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M‐ary stepped θ‐QAM (θ‐QAM) for M = 22l, l ≥ 3 based on square QAM is proposed. The signal constellation of stepped θ‐QAM and the coordinates of the symbols generalised for modulation order M are presented. Then analyse the symbol error rate (SER) performance, and the optimum value of θ in terms of minimum SER for stepped θ‐QAM in additive white Gaussian noise and fading channels. Through computer simulations, the theoretical results are validated and show that stepped θ‐QAM offers better error performance than θ‐QAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we derive new exact and general expressions for the symbol error rate (SER) and bit error rate (BER) of M-ary \theta-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) for M = \2^l, l \geq \4, based on not only square-QAM (SQAM) for M = \2^2l, l \geq \2 but cross-QAM (CQAM) as well, for M = \2^2l + 1, l \geq \2 in additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and various fading channels; we also present the optimum angle and constellation of M-ary \theta-QAM. Through computer simulations, we confirm the results of the theoretical analysis. Because the SER and BER expressions are provided in terms of 2-D Gaussian Q -function in AWGN and various fading channels, they will be very useful for numerical evaluations in various cases of practical interest in QAM systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: We isolated three species of phenanthrene-degrading bacteria from oil-contaminated soils and marine sediment, and assessed the potential use of these bacteria for bioremediation of soils contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Based on 16S rDNA sequences, these bacteria were Staphylococcus sp. KW-07 and Pseudomonas sp. CH-11 from soil, and Ochrobactrum sp. CH-19 from the marine sediment. By PCR amplification, catechol 2,3-dioxygenase genes (nahH genes) mediating PAH degradation in the chromosome of Staphylococcus sp. KW-07 and Ochrobactrum sp. CH-19, and in plasmid DNA of Pseudomonas sp. CH-11 were detected. All isolates had a similar optimal growth temperature (25°C) and optimal growth pH (7.0) in a minimal salt medium (MSM) with 0.1% (w/v) phenanthrene as the sole source of carbon and energy. Pseudomonas sp. CH-11 and Staphylococcus sp. KW-07 degraded 90% of added phenanthrene in 3 days and Ochrobactrum sp. CH-19 degraded 90% of the phenanthrene in 7 days under laboratory batch culture conditions. However, Staphylococcus sp. KW-07 was the most effective among the three strains in degradation of phenanthrene in soil. After inoculation of 1×1011 cells of Staphylococcus sp. KW-07, over 90% degradation of 0.1% phenanthrene (0.1g/100g soil) was achieved after 1 month at 25°C. The results collectively suggest that the Staphylococcus sp. KW-07 strain isolated may be useful in bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal annealing of a polymer light-emitting diode (PLED) is shown to result in a remarkable improvement in the long-term stability of the device. The annealing for such a PLED has to be layer-specific in that the annealing should be carried out for the layer with the lowest glass transition temperature (T[SUBg]) to harvest the benefits of annealing. Annealing of this key layer, which is usually) the emitting layer, can enhance the thermal stability of the device. The best half-life is obtained at an annealing temperature above the T[SUBg] of emitting polymer. It is shown that the annealing of the emitting polymer layer results in a more than an order of magnitude increase in the half-life, in spite of a decrease in the efficiency of the device as the annealing temperature increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It remains unclear whether the use of adjunctive diagnostic screening methods improves the diagnostic efficacies of oral premalignant and cancerous lesions. Objective of review: We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of narrow‐band imaging used to detect oral cancer and precancerous lesions defined employing different narrow‐band imaging criteria. Type of review: Systematic review and meta‐analyses. Search strategy: We searched PubMed, Scopus, the Web of Science, Embase, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to May 2020. Evaluation methods: Three different criteria for oral mucosal vascular changes using narrow‐band imaging were compared: class I: well‐demarcated brownish areas with thick dark spots and/or winding vessels; class II: intraepithelial papillary capillary looping of grades 2, 3 and 4; and class III: intraepithelial papillary capillary looping of grades 3 and 4. Methodological quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (ver. 2) tool. We compared narrow‐band imaging to conventional white‐light imaging. Results: We included 10 prospective or retrospective studies (1374 patients). To detect all dysplastic and cancerous lesions, the class I criteria afforded the optimal specificity and sensitivity; the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.918. To detect highly dysplastic and advanced cancerous lesions, the class III criteria afforded appropriate specificity and sensitivity. The summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.905. When using the class III criteria, narrow‐band imaging afforded better specificity (0.941 [range 0.920, 0.9572], P <.0001) compared to white‐light imaging (0.520 [range 0.409, 0.629]). However, the white‐light imaging data were inconsistent and the ranges were broad; narrow‐band imaging may be considerably more accurate than white‐light imaging when using the class III criteria. Conclusion: Narrow‐band imaging diagnosed oral premalignant or cancerous lesions much more reliably than white‐light imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in patients with atrophic rhinitis. Methods: Prepared PRP was injected into the inferior turbinate bilaterally, and nasal bacterial cultures were conducted. Improvement of symptoms was assessed with the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) and the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22). Nasal mucociliary clearance was assessed using the saccharin transit time (STT). Results: In the PRP-injected group (group A), NOSE (throughout the study) and SNOT-22 (1 month after injection) scores were significantly decreased during the study. However, the saline spray group (group B) showed no significant nasal symptom improvement during the study period. In group A, the STT was improved until 3 months after the injection. In contrast, group B showed STT improvement after 2 months that was maintained throughout the study. Conclusion: PRP injections can improve nasal symptoms and nasal mucociliary function in patients with atrophic rhinitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the number of endoscopic skull base surgeries has increased, postoperative changes in quality of life require attention, including evaluation of whether snoring symptoms change. Objective: To investigate the effect of endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery on snoring and nasal symptom scores. Methods: Between February 2009 and September 2018, 510 patients underwent skull base tumor resection via an endoscopic endonasal approach and were included in this study. Nasal symptoms were scored using the Nasal Obstruction Symptoms Evaluation (NOSE) scale and snoring symptoms were subjectively scored from 0 to 10 by partners using a visual analog scale (VAS). Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was employed for pilot patient analysis. Results: A pituitary adenoma was the most common surgical pathology encountered over the past 10 years (81.6% of all tumors). The NOSE scores increased significantly after surgery (pre‐surgery, 3.28 ± 3.18; post‐surgery, 4.09 ± 3.61; P <.001). The snoring VAS score decreased significantly postoperatively (pre‐surgery, 2.91 ± 2.74; post‐surgery, 2.43 ± 2.45; P <.001). A positive correlation was apparent between the NOSE and snoring score changes (r = 0.374; P <.001). Conclusions: Snoring improved after endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery, associated with changes in nasal symptoms. Level of Evidence: 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical migration behaviour, which is integral to marine energy circulation, is a prevalent trait among marine organisms. However, the behaviour of phytoplankton, particularly beyond diel vertical migration (DVM), remain underexplored compared to groups like zooplankton. Through the lens of the harmful alga Heterosigma akashiwo , which exhibits active vertical migrations and unique fluctuating bloom dynamics, this study aimed to explore the ecological intricacies and diverse benefits of phytoplankton vertical migration behaviours. During the bloom period of H. akashiwo , we unexpectedly observed a dense concentration of cells at bottom layer during daytime. This phase coincided with the emergence of cells related to this species' sexual reproduction. Laboratory experiments further showed an elevated frequency of sexual reproduction in the cell populations that migrated to deeper depths compared to those at the surface. This finding implies a connection between dense bottom accumulation (BA) and the life cycle transitions of the species. This BA phase persisted for two days, after which the populations returned to their standard DVM behaviour, providing insight into the unique fluctuating bloom dynamics of H. akashiwo. Our study suggests that phytoplankton vertical migrations are not strictly dictated by DVM, revealing diverse vertical migration behaviours that may contribute to the complexity of harmful algal bloom patterns. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has shifted the paradigm for cancer treatment. However, the majority of patients lack effective responses because of the emergence of immune-refractory tumors that disrupt the amplification of antitumor immunity. Therefore, the identification of clinically available targets that restrict antitumor immunity is required to develop potential combination therapies. Here, using transcriptomic data on patients with cancer treated with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) therapy and newly established mouse preclinical anti-PD-1 therapy-refractory models, we identified NANOG as a factor restricting the amplification of the antitumor immunity cycle, thereby contributing to the immune-refractory feature of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Mechanistically, NANOG induced insufficient T cell infiltration and resistance to CTL-mediated killing via the histone deacetylase 1-dependent (HDAC1-dependent) regulation of CXCL10 and MCL1, respectively. Importantly, HDAC1 inhibition using an actionable agent sensitized NANOGhi immune-refractory tumors to PD-1 blockade by reinvigorating the antitumor immunity cycle. Thus, our findings implicate the NANOG/HDAC1 axis as a central molecular target for controlling immune-refractory tumors and provide a rationale for combining HDAC inhibitors to reverse the refractoriness of tumors to ICB therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer immunoediting enriches NANOG expression in tumor cells, resulting in multi-drug resistance and stem-like phenotypes. We previously demonstrated that these NANOG-associated phenotypes are promoted through HDAC1 transcriptional upregulation. In this study, we identified that NANOG also contributes to the stabilization of HDAC1 protein through the AKT signaling pathway. NANOG-AKT axis leads to phosphor-dependent inactivation of CHFR, an E3 ligase for HDAC1 protein, and thereby inhibiting the ubiquitin-mediated degradation of HDAC1. Furthermore, AKT inhibition disrupts HDAC1 WT-mediated phenotypes but had no effect on the phenotypes mediated by HDAC1 FM, a mutant that is unable to interact with CHFR. Critically, we applied a catalytic dead mutant, HDAC1-H141A, to uncover that HDAC1 confers immune-resistance, drug-resistance and stem-like phenotype in tumor cells through its catalytic activity. Collectively, our results establish a firm molecular link in immune-edited tumor cells among NANOG, AKT, CHFR, and HDAC1, identifying HDAC1 as a molecular target in controlling NANOGHIGH immune-refractory cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomaterials must be biocompatible, biodegradable, and mechanically stable to be used for tissue engineering applications. Among various biomaterials, a natural-based biopolymer, collagen, has been widely applied in tissue engineering because of its outstanding biocompatibility. However, due to its low mechanical properties, collagen has been a challenge to build a desired/complex 3D porous structure with appropriate mechanical strength. To overcome this problem, in this study, we used a low temperature printing process to create a 3D porous scaffold consisting of collagen, decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) to induce high cellular activities, and silk-fibroin (SF) to attain the proper mechanical strength. To show the feasibility of the scaffold, pre-osteoblast (MC3T3-E1) cells were grown on the fabricated scaffold. Various in vitro cellular activities (cell-viability, MTT assay, and osteogenic activity) for pure collagen, collagen/dECM, and collagen/SF/dECM scaffolds were compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The bacterial Mfd ATPase is increasingly recognized as a general transcription factor that participates in the resolution of transcription conflicts with other processes/roadblocks. This function stems from Mfd’s ability to preferentially act on stalled RNA polymerases (RNAPs). However, the mechanism underlying this preference and the subsequent coordination between Mfd and RNAP have remained elusive. Here, using a novel real-time translocase assay, we unexpectedly discovered that Mfd translocates autonomously on DNA. The speed and processivity of Mfd dictate a “release and catch-up” mechanism to efficiently patrol DNA for frequently stalled RNAPs. Furthermore, we showed that Mfd prevents RNAP backtracking or rescues a severely backtracked RNAP, allowing RNAP to overcome stronger obstacles. However, if an obstacle’s resistance is excessive, Mfd dissociates the RNAP, clearing the DNA for other processes. These findings demonstrate a remarkably delicate coordination between Mfd and RNAP, allowing efficient targeting and recycling of Mfd and expedient conflict resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The bacterial Mfd ATPase is increasingly recognized as a general transcription factor that participates in the resolution of transcription conflicts with other processes/roadblocks. This function stems from Mfd’s ability to preferentially act on stalled RNA polymerases (RNAPs). However, the mechanism underlying this preference and the subsequent coordination between Mfd and RNAP have remained elusive. Here, using a novel real-time translocase assay, we unexpectedly discovered that Mfd translocates autonomously on DNA. The speed and processivity of Mfd dictate a “release and catch-up” mechanism to efficiently patrol DNA for frequently stalled RNAPs. Furthermore, we showed that Mfd prevents RNAP backtracking or rescues a severely backtracked RNAP, allowing RNAP to overcome stronger obstacles. However, if an obstacle’s resistance is excessive, Mfd dissociates the RNAP, clearing the DNA for other processes. These findings demonstrate a remarkably delicate coordination between Mfd and RNAP, allowing efficient targeting and recycling of Mfd and expedient conflict resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]