STUDY ON THE ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF BERGENIA PURPURASCENS EXTRACT

Background: Bergenia purpurascens has tonic, haemostatic and anti-tussive actions. Anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial activities of Bergenia purpurascens have not been reported so far. The objective of this paper is to provide experimental basis for the clinical application of Bergenia purpurascens through the pharmacodynamic study on its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects. Methods: Experimental models of xylene-induced ear edema in mice, cotton pellet granuloma in rats, and acetic acid-induced peritoneal capillary permeability in mice were used to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Bergenia purpurascens; bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects of Bergenia purpurascens extract on Staphylococcus aureus (SA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and β-lactamase positive Staphylococcus aureus (ESBLs-SA), were observed in vitro. Results: The results show that Bergenia purpurascens extract could markedly inhibit xylene-induced mouse ear edema, cotton pellet granulation tissue hyperplasia, and increased capillary permeability. Bergenia purpurascens extract has an inhibitory effect on SA, MRSA and ESBLs-SA. Conclusion: We conclude that Bergenia purpurascens extract has certain anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects

Metagenomic Analysis of Bacteria, Fungi, Bacteriophages, and Helminths in the Gut of Giant Pandas

To obtain full details of gut microbiota, including bacteria, fungi, bacteriophages, and helminths, in giant pandas (GPs), we created a comprehensive microbial genome database and used metagenomic sequences to align against the database. We delineated a detailed and different gut microbiota structures of GPs. A total of 680 species of bacteria, 198 fungi, 185 bacteriophages, and 45 helminths were found. Compared with 16S rRNA sequencing, the dominant bacterium phyla not only included Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria but also Cyanobacteria and other eight phyla. Aside from Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Glomeromycota, Mucoromycota, and Microsporidia were the dominant fungi phyla. The bacteriophages were predominantly dsDNA Myoviridae, Siphoviridae, Podoviridae, ssDNA Inoviridae, and Microviridae. For helminths, phylum Nematoda was the dominant. In addition to previously described parasites, another 44 species of helminths were found in GPs. Also, differences in abundance of microbiota were found between the captive, semiwild, and wild GPs. A total of 1,739 genes encoding cellulase, β-glucosidase, and cellulose β-1,4-cellobiosidase were responsible for the metabolism of cellulose, and 128,707 putative glycoside hydrolase genes were found in bacteria/fungi. Taken together, the results indicated not only bacteria but also fungi, bacteriophages, and helminths were diverse in gut of giant pandas, which provided basis for the further identification of role of gut microbiota. Besides, metagenomics revealed that the bacteria/fungi in gut of GPs harbor the ability of cellulose and hemicellulose degradation

Efficacy and feasibility of an adapted version of the unified protocol on relieving depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents

Depression and anxiety symptoms are increasingly common among adolescents, prompting a focus on effective treatments. The Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents (UP-A) has shown mixed results. Researchers suggested that the brief mindfulness component in the original UP-A might limit its effectiveness. To enhance the UP-A, this study integrated extended mindfulness practices. Additionally, based on the ecological system theory, we added social support practices, aiming to enhance the adolescents\u27 ability of utilize resources in their environments to overcome life difficult circumstances. We recruited 53 adolescents with high depression and/or anxiety symptoms, randomly assigning them to an adapted UP-A group (n = 28) or a waitlist control group (n = 25). Participants were assessed on depression, anxiety, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and social support before, after, and one month following the intervention. The intervention group received an eight-week program (once a week), and the waitlist group received no intervention. Results showed significant time and group interaction effects on depression, mindfulness, and distress tolerance, but not on anxiety and social support. The intervention group had significantly lower depression levels post- intervention, but not at follow-up. For the waitlist control group, the differences of depression among pre-intervention, post-intervention and follow-up were not significant. Mindfulness levels increased post-intervention but did not change at follow-up. For the waitlist control group, levels of mindfulness did not change significantly at post-intervention compared with pre-intervention. It decreased from post-intervention to follow-up significantly. Compared to pre-intervention, distress tolerance did not significantly differ during post-intervention and follow-up among the intervention group. However, it decreased from pre-intervention to post-intervention in the waitlist group while increased from post-intervention to follow-up. The study concludes that the adapted UP-A effectively reduces depression symptoms among Chinese adolescents and has moderate feasibility. This research supports the efficacy of the UP-A in China and adds to intervention strategies for adolescent depression

From Protectionist to Regulator: Policy-Driven Transformation of Digital Urban Networks in China’s Online Gaming Industry

In the digital era, data-driven production organizes digital urban networks. This study explores the critical role of government policies in shaping these networks, focusing on China’s evolving policy contexts. While existing research has mainly emphasized qualitative analyses, this paper quantitatively assesses the impact of policy changes on digital urban networks, specifically through the lens of China’s online gaming industry. The study aimed to elucidate the relationship between the policy environment and digital urban networks. By examining China’s transition from protectionist to regulatory policies, this research employed a social network analysis and valued exponential random graph models (ERGMs) across two key phases: the competitive protection phase (2014–2017) and the systematic regulatory phase (2018–2022). The findings revealed a significant transformation in urban network structure, shifting from a centralized model dominated by a few core cities to a decentralized, multi-centered network. The key factors influencing this evolution include the institutional proximity and cross-regional collaborations. This study offers valuable insights into how policy shifts affect urban networks in the digital economy, contributing both theoretically and practically to future policy design

A density functional theory study on thermal properties of perfect and defective graphene

Abstract In present work, the graphene with various defects have been investigated by First-principles based on DFT, and the properties are compared to perfect graphene. The calculated results show that the topological structure exhibits the minimum defect formation energy, which will be the easiest defective structure to form. The Perfect graphene, Single-vacancy graphene and Double-vacancy graphene exhibit metallicity, but the electrical conductivity of Perfect graphene is not as good as vacancy defective graphene. The Topology graphene is semiconductor. Single-vacancy defect emerging in graphene will pin the C atoms along with the vacancy. The C atoms closest to vacancy is easy to loosen in Double-vacancy graphene. The Topology graphene is comparatively stable in defective graphene.</jats:p

Role of stressful life events, avoidant coping styles, and neuroticism in online game addiction among college students: a moderated mediation model

Online game addiction (OGA) is becoming a significant problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to explore the incidence of OGA and the roles of stressful life events, avoidant coping styles (ACSs), and neuroticism in OGA. A total of 651 Chinese college students were selected by random cluster sampling. Subjects completed the Chinese version of Young’s eight-item Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS), Online Game Cognition Addiction Scale (OGCAS), Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Short Scale in Chinese (EPQ-RSC), Chinese College-student Stress Questionnaire (CCSQ), and Coping Style Questionnaire (CSQ). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to explore the interactive effects of stressful life events, ACSs, and neuroticism on OGA. Of the 651 participants in the sample, 31 (4.8%) were identified as addicts. The incidence of OGA was two times higher for males than females. The addicts had markedly higher scores on the neuroticism subscale of the EPQ-RSC than non-addicts. Compared to non-addicts, addicts were more apt to use ACSs. Having an avoidant coping strategy mediated the effect of stressful life events on OGA. Furthermore, neuroticism moderated the indirect effect of stressful life events on OGA via ACSs. Applications of these findings to etiological research and clinical treatment programs are discussed

Predictive Roles of Three-Dimensional Psychological Pain, Psychache, and Depression in Suicidal Ideation among Chinese College Students

How to develop an effective screening instrument for predicting suicide risk is an important issue in suicidal research. The aim of the present research was to explore the predictive roles of three screening measures in the evaluation of preexisting suicide risk factors in a sample of undergraduate students. We assessed 1,061 students using the Beck depression and suicidal ideation scales (BDI-I) (BSI), the Psychache Scale (PAS), and the three-dimensional Psychological Pain Scale (TDPPS). Simultaneous multivariate regression analysis showed that the predictive values of pain avoidance scores and BDI scores for suicidal ideation were more significant than that of the PAS scores. Subsequently, 42 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), 39 students with subthreshold depression (SD), and 18 healthy controls were voluntarily recruited. Students with SD were divided into high suicidal ideation (HSI-SD) and low suicidal ideation (LSI-SD) groups. Pain avoidance scores and BDI scores differed significantly among the MDD, HSI-SD, LSI-SD, and healthy control groups. Pain avoidance and BSI scores were significantly higher in the MDD and HSI-SD groups than those in the LSI-SD and healthy control groups. However, no significant difference was observed in BDI scores between the HSI-SD and LSI-SD groups. Pain avoidance and depression, rather than psychache, may be promising predictors of suicidal ideation in a Chinese young adult population