideng,Anta,Youngor,Li-Ning,and Lilanz,we can see it’s not about a series of emission reduction data but a comprehensive innovation encompassing products,processes,and the entire value chain.展开更多
Understanding the ecological processes shaping competitive interactions among forest trees is crucial for predicting ecosystem productivity and climate change resilience.However,few studies have investigated how the b...Understanding the ecological processes shaping competitive interactions among forest trees is crucial for predicting ecosystem productivity and climate change resilience.However,few studies have investigated how the biological attributes of tropical species may affect competitive outcomes under varying resource conditions.We collected and analysed a 10-year dataset of radial growth rates in canopy trees from a network of forest inventory plots located in divergent forest types over an extensive meteorological gradient in Ghana,West Africa.We used nonlinear models to estimate the relative reduction in potential growth(basal area increment)of individual target trees of a given species as a consequence of the combined effects of(1)target tree size,(2)variation in crowding levels by neighbouring trees,(3)the functional attributes of those neighbours(wood density and shade tolerance),and(4)local soil moisture levels.Analyses were conducted separately for the 15 most common species in the inventory network.In opposition to neutral theory,our findings indicate that the strength of interactions among competing species was distinctly asymmetric and dynamic.Wood density was an important characteristic that modified competitive outcomes for most species,particularly under varying levels of resource availability.Specifically,dense wood was an attribute that conferred comparatively stronger competitive ability in moisture-limited conditions.Larger individuals were notably less sensitive to the effects of moisture-dependent competition.Our results suggest that attributes such as wood density may reflect divergent life history strategies that differentiate species’fitness and competitive ability in varying environments.The dynamic nature of competition,influenced by a complex interplay of biological and abiotic factors,implies that more prevalent dry periods,which have been forecast for tropical Africa,may impact the physiognomy and function of future forest communities in the region.展开更多
The distribution and competitive behaviors of phosphotungstic acid and ferric chloride in the TBP-HCl-H_(2)O system were investigated by controlling the extractant concentration and the solution environment.The result...The distribution and competitive behaviors of phosphotungstic acid and ferric chloride in the TBP-HCl-H_(2)O system were investigated by controlling the extractant concentration and the solution environment.The results revealed that phosphotungstic acid exhibited a strong affinity for TBP with decreasing TBP concentration.Higher acidity significantly improved the W extraction efficiency with TBP,and the lower Cl^(-)concentration reduced the extraction efficiency of Fe.As the organic phase approached saturation point,phosphotungstic acid competitively displaced Fe to combine with TBP.The hydrogen bond structure(P=O·HO-P-W-O)between phosphotungstic acid and TBP was characterized by FT-IR,and the salting-out effect induced by FeCl_(3) was elucidated.In summary,high acidity is beneficial for exhaustive extraction of W,and an effective W/Fe separation can be achieved by reducing the concentrations of TBP and Cl^(-).展开更多
With the rapid growth of the“Internet+Healthcare”model,pharmaceutical e-commerce has swiftly gained a substantial market share in China’s pharmaceutical retail sector,thanks to its competitive prices,convenient pur...With the rapid growth of the“Internet+Healthcare”model,pharmaceutical e-commerce has swiftly gained a substantial market share in China’s pharmaceutical retail sector,thanks to its competitive prices,convenient purchasing channels,and online consultation services.This has put considerable pressure on traditional retail chain pharmacies.This paper provides an overview of the current state of pharmaceutical e-commerce,and analyzes the main challenges faced by retail chain pharmacies,including intense price competition,changes in consumer habits,insufficient digitalization and severe homogenized competition.Drawing on industry practices and case studies,the paper proposes strategies to enhance competitiveness,such as promoting digital transformation and online-offline(O2O)integration,strengthening pharmacist services and health management capabilities,optimizing supply chain management,building differentiated brand advantages,and proactively responding to policy and regulatory requirements.The study argues that,while leveraging their advantages in specialization,community-based operations,service orientation and retail chain pharmacies,should actively embrace digitalization and industrial collaboration in order to achieve sustainable development in the context of e-commerce.This research provides theoretical references for the strategic transformation of retail chain pharmacies and offers practical significance for the high-quality development of the pharmaceutical retail industry.展开更多
An in-depth understanding of the competition mechanism between olefins and different types of sulfides in gasoline is essential to improve the desulfurization selectivity of the adsorption desulfurization process(ADS)...An in-depth understanding of the competition mechanism between olefins and different types of sulfides in gasoline is essential to improve the desulfurization selectivity of the adsorption desulfurization process(ADS).In this study,the competitive adsorption and diffusion mechanism of two systems,diethyl sulfide/cyclohexene and n-butyl mercaptan/cyclohexene,with different adsorption amounts in siliceous faujasite zeolite(FAU) were investigated by Monte Carlo(MC) and molecular dynamics(MD).The systems exhibited a two-stage loading-dependent competitive adsorption and diffusion mechanism,with an inflection point of 32 molecule/UC(moleculers per microcoulomb).Before the inflection point(4-32molecule/UC),the competition mechanism of the two systems was the "optimal-displacement" mechanism.After the inflection point,the mechanism of the diethyl sulfide/cyclohexene changed to "relocation-displacement",while that of the n-butyl mercaptan/cyclohexene system changed to "dominantdisplacement".Compared to ether functional groups,the alcohol functional group has higher polarity and stronger adsorption stability,thus occupying more favorable adsorption sites within the supercages(SCs),while ethyl sulfide shifts outward to other sites within other SCs.In addition,the diffusion performance of adsorbent is related to the adsorption energy.The lower the adsorption energy,the weaker the diffusion ability.Meanwhile,the diffusion performance of adsorbates is better at high temperatures and low adsorption capacity.The effect of temperatu re on the desulfu rization selectivity was determined.A lower temperature is favorable for the adsorption capacity of the two systems and the removal selectivity of sulfides.This study provides fundamental insights into the competitive adsorption and diffusion mechanisms among sulfides,mercaptans and olefins,offering theoretical guidance for adsorbent design and reaction temperature optimization.展开更多
Autosamplers are indispensable key equipment in modern laboratories,playing a pivotal role in fields such as biomedicine,environmental monitoring,food safety,and materials science.However,domestic autosampler enterpri...Autosamplers are indispensable key equipment in modern laboratories,playing a pivotal role in fields such as biomedicine,environmental monitoring,food safety,and materials science.However,domestic autosampler enterprises are facing formidable challenges,confronted by the technological barriers and brand dominance of international giants,as well as increasingly fierce homogeneous competition in the domestic market.This article aims to thoroughly analyze the current market landscape and,based on seven key dimensions—strategic positioning,product technology,sales channels,brand building,service and support,supply chain optimization,and talent development—propose a series of effective market-winning strategies.This will provide theoretical guidance and practical reference for domestic autosampler enterprises to achieve breakthroughs and sustainable development amidst fierce market competition.展开更多
With the continuous development of science and technology,we have already entered the digital age.While big data,artificial intelligence,and digital twin technology provide convenience for various fields of people’s ...With the continuous development of science and technology,we have already entered the digital age.While big data,artificial intelligence,and digital twin technology provide convenience for various fields of people’s lives,they also bring new opportunities for the innovation and development of competitive cheerleading.Especially for the training of aerial techniques in competitive cheerleading,which has high requirements for accuracy,coordination,and safety,the traditional training model has problems such as empiricism and insufficient risk prediction,which directly affect the quality of training.This article discusses the application value and application countermeasures of digital twin technology in the aerial techniques of competitive cheerleading,hoping to provide some reference for relevant personnel.展开更多
Heterogeneous crystallization is a common occurrence during the formation of solidwastes.It leads to the encapsulation of valuable/hazardous metals within the primary phase,presenting significant challenges for waste ...Heterogeneous crystallization is a common occurrence during the formation of solidwastes.It leads to the encapsulation of valuable/hazardous metals within the primary phase,presenting significant challenges for waste treatment andmetal recovery.Herein,we proposed a novel method involving the in-situ formation of a competitive substrate during the precipitation of jarosite waste,which is an essential process for removing iron in zinc hydrometallurgy.We observed that the in-situ-formed competitive substrate effectively inhibits the heterogeneous crystallization of jarosite on the surface of anglesite,a lead-rich phase present in the jarositewaste.As a result,the iron content on the anglesite surface decreases from34.8%to 1.65%.The competitive substrate was identified as schwertmannite,characterized by its loose structure and large surface area.Furthermore,we have elucidated a novel mechanism underlying this inhibition of heterogeneous crystallization,which involves the local supersaturation of jarosite caused by the release of ferric and sulfate ions from the competitive substrate.The local supersaturation promotes the preferential heterogeneous crystallization of jarosite on the competitive substrate.Interestingly,during the formation of jarosite,the competitive substrate gradually vanished through a dissolution-recrystallization process following the Ostwald rule,where a metastable phase slowly transitions to a stable phase.This effectively precluded the introduction of impurities and reduced waste volume.The goal of this study is to provide fresh insights into the mechanism of heterogeneous crystallization control,and to offer practical crystallization strategies conducive to metal separation and recovery from solid waste in industries.展开更多
BACKGROUND The neural mechanisms underlying aggressive behavior in schizophrenia(SCZ)remain poorly understood.To date,no studies have reported on the event-related potential(ERP)characteristics of aggression in SCZ us...BACKGROUND The neural mechanisms underlying aggressive behavior in schizophrenia(SCZ)remain poorly understood.To date,no studies have reported on the event-related potential(ERP)characteristics of aggression in SCZ using the competitive reaction time task(CRTT).Further investigation into the ERP correlates of aggression in SCZ would provide valuable insights into the neural processes involved.AIM To explore the neural mechanism of aggressive behavior in SCZ.METHODS Participants of this study included 40 SCZ patients and 42 healthy controls(HCs).The Reactive Proactive Aggression Questionnaire was used to assess trait of aggression.The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 was used to measure impulsiveness.The Positive and Negative Symptom Scale(PANSS)was used to evaluate psychopathological features and disease severity.All participants were measured with ERP while performing the CRTT.Data of behavior,ERP components(P2,N2,and P3),and feedback-related negativity(FRN)were analyzed.RESULTS Analysis of the behavioral data revealed that compared with HCs,SCZ patients exhibited higher punishment choices.Analysis of ERP components showed that compared with HCs,SCZ patients exhibited higher N2 amplitudes and P2 amplitudes during the decision phase of the CRTT;however,SCZ patients exhibited lower FRN amplitudes and lower P3 amplitudes during the outcome phase of the CRTT.The N2 amplitudes evoked by highintensity provocation were positively related to PANSS-P scores.And the P3 amplitudes evoked in the winning trials were negatively correlated with the PANSS-G scores.CONCLUSION SCZ patients exhibit abnormal ERP characteristics evoked by the CRTT,which suggests the neural correlates of aggressive behavior in SCZ.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos. 82173806 and U1803281Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) Innovation Fund for Medical Science,Nos. 2021-I2M-1-030 and 2022-I2M-2-002Non-Profit Central Research Institute Fund of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences,No. 2022-JKCS-08 (all to RL)。
文摘Long noncoding RNA and microRNA are regulatory noncoding RNAs that are implicated in Alzheimer's disease, but the role of long noncoding RNA-associated competitive endogenous RNA has not been fully elucidated. The long noncoding RNA growth arrest-specific 5(GAS5) is a member of the 5′-terminal oligopyrimidine gene family that may be involved in neurological disorders, but its role in Alzheimer's disease remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the function of GAS5 and construct a GAS5-associated competitive endogenous RNA network comprising potential targets. RNA sequencing results showed that GAS5 was upregulated in five familial Alzheimer's disease(5×FAD) mice, APPswe/PSEN1dE9(APP/PS1) mice, Alzheimer's disease-related APPswe cells, and serum from patients with Alzheimer's disease. Functional experiments with targeted overexpression and silencing demonstrated that GAS5 played a role in cognitive dysfunction and multiple Alzheimer's disease-associated pathologies, including tau hyperphosphorylation, amyloid-beta accumulation, and neuronal apoptosis. Mechanistic studies indicated that GAS5 acted as an endogenous sponge by competing for microRNA-23b-3p(miR-23b-3p) binding to regulate its targets glycogen synthase kinase 3beta(GSK-3β) and phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10(PTEN) expression in an Argonaute 2-induced RNA silencing complex(RISC)-dependent manner. GAS5 inhibited miR-23b-3p-mediated GSK-3β and PTEN cascades with a feedforward PTEN/protein kinase B(Akt)/GSK-3β linkage. Furthermore, recovery of GAS5/miR-23b-3p/GSK-3β/PTEN pathways relieved Alzheimer's disease-like symptoms in vivo, indicated by the amelioration of spatial cognition, neuronal degeneration, amyloid-beta load, and tau phosphorylation. Together, these findings suggest that GAS5 promotes Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. This study establishes the functional convergence of the GAS5/miR-23b-3p/GSK-3β/PTEN pathway on multiple pathologies, suggesting a candidate therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease.
文摘The deep sea holds vital resources and spatial potential for future human survival and development,reflecting the common interests and concerns of all mankind.Amidst unprecedented global transformations in a hundred years,the deep sea has emerged as a critical area of international competition and serves as a new frontier for resource extraction,a strategic space for military competition,and a contested space for great power rivalry and rule-making.
基金Under the auspices of the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2022YFC3204404)。
文摘Quantifying and mapping how ecosystem services impact agricultural competitiveness is crucial for attaining the Sustainable Development Goals of United Nations.However,few study quantified agricultural competitiveness and mapped the effects of ecosystem services on agricultural competitiveness using multiple models.In this study,multi-source data from 2000 to 2020 were utilized to establish the indicator system of agricultural competitiveness;five ecosystem services were quantified using computation models;Geographic Information System(GIS)spatial analysis was used to explore the spatial patterns of agricultural competitiveness and ecosystem services;geographic detector models were applied to investigate the effects and driving mechanisms of ecosystem services on agricultural competitiveness.Shandong Province of China was selected as the case study area.The results demonstrated that:1)there was a significant increase in agricultural competitiveness during the study period,with high levels observed mainly in the east region of the study area.2)The spatial distribution patterns of ecosystem services and agricultural competitiveness primarily exhibited High-High and Low-Low Cluster types.3)Habitat quality emerged as the main driving factor of agricultural competitiveness in 2000 and 2020,while water yield played a substantial role in 2010.4)The coupling of two ecosystem services exerted a greater effect on agricultural competitiveness compared to individual ecosystem service.The innovations of this study are constructing an indicator system to quantify agricultural competitiveness,and exploring the effects of ecosystem services on agricultural competitiveness.This study proposed an indicator system to quantify agricultural competitiveness,which can be applied in other regions,and explored the effects of ecosystem services on agricultural competitiveness.The findings of this study can serve as valuable insights for policymakers to formulate tailored agricultural development policies that take into account the synergistic effects of ecosystem services on agricultural competitiveness.
基金supported by Catalan Government,Nos.2014SGR344(to JT),2017SGR704(to JT),2021SGR01214(to MAL)MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/by“ERDF A way of making Europe,”Nos.SAF2015-67143(to JT),PID2019-106332GB-I00(to JT and MAL)and PID2022-141252NB-I00(to MAL).
文摘During the development of the nervous system,there is an overproduction of neurons and synapses.Hebbian competition between neighboring nerve endings and synapses performing different activity levels leads to their elimination or strengthening.We have extensively studied the involvement of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor-Tropomyosin-related kinase B receptor neurotrophic retrograde pathway,at the neuromuscular junction,in the axonal development and synapse elimination process versus the synapse consolidation.The purpose of this review is to describe the neurotrophic influence on developmental synapse elimination,in relation to other molecular pathways that we and others have found to regulate this process.In particular,we summarize our published results based on transmitter release analysis and axonal counts to show the different involvement of the presynaptic acetylcholine muscarinic autoreceptors,coupled to downstream serine-threonine protein kinases A and C(PKA and PKC)and voltage-gated calcium channels,at different nerve endings in developmental competition.The dynamic changes that occur simultaneously in several nerve terminals and synapses converge across a postsynaptic site,influence each other,and require careful studies to individualize the mechanisms of specific endings.We describe an activity-dependent balance(related to the extent of transmitter release)between the presynaptic muscarinic subtypes and the neurotrophin-mediated TrkB/p75NTR pathways that can influence the timing and fate of the competitive interactions between the different axon terminals.The downstream displacement of the PKA/PKC activity ratio to lower values,both in competing nerve terminals and at postsynaptic sites,plays a relevant role in controlling the elimination of supernumerary synapses.Finally,calcium entry through L-and P/Q-subtypes of voltage-gated calcium channels(both channels are present,together with the N-type channel in developing nerve terminals)contributes to reduce transmitter release and promote withdrawal of the most unfavorable nerve terminals during elimination(the weakest in acetylcholine release and those that have already become silent).The main findings contribute to a better understanding of punishment-rewarding interactions between nerve endings during development.Identifying the molecular targets and signaling pathways that allow synapse consolidation or withdrawal of synapses in different situations is important for potential therapies in neurodegenerative diseases.
基金This publication is based upon work from COST Action CLIMO(CA15226) supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology)the UMBRACLIM project (PID2019-111781RB-I00)funded by the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation. Teresa Valor was contracted with a grant“Juan de la Cierva-Formaci on”(FJC2018-036673-I). Z.S. received funds from the grant no. APVV-20-0365 and from project TreeAdapt supported by the MPRV SR. Aitor Ameztegui is supported by a Serra-Húnter fellowship by the Generalitat de Catalunya。
文摘Background: Understanding the role of species identity in interactions among individuals is crucial for assessing the productivity and stability of mixed forests over time. However, there is limited knowledge concerning the variation in competitive effect and response of different species along climatic gradients. In this study, we investigated the importance of climate, tree size, and competition on the growth of three tree species: spruce(Picea abies), fir(Abies alba), and beech(Fagus sylvatica), and examined their competitive response and effect along a climatic gradient.Methods: We selected 39 plots distributed across the European mountains with records of the position and growth of 5,759 individuals. For each target species, models relating tree growth to tree size, climate and competition were proposed. Competition was modelled using a neighbourhood competition index that considered the effects of inter-and intraspecific competition on target trees. Competitive responses and effects were related to climate.Likelihood methods and information theory were used to select the best model.Results: Our findings revealed that competition had a greater impact on target species growth than tree size or climate. Climate did influence the competitive effects of neighbouring species, but it did not affect the target species? response to competition. The strength of competitive effects varied along the gradient, contingent on the identity of the interacting species. When the target species exhibited an intermediate competitive effect relative to neighbouring species, both higher inter-than intraspecific competitive effects and competition reduction occurred along the gradient. Notably, species competitive effects were most pronounced when the target species' growth was at its peak and weakest when growing conditions were far from their maximum.Conclusions: Climate modulates the effects of competition from neighbouring trees on the target tree and not the susceptibility of the target tree to competition. The modelling approach should be useful in future research to expand our knowledge of how competition modulates forest communities across environmental gradients.
基金supported by Key Technologies R&D Program of Jiangsu(Prospective and Key Technologies for Industry)(BE2022067,BE2022067-1 and BE2022067-2)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.61771255)Provincial and Ministerial Key Laboratory Open Project under Grant No.20190904.
文摘An orderly competition mechanism is used to change unexpected competition into predictable competition so as to reduce access collision during access process.The scheme is realized by learning,queuing,and accessing.Queuing is the key step to reduce random and realize orderly competition.Related parameters leading to access random including the arrival rate,the delay requirements,the number of devices,and so on,are defined as queue factors in this paper.The queue factors are obtained from the improved double deep Q network(DDQN)algorithm which is proposed here by setting asynchronous weights of two target networks.By learning,the queue factors will guide the devices with diverse delay requirements to queue.Then the queued devices start the access process according to their learning optimal access slot and preamble.Different from traditional competition solutions,markov decision process of the orderly competition mechanism has only two states,which remarkably cuts down the back-off rate and reduces the access delay.The simulation results show that the access success rate of this method can be close to 100%before the system capacity approaches the maximum value.
基金funded by State Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2023YFD2200401)S&T Program of Hebei(Nos.226Z6801G,22326807D)Talent Introduction Program in Hebei Agricultural University(No.YJ201918).
文摘Droughts have caused tree growth decline and high tree mortality across temperate forests,however,how to manage planted forests to alleviate drought stress is still challenging.We used tree-ring and forest inventory data from different density stands to investigate how competition,tree diameter at breast height(DBH),tree age,and their interactions influence drought sensitivity and resistance for three widely-distributed and planted conifer species(Larix principis-rupprechtii,Picea meyeri,and Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica).Our results showed that the drought sensitivity of the three species was influenced by competition,tree size,and their interactions.Large L.principis-rupprechtii trees were particularly sensitive to drought during the growing season in medium to high-density stands,while the growth of large P.sylvestris var.mongolica was most affected by precipitation at low to medium density stands.Drought resistance of L.principis-rupprechtii trees decreased as tree size increased.Large L.principis-rupprechtii trees had lower drought resistance than small trees in all stands.Drought resistance of large P.meyeri trees exhibited high resistance to drought only in high-density stands.However,drought resistance of P.sylvestris var.mongolica trees was affected by tree size,competition,and their interactions.These results indicated that targeted silvicultural interventions,such as thinning,can be implemented to enhance drought resistance specifically for large L.principis-rupprechtii trees and small P.sylvestris var.mongolica trees in medium and high competition stands,and small P.meyeri trees in high competition stands.Our results highlight that properly conducted thinning can in some cases enhance growth resistance to droughts,depending on stand density,tree size,and tree species.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32370456)the Key Project of Natural Sciences Foundation of Sichuan Province (22NSFSC0011)。
文摘Brain size varies dramatically across populations and species in anuran species.The differences in structure,function,or size of brains are linked to processing specific cognitive tasks by different behaviors.In particular,the causes of how male-male competition promotes the increased cognitive abilities to increase brains are as yet unexplored in anurans.To evaluate the effect of male-male competition on variation in brain size in B.andrewsi,we compared the differences in relative brain size between mated males and unpaired males under natural and experimental conditions.We found that mated males had relatively larger brains than unpaired males in a natural population when controlling the effect of body size.Likewise,we also found that there were larger brains in mated males than in unpaired males in both experiment 1 where two males competed for a female and experiment 2 where three males competed for a female,suggesting that males with mating success during male-male competition possess increased brain size and cognitive abilities.When we compared difference in relative brain size in mated males between experiment2 and experiment 1 we found that males experiencing more intense competition did not display larger brains than males experiencing relatively weak competition,suggesting that low intensity competition is already enough to trigger the increase in relative brain size in B.andrewsi.
文摘As India vigorously reclaims its cost advantages in textiles,the apparel trade landscape in South Asia is set for a reshuffle,with Bangladesh,Vietnam,and China becoming key reference points in India's new competitiveness roadmap.According to India's Ministry of Textiles,the government has formulated a fourpoint action plan divided into short-term(two years),medium-term(five years),and two long-term stages.It aims to reduce production costs,enhance labor productivity,and strengthen export competitiveness in the textile sector.The plan seeks to increase India's textile and apparel exports to$100 billion by 2030,a significant leap from the$37.7 billion projected for the 2024-25 fiscal year.The trigger for this plan was the US imposition of 50%tariffs on Indian textiles earlier this year,raising concerns about India's competitiveness relative to Bangladesh,Vietnam,and China.
文摘As the EU's carbon border tax approaches implementation and Generation Z increasingly prioritizes sustainability in their purchasing decisions,ESG has evolved from a moral concern to business survival challenges.By analyzing the latest ESG reports released by prominent apparel brands in the China garment industry,including Bosideng,Anta,Youngor,Li-Ning,and Lilanz,we can see it’s not about a series of emission reduction data but a comprehensive innovation encompassing products,processes,and the entire value chain.
基金We express our gratitude to the Internal Grant Agency of the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,Czech University of Life Sciences,Prague(Grant No.IGA A_24_24)the Ministry of Education,Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic(Grant INTER-TRANSFER No.LTT20017)for funding this study.
文摘Understanding the ecological processes shaping competitive interactions among forest trees is crucial for predicting ecosystem productivity and climate change resilience.However,few studies have investigated how the biological attributes of tropical species may affect competitive outcomes under varying resource conditions.We collected and analysed a 10-year dataset of radial growth rates in canopy trees from a network of forest inventory plots located in divergent forest types over an extensive meteorological gradient in Ghana,West Africa.We used nonlinear models to estimate the relative reduction in potential growth(basal area increment)of individual target trees of a given species as a consequence of the combined effects of(1)target tree size,(2)variation in crowding levels by neighbouring trees,(3)the functional attributes of those neighbours(wood density and shade tolerance),and(4)local soil moisture levels.Analyses were conducted separately for the 15 most common species in the inventory network.In opposition to neutral theory,our findings indicate that the strength of interactions among competing species was distinctly asymmetric and dynamic.Wood density was an important characteristic that modified competitive outcomes for most species,particularly under varying levels of resource availability.Specifically,dense wood was an attribute that conferred comparatively stronger competitive ability in moisture-limited conditions.Larger individuals were notably less sensitive to the effects of moisture-dependent competition.Our results suggest that attributes such as wood density may reflect divergent life history strategies that differentiate species’fitness and competitive ability in varying environments.The dynamic nature of competition,influenced by a complex interplay of biological and abiotic factors,implies that more prevalent dry periods,which have been forecast for tropical Africa,may impact the physiognomy and function of future forest communities in the region.
基金supported by the National key R&D Program of China(No.2022YFC2905105)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.72088101)。
文摘The distribution and competitive behaviors of phosphotungstic acid and ferric chloride in the TBP-HCl-H_(2)O system were investigated by controlling the extractant concentration and the solution environment.The results revealed that phosphotungstic acid exhibited a strong affinity for TBP with decreasing TBP concentration.Higher acidity significantly improved the W extraction efficiency with TBP,and the lower Cl^(-)concentration reduced the extraction efficiency of Fe.As the organic phase approached saturation point,phosphotungstic acid competitively displaced Fe to combine with TBP.The hydrogen bond structure(P=O·HO-P-W-O)between phosphotungstic acid and TBP was characterized by FT-IR,and the salting-out effect induced by FeCl_(3) was elucidated.In summary,high acidity is beneficial for exhaustive extraction of W,and an effective W/Fe separation can be achieved by reducing the concentrations of TBP and Cl^(-).
文摘With the rapid growth of the“Internet+Healthcare”model,pharmaceutical e-commerce has swiftly gained a substantial market share in China’s pharmaceutical retail sector,thanks to its competitive prices,convenient purchasing channels,and online consultation services.This has put considerable pressure on traditional retail chain pharmacies.This paper provides an overview of the current state of pharmaceutical e-commerce,and analyzes the main challenges faced by retail chain pharmacies,including intense price competition,changes in consumer habits,insufficient digitalization and severe homogenized competition.Drawing on industry practices and case studies,the paper proposes strategies to enhance competitiveness,such as promoting digital transformation and online-offline(O2O)integration,strengthening pharmacist services and health management capabilities,optimizing supply chain management,building differentiated brand advantages,and proactively responding to policy and regulatory requirements.The study argues that,while leveraging their advantages in specialization,community-based operations,service orientation and retail chain pharmacies,should actively embrace digitalization and industrial collaboration in order to achieve sustainable development in the context of e-commerce.This research provides theoretical references for the strategic transformation of retail chain pharmacies and offers practical significance for the high-quality development of the pharmaceutical retail industry.
基金support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (22325808,U22B20140,22021004)。
文摘An in-depth understanding of the competition mechanism between olefins and different types of sulfides in gasoline is essential to improve the desulfurization selectivity of the adsorption desulfurization process(ADS).In this study,the competitive adsorption and diffusion mechanism of two systems,diethyl sulfide/cyclohexene and n-butyl mercaptan/cyclohexene,with different adsorption amounts in siliceous faujasite zeolite(FAU) were investigated by Monte Carlo(MC) and molecular dynamics(MD).The systems exhibited a two-stage loading-dependent competitive adsorption and diffusion mechanism,with an inflection point of 32 molecule/UC(moleculers per microcoulomb).Before the inflection point(4-32molecule/UC),the competition mechanism of the two systems was the "optimal-displacement" mechanism.After the inflection point,the mechanism of the diethyl sulfide/cyclohexene changed to "relocation-displacement",while that of the n-butyl mercaptan/cyclohexene system changed to "dominantdisplacement".Compared to ether functional groups,the alcohol functional group has higher polarity and stronger adsorption stability,thus occupying more favorable adsorption sites within the supercages(SCs),while ethyl sulfide shifts outward to other sites within other SCs.In addition,the diffusion performance of adsorbent is related to the adsorption energy.The lower the adsorption energy,the weaker the diffusion ability.Meanwhile,the diffusion performance of adsorbates is better at high temperatures and low adsorption capacity.The effect of temperatu re on the desulfu rization selectivity was determined.A lower temperature is favorable for the adsorption capacity of the two systems and the removal selectivity of sulfides.This study provides fundamental insights into the competitive adsorption and diffusion mechanisms among sulfides,mercaptans and olefins,offering theoretical guidance for adsorbent design and reaction temperature optimization.
文摘Autosamplers are indispensable key equipment in modern laboratories,playing a pivotal role in fields such as biomedicine,environmental monitoring,food safety,and materials science.However,domestic autosampler enterprises are facing formidable challenges,confronted by the technological barriers and brand dominance of international giants,as well as increasingly fierce homogeneous competition in the domestic market.This article aims to thoroughly analyze the current market landscape and,based on seven key dimensions—strategic positioning,product technology,sales channels,brand building,service and support,supply chain optimization,and talent development—propose a series of effective market-winning strategies.This will provide theoretical guidance and practical reference for domestic autosampler enterprises to achieve breakthroughs and sustainable development amidst fierce market competition.
基金AI-Empowered Practical Course Teaching Project of Zhuhai College of Science and Technology(Project No.:SYSG2025025)。
文摘With the continuous development of science and technology,we have already entered the digital age.While big data,artificial intelligence,and digital twin technology provide convenience for various fields of people’s lives,they also bring new opportunities for the innovation and development of competitive cheerleading.Especially for the training of aerial techniques in competitive cheerleading,which has high requirements for accuracy,coordination,and safety,the traditional training model has problems such as empiricism and insufficient risk prediction,which directly affect the quality of training.This article discusses the application value and application countermeasures of digital twin technology in the aerial techniques of competitive cheerleading,hoping to provide some reference for relevant personnel.
基金supported by the Foundation for Innovative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52121004)the Major Program Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province of China(No.2021JC0001)+2 种基金the National Key R&D Programof China(No.2022YFC3900200)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22276218)the Science and Technology Innovation Programof Hunan Province(No.2021RC3013).
文摘Heterogeneous crystallization is a common occurrence during the formation of solidwastes.It leads to the encapsulation of valuable/hazardous metals within the primary phase,presenting significant challenges for waste treatment andmetal recovery.Herein,we proposed a novel method involving the in-situ formation of a competitive substrate during the precipitation of jarosite waste,which is an essential process for removing iron in zinc hydrometallurgy.We observed that the in-situ-formed competitive substrate effectively inhibits the heterogeneous crystallization of jarosite on the surface of anglesite,a lead-rich phase present in the jarositewaste.As a result,the iron content on the anglesite surface decreases from34.8%to 1.65%.The competitive substrate was identified as schwertmannite,characterized by its loose structure and large surface area.Furthermore,we have elucidated a novel mechanism underlying this inhibition of heterogeneous crystallization,which involves the local supersaturation of jarosite caused by the release of ferric and sulfate ions from the competitive substrate.The local supersaturation promotes the preferential heterogeneous crystallization of jarosite on the competitive substrate.Interestingly,during the formation of jarosite,the competitive substrate gradually vanished through a dissolution-recrystallization process following the Ostwald rule,where a metastable phase slowly transitions to a stable phase.This effectively precluded the introduction of impurities and reduced waste volume.The goal of this study is to provide fresh insights into the mechanism of heterogeneous crystallization control,and to offer practical crystallization strategies conducive to metal separation and recovery from solid waste in industries.
基金Supported by Wuxi Municipal Health Commission Major Project,No.Z202107Wuxi Taihu Talent Project,No.WXTTP 2021.
文摘BACKGROUND The neural mechanisms underlying aggressive behavior in schizophrenia(SCZ)remain poorly understood.To date,no studies have reported on the event-related potential(ERP)characteristics of aggression in SCZ using the competitive reaction time task(CRTT).Further investigation into the ERP correlates of aggression in SCZ would provide valuable insights into the neural processes involved.AIM To explore the neural mechanism of aggressive behavior in SCZ.METHODS Participants of this study included 40 SCZ patients and 42 healthy controls(HCs).The Reactive Proactive Aggression Questionnaire was used to assess trait of aggression.The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 was used to measure impulsiveness.The Positive and Negative Symptom Scale(PANSS)was used to evaluate psychopathological features and disease severity.All participants were measured with ERP while performing the CRTT.Data of behavior,ERP components(P2,N2,and P3),and feedback-related negativity(FRN)were analyzed.RESULTS Analysis of the behavioral data revealed that compared with HCs,SCZ patients exhibited higher punishment choices.Analysis of ERP components showed that compared with HCs,SCZ patients exhibited higher N2 amplitudes and P2 amplitudes during the decision phase of the CRTT;however,SCZ patients exhibited lower FRN amplitudes and lower P3 amplitudes during the outcome phase of the CRTT.The N2 amplitudes evoked by highintensity provocation were positively related to PANSS-P scores.And the P3 amplitudes evoked in the winning trials were negatively correlated with the PANSS-G scores.CONCLUSION SCZ patients exhibit abnormal ERP characteristics evoked by the CRTT,which suggests the neural correlates of aggressive behavior in SCZ.
