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A large number of medical experiments have confirmed that the features of drugs have a close correlation with their molecular structure. Drug properties can be obtained by studying the molecular structure of corresponding drugs. The calculation of the topological index of a drug structure enables scientists to have a better understanding of the physical chemistry and biological characteristics of drugs. In this paper, we obtain the exact formulas by virtue of the edge-partition method for m S O α (G) and K A (α , β) 1 (G). By the appropriate choice of parameters α and β , several new/old inequalities that reveal relationships between various topological indices are obtained. Our results remedy the lack of medicine experiments, thus providing a theoretical basis for pharmaceutical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aging is one of the factors leading to cancer. Gut microbiota is related to aging and colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: A total of 11 metagenomic data sets related to CRC were collected from the R package curated Metagenomic Data. After batch effect correction, healthy individuals and CRC samples were divided into three age groups. Ggplot2 and Microbiota Process packages were used for visual description of species composition and PCA in healthy individuals and CRC samples. LEfSe analysis was performed for species relative abundance data in healthy/CRC groups according to age. Spearman correlation coefficient of age‐differentiated bacteria in healthy individuals and CRC samples was calculated separately. Finally, the age prediction model and CRC risk prediction model were constructed based on the age‐differentiated bacteria. Results: The structure and composition of the gut microbiota were significantly different among the three groups. For example, the abundance of Bacteroides vulgatus in the old group was lower than that in the other two groups, the abundance of Bacteroides fragilis increased with aging. In addition, seven species of bacteria whose abundance increases with aging were screened out. Furthermore, the abundance of pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia_coli, Butyricimonas_virosa, Ruminococcus_bicirculans, Bacteroides_fragilis and Streptococcus_vestibularis) increased with aging in CRCs. The abundance of probiotics (Eubacterium_eligens) decreased with aging in CRCs. The age prediction model for healthy individuals based on the 80 age‐related differential bacteria and model of CRC patients based on the 58 age‐related differential bacteria performed well, with AUC of 0.79 and 0.71, respectively. The AUC of CRC risk prediction model based on 45 disease differential bacteria was 0.83. After removing the intersection between the disease‐differentiated bacteria and the age‐differentiated bacteria from the healthy samples, the AUC of CRC risk prediction model based on remaining 31 bacteria was 0.8. CRC risk prediction models for each of the three age groups showed no significant difference in accuracy (young: AUC=0.82, middle: AUC=0.83, old: AUC=0.85). Conclusion: Age as a factor affecting microbial composition should be considered in the application of gut microbiota to predict the risk of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are a serious threat to human health and increase the annual death ratio at a considerable pace. This is not uncommon even among teenagers and martial arts athletes. Due to the increased risk associated with strenuous exercise in the context of a quiescent cardiac abnormality, athletes have a higher rate of heart attack and stroke than their nonathletic colleagues. The mortality rate due to this disease is extremely high, which needs to be controlled at the initial stages. At present, the recognition and analysis of ECG signals is still an issue and requires an expert to analyse it and identify its hidden patterns. The most challenging aspect of ECG signal classification is the irregularities in the signals, which are critical for detecting patient status. Each heartbeat is made up of a variety of action impulse waveforms produced by various cardiac tissues. Classification of heartbeats is difficult because waveforms vary from person to person and are identified by certain features. At present, the automatic identification of ECG signals still requires manual design, which has low accuracy and cannot be widely used in clinical practice. This study proposes an intelligent system based on deep learning and machine learning methods to classify and diagnose ECG signals to improve their classification and recognition accuracy. It improves the detection ability of martial arts athletes' arrhythmia disease and obtains accurate arrhythmia diagnosis information. MIT-BIH arrhythmia dataset has been used for the experimental analysis. The performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated with the help of various performance measures. We conduct comprehensive experiments, and the results show that the algorithms used in this paper are robust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: A comprehensive review is presented on the chemical reactions of perovskite films under different environmental conditions and with charge transfer materials and metal electrodes in perovskite solar cells. The influence of chemical reactions on device stability is elucidated. Effective strategies for suppressing the degradation reactions are specified. Lead halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have become a promising next-generation photovoltaic technology due to their skyrocketed power conversion efficiency. However, the device stability issues may restrict their commercial applications, which are dominated by various chemical reactions of perovskite layers. Hence, a comprehensive illustration on the stability of perovskite films in PSCs is urgently needed. In this review article, chemical reactions of perovskite films under different environmental conditions (e.g., moisture, oxygen, light) and with charge transfer materials and metal electrodes are systematically elucidated. Effective strategies for suppressing the degradation reactions of perovskites, such as buffer layer introduction and additives engineering, are specified. Finally, conclusions and outlooks for this field are proposed. The comprehensive review will provide a guideline on the material engineering and device design for PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Few reports have been published regarding the microanatomy of the dura mater located at the craniovertebral junction (CVJ). In clinic, the precise microanatomy of the CVJ dura mater would be taken into account, for reducing surgical complications and ineffective surgical outcomes. The main objective of the present investigation was to further elucidate the fiber composition and sources of the cervical spinal dura mater. Methods: The formalin-fixed adult head and neck specimens (n = 21) were obtained and P45 plastinated section method was utilized for the present study. The fibers of the upper cervical spinal dura mater (SDM) were examined in the P45 sagittal sections in the CVJ area. All photographic documentation was performed via a Canon EOS 7D Mark camera. Results: The posterior wall of the SDM sac at CVJ was found to be composed of stratified fibers, which are derived from three sources: the cerebral dura mater, the occipital periosteum, and the myodural bridge (MDB). The proper layer of the cerebral dura mater passes over the brim of the foramen magnum and enters the vertebral canal to form the inner layer of the SDM, and the fibers originating from the periosteum of the brim of the foramen magnum form the middle layer. The fibers of the MDB are inserted into the SDM and form its outer layer. It was found that the total number of fibers from each origin varied in humans. Conclusion: At the CVJ, the posterior wall of the SDM is a multi-layered structure composed of three different originated fibers. The cerebral dura mater, the periosteum located at the brim of the foramen magnum, and MDB contribute to the formation of the SDM. The present study would be beneficial to the choice of surgical approach at the CVJ and the protection of the SDB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, novel single- and dual-band reconfigurable microwave component (RMC) designs with very compact circuit sizes are proposed, which can be reconfigured into multiple functions, including a bandpass filter, a bandstop filter, and a quadrature coupler. The proposed RMCs with filter and coupler functions are based on lumped elements and transistor-based switches such that they are very suitable for on-chip implementation. Specifically, the proposed 10-GHz RMC in GaAs can achieve the functions of a bandpass filter, a bandstop filter, and a quadrature coupler with a circuit size of only 1.8 mm $\times1.35$ mm. On the other hand, the proposed 9.5/24-GHz RMC in GaAs can be reconfigured as either a dual-band bandpass filter or a dual-band quadrature coupler, while the circuit size is only 1.36 mm $\times1.15$ mm. In addition, to demonstrate the possible application of the proposed RMC designs, a proof-of-concept 2.45-GHz radar system prototype based on a proposed 2.45-GHz RMC is implemented in PCB, which successfully integrates the functions of target speed detection and transmission in a single hardware. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of non-protein coding RNAs with a length of more than 200 bp. The lncRNA taurine up-regulated gene 1 (TUG1) is abnormally expressed in many human malignant cancers, where it acts as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA), regulating gene expression by specifically sponging its corresponding microRNAs. In the present review, we summarised the current understanding of the role of lncRNA TUG1 in cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, chemotherapeutic drug resistance, radiosensitivity, cell regulation, and cell glycolysis, as well as highlighting its potential application as a clinical biomarker or therapeutic target for malignant cancer. This review provides the basis for new research directions for lncRNA TUG1 in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulating the electron transport layer (ETL) has been an effective way to promote the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) as well as suppress their hysteresis. Herein, the SnO2 ETL using a cost‐effective modification material rubidium fluoride (RbF) is modified in two methods: 1) adding RbF into SnO2 colloidal dispersion, F and Sn have a strong interaction, confirmed via X‐ray photoelectron spectra and density functional theory results, contributing to the improved electron mobility of SnO2; 2) depositing RbF at the SnO2/perovskite interface, Rb+ cations actively escape into the interstitial sites of the perovskite lattice to inhibit ions migration and reduce non‐radiative recombination, which dedicates to the improved open‐circuit voltage (Voc) for the PSCs with suppressed hysteresis. In addition, double‐sided passivated PSCs, RbF on the SnO2 surface, and p‐methoxyphenethylammonium iodide on the perovskite surface, produces an outstanding PCE of 23.38% with a Voc of 1.213 V, corresponding to an extremely small Voc deficit of 0.347 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulating the electron transport layer (ETL) has been an effective way to promote the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) as well as suppress their hysteresis. Herein, the SnO2 ETL using a cost‐effective modification material rubidium fluoride (RbF) is modified in two methods: 1) adding RbF into SnO2 colloidal dispersion, F and Sn have a strong interaction, confirmed via X‐ray photoelectron spectra and density functional theory results, contributing to the improved electron mobility of SnO2; 2) depositing RbF at the SnO2/perovskite interface, Rb+ cations actively escape into the interstitial sites of the perovskite lattice to inhibit ions migration and reduce non‐radiative recombination, which dedicates to the improved open‐circuit voltage (Voc) for the PSCs with suppressed hysteresis. In addition, double‐sided passivated PSCs, RbF on the SnO2 surface, and p‐methoxyphenethylammonium iodide on the perovskite surface, produces an outstanding PCE of 23.38% with a Voc of 1.213 V, corresponding to an extremely small Voc deficit of 0.347 V.The strong interaction between F and Sn changes the electron cloud density around Sn atoms by introducing RbF into SnO2 colloidal dispersion, contributing to the improved electron mobility of SnO2. While spin‐coating RbF onto the SnO2 surface, the Rb+ cations escape into the bulk perovskite, which inhibits ion migration and decreases the trap density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations affect the performances of herbivores. Most previous studies have focused on the effects of abrupt increases in CO2 concentration on herbivore performance, but knowledge about the response of herbivores to gradual increases in CO2 is lacking. We tested the hypothesis that herbivores will show different responses to abrupt and gradual CO2 increases. We measured the performance of the brown planthopper (BPH) (Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)) reared on rice for 15 successive generations under three CO2 levels: ambient CO2 (375 µl/L), a gradual increase in CO2 (25 µl/L increase per generation, 390–750 µl/L), and an abrupt increase in CO2 (750 µl/L). During the first generation, the female and male longevities were affected by both the gradual and abrupt increases in CO2, and the fecundity and net reproductive rate (R0) of the BPH in the abruptly increased CO2 treatment were significantly lower than those in the other two treatments; there were no significant differences in the intrinsic rate of increase (r) and the finite rate of increase (λ) among the three CO2 treatments. After 14 generations, female longevity was significantly prolonged in treatments with both gradual and abrupt CO2 increases. The fecundity of the BPHs reared in the gradual CO2 treatment was significantly higher than that in the other two CO2 treatments. According to the population parameters (r, λ, and R0) and population projection, under a gradual increase in CO2, the BPH population size was higher than that under an abrupt CO2 increase. We concluded that the BPH abundance will increase under a gradual CO2 increase and consequently result in an increase in rice yield loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As one of the many breast cancer subtypes, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2)-positive breast cancer has higher invasiveness and poor prognosis, although the advent of anti-Her2 drugs has brought good news to patients. However, the emergence of drug resistance still limits its clinical efficacy, so there is an urgent need to explore new targets and develop a risk scoring system to improve treatments and evaluate patient prognosis. Methods: Differentially expressed mRNAs associated with Her2-positive breast cancer were screened from a TCGA cohort. The prognostic risk scoring system was constructed according to univariate and Lasso Cox regression model analyses and combined with clinical factors (such as age and TNM) for univariate and multivariate analyses to verify the specificity and sensitivity of the risk scoring system. Finally, based on correlation and CNV mutation analyses, we explored the research value of the mRNAs involved in the system as key genes of the model. Results: In this study, six mRNAs were screened and identified to construct a prognostic risk scoring system, including four up-regulated mRNA (RDH16, SPC25, SPC24, and SCUBE3) and two down-regulated mRNA (DGAT2 and CCDC69). The risk scoring system can divide Her2-positive breast cancer samples into high-risk and low-risk groups to evaluate patient prognosis. In addition, whether through the time-dependent receiver operating characteristics curve or compared with clinical factors, the risk scoring system showed high predictive sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, some CNV mutations in mRNA increase patient risk by influencing expression levels. Conclusion: The risk scoring system constructed in this study is helpful to improve the screening of high-risk patients with Her2-positive breast cancer and is beneficial for implementing early diagnosis and personalized treatment. It is suggested that these mRNAs may play an important role in the progression of Her2-positive breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current standard of care for locally advanced gastric cancer (GC) involves neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical surgery. Recently, neoadjuvant treatment for this condition has involved the exploration of immunotherapy plus chemotherapy as a potential approach. However, the efficacy remains uncertain. Methods: A single‐arm, phase 2 study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of neoadjuvant camrelizumab combined with mFOLFOX6 and identify potential biomarkers of response through multi‐omics analysis in patients with resectable locally advanced GC. The primary endpoint was the pathological complete response (pCR) rate. Secondary endpoints included the R0 rate, near pCR rate, progression‐free survival (PFS), disease‐free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). Multi‐omics analysis was assessed by whole‐exome sequencing, transcriptome sequencing, and multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) using biopsies pre‐ and post‐neoadjuvant therapy. Results: This study involved 60 patients, of which 55 underwent gastrectomy. Among these, five (9.1%) attained a pathological complete response (pCR), and 11 (20.0%) reached near pCR. No unexpected treatment‐emergent adverse events or perioperative mortality were observed, and the regimen presented a manageable safety profile. Molecular changes identified through multi‐omics analysis correlated with treatment response, highlighting associations between HER2‐positive and CTNNB1 mutations with treatment sensitivity and a favourable prognosis. This finding was further supported by immune cell infiltration analysis and mIF. Expression data uncovered a risk model with four genes (RALYL, SCGN, CCKBR, NTS) linked to poor response. Additionally, post‐treatment infiltration of CD8+ T lymphocytes positively correlates with pathological response. Conclusion: The findings suggest the combination of PD‐1‐inhibitor and mFOLFOX6 showed efficacy and acceptable toxicity for locally advanced GC. Extended follow‐up is required to determine the duration of the response. This study lays essential groundwork for developing precise neoadjuvant regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, research on genome‐scale epigenetic modifications for studying the pathogenesis of lung cancer is lacking. Aberrant DNA methylation, as the most common and important modification in epigenetics, is an important means of regulating genomic function and can be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). In this paper, methylation information and gene expression data from patients with LUSC were extracted from the TCGA database. Univariate and multivariate COX analyses were used to screen abnormally methylated genes related to the prognosis of LUSC. The relationship between key DNA methylation sites and the transcriptional expression of LUSC‐related genes was explored. A prognostic risk model constructed by four abnormally methylated genes (VAX1, CH25H, AdCyAP1, and Irx1) was used to predict the prognosis of LUSC patients. Also, the methylation levels of the key gene IRX1 are significantly correlated with the prognosis and correlated with the methylation of the site cg09232937 and cg10530883. This study is based on high‐throughput data mining and provides an effective bioinformatics basis for further understanding the pathogenesis and prognosis of LUSC, which has important theoretical significance for follow‐up studies on LUSC. In this study, we performed whole‐genome methylation analysis of LUSC patients based on the TCGA database. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the prognostic risk model constructed by four abnormally methylated genes (VAX1, CH25H, ADCYAP1, and IRX1) proved to be an independent prognostic factor for LUSC. Also, the expression and methylation levels of the key gene IRX1 are significantly correlated with prognosis and are negatively correlated with the methylation of the site cg09232937 and cg10530883. This study is based on high‐throughput data mining and provides an effective bioinformatics basis for further understanding the pathogenesis and prognosis of LUSC, which has important theoretical significance for follow‐up studies on LUSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in cancer biology have allowed early diagnosis and more comprehensive treatment of breast cancer (BC). However, it remains the most common cause of cancer death in women worldwide because of its strong invasiveness and metastasis. In‐depth study of the molecular pathogenesis of BC and of relevant prognostic markers would improve the quality of life and prognosis of patients. In this study, bioinformatics analysis of SNP‐related data from BC patients provided in the TCGA database revealed that six mutant genes (NCOR1, GATA3, CDH1, ATM, AKT1, and PTEN) were significantly associated with the corresponding expression levels of the proteins. The proteins were involved in multiple pathways related to the development of cancer, including the PI3K‐Akt signaling pathway, pertinent microRNAs, and the MAPK signaling pathway. In addition, overall survival and recurrence‐free survival analysis revealed the close associations of the expression of GATA3, NCOR1, CDH1, and ATM with survival of BC patients. Therefore, detecting these gene mutations and exploring their corresponding expression could be valuable in predicting the prognosis of patients. The results of the high‐throughput data mining provide important fundamental bioinformatics information and a relevant theoretical basis for further exploring the molecular pathogenesis of BC and assessing the prognosis of patients.In‐depth study of the molecular pathogenesis of breast cancer (BC) and of relevant prognostic markers would improve the quality of life and prognosis of patients. In this study, bioinformatics analysis revealed that six mutant genes were significantly associated with the corresponding expression levels of the proteins. In addition, Kaplan‐Meier survival curve analysis revealed the close associations of the expression of GATA3, NCOR1, CDH1, and ATM with survival of BC patients. Therefore, detecting these gene mutations and exploring their corresponding expression could be valuable in predicting the prognosis of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bile acids (BAs) are closely related to the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer (CRC), but the specific mechanism is still unclear. Aims: To identify potential targets related to BAs in CRC and analyze the correlation with immunity. Methods: The expression of BAs and CRC-related genes in TCGA was studied and screened using KEGG. GSE71187 was used for external validation of differentially expressed genes. Immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and enzymatic cycling assays were used to detect the expression levels of the differentially expressed genes ki67 and BAs. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify genes associated with differential gene expression and immunity. The Cibersort algorithm was used to detect the infiltration of 22 kinds of immune cells in cancer tissues. The PPI network and ceRNA network were constructed to reveal the possible molecular mechanisms behind tumorigenesis. Results: The BA-related gene UGT2A3 is positively correlated with good prognoses in CRC. The expression level of UGT2A3 was negatively related to the BA level and positively related to the Ki67 proliferation index. The expression level of UGT2A3 was higher in the moderately differentiation and advanced stage (stage IV) of CRC. In addition, the expression level of UGT2A3 is correlated with CD8+ T cells. A PPI network related to UGT2A3 and T-cell immune-related genes was constructed. A ceRNA network containing 32 miRNA‒mRNA and 40 miRNA‒lncRNA regulatory pairs was constructed. Conclusion: UGT2A3 is a potential molecular target of bile acids in the regulation of CRC and is related to T-cell immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Osteoblast apoptosis contributes to age‐related bone loss. Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) are recognized as the markers of oxidative stress and potent inducers of apoptosis. We have demonstrated that AOPP accumulation was correlated with age‐related bone loss. However, the effect of AOPPs on the osteoblast apoptosis still remains unknown. Exposure of osteoblastic MC3T3‐E1 cells to AOPPs caused the excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by activating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases. Increased ROS induced phosphorylation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs), which subsequently triggered intrinsic apoptosis pathway by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and Ca2+ overload and eventually leads to apoptosis. Chronic AOPP loading in aged Sprague‐Dawley rats induced osteoblast apoptosis and activated NADPH oxidase signaling cascade, in combination with accelerated bone loss and deteriorated bone microstructure. Our study suggests that AOPPs induce osteoblast apoptosis by the NADPH oxidase‐dependent, MAPK‐mediated intrinsic apoptosis pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterostructured AgBr/Bi 2 Sn 2 O 7 photocatalysts were synthesized successfully via the ultrasonic-assisted chemical precipitation method. XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM, TEM, XPS, UV–vis-DRS and PL spectroscopy were used to characterize the phase structure, morphology, chemical composition, oxidation state, and optical properties of AgBr/Bi 2 Sn 2 O 7 heterojunction. The photocatalytic activity of as-prepared catalysts was evaluated by the degradation of RhB under visible light irradiation. The obtained AgBr/Bi 2 Sn 2 O 7 composite with the 1:1 molar ratio exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance. Further first-principles calculations indicated that the hybridization interaction between Ag and O atoms at AgBr/Bi 2 Sn 2 O 7 interface is expected to be beneficial for enhancing the charge transfer and improving the photocatalytic activity of heterostructured composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth compounds have been used for treatment of bacterial infection, and recently bismuth nanoparticles (BiNP) were synthesized for imaging and diagnostic purpose, while safety concern of bismuth cannot be ignored. Here, we prepared ultrasmall BiNP and showed an enhanced tumor imaging, but BiNP revealed a differentiated cytotoxicity in human embryonic kidney 293 cells (HEK293) compared to other cell types. For the first time, we found that BiNP can induce autophagy, shown as the increase of monodansylcadaverine fluorescence staining and the amount of LC3II that can be inhibited by 3-MA. BiNP were capable of entering cells in a dose and time dependent manner by fluorescence and element detection methods BiNP were found to be localized in the cytoplasm observed by transmission electron microscopy and intracellular bismuth element confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Using endocytic inhibitors, BiNP were found to require ATP and endosomal trafficking pathways for their cellular uptake. Internalized BiNP did not co-localize with EEA1, but co-localized with Lysotracker/LAMP1/LAMP2 at late time points, indicating BiNP may be retained in the non-early endosomal vacuoles and late endosomes. With our novel finding of bismuth induced autophagy and endocytic mechanisms, potential approaches may be applied to reduce the toxicity by bismuth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichoderma spp.are widely used in agriculture as biofungicides. In this study, effects of elevated CO2on the growth and enzyme activities ofNilaparvata lugensinfected byT. asperellumwere studied. The results showed that fecundity ofN. lugensadversely decreased under elevated CO2relative to ambient CO2irrespective of infection withT. asperellum. The contents of protein and alkaline phosphatase significantly decreased inN. lugensnymphs withT. asperelluminfection under elevated CO2relative to ambient CO2.Significantly higher activities of carboxylesterase and acetylcholinesterase were observed inN. lugensinfested withT. asperellumunder elevated CO2compared with ambient CO2. While significantly lower catalase and glutathione S-transferase were observed inN. lugensnymphs infested byT. asperellumunder elevated CO2relative to ambient CO2. Measuring the antioxidases and detoxification enzymes inN. lugensinfected withT. asperellumcan partly explain the response of fitness parameters ofN. lugensunder elevated CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Myopia is a refractive disorder arising from a mismatch between refractive power and relatively long axial length of the eye. With its dramatically increasing prevalence, myopia has become a pervasive social problem. It is commonly accepted that abnormal visual input acts as an initiating factor of myopia. As the first station to perceive visual signals, the retina plays an important role in myopia etiology. The retina is a fine-layered structure with multitudinous cells, processing intricate visual signals via numerous molecular pathways. Accordingly, dopaminergic mechanisms, contributions of rod and cone photoreceptors, myopic structural changes of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and neuro-retinal layers have all suggested a vital role of retinal dysfunction in myopia development. Herein, we separately discuss myopia-related retinal dysfunction and current dilemmas by different levels, from molecules to cells, with the hope that the comprehensive delineation could contribute to a better understanding of myopia etiology, indicate novel therapeutic targets, and inspire future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elastic–plastic stress analysis of a Zener–Stroh crack paralleling to the interface of a coating-substrate system has been carried out in this work. The sum of the Burgers vectors of the climb and the glide dislocations along the crack line accounts for the stress field around its blunt tip where dislocation enters, and the sharp tip where crack propagates. Firstly, Gauss–Chebyshev quadrature technique is applied to solve the governing equation of dislocation density functions constrained by load-free crack faces. When taking plasticity into account at both crack tips where stresses are high, the generalized Irwin plastic zone correction is recommended. Plastic zone size (PZS) for both tips, crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) and effective stress intensity factors for the sharp tip are then obtained. The effects of coating thickness, crack depth, material mismatch and displacement loads ratio onto PZSs and CTOD have been analyzed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) are chronic demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). Recently, variants of vitamin D metabolizing genes, including rs12368653, rs10876994, rs118204009 and rs703842 in CYP27B1 , and rs2248359 in CYP24A1 have been identified to be associated with the pathogenicity of MS in Caucasian populations. However, these results have not been replicated in Han Chinese population. Here we investigated the association of these variants with MS and NMO susceptibility in 149 MS patients, 110 NMO patients and 294 healthy controls using MassARRAY system and Sanger sequencing. We found that the frequencies of the A allele of rs703842 were higher in MS patients than controls (p = 0.032), and statistical differences were observed in the genotypes of both rs703842 (p = 0.013) and rs10876994 (p = 0.001) between NMO patients and controls. In addition, we found difference in the genotype of rs12368653 between MS patients and controls (p = 0.008). However, no difference was found in rs2248359 among these three groups. The reported rare mutation p.R389H (rs118204009) was not found in our study. In conclusion, our study suggested that variants of CYP27B1 were associated with both MS and NMO patients in Han Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Pretreatment of Jerusalem artichoke stalk by hydroxylammonium ILs were compared. • Production of acetoin and 2,3-BD increased at 0.1 mol/L ethanolammonium acetate. • 87% cellulose and 75% hemicellulose recovered and 57% lignin removed at 170 °C. • Glucose yield of 64% and xylose of 66% obtained in 24-h hydrolysis by cellulase. Pretreatment of lignocellulose is a vital step for biological production of bio-chemicals and bio-fuels. In this work, the pretreatment of Jerusalem artichoke stalk (JAS) by hydroxylammonium ionic liquids was evaluated based on pretreatment efficiency including polysaccharide recovery and enzymatic digestibility, and influence of ionic liquids on 2,3-butanediol fermentation using Bacillus subtilis. The results showed ethanolammonium acetate (EOAA) was efficient in JAS pretreatment, and maximum cell density was increased 25% when EOAA concentration was not greater than 0.3 mol/L in medium, while the total concentration of acetoin and 2,3-butanediol was 15% greater than the control at 0.1 mol/L EOAA. After the pretreatment under optimized conditions of 170 °C for 5-h and liquid–solid ratio of 18, about 87% cellulose and 75% hemicellulose were recovered, and glucose yield of 64% and xylose of 66% were obtained after 24-h hydrolysis of JAS residue by cellulase (15 FPU/g) with solid loading of 10 wt%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The development of biofuels, especially liquid hydrocarbon fuels, has been widely concerned due to the depletion of fossil resources. In order to obtain fuel precursors, the reaction of C–C bond formation is usually carried out with biomass derived ketones/aldehydes as reactants. Acetoin and 2,3-butanediol are two platform chemicals, which are co-existed in fermentation broth and traditionally separated by distillation, and then acetoin could be use as C4 building block to prepare hydrocarbon fuels. In order to mitigate the process complexity, direct aldol condensation reaction of acetoin in fermentation broth was studied in this work. Results: A one-pot process of product separation and acetoin derivative synthesis was proposed based on salting-out extraction (SOE). Aldol condensation reaction of acetoin and 5-methyl furfural in different SOE systems was compared, and the results showed that the synthesis of C10 fuel precursors and separation of C10 products and 2,3-butanediol from fermentation broth were achieved in one-pot with ethanolammonium butyrate (EOAB) and K2HPO4 as SOE reagents and catalysts. The SOE and reaction conditions such as the concentrations of EOAB and K2HPO4, reaction temperature and time were optimized. When the system was composed of 6 wt% EOAB-44 wt% K2HPO4 and the mixture was stirred for 6 h at 200 rpm, 40 ℃, the yield of C10 products was 80.7%, and 95.5% 2,3-butanediol was distributed to the top EOAB-rich phase. The exploration of reaction mechanism showed that an imine intermediate was rapidly formed and the subsequent C10 product formation was the key step for aldol condensation reaction. Conclusions: With EOAB and K2HPO4 as SOE reagents and catalysts, one-pot synthesis of fuel precursor from acetoin fermentation broth was achieved without prior purification. A yield of 80.7% for C10 products was obtained which was accumulated at the interface of two aqueous-phase, and 95.5% 2,3-BD was distributed to the top EOAB-rich phase. This work provides a new integration process of product separation and derivative synthesis from fermentation broth based on ionic liquid SOE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women. The data on this syndrome in a Chinese community are limited. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was undertaken. Cluster-randomized sampling was used. Female residents of Chengdu aged between 12 and 44 were included according to the constituent ratio of the female population of Sichuan province. We used three diagnostic criteria to determine the prevalence: the National Institutes of Health diagnostic criteria of PCOS (NIH-1990), the revised Rotterdam diagnostic criteria of PCOS (Rott-2003), and the recommended diagnostic criteria of PCOS by the Androgen Excess Society (AES-2006). Results: 1,645 participants were included. The prevalence of PCOS in women aged between 12 and 44 was 7.1, 11.2 and 7.4%, respectively, according to the three different criteria. After the onset of puberty, the prevalence of PCOS increased rapidly from 12 to 14 years of age, peaked between 15 and 24 and decreased gradually thereafter and reached its lowest point before menopause. Conclusions: The prevalence of PCOS in this study was in the PCOS prevalence range from existing studies. According to the trend of prevalence, PCOS might be a temporary condition. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetables are plants or portion of plants cultivated for food with a savory flavor and considerably nutritional value with little protein or fat. The yield and quality of vegetable crops are affected by various abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity and low and high temperatures. Higher plants have evolved a series of complex responses in order to adapt to a single or multiple stresses. Recently, high-throughput sequencing has brought powerful and efficient research tools that can lead to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind stress in plants. Many molecular markers, functional and regulatory genes have been discovered based on the genome sequencing. The new technologies, such as transcriptome analysis, digital gene expression, deep sequencing of small RNAs, proteomics, metabolomics, etc. should pave new avenues for studying stress resistance in vegetable crops. Here, we review recent progresses in the transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic and functional genomic approaches that have been used in the field of abiotic stress with vegetable crops. The perspectives on future research and improvement of vegetable crops through applied genomics are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AP2/ERF transcription factors of higher plants regulate transcriptional networks that control development and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, the rice OsAP23 gene, which encodes an AP2/ERF transcription factor, was isolated from rice using a yeast-one-hybrid system. The OsAP23 transcription factor belongs to the B3 group of the ERF subfamily. Germination results for transgenic Arabidopsis plants hosting the OsAP23 gene revealed greater inhibition at the germination and seedling stages with increasing concentration of NaCl compared to the wild-type plants. Exogenous ABA also reduced the rate of germination of transgenic Arabidopsis seeds that over-express OsAP23 compared with wild-type Arabidopsis seeds. In addition, following exposure to high salt concentrations, several stress-responsive regulatory genes were induced to a significantly greater extent in the wild-type lines compared with lines that over-express OsAP23. These results suggested that OsAP23 might be a negative regulator of the salt stress response in higher plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The objective of this study was to explore the potential role of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) in extending the proliferative lifespan of human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) under long-term cultivation. A primary culture was initiated with a pure population of HCECs in DMEM/F12 media containing 10% fetal bovine serum and other various supplements. TERT gene was successfully transfected into normal HCECs. A stable HCECs cell line (TERT-HCECs) that expressed TERT was established. The cells could be subcultured for 36 passages. Within this line of cells, TERT not only extended proliferative lifespan and inhibited apoptosis but also enhanced the cell line remaining the normal characteristics similar to HCECs. There were no significantly differences in the expression of the pump function related proteins voltage dependent anion channel 3 (VDAC3), sodium bicarbonate cotransporter member 4 (SLC4A4), chloride channel protein 3 (CLCN3), Na+/K+-ATPase α1, and ZO-1 in the cell line TERT-HCECs and primary HCECs. TERT-HCECs formed a monolayer cell sheet, maintained similar cell junction formation and pump function with primary HCECs. Karyotype analysis exhibited normal chromosomal numbers. The soft agar colony assay and tumor formation in nude mice assay showed no malignant alterations in TERT-HCECs. Our findings indicated that we had established a cell line with its similar phenotype and properties to primary HCECs. Further study of the TERT-HCECs may be valuable in studying the function of the cells in vivo. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) as a key controller in the regulation of whole-body energy homeostasis, plays an important role in protecting the body from metabolic diseases. Recently, improved glucose, lipid utility and increased insulin sensitivity were observed on several diabetic rodent models treated with crude mogrosides isolated from the fruit of Siraitia grosvenorii Swingle, but the precise active compounds responsible for the anti-diabetic activity of this plant have not been clearly identified. In our current work, acid hydrolysis of crude mogrosides provided five new cucurbitane triterpenoids (1–4, 8), along with three known ones (5–7). The main aglycone mogrol (7) and compounds 4 and 8 were found to be potent AMPK activators in the HepG2 cell line. This result suggested AMPK activation by the mogroside aglycones 7 and 8 was proved to contribute at least partially to the anti-hyperglycemic and anti-lipidemic properties in vivo of S. grosvenorii. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The AP2/ERF family transcription factors (TFs) act as the nodes of a regulatory network in a plant's response to abiotic and biotic stress. AP2-like genes from apple ( Malus × domestica Borkh), one of the most widely cultivated fruit trees worldwide, were identified and analysed in order to understand the transcriptional regulation through the AP2/ERF family TFs. Starting from the M. domestica database, 58 AP2-like TFs were identified by in silico cloning using the AP2/ERF TFs amino acid sequence of Arabidopsis thaliana as a probe. The AP2/ERF TFs from apple were classified into four subfamilies, DREB, ERF, AP2 and RAV. To establish detailed expression data of this gene family in apple, six kinds of tissue (bud, flower, fruit, leaf, root and stem) and cell culture were examined for the presence of AP2-like genes. Most of the apple AP2-like genes indicate some degree of tissue specificity and were most abundant in root followed by stem, and expression levels were low in leaf and in bud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The nucleotide sequence of the entire grapevine genome has been obtained and its draft sequence has served as the model for fruit crops. Many transcription factors involved in stress-resistance pathways have been identified, among which the AP2/ERF is a large, and one of the most important families of transcription factors in plants. In this study, 132 putative transcription factor genes in the AP2/ERF family were identified from the database of the Vitis vinifera (grapevine) genome, and were compared with those from three other completely sequenced genomes, Arabidopsis thaliana, Populus trichocarpa (poplar), and Oryza sativa (rice). The grapevine AP2/ERF genes were classified into four subfamilies, AP2, DREB, ERF, RAV, and a soloist, and there were considerable variations among the subfamily members comparing with those in other species. The amino acid sequence, composition, physical and chemical characterization, phylogenetic tree, conserved domain sequences, function domain, and locations on chromosomes were predicted and analyzed. In silico mapping of the gene loci showed that AP2/ERF family genes of grapevine were localized on 19 linkage groups. The extant AP2/ERF gene family in grapevine apparently resulted from whole genome, segmental and tandem duplications. Several grapevine AP2/ERF genes have been identified which are orthologous to those characterized in Arabidopsis with known functions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel one-pot synthesis of aryl α-keto esters was developed through oxidation of aryl-ketones using selenium dioxide, esterification accompanied by ketalization, and hydrolysis. Both aromatics and heteroaromatics gave good yields by this one-pot method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) are lethal if not repaired and are highly mutagenic if misrepaired. Nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) is one of the major DSB repair pathways and can rejoin the DSB ends either precisely or with mistakes. Recent evidence suggests the existence of two NHEJ subpathways: conservative NHEJ (C-NHEJ), which does not require microhomology and can join ends precisely; and deletional NHEJ (D-NHEJ), which utilizes microhomology to join the ends with small deletions. Little is known about how these NHEJ subpathways are regulated. Mrell has been implicated in DNA damage response, thus we investigated whether Mrell function also extended to NHEJ. We utilized an intrachromosomal NHEJ substrate in which DSBs are generated by the 1-Scel to address this question. The cohesive ends are fully complementary and were either repaired by C-NHEJ or D-NHEJ with similar efficiency. We found that disruption of Mrell by RNA interference in human cells led to a 10-fold decrease in the frequency of D-NHEJ com- pared with cells with functional Mrell. Interestingly, C-NHEJ was not affected by Mrell status. Expression of wild type but not exonuclease-defective Mrell mutants was able to rescue D-NHEJ in Mrell-deficient cells. Further mutational analysis suggested that additional mechanisms associated with methylation of Mrell at the C-terminal glycine-arginine-rich domain contributed to the promotion of D-NHEJ by Mrell. This study provides new insights into the mechanisms by which Mrell affects the accuracy of DSB end joining specifically through control of the D-NHEJ subpathway, thus illustrating the complexity of the Mrell role in maintaining genomic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lithium chloride is a therapeutic agent for treatment of bipolar affective disorders. Increasing numbers of studies have indicated that lithium has neuroprotective effects. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the actions of lithium have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate whether lithium chloride produces neuroprotective function by improving DNA repair pathway in retinal neurocyte. In vitro, the primary cultured retinal neurocytes (85.7% are MAP-2 positive cells) were treated with lithium chloride, then cultured with serum-free media to simulate the nutrient deprived state resulting from ischemic insult. The neurite outgrowth of the cultured cells increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner when exposed to different levels of lithium chloride. Genomic DNA electrophoresis demonstrated greater DNA integrity of retinal neurocytes when treated with lithium chloride as compared to the control. Moreover, mRNA and protein levels of Ligase IV (involved in DNA non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway) in retinal neurocytes increased with lithium chloride. The end joining activity assay was performed to determine the role of lithium on NHEJ in the presence of extract from retinal neurocytes. The rejoining levels in retinal neurocytes treated with lithium were significantly increased as compared to the control. Furthermore, XRCC4, the Ligase IV partner, and the transcriptional factor, CREB and CTCF, were up-regulated in retinal cells after treating with 1.0mM lithium chloride. Therefore, our data suggest that lithium chloride protects the retinal neural cells from nutrient deprivation in vitro, which may be similar to the mechanism of cell death in glaucoma. The improvement in DNA repair pathway involving in Ligase IV might have an important role in lithium neuroprotection. This study provides new insights into the neural protective mechanisms of lithium chloride. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sn0[sub2] quantum dots (QDs) and ultrathin nanowires (NWs) with diameters of ∼O.5-2.5 and -∼1 .5-4.5 nm, respectively, were controllably synthesized in a simple solution system. They are supposed to be ideal models for studying the continuous evolution of the quantum-confinement effect in SnO[sub2] QDs systems. The observed transition from strong to weak quantum confinement in SnO[sub2] QDs and ultrathin NWs is interpreted through the use of the Brus effective-mass approximation and the Nosaka finite-depth well model. Photoluminescence properties that were coinfluenced by size effects, defects (oxygen vacancies), and surface capping are discussed in detail. With the SnO[sub2] QDs as building blocks, various 2D porous structures with ordered hexagonal, distorted hexagonal, and square patterns were prepared on silicon-wafer surfaces and exhibited optical features of 2D photonic crystals and enhanced gas sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Populus is a model system for investigating the wood development, crown formation, and disease resistance in perennial plants. AR2/ERF is a large family of transcription factors in plant, encoding transcriptional regulators with a variety of functions involved in the developmental and physiological processes. Here, starting from database of Populus genome, we identified 200 AP2/ERF genes by in silico cloning method using the AP2/ERF conserved domain amino acid sequence of Arabidopsis thaliana as probe. Based on the number of AP2/ERF domains and the function of the genes, those AP2/ERF genes from Populus were classified into four subfamilies named the AP2, DREB, ERF, RAV, and a soloist. Among these genes, the number genes of total AP2/ERF family genes, DREB subfamily, and ERF subfamily from Populus trichocarpa were about 1.4–1.6-fold than those from A. thaliana. The rates were very similar for the putative homologs between Populus and Arabidopsis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The progressive alterations to the retinal microvasculature in diabetic retinopathy are known to cause vision loss. Chemokines are characterized by their ability to induce cell invasion, adhesion and migration. In this study, we used double siRNA transfection to transiently and selectively decrease the level of the endogenous CXCR4 in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs). The functional consequences of silencing CXCR4 expression in HRMECs were investigated using an endothelial cell migration assay and tubule formation in Matrigel. When CXCR4 expression was decreased with siRNA, HRMECs were less invasive and also resulted in markedly diminished vascular networks on Matrigel as compared to the controls. Additionally, hypoxia and VEGF, the factors affecting microvascular, regulate the expression level of CXCR4 in HRMECs, respectively, which have synergistic, additive effect in the HRMECs. As such, CXCR4 antagonists may become a therapeutic target for the treatment of retinal angiopathies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this manuscript, series of silicates nanowires, such as calcium silicate, strontium silicate, barium silicate, zinc silicate and cadmium silicate, etc., have been successfully prepared from a water–ethanol mixed solution system through a hydrothermal synthetic way. The formation process of these silicates nanowires has been studied in detail. Due to their rich sources and possible novel properties from reduced dimensionalities, we believe that the synthesis of these silicates nanowires may bring some new opportunity in the solid state chemistry and nanoscience and technology fields, etc. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Mg(OH)2 nanorods have been successfully prepared via the hydrolysis of MgSO4 in aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution under hydrothermal conditions. Subsequent thermal decomposition of the as-prepared Mg(OH)2 nanorods produced MgO nanorods due to shape memory. The morphologies of the resultant Mg(OH)2 nanocrystallites were monitored at different periods of the hydrothermal process, which clearly revealed the formation process of the Mg(OH)2 nanorods. The morphology of the MgO product, as a dehydrated product of the rod-like Mg(OH)2 nanorods, remained similar to its precursor, Mg(OH)2. The reported method is low cost, simple and environmentally benign, thus it should be relatively easy to be scaled up for industrial production. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To explore the relationship between the testosterone (T) levels in serum and follicular fluid and the outcomes of stimulation in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycle. Methods: Data was collected from 43 patients who received IVFX intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI) treatment between May and August in 2011 at our center. T levels in serum and follicular fluid were detected by chemiluminiscence ELISA. ➀43 patients were divided into 3 groups by the number of harvested oocytes: group 6 (1-5 oocytes), group M (6-15 oocytes) and group H (>15 oocytes). T levels, the fertilization rate and the clinical pregnancy rate were compared among three groups. ➀43 patients were divided into the pregnant group and the non-pregnant group. T levels were then compared. Results: ➀ There were not significant differences in the follicular fluid T levels and the basal serum T level among three groups (P>0.05). There were significant differences in the serum T levels on the day of hCG administration among three groups (P < 0.05). T level on the day of hCG administration in the H group was significantly higher than that in the M group (P=0.010) and the L group (P= 0.001). However, there were not significant differences in the serum T levels at other time points of COH among three groups (P>0.05). ➁There were not significant differences in the fertilization rate and the rate of high quality embryo among three groups (P>0.05), however there was significant difference in the clinical pregnancy rate (P<0.05). ➂The serum T level on the day of ovum pick-up in the pregnant group was significantly higher than that in the non-pregnant group (P<0.05); however there was not significant difference in the T level of follicular fluid (P>0.05). Conclusions: During the IVF-ET treatment, the basal level of serum T can not predict ovarian response and pregnancy outcome; however the T level on the day of hCG administration could be a parameter, to predict ovarian response. The serum T level on the day of ovum pick -up is associated with pregnancy outcome; however, the T in the follicular fluid is not associated with pregnancy outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To quantitatively evaluate the morphological parameters of meibomian glands (MGs) and lipid layer thickness (LLT) in patients with keratoconus (KC). Methods: In this prospective, cross-sectional study, 164 eyes of 164 keratoconus patients and 64 eyes of 64 age-matched control subjects were included. An advanced automatic MG analyzer was used to quantitatively measure the morphological and functional parameters of MGs. Morphological and functional parameters of MGs, LLT, and other ocular surface parameters were compared between the control and KC groups. Results: The mean meibomian gland diameter, length, square, and gland area ratio (GA) were all significantly decreased in the KC group (all P < 0.05), while no significant difference was observed in the gland tortuosity index (TI) and gland signal index (SI) between the KC and control groups (all P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the number of total and incomplete blinking among patients with different stages of keratoconus (all P > 0.05). The gland diameter, square, and TI were all negatively associated with KC severity (all P < 0.05), while no significant difference was observed among all stages of KC in gland length, GA, and SI (all P > 0.05). Moreover, the LLTs were positively correlated with the gland diameter, square, GA, and TI and negatively correlated with anterior corneal curvature or KC severity (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: Atrophic morphological changes in the meibomian glands were closely correlated with the severity of keratoconus. Gland diameter may be a sensitive functional morphology metric of meibomian glands in patients with keratoconus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple‐cation mixed perovskites have attracted much attention recently owing to their prominent optoelectronic properties and good stability for perovskite solar cells. However, the introduction of those cations with different sizes in the perovskite materials will drive the perovskite lattice away from ideal cubic structure and lead to microstrain in the resultant films. Herein,a small amount of KBF4 as an additive to elevate the quality of triple‐cation mixed perovskite thin films is introduced. It is found that KBF4 can enhance the crystallinity and alleviate microstrain of the perovskite thin films. Moreover, KBF4 can passivate defects in perovskite grains, leading to much longer carrier lifetimes. Consequently, the resultant devices show improved fill factor, enhanced device efficiency, and better device stability. Under optimum fabrication conditions, triple‐cation mixed perovskite solar cells with an inverted structure show power conversion efficiency over 23% as well as excellent stability under different conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A77 1726 induces autophagy by activating the AMPK-ULK pathway. • A77 1726 enhances Salmonella-induced xenophagy. • A77 1726 restricts intracellular Salmonella growth in macrophages. Autophagy plays an important role in restricting the growth of invading intracellular microbes. Salmonella (S) Typhimurium, an intracellular pathogen that causes gastroenteritis and food poisoning in humans, evades autophagic detection by multiple mechanisms. There has been growing interest in developing autophagy inducers as novel antimicrobial agents for treating intracellular bacterial infections. We recently reported that A77 1726, the active metabolite of the anti-inflammatory drug leflunomide, induces autophagy by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and Unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1). Our present study aims to determine if A77 1726 was able to restrict intracellular Salmonella growth by inducing autophagy. We first confirmed the ability of A77 1726 to induce autophagy by activating the AMPK-ULK1 axis in uninfected RAW264.7 (a murine macrophage cell line) and HeLa cells (a human cervical carcinoma cell line). A77 1726 enhanced autophagy in S. Typhimurium-infected cells, as evidenced by increased levels of LC3 lipidation and increased numbers of autophagosomes and autolysosomes. Confocal microscopy revealed that A77 1726 induced xenophagy in macrophages, as evidenced by an increased number of LC3-coated bacteria in the cytoplasm. A77 1726 significantly decreased the number of intracellular S. Typhimurium in macrophages. Taken together, our study has demonstrated the ability of A77 1726 to restrict intracellular S. Typhimurium growth in vitro by enhancing xenophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To compare the difference in maternal outcomes between early and late use of transverse annular compression sutures (TACS) during cesarean delivery among women with complete placenta previa (CPP). Methods: A retrospective study of 36 women with CPP was conducted. Percentiles of blood loss before TACS were calculated. The transfusion rate, sensitivity, specificity, Youden index, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were also estimated. Patients were assigned to either the early TACS group or the late TACS group based on the highest Youden index. Maternal outcomes of the 2 groups were compared. Results: The Youden index for transfusion rate was highest when blood loss before TACS reached 500mL. Blood loss before intervention in the late TACS group was significantly higher than in the early TACS group (735.0±123.7mL versus 396.9±76.3mL; P <0.001). More women in the late TACS group than in the early TACS group required blood transfusion (60.0% versus 12.5%; P =0.004) and the volume of blood transfused was significantly lower in the early TACS group than in the late TACS group (137.5±377.5mL versus 806.7±619.3mL; P =0.001). Conclusion: Early implementation of TACS could lead to improved maternal outcomes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

It has been long recognised that activation of toll‐like receptors (TLRs) induces autophagy to restrict intracellular bacterial growth. However, the mechanisms of TLR‐induced autophagy are incompletely understood. Salmonella Typhimurium is an intracellular pathogen that causes food poisoning and gastroenteritis in humans. Whether TLR activation contributes to S. Typhimurium‐induced autophagy has not been investigated. Here, we report that S. Typhimurium and TLRs shared a common pathway to induce autophagy in macrophages. We first showed that S. Typhimurium‐induced autophagy in a RAW264.7 murine macrophage cell line was mediated by the AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) through activation of the TGF‐β‐activated kinase (TAK1), a kinase activated by multiple TLRs. AMPK activation led to increased phosphorylation of Unc‐51‐like autophagy activating kinase (ULK1) at S317 and S555. ULK1 phosphorylation at these two sites in S. Typhimurium‐infected macrophages overrode the inhibitory effect of mTOR on ULK1 activity due to mTOR‐mediated ULK1 phosphorylation at S757. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), flagellin, and CpG oligodeoxynucleotide, which activate TLR4, TLR5, and TLR9, respectively, increased TAK1 and AMPK phosphorylation and induced autophagy in RAW264.7 cells and in bone marrow‐derived macrophages. However, LPS was unable to induce TAK1 and AMPK phosphorylation and autophagy in TLR4‐deficient macrophages. TAK1 and AMPK‐specific inhibitors blocked S. Typhimurium‐induced autophagy and xenophagy and increased the bacterial growth in RAW264.7 cells. These observations collectively suggest that activation of the TAK1–AMPK axis through TLRs is essential for S. Typhimurium‐induced autophagy and that TLR signalling cross‐activates the autophagic pathway to clear intracellular bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Lignin is an important component of plant cell walls and plays crucial roles in the essential agronomic traits of tea quality and tenderness. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of lignin biosynthesis in tea plants remain unclear. CsWRKY13 acts as a negative regulator of lignin biosynthesis in tea plants. In this study, we identified a GRAS transcription factor, phytochrome A signal transduction 1 (CsPAT1), that interacts with CsWRKY13. Silencing CsPAT1 expression in tea plants and heterologous overexpression in Arabidopsis demonstrated that CsPAT1 positively regulates lignin accumulation. Further investigation revealed that CsWRKY13 directly binds to the promoters of CsPAL and CsC4H and suppresses transcription of CsPAL and CsC4H. CsPAT1 indirectly affects the promoter activities of CsPAL and CsC4H by interacting with CsWRKY13, thereby facilitating lignin biosynthesis in tea plants. Compared with the expression of CsWRKY13 alone, the co‐expression of CsPAT1 and CsWRKY13 in Oryza sativa significantly increased lignin biosynthesis. Conversely, compared with the expression of CsPAT1 alone, the co‐expression of CsPAT1 and CsWRKY13 in O. sativa significantly reduced lignin accumulation. These results demonstrated the antagonistic regulation of the lignin biosynthesis pathway by CsPAT1 and CsWRKY13. These findings improve our understanding of lignin biosynthesis mechanisms in tea plants and provide insights into the role of the GRAS transcription factor family in lignin accumulation. Significance Statement: Silencing of CsPAT1 expression in tea plants and heterologous overexpression in Arabidopsis and Oryza sativa demonstrated that CsPAT1 positively regulates lignin accumulation. CsPAT1 indirectly regulates the promoter activity of CsPAL and CsC4H through its interaction with CsWRKY13, facilitating lignin biosynthesis in tea plants. Our findings provide new insights into the role of the GRAS transcription factor family in the regulation of lignin accumulation in tea plants and other plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The circadian clock, also known as the circadian rhythm, is responsible for predicting daily and seasonal changes in the environment, and adjusting various physiological and developmental processes to the appropriate times during plant growth and development. The circadian clock controls the expression of the Lhcb gene, which encodes the chlorophyll a/b binding protein. However, the roles of the Lhcb gene in tea plant remain unclear. Results: In this study, a total of 16 CsLhcb genes were identified based on the tea plant genome, which were distributed on 8 chromosomes of the tea plant. The promoter regions of CsLhcb genes have a variety of cis-acting elements including hormonal, abiotic stress responses and light response elements. The CsLhcb family genes are involved in the light response process in tea plant. The photosynthetic parameter of tea leaves showed rhythmic changes during the two photoperiod periods (48 h). Stomata are basically open during the day and closed at night. Real-time quantitative PCR results showed that most of the CsLhcb family genes were highly expressed during the day, but were less expressed at night. Conclusions: Results indicated that CsLhcb genes were involved in the circadian clock process of tea plant, it also provided potential references for further understanding of the function of CsLhcb gene family in tea plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Invasive breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous tumor, although there have been many prediction methods for invasive breast cancer risk prediction, the prediction effect is not satisfactory. There is an urgent need to develop a more accurate method to predict the prognosis of patients with invasive breast cancer. OBJECTIVE: To identify potential mRNAs and construct risk prediction models for invasive breast cancer based on bioinformatics METHODS: In this study, we investigated the differences in mRNA expression profiles between invasive breast cancer and normal breast samples, and constructed a risk model for the prediction of prognosis of invasive breast cancer with univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. RESULTS: We constructed a risk model comprising 8 mRNAs (PAX7, ZIC2, APOA5, TP53AIP1,MYBPH, USP41, DACT2, and POU3F2) for the prediction of invasive breast cancer prognosis. We used the 8-mRNA risk prediction model to divide 1076 samples into high-risk groups and low-risk groups, the Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the high-risk group was closely related to the poor prognosis of overall survival in patients with invasive breast cancer. The receiver operating characteristic curve revealed an area under the curve of 0.773 for the 8 mRNA model at 3-year overall survival, indicating that this model showed good specificity and sensitivity for prediction of prognosis of invasive breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides an effective bioinformatic analysis for the better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis and prognosis risk assessment of invasive breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As one of the most common malignant tumors in humans, lung cancer has experienced a gradual increase in morbidity and mortality. This study examined prognosis-related methylation-driven genes specific to lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) to provide a basis for prognosis prediction and personalized targeted therapy for LUAD patients. Methods: The methylation and survival time data from LUAD patients in the TCGA database were downloaded. The MethylMix algorithm was used to identify the differential methylation status of LUAD and adjacent tissues based on the β-mixture model to obtain disease-related methylation-driven genes. A COX regression model was then used to screen for LUAD prognosis-related methylation-driven genes, and a linear risk model based on five methylation-driven gene expression profiles was constructed. A methylation and gene expression combined survival analysis was performed to further explore the prognostic value of 5 genes independently. Results: There were 118 differentially expressed methylation-driven genes in the LUAD tissues and adjacent tissues. Five of the genes, CCDC181, PLAU, S1PR1, ELF3, and KLHDC9, were used to construct a prognostic risk model. Overall, the survival time was significantly lower in the high-risk group compared with that in the low-risk group (P < 0.05). In addition, the methylation and gene expression combined survival analysis found that the combined expression levels of the genes CCDC181, PLAU, and S1PR1 as well as KLHDC9 alone can be used as independent prognostic markers or drug targets. Conclusion: Our findings provide an important bioinformatic basis and relevant theoretical basis for guiding subsequent LUAD early diagnosis and prognosis assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]