The impact of public health shocks on fertility intentions: evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic in China.

Background: China's persistent fertility decline poses serious long-term demographic and socioeconomic challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced additional uncertainty, raising questions about how external shocks affect fertility intentions in real time.

Objective: This study examines the causal impact of localized COVID-19 shocks on fertility intentions in China, as measured by high-frequency digital search data that capture real-time behavioral shifts.

Study on the Effect of the Plunging Depth of Stirring Pin on the Performance of 6061-T6 Aluminum Alloy Refill Friction Stir Spot Welded Zone.

In this study, under varying PDSP (plunging depths of stirring pin) and process parameters, refill friction stir spot welding tests were performed on 6061-T6 aluminum alloy, relying on a stirring tool with a 12 mm sleeve diameter and an 8 mm stirring pin diameter. The results manifested the internal defects in the weld zone when PDSP was 0, notwithstanding the alterations in process parameters. However, these flaws disappeared when PDSP was 0.

Mechanical Properties of Nano-TiO-Modified Concrete Under Freeze-Thaw Environment.

This study investigated the freeze-thaw resistance of ordinary and nano-TiO-modified concrete (NTC) based on mass loss, ultrasonic velocity, compressive strength, and fracture toughness. The compressive behavior and internal damage evolution were further analyzed using particle flow code in two dimensions (PFC) simulations. The results show that, although neither material exhibited structural collapse after freeze-thaw cycling, visible surface damage was observed, particularly in ordinary concrete.

Temperature-induced algae harvesting with grafted poly(N-isopropylacrylamide).

Microalgae biorefinery has a broad spectrum of applications, but the high cost of the algae harvesting process restricts the scale-up of this industry. This work developed a new method for algae harvesting by using grafted poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM). PNIPAM has a temperature-induced phase change property that can be taken advantage to capture algae cells in the cultivation medium.

Prediction of Human Pathogenic Start Loss Variants Based on Multi-channel Features.

Start loss variants occur at the start codon that can disrupt the normal translation initiation process, potentially resulting in the production of abnormal protein isoforms. Although numerous computational methods have been developed to aid in the large-scale interpretation of genetic variants, they often show limited predictive accuracy for start-loss variants. A significant limitation of the majority of these methods is their dependence on manually curated features, which restricts their ability to predict variants that have not been studied and characterized.

Proteomic analysis of the quality deterioration of pork: a comparative study of fresh and six-month frozen storage.

This study investigates the quality deterioration of pork during six-month frozen storage using polarized light microscopy and tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics. Ice recrystallization analysis revealed the formation of larger ice crystals over time, which mechanically disrupted muscle structure and reduced water-holding capacity. Proteomic analysis identified 180 Differentially Expressed Proteins (DEPs) between fresh and frozen pork, with significant alterations in proteins related to structural integrity, energy metabolism, and stress response.

Dual-action mechanism of Tamarix polyphenols in inhibiting IQ and MeIQ: Synergistic scavenging of free radicals and trapping of reactive carbonyls.

Tamarix lamb skewers are highly favored for its distinctive flavor profile, with polyphenol-rich Tamarix branches demonstrating inhibitory effects on heterocyclic amine (HAs) formation during lamb roasting. Four major polyphenols were evaluated for suppressing 2-amino-3-methyl-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) and 2-amino-3,4-dimethyl-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ) in chemical models and lamb patties. Mechanistic investigations employed Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) to quantify radical scavenging capacity and UPLC-MS/MS to assess reactive carbonyl (acrolein/crotonaldehyde) trapping efficiency.

Short-day-induced expression of PtTFL2 triggers growth-defense tradeoffs during Pinus tabuliformis dormancy.

Conifers have developed intricate dormancy strategies to cope with extreme climates in winter. Among various environmental cues, shortened photoperiods in the fall induce conifers to enter dormancy, leading to growth cessation, bud set, and enhanced freezing tolerance. However, the molecular mechanisms of short-day-induced dormancy are not fully understood.

Magnetic Morphogenesis of Programmable Photonic Architectures through Field-Directed Droplet Engineering.

The creation of dynamically tunable hierarchical architectures in photonic materials represents a crucial frontier in nanoscale science, yet deterministic multi-scale structural control under non-equilibrium conditions persists as an unresolved core limitation despite advances in field-guided assembly technologies. This study demonstrates a magnetic morphogenesis platform combining field-driven droplet deformation and non-equilibrium colloidal assembly to resolve multi-scale structural control. Systematic phase mapping (100-1500 G, 0.

The role of healthy personality, psychological flexibility, and coping mechanisms in university students' mental health in China.

Background: Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression have become increasingly common among Chinese university students, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explores the relationships between personality health, psychological flexibility, coping styles, and mental health in this population.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 2,528 university students (aged 18-25, 53.

Temporoparietal Junction Selectively Mediates Social Projection in Mentalizing.

Mentalizing, the cognitive process of inferring others' mental states from limited social information, is often facilitated by social projection, a "self-as-proxy" strategy that engenders self-other mergence (SOM). While SOM overlaps conceptually with the simulation or theory-driven processes, its neural basis remains unresolved. Using fMRI during a dyadic task where participants estimated both their own confidence (metacognition) and a partner's confidence (mentalizing), we found that SOM critically depended on self-confidence encoded in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) during metacognition.

Creating Extrinsic Self-Trapped Excitons by Isoelectronic Doping for Lead-Free High-Efficiency Light Emission and High-Performance X-ray Scintillators.

Metal-ion doping has been widely employed to enhance light emission from self-trapped excitons (STEs) in metal halide perovskites. However, the literature often fails to clearly differentiate between intrinsic and extrinsic STEs. In this work, we demonstrate an exemplary extrinsic STE and identify its characteristics through experimental signatures and first-principles calculations.

Diversity, antibacterial and antioxidant activities of fungi associated with .

Insect-associated fungi are a treasure trove of natural active compounds. Nevertheless, the diversity and biological activities of fungi associated with have not been studied in depth. Here, we investigated fungal diversity in the gut and honeycomb using a combination of culture-dependent and -independent methods.

Combined Toxicity of Heavy Metal Cadmium and Insecticide Chlorpyrifos to Drosophila S2 Cells.

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal, and chlorpyrifos (CPF) is a widely used organophosphorus insecticide, which are widespread environmental pollutants. These two chemicals can induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mammals and cause oxidative damage. However, the mechanism of their combined toxicity in invertebrates and especially insects has not been well documented.

A Multi-factor analysis for evaluating habitat suitability of traditional settlements in Huizhou.

This study systematically analyzed the driving factors affecting the spatial distribution of traditional villages in the Huizhou region of southern Anhui Province, China, using the GeoDetector method. Based on this analysis, a multi-factor comprehensive evaluation system for habitat suitability was established, revealing regional zoning characteristics. The results indicate: (1) Multiple factors influence the locations of traditional villages in Huizhou, among which precipitation, vegetation, geomorphology, ancient pathways, and land use exhibit stronger effects.

Stiff yet Tough, Moisture-Tolerant, Room Temperature Self-Healing and Thermoconductive Biomimetic Nanocomposites.

Stiff yet room-temperature self-healing polymers are designed using molecularly engineered hydrogen bonds (H-bonds). However, they often suffer from high brittleness, moisture sensitivity, and limited functionality. To overcome these challenges, high-performance biomimetic nanocomposites inspired by inverse nacre structures are developed.

The relationship between dark traits and cyberbullying behavior among vocational school students: a moderated mediation model.

Background: The General Aggression Model offers the theoretical basis for this study, which evaluates connections among Dark Traits, Social Anxiety, School Climate, and Cyberbullying. This analysis centers on Chinese vocational school students, a demographic infrequently studied as an integrated system. This research aims to clarify the mediating role of social anxiety in the relationship between dark personality and cyberbullying, as well as the moderating role of school climate.

Do environmental stringent policies enhance the impact of renewable energy on CO reduction? Evidence from BRICS-T economies.

The pressing challenge of climate change necessitates a deeper understanding of how policy frameworks enhance the impact of renewable energy in reducing carbon emissions, particularly in rapidly developing economies. This study fills a crucial void by investigating the moderating role of stringent environmental policies on the nexus between renewable energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The analysis covers data from the BRICS-T nations over the period 1990-2020.

Application and evaluation of industrial waste residue and bentonite for solidification and stabilization of sewage sludge.

This study examines the applications of industrial waste residue and bentonite in treating sewage sludge. An industrial waste residue-based composite binder (IWCB) was formulated by integrating ground granulated blast furnace slag, desulfurized gypsum, and Portland cement. The optimal formulation for IWCB and the suitable quantity of bentonite were thoroughly ascertained through unconfined compressive strength testing of the solidified sludge, accompanied by analyses of heavy metal concentrations and chemical oxygen demand in the leachate.

Sustainable and resource-efficient synthesis of zeolite membranes in a fluoride-free, organic template-free dilute solution.

Environmentally friendly and sustainable synthesis technologies hold considerable significance in the manufacturing of high-performance mordenite membranes. Herein, a high-performance mordenite membrane was successfully fabricated on a macroporous tube under fluoride-free and organic template-free conditions, using a highly diluted synthesis solution with a molar composition of HO/SiO = 250. This approach eliminated the necessity of fluoride and template agents while reducing chemical usage a highly diluted solution.

MFDSMC: Accurate Identification of Cancer-Driver Synonymous Mutations Using Multiperspective Feature Representation Learning.

Synonymous mutations do not change amino acid sequences, but they can drive cancer by influencing splicing, mRNA structure, translation efficiency, and other molecular mechanisms. Although driver synonymous mutations are significantly outnumbered by functionally neutral passenger mutations in cancer, their accurate discrimination is critical to understanding tumorigenesis. In this study, we developed multiperspective feature-based predictor for driver synonymous mutation in cancer (MFDSMC), a computational framework designed to improve the prediction of human cancer-driver synonymous mutations.

Macrophage histone lactylation in atherosclerosis progression: mechanisms, predictive models, and therapeutic potential of Ruan Jian Qing Mai formula.

Aims: This study investigates the role of macrophage histone lactylation-a protein modification-in atherosclerosis progression, particularly in peripheral artery disease (PAD), and evaluates the therapeutic potential of the herbal formula Ruan Jian Qing Mai (RJQM).

Materials And Methods: Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), functional enrichment, and machine learning were used to explore regulatory mechanisms and develop a predictive model for subclinical atherosclerosis. Experimental validation included ApoE-/- mice treated with RJQM and molecular docking to assess drug-protein interactions.

Screening of larch endophytic bacteria with nematicidal activity against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and the biocontrol potential for pine wilt disease.

Background: Pine wilt disease (PWD), caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (PWN), leads to severe ecological and economic losses. Current control methods rely on chemical nematicides, which pose environmental and health risks and have led to PWN resistance, reducing their field efficacy. A green and effective strategy is urgently needed.

Involution and governance reform in professional football club-school integration: a case study of S City's youth training base.

The integrated development of Chinese professional football clubs and campus football has achieved good development. However, there are still many problems in terms of training methods and depth of integration. In this article, we use the involution theory (a developmental paradox where increased partnership networks fail to improve training outcomes) as an analytical perspective to explain the inner part of the case.

Optimization of Extraction Process of Total Flavonoids from Loquat Leaves and Its Protective Effect on H9C2 Cells in Hypoxia Injury.

To study the reflux extraction process of total flavonoids from loquat leaves and to investigate its protective effect on H9C2 cells in hypoxia injury. An orthogonal test was utilized to optimize the reflux extraction process parameters, NaSO was used to induce myocardial cell hypoxia injury, MTT assay was used to evaluate cell survival rate, CK, LDH, SOD, MDA were used to evaluate the hypoxia injury of H9C2 cells. The optimized process condition for reflux extraction was 10 times the amount of 70% ethanol for 3 times, each time for 2 h.