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Spatial evolution of traditional waterside settlements south of the Yangtze River and the distribution of settlement heritage: evidence from the Nanxi River Basin
The study of ancient settlements in the traditional waterside towns of Jiangnan is an important part of scientific research on architectural heritage. This study examines ancient settlements in the Nanxi River Basin during various historical periods, such as the Neolithic Age, Eastern Han Dynasty, Tang-Five Dynasty, Song-Yuan Dynasty, Ming Dynasty, and Qing Dynasty. It investigates their temporal and spatial evolution and the factors that influence their distribution, with a particular focus on the role of intangible cultural heritage. This study focuses on the relationship between the spatial evolution of traditional waterside settlements in the Nanxi River Basin and the distribution of intangible heritage and analyzes the driving factors of their development. How settlements changed over time and space was examined with geographic information systems (GIS) software and by using kernel density, elliptical variance, and spatial autocorrelation methods on 204 ancient settlement points. This study also employs buffer and data overlay methods to analyze the factors that affect settlement distribution by elevation, slope, water system distance, and distance to intangible cultural heritage points. The study reveals the following. (1) During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, clans, culture, and the economy drove the expansion of early settlements, which relied on water systems and flat terrain, to form a multicenter distribution. (2) The settlement distribution in the Nanxi River Basin has undergone a transformation from single-point distribution to multipoint aggregation and divergence during the evolution from the Neolithic Age to the Qing Dynasty. The overall center of gravity of the settlements shifts from south to north and east, and the overall distribution of the settlements is in a state of aggregation. (3) The spatial and temporal evolution of settlements is jointly influenced by the natural environment and cultural factors. The natural environment determines the spatial distribution of early settlements, while cultural factors promote the evolution and development of the settlement space. This study further clarifies the key role of intangible cultural heritage in the formation and development of settlements and provides a reference framework for future heritage protection policies.
Universal in situ supersaturated crystallization enables 3D printable afterglow hydrogel
Stretchable afterglow materials have garnered widespread attention owing to their unique combination of optical properties and mechanical flexibility. However, achieving a crystal environment to suppress the non-radiative transition of triplet excitons poses a challenge in constructing stretchable afterglow materials. Herein, we utilize an in situ supersaturated crystallization strategy to form afterglow microcrystals within a hydrogel matrix. This approach enables afterglow emission with a lifetime of 695 ms while maintaining high stretchability with tensile stress surpassing 398 kPa, extensibility over 400% and a high water content of 65.21%. Moreover, the universal supersaturated crystallization strategy allows for conferring tunable afterglow performance. Successful demonstrations in hydrogel 3D printing and anti-counterfeiting purposes showcase the potential for advanced applications of 3D printable afterglow hydrogels. This investigation provides guidelines for generally designing efficient afterglow hydrogels and addresses the inherent contradiction between flexibility and rigid in stretchable afterglow materials.
Pathogenesis of aquatic bird bornavirus 1 in turkeys of different age
Aquatic bird bornavirus 1 (ABBV1), an orthobornavirus in the family Bornaviridae, displays a broad host range among avian species, including poultry. The pathogenesis of orthobornaviruses, at least in mammals and psittacines, appears to be mediated by the host immune response against the infected nervous tissue, with younger animals showing a milder disease due to immune tolerance. Here, we tested the ability of ABBV1 to infect domestic turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), with a focus on evaluating the impact of age at infection. Cohorts of 6-week-old (old) and day-old (young) male turkeys were divided into virus-inoculated and control groups, and kept for up to 12 weeks. Results showed that turkeys of both ages were susceptible to ABBV1 infection by intramuscular administration, following a centripetal and limited centrifugal spread, although infection appeared delayed in old compared to young birds. Notably, only young turkeys developed clinical signs and more frequent inflammation of the central nervous system, indicating that infection at a very early age is unlikely to induce tolerance to ABBV1 infection.
Spatiotemporal evolution and human-environment relationships of early cultural sites from the Longshan to Xia-Shang periods in Henan Province, China
Henan Province, a pivotal region for the origin and development of early Chinese civilization, is home to numerous early cultural sites that serve as vital material carriers documenting early human society. A systematic study of the evolution of these cultural sites in Henan and their relationships with the environment can elucidate the developmental patterns of early state civilizations in the region, reveal the cultural significance of these sites, and provide scientific evidence for their protection and utilization. This study employs GIS spatial analysis techniques to unveil the spatial evolution of cultural site distribution in Henan Province from the Longshan period to the Xia and Shang periods, including characteristics of spatial clustering, distribution density, and directional trends. Furthermore, it examines the relationship between the spatial distribution of cultural sites and environmental factors across different periods. The results indicate: (1) early cultural sites in Henan Province exhibit spatial clustering patterns. During the Longshan period, these sites had the widest distribution and the highest number. By the Xia Dynasty, the number of sites significantly decreased, concentrating in the middle reaches of the Yellow River. By the Shang Dynasty, the distribution expanded northward and southward within Henan Province. (2) Early cultural sites in Henan Province are primarily located in plains, basins, and low mountain and hill areas with elevations below 400 m and gentle slopes. Site selection favored sun-facing slopes with ample sunlight and areas that were convenient for water access and less prone to flooding. (3) Early settlers preferred establishing their communities in areas with relatively complex geographical diversity, offering more possibilities for production and daily life. However, excessive geographical diversity increased the difficulty for early humans to adapt and modify the environment, thus limiting their activities and reducing the number of sites. (4) The results of the geographically weighted regression analysis indicate that there are significant spatial differences and heterogeneity in the influencing factors during the Longshan period and Shang Dynasty, while the factors during the Xia Dynasty did not exhibit statistically significant spatial heterogeneity.
Different types of cell death and their interactions in myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury
Myocardial ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury is a multifaceted process observed in patients with coronary artery disease when blood flow is restored to the heart tissue following ischemia-induced damage. Cardiomyocyte cell death, particularly through apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis, is pivotal in myocardial I/R injury. Preventing cell death during the process of I/R is vital for improving ischemic cardiomyopathy. These multiple forms of cell death can occur simultaneously, interact with each other, and contribute to the complexity of myocardial I/R injury. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive summary of the key molecular mechanisms and regulatory patterns involved in these five types of cell death in myocardial I/R injury. We will also discuss the crosstalk and intricate interactions among these mechanisms, highlighting the interplay between different types of cell death. Furthermore, we will explore specific molecules or targets that participate in different cell death pathways and elucidate their mechanisms of action. It is important to note that manipulating the molecules or targets involved in distinct cell death processes may have a significant impact on reducing myocardial I/R injury. By enhancing researchers’ understanding of the mechanisms and interactions among different types of cell death in myocardial I/R injury, this review aims to pave the way for the development of novel interventions for cardio-protection in patients affected by myocardial I/R injury.
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