Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) is a widely-used convulsant used in studies of epilepsy; its subcutaneous injection generates an animal model with stable seizures. Here, we compared the ability of PTZ via the intravenous and subcutaneous routes to evoke progressive epileptiform activity in the hippocampal CA1 neurons of anesthetized rats. The involvement of the BDNF-TrkB pathway was then investigated. When PTZ was given intravenously, it induced epileptiform bursting activity at a short latency in a dose-dependent manner. However, when PTZ was given subcutaneously, it induced a slowly-developing pattern of epileptogenesis; first, generating multiple population-spike peaks, then spontaneous interictal discharge-like spike, leading to the final ictal discharge-like, highly synchronized bursting fi ring in the CA1 pyramidal layer of the hippocampus. K252a, a TrkB receptor antagonist, when given by intracerebroventricular injection, signifi cantly reduced the probability of multiple population spike peaks induced by subcutaneous injection of PTZ, delayed the latency of spontaneous spikes, and reduced the burst frequency. Our results indicate that PTZ induces a progressive change of neuronal epileptiform activity in the hippocampus, and the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway is mainly involved in the early phases of epileptogenesis, but not the synchronized neuronal burst activity associated with epileptic seizure in the PTZ animal model. These results provide basic insights into the changing pattern of hippocampal neuronal activity during the development of the PTZ seizure model, and establish an in vivo seizure model useful for future electrophysiological studies of epilepsy.

The primary objectives of medical safety education are to provide the public with essential knowledge about medications and to foster a scientific approach to drug usage. The era of using artificial intelligence to revolutionize medical safety education has already dawned, and ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence models have immense potential in this domain. Notably, they offer a wealth of knowledge, anonymity, continuous availability, and personalized services. However, the practical implementation of generative artificial intelligence models such as ChatGPT in medical safety education still faces several challenges, including concerns about the accuracy of information, legal responsibilities, and ethical obligations. Moving forward, it is crucial to intelligently upgrade ChatGPT by leveraging the strengths of existing medical practices. This task involves further integrating the model with real-life scenarios and proactively addressing ethical and security issues with the ultimate goal of providing the public with comprehensive, convenient, efficient, and personalized medical services.

In the context of fintech’s transformative impact on banking, many commercial banks blindly adopt emerging technologies, resulting in systemic inefficiencies. To address this, we propose a complex systems-based competitiveness evaluation framework guiding strategic fintech adjustments. First, the Delphi method identifies five fintech subsystems: big data, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, and blockchain. Next, an ANP model captures nonlinear dependencies and feedback loops among these subsystems, overcoming the limitations of linear hierarchical methods. Empirical validation using 16 listed Chinese banks demonstrates the model’s systemic coherence and practical utility. This study contributes to systems science by integrating complex adaptive systems (CAS) theory into competitiveness evaluation, shifting from firm-centric governance to ecosystem dynamics. It also offers banks a tool for adaptive strategy iteration in evolving fintech ecosystems.

With growing public concern over environmental issues, organizations are facing increasing pressure to demonstrate a genuine and measurable commitment to environmental sustainability. In this context, understanding how corporate environmental responsibility (CER) shapes employee engagement (EE) is essential. This understanding helps align organizational behavior with both internal goals and broader societal expectations. Although the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on EE has been widely studied, the specific role of CER—a key subdimension of CSR—remains underexplored. To address this gap, we developed a moderated mediation model grounded in social exchange theory, social identity theory, and signaling theory. This model aims to reveal how CER influences EE and through which mechanisms. Based on survey data from 418 employees in large Chinese manufacturing firms, our results show that perceived CER significantly enhances EE. This effect occurs primarily through the strengthening of organizational pride. Furthermore, online media coverage reinforces the relationship between perceived CER and organizational pride. It also amplifies the indirect impact of perceived CER on EE via this pride. These findings contribute to the corporate sustainability literature by showing how credible and visible environmental actions can enhance employee alignment and engagement. Practical implications are discussed for organizations seeking to connect managerial priorities with society’s call for transparent and authentic environmental initiatives.