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Acoustic droplet ejection (ADE) has been proven to move liquids in droplet form from a container to mid-air. However, the droplet sizes produced using the traditional ADE setups are proportional to their heights if the physical framework is unchanged. This limitation obstructs further employment of ADE technology since having the exact sizes of droplets at a specific location or different sizes at different locations is required for many applications. To overcome this limitation and enable more possible applications of ADE, this study proposed an innovative ADE configuration that could manipulate the size and height of the ADE droplets with only electrical signals. To achieve this, a low-voltage driving period and a pinhole structure were added to create a water mound before ejection. First, simulations were conducted to validate the proposed method and find the parameters of the novel ADE setup. After that, a driving circuit featuring a high-voltage pulser and a field-programmable gate array was built. However, a 3D spherical resin model was printed to focus the acoustic wave on the water surface, and a cover with a pinhole was added to create water mound. To observe the behavior of the droplets, a recording system and detection algorithm were developed to capture and identify the dimension/height of the droplets, respectively. Finally, the proposed ADE configuration successfully manipulated the droplet size at the same ejecting height under three driving voltages (65, 70, and 75 V) and pinhole diameters (3.7, 4, and 4.4 mm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate whether Naoxueshu Oral Liquid (NXS) could promote hematoma absorption in post-craniotomy hematoma (PCH) patients. Methods: This is an open-label, multicenter, and randomized controlled trial conducted at 9 hospitals in China. Patients aged 18–80 years with post-craniotomy supratentorial hematoma volume ranging from 10 to 30 mL or post-craniotomy infratentorial hematoma volume less than 10 mL, or intraventricular hemorrhage following cranial surgery were enrolled. They were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to the NXS (10 mL thrice daily for 15 days) or control groups using a randomization code table. Standard medical care was administered in both groups. The primary outcome was the percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 15. The secondary outcomes included the percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 7, the absolute reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 7 and 15, and the change in neurological function from day 1 to day 7 and 15. The safety was closely monitored throughout the study. Moreover, subgroup analysis was performed based on age, gender, history of diabetes, and etiology of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Results: A total of 120 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned between March 30, 2018 and April 15, 2020. One patient was lost to follow-up in the control group. Finally, there were 119 patients (60 in the NXS group and 59 in the control group) included in the analysis. In the full analysis set (FAS) analysis, the NXS group had a greater percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 15 than the control group [median (Q1, Q3): 85% (71%, 97%) vs. 76% (53%, 93%), P<0.05]. The secondary outcomes showed no statistical significance between two groups, either in FAS or per-protocol set (P>0.05). Furthermore, no adverse events were reported during the study. In the FAS analysis, the NXS group exhibited a higher percentage reduction in hematoma volume on day 15 in the following subgroups: male patients, patients younger than 65 years, patients without diabetes, or those with initial cranial surgery due to ICH (all P<0.05). Conclusions: The administration of NXS demonstrated the potential to promote the percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 15. This intervention was found to be safe and feasible. The response to NXS may be influenced by patient characteristics. (Registration No. ChiCTR1800017981) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cordyceps cicadae is recognized for its medicinal properties, attributed to bioactive constituents like polysaccharides and adenosine, which have been shown to improve kidney and liver functions and possess anti-tumor properties. Rho GTPase activating proteins (Rho GAPs) serve as inhibitory regulators of Rho GTPases in eukaryotic cells by accelerating the GTP hydrolysis of Rho GTPases, leading to their inactivation. In this study, we explored the function of the CcRga8 gene in C. cicadae, which encodes a Rho-type GTPase activating protein. Our study found that the knockout of CcRga8 resulted in a decrease in polysaccharide levels and an increase in adenosine concentration. Furthermore, the mutants exhibited altered spore yield and morphology, fruiting body development, decreased infectivity, reduced resistance to hyperosmotic stress, oxidative conditions, and cell wall inhibitors. These findings suggest that CcRga8 plays a crucial role in the development, stress response, and bioactive compound production of C. cicadae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dihydroorotase (DHOase) is the third enzyme in the six enzymatic reaction steps of the endogenous pyrimidine nucleotide de novo biosynthesis pathway, which is a metabolic pathway conserved in both bacteria and eukaryotes. However, research on the biological function of DHOase in plant pathogenic fungi is very limited. In this study, we identified and named MoPyr4, a homologous protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae DHOase Ura4, in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae and investigated its ability to regulate fungal growth, pathogenicity, and autophagy. Deletion of MoPYR4 led to defects in growth, conidiation, appressorium formation, the transfer and degradation of glycogen and lipid droplets, appressorium turgor accumulation, and invasive hypha expansion in M. oryzae, which eventually resulted in weakened fungal pathogenicity. Long-term replenishment of exogenous uridine-5'-phosphate (UMP) can effectively restore the phenotype and virulence of the ΔMopyr4 mutant. Further study revealed that MoPyr4 also participated in the regulation of the Pmk1-MAPK signaling pathway, co-localized with peroxisomes for the oxidative stress response, and was involved in the regulation of the Osm1-MAPK signaling pathway in response to hyperosmotic stress. In addition, MoPyr4 interacted with MoAtg5, the core protein involved in autophagy, and positively regulated autophagic degradation. Taken together, our results suggested that MoPyr4 for UMP biosynthesis was crucial for the development and pathogenicity of M. oryzae. We also revealed that MoPyr4 played an essential role in the external stress response and pathogenic mechanism through participation in the Pmk1-MAPK signaling pathway, peroxisome-related oxidative stress response mechanism, the Osm1-MAPK signaling pathway and the autophagy pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The ratio of lysine (Lys) to methionine (Met) with 3.0: 1 is confirmed as the "ideal" profile for milk protein synthesis, but whether this ratio is suitable for milk protein synthesis under HS needs to be further studied. Methods: To evaluate the molecular mechanism by which HS and Lys to Met ratios affect mammary cell functional capacity, an immortalized bovine mammary epithelial cell line (MAC-T) is incubated with 5 doses of Met while maintaining a constant concentration of Lys. The MAC-T cells was treated for 6 h as follow: Lys: Met 3.0: 1 (control 37°C and IPAA 42°C) or treatments under HS (42°C) with different ratios of Lys: Met at 2.0: 1 (LM20), 2.5: 1 (LM25), 3.5: 1 (LM35) and 4.0: 1 (LM40). RNA sequencing was used to assess transcriptomewide alterations in mRNA abundance. Results: The significant difference between control and other groups was observed base on PCA analysis. A total of 2048 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the IPAA group relative to the control group. Similarly, 226, 306, 148, 157 DEGs were detected in the LM20, LM25, LM35 and LM40 groups, respectively, relative to the IPAA group. The relative mRNA abundance of HSPA1A was upregulated and anti-apoptotic genes (BCL2L1 and BCL2) was down-regulated in the IPAA group, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Compared with the IPAA group, the relative mRNA abundance of anti-apoptotic genes and casein genes (CSN1S2 and CSN2) was up-regulated in the LM25 group (p < 0.05). The DEGs between LM25 and IPAA groups were associated with the negative regulation of transcription RNA polymerase II promoter in response to stress (GO: 0051085, DEGs of BAG3, DNAJB1, HSPA1A) as well as the mTOR signaling pathway (ko04150, DEGs of ATP6V1C2, WNT11, WNT3A, and WNT9A). Several DEGs involved in amino acids metabolism (AFMID, HYKK, NOS3, RIMKLB) and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis (AFMID and MGAT5B) were up-regulated while DEGs involved in lipolysis and betaoxidation catabolic processes (ALOX12 and ALOX12B) were down-regulated. Conclusion: These results suggested that increasing Met supply (Lys: Met at 2.5: 1) may help mammary gland cells resist HS-induced cell damage, while possibly maintaining lactation capacity through regulation of gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing a bespoke CO2 phase transition pulse pressure experimental system, we conducted pulse pressure characterization tests across various activator masses, CO2 filling pressures, and energy discharge plate thicknesses. This approach enabled us to ascertain the pulse pressure's response characteristics and variation patterns under diverse conditions. The formula for calculating the peak supercritical CO2 pulse pressure was deduced by modeling the ultimate load calculation of the clamped circular plate, and then the time-course expression of the supercritical CO2 phase transition pulse pressure and energy was carried out by introducing the time factor and taking into account the parameters of the activator mass and the thickness of the energy discharging plate. Our findings reveal a four-stage pressure evolution in the cracking tube during initiation: a gradual increase, a rapid spike, swift attenuation, and eventual negative pressure formation. The activator mass and discharge plate thickness critically influence the peak pressure's timing and magnitude. Specifically, increased activator mass hastens peak pressure onset, while a thicker discharge plate amplifies it. The errors between calculated and experimental values for peak supercritical CO2 phase transition pressure fall within 5%-5%. Furthermore, the pressure peak and arrival time model demonstrates less than 10% error compared to experimental data, affirming its strong applicability. These insights offer theoretical guidance for controlling phase transition pressure and optimizing energy in supercritical CO2 systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on phylogenetic analysis, Candolleomyces (Psathyrellaceae, Agaricales) was established with Psathyrella candolleana as the type species. The basidiomes range from small to large and are typically terrestrial, lignicolous, and rarely fimicolous. We analysed the Candolleomyces species collected during five years in China, and based on morphological and molecular data (nrITS, nrLSU, and tef-1α), we propose seven new Candolleomyces species viz. C. brevisporus, C. gyirongicus, C. lignicola, C. luridus, C. shennongdingicus, C. shennongjianus, and C. sichuanicus. Full descriptions, colour photographs, illustrations, phylogenetic analyses results, and comparisons with related Candolleomyces species of the new taxa are provided. This study enriches the species diversity of Candolleomyces in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The efficacy of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in patients with acute minor ischaemic stroke (AMIS) remains unclear. We performed a meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of IVT and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients with AMIS. Methods: The Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched up to 10 October, 2023. Prospective and retrospective studies comparing the clinical outcomes of IVT and DAPT were included. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for early neurological deterioration (END), excellent and favourable functional outcomes, recurrent ischaemic stroke at 3months, mortality at 3 months, and symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) were pooled using a random-effects model. Results: Of the five included studies, 6,340 patients were included. In patients with AMIS, IVT was not significantly associated with excellent and favourable functional outcomes, recurrent ischaemic stroke, or all-cause mortality at 3 months compared to early DAPT. However, a higher risk of symptomatic ICH (OR, 9.31; 95% CI, 3.39-25.57) and END (OR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.76-4.30) were observed with IVT. Conclusion: This meta-analysis indicated that IVT was not superior to DAPT in patients with AMIS, especially in those with nondisabling AIS. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution and have some limitations. Further, well-designed randomised controlled trials are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The Japan NBI Expert Team (JNET) classification has good diagnostic potential for colorectal diseases. We aimed to explore the diagnostic value of the JNET classification type 2B (JNET2B) criteria for colorectal laterally spreading tumors (LSTs) based on magnifying endoscopy with blue laser imaging (ME‐BLI) examination. Methods: Between January 2017 and June 2023, 218 patients who were diagnosed as having JNET2B‐type LSTs using ME‐BLI were included retrospectively. Endoscopic images were reinterpreted to categorize the LSTs as JNET2B‐low (n = 178) and JNET2B‐high (n = 53) LSTs. The JNET2B‐low and JNET2B‐high LSTs were compared based on their histopathological and morphological classifications. Results: Among the 178 JNET2B‐low LSTs, 86 (48.3%) were histopathologically classified as low‐grade intraepithelial neoplasia, 54 (30.3%) as high‐grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN), 37 (20.8%) as intramucosal carcinoma (IMC), and one (0.6%) as superficial invasive submucosal carcinoma (SMC1). Among the 53 JNET2B‐high LSTs, five (9.4%) were classified as HGIN, 28 (52.9%) as IMC, 15 (28.3%) as SMC1, and 5 (9.4%) as deep invasive submucosal carcinoma. There were significant differences in this histopathological classification between the two groups (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between JNET2B‐low and JNET2B‐high LSTs based on their morphological classification (granular vs nongranular) or size (<20 mm vs ≥20 mm). Besides, the κ value for JNET2B subtyping was 0.698 (95% confidence interval 0.592–0.804) between the two endoscopists who reassessed the endoscopic images. Conclusion: The JNET2B subtyping of LSTs has a diagnostic potential in the preoperative setting, and may be valuable for treatment decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern integrated circuits (ICs) take advantage of three-dimensional (3D) nanostructures in devices and interconnects to achieve high-speed and ultra-low-power performance. The choice of electrical insulation materials with excellent dielectric strength, electrical resistivity, strong mechanical strength, and high thermal conductivity becomes critical. Diamond possesses these properties and is recently recognized as a promising dielectric material for the fabrication of advanced ICs, which are sensitive to detrimental high-temperature processes. Therefore, a high-rate low-temperature deposition technique for large-grain, high-quality diamond films of the thickness of a few tens to a few hundred nanometers is desirable. The diamond growth rate by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) decreases rapidly with lowering substrate temperature. In addition, the thermal conductivity of non-diamond carbon is much lower than that of diamond. Furthermore, a small-grain diamond film suffers from poor thermal conductivity due to frequent phonon scattering at grain boundaries. This paper reports a novel MPCVD process aiming at high growth rate, large grain size, and high sp3/sp2 ratio for diamond films deposited on silicon. Graphite paste containing nanoscale graphite and oxy-hydrocarbon binder and solvent vaporizes and mixes with gas feeds of hydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide to form plasma. Rapid diamond growth of diamond seeds at 450 °C by the plasma results in large-grained diamond films on silicon at a high deposition rate of 200 nm/h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gram-positive, rod-shaped, aerobic, motile, and spore-forming bacterium, designated SCL10, was isolated from Acaudina molpadioides exposure to Co-60 radiation. In this study, whole-genome sequencing was performed to identify the strain as Bacillus cereus and functional characterization, with a focus on stress resistance. The genome of the B. cereus SCL10 strain was sequenced and assembled, revealing a size of 4,979,182 bp and 5167 coding genes. The genes involved in biological functions were annotated by using the GO, COG, KEGG, NR, and Swiss-Prot databases. The results showed that genes related to alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (ahpC, ahpF), DNA-binding proteins from starved cells (dps), spore and biofilm formation (spoVG, spo0A, gerP), cold shock-like protein (cspC, cspE), ATP-dependent chaperone (clpB), and photolyase, small, acid-soluble spore protein (SASP) and DNA repair protein (recA, radD) could explain the stress resistance. These findings suggest that antioxidant activity, sporulation, biofilm formation, and DNA protection may be considered as the main resistance mechanisms under exposure to radiation in the B. cereus SCL10 strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to observe the results of bone marrow flow cytometric (BMFC) typing and pathological immunohistochemical (PI) of lymphoma cell leukemia (LCL), and then provide scientific data for clinical typing of lymph node cell leukemia. The BMFC typing and PI data of 86 patients with LCL admitted to our hospital from January 2018 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed to compare the BMFC typing and PI expression, and investigate the differences in PI results among patients with different BMFC typing. There were significant differences in bone marrow flow cytometry immunogen level between T lymphocyte type and B lymphocyte type (P<0.05). CD3, BCL-2, CD7, TDT and CD34 were the dominant PI typing of T cell type. The expression rate of BCL-2 was 100.00% and that of CD3 was 91.67% (33/36), followed by TDT, CD7 and CD34. CD20, CD79a, BCL-6 and BCL-2 were the dominant PI typing of B-cell type. CD20 had the highest expression rate (100.00%), followed by CD79a and BCL-6. There were significant differences in PI typing antigen level between T lymphocyte type and B lymphocyte type (P<0.05). Regarding the correlation between the same antigen of BMFC typing and PI typing, only CD3, CD7 and CD20 were correlated (r>0, P<0.05). CD5 exhibited no correlation (P>0.05). BMFC typing and PI antigen typing of LCL are only correlated in terms of CD3, CD7 and CD20 antigens, with complementary effects shown in other antigens. It was concluded that clinical selection should be made by comprehensive consideration of patients' conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe form of tuberculosis (TB) and can be difficult to diagnose and treat. We aimed to describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis, disease spectrum, outcome, and prognostic factors of patients treated for TBM in China. Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted from 2009 to 2019 enrolling all presumptive TBM patients referred to Xijing tertiary Hospital from 27 referral centers in and around Shaanxi province, China. Patients with clinical features suggestive of TBM (abnormal CSF parameters) were included in the study if they had adequate baseline information to be classified as "confirmed," "probable," or "possible" TBM according to international consensus TBM criteria and remained in follow-up. Patients with a confirmed alternative diagnosis or severe immune compromise were excluded. Clinical presentation, central nervous system imaging, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) results, TBM score, and outcome--assessed using the modified Barthel disability index--were recorded and compared. Findings: A total of 341 presumptive TBM patients met selection criteria; 63 confirmed TBM (25 culture positive, 42 Xpert-MTB/RIF positive), 66 probable TBM, 163 possible TBM, and 49 "not TBM." Death was associated with BMRC grade III (OR = 5.172; 95%CI: 2.298-11.641), TBM score = 15 (OR = 3.843; 95%CI: 1.372-10.761), age > 60 years (OR = 3.566; 95%CI: 1.022-12.442), and CSF neutrophil ratio = 25% (OR = 2.298; 95%CI: 1.027-5.139). Among those with confirmed TBM, nearly one-third (17/63, 27.0%) had a TBM score < 12; these patients exhibited less classic meningitis symptoms and signs and had better outcomes compared with those with a TBM score = 12. In this group, signs of disseminated/miliary TB (OR = 12.427; 95%CI: 1.138-135.758) and a higher TBM score (=15, OR = 8.437; 95%CI: 1.328-53.585) were most strongly associated with death. Conclusion: TBM patients who are older (>60 years) have higher TBM scores or CSF neutrophil ratios, have signs of disseminated/miliary TB, and are at greatest risk of death. In general, more effort needs to be done to improve early diagnosis and treatment outcome in TBM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we employ well-established relations for compressible turbulent mean flows, including the velocity transformation and algebraic temperature-velocity (TV) relation, to systematically improve the algebraic Baldwin-Lomax (BL) wall model for high-speed zero-pressure-gradient air boundary layers. Any new functions or coefficients fitted by ourselves are avoided. Twelve published direct numerical simulation (DNS) datasets are employed for a priori inspiration and a posteriori examination, with Mach numbers up to 14 under adiabatic, cold and heated walls. The baseline BL model is the widely used one with semilocal scalings. Three targeted modifications are made. First, we employ a total-stress-based transformation (Griffin et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, vol. 118, issue 34, 2021, e2111144118) to the inner-layer eddy viscosity for improved scaling up to the logarithmic region. Second, we utilize the van Driest transformation in the outer layer based on the compressible defect velocity scaling. Third, considering the difficulty in modelling the rapidly varying and singular turbulent Prandtl number near the temperature peak in cold-wall cases, we design a two-layer strategy and use the TV relation to formulate the inner-layer temperature. Numerical results prove that the modifications take effect as designed. The prediction accuracy for mean streamwise velocity is notably improved for diabatic cases, especially in the logarithmic region. Moreover, a significant improvement in mean temperature is realized for both adiabatic and diabatic cases. The mean relative errors of temperature to DNS for all cases are down to 0.4%in the logarithmic wall-normal coordinate and 3.4% in the outer coordinate, around one-third of those in the baseline model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine sponges of the genus Spongia have proven to be unabated sources of novel secondary metabolites with remarkable scaffold diversities and significant bioactivities. The discovery of chemical substances from Spongia sponges has continued to increase over the last few years. The current work provides an up-to-date literature survey and comprehensive insight into the reported metabolites from the members of the genus Spongia, as well as their structural features, biological activities, and structure–activity relationships when available. In this review, 222 metabolites are discussed based on published data from the period from mid-2015 to the beginning of 2024. The compounds are categorized into sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, sesterterpenes, meroterpenes, linear furanoterpenes, steroids, alkaloids, and other miscellaneous substances. The biological effects of these chemical compositions on a vast array of pharmacological assays including cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, neuroprotective, protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B)-inhibitory, and phytoregulating activities are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Septins play a key regulatory role in cell division, cytokinesis, and cell polar growth of the rice blast fungus (Magnaporthe oryzae). We found that the organization of the septin ring, which is essential for appressorium-mediated infection in M. oryzae, requires long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), which act as mediators of septin organization at membrane interfaces. However, it is unclear how septin ring formation and LCFAs regulate the pathogenicity of the rice blast fungus. In this study, a novel protein was named MoLfa1 because of its role in LCFAs utilization. MoLfa1 affects the utilization of LCFAs, lipid metabolism, and the formation of the septin ring by binding with phosphatidylinositol phosphates (PIPs), thereby participating in the construction of penetration pegs of M. oryzae. In addition, MoLfa1 is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and interacts with the ER-related protein MoMip11 to affect the phosphorylation level of Mps1. (Mps1 is the core protein in the MPS1-MAPK pathway.) In conclusion, MoLfa1 affects conidia morphology, appressorium formation, lipid metabolism, LCFAs utilization, septin ring formation, and the Mps1-MAPK pathway of M. oryzae, influencing pathogenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of thallium(I) ions on the surface morphology, cathode current efficiency, cathode potential, polarization behavior, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of zinc electrowinning were studied by scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical measurements. The results showed that with increasing thallium(I) ion concentration in the electrolyte, the hydrogen evolution reaction and the galvanic effect produced during zinc electrowinning increased. When the concentration of thallium(I) ions in the electrolyte was 0.6 mg L-1, the exchange current density of the zinc electrowinning process was maximum and the polarization was minimum. At this time, the Rct of the equivalent circuit was minimum, the CPE value was minimum, and the charge transfer rate was maximum. The cathodic current efficiency decreased from 80% to 55% when the thallium(I) ion concentration was 1.5 mg L-1. The presence of thallium(I) ions also affected the surface macro- and microstructure of the zinc deposits. This result confirmed that thallium(I) ions have a significant negative influence on the electrowinning of zinc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whitfordiodendron filipes var. tomentosum is an endemic plant in China. There have been no chemical or pharmacological studies of this plant reported before. In the current research, eight triterpenes and two steroids were obtained. Their structures were established by the analysis of NMR data and comparison with those reported in the literature. These ten structurally diverse compounds comprised five distinct carbon frameworks with different functionalities. The chemotaxonomic significance of these secondary metabolites was discussed, disclosing the common components between the variant W. filipes var. tomentosum and the species W. filipe. Evaluation of α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of these isolates disclosed that compounds 1, 2, 4, and 6 exhibited significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activities (IC50 = 16.6–19.2 μM), which were close in value to the positive control acarbose (IC50 = 11.5 μM). Moreover, the binding modes between the biologically active compounds 1, 2, 4, and 6 and the α-glucosidase protein were preliminarily studied using molecular docking. This study not only showed the chemical and biological profile of the plant W. filipes var. tomentosum but also revealed that these components could be developed as hypoglycemic lead compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting green investment is the inevitable choice for sustainable economics against climate change. We examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected corporate green investment. Using a sample of publicly listed firms in China, we document the negative and significant effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on corporate green investment. Further analyses suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic impeded corporate green investment by exacerbating firms' financial constraints. We also find that the COVID-19 pandemic had no significant effect on total investment, suggesting that the pandemic shock only changed investment structure. In summary, our findings reveal the real effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on green development at the firm level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is the prevailing congenital anomaly of the kidneys and urinary tract, posing a significant risk for pyelonephritis scarring and chronic renal insufficiency in pediatric patients. Nevertheless, the precise genetic etiology of VUR remains enigmatic. In this current investigation, we conducted whole-exome sequencing on a child exhibiting single kidney, devoid of any familial VUR background, along with both biological parents. Two missense variants (NM_019105.8: exon11: c.4111G>A and NM_019105.8: exon2: c.31A>T) in the TNXB gene were identified through whole-exome sequencing of the child. These variants were found to be inherited from the child's parents, with each parent carrying one of the variants. Molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to assess the impact of these variants on the tenascin XB proteins encoded by them, revealing varying degrees of impairment. Based on our findings, it is suggested that the TNXB compound heterozygous variant, consisting of c.4111G>A and c.31A>T, may be the underlying cause of right renal agenesis and left hydronephrosis in afflicted child. This discovery broadens the genetic range of the TNXB gene and establishes a genetic foundation for disease-specific preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in prospective pregnancies involving the parents of this afflicted child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, high-order finite difference methods are proposed to solve the initial-boundary value problem for one- and two-dimensional Riesz space variable-order fractional diffusion equations. We first introduce fractional centered difference (FCD) and weighted and shifted fractional centered difference (WSFCD) schemes for Riesz space variable-order fractional derivatives. Then the Crank-Nicolson (CN) scheme and the linearly implicit conservative (LIC) difference scheme are applied to discretize the time derivative in linear and nonlinear problems, respectively. Thus, we get CN-FCD and CN-WSFCD schemes, and LIC-FCD and LIC-WSFCD schemes, respectively. Theoretical results about the stability and convergence for the above-mentioned schemes are presented and proved. Banded preconditioners are introduced to speed up GMRES methods for solving the discretization linear systems. The spectral property of the preconditioned matrix is analyzed. Numerical results show that the proposed schemes and preconditioners are very efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cell cycle is pivotal to cellular differentiation in plant pathogenic fungi. Cell wall integrity (CWI) signaling plays an essential role in coping with cell wall stress. Autophagy is a degradation process in which cells decompose their components to recover macromolecules and provide energy under stress conditions. However, the specific association between cell cycle, autophagy and CWI pathway remains unclear in model pathogenic fungi Magnaporthe oryzae. Here, we have identified MoSwe1 as the conserved component of the cell cycle in the rice blast fungus. We have found that MoSwe1 targets MoMps1, a conserved critical MAP kinase of the CWI pathway, through protein phosphorylation that positively regulates CWI signaling. The CWI pathway is abnormal in the ΔMoswe1 mutant with cell cycle arrest. In addition, we provided evidence that MoSwe1 positively regulates autophagy by interacting with MoAtg17 and MoAtg18, the core autophagy proteins. Moreover, the S phase initiation was earlier, the morphology of conidia and appressoria was abnormal, and septum formation and glycogen degradation were impaired in the ΔMoswe1 mutant. Our research defines that MoSWE1 regulation of G1/S transition, CWI pathway, and autophagy supports its specific requirement for appressorium development and virulence in plant pathogenic fungi. 4YLJWdgoLcEF_sT4NWF7zp Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halogenation of pyrrole requires strong electrophilic reagents and often leads to undesired polyhalogenated products. Biocatalytic halogenation is a highly attractive approach given its chemoselectivity and benign reaction conditions. While there are several reports of enzymatic phenol and indole halogenation in organic synthesis, corresponding reports on enzymatic pyrrole halogenation have been lacking. Here we describe the in vitro functional and structural characterization of PrnC, a flavin-dependent halogenase that can act on free-standing pyrroles. Computational modeling and site mutagenesis studies identified three key residues in the catalytic pocket. A moderate resolution map using single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy reveals PrnC to be a dimer. This native PrnC can halogenate a library of structurally diverse pyrrolic heterocycles in a site-selective manner and be applied in the chemoenzymatic synthesis of a chlorinated analog of the agrochemical fungicide Fludioxonil. Pyrroles are an important scaffold in medicinal chemistry with various bioactivities; however, the selective chemical halogenation of pyrroles remains challenging. Here, the authors develop an enzymatic site-selective chlorination of pyrrolic heterocycles by a flavin-dependent halogenase PrnC and apply it to the chemoenzymatic synthesis of a chlorinated analogue of the fungicide Fludioxonil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the attapulgite (ATP) was modified by Fe and Ce with the method of impregnation-roasting, and the degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) in the presence of ozone was investigated. The results showed that the degradation rate of 80 mg/L MB wastewater could reach about 94%, when the ozone flow rate is 250 mL/min, the reaction temperature is 35 °C, the catalyst is 0.4 g, and the initial pH of the solution is 7. The characterization results of the modified ATP showed that the Fe3+ and Ce4+ had been successfully loaded on the gravimetric clay. Finally, the degradation mechanism of MB was speculated, and the reaction kinetic equation was obtained. The model fit and reliability are good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corneal epithelial healing after refractive surgery is a clinically significant issue, especially for surface ablation procedures, and this can be monitored using optical coherence tomography (OCT). The aim of this work is to investigate the corneal epithelial thickness and irregularity by OCT after transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (t-PRK) and analyse its correlation with visual and refractive outcomes. Patients aged ≥18 years with myopia, with or without astigmatism, who underwent t-PRK between May 2020 and August 2021 were included. All participants were subjected to complete ophthalmic examinations and OCT pachymetry at every follow-up visit. Patients were followed up at 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. A total of 67 patients (126 eyes) were enrolled in this study. One month postoperatively, spherical equivalent refraction and visual acuity achieved preliminary stability. However, central corneal epithelial thickness (CCET) and standard deviation of the corneal epithelial thickness (SDcet) took 3–6 months to progressive recovery. Patients with higher baseline spherical equivalent refraction were associated with slower epithelial recovery. At every follow-up time point, a significant superior-inferior difference in the minimum corneal epithelial thickness area was observed. Higher stromal haze was correlated with higher spherical equivalent refraction (both baseline and residual) but had no relation with visual outcomes. There was a significant correlation between higher CCET with a better uncorrected distance visual acuity and lower corneal epithelial thickness irregularity. CCET and SDcet measured by OCT seem to be a good auxiliary indicator for reflecting the status of corneal wound recovery after t-PRK surgery. However, a well-designed randomised control study is needed to confirm the study results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Timely medical attention is crucial for patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS), as delays can significantly impact therapeutic outcomes. These delays are influenced by a combination of socio-cultural, educational, and clinical factors. Patients and Methods: An in-depth analysis was conducted to assess the prevalence and median duration of healthcare-seeking delays in AIS patients. The study specifically investigated the independent impacts of sociocultural and clinical determinants on these delays, with a focus on immigrant status, gender disparities, and educational levels. Multivariate regression analysis was employed to identify these independent effects while controlling for potential confounding factors. Results: Among 1419 AIS patients, 82.52% (n = 1171) experienced delays exceeding 2 hours from symptom onset of symptoms to hospital arrival. The median delay was 12.3 hours. Immigrant populations encountering longer delays compared to native groups. Younger males (< 45 years) and elderly females were more prone to delay in healthcare-seeking. Identified independent risk factors for delay included male gender (OR = 1.65 [95% CI:1.14− 2.48]), self-acknowledged diabetes (OR = 2.50 [95% CI:1.21– 5.17]), small vessel (OR = 2.07 [95% CI:1.27– 3.36]), and wake stroke (OR = 7.04 [95% CI:3.69– 13.44]). Educational background (high school and above), GCS score with 3– 8 points (OR = 0.52 [95% CI:0.09– 0.69]), understanding stroke-related knowledge (OR = 0.26 [95% CI:0.09– 0.44]), conscious disturbance (OR = 0.25 [95% CI:0.10– 0.62]) and limb weakness (OR=0.21[95% CI:0.21– 0.49]) are protective factors for timely treatment. Conclusion: Immigrant populations experienced longer delays from symptom onset to hospital arrival. The crucial roles of education and knowledge about stroke underscore the need for enhanced health literacy campaigns and public awareness, with a targeted focus on younger males and elderly females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bubble of underwater high current pulsed discharge forms after the pre-breakdown process, and the change in electrical loop parameters will affect its pulsation characteristics. The relationship between loop electrical parameters and the bubble-pulsation process is unclear, and its influence on the acoustic characteristics of the bubble-pulsation is not apparent. In order to quantitatively analyze the bubble-pulsation characteristics, a comprehensive experimental platform of underwater high current pulsed discharge is built. Under different loop electrical parameters, with the help of experimental data of electrical signals and optical images, the variation characteristics of the bubble-pulsation period and energy are analyzed. The acoustic characteristics of the bubble-pulsation process are analyzed, and the correctness of acoustic characteristic analysis is verified by experimental results. The comparison between experimental and theoretical data shows that the analysis of bubble-pulsation period and energy is correct. The bubble-pulsation characteristics can be predicted utilizing the deposition energy of the plasma channel. The results provide a basis for the quantitative analysis of the bubble-pulsation characteristics and strengthen the connection between the three underwater high current pulsed discharge processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new resolvent-based method is developed to predict the space--time properties of the flow field. To overcome the deterioration of the prediction accuracy with increasing distance between the measurements and predictions in the resolvent-based estimation (RBE), the newly proposed method utilizes the RBE to estimate the relative energy distribution near the wall rather than the absolute energy directly estimated from the measurements. Using this extra information from RBE, the new method modifies the energy distribution of the spatially uniform and uncorrelated forcing that drives the flow system by minimizing the norm of the cross-spectral density tensor of the error matrix in the near-wall region in comparison with the RBE-estimated one, and therefore it is named as the resolvent-informed white-noise-based estimation (RWE) method. For validation, three time-resolved direct numerical simulation (DNS) datasets with the friction Reynolds numbers Reτ = 180, 550 and 950 are generated, with various locations of measurements ranging from the near-wall region (y+ = 40) to the upper bound of the logarithmic region (y/h ≈ 0.2, where h is the half-channel height) for the predictions. Besides the RWE, three existing methods, i.e. the RBE, the λ-model and the white-noise-based estimation (WBE), are also included for the validation. The performance of the RBE and scale-dependent model (λ-model) in predicting the energy spectra shows a strong dependence on the measurement locations. The newly proposed RWE shows a low sensitivity on Reτ and the measurement locations, which may range from the near-wall region to the upper bound of the logarithmic region, and has a high accuracy in predicting the energy spectra. The RWE also performs well in predicting the space--time properties in terms of the correlation magnitude and the convection velocity. We further utilize the new method to reconstruct the instantaneous large-scale structures with measurements from the logarithmic region. Both the RWE and RBE perform well in estimating the instantaneous large-scale structure, and the RWE has smaller errors in the estimations near the wall. The structural inclination angles around 15° are predicted by the RWE and WBE, which generally recover the DNS results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite lymphoma is defined as two or more lymphomas with distinct morphological and immunophenotypical characteristics synchronously diagnosed at the same anatomical site. Composite lymphoma is rare, and the most common combination is follicular lymphoma (FL) associated with diffuse large B cell lymphoma, followed by FL associated with classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL). Histologically, composite lymphomas display a mixed pattern or distinct zonal distribution of each lymphoma component. Composite lymphoma poses a diagnostic challenge, especially when two lymphoma components are mixed in the same lymph node. Here, we report a case of composite HL and FL 11 years after initial and repeat biopsies consistent with FL in a man in his 70s emphasising the importance of repeat biopsy in lymphoma diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ardisia kteniophylla A. DC, widely known as folk medicinal herb and ornamental plant, has been extensively investigated due to its unique leaf color, anti-cancer and other pharmacological activities. The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was an excellent tool for the analysis of gene expression with its high sensitivity and quantitative properties. Normalizing gene expression with stable reference genes was essential for qRT-PCR accuracy. In addition, no studies have yet been performed on the selection, verification and stability of internal reference genes suitable for A. kteniophylla, which has greatly hindered the biomolecular researches of this species. In this study, 29 candidate genes were successfully screened according to stable expression patterns of large-scale RNA seq data that from a variety of tissues and the roots of different growth stages in A. kteniophylla. The candidates were then further determined via qRT-PCR in various experimental samples, including MeJA, ABA, SA, NaCl, CuSO4, AgNO3, MnSO4, CoCl2, drought, low temperature, heat, waterlogging, wounding and oxidative stress. To assess the stability of the candidates, five commonly used strategies were employed: delta-CT, geNorm, BestKeeper, NormFinder, and the comprehensive tool RefFinder. In summary, UBC2 and UBA1 were found to be effective in accurately normalizing target gene expression in A. kteniophella regardless of experimental conditions, while PP2A-2 had the lowest stability. Additionally, to verify the reliability of the recommended reference genes under different colored leaf samples, we examined the expression patterns of six genes associated with anthocyanin synthesis and regulation.Our findings suggested that PAP1 and ANS3may be involved in leaf color change in A. kteniphella. This study successfully identified the ideal reference gene for qRT-PCR analysis in A. kteniphella, providing a foundation for future research on gene function, particularly in the biosynthesis of anthocyanins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sphingolipids are critically significant in a range of biological processes in animals, plants, and fungi. In mammalian cells, they serve as vital components of the plasma membrane (PM) in maintaining its structure, tension, and fluidity. They also play a key role in a wide variety of biological processes, such as intracellular signal transduction, cell polarization, differentiation, and migration. In plants, sphingolipids are important for cell development and for cell response to environmental stresses. In pathogenic fungi, sphingolipids are crucial for the initiation and the development of infection processes afflicting humans. However, our knowledge on the metabolism and function of the sphingolipid metabolic pathway of pathogenic fungi affecting plants is still very limited. In this review, we discuss recent developments on sphingolipid pathways of plant pathogenic fungi, highlighting their uniqueness and similarity with plants and animals. In addition, we discuss recent advances in the research and development of fungal-targeted inhibitors of the sphingolipid pathway, to gain insights on how we can better control the infection process occurring in plants to prevent or/and to treat fungal infections in crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recalcitrant rice blast disease is caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, which has a significant negative economic reverberation on crop productivity. In order to induce the disease onto the host, M. oryzae positively generates many types of small secreted proteins, here named as effectors, to manipulate the host cell for the purpose of stimulating pathogenic infection. In M. oryzae, by engaging with specific receptors on the cell surface, effectors activate signaling channels which control an array of cellular activities, such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The most recent research on effector identification, classification, function, secretion, and control mechanism has been compiled in this review. In addition, the article also discusses directions and challenges for future research into an effector in M. oryzae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impacts of the US inflation rate on the bond prices of G7 countries across different maturities using inflation-induced equity market volatility (EMV) to better account for bond price determinants. The regression model, a GED-GARCH (1,1) procedure, is adopted to deal with the volatility clustering and fat tail features in bond return estimation. The testing results indicate that the inflation rate has a negative effect on bond returns across different maturities, although an exception occurs for longer maturities in Japan. Evidence shows that US inflation has a significant impact on bond returns for the non-US G7 countries. The negative effects from US inflation are more profound than those from the domestic market (expect in Japan). This study introduces the equity market volatility arising from inflation or the Fed's interest rate change; this variable produces market volatility that has a positive effect on bond returns, offsetting part of the original negative effect from a rise in inflation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linear models, based on stochastically forced linearized equations, are deployed for spectral linear stochastic estimation (SLSE) of the velocity and temperature fluctuations in compressible turbulent channel flows with a bulk Mach number of 1.5. Through comparison with the direct numerical simulation (DNS) data, an eddy-viscosity-enhanced model (eLNS) outperforms the one not enhanced (LNS) in computing the coherence and amplitude ratio of streamwise velocity at different wall-normal heights, but they both largely deviate from DNS regarding the temperature prediction. For further investigation, the eigenspectra and pseudospectra of the linear operators are scrutinized. The eddy viscosity is shown to stabilize the eigenmodes and decrease the non-normality of the vortical modes. Consequently, the relative importance of acoustic and entropy modes increases, and they can contribute 20 % to 55 % of the response growth, which is not supported by DNS. Hence, it is an intrinsic defect of the eLNS model introduced by turbulence modelling. After a procedure of cospectrum decomposition, the contributions of acoustic and entropy components are filtered out. The resulting SLSE quantities for velocity, temperature and their coupling are basically agreeable with DNS, demonstrating that the coherent temperature fluctuation is dominated by advection and other vortical motions, instead of the compressibility effects. Moreover, a parameter study of Reynolds and Mach numbers (from 0.3 to 4) is conducted. The semi-local units are shown to well collapse the velocity SLSE quantities to the incompressible case for streamwise-elongated structures of high coherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates how information flow affects the determinants of stock price synchronicity, with a focus on the role of investors' information demand and supply. We analyze quarterly data for S&P500 constituents from 2010 to 2020, using Google search volume index and media coverage as a proxy for information demand and supply, respectively. Our results show that higher information demand lowers stock price synchronicity, as greater interest in a firm exposes more firm-specific information. We also find a negative association between media coverage and stock price synchronicity, implying that media coverage helps stock prices better reflect firm-specific information. The tone of news further moderates this negative effect. However, our analysis does not confirm a stronger negative relationship between media coverage and stock price synchronicity for firms with more opaque information environments. Overall, our study offers new insights into the impact of information flow on stock price synchronicity, benefiting investors and policy makers in portfolio allocation and financial market monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnaporthe oryzae is a pathogenic fungus that seriously harms rice production. Phosphatases and carbon metabolism play crucial roles in the growth and development of eukaryotes. However, it remains unclear how serine/threonine phosphatases regulate the catabolism of triglycerides, a major form of stored lipids. In this study, we identified a serine/threonine protein phosphatase regulatory subunit, Smek1, which is required for the growth, conidiation, and virulence of M. oryzae. Deletion of SMEK1 led to defects in the utilization of lipids, arabinose, glycerol, and ethanol. In glucose medium, the expression of genes involved in lipolysis, long‐chain fatty acid degradation, β‐oxidation, and the glyoxylate cycle increased in the Δsmek1 mutant, which is consistent with ΔcreA in which a carbon catabolite repressor CREA was deleted. In lipid medium, the expression of genes involved in long‐chain fatty acid degradation, β‐oxidation, the glyoxylate cycle, and utilization of arabinose, ethanol, or glycerol decreased in the Δsmek1 mutant, which is consistent with Δcrf1 in which a transcription activator CRF1 required for carbon metabolism was deleted. Lipase activity, however, increased in the Δsmek1 mutant in both glucose and lipid media. Moreover, Smek1 directly interacted with CreA and Crf1, and dephosphorylated CreA and Crf1 in vivo. The phosphatase Smek1 is therefore a dual‐function regulator of the lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, and controls fungal development and virulence by coordinating the functions of CreA and Crf1 in carbon catabolite repression (CCR) and derepression (CCDR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration (TFBA) is a major cause of accidental death in children. Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) may be caused by TFBA, but there are few reports about LRTI associated with TFBA. This study collected TFBA cases in our hospital to analyze LRTI and determine its risk factors. Methods: A total of 194 children who underwent tracheobronchial foreign body (TFB) extraction in The Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from June 2019 to April 2020 were enrolled. CT chest is routinely used in the workup of suspected airway FB at our institution to evaluate for patients, a FB was already highly suspected. The retention time was defined as from the time of TFB inhalation or presentation (if there was no history of TFBA) to the time of TFB removal. General characteristics including weight, clinical symptoms, operative records, cervicothoracic CT, retention time, type of TFB and postoperative hospitalization time were collected. Chi-square tests, rank sum tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: The incidence of LRTI was 46.6%, 68.6%, and 68.6% when the retention time was within 24 hours, between 24 hours and up to 1 week and more than 1 week, respectively. Postoperative hospitalization time of LRTI group was significantly longer than that of non-LRTI group. Findings for cervicothoracic CT as pneumonia, emphysema, atelectasis meant more serious clinical manifestations and the retention time was longer in the LRTI group than in the non-LRTI group. There was a positive correlation between the retention time of a TFB and LRTI in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: The incidence of LRTI caused by TFBA is high. LRTI is association with longer postoperative hospitalization time. The TFB retention time is an independent risk factor for LRTI. If a patient presents with significant LRTI symptoms, a course of steroids and antibiotics maybe a safer approach rather than proceeding immediately with bronchoscopic removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine soft corals are prolific sources of various natural products that have served as a wealthy reservoir of diverse chemical scaffolds with potential as new drug leads. The genus Litophyton contains almost 100 species but only a small proportion of them has been chemically investigated, which calls for more attentions from global researchers. In the current work, 175 secondary metabolites have been discussed, drawing from published data spanning almost five decades, up to July 2023. The studied species of the genus Litophyton resided in various tropical and temperate regions and encompassed a broad range of biologically active natural products including terpenes, steroids, nitrogen-containing metabolites, lipids, and other metabolites. A wide spectrum of pharmacological effects of these compounds had been evaluated, such as cytotoxic, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-malarial, antifeedant, anti-inflammatory, molluscicidal, PTP1B inhibitory, insect growth inhibitory, and neuroprotective activities. This review aims to offer an up-to-date survey of the literature and provide a comprehensive understanding of the chemical structures, taxonomical distributions, and biological activities of the reported metabolites from the title genus whenever available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the pulsed current interception of underwater discharge, the characteristics of the steepness of electrohydraulic shock waves (EHSWs) and the peak value still increasing slowly with the electrical energy injection after the acceleration expansion phase of the plasma channel are investigated. The one-dimensional "piston" model of the EHSW generation is improved, and the calculation method for the EHSWs based on the "piston" model is modified. The modified model takes the change of starting points and the rising steepness of EHSWs into account, and the rising edge and peak value of EHSWs can be calculated more precisely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an acute inflammatory lung injury characterized by diffuse alveolar damage. The period prevalence of ARDS was 10.4% of ICU admissions in 50 countries. Although great progress has been made in supportive care, the hospital mortality rate of severe ARDS is still up to 46.1%. Moreover, up to now, there is no effective pharmacotherapy for ARDS and most clinical trials focusing on consistently effective drugs have met disappointing results. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have spawned intense interest of a wide range of researchers and clinicians due to their robust anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and tissue regeneration properties. A growing body of evidence from preclinical studies confirmed the promising therapeutic potential of MSCs and their EVs in the treatment of ARDS. Based on the inspiring experimental results, clinical trials have been designed to evaluate safety and efficacy of MSCs and their EVs in ARDS patients. Moreover, trials exploring their optimal time window and regimen of drug administration are ongoing. Therefore, this review aims to present an overview of the characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells and their derived EVs, therapeutic mechanisms for ARDS and research progress that has been made over the past 5 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Acute kidney injury (AKI) seriously affects the health of both pregnant women and fetuses. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pregnancy-related AKI (PR-AKI). Methods: This case series study enrolled pregnant women with PR-AKI admitted to the surgical intensive care unit of Xinhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine between January 2010 and December 2020. Results: Thirty-one PR-AKI patients were enrolled with a mean age of 29.16 ± 4.97 years. Seventeen pregnant women (54.84%) had complete recovery of renal function, 5 (16.13%) had partial recovery of renal function, 2 (6.45%) patients had no renal function improvement, and 7 (22.58%) died. Among the 31 patients with 35 fetuses, 25 (80.6%) pregnant women had poor fetal outcomes, including 5 cases of stillbirths, 5 neonatal asphyxia, 18 premature births, 10 low birth weight, and 8 deficient birth weight infants. Compared to cases with good fetal outcomes, cases with poor fetal outcomes had significantly shorter gestational weeks (39.26 ± 1.53 vs. 31.62 ± 5.50, P = 0.002), lower platelet count (217.13 ± 122.87 vs. 90.24 ± 84.88, P = 0.005), lower hemoglobin (94.19 ± 13.21 vs. 74.48 ± 20.78, P = 0.036), higher blood urea nitrogen (11.87 ± 4.28 vs. 19.47 ± 10.98, P = 0.013), and higher uric acid (262.41 ± 167.00 vs. 586.87 ± 144.52, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The maternal renal function of women with PR-AKI might improve after treatment, but occurrence rates of adverse fetal outcomes were still high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Several reports have noted that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) induced lymphopenia in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. However, the clinical significance of lymphopenia remains unclear. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between lymphopenia at an early stage and the prognosis of COVID-19 patients. Material and methods: All 192 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were enrolled. Demographic data and clinical characteristics were collected and patient's prognosis was followed up. Results: On admission, 84 (43.8%) patients suffered from lymphopenia among COVID-19 patients. The count and percentage of lymphocytes on admission were lower among patients over 70 years old than those of younger patients. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that older age was a risk factor of lymphopenia. Of interest, chest CT score, a key marker of lung injury, was increased among COVID-19 patients with lymphopenia. By contrast, PaCO2, SpO2 and oxygenation index, several respiratory function markers, were decreased in COVID-19 patients with lymphopenia. Moreover, total bilirubin (TBIL) and direct bilirubin (DBIL), two markers of hepatic injury, creatinine and urea nitrogen, two indices of renal function, and creatine kinase, AST and LDH, three myocardial enzymes, were elevated in COVID-19 patients with lymphopenia. Among 84 COVID-19 patients with lymphopenia, 32.1% died. The fatality rate was obviously higher in COVID-19 patients with lymphopenia. Conclusions: Older COVID-19 patients are more susceptible to lymphopenia. Multiple organ injuries were more serious in COVID-19 patients with lymphopenia. Lymphopenia at an early stage aggravates the severity and elevates the death risk of COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), and may cause miscarriage and birth defects during pregnancy. This study aimed to assess the epidemiological features, epidemic trends, and correlations between the before number of confirmed toxoplasmosis cases in Taiwan from 2007 to 2020 in gender, age, season, and residential area, and hypothesized the environmental and climate factors also might affect the disease in Taiwan. Methods: This study reviewed publicly available annual summary data on reported toxoplasmosis cases in the Taiwan Centers for Diseases Control (TCDC) between 2007 and 2020. Results: This study collected 150 confirmed domestic and nine patients with imported toxoplasmosis. There was an increasing trend in the incidence of toxoplasmosis, 0.09–0.89 cases per 1,000,000 people, peaking in 2017. The average annual toxoplasmosis incidence was 4.4, 13, and 18 during 2007–2011, 2012–2016, and 2017–2020, respectively. Comparing sex, age, season, and place of residence, the incidence rate was highest in male, 20–39 years-old patients, summer, and the eastern region, with 1.02, 1.72, 0.38, and 3.63 cases per million population, respectively. Additionally, comparing the distribution of cases by age group in Taiwan, there were significant differences between 40–59 years-old in the northern region (odds ratio (OR) = 0.343, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.167–0.705, p = 0.004) and 40–59 years-old in the southern region (OR = 4.488, and 95% CI = 2.149–9.374, p< 0.001), respectively. Linear regression analysis also showed that PM (particulate matter) 2.5 (μg/m3) concentration was positively associated with toxoplasmosis (β = 0.095, p = 0.037). CO concentration was negatively correlated with toxoplasmosis (β = -14.001, p = 0.021). Conclusions: This study is the first to report domestic and confirmed cases of imported toxoplasmosis from the surveillance data of the TCDC between 2007 and 2020. It identified that residence and age were associated with an increased risk of toxoplasmosis in Taiwan. This study confirmed that toxoplasmosis remains a prevalent infectious disease in Taiwan, its epidemic is gradually increasing and becoming more severe. These findings might be useful for policy-makers and clinical experts to direct prevention and control activities to patients with T. gondii, which causes the most severe illness and greatest burden to Taiwanese people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of orange‐red/red thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials with both high emission efficiencies and short lifetimes is highly desirable for electroluminescence (EL) applications, but remains a formidable challenge owing to the strict molecular design principles. Herein, two new orange‐red/red TADF emitters, namely AC‐PCNCF3 and TAC‐PCNCF3, composed of pyridine‐3,5‐dicarbonitrile‐derived electron‐acceptor (PCNCF3) and acridine electron‐donors (AC/TAC) are developed. These emitters in doped films exhibit excellent photophysical properties, including high photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 0.91, tiny singlet‐triplet energy gaps of 0.01 eV, and ultrashort TADF lifetimes of less than 1 µs. The TADF‐organic light‐emitting diodes employing the AC‐PCNCF3 as emitter achieve orange‐red and red EL with high external quantum efficiencies of up to 25.0% and nearly 20% at doping concentrations of 5 and 40 wt%, respectively, both accompanied by well‐suppressed efficiency roll‐offs. This work provides an efficient molecular design strategy for developing high‐performance red TADF materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and gut-liver axis dysbiosis have been suggested as the primarily involved in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver injury. Previous research established that yeast extract (YE) has antioxidant, immuneboosting or microbiota-regulating properties. However, there is currently lack of information regarding the efficacy of YE on alcoholic liver injury. This study seeks to obtain data that will help to address this research gap using a Wistar male rat experimental model. Histologic and biochemical analysis results showed that the groups treated with both low-dose yeast extract (YEL) and high-dose yeast extract (YEH) had lower degrees of alcohol-induced liver injury. The abundance of Peptococcus and Ruminococcus reduced in the low-dose yeast extract (YEL) group, while that of Peptococcus, Romboutsia, Parasutterella, and Faecalibaculum reduced in the high-dose (YEH) group. Furthermore, Spearman analysis showed that the gut microbes were significantly associated with several liver-related indicators. For the analysis of differential metabolites and enriched pathways in the YEL group, the abundance of lysophosphatidylcholine (16:0/0:0) significantly increased, and then the levels of histamine, adenosine and 5' -adenine nucleotide were remarkedly elevated in the YEH group. These findings suggest that both high and low doses of YE can have different protective effects on liver injury in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) rats, in addition to improving gut microbiota disorder. Besides, high-dose YE has been found to be more effective than low-dose YE in metabolic regulation, as well as in dealing with oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]