Necessary conditions for reaction-diffusion system with delay preserving positivity

We consider the reaction--diffusion system with delay \begin{equation*} \left\{\begin{aligned} &\frac{\partial u}{\partial t}=A(t,x)\Delta u-\sum_{i=1}^{k}\gamma_{i}(t,x)\partial_{x_{i}}u +f(t,u_{t}) , &x\in \Omega; \\ &B(u)|_{\partial \Omega}=0.\\ \end{aligned} \right. \end{equation*} We show that this system with delay preserves positivity if and only if its diffusion matrix $A$ and convection matrix $\gamma_{i}$ are diagonal with non-negative elements and nonlinear delay term $f$ satisfies the normal tangential condition

Strategic Analyses for a Cross-Basin Water Pollution Conflict Involving Heterogeneous Sanctions in Hongze Lake, China, within the GMCR Paradigm

The graph model for conflict resolution (GMCR) methodology was enhanced in this research for addressing cross-basin water pollution conflicts involving heterogeneous sanctions, as a more intuitive and straightforward definition for mixed unilateral improvements was proposed, followed by an integrated procedure for performing mixed stability analyses. Furthermore, the cross-border water pollution dispute that occurred in 2018 in Hongze Lake, China, is systematically modeled and strategically analyzed for the first time, using the improved GMCR method. In addition, an evolution analysis was carried out within the framework of GMCR for verifying the applicability of the eco-compensation mechanism in addressing cross-basin water pollution disputes. This case study demonstrates that the heterogeneity of sanctioning opponents could influence equilibrium outcomes and even change the evolution of conflict situations. Moreover, the developed novel approach is able to accurately predict the equilibrium outcomes of the conflict and provide more strategic insights and valuable findings in making effective conflict resolutions for solving cross-basin water pollution conflicts

Propolis Ameliorates Alcohol-Induced Depressive Symptoms in C57BL/6J Mice by Regulating Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Function and Inflammatory Reaction

Accumulating evidence points to a critical role of the brain gut axis as an important paradigm for many central nervous system diseases. Recent studies suggest that propolis has obvious neuroprotective properties and functionality in regulating intestinal bacteria flora, hinting at a potential key effect at both terminals of this axis regulation. However, currently no clear evidence confirms the effects of propolis on alcohol-induced depression. Here, we establish an alcoholic depression model with C57BL/6J mice and demonstrate that treatment with propolis protects against alcohol-induced depressive symptoms by behavioral tests. In addition, propolis attenuates the injury of nerve cells in the hippocampal region and restores the serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and dopamine (DA) in mice with alcohol-induced depression. Pathology and biotin tracer assays show that propolis repairs the intestinal leakage caused by alcohol. Additionally, propolis treatment increases the expression levels of intestinal intercellular tight junctions’ (TJs’) structural proteins Claudin-1, Occludin and zona occludens-1 (ZO-1), as well as the activation state of the liver kinase B1/AMP-activated protein kinase (LKB1/AMPK) signaling pathway, which is closely related to the intestinal permeability. Furthermore, propolis can reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and fatty-acid-binding protein 2 (FABP2), suggesting the significance of the inflammatory response in alcoholic depression. Collectively, our findings indicate that propolis exerted an improving effect on alcohol-induced depressive symptoms by ameliorating brain gut dysfunction

A Flexible Ultrasound Array for Local Pulse Wave Velocity Monitoring

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) measured at a specific artery location is called local PWV, which provides the elastic characteristics of arteries and indicates the degree of arterial stiffness. However, the large and cumbersome ultrasound probes require an appropriate sensor position and pressure maintenance, introducing usability constraints. In this paper, we developed a light (0.5 g) and thin (400 μm) flexible ultrasound array by encapsulating 1–3 composite piezoelectric transducers with a silicone elastomer. It can capture the distension waveforms of four arterial positions with a spacing of 10 mm and calculate the local PWV by multi-point fitting. This is illustrated by in vivo experiments, where the local PWV value of five normal subjects ranged from 3.07 to 4.82 m/s, in agreement with earlier studies. The beat-to-beat coefficient of variation (CV) is 12.0% ± 3.5%, showing high reliability. High reproducibility is shown by the results of two groups of independent measurements of three subjects (the error between the mean values is less than 0.3 m/s). These properties of the developed flexible ultrasound array enable the bandage-like application of local PWV monitoring to skin surfaces

Ginsenoside Rb1 administration attenuates focal cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury through inhibition of HMGB1 and inflammation signals

High‑mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is released after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), and aggravates brain tissue damage. Ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1), isolated from Panax ginseng, has been reported to inhibit I/R‑induced cell death in the brain. The present study aimed to investigate the protective ability of GRb1 on focal cerebral I/R rats and to explore its further mechanisms. A middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model was established and treated with different doses of Rb1. The neurological deficits were examined after reperfusion, and TTC staining was applied to assess the infarct volume. Histology and TUNEL staining were performed to evaluate pathological changes and neuronal cell apoptosis in brain tissues. HMGB1 and levels of inflammatory factors and proteins, were examined by ELISA or western blotting. Rb1 treatment notably improved the neurological deficits in an MCAO model, accompanied by decreased infarct volume in the brain tissues. Histological examination revealed that the necrotic tissue area in MCAO rats was also diminished by Rb1 treatment. Apoptosis induced by cerebral I/R was also attenuated by Rb1 treatment via downregulation of cleaved caspase‑3 and caspase‑9 levels. HMGB1 release was inhibited by Rb1 treatment in MCAO rats, and the levels of nuclear factor‑κB, tumor necrosis factor‑α, interleukin‑6, inducible nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide were also decreased. The present study suggests that Rb1 serves a protective role in I/R‑induced cerebral‑neuron injury, due to the decreased cerebral infarct volume of brain tissue. The mechanisms underlying these effects may be associated with the inhibition of HMGB1 inflammatory signals

Attitudes Toward the Global Allocation of Chinese COVID-19 Vaccines: Cross-sectional Online Survey of Adults Living in China

BackgroundCOVID-19 vaccines are in short supply worldwide. China was among the first countries to pledge supplies of the COVID-19 vaccine as a global public product, and to date, the country has provided more than 600 million vaccines to more than 200 countries and regions with low COVID-19 vaccination rates. Understanding the public’s attitude in China toward the global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines could inform global and national decisions, policies, and debates. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the attitudes of adults living in China regarding the global allocation of COVID-19 vaccines developed in China and how these attitudes vary across provinces and by sociodemographic characteristics. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional online survey among adults registered with the survey company KuRunData. The survey asked participants 31 questions about their attitudes regarding the global allocation of COVID-19 vaccines developed in China. We disaggregated responses by province and sociodemographic characteristics. All analyses used survey sampling weights. ResultsA total of 10,000 participants completed the questionnaire. Participants generally favored providing COVID-19 vaccines to foreign countries before fulfilling domestic needs (75.6%, 95% CI 74.6%-76.5%). Women (3778/4921, 76.8%; odds ratio 1.18, 95% CI 1.07-1.32; P=.002) and those living in rural areas (3123/4065, 76.8%; odds ratio 1.13, 95% CI 1.01-1.27; P=.03) were especially likely to hold this opinion. Most respondents preferred providing financial support through international platforms rather than directly offering support to individual countries (72.1%, 95% CI 71%-73.1%), while for vaccine products they preferred direct provision to relevant countries instead of via a delivery platform such as COVAX (77.3%, 95% CI 76.3%-78.2%). ConclusionsAmong our survey sample, we found that adults are generally supportive of the international distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, which may encourage policy makers to support and implement the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines developed in China worldwide. Conducting similar surveys in other countries could help align policy makers’ actions on COVID-19 vaccine distribution with the preferences of their constituencies