Elevated NKCC1 transporter expression facilitates early post-traumatic brain injury seizures

As a leading cause for morbidity and mortality in young adults,traumatic brain injury（TBI）,along with the poorly understood TBI-related seizures inducing their predispositions,pose a major health and socioeconomic problem in the world（Huang,2013）.

Bugbee flexible electrocautery facilitates choledochoscopic biopsy,fulguration,and debulking of a high grade intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct

To the Editor:Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct(IPNB)may occur in the setting of primary sclerosing cholangitis,choledochal cysts or hepatolithiasis[1].The entity may be a precursor of cancer or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.Invasive carcinoma,tubular or mucinous adenocarcinoma is present in approximately 40%-80%of IPNBs[1–3].IPNB is frequently found in the resection margins of patients undergoing hepatectomy for cholangiocarcinoma[4].

Muscle secretion of toxic factors,regulated by miR126-5p,facilitates motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)is a lethal neurodegenerative disease characterized by neuromuscular junction(NMJ)disruption,motor neuron(MN)axon degeneration,and neuronal death.Unfortunately,there is currently no effective treatment available for ALS and consequently,most patients die several years post diagnosis.The neurodegeneration that occurs in ALS is considered to be a non-cell autonomous process involving interactions between the motor neuron and its diverse extracellular microenvironments via an unknown mechanism.Distal Axonopathy is one of the early disease signs;however,the involvement and contribution of neighboring tissues and specifically,the muscle environment to the disease pathology remain controversial.Few works have concluded that muscles play a minor role or none at all in ALS pathology.

β-Cyclodextrin Facilitates the Cleavage of Cobalt-Carbon Bonds during the Electrochemical Reduction of Alkylaquabis(dimethylglyoximato)Cobalt(Ⅲ)

The electrochemical reduction of alkylaquabis (dimethylglyoximato)Cobalt(Ⅲ) in the absence and presence of β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) was inveingated by means of cylic voltammetry. It was found that β-CD facilitates the cleavage of Co-C bond during the reduchon process.

Improved Visa Service New application center in South Africa facilitates travels to China

New application center in South Africa facilitates travels to ChinaAfrica’s first Chinese Visa Application Service Center opened its doors in Johannesburg,South Africa,on March 17 after a whole year’s preparation.The 41st such service center,it is located in the upmarket Sandton City Office Tower building in the affluent northern suburbs,enjoying convenient transportation.Travelers to China,who previously needed to apply for a visa at the Chinese Embassy in Pretona or the Consulate General of China in Johannesburg, can now apply at the center, making the visa application process faster and more convenient. A senior visa officer at the Johannesburg consulate talked to ChinAfrica about the need for the center and how to apply there for a visa.

The FAcilitates Chromatin Transcription complex regulates the ratio of glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation in neural stem cells

Defects in the FAcilitates Chromatin Transcription(FACT)complex,a histone chaperone composed of SSRP1 and SUPT16H,are implicated in intellectual disability.Here,we reveal that the FACT complex promotes glycolysis and sustains the correct cell fate of neural stem cells/neuroblasts in the Drosophila 3rd instar larval central brain.We show that the FACT complex binds to the promoter region of the estrogen-related receptor(ERR)gene and positively regulates ERR expression.ERR is known to act as an aerobic glycolytic switch by upregulating the enzymes required for glycolysis.Dysfunction of the FACT complex leads to the downregulation of ERR transcription,resulting in a decreased ratio of glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation(G/O)in neuroblasts.Consequently,neuroblasts exhibit smaller cell sizes,lower proliferation potential,and altered cell fates.Overexpression of ERR or suppression of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in neuroblasts increases the relative G/O ratio and rescues defective phenotypes caused by dysfunction of the FACT complex.Thus,the G/O ratio,mediated by the FACT complex,plays a crucial role in neuroblast cell fate maintenance.Our study may shed light on the mechanism by which mutations in the FACT complex lead to intellectual disability in humans.

Graft-accelerated virus-induced gene silencing facilitates functional genomics in rose flowers

Rose has emerged as a model ornamental plant for studies of flower development, senescence, and morphology, as well as the metabolism of floral fragrances and colors.Virus-induced gene silencing(VIGS) has long been used in functional genomics studies of rose by vacuum infiltration of cuttings or seedlings with an Agrobacterium suspension carrying TRV-derived vectors. However, VIGS in rose flowers remains a challenge because of its low efficiency and long time to establish silencing. Here we present a novel and rapid VIGS method that can be used to analyze gene function in rose,called ‘graft-accelerated VIGS’, where axil ary sprouts are cut from the rose plant and vacuum infiltrated with Agrobacterium. The inoculated scions are then grafted back onto the plants to flower and silencing phenotypes can be observed within 5 weeks, post-infiltration. Using this new method, we successfully silenced expression of the RhDFR, RhA G, and RhNUDXin rose flowers, and affected their color, petal number, as well as fragrance, respectively. This grafting method will facilitate high-throughput functional analysis of genes in rose flowers. Importantly, it may also be applied to other woody species that are not currently amenable to VIGS by conventional leaf or plantlet/seedling infiltration methods.

The long noncoding RNA lnc-ob1 facilitates bone formation by upregulating Osterix in osteoblasts

With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,the research team directed by Prof.Wang XiaoGang(王晓刚)at the Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine,Beihang University,recently reported that lncRNA regulates osteoblast activity and bone formation in mice by up-regulating the osteogenic transcription factor Osterix,which was published in Nature Metabolism(2019,1:485—496).

Interaction of major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2A with the blood-brain barrier

The functional and structural integrity of the blood-brain barrier is crucial in maintaining homeostasis in the brain microenvironment;however,the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation and function of the blood-brain barrier remain poorly understood.The major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2A has been identified as a key regulator of blood-brain barrier function.It plays a critical role in promoting and maintaining the formation and functional stability of the blood-brain barrier,in addition to the transport of lipids,such as docosahexaenoic acid,across the blood-brain barrier.Furthermore,an increasing number of studies have suggested that major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2A is involved in the molecular mechanisms of blood-brain barrier dysfunction in a variety of neurological diseases;however,little is known regarding the mechanisms by which major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2A affects the blood-brain barrier.This paper provides a comprehensive and systematic review of the close relationship between major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2A proteins and the blood-brain barrier,including their basic structures and functions,cross-linking between major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2A and the blood-brain barrier,and the in-depth studies on lipid transport and the regulation of blood-brain barrier permeability.This comprehensive systematic review contributes to an in-depth understanding of the important role of major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2A proteins in maintaining the structure and function of the blood-brain barrier and the research progress to date.This will not only help to elucidate the pathogenesis of neurological diseases,improve the accuracy of laboratory diagnosis,and optimize clinical treatment strategies,but it may also play an important role in prognostic monitoring.In addition,the effects of major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2A on blood-brain barrier leakage in various diseases and the research progress on cross-blood-brain barrier drug delivery are summarized.This review may contribute to the development of new approaches for the treatment of neurological diseases.

Amine facilitates the synthesis of silica-supported ultrasmall bimetallic nanoparticles

Supported catalysts based on metal nanoparticles are a class of widely used heterogeneous catalysts in industry.The catalytic performances of supported metal catalysts are highly determined by many parameters of metal nanoparticles such as their particle size,composition,surface structure and also interfacial interaction with supports[1].

Sex-specific facilitation and reproduction of the gynodioecious cushion plant Arenaria polytrichoides on the Himalaya-Hengduan mountains,SW China

When benefiting other beneficiaries,cushion plants may reciprocally receive feedback effects.The feedback effects on different sex morphs,however,remains unclear.In this study,taking the gynodioecious Arenaria polytrichiodes as a model species,we aimed to assess the sex-specific facilitation intensity of cushion plant by measuring the beneficiary cover ratio,and to assess the potential costs in cushion reproductive functions by measuring the flower and fruit cover ratios.The total beneficiary cover ratio was similar between females and hermaphrodites.Females produced much less flowers but more fruits than hermaphrodites.These results suggested that females and hermaphrodites possess similar facilitation intensity,and female cushion A.polytrichoides may allocate more resources saved from pollen production to seed production,while hermaphrodites possibly allocate more resources to pollen production hence reducing seed production.The surface areas covered by beneficiaries produced less flowers and fruits than areas without beneficiaries.In addition,strong negative correlations between beneficiary cover and flower cover were detected for both females and hermaphrodites,but the correlation strength were similar for these two sex morphs.However,the correlation between beneficiary cover and fruit cover was only significantly negative for females,suggesting that beneficiary plants negatively affect fruit reproduction of females while have neutral effects on hermaphrodites.All the results suggest that to facilitate other beneficiaries can induce reproductive costs on cushion A.polytrichoides,with females possibly suffering greater cost than hermaphrodites.Such differentiation in reproductive costs between sex morphs,in long-term perspective,may imply sex imbalance in population dynamics.

No effect of invasive tree species on aboveground biomass increments of oaks and pines in temperate forests

Prunus serotina and Robinia pseudoacacia are the most widespread invasive trees in Central Europe.In addition,according to climate models,decreased growth of many economically and ecologically important native trees will likely be observed in the future.We aimed to assess the impact of these two neophytes,which differ in the biomass range and nitrogen-fixing abilities observed in Central European conditions,on the relative aboveground biomass increments of native oaks Qucrcus robur and Q.petraea and Scots pine Pinus sylvestris.We aimed to increase our understanding of the relationship between facilitation and competition between woody alien species and overstory native trees.We established 72 circular plots(0.05 ha)in two different forest habitat types and stands varying in age in western Poland.We chose plots with different abundances of the studied neophytes to determine how effects scaled along the quantitative invasion gradient.Furthermore,we collected growth cores of the studied native species,and we calculated aboveground biomass increments at the tree and stand levels.Then,we used generalized linear mixed-effects models to assess the impact of invasive species abundances on relative aboveground biomass increments of native tree species.We did not find a biologically or statistically significant impact of invasive R.pseudoacacia or P.serotina on the relative aboveground,biomass increments of native oaks and pines along the quantitative gradient of invader biomass or on the proportion of total stand biomass accounted for by invaders.The neophytes did not act as native tree growth stimulators but also did not compete with them for resources,which would escalate the negative impact of climate change on pines and oaks.The neophytes should not significantly modify the carbon sequestration capacity of the native species.Our work combines elements of the per capita effect of invasion with research on mixed forest management.

Encroachment drives facilitation at alpine shrublines

Ongoing encroachment is driving recent alpine shrubline dynamics globally,but the role of shrub-shrub interactions in shaping shrublines and their relationships with stem density changes remain poorly understood.Here,the size and age of shrubs from 26 Salix shrubline populations along a 900-km latitudinal gradient(30°-38°N)were measured and mapped across the eastern Tibetan Plateau.Point pattern analyses were used to quantify the spatial distribution patterns of juveniles and adults,and to assess spatial associations between them.Mean intensity of univariate and bivariate spatial patterns was related to biotic and abiotic variables.Bivariate mark correlation functions with a quantitative mark(shrub height,basal stem diameter,crown width)were also employed to investigate the spatial relationships between shrub traits of juveniles and adults.Structural equation models were used to explore the relationships among conspecific interactions,patterns,shrub traits and recruitment dynamics under climate change.Most shrublines showed clustered patterns,suggesting the existence of conspecific facilitation.Clustered patterns of juveniles and conspecific interactions(potentially facilitation)tended to intensify with increasing soil moisture stress.Summer warming before 2010 triggered positive effects on population interactions and spatial patterns via increased shrub recruitment.However,summer warming after2010 triggered negative effects on interactions through reduced shrub recruitment.Therefore,shrub recruitment shifts under rapid climate change could impact spatial patterns,alter conspecific interactions and modify the direction and degree of shrublines responses to climate.These changes would have profound implications for the stability of alpine woody ecosystems.

A conceptual analysis of facilitation to improve clinical outcomes in critical care units

Objectives:Effective facilitation is crucial to improve critical care outcomes in life-threatening conditions through improved teamwork,caring,decision-making,and problem-solving.The meaning of facilitation remains unprecise in a critical care context despite its frequent usage in nursing education and clinical practice.This study aimed to report a thorough concept analysis to clarify the meaning of facilitation in the critical care context by formulating attributes,antecedents,and consequences and providing model cases related to facilitation.Methods:This analysis was performed by searching online sources published from 1999 to 2023.EBSCOhost,CINAHL,PubMed,and Google Scholar databases were searched using online search engines.The analysis also included the manual search of books,thesaurus and dictionaries that showed relevance to facilitation.Walker and Avant’s eight-step approach was applied to explore and analyze the meaning of facilitation in critical care units.Results:A total of 68 articles were included in the analysis of this study.Eleven attributes,six antecedents,and seven consequences related to facilitation were formulated.The attributes included dynamic,interactive processes,creating a positive environment,mobilizing resources,assistance,studentcentered,shared goals,collaboration,engagement,participation,and feedback.Antecedents were facilitator qualities,motivation,a positive learning environment,student-facilitator relationship,time availability,and specified learning outcomes.The consequences of facilitation were identified as follows:change,professional development,competency,quality development,increased job satisfaction,staff retention,and self-confidence.Conclusions:The findings from the analysis indicated that effective facilitation results in nurses and critical care staff developing competency,caring,critical thinking,and independence.Therefore,clinical outcomes in critical care environments are improved through teamwork,decision-making,and problemsolving in life-threatening situations.

Enhancing CO_(2) transport with plasma-functionalized ionic liquid membranes

The ionic liquid(IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate treated with radiofrequency plasma is proposed for functionalization and immobilization on polyethersulfone supports to form supported ionic liquid membranes for CO_(2) separation.The effects of treatment time and transmembrane pressure difference on CO_(2) permeance were evaluated.The best gas permeation performance was obtained with a treatment time of 10 min and the transmembrane pressure difference was 0.25 MPa.Characterization of the materials by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrates that the IL is grafted with carboxyl groups and deprotonated through plasma treatment.A preliminary mechanism for the plasma treatment and facilitated transport of CO_(2)has been proposed on this basis.

Functionalized lipid nanoparticles modulate the blood-brain barrier and eliminate α-synuclein to repair dopamine neurons

The challenge in the clinical treatment of Parkinson's disease lies in the lack of disease-modifying therapies that can halt or slow down the progression. Peptide drugs, such as exenatide (Exe), with potential disease-modifying efficacy, have difficulty in crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) due to their large molecular weight. Herein, we fabricate multi-functionalized lipid nanoparticles (LNP) Lpc-BoSA/CSO with BBB targeting, permeability-increasing and responsive release functions. Borneol is chemically bonded with stearic acid and, as one of the components of Lpc-BoSA/CSO, is used to increase BBB permeability. Immunofluorescence results of brain tissue of 15-month-old C57BL/6 mice show that Lpc-BoSA/CSO disperses across the BBB into brain parenchyma, and the amount is 4.21 times greater than that of conventional LNP. Motor symptoms of mice in Lpc-BoSA/CSO-Exe group are significantly improved, and the content of dopamine is 1.85 times (substantia nigra compacta) and 1.49 times (striatum) that of PD mice. α-Synuclein expression and Lewy bodies deposition are reduced to 51.85% and 44.72% of PD mice, respectively. Immunohistochemical mechanism studies show AKT expression in Lpc-BoSA/CSO-Exe is 4.23 times that of PD mice and GSK-3β expression is reduced to 18.41%. Lpc-BoSA/CSO-Exe could reduce the production of α-synuclein and Lewy bodies through AKT/GSK-3β pathway, and effectively prevent the progressive deterioration of Parkinson's disease. In summary, Lpc-BoSA/CSO-Exe increases the entry of exenatide into brain and promotes its clinical application for Parkinson's disease therapy.

Impact of BRICS Trade Facilitation on China's Exports Using Cross-Border E-Commerce

With the rapid growth of the global digital economy, cross-border e-commerce, as an emerging form of trade, has gradually become a powerful engine to promote the development of global trade. BRICS is an important force in the global economy, and the progress of the BRICS countries' trade facilitation level has an important impact on the global trade environment. This paper conducts an in-depth study of the dynamic changes in BRICS trade facilitation from 2013 to 2022, and uses an extended gravity model to analyze the specific impact of this change on China's exports using cross-border e-commerce. The results show that although the BRICS countries have made some progress in trade facilitation, the overall level still needs to be improved, and there are obvious differences among member countries. However, the improvement of trade facilitation among BRICS countries has undoubtedly brought significant positive effects to China's exports using cross-border e-commerce.

Fuel of the Future

Lawmakers call for stepping up hydrogen power production to facilitate China’s clean and low-carbon energy transformation and create a new engine of growth.

Barriers and Facilitators to Evidence-Based Practice among Physiotherapists Practicing in Sub-Saharan Africa

Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is vital for high-quality patient care, yet its implementation among physiotherapists in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces significant challenges. This scoping review explores the barriers and facilitators of EBP in this region. Objectives: To identify barriers and facilitators of EBP at individual, organisational, and extra organisational levels among physiotherapists in SSA. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Sabinet, BioMed Central, and Google Scholar. Seven studies from Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Benin, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa met the inclusion criteria. Results: Key barriers at the practitioner level included lack of time, insufficient knowledge of EBP, limited access to information resources, and inadequate research skills. Facilitators comprised positive attitudes toward EBP and a desire for further knowledge. At the organisational level, resource unavailability emerged as a major barrier. Notably, no studies addressed extra organisational factors. Conclusion: This review highlights critical barriers and facilitators of EBP among SSA physiotherapists and emphasises the need for further research on extra organisational influences. Addressing systemic challenges is essential for enhancing physiotherapist engagement in EBP, ultimately improving patient care and outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Influence of the Implementation of Trade Facilitation Systems on the Time Required for Creating Delivery Orders: A Case Study of Tema Port

This study evaluated the impact of Ghana’s Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), implemented within the National Single Window initiative, on the efficiency of issuing Delivery Orders (DO) at Tema Port. Filling a gap in the existing literature, the research employed a quantitative approach to assess a specific time-related aspect of the cargo clearance process. Employing an Independent t-test on a dataset spanning 2026 Delivery Orders (924 pre-ICUMS and 1102 post-ICUMS) from July 2020 to July 2023, the study investigated ICUMS’s effectiveness in reducing DO issuance time. Results indicate a noteworthy decrease in average DO issuance time, from 11 days pre-implementation to approximately 9 days post-implementation, a reduction validated by statistical analysis through the independent t-test. In light of these findings, the study recommends ongoing refinement of the implementation, reinforcement of trade facilitation measures, and the adoption of best practices from successful global ports. Continuous stakeholder training and regular assessments of ICUMS performance are also endorsed. The study’s implications support the theoretical framework for Single Window systems and carry significant policy implications, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to streamline trade facilitation processes driven by Information Technology. Practically, the results serve as a management tool for stakeholders, highlighting areas for targeted interventions to reduce DO issuance times. Methodologically, this research contributes by applying robust statistical analysis to a specific component within the Time Release Study framework, offering a nuanced understanding of trade facilitation systems’ effectiveness in improving cargo clearance processes.