Establishment of human cerebral organoid systems to model early neural development and assess the central neurotoxicity of environmental toxins

Human brain development is a complex process,and animal models often have significant limitations.To address this,researchers have developed pluripotent stem cell-derived three-dimensional structures,known as brain-like organoids,to more accurately model early human brain development and disease.To enable more consistent and intuitive reproduction of early brain development,in this study,we incorporated forebrain organoid culture technology into the traditional unguided method of brain organoid culture.This involved embedding organoids in matrigel for only 7 days during the rapid expansion phase of the neural epithelium and then removing them from the matrigel for further cultivation,resulting in a new type of human brain organoid system.This cerebral organoid system replicated the temporospatial characteristics of early human brain development,including neuroepithelium derivation,neural progenitor cell production and maintenance,neuron differentiation and migration,and cortical layer patterning and formation,providing more consistent and reproducible organoids for developmental modeling and toxicology testing.As a proof of concept,we applied the heavy metal cadmium to this newly improved organoid system to test whether it could be used to evaluate the neurotoxicity of environmental toxins.Brain organoids exposed to cadmium for 7 or 14 days manifested severe damage and abnormalities in their neurodevelopmental patterns,including bursts of cortical cell death and premature differentiation.Cadmium exposure caused progressive depletion of neural progenitor cells and loss of organoid integrity,accompanied by compensatory cell proliferation at ectopic locations.The convenience,flexibility,and controllability of this newly developed organoid platform make it a powerful and affordable alternative to animal models for use in neurodevelopmental,neurological,and neurotoxicological studies.

Gender disparities and woman-specific trends in Barrett’s esophagus in the United States:An 11-year nationwide populationbased study

BACKGROUND Barrett's esophagus(BE)is a known premalignant precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma(EAC).The prevalence rates continue to rise in the United States,but many patients who are at risk of EAC are not screened.Current practice guidelines include male gender as a predisposing factor for BE and EAC.The population-based clinical evidence regarding female gender remains limited.AIM To study comparative trends of gender disparities in patients with BE in the United States.METHODS A nationwide retrospective study was conducted using the 2009-2019 National Inpatient Sample(NIS)database.Patients with a primary or secondary diagnosis code of BE were identified.The major outcome of interest was determining the gender disparities in patients with BE.Trend analysis for respective outcomes for females was also reported to ascertain any time-based shifts.RESULTS We identified 1204190 patients with BE for the study period.Among the included patients,717439(59.6%)were men and 486751(40.4%)were women.The mean age was higher in women than in men(67.1±0.4 vs 66.6±0.3 years,P<0.001).The rate of BE per 100000 total NIS hospitalizations for males increased from 144.6 in 2009 to 213.4 in 2019(P<0.001).The rate for females increased from 96.8 in 2009 to 148.7 in 2019(P<0.001).There was a higher frequency of obesity among women compared to men(17.4%vs 12.6%,P<0.001).Obesity prevalence among females increased from 12.3%in 2009 to 21.9%in 2019(P<0.001).A lower prevalence of smoking was noted in women than in men(20.8%vs 35.7%,P<0.001).However,trend analysis showed an increasing prevalence of smoking among women,from 12.9%in 2009 to 30.7%in 2019(P<0.001).Additionally,there was a lower prevalence of alcohol abuse,Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori),and diabetes mellitus among females than males(P<0.001).Trend analysis showed an increasing prevalence of alcohol use disorder and a decreasing prevalence of H.pylori and diabetes mellitus among women(P<0.001).CONCLUSION The prevalence of BE among women has steadily increased from 2009 to 2019.The existing knowledge concerning BE development has historically focused on men,but our findings show that the risk in women is not insignificant.

Postnatal development of rat retina:a continuous observation and comparison between the organotypic retinal explant model and in vivo development

The organotypic retinal explant culture has been established for more than a decade and offers a range of unique advantages compared with in vivo experiments and cell cultures.However,the lack of systematic and continuous comparison between in vivo retinal development and the organotypic retinal explant culture makes this model controversial in postnatal retinal development studies.Thus,we aimed to verify the feasibility of using this model for postnatal retinal development studies by comparing it with the in vivo retina.In this study,we showed that postnatal retinal explants undergo normal development,and exhibit a consistent structure and timeline with retinas in vivo.Initially,we used SOX2 and PAX6 immunostaining to identify retinal progenitor cells.We then examined cell proliferation and migration by immunostaining with Ki-67 and doublecortin,respectively.Ki-67-and doublecortin-positive cells decreased in both in vivo and explants during postnatal retinogenesis,and exhibited a high degree of similarity in abundance and distribution between groups.Additionally,we used Ceh-10 homeodomain-containing homolog,glutamate-ammonia ligase(glutamine synthetase),neuronal nuclei,and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 immunostaining to examine the emergence of bipolar cells,Müller glia,mature neurons,and microglia,respectively.The timing and spatial patterns of the emergence of these cell types were remarkably consistent between in vivo and explant retinas.Our study showed that the organotypic retinal explant culture model had a high degree of consistency with the progression of in vivo early postnatal retina development.The findings confirm the accuracy and credibility of this model and support its use for long-term,systematic,and continuous observation.

Panel Discussion on“Development Trends of Computer Science in the New Era”

At the panel session of the 3rd Global Forum on the Development of Computer Science,attendees had an opportunity to deliberate recent issues affecting computer science departments as a result of the recent growth in the field.6 heads of university computer science departments participated in the discussions,including the moderator,Professor Andrew Yao.The first issue was how universities are managing the growing number of applicants in addition to swelling class sizes.Several approaches were suggested,including increasing faculty hiring,implementing scalable teaching tools,and working closer with other departments through degree programs that integrate computer science with other fields.The second issue was about the position and role of computer science within broader science.Participants generally agreed that all fields are increasingly relying on computer science techniques,and that effectively disseminating these techniques to others is a key to unlocking broader scientific progress.

Visual Analysis of the Application and Development Trend of Cinnamon in the Field of Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on CiteSpace

[Objectives]This study was conducted to explore the application and development trend of Chinese medicinal material cinnamon in the field of traditional Chinese medicine.[Methods]Articles published from 2008 to 2023 were exported using"cinnamon"as the subject word in the Chinese database of CNKI.Knowledge graphs were drawn by CiteSpace software on the number of articles published,the institutions publishing articles,and keyword clustering,and the data were sorted by Excel.Combined with the extracted information,the application of cinnamon in traditional Chinese medicine and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine was analyzed,and its development trend was discussed and prospected,providing further reference for researchers.[Results]The number of articles published showed an overall upward trend and maintained a high number of articles.In the analysis of the journals publishing articles,the journal with the largest number of articles was West China Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences,which had certain representativeness.In the analysis of institutions publishing articles,the institution with the largest number of articles was Beijing University of Chinese Medicine,and most institutions had little cooperation.Four categories was obtained in keyword clustering,respectively,general research,component identification,production process and product development of cinnamon."Glycyrrhizin"was the keyword with the earliest burst time,and the hot words that have received much attention in recent years are"medication law"and"data mining".[Conclusions]The application of cinnamon in the field of traditional Chinese medicine is mainly to treat diseases and as raw materials for traditional Chinese medicine products.The development trend is"quality control"and"product research and development".Further research and development of cinnamon in traditional Chinese medicine need to promote the participation of more institutions to participate,and cooperation and communication between institutions should be strengthened to promote the deep integration of production,research and academia.

Innovation and Development Trends in ASEAN Marketing Models in the Digital Age

The digital wave is reshaping the global economic landscape with unprecedented force,especially in the dynamic and promising ASEAN region.Southeast Asia,a multicultural gathering place composed of ten countries,is experiencing profound changes due to the digital revolution,and its marketing model is also displaying new vitality.With soaring internet penetration,widespread use of smartphones,and the booming rise of social media,ASEAN markets have become at the forefront of global digital marketing innovation.This transformation is not only about the application of technology but also involves a comprehensive shift in thinking,consumer behavior,and business strategy.The purpose of this paper is to explore in depth how ASEAN marketing models are innovating in this era and to identify future trends,with a view to providing insights for companies to help them remain competitive in the rapidly changing market.

The Development Trend of Enterprise Business Administration and the Innovation of Management Mode

In the context of the new period,the continuous growth of social and economic levels and the rapid update of information technology have significantly impacted the business management of Chinese enterprises,presenting substantial challenges.The intensification of market competition exerts development pressure on many enterprises,and coupled with the unstable strength of some businesses,numerous problems in business management arise.These issues hinder the smooth execution of various business activities.Therefore,it is crucial to ensure effective business administration to conduct different business activities in an orderly manner,promptly avoid adverse risks,and strengthen control over multiple factors.The innovation and improvement of business administration are of great significance for enhancing the management level and market competitiveness of modern enterprises,accelerating their healthy development,and creating numerous opportunities.Consequently,this paper analyzes and explores the development trends of enterprise business administration and the innovation of management models for reference.

Research on the Comprehensive Development Trend of National Fitness Activity Centers

With the further advancement of the“National Fitness”strategy and the continuous development of the information age,the National Fitness Activity Centers have become more comprehensive.The comprehensiveness is reflected in the design of diversified sports functions and spaces.The article serves to explore the comprehensive development trend of National Fitness Activity Centers.Through summarizing and sorting out domestic and foreign cases,the trend of the comprehensive development of National Fitness Activity Centers is predicted at three levels:industry,city,and individual functions.

Application of machine learning and deep learning in geothermal resource development: Trends and perspectives

This study delves into the latest advancements in machine learning and deep learning applications in geothermal resource development,extending the analysis up to 2024.It focuses on artificial intelligence's transformative role in the geothermal industry,analyzing recent literature from Scopus and Google Scholar to identify emerging trends,challenges,and future opportunities.The results reveal a marked increase in artificial intelligence(AI)applications,particularly in reservoir engineering,with significant advancements observed post‐2019.This study highlights AI's potential in enhancing drilling and exploration,emphasizing the integration of detailed case studies and practical applications.It also underscores the importance of ongoing research and tailored AI applications,in light of the rapid technological advancements and future trends in the field.

A Historical Review of the Development of Women’s Higher Education in China (1908-2020): Stages, Explanations, and Trends

The development of women’s higher education in China can be divided into four stages:emergence(1908-1948);foundation(1949-1976);accelerating development(1977-2008);and the qualitative leap(2009-2020).This work considers the principal institutional mechanisms that contributed to this development.First,flexibly planned parenthood gradually promoted gender equality and openness in society facilitated by systematic“awards,grants,and loans”initiatives to support women’s higher education economically.Second,compulsory education ensured that left-out and migrant children had access to higher education.Third,effective connectivity across different education types bridged education gaps between those with different levels of education.Fourth,China made great efforts to invite and integrate international experiences that promoted the development of women’s higher education.Looking beyond these achievements,we also discuss the future trends of women’s higher education in China.

The situation and development trend of health industrial park construction in China

[目的] 描述我国健康产业园区基本现状,总结园区发展模式,为园区未来发展提供理论基础. [方法]利用百度搜索、CNKI和万方数据库全面搜索国内健康产业园区的相关信息和文献资料,基于文献内容 分析法和案例分析法对园区信息进行归纳与分析.[结果]共检索到健康产业园区3 5 个,涉及 1 8个省市,最 早的园区于1994年创办,园区平均面积为16.82 km2,平均投资金额为140.9亿元.从管理运营、投融资、产 业类型、研发方面归纳了园区的不同发展模式,发现园区建设中的问题并提出未来发展趋势.[结 论 ]我国健 康产业园区正在蓬勃发展,但是仍然存在重复建设缺乏特色,监管机制尚不完善等问题,还需政府进-步完善 审批、优惠等政策,引导园区健康发展.

Trend and Countermeasures for the Development of Rural Resident Tourism Market

The development status of rural resident tourism market is introduced in this study,and its potential influencing factors are analyzed.With coastal areas as the study case,the future development trend of rural resident tourism market in China is predicted from the aspects of market scale,consumption pattern,tourism level and tourism season,moreover,countermeasures are put forward for the healthy and sustainable development of rural resident tourism market.

Status and development trend of the welding consumables industry in China

We analyzed the status and development of the welding consumables industry in China during the 12th Five-Year Plan （2011 -2015） period, and identified the major problems in the industry. We predicted the development trends that are expected for the ／3th Five-Year Plan （2016 -2020） period. We suggest some specific countermeasures and practices, which the Chinese welding industry should accelerate the transformation-upgrading and coordinated development of the industry and its firms , should work on improving their overall quality to improve the brand,s influence, enlarge their input into research and technology upgrading,and develop a low-carbon green production mode that could be put in place to promote the development of the Chinese welding consumables industry.

Conventional Geothermal Systems and Unconventional Geothermal Developments: An Overview

This paper provides an overview of conventional geothermal systems and unconventional geothermal developments as a common reference is needed for discussions between energy professionals. Conventional geothermal systems have the heat, permeability and fluid, requiring only drilling down to °C, normal heat flow or decaying radiogenic granite as heat sources, and used in district heating. Medium-temperature (MT) 100°C - 190°C, and high-temperature (HT) 190°C - 374°C resources are mostly at plate boundaries, with volcanic intrusive heat source, used mostly for electricity generation. Single well capacities are °C - 500°C) and a range of depths (1 m to 20 Km), but lack permeability or fluid, thus requiring stimulations for heat extraction by conduction. HVAC is 1 - 2 m deep and shallow geothermal down to 500 m in wells, both capturing °C, with °C are either advanced by geothermal developers at <7 Km depth (Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), drilling below brittle-ductile transition zones and under geothermal fields), or by the Oil & Gas industry (Advanced Geothermal Systems, heat recovery from hydrocarbon wells or reservoirs, Superhot Rock Geothermal, and millimeter-wave drilling down to 20 Km). Their primary aim is electricity generation, relying on closed-loops, but EGS uses fractures for heat exchange with earthquake risks during fracking. Unconventional approaches could be everywhere, with shallow geothermal already functional. The deeper and hotter unconventional alternatives are still experimental, overcoming costs and technological challenges to become fully commercial. Meanwhile, the conventional geothermal resources remain the most proven opportunities for investments and development.

The Development Trend of and Suggestions for China’s Hydrogen Energy Industry

1.Introduction Driven by the current round of technological revolution and industrial transformation,and based on a consensus among countries around the world,the world’s energy landscape is undergoing profound adjustments to promote a transition to clean,low-carbon energy in order to cope with global climate change.As a clean and carbon-free secondary energy source,hydrogen energy is an important component of the energy strategy in various countries.Fuel cell technology is also of great importance in directing the current global energy technology revolution.

The Status Quo and Development Trend of High-purity Gold Sputtering Targets

This article gives a brief introduction to manufacturers and markets of sputtering targets as well as the manufacturing technology thereof. Then, it analyzes the application of high-purity gold sputtering targets in the fields of integrated circuit, information storage, flat panel display, etc. Based on the above, the article analyzes the processing development trend for the high-purity gold sputtering targets in aspects of ultra-high purity, manufacturing technology, analysis and testing technologies.

Evolution trend analysis of urban residents’ low-carbon travel development based on multidimensional game theory

In the travel process of urban residents,travelers will take a series of activities such as imitation and exclusion by observing other people’s travel modes,which affects their following trips.This process can be seen as a repeated game between members of the travelers.Based on the analysis of this game and its evolution trend,a multi-dimensional game model of low-carbon travel for residents is established.The two dimensional game strategies include whether to accept the low-carbon concept and whether to choose low-carbon travel.Combined with evolutionary game theory,the low-carbon travel choices of residents in different cities are simulated,and the evolutionary stability strategies are obtained.Finally,the influences of the main parameters of the model on the evolution process and stability strategies are discussed.The results show that travelers would develop towards two trends.Cities with more developed public traffic system have a higher proportion of receiving low-carbon concept and choosing low-carbon travel.Cities with underdeveloped public transport system could increase this proportion by some measures such as encouraging residents to choose slow transport and increasing the propaganda of low-carbon travel,but the positive effects of the measures like propaganda have a limited impact on the proportion.

Analysis of the spatiotemporal trends and influencing factors of Hyphantria cunea in China

In recent years,the situation of the Hyphantria cunea(Drury)(Lepidoptera:Erebidae),infestation in China has been serious and has a tendency to continue to spread.A comprehensive analysis was carried out to examine the spa-tial distribution trends and influencing factors of H.cunea.This analysis involved integrating administrative division and boundary data,distribution data of H.cunea,and envi-ronmental variables for 2021.GeoDetector and gravity analysis techniques were employed for data processing and interpretation.The results show that H.cunea exhibited high aggregation patterns in 2021 and 2022 concentrated mainly in eastern China.During these years,the focal point of the infestation was in Shandong Province with a spread towards the northeast.Conditions such as high vegetation density in eastern China provided favorable situations for growth and development of H.cunea.In China,the spatial distribution of the moth is primarily influenced by two critical factors:precipitation during the driest month and elevation.These play a pivotal role in determining the spread of the species.Based on these results,suggestions are provided for a mul-tifaceted approach to prevention and control of H.cunea infestation.

Climate Trends and Their Impact on Sorghum Production in Marigat, Baringo County: A Historical Analysis

Climate is subject to fluctuations in the majority of the world, mainly caused by rainfall as well as temperature variations. Climate fluctuations in Kenya have resulted in the spread of desert-like conditions in the ASALs region, such as Marigat in Baringo County. As a county, Baringo experiences great variations in climate annually, as well as uncertainty in expected rains, thereby negatively impacting the production of crops such as sorghum. This study applied the rainfall anomaly index (RAI), standardised precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), standard precipitation index (SPI), and Mann-Kendall (MK) statistical test for trends on historical climatic data in analysing both temperature and precipitation data over the period 1990 to 2022 to determine their trend, patterns and how they affect the production of sorghum crops. The machine learning method (R studio) with inputs was used to calculate the SPI, SPEI, RAI and MK trend test. The rainfall varied from below average to above average during the study period with no clear pattern in the RAI, SPEI and SPI values. The years 2020 and 2000 stood out as they had higher and lower rainfall than usual, respectively. The Marigat area generally experienced more rainfall during the high/long rainfall season (AMJJ). The MK trend test on average monthly rainfall, SOND, AMJJ, and annual precipitation confirmed a positive trend in precipitation. However, the short rainy season (SOND) was found to be the most variable period for rainfall, and there was a slight increase in daily average temperatures during this season.

A positive trend in the stability of global offshore wind energy

The recognition on the trend of wind energy stability is still extremely rare,although it is closely related to acquisition efficiency,grid connection,equipment lifetime,and costs of wind energy utilization.Using the 40-year(1979–2018)ERA-Interim data from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts,this study presented the spatial-temporal distribution and climatic trend of the stability of global offshore wind energy as well as the abrupt phenomenon of wind energy stability in key regions over the past 40 years with the climatic analysis method and Mann-Kendall(M-K)test.The results show the following 5 points.(1)According to the coefficient of variation(C_(v))of the wind power density,there are six permanent stable zones of global offshore wind energy:the southeast and northeast trade wind zones in the Indian,Pacific and Atlantic oceans,the Southern Hemisphere westerly,and a semi-permanent stable zone(North Indian Ocean).(2)There are six lowvalue zones for both seasonal variability index(S_(v))and monthly variability index(M_(v))globally,with a similar spatial distribution as that of the six permanent stable zones.M_(v) and S_(v) in the Arabian Sea are the highest in the world.(3)After C_(v),M_(v) and S_(v) are comprehensively considered,the six permanent stable zones have an obvious advantage in the stability of wind energy over other sea areas,with C_(v) below 0.8,M_(v) within 1.0,and S_(v) within 0.7 all the year round.(4)The global stability of offshore wind energy shows a positive climatic trend for the past four decades.C_(v),M_(v) and S_(v) have not changed significantly or decreased in most of the global ocean during 1979 to2018.That is,wind energy is flat or more stable,while the monthly and seasonal variabilities tend to shrink/smooth,which is beneficial for wind energy utilization.(5)C_(v) in the low-latitude Pacific and M_(v) and S_(v) in both the North Indian Ocean and the low-latitude Pacific have an obvious abrupt phenomenon at the end of the20th century.