Understanding the System Fit Challenge at the Initial Post-Adoption Stage: The Roles of Emotions in Users\u27 Adaptation Behaviors

Users’ adaptation behaviors are vital to the success of the system if there is a poor fit between task and technology at the initial post-adoption stage. However, prior studies have mixed results on how users adapt to the fit challenge. We draw on coping theory and appraisal theory of emotion to develop an encounter-emotion-coping framework to reconcile the mixed results by exploring the links between fit, emotions, individual adaptation and task-technology adaptation behaviors. The paths were tested through a survey of 283 nurses. Results suggest that emotions felt by users in the initial stage explain the relationship between fit and the two adaptation behaviors. This study (1) extends our understanding of the consequences of fit issue, (2) unveils the roles of different emotions in eliciting users’ adaptation behaviors, and (3) differentiates individual adaptation from task-technology adaptation in terms of their emotional antecedents. Implications for practice are discussed

An unusual metal-bound 4-fluorothreonine transaldolase from Streptomyces sp. MA37 catalyses promiscuous transaldol reactions

Open Access via the Springer Compact Agreement. This study was funded by IBioIC PhD studentship (LW), Leverhulme Trust Research Project (HD and MHT, project No. RPG-2014-418), The Elphinstone Scholarship of University of Aberdeen (QF), Leverhulme Trust-Royal Society Africa award (KK and HD, AA090088) and the jointly funded UK Medical Research Council – UK Department for International Development (MRC/DFID) Concordat agreement African Research Leaders Award (KK and HD, MR/S00520X/1), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council UK (HD and SW, BB/P00380X/1) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (31,570,033, 31,811,530,299, and 31,870,035 to YY), and the Royal Society-NSFC Newton Mobility Grant Award (IEC\NSFC\170,617 to HD and YY).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Enhanced Root and Stem Growth and Physiological Changes in Pinus bungeana Zucc. Seedlings by Microbial Inoculant Application

Background and Objectives: As an extensively used tree species in landscaping and afforestation in China, lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana Zucc.) seedlings are in high demand. However, the small number of fine roots and the low growth rate of lacebark pine seedlings increase the risks encountered during transplant and extend the nursery time for outplanting. We aimed to find out whether a microbial inoculant would promote root growth and accordingly, shorten the nursery cultivation time. Materials and Methods: One-year-old lacebark pine seedlings were treated with the inoculant Bacillus subtilis 8–32 six times from June to September. At each application time, five treatments of undiluted microbial inoculants (UM), 30 times diluted microbial inoculants (30 DM), 40 times diluted microbial inoculants (40 DM), 50 times diluted microbial inoculants (50 DM), and distilled water as a control (CTRL) were administered to the seedlings. In the end, all the seedlings were harvested to measure the root growth, aboveground growth, and the physiological indices. Results: Root and stem growth was enhanced by the inoculants in terms of the increased number of root tips, the length and surface area of the roots, the biomass of the roots and stems, as well as the increase in height and basal stem diameter. The chlorophyll a/b of the needles was increased, in spite of the fact that the total chlorophyll content was decreased by the microbial inoculant treatments at the end of the growth phase. Meanwhile, the maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) of the needles was increased by the inoculant treatments. The soluble sugar content was additionally translocated into the stems in the UM treatment, suggesting the change in carbon allocation. The content of available potassium, phosphorus, and ammonium nitrogen in the potting soil was increased in the 30 DM group, and the content of soil organic matter was increased in all the inoculant treatments. Conclusions: The microbial inoculant Bacillus subtilis 8–32, in appropriate concentrations, could be applied to promote root and shoot growth and improve the seedling quality of the lacebark pine during cultivation

MCP-1, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 are present in early aneurysmal dilatation in experimental rats.

Recent studies have suggested that inflammation actively participates in ascending aortic aneurysm formation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression changes of adhesion molecules and MMPs in an experimental model of ascending aortic aneurysm induced by ascending aorta banding in Wistar rats. Twelve rats developed aortic dilation after ascending aorta banding treatment, while nine normal animals underwent surgery without banding were used as controls. Light microscope and scanning electron microscope showed that the wall of the ascending aorta became disorganized as well as infiltration by inflammatory cells in aneurysmal rats. By using immunohistochemical techniques, a significant increase in the immunostaining of MCP-1 was observed in the aneurysmal wall as compared to the normal aortic wall. Under similar experimental conditions, we also found that the immunostaining of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was markedly increased in the aneurysmal wall. In addition, gelatin zymographic analysis showed that the expression and activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were remarkably enhanced in the ascending aorta of ascending aortic aneurysmal rats as compared to normal rats. These results demonstrate that MCP-1, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 are involved in the pathogenesis of ascending aortic aneurysm and an increase in the immunostaining and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 may promote the progression of ascending aortic aneurysm

Robot Task Planning Based on Large Language Model Representing Knowledge with Directed Graph Structures

Traditional robot task planning methods face challenges when dealing with highly unstructured environments and complex tasks. We propose a task planning method that combines human expertise with an LLM and have designed an LLM prompt template, Think_Net_Prompt, with stronger expressive power to represent structured professional knowledge. We further propose a method to progressively decompose tasks and generate a task tree to reduce the planning volume for each task, and we have designed a strategy to decouple robot task planning. By dividing different planning entities and separating the task from the actual machine binding process, the task planning process becomes more flexible. Research results show that our method performs well in handling specified code formats, understanding the relationship between tasks and subtasks, and extracting parameters from text descriptions. However, there are also problems such as limited complexity of task logic handling, ambiguity in the quantity of parts and the precise location of assembly. Improving the precision of task description and cognitive structure can bring certain improvements. https://github.com/NOMIzy/Think_Net_Promp

Interpopulation variation in prebreeding energy reserves of plateau brown frog (Rana kukunoris)

The energy storage plays a prominent part in the life histories of many animals inhabiting cold harsh environment, thus anuran amphibians rely on larger residual energy stores from post-hibernation to cope with unfavourable weather conditions before breeding. As the habitat conditions often change in different locations, selective pressure for energy storage could also vary. However, we still have limited knowledge on whether anurans living under different environmental backgrounds would adopt suitable strategies to cope with energy demands during reproduction. Here, we examined patterns of energy storage in spring (after hibernation and before reproduction) in seven plateau brown frog (Rana kukunoris) populations with different climatic conditions in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. After removing the effects of age and body size, liver weights of both sexes and fat body weights in males were negatively correlated with temperature, suggesting that these reserves were critical for this anuran to survive through harsh and extended dormancy period under uncertain environmental conditions. Additionally, reproductive investment in both sexes could partly explain the increase in post-hibernation energy stores with decreasing temperature. Males had relatively heavier liver and fat body weights than females, indicating that males store more energy reserves for breeding activity compared with females. Therefore, we suggest that both the variation of environmental conditions and sexual differentiation of reproductive roles play a prominent role in shaping the energy allocation and reserve patterns in the dormancy and breeding of amphibian species

Impaired Spatial Learning and Memory is Linked to Neurochemical Indicators of Brain Aging in the Middle-Aged CD-1 Mice with Maternal Exposure to LPS

Aim: Prenatal exposure to a disadvantageous circumstance may produce accelerated brain aging. Previously, our middle-aged model of CD-1 mice with maternal exposure to low-dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) showed accelerated memory aging at a behavioral level. Here we investigated whether there was a corresponding pathophysiological alteration in the brain.Materials and Methods: The mothers in the LPS group were administered a low dose (i.p. 50μg/kg) of LPS daily for 3 days during late gestation to simulate an inflammatory condition in maternal infection.Results: The treatment accelerated the age-related decline of spatial learning and memory in the Morris water maze in the middle-aged offspring. Compared to control mice (n = 12), these mice (n = 12) exhibited elevated malondialdehyde contents (P = 0.042), decreased activities of superoxide dismutase (P < 0.001) and glutathione peroxidase (P = 0.010) in the brain, and elevated levels of amyloid beta (Ps < 0.005) and synaptotagmin-1 (Ps < 0.037) in several hippocampal layers. These age-related indicators correlated with a decline in spatial learning and memory (Ps < 0.05).Conclusions: During gestation, maternal illness in mice might be an initiator of accelerated brain aging in offspring, as indicated by behavioral-cognitive and neurochemical measures

Evidence synthesis of Chinese medicine for monkeypox: Suggestions from other contagious pox-like viral diseases

Background: Monkeypox, a zoonotic disease caused by an Orthopoxvirus, presents an etiology similar to smallpox in humans. Currently, there are no licensed treatments for human monkeypox, so clear and urgent research on its prophylaxis and treatment is needed. Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the evidence of Chinese medicine for contagious pox-like viral diseases and provide suggestions for the multi-country outbreak management of monkeypox. Methods: The review was registered on INPLASY (INPLASY202270013). Ancient classics in China and clinical trials involving randomized controlled trials , non-RCTs, and comparative observational studies of CM on the prevention and treatment of monkeypox, smallpox, measles, varicella, and rubella were retrieved from the Chinese Medical Code (fifth edition), Database of China Ancient Medicine, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chongqing VIP, Wanfang, Google Scholar, International Clinical Trial Registry Platform, and Chinese Clinical Trial Registry until 6 July 2022. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were applied to present the data collected. Results: The use of CM to control contagious pox-like viral diseases was traced back to ancient Chinese practice cited in Huangdi’s Internal Classic, where the pathogen was recorded nearly two thousand years back. There were 85 articles (36 RCTs, eight non-RCTs, one cohort study, and 40 case series) that met the inclusion criteria, of which 39 studies were for measles, 38 for varicella, and eight for rubella. Compared with Western medicine for contagious pox-like viral diseases, CM combined with Western medicine showed significant improvements in fever clearance time (mean difference, −1.42 days; 95% CI, −1.89 to −0.95; 10 RCTs), rash/pox extinction time (MD, −1.71 days; 95% CI, −2.65 to −0.76; six RCTs), and rash/pox scab time (MD, −1.57 days; 95% CI, −1.94 to −1.19; five RCTs). When compared with Western medicine, CM alone could reduce the time of rash/pox extinction and fever clearance. Chinese herbal formulas, including modified Yinqiao powder, modified Xijiao Dihaung decoction, modified Qingjie Toubiao decoction, and modified Shengma Gegen decoction, were frequently applied to treat pox-like viral diseases and also showed significant effects in shortening the time of fever clearance, rash/pox extinction, and rash/pox scabs. Compared with Western medicine (placental globulin) or no intervention, eight non-randomized trials and observational studies on the prevention of contagious pox-like viral diseases showed a significant preventive effect of Leiji powder among high-risk populations. Conclusion: Based on historical records and clinical studies of CM in managing contagious pox-like viral diseases, some botanical drugs could be an alternative approach for treating and preventing human monkeypox. Prospective, rigorous clinical trials are urgently needed to confirm the potential preventive and treatment effect of Chinese herbal formulas

Shenfu injection: a review of pharmacological effects on cardiovascular diseases

Shenfu injection (SFI), composed of ginseng and aconite, is a Chinese patent developed from the classic traditional prescription Shenfu Decoction created more than 700 years ago. SFI has been widely used in China for over 30 years for treating cardiovascular diseases. The main components in it include ginsenosides and aconitum alkaloids. In recent years, the role of SFI in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases has attracted much attention. The pharmacological effects and therapeutic applications of SFI in cardiovascular diseases are summarized here, highlighting pharmacological features and potential mechanisms developments, confirming that SFI can play a role in multiple ways and is a promising drug for treating cardiovascular diseases

Increased Acetylated SNAP25 in the Hippocampus Correlated with Age-Related Deficits in the SAMP8 Mice

Acetylation is an important post-translational modification, which modulates function and localization of cytoplasmic proteins. Synaptosomal-associated protein-25 (SNAP-25) is a presynaptic neurotransmission-regulating protein that can be acetylated. Whether the acetylation level of SNAP25 is affected by aging is unknown. We explored the relative levels of SNAP25 and acetylated SNAP25 in the SAMP8 mice with different ages, and their correlation with spatial cognitive performance in radial six-arm water maze. The SAMP8 mice exhibited decline of spatial learning and memory abilities with aging. The higher hippocampal levels of SNAP25 were found in the 6- and 10-month SAMP8 mice compared to the 2-month mice. The hippocampal level of acetylated SNAP25 in the 10-month mice was higher than those in the 2- and 6-month mice. Positive correlations were found between the age-related increase of SNAP25 and the impairment of spatial learning and memory, and between acetylated SNAP25 level and memory deficits. The results suggested that elevated acetylated SNAP25 during aging might be involved in the age-related memory impairment