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Objective: This study aims to describe cervical cancer during pregnancy (CCP) and investigate factors associated with survival outcomes. Methods: This retrospective matched study included CCP patients from May 2007 to August 2021 and matched non‐pregnant cervical cancer patients (1:2) based on age (±5 years), year at diagnosis (±2 years), histological type and stage (2018 FIGO). The Kaplan–Meier method and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to assess the impact of pregnancy and clinicopathologic factors on prognosis. Results: Thirty‐eight CCP patients (stage IA to IIIC) and 76 non‐pregnant patients were included. Most CCP patients were diagnosed in the first (31.6%) or second (47.4%) trimester. CCP patients had a longer waiting time than non‐pregnant patients. Pregnancy continued in 42.1% (continuation of pregnancy [COP] group) and was terminated in 57.9% (termination of pregnancy [TOP] group) of patients. Survival analysis showed no significant differences in recurrence‐free survival (RFS) or overall survival (OS) between pregnant and non‐pregnant patients or between the COP and TOP groups. At the end of the follow‐up period (range 12–178 months), 23 children born to CCP patients exhibited normal development. Conclusion: Pregnancy does not impact cervical cancer prognosis. The oncologic outcomes of the TOP and COP groups were comparable. A pregnancy‐preserving strategy could be considered for managing CCP patients. Synopsis: Pregnancy does not adversely impact the survival of cervical cancer, and pregnancy‐preserving strategies could be considered for managing CCP patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aims to elucidate the cellular dynamics and pathophysiology of white matter hemorrhage (WMH) in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods: Using varying doses of collagenase IV, a consistent rat ICH model characterized by pronounced WMH was established. Verification was achieved through behavioral assays, hematoma volume, and histological evaluations. Single‐cell suspensions from the hemorrhaged region of the ipsilateral striatum on day three post‐ICH were profiled using single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq). Gene Ontology (GO) and gene set variation analysis (GSVA) further interpreted the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Results: Following WMH induction, there was a notable increase in the percentage of myeloid cells and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), alongside a reduction in the percentage of neurons, microglia, and oligodendrocytes (OLGs). Post‐ICH WMH showed homeostatic microglia transitioning into pro‐, anti‐inflammatory, and proliferative states, influencing lipid metabolic pathways. Myeloid cells amplified chemokine expression, linked with ferroptosis pathways. Macrophages exhibited M1 and M2 phenotypes, and post‐WMH, macrophages displayed a predominance of M2 phenotypes, characterized by their anti‐inflammatory properties. A surge in OPC proliferation aligned with enhanced ribosomal signaling, suggesting potential reparative responses post‐WMH. Conclusion: The study offers valuable insights into WMH's complex pathophysiology following ICH, highlighting the significance and utility of scRNA‐seq in understanding the cellular dynamics and contributing to future cerebrovascular research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Convolutional neural networks (CNN) have been developed for several years in the field of extracting buildings from remote sensing images. Vision Transformer (ViT) has recently demonstrated superior performance over CNN, thanks to its ability to model long-range dependencies through self-attention mechanisms. However, most existing ViT models lack shape information enhancement for the building objects, resulting in insufficient fine-grained segmentation. To address this limitation, we construct an efficient dual-path ViT framework for building segmentation, termed shape-aware enhancement Vision Transformer (SAEViT). Our approach incorporates shape-aware enhancement module (SAEM) that perceives and enhances the shape features of buildings using multi-shapes of convolutional kernels. We also introduce multi-pooling channel attention (MPCA) to exploit channel-wise information without squeezing the channel dimension. Furthermore, we propose a progressive aggregation upsampling model (PAUM) in the decoder to aggregate multilevel features using a progressive upsampling methodology, coupled with the utilization of the soft-pool algorithm operating on the channel axis. We evaluate our model on three public building datasets. The experimental results show that SAEViT obtains a significant improvement on various datasets, confirming its efficacy. Compared with several state-of-the-art models, SAEViT achieves a comprehensive transcendence in overall performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpha klotho (α-Klotho) is an anti-aging molecule associated with aging and several diseases. Previous studies have reported inconsistent levels of α-Klotho in smokers. This study aimed to demonstrate serum α-Klotho levels in smokers among the US population. This cross-sectional study recruited 11,559 participants (aged 40–79 years; 48.2% males). All data were collected from the 2007–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study comprised adults with reliable Klotho and smoking questionnaire results. The relationship between smoking and serum α-klotho levels was assessed using multivariate linear regression models after adjusting for potential confounders. We also performed a stratified analysis of clinically important variables. The mean serum α-klotho level among the 11,559 participants was 843.85 pg/mL. After full adjustment, habitual smoking was significantly associated with decreased serum levels of α-klotho level (β = − 34.89; 95% CI − 54.97, − 14.81; P = 0.0013) in the total study population. Furthermore, the stratified analysis indicated that the association was insignificant in the 60–79 age group. Quitting smoking was not significantly associated with serum levels of α-klotho as expected (P = 0.1148) in the total study population. However, stratified analyses showed a significant inversed association in the male, those with chronic kidney disease, or those with cancer who quit smoking (all P < 0.05). Cigarette smoking was inversely associated with serum α-Klotho levels among US adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Klotho is a hormone considered to be an anti-aging biomarker. The relationships between daily alcohol consumption and serum klotho are mainly unknown. The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between alcohol consumption and serum alpha klotho (α−klotho) levels in the U.S. Methods: The data came from 11,558 participants aged ≥ 40 in the 2007−2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Adults with reliable α−klotho plasma results were the target population. The self-report method was used to assess alcohol consumption. The relationship between daily alcohol intake and serum α−klotho levels was estimated using multivariable linear regression models. We also performed a stratified analysis of clinically important variables. Results: The mean serum α−klotho level among the 11,558 participants was 843.82 pg/mL. After full adjustment, participants with current moderate and heavy alcohol intake had lower serum α−klotho levels than those who never alcohol intake (β = − 62.64; 95% CI: − 88.86, − 36.43; P < 0.001; β = − 81.54; 95% CI: − 111.54, − 51.54; P < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, the stratified analysis indicated that the association was insignificant in individuals with cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, or cancer. Conclusion: Daily alcohol consumption was inversely associated with serum α−klotho levels among U.S. adults over 40 years old. However, individuals with cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, or cancer found no such relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous improvement of the standard of living, people are increasingly inclined towards natural, green, and environmentally friendly products. Plant-based products that are safe, natural, non-toxic, and beneficial to human health are often more favored. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a polymer obtained through lactate polymerization using renewable plant resources such as corn and has excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. It is widely used in the field of food packaging. Wormwood oil (WO) is an oil extracted from the stems and leaves of Artemisia plants, and it has broad-spectrum antibacterial properties. In this article, through electrospinning technology, wormwood oil was directly incorporated into PLA, giving the PLA nanofiber membrane antioxidant and antibacterial functions. Various parameters such as voltage (11 KV, 13 KV, 15 KV), spinning solution concentration (8%, 10%, 12%), distance (15 cm, 17 cm, 19 cm), and feeding rate (0.4 mL/h, 0.5 mL/h, 0.6 mL/h) were explored, and the resulting spun fibers were characterized. Through SEM characterization, it was found that when the spinning voltage was 13 KV, the spinning solution concentration was 10%, the distance was 17 cm, and the feeding rate was 0.5 mL/h, the nanofiber membrane had a smooth morphology without bead formation, with an average diameter of 260 nm. The nanofiber membrane was characterized using FTIR, TG, and SEM, confirming the successful incorporation of artemisia essential oil into PLA. The prepared antimicrobial nanofilm was subjected to antimicrobial testing, and the results showed that as the concentration of the essential oil increased, the inhibition zones also increased. When wormwood oil concentration was 4%, the diameter of the inhibition zone for Staphylococcus aureus increased from 1.0 mm to 3.5 mm, while the diameter of the inhibition zone for Escherichia coli increased from 2.0 mm to 4.5 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome characterized by persistent inflammation and immunosuppression, leading to septic shock and multiple organ dysfunctions. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 10 (USP10), a deubiquitinase enzyme, plays a vital role in cancer and arterial restenosis, but its involvement in sepsis is unknown. Objective: In this study, we investigated the significance of USP10 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages and its biological roles in LPS-induced sepsis. Methods: Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were used to establish sepsis models in vivo and in vitro. We use western blot to identify USP10 expression in macrophages. Spautin-1 and USP10-siRNA were utilized for USP10 inhibition. ELISA assays were used to assess for TNF‐α and IL-6 in vitro and in vivo. Nuclear and cytoplasmic protein extraction and Confocal microscopy were applied to verify the translocation of NF‐κB. Mechanically, co-immunoprecipitation and rescue experiments were used to validate the regulation of USP10 and NEMO. Results: In macrophages, we found that LPS induced USP10 upregulation. The inhibition or knockdown of USP10 reduced the pro‐inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 and suppressed LPS‐induced NF‐κB activation by regulating the translocation of NF‐κB. Furthermore, we found that NEMO, the regulatory subunit NF-κB essential modulator, was essential for the regulation of LPS-induced inflammation by USP10 in macrophages. NEMO protein evidently interacted with USP10, whereby USP10 inhibition accelerated the degradation of NEMO. Suppressing USP10 significantly attenuated inflammatory responses and improved the survival rate in LPS-induced sepsis mice. Conclusions: Overall, USP10 was shown to regulate inflammatory responses by stabilizing the NEMO protein, which may be a potential therapeutic target for sepsis-induced lung injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The short lifespan of most commercial plastics as disposables and the failure to adequately address the end‐of‐life issues of synthetic polymers have led to outrageous global plastic pollution and resource depletion. To solve the problem, one of the most effective strategies is to develop circular polymers and thus establish a new circular material economy. Polymers from ring‐opening polymerization of five‐membered (thio)lactones contribute greatly to this field due to their excellent material performance and recyclability. The emerging topic emphasizes on the monomer design strategies based on five‐membered (thio)lactones, and compares the thermal and mechanical properties and depolymerizability of the resulting polymers with different structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the main consumed meat of Chinese residents, pork has a unique flavor, but the internal volatile organic compounds that cause the flavor differences between pork muscles are not clear at present. In this study, four muscles of Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) pigs (loin, ham, shoulder and belly) were used as experimental subjects. Through the analysis of volatile organic compounds in four muscles of pork, the internal volatile organic compounds of different muscles of pork were discussed. Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry was employed to analyze the four muscles, and volatile organic compounds in these muscles were analyzed and identified. A total of 65 volatile organic compound peaks were obtained by gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry. From the qualitative database, a total of 49 volatile organic compounds were identified, including aldehydes, alcohols and ketones. With the variable importance for the projection greater than 1 and significance level less than 0.05 as the criterion, the organic compounds with significant differences were screened by partial least squares-discriminant analysis and significance difference analysis. It was determined that 2-pentylfuran, 2-butanone (M), pentanal (M), butanal (D), (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-heptenal (D), 1,2-propanediol and 2-methylpropanal were the differential organic compounds that distinguish the four pork muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an age-related interstitial lung disease with a high incidence in the elderly. Although many reports have shown that senescence can initiate pulmonary fibrosis, the relationship between aging and pulmonary fibrosis has not been explained systematically. In our study, young and old rats were intratracheally instilled with bleomycin (1 mg/kg), and the basic pathological indexes were determined using a commercial kit, hematoxylin, and eosin (H&E) and Masson's Trichrome staining, immunohistochemistry, immunohistofluorescence, and q-PCR. Then, the lung tissues of rats were sequenced by next-generation sequencing for transcriptome analysis. Bioinformatics was performed to analyze the possible differences in the mechanism of pulmonary fibrosis between aged and young rats. Finally, the related cytokines were determined by q-PCR and ELISA. The results indicate that pulmonary fibrosis in old rats is more serious than that in young rats under the same conditions. Additionally, transcriptomic and bioinformatics analysis with experimental validation indicate that the differences in pulmonary fibrosis between old and young rats are mainly related to the differential expression of cytokines, extracellular matrix (ECM), and other important signaling pathways. In conclusion, aging mainly affects pulmonary fibrosis through the ECM–receptor interaction, immune response, and chemokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To use the 4H-SiC material in integrated circuits for high temperature application, an accurate and simple circuit model of n-channel planar 4H-SiC MOSFET is required. Design/methodology/approach: In this paper, a SPICE model of n-channel planar 4H-SiC MOSFET was built based on the device simulation results and measurement results. Firstly, a device model was simulated with Sentaurus TCAD, with measured parameters from fabricated planar 4H-SiC MOSFET previously. Then the device simulation results were analyzed and parameters for SPICE models were extracted. With these parameters, an accurate SPICE model was built and simulated. Findings: The SPICE model exhibits the same performance as the measured results with different environment temperatures. The simulation results indicate that the maximum fitting error is 0.22 mA (7.33% approximately) at 200 °C. A common-source amplifier with this model is also simulated and the simulated gain is stable at different environment temperatures. Originality/value: This paper provides a reliable modeling method for n-Channel Planar 4H-SiC MOSFET and reference value for the design of 4H-SiC high temperature integrated circuit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neonicotinoids pose significant environmental risks due to their widespread use, persistence, and challenges in elimination. This study explores the effectiveness of Fe/Mn biochar in enhancing the removal efficiency of neonicotinoids in recirculating constructed wetlands (RCWs). Results demonstrated that incorporating Fe/Mn biochar into RCWs significantly improved the removal of COD, NH 4 +-N, TN, TP, imidacloprid (IMI), and acetamiprid (ACE). However, the simultaneous presence of IMI and ACE in the RCWs hindered the elimination of NH 4 +-N, TN, and TP from wastewater. The enhanced removal of nutrients and pollutants by Fe/Mn biochar was attributed to its promotion of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling in RCWs, along with its facilitation of the adsorption and biodegradation of IMI and ACE. Metagenomics analysis demonstrated that Fe/Mn biochar altered the structure and diversity of microbial communities in RCWs. A total of 17 biodegradation genes (BDGs) and two pesticide degradation genes (PDGs) were identified within RCWs, with Fe/Mn biochar significantly increasing the abundance of BDGs such as cytochrome P450. The potential host genera for these BDGs/PDGs were identified as Betaproteobacteria , Acidobacteria , Nitrospiraceae , Gemmatimonadetes , and Bacillus. This study offers valuable insights into how Fe/Mn biochar enhances pesticide removal and its potential application in constructed wetland systems for treating pesticide-contaminated wastewater. [Display omitted] • Fe/Mn Biochar-amended RCWs achieved high IMI and ACE removal. • Fe/Mn Biochar enhanced neonicotinoid adsorption and biodegradation in RCWs • Fe/Mn biochar amendment increased abundance of biodegradation genes (BDGs) in RCWs. • Metagenomic and network analyses identified hosts for BDGs/PDGs. • Fe/Mn biochar enriched carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling in RCWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the prolonged impact of swine manure application on soil inorganic phosphorus (P) fractions over an 8-year continuous, randomized field trial involving rotating wheat (wet conditions) and rice (flooded conditions) crops. The trial comprised six treatments: triplicate control plots receiving only chemical fertilizers, and triplicate plots receiving chemical fertilizers and/or swine manure ranging from 150 to 1200 kg P 2 O 5 ha−1. The continuous application of swine manure increased soil P content and availability. Initially, P primarily accumulated in the soil as Fe-P during the first four years of manure application, transitioning to Ca 8 -P over the following four years. The main driver of these changes in P fractions was soil total organic carbon (TOC) was identified as the main driver of these changes in P fractions, contributing 31.5% to the observed variations. TOC increased steadily throughout the trial, with a faster rising in years 1–4 compared to years 4–8. Laboratory-scale soil incubation experiments were conducted, involving the addition of glucose or cellulose as exogenous carbon sources to test their effects on soil P dynamics and mitigate environmental damage from P leaching. The addition of cellulose to soil that had received high quantities of swine manure for eight years resulted in increased the moderately labile and moderately resistant organic P fractions while decreasing the Ca 8 -P and Olsen-P fractions. This promoted adsorption of high-activity inorganic P to organic matter, consequently limiting the accumulation of Ca 8 -P. The long-term application of swine manure altered soil P fractions and enhances P lability, enhancing P lability and availability. This study identified an optimized the risk of leaching of labile P from soil under a fertilization regime applying 10,300 kg ha−1 yr−1 swine manure. To further mitigate the risk of P leaching, the inclusion of additional cellulose-based organic matter (e.g., straw) in swine manure fertilization regimes is recommended. [Display omitted] • Fe-P content increased from 1–4 years of initial manure application. • Ca 8 -P increased significantly after 4–5 years of manure application. • TOC and pH were highly influential in changes to Fe-P and Ca 8 -P. • Addition of cellulose promoted the degradation and adsorption of Ca 8 -P. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastids are important plant cell organelles containing a genome and bacterial-type 70S ribosomes—primarily composed of plastid ribosomal proteins and ribosomal RNAs. In this study, a chlorophyll-deficient mutant (cdm) obtained from double-haploid Chinese cabbage 'FT' was identified as a plastome mutant with an A-to-C base substitution in the plastid gene encoding the ribosomal protein RPS4. To further elucidate the function and regulatory mechanisms of RPS4, a comparative proteomic analysis was conducted between cdm and its wild-type 'FT' plants by isobaric tags and a relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)–based strategy. A total of 6,245 proteins were identified, 540 of which were differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) in the leaves of cdm as compared to those of 'FT'—including 233 upregulated and 307 downregulated proteins. Upregulated DAPs were mainly involved in translation, organonitrogen compound biosynthetic process, ribosomes, and spliceosomes. Meanwhile, downregulated DAPs were mainly involved in photosynthesis, photosynthetic reaction centres, photosynthetic light harvesting, carbon fixation, and chlorophyll binding. These results indicated an important role of RPS4 in the regulation of growth and development of Chinese cabbage, possibly by regulating plastid translation activity by affecting the expression of specific photosynthesis- and cold stress–related proteins. Moreover, a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) test and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed our iTRAQ results. Quantitative proteomic analysis allowed us to confirm diverse changes in the metabolic pathways between cdm and 'FT' plants. This work provides new insights into the regulation of chlorophyll biosynthesis and photosynthesis in Chinese cabbage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An octa-nuclear zinc (Zn8) cluster-based two-fold interpenetrated metal–organic framework (MOF) of [(CH3)2NH2]2[Zn8O3(FDC)6]·7DMF (denoted as Zn8-as ; H2FDC = 9H-fluorene-2,7-dicarboxylic acid; DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide) was synthesized by the reaction of a hard base of a curved dicarboxylate ligand (H2FDC) with the borderline acid of Zn(II) under solvothermal conditions. Zn8-as shows significant crystal volume shrinkage upon heating, yielding a solvate-free framework of [(CH3)2NH2]2[Zn8O3(FDC)6] (Zn8-de). Zn8-de displays gated adsorption for C2H2 and type-I adsorption for CO2, attributed to the framework flexibility and the different interactions between the gas molecules and the host framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic performance of the revised 2018 FIGO staging system for cervical cancer. Methods: This retrospective multicenter study enrolled cervical cancer patients with 2009 FIGO Stage IA1–IIA2 who underwent surgeries between January 2006 and December 2017 in four tertiary hospitals. Patients were restaged according to the 2018 FIGO staging system by reviewing their medical data. Results: Of 3238 cervical cancer patients included, 1841 (56.9%) patients were restaged: 641 (34.9%) due to tumor size, 544 (29.5%) due to lymph node metastasis, 614 (33.4%) due to the inconsistency between pre‐ and postoperative assessments, and 42 due to the cancellation of invasion width in Stage IA. After restaging, a clear tendency of decreased recurrence‐free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) with increasing stage was observed. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that 2018 FIGO stage, parametrial involvement, and histology were independent prognostic factors for both OS and RFS (P < 0.05). Based on these factors, we established predictive nomograms with c‐indexes of 0.735 and 0.721, showing good predictive ability for cervical cancer. Conclusion: The revised 2018 FIGO staging system can better reflect the survival of cervical cancer patients. Based on it, we established a nomogram that can predict the prognosis of cervical cancer patients more precisely. Synopsis: The 2018 FIGO staging system for cervical cancer can better reflect the survival of patients; based on it, a prognostic nomogram was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate various two-dimensional internal waves in a two-layer finite-water depth fluid with different velocity potentials in each layer, we derive a new (2+1)-dimensional system of three coupled, two-component Davey–Stewartson type equations under the long wave assumption involving complex amplitude and real velocity potentials in the upper and lower layers. It is found that exact solutions of this system can describe internal solitary waves, internal rogue waves, and internal breathers, and more interestingly, it is proposed for the first time that the patterns of changes in the velocity potentials of the upper and lower layers can be used as an indicator for recognizing the occurrence, disappearance, and amplitudes of these internal waves. In view of the application of deep learning techniques in the simulation, prediction and monitoring of internal waves, an improved physical information neural network (PINN) method is introduced to successfully simulate dynamics of internal solitary waves, internal rogue waves, and internal breathers, as well as the corresponding velocity potentials. The effects of no weight assignment and two different weight assignment methods in the loss function on the training results are analyzed in detail, which reveals that better simulating results can be achieved via a fixed-weight loss function for small-amplitude internal waves, while the introduction of weights has little effect on the simulations for larger-amplitude internal waves. In addition, the loss function with adaptive weights performs well in the fast simulation of internal rogue waves and poorly in the learning effect of the velocity potentials, which is contrary for internal solitary waves, but is not applicable in the simulation of internal breathers. • A novel three-coupled system of Davey–Stewartson type equations is derived for the first time. Rich exact solutions of the system are obtained to describe various internal waves. • It is proposed that the patterns of change in the velocity potentials can be used as an indicator for recognizing the occurrence, disappearance, and amplitude of internal waves. • Physics-informed neural networks with different weight assignment methods are introduced to achieve high-precision solutions and simulate internal wave with limited data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA repair enzymes play a vital role in the maintenance of genomic integrity, and the development of multiple diseases. Investigation of DNA repair enzymes is of great importance for understanding their functions in physiological processes and discovering new biomarkers. Fluorescent nucleic acid probes are regarded as a powerful technique for sensitive and accurate investigation of DNA repair enzymes, and the design strategies employed for these probes significantly influence the selectivity and sensitivity of analytical methods. In this article, we reviewed various design strategies of fluorescent nucleic acid probes for determination and visualization of DNA repair enzymes both in vitro and in cells, including probe structure, isothermal signal amplification methods and computer simulation-aided design techniques. In addition, the delivery methods of probes into cells are summarized. Furthermore, the potential challenges and future perspectives in this field are discussed. • Different probe structures for DNA repair enzyme monitoring are introduced. • Non-polymerase signal amplification strategies for DNA repair enzyme detection are summarized. • The use of computer simulation methods in the design of fluorescent nucleic acid probes for DNA repair enzyme is reviewed. • Different DNA probe carriers for intracellular imaging of DNA repair enzymes are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both nanoplastics (NPs) and imidacloprid (IMI) are widely distributed in the environment and have attracted significant attention due to their adverse effects on ecosystems. Constructed wetlands have the potential to remove IMI, but there is still limited understanding of how wetland plants interact with IMI, especially when influenced by different charged NPs. This study assessed their ecotoxicological effects, as well as the fate and transformation of IMI in papyrus (Cyperus papyrus L.) under the influence of different charged NPs and identified key driving genes in the plant. Results show that simultaneous exposure to positively charged PS-NH 2 and IMI inhibited plant growth. The combined action of NPs and IMI intensified their toxicity, enhancing lipid peroxidation and altering antioxidant enzyme activities. The IMI removal efficiency, which was primarily driven by biodegradation, was 80.61%, 88.91%, and 74.71% in the IMI-alone, co-IMI/PS_COOH, and co-IMI/PS_NH 2 systems, respectively. PS-NH 2 restricted the roots-to-shoots translocation ability of IMI. PS-COOH enhanced IMI oxidation and nitro reduction, while PS-NH 2 inhibited 2-OH-IMI dehydrogenation to IMI-olefin in papyrus. Transcriptomics and gene network analysis identified the genes encoding CYP450 enzymes, reductases, hydrolases, dehydrogenases, and peroxidases as those influencing IMI biodegradation. These enzymes play a crucial role in the hydroxylation, dehydrogenation, reduction, and oxidation processes during biodegradation of IMI in the presence of NPs. This study expands the understanding of the impact of differently charged NPs on the IMI remediation efficacy of papyrus, thus providing new insights into the phytoremediation of organic contaminants in constructed wetlands. [Display omitted] • Co-exposure to PS-NH 2 and imidacloprid inhibited papyrus growth. • Co-exposure of NPs with imidacloprid induced significant oxidation stress. • Papyrus effectively removed imidacloprid, primarily through biodegradation. • PS-COOH enhanced imidacloprid oxidation and nitro reduction in plant. • Key metabolism genes were identified by transcriptomic and network analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neonicotinoids are widely used but environmentally hazardous insecticides. Constructed wetlands offer potential for neonicotinoid removal, but the corresponding metabolic pathways and mechanisms in wetland plants are incompletely understood. This study investigated the fate of six neonicotinoids and their metabolites in Cyperus papyrus , a common wetland plant, and the underlying metabolic mechanisms through enzymatic and transcriptomic analyses. Neonicotinoids were absorbed by roots and translocated upward, causing high levels in shoots. Concentrations of neonicotinoids and their metabolites declined to their minimum at day 28 of exposure. Nitro reduction, hydroxylation, and demethylation were the major metabolic reactions with which C. papyrus responded to neonicotinoids. These reactions may be mediated by cytochrome P450 enzyme, aldehyde oxidase, glutathione-disulfide reductase, and glucuronate reductase. The toxicity of neonicotinoids in C. papyrus was evaluated according to the peroxidase and catalase enzymatic activities. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) mainly encoded proteins related to immune processes and cell growth regulation. Co-expression correlation analysis of DEGs revealed that the genes encoding P450s, peroxidase and glutathione S -transferase were the key functional genes. This study elucidates the stress response and degradation mechanism of neonicotinoids in wetland plants, providing new insights into the phytoremediation of organic contaminants in constructed wetlands. [Display omitted] • Cyperus papyrus could absorb and metabolize neonicotinoids. • Multiple metabolic pathways of neonicotinoids were found. • Nitro reduction, hydroxylation, and demethylation were major metabolic reactions. • Enzymatic activities and metabolite concentration relations were investigated. • Key metabolic genes were identified by transcriptomic and network analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Intercropping cereals with legumes may achieve high crop yields at reduced input levels. Several studies have indicated that intercropping increases phosphorus use efficiency but no overarching analysis exists on the role of species traits and input levels. Here we synthesize the available information on P use efficiency in cereal/legume intercropping. Methods: Global data on yields, P uptake and nutrient input in cereal/legume mixtures were extracted from the literature and statistically analyzed. Co-variables explaining P uptake efficiency and yield were considered. Results: P uptake was substantially increased with an average value of LERP, the land equivalent ratio for P uptake, of 1.24, and an average NEP (observed P uptake minus expected P uptake) of 3.67 kg P ha−1. The conversion efficiency of P uptake to biomass decreased with P uptake and was lower in intercrops than in sole crops but the conversion efficiency to yield was not affected by intercropping. The P fertilizer requirement was 21% lower in intercrops than in sole crops for the same yields. Conclusions: Substantial improvements in land use efficiency and P uptake are obtained by cereal/legume intercropping. Cereal/legume intercropping has therefore potential to increase P fertilizer use efficiency in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic avalanche reliability of 1200-V silicon carbide (SiC) power metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) is studied in this article. The unclamped inductive switching (UIS) tests are conducted to locate failure points. An optimized thermal network model with the definition of the material above the epitaxial layer is used to simulate the avalanche process of SiC MOSFETs. The simulation and experiment results are matched, which verifies the validity of this model. Further simulation results show that a slight change in the doping profile of the p-well region will make the avalanche capability significantly different. Then, the effect of the deviation in cell parameters on the avalanche capability is studied by multicell simulation. The results demonstrate that uneven distribution of internal parameters makes the parasitic bipolar junction transistor (BJT) of some cells turn-on first, causing a significant concentration of current and heat in a very short time, and eventually forming hot spots often observed in failed devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modulation of the required light wavefront polarization and phase based on the geometric phase encoding metasurface (GPEM) has recently become a hot topic. However, the transmission coefficient of a geometric phase metasurface is greatly decreased when the structure is rotated. To address this problem, a solution of adding a tapered antireflection layer to the substrate and design an all‐dielectric encoding metasurface composed of titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide in the visible light band with a transmission coefficient of 93.65%, is proposed. When circularly polarized light is incident on the designed encoding metasurfaces with rotating unit structures, the GPEM still maintain almost perfect transmission coefficient as with initial linearly polarized light is incident. By comparing the coded metasurface with and without conical structure, the coded metasurface with conical structure can greatly improve transmission efficiency. Importantly, the Fourier convolution theorem in digital signal processing is introduced on encoding metasurfaces. The scattering angle of transmission can be controlled arbitrarily by the all‐dielectric coded metasurface with Fourier convolution addition and subtraction operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of laparoscopy for the prediction of optimal cytoreduction and prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in a Chinese population.Study Design: This study enrolled 162 EOC patients in Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from January 2015 to December 2016. All patients underwent preoperative CT scans and laparoscopic assessments. Each patient was scored according to the CT-based predictive model by Bristow and laparoscopy-based predictive model by Fagotti. The specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and area under the curve (AUC) of each model were calculated. The predictive scores and clinicopathologic factors were all analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate Cox analysis. A prognostic predictive nomogram was formulated in R software.Results: The AUCs of the laparoscopy-based predictive model and CT-based predictive model was 0.955 and 0.755 respectively. At a laparoscopic score ≥ 10, the possibility of optimal cytoreduction was 0, and the risk of unnecessary explorative attempts was 6%. Additionally, laparoscopic score, independent of residual tumor size and FIGO stage, was an independent prognostic factor for both overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in EOC. Notably, the predictive nomogram that we established further confirmed the prognostic value of laparoscopy for prognostic predictions in EOC.Conclusions: Laparoscopy has a better discriminating performance than CT in the prediction of optimal cytoreduction in EOC. Moreover, the laparoscopic score is directly correlated with the survival of EOC patients. The laparoscopic score-based nomogram we established showed good potential to predict the prognosis of EOC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel design for a bearingless axial flow blood pump based on the magnetic-hydrodynamic double levitated concept. In the axial direction, the magnetic levitation system consisted of two pairs of permanent magnet rings offsets the force of fluid. The hydrodynamic shell mounted on the impeller rotor is designed for generating dynamic pressure, which can balance the radial force like gravity when the blood pump is working. Because of the unsteady force and torque acting on the rotor and the passive suspension, the position of the rotor is not steady. The suspension force, stiffness, and torque of the rotor are calculated by the theoretical method and finite element method. Then, the dynamics of the rotor are analyzed. Arrangements of Hall-effect sensors with the corresponding data acquisition system which can measure the axial displacement of the rotor are explained. The sensorless drive control system for the blood pump is described too. With a prototype pump, an external circulation experiment system is built and then the axial and radial displacements of the rotor are measured by using Hall-effect sensors and the laser vibrometer under different working conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel design for a bearingless axial flow blood pump based on the magnetic-hydrodynamic double levitated concept. In the axial direction, the magnetic levitation system consisted of two pairs of permanent magnet rings offsets the force of fluid. The hydrodynamic shell mounted on the impeller rotor is designed for generating dynamic pressure, which can balance the radial force like gravity when the blood pump is working. Because of the unsteady force and torque acting on the rotor and the passive suspension, the position of the rotor is not steady. The suspension force, stiffness, and torque of the rotor are calculated by the theoretical method and finite element method. Then, the dynamics of the rotor are analyzed. Arrangements of Hall-effect sensors with the corresponding data acquisition system which can measure the axial displacement of the rotor are explained. The sensorless drive control system for the blood pump is described too. With a prototype pump, an external circulation experiment system is built and then the axial and radial displacements of the rotor are measured by using Hall-effect sensors and the laser vibrometer under different working conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 4H‐SiC/SiO2 interface quality can be significantly improved by adding an alkaline earth metal interface layer. To study the passivation mechanism of the alkaline earth metal barium (Ba), a supercell model with a transition layer is established. As shown in the results from first‐principles calculations, the bandgap increases and the density of states decreases when SiBaO or OBaO structures are introduced into the transition layer. 4H‐SiC/Ba interface layer/SiO2 capacitors with different annealing conditions are fabricated. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy results show that Ba mainly exists in the form of BaO2 (corresponding to the OBaO structure) after annealing in 5% O2 in Ar atmosphere, and there are fewer types of suboxides in the interface than those annealed in Ar. A small amount of Ba also combines with SiO2 to form SiBaxOy compounds (corresponding to the SiBaO structure). The correctness of the theoretical analysis is verified by capacitance–voltage measurements. The physical mechanism of Ba passivation is analyzed in this article, which helps to improve the performance of SiC metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) structure devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare survival outcomes of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and laparotomy in early‐stage cervical cancer (CC) patients. Methods: A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO, 2009) stage IA1 (lymphovascular invasion)‐IIA1 CC patients undergoing MIS or laparotomy at four tertiary hospitals from 2006 to 2017. Propensity score matching and weighting and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed. Survival was compared in various matched cohorts and subgroups. Results: Three thousand two hundred and fifty‐two patients (2439 MIS and 813 laparotomy) were included after matching. (1) The 2‐ and 5‐year recurrence‐free survival (RFS) (2‐year, hazard ratio [HR], 1.81;95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09‐3.0; 5‐year, HR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.21‐3.89) or overall survival (OS) (2‐year, HR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.03‐3.40; 5‐year, HR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.29‐5.10) were significantly worse for MIS in patients with stage I B1, but not the cohort overall (2‐year RFS, HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.76‐1.42; 2‐year OS, HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.70‐1.41; 5‐year RFS, HR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.76‐1.65; 5‐year OS, HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.79‐1.83) or other stages (2) In a subgroup analysis, MIS exhibited poorer survival in many population subsets, even in patients with less risk factors, such as patients with squamous cell carcinoma, negative for parametrial involvement, with negative surgical margins, negative for lymph node metastasis, and deep stromal invasion < 2/3. (3) In the cohort treated with (2172, 54%) or without adjuvant treatment (1814, 46%), MIS showed worse RFS than laparotomy in patients treated without adjuvant treatment, whereas no differences in RFS and OS were observed in adjuvant‐treatment cohort. (4) Inadequate surgeon proficiency strongly correlated with poor RFS and OS in patients receiving MIS compared with laparotomy. Conclusions: MIS exhibited poorer survival outcomes than laparotomy group in many population subsets, even in low‐risk subgroups. Therefore, laparotomy should be the recommended approach for CC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a unique class of biodegradable polymers because of their biodegradability in ambient environments and structural diversity enabled by side‐chain groups. However, the biosynthesis of PHAs is slow and expensive, limiting their broader applications as commodity plastics. To overcome such limitation, the catalyzed chemical synthesis of bacterial PHAs has been developed, using the metal‐catalyzed stereoselective ring‐opening (co)polymerization of racemic cyclic diolides (rac‐8DLR, R=alkyl group). In this combined experimental and computational study, polymerization kinetics, stereocontrol, copolymerization characteristics, and the properties of the resulting PHAs have been examined. Most notably, stereoselective copolymerizations of rac‐8DLMe with rac‐8DLR (R=Et, Bu) have yielded high‐molecular‐weight, crystalline isotactic PHA copolymers that are hard, ductile, and tough plastics, and exhibit polyolefin‐like thermal and mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a unique class of biodegradable polymers because of their biodegradability in ambient environments and structural diversity enabled by side‐chain groups. However, the biosynthesis of PHAs is slow and expensive, limiting their broader applications as commodity plastics. To overcome such limitation, the catalyzed chemical synthesis of bacterial PHAs has been developed, using the metal‐catalyzed stereoselective ring‐opening (co)polymerization of racemic cyclic diolides (rac‐8DLR, R=alkyl group). In this combined experimental and computational study, polymerization kinetics, stereocontrol, copolymerization characteristics, and the properties of the resulting PHAs have been examined. Most notably, stereoselective copolymerizations of rac‐8DLMe with rac‐8DLR (R=Et, Bu) have yielded high‐molecular‐weight, crystalline isotactic PHA copolymers that are hard, ductile, and tough plastics, and exhibit polyolefin‐like thermal and mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Currently, the function and mechanisms of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in the metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), especially those of the lncRNAs participated in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, remains largely unknown. Here, we focused on a lncRNA named AOC4P and analysed its role in EOC. Materials and methods: The expression of AOC4P gene was examined with quantitative real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). The cell migration and invasion were detected by Transwell and scratch assays. The in vivo metastatic activity was evaluated by intraperitoneal metastasis model. The downstream genes were investigated by a tumour EMT real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) array, and validated by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Results: The results showed that AOC4P expression levels were decreased in EOC tissues and cell lines, and that the under-expression of AOC4P was positively correlated with FIGO stage and lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, the knockdown of AOC4P expression in poorly metastatic EOC cell lines remarkably facilitated cell migration/invasion while the overexpression of AOC4P in highly metastatic EOC cell lines reduced the metastatic ability of these cells in vitro. Consistently, the anti-metastatic role of AOC4P in vivo was also verified by bioluminescence imaging and tumour dissection. Mechanistically, the anti-metastatic effect of AOC4P in EOC was partially mediated by the EMT process accompanied by the alterations in MMP9 and COL1A2 expression. Conclusion: These data highlight that AOC4P plays a critical role in EOC invasion/metastasis and could function as a novel and effective target for the lncRNA-based anti-metastatic clinical management of EOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel 4H-SiC multizone collector vertical insulated-gate bipolar transistor (MZC-IGBT) with an alternate P+/P−/P+ multizone structure in the collector region is proposed and investigated by numerical simulations in this article. Comparing with conventional 4H-SiC IGBTs, lower potential barrier regions are formed in the proposed MZC-IGBT at the interface between the N field-stop buffer and the collector region, modifying the carrier extraction effect to a proper level and resulting in a superior tradeoff between the static and dynamic performances. The proposed device consumes less energy in a wide frequency range. The numerical simulation reveals that the average dissipation power of the optimized 4H-SiC MZC-IGBT can be decreased by 63.1% at a high frequency of 20 kHz and even 2.26% at a low frequency of 500 Hz, which makes the proposed device much more suitable for high-frequency applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stereoselective polymerization of chiral or prochiral monomers is a powerful method to produce high-performance stereoregular crystalline polymeric materials. However, for monomers with two stereogenic centers, it is generally necessary to separate diastereomers before polymerization, resulting in substantial material loss and added energy cost associated with the separation and purification process. Here we report a diastereoselective polymerization methodology enabled by catalysts that directly polymerize mixtures of eight-membered diolide (8DL) monomers with varying starting ratios of chiral racemic (rac) and achiral meso diastereomers into stereosequenced crystalline polyhydroxyalkanoates with isotactic and syndiotactic stereodiblock or stereotapered block microstructures. These polymers show enhanced ductility and toughness relative to polymers of pure rac-8DL, subject to tuning by variation of the diastereomeric ratio and structure of the 8DL monomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the risk factors for development of caesarean scar defect (CSD), compare the efficacy of transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for CSD assessment, and investigate the association between CSD size and clinical symptoms.Study Design: One hundred and eighty-nine women with CSD and 378 women without CSD with a history of caesarean section (CS) at the Obsterics and Gynaecology Hospital of Fudan University between January 2008 and February 2016 were enrolled. The potential risk factors for CSD were investigated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. TVS and MRI were performed for CSD measurements, including residual myometrial thickness, and depth, length and width of CSD. Associations between CSD size by TVS/MRI and symptoms were evaluated.Results: CS time ≥85 min, peripartum fever or infection, and retroflexed uterus were risk factors for CSD, and age at last CS < 30 years, intraoperative blood loss <150 ml and double-layer closure were protective factors for CSD. Prolonged menstruation, dysmenorrhoea, chronic pelvic pain and infertility were the main clinical manifestations. Women with a larger CSD presented with more prolonged menstruation. Compared with TVS, measurements by MRI showed better prediction of the clinical symptoms of CSD.Conclusions: Various factors contribute to the development of CSD. Prevention of peripartum infection, reduction of CS time, reduction of blood loss and more careful uterine closure are needed to decrease the risk of developing CSD. MRI is a reliable method for the diagnosis and measurement of CSD, and can be utilized in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate), a crucial member of the large biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate family, suffers from its brittleness. To enhance its performance, we employed a straightforward approach involving the ring‐opening copolymerization of racemic‐β‐butyrolactone (rac‐β‐BL) and β‐propiolactone (β‐PL) using the syndio‐selective amino‐alkoxy‐bis(phenolate)‐yttrium complex as a catalyst, thanks to the excellent ductility of poly(3‐hydroxypropionate). Control over the rac‐β‐BL/β‐PL feeding ratios and polymerization time yielded random or block copolymers with tunable thermal and mechanical properties comparable to traditional fossil‐based plastics. Furthermore, we achieved one‐pot synthesis of hard‐soft‐hard triblock copolymers by exploiting monomers' different copolymerization rates and a bifunctional initiator, thus transforming polyhydroxyalkanoates from hard and tough plastics to soft and ductile thermoplastic elastomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Exosomes are key mediators of cellular communication by transporting molecules, including long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and have been regarded as promising non-invasive biomarkers. This study aimed to evaluate the expression pattern and clinical significance of serum exosomal lncRNA antisense hypoxia inducible factor (aHIF) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Patients and methods: Sixty-two EOC patients in Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University were enrolled. The expression levels of aHIF in tissues and serum exosomes were examined by RT-qPCR. The origin of serum exosomal aHIF was explored in vitro and in vivo. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic factors of EOC. A prognostic predictive nomogram was formulated in R software. Results: We isolated exosomes, identified exosomal aHIF in the serum of EOC patients. The expression of serum exosomal aHIF was higher in EOC patients and was correlated with the aHIF level in EOC tissues. In vitro and in vivo, the results indicated that serum exosomal aHIF was derived from tumor cells. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that EOC patients with higher serum exosomal aHIF expression had poorer overall survival. Cox multivariate regression model revealed that FIGO stage, residual tumor size, and serum exosomal aHIF level were independent prognostic factors of EOC. Based on the prognostic value of serum exosomal aHIF, we established a nomogram model that showed a good predictive ability for EOC patients. Conclusion: Serum exosomal aHIF is overexpressed in EOC and can serve as a noninvasive predictive biomarker for unfavorable prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The dependence of Si droplets on the growth temperature on 4H-SiC substrates and its mechanism have been investigated. • The results indicated that the Si droplets were highly crystalline. • The Si droplet generation could be suppressed by increasing the growth temperature, though the growth rate declined slightly. Abstract The homoepitaxial growth of 4H-SiC epilayers were conducted by hot-wall vertical chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The dependence of silicon droplets on the growth temperature on 4° off-axis 4H-SiC substrates and its mechanism have been investigated, which were characterized by Nomarski optical microscope, scanning electronic microscope (SEM) and micro-Raman spectrometer. The results indicated that the silicon droplets were highly crystalline. It was also found that the silicon droplet generation could be suppressed by increasing the growth temperature, though the growth rate declined slightly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Cisplatin (CDDP) has been shown to be a promising anticancer drug that is effective against many types of cancer, which include osteosarcoma (OS). However, its therapeutic application is restricted by its toxicity in normal tissues, side effects caused in patients, and chemotherapy resistance. Thus, to further improve patients' treatment, the development of novel, more effective and well tolerated therapeutic approaches against OS in clinical is urgent and important. In the present study, nude mice were inoculated subcutaneously with injections of HOS8603 cells, CDDP and docetaxel (DTX) were administered intraperitoneally respectively. The inhibitive effects and the side effects were observed. Tumor weights and volumes were significantly lower and the tumor inhibition rate was significantly higher in the combination group than those of either drug alone or vehicle. The cell density in the tumor tissue was significantly decreased, apoptotic and necrotic cell death was significantly increased in the combination group, as compared with those of either drug alone or vehicle. In addition, there was no obvious side effect happening besides the appearance of erythema and papules in some mice. These results suggest that the combined effects of CDDP and DTX on the growth of human OS in vivo were superior to the single effects. CDDP combined with DTX had synergistic effects at lower concentrations and promoted apoptosis, but did not increase the side effects of chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular involvement in our Blau syndrome (BS) cohort and provide detailed analysis of their cardiovascular manifestations and outcome. We also tried to find out the risk factors for developing cardiovascular involvement. Methods: Clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and treatments were reviewed. Clinical features were compared between children with cardiovascular involvement and those without angiocardiopathy. Results: A total of 38 BS children were eligible for final analysis. Among them, 13 (34.2%) developed Takayasu-like vasculitis and/or cardiopathy. Compared with those without angiocardiopathy, recurrent fever was more frequent in BS patients with cardiovascular involvement (p < 0.001). What is more, tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonists (anti-TNF) were more urgently needed in children with cardiovascular involvement (p = 0.015). BS patients with cardiovascular involvement include 4 with Takayasu-like vasculitis and 9 with cardiopathy. The onset of cardiovascular manifestations ranged from 0.75 to 18.5 years of age, with most cases occurring before school period. Symptoms were elusive and lacked specificity, such as dizziness, short of breath, and edema. Some patients were even identified because of the unexpected hypertension during follow-up. Cardiopathy and vasculitis occurred in patients with different genotypes. Imaging changes were discovered before the presentation of the typical triad in 3/4 patients with Takayasu-like vasculitis. Three children developed left ventricular dysfunction with decreased left ventricular ejection fraction. Combination of glucocorticoids and methotrexate with anti-TNF agents is a common treatment option for these BS patients. In the cohort, BS-related cardiovascular involvement was controlled well, with cardiac structural and functional abnormalities completely recovered and slower progression of vasculitis lesions. Conclusion: Cardiovascular manifestations is not rare in BS patients. Because of its insidious onset, a systematic and comprehensive assessment of cardiovascular involvement should be performed in newly diagnosed patients with BS. Aggressive initiation of anti-TNF agents may be beneficial to improve the prognosis. Key Points • About 34.2% patients with Blau syndrome developed Takayasu-like vasculitis and/or cardiopathy. • Compared with those without angiocardiopathy, recurrent fever and application of anti-TNF agents were more frequent in BS patients with cardiovascular involvement (p < 0.001, p = 0.015) • Regular assessment of cardiovascular involvement is extremely necessary because of its insidious onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to explore the long-term follow-up of treatment of congenital partial vaginal agenesis using the Wharton-Sheares-George technique. The technique was performed on 52 patients with congenital partial vaginal atresia from January 2009 to December 2017. As a result, the mean operating time of the Wharton-Sheares-George technique procedure was 25.6 ± 2.2 min. The mean estimated blood loss was 16.7 ± 4.7 mL. The average length of stay in hospital for the patients was 2.3 ± 0.2 days. There were no intraoperative and postoperative complications. The median duration of follow-up was 58 months. All of the patients experienced a resumption of menses. The mean vaginal length at 3 months was 7.3 ± 0.8 cm. Vaginal stenosis and adhesion did not occur in any cases during the follow-up. Twenty patients had sexual activities and the mean value of the FSFI questionnaire was 31.2 ± 4.0. Six cases became pregnant. There were four cases who each delivered one child and two cases who both delivered two children.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? It has been reported that the Wharton-Sheares-George technique provides, functionally and anatomically, very satisfactory results for the patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome. However, a study of the Wharton-Sheares-George technique in patients with congenital partial vaginal agenesis has not been reported previously in the medical literature.Whatthe results of this study add? Our results have indicated that the Wharton-Sheares-George technique provides short operation time and length of stay, little blood loss intraoperatively, a satisfactory vaginal length and sexual activity in patients with congenital partial vaginal agenesis.Whatthe implicationsareof these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The study suggests that the Wharton-Sheares-George technique provides very satisfactory results in function and anatomy for congenital partial vaginal agenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Herein, we propose a new method for promoting covalent polymerization by supramolecular catalysts. To this end, we employed cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) as a supramolecular catalyst, and successfully prepared polyelectrolytes in an aqueous solution by taking advantage of the CB[8]‐enhanced photodimerization of Brooker merocyanine moieties. Interestingly, 10 mol % CB[8] is enough to effectively catalyze this polymerization, because CB[8] can be spontaneously replaced by terminal groups from photodimerized products. In addition, the molecular weights of the obtained polyelectrolytes can be varied by the irradiation time or the monomer. By combining supramolecular catalysis and polymer chemistry, this line of research may enrich the methodology of polymerization and open up new horizons for supramolecular polymer chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Herein, we propose a new method for promoting covalent polymerization by supramolecular catalysts. To this end, we employed cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) as a supramolecular catalyst, and successfully prepared polyelectrolytes in an aqueous solution by taking advantage of the CB[8]‐enhanced photodimerization of Brooker merocyanine moieties. Interestingly, 10 mol % CB[8] is enough to effectively catalyze this polymerization, because CB[8] can be spontaneously replaced by terminal groups from photodimerized products. In addition, the molecular weights of the obtained polyelectrolytes can be varied by the irradiation time or the monomer. By combining supramolecular catalysis and polymer chemistry, this line of research may enrich the methodology of polymerization and open up new horizons for supramolecular polymer chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toll-like receptor 1 (TLR1) participates in the innate immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis . This study mainly investigated the relationship between polymorphisms of TLR1 and tuberculosis (TB) susceptibility in the two Chinese populations. Totally, 1185 Han and 1216 Tibetan participants were enrolled. TagSNPs of TLR1 were selected and genotyped. Analyses of linkage disequilibrium and haplotypes were performed by software Haploview and SHEsis. Gene-gene interactions were evaluated using the nonparametric multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) method. Gene-by-sex interaction in the Tibetan population and gene-by-smoking interaction in the Han population were also calculated. Association between rs4833095 and TB susceptibility was evaluated by meta-analysis. In the Tibetan population, the A alleles of rs5743557 and rs5743596 were related with reduced tuberculosis risk (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001) after adjusting for confounding factors. Additionally, rs5743604_A was associated with increased TB susceptibility (p = 0.004). The frequency of haplotype rs4833095-rs5743557-rs5743596-rs5743604 CAAG was significantly higher in the healthy controls (HC) group (p = 0.0009), while frequency of haplotype CGGA was higher in the TB group (p = 0.001). Significant associations were detected between rs4833095-rs5743557-rs5743604 interactions and TB susceptibility. Interactions between rs5743596 and sex in the Tibetan population, between rs5743604 and smoking in the Han population were revealed as well. However, no significant main effects were observed in the Han population. The rs4833095 was not associated with TB susceptibility after meta-analysis either. Our study suggested that SNPs of the TLR1 gene were associated with TB susceptibility in the Chinese Tibetan population, but not in the Han population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To assess the impact of Ni toxicity in soils after long‐term field aging, a coarse‐textured soil was spiked with Ni salt at 100, 200, and 400 mg kg−1 Ni concentrations. These soils were aged in the field along with an unspiked (control) soil under natural conditions for 12 yr, after which total soil Ni was measured and tests of Ni extractability by 0.01 M CaCl2 and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) were done. Soybean assays and soil respiration tests were performed to determine residual Ni toxicity of the aged contaminated soils. The greatest loss of Ni after 12 yr of aging occurred from the soil spiked with the highest Ni level, but substantial loss of Ni occurred from the lower Ni levels as well. Loss was attributable to leaching as the fraction of readily extractable (by 0.01 M CaCl2) Ni diminished with long‐term aging. Readily extractable and DTPA‐extractable Ni increased with increasing soil spiking levels, but only the latter was linearly proportional to total Ni. Phytotoxicity to soybeans (Glycine max L.) in the field was initially high at all levels of added Ni but diminished over the 12 yr of aging. A greenhouse soybean assay with the 12‐yr aged soils confirmed toxicity to be statistically significant at all Ni addition levels and dose‐dependent, with 0.01 M CaCl2‐extractable Ni >5 mg kg−1 shown to be measurably phytotoxic to soybeans. Phytotoxicity may have been caused at least in part by the observed inhibition of Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn uptake by soil Ni. Soil respiration was increasingly inhibited as levels of added Ni increased from 100 to 400 mg kg−1. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1933–1939. © 2018 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the importance of variation among arugula ( Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa ) cultivars in the ability to accumulate arsenic (As) in above-ground tissues, uptake of As by 16 cultivars was measured in the field and in hydroponic culture. In the field trial on soil contaminated by past pesticide use, As soil-plant uptake coefficients varied by a factor of 2.7 among different cultivars, approaching a value of one for the strongest accumulators. Compared to the field assay, hydroponically grown arugula accumulated much lower concentrations of As when nutrient solutions contained standard (high) concentrations of phosphate along with 1.0 mg L −1 As in the form of soluble arsenate. However, As accumulation was much greater in hydroponic culture using low-P nutrient solutions, an indication that phosphate strongly competed with arsenate for root uptake. Analysis of arugula roots after exposure to arsenate at 1.0 mg As L −1 and low phosphate revealed from 24 to 400 times greater As concentration in roots than tops, with S concentrations significantly greater in As-exposed than control roots. This indicated greater sulfate uptake by roots exposed to arsenate, and suggested that thiol-mediated As immobilization occurred in the roots which strongly restricted translocation to the tops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ovarian conservation is controversial in patients with cervical adenocarcinoma due to the risk of ovarian metastasis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association of ovarian conservation with survival outcomes in young patients with T1N0M0 cervical adenocarcinoma.Methods: Women who were 45 years of age or younger with T1N0M0 cervical adenocarcinoma from 1988 to 2013 recorded in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were included. Propensity score weighting was used to balance the intragroup differences. Cause-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) were compared using Kaplan-Meier estimates. A multivariate Cox model was used to adjust for covariates including propensity score. A stratified analysis was then conducted.Results: Totally, 1090 (79.7%) patients underwent oophorectomy and 278 (20.3%) patients whose ovaries were preserved were identified. Patients with preserved ovaries were younger, with a lower T classification and less likely to undergo pelvic lymphadenectomy (all p < 0.05). After propensity weighting, ovarian conservation group had better cause-specific survival (CSS) (5-year 98.8 versus 97.1%, 10-year 98.0 versus 95.2%, p = 0.0370) and overall survival (OS) (5-year 98.8 versus 97.1%, 10-year 96.5 versus 93.5%, p = 0.0025). After adjustment, the CSS benefit of ovarian conservation was marginally significant (p = 0.051) and OS benefit was still significant (p = 0.006). Stratified analysis showed that the CSS benefit was found in T1b classification (HR, 0.23; 95% CI 0.06-0.89, p = 0.033) and histological grade > 1 (HR 0.12; 95% CI 0.02-0.87; p = 0.035).Conclusion: Among young women with T1N0M0 cervical adenocarcinoma, ovarian conservation is associated with better survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon isotope analysis and 454 pyrosequencing methods were used to investigate in situ biodegradation of chlorpyrifos during its transport through three model integrated recirculating constructed wetlands (IRCWs). Results show that plant and Fe-impregnated biochar promoted degradation of chlorpyrifos and its metabolite 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP). Carbon isotope ratios in the IRCWs shifted to −31.24 ± 0.58‰ (IRCW1, plant free), −26.82 ± 0.60‰ (IRCW2, with plant) and −24.76 ± 0.94‰ (IRCW3, with plant and Fe-biochar). The enrichment factors ( Ɛ bulk,c ) were determined as −0.69 ± 0.06‰ (IRCW1), −0.91 ± 0.07‰ (IRCW2) and −1.03 ± 0.09‰ (IRCW3). Microbial community analysis showed that IRCW3 was dominated by members of Bacillus , which can utilize and degrade chlorpyrifos. These results reveal that plant and Fe-biochar can induce carbon isotope fractionation and have a positive impact on the chlorpyrifos degradation efficiency by influencing the development of beneficial microbial communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In the late stage of mononuclear microspore, the tapetum of MS7-2 was abnormally expanded, resulting in the extrusion of microspores and the inability to undergo mitosis to form mature pollen grains, while the tapetum of MF7-2 degraded normally. • The differential expression of transcription factors related to anther and pollen development in MS7-2 may be related to anther abortion. • AHA9 and VHA-G3 related to ATP synthase were significantly down-regulated in MS7-2, which may lead to the formation of ROS by the combination of excess electrons and molecular oxygen. The accumulation of ROS in cells affected the PCD of tapetum. Male sterility is a complex developmental process involving the differentiation of different tissues and the coordinated expression of genes. It is not only used to produce hybrids with effective utilization of heterosis but also an ideal tool to study plant development networks. Here, we carried out morphological and cytological observations on the flower buds of the previously studied male-sterile mutant MS7-2 and its wild-type fertile plant MF7-2 at different developmental stages and performed transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. Compared with the anthers of MF7-2, the anthers of MS7-2 were obviously atrophied, the anther surface was concave, the tapetum was abnormally expanded at the mononuclear microspore stage and normal pollen grains could not be produced. Proteomic analysis showed that the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were mainly involved in lipid transport, lipid binding and lipase activity and were mainly concentrated in carbohydrate metabolism, biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites and lipid metabolism. Transcriptomic results showed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly related to cell membrane components and were significantly enriched in carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, membrane transport and other pathways. In addition, transcription factors involved in anther and pollen development were also found to be significantly down-regulated in MS7-2, such as AMS, bHLH66, bHLH69 and WRKY 34. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) screened two key modules of anther abortion in wucai. The DEGs in the two modules were mainly enriched in the "terpenoid backbone biosynthesis," "pentose and glucuronate interconversions" and "cutin, suberine and wax biosynthesis" pathways, and three hub genes were screened as BraA02g028550.3C (LACS5), BraA01g016670.3C (VHA-G3) and BraA03g043400. 3C (AMS). Through transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, a regulatory network of MS7-2 male sterility of was constructed. It is speculated that the down-regulation of these genes and proteins in MS7-2 anthers inhibits the synthesis of some lipids and endogenous metabolites and accumulates a large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the tapetum, leading to the failure of normal PCD and the abortion of MS7-2. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanism of male sterility in wucai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supra-amphiphiles refer to amphiphiles which are fabricated on the basis of various noncovalent interactions and dynamic covalent bonds, including host-guest interaction, charge-transfer interaction, electrostatic interaction, imine bonds, etc. In this feature article, recent progresses of supra-amphiphiles from molecular architecture to functional assemblies will be summarized. A few topics will be specially addressed, including where supra-amphipihles functions as surfactants, and also in the areas of chemical analysis, nanocarriers, photodynamic therapy, surface modification and catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]