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An analytical method was established for the simultaneous determination of residual quantity of 55 solvent compounds in disposable infusion sets by headspace-gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The headspace injection was used to screen the residual quantity of 55 solvent compounds in the infusion set, and the samples were separated on a TG-624Sil MS (60 mx0.25 mmx1.4 pm) column, and the residual quantity of 55 solvent compounds in the infusion set were screened in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode, and the 55 solvent compounds were effectively separated within 36 min. The linearities were good in the respective concentration ranges, and the average spiked recoveries were 81.7%~111.7%, with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 0.37%~8.66% (n=6), and the limits of detection (LODs) were in the range of 0.1~0.2 µg/L. The method is simple, fast, accurate and efficient, and it can be used for the determination of the residual quantity of the 55 solvent compounds in disposable infusion sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) become a main public health concern, and is characterized by lipid accumulation in the hepatocytes. We found that overexpression of lncRNA MEG3 significantly reduced the expression of FOXO1, ACC1, and FAS, and subsequently decreased the lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. Moreover, inhibition of lncRNA MEG3 could increase the lipid accumulation and the mRNA and protein levels of FOXO1, ACC1, and FAS. Further study showed that lncRNA MEG3 regulates the lipogenesis process by inhibiting the entry of FOXO1 into the nucleus translocation. Our study demonstrated that lncRNA MEG3 regulates de novo lipogenesis by decreasing the expression and nucleus translocation of FOXO1 in HepG2 cells, suggesting that lncRNA MEG3 could be a promising therapeutic target in lipid metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caffeoylquinic acids, coumarins and dicaffeoyl derivatives are considered to be three kinds of the most abundant bioactive components in Sarcandra glabra, an anti-inflammatory herb mainly found in Southern Asia. The combined anti-inflammatory effect of three typical constituents C + R + I (chlorogenic acid + rosmarinic acid + isofraxidin) from this plant has been investigated. The result implies that targeting the MAPK-NF-κB pathway would be one of the major mechanisms involved, using LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells as in vitro model and LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice as in vivo model. C + R + I can significantly suppress the levels of nitric oxide (NO), pro-inflammatory cytokines, and inhibit iNOS and COX-2 expression in LPS-treated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Western blot analysis showed that C + R + I suppressed phosphorylation of NF-κB and MAPK, including phosphorylation of p65-NF-κB, IKB, ERK, JNK and P38. Besides, C + R + I suppressed MPO protein expression, but promoted SOD and HO-1 expression, and the related targets for C, R, and I were also predicted by molecular docking. This indicated that C + R + I could alleviate oxidative stress induced by LPS, which were further verified in the in vivo model of mice with acute lung injury through the measurement of corresponding inflammatory mediators and the analysis of immunehistochemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) has attracted a great deal of attention due to its side effects and potential bioaccumulation properties. It is of great importance to construct and develop novel electrochemical sensors for the sensitive and selective detection of TBBPA. In the present study, cobalt (Co) based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) were synthesized on carbon cloth (CC) by using cobalt nitrate hexahydrate and 2-methylimidazole. The morphological characterization was carried out by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that Co-MOFs/CC have a leaf-like structure and abundant surface functional groups. The electrochemical properties of the sensor were investigated by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The effects of different ratios of metal ions to organic ligands, reaction temperature, time, concentration, pH value of the electrolyte, and incubation time on the oxidation peak current of TBBPA were studied. Under the optimal conditions, the linear range of the designed sensor was 0.1 μM–100 μM, and the limit of detection was 40 nM. The proposed sensor is simple, of low cost and efficient, which can greatly facilitate the detection tasks of environmental monitoring workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuchal translucency (NT) examination has become a standard item in early pregnancy tests because of its clinical value in detecting early gestational fetal abnormalities. Meanwhile, practitioners may sometimes have difficulty meeting the required criteria for NT measurement owing to their complexity or the exorbitant demand for NT tests. Thus, NT image quality control is critical, particularly for the frequently neglected criterion that the fetal head posture (FHP) shall be neither hyperextended nor hyperflexionated. The Nuchal Translucency Quality Review Program (NTQR) defines all FHPs quantitatively using the anterior-neck-lower-jaw angle (ANLJA), namely the angle between the fetal anterior neck and its lower jaw. According to NTQR's definitions, hyperflexion is defined as ANLJA close to 0∘; hyperextension, ANLJA greater than 90∘; and normal FHP, ANLJA between 0∘ and 90∘. Focusing on FHP classification, we proposed a novel algorithm combining an attention mechanism and a convolutional neural network to predict ANLJAs. The new approach integrated channel and spatial attention and was capable of swiftly locating regions of interest. It abstracted important image features based on the information weight and attenuated useless information. The manual method was traditionally regarded as the gold standard for ANLJA measurement. Our findings indicated that the proposed algorithm performed admirably in the ANLJA prediction. It surpassed all other comparison algorithms in terms of efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, bismuth-based semiconductors have become a research hotspot in the new semiconductor field due to their unique optical and electronic properties. In addition, due to the simple fabrication process and controllable shape and size of these materials, they are widely used in the fields of optoelectronic devices, electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, biomedicine, etc. However, the current review papers on bismuth-based semiconductors mainly focus on the field of photocatalysis, while the applications of other fields are rarely reported, and the comprehensive summary of optical and electronic properties and applications of bismuth-based semiconductors are also lacking. Therefore, in this review, a variety of typical bismuth-based semiconductor materials are introduced in detail, including their lattice structures, optical and electronic properties and modification studies. In addition, the relationship between the bulk composition and photoelectric properties is analyzed, which will promote the future research on how to systematically control the photoelectric properties of bismuth-based materials. Secondly, the preparation methods of different bismuth-based semiconductor materials and applications in the field of optoelectronics are evaluated. Finally, the challenges faced by bismuth-based semiconductor materials in academic studies and industrial applications are pointed out, and the future work is prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid and effective control of non‐compressible massive hemorrhage poses a great challenge in first‐aid and clinical settings. Herein, a biopolymer‐based powder is developed for the control of non‐compressible hemorrhage. The powder is designed to facilitate rapid hemostasis by its excellent hydrophilicity, great specific surface area, and adaptability to the shape of wound, enabling it to rapidly absorb fluid from the wound. Specifically, the powder can undergo sequential cross‐linking based on "click" chemistry and Schiff base reaction upon contact with the blood, leading to rapid self‐gelling. It also exhibits robust tissue adhesion through covalent/non‐covalent interactions with the tissues (adhesive strength: 89.57 ± 6.62 KPa, which is 3.75 times that of fibrin glue). Collectively, this material leverages the fortes of powder and hydrogel. Experiments with animal models for severe bleeding have shown that it can reduce the blood loss by 48.9%. Studies on the hemostatic mechanism also revealed that, apart from its physical sealing effect, the powder can enhance blood cell adhesion, capture fibrinogen, and synergistically induce the formation of fibrin networks. Taken together, this hemostatic powder has the advantages for convenient preparation, sprayable use, and reliable hemostatic effect, conferring it with a great potential for the control of non‐compressible hemorrhage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present herein a rare case of large vascular and cardiac metastases of lowgrade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LG-ESS) in a female patient, which occurred after misdiagnosis of endometrial stromal nodule (ESN) as submucosal leiomyoma 7 years ago. Preoperative three-dimensional CT reconstruction was used to assess the extent of the lesion. The patient underwent radical resection: thrombectomy and total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingooophorectomy without establishing the cardiopulmonary bypass. Intraoperative transesophageal ultrasound (TEE) was used to monitor whether the intracardiac mass was removed completely. To date, this patient is alive without any evidence of recurrence 3 years after surgery. The differential diagnosis of ESN and LG-ESS is often difficult. A clear distinction can only be reliably made after histological analysis of the tumor's entire interface with the neighboring myometrium. This case highlights that follow-ups of patients with ESN are important. Regular follow-up can detect metastasis and recurrence of misdiagnosed LG-ESS as early as possible. Distant metastasis of LG-ESS is rare, especially involving large vessels or the heart. The treatment should largely rely on multidisciplinary cooperation. Although the surgery is traumatic, the perioperative mortality rate is low, and patients can avoid death from congestive heart failure or sudden death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri, Amaranthaceae) is one of the most competitive, troublesome, and noxious weeds causing significant yield reductions in various crops. A. palmeri was also a herbicide-resistant weed causing a serious eco-environmental problem. Given that the process of invasion is dynamic, the A. plamer invasion may already be quite severe where invasive species management and surveys are chronically lacking. Predicting the potential habitat of A. palmeri can help to develop effective measures for early warning and long-term detection. However, the invasive history and distribution patterns of A. palmeri in China remain largely unknown. Here, the invasive history and distribution patterns of A. palmeri from 1985 to 2022 in China were reconstructed, and then the potential geographical distribution of A. palmeri was predicted under current and future climate scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP5-8.5) using the optimal MaxEnt model (V 3.4.4) and ArcGIS 10.8.2. The mean AUC values of A. palmeri were 0.967. Under the current climate conditions, the suitable habitat areas for A. palmeri reached 1,067,000 km2 in China and were mainly distributed in north and central China. Under the future scenarios, the highly suitable habitats were mainly distributed in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. Under SSP2–4.5, the future suitable areas will reach the maximum and expand to 1,411,100 km2 in the 2060s. The centroid distribution would northwestward extend under future climate scenarios. The human footprint index, mean temperature of the warmest quarter (Bio_10), April wind speed (Wind_4), temperature seasonality (standard deviation × 100) (bio_4), topsoil gravel content (T_gravel), and precipitation of warmest quarter (Bio_18) were key environmental variables affecting distribution and growth of A. palmeri. Climate change would increase the risk of A. palmeri expanding to high latitudes. Our results will help in developing effective strategies for the early warning, prevention, control, and management of A. palmeri in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to compare the radiation-induced hepatic toxicity (RIHT) outcomes of radiotherapy (RT) plus antibodies against programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD1) versus RT alone in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), evaluate prognostic factors of non-classic radiation-induced liver disease (ncRILD), and establish a nomogram for predicting the probability of ncRILD. Patients and methods: Patients with unresectable HCC treated with RT and anti-PD1 (RT + PD1, n = 30) or RT alone (n = 66) were enrolled retrospectively. Patients (n = 30) in each group were placed in a matched cohort using propensity score matching (PSM). Treatment-related hepatotoxicity was evaluated and analyzed before and after PSM. The prognostic factors affecting ncRILD were identified by univariable logistic analysis and Spearman's rank test in the matched cohort to generate a nomogram. Results: There were no differences in RIHT except for increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≥ grade 1 and increased total bilirubin ≥ grade 1 between the two groups before PSM. After PSM, AST ≥ grade 1 occurred more frequently in the RT + PD1 group (p = 0.020), and there were no significant differences in other hepatotoxicity metrics between the two groups. In the matched cohort, V25, tumor number, age, and prothrombin time (PT) were the optimal prognostic factors for ncRILD modeling. A nomogram revealed a good predictive performance (area under the curve = 0.82). Conclusions: The incidence of RIHT in patients with HCC treated with RT + PD1 was acceptable and similar to that of RT treatment. The nomogram based on V25, tumor number, age, and PT robustly predicted the probability of ncRILD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Living cell‐based drug delivery systems (LC‐DDSs) are limited by adverse interactions between drugs and carrier cells, typically drug‐induced toxicity to carrier cells and restriction of carrier cells on drug release. Here, a method is established to adsorb nanocarriers externally to living cells, thereby reducing cytotoxicity caused by drug uptake and realizing improved drug release at the disease site. It is found that a divalent metal ion‐phenolic network (MPN) affords adhesion of poly (lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) nanoparticles onto macrophage (Mφ) surfaces with minimized intracellular uptake and no negative effect on cell proliferation. On this basis, an Mφ‐DDS with doxorubicin‐loaded nanoparticles on cell surface (DOX‐NP@Mφ) is constructed. Compared to intracellular loading via endocytosis, this method well‐maintains bioactivity (viability and migration chemotaxis) of the carrier cell. By virtue of the photothermal effect of MPN at the tumor site, DOX‐NP‐associated vesicles are liberated for improved chemotherapy. This facile, benign, and efficient method (ice bath, 2 min) for extracellular nanoparticle attachment and minimizing intracellular uptake provides a platform technology for LC‐DDS development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of classic radiation-induced liver disease (cRILD) has been significantly reduced. However, non-classic radiation-induced liver disease (ncRILD) remains a major concern following radiotherapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study evaluated the incidence of ncRILD following intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for Child–Pugh grade B (CP-B) patients with locally advanced HCC and established a nomogram for predicting ncRILD probability. Methods: Seventy-five CP-B patients with locally advanced HCC treated with IMRT between September 2014 and July 2021 were included. The max tumor size was 8.39 cm ± 5.06, and the median prescribed dose was 53.24 Gy ± 7.26. Treatment-related hepatotoxicity was evaluated within three months of completing IMRT. A nomogram model was formulated to predict the probability of ncRILD, using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Among CP-B patients with locally advanced HCC, ncRILD occurred in 17 (22.7%) patients. Two patients (2.7%) exhibited a transaminase elevation of ≥ G3, fourteen (18.7%) exhibited a Child–Pugh score increase of ≥ 2, and one (1.3%) demonstrated both a transaminase elevation of ≥ G3 and a Child–Pugh score increase of ≥ 2. No cRILD cases were observed. A mean dose to the normal liver of ≥ 15.1 Gy was used as the cutoff for ncRILD. Multivariate analysis revealed that the prothrombin time before IMRT, tumour number, and mean dose to the normal liver were independent risk factors for ncRILD. The nomogram established on the basis of these risk factors displayed exceptional predictive performance (AUC = 0.800, 95% CI 0.674–0.926). Conclusions: The incidence of ncRILD following IMRT for CP-B patients with locally advanced HCC was acceptable. A nomogram based on prothrombin time before IMRT, tumour number, and mean dose to the normal liver accurately predicted the probability of ncRILD in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) has become one of the options for clinical local treatment. Immune parameters, including platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systemic immune inflammatory (SII), predict survival in various cancers. This study aimed to determine whether peripheral immune parameters can predict survival in patients with uHCC undergoing IMRT and establish a clinically useful prognostic nomogram for survival prediction. Methods: The clinical data of 309 HCC patients were retrospectively analyzed and randomly divided into training (n = 216) and validation (n = 93) cohorts. PLR, NLR and SII were collected before and after IMRT. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were performed to identify independent prognostic factors affecting survival, which were used to generate a nomogram. Results: The median survival was 16.3 months, and significant increases in PLR, NLR, and SII were observed after IMRT (P < 0.001). High levels of immune parameters were associated with poor prognosis (P < 0.001); enlarged spleen, Barcelona clinic liver cancer stage (B and C), post-SII, and delta-NLR were independent risk factors for survival and were included in the nomogram, which accurately predicted 3- and 5-year survival. The nomogram was well verified in the validation cohort. Conclusions: High levels of immune parameters are associated with poor prognosis in uHCC patients receiving IMRT. Our nomogram accurately predicts the survival of patients with uHCC receiving IMRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: The combination of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus sorafenib prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) than sorafenib or TACE monotherapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study assessed the efficacy and safety of radiotherapy (RT) plus monoclonal antibody against programmed cell death 1 (anti-PD1) versus TACE plus sorafenib for patients with advanced HCC.Methods: Patients with advanced HCC who treated with RT plus anti-PD1 and TACE plus sorafenib were enrolled. Objective response rate (ORR), PFS, disease control rate (DCR) and OS were calculated to assess the antitumor response and the treatment-related adverse events to the safety.Results: Between January 2018 to March 2021, 37 patients underwent RT plus anti-PD1 and 41 patients underwent TACE plus sorafenib. The baseline characteristics between the two groups were comparable. The ORR and DCR were significantly higher in the RT + PD1 group than the TACE plus sorafenib group according to RECIST 1.1 (54.05% vs. 12.20%, P < 0.001; 70.27% vs. 46.37%, P = 0.041; respectively) and according to mRECIST (56.76% vs. 31.71%, P = 0.039; 70.27% vs. 46.37%, P = 0.041; respectively). RT plus anti-PD1 provided significantly better PFS (HR, 0.51; 95% CI 0.30-0.86; P = 0.017) than TACE plus sorafenib. Moreover, patients with RT plus anti-PD1 had significantly higher 3-, 6-, and 9-month OS rates than those with TACE plus sorafenib(97.3% vs. 92.30%, P < 0.001; 91.89% vs. 68.60%, P < 0.001; 75.5% vs. 60.60%, P < 0.001; respectively). The median OS was more favorable 17.4 months for the RT + PD1 group and 11.9 months for the TACE plus sorafenib group. No treatment-related death was observed. Grade 3 or more treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred significantly less in patients in the RT + PD1 group than the TACE plus sorafenib group (29.7% vs. 75.6%, P < 0.001), and all TRAEs were manageable.Conclusions: In this real-world study, RT plus anti-PD1 showed significantly promising efficacy and manageable safety than TACE plus sorafenib in patients with advanced HCC. Toxicities were manageable, with no unexpected safety signals. The study provides evidence on a new therapeutic method in the treatment of advanced HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was a world-wide health burden. H3K27 acetylation, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), and miRNA were all implicated in NAFLD regulation, yet the detailed regulatory mechanism was not well understood. LncRNA NEAT1, miR-212-5p, and GRIA3 expression were detected both in high fatty acid-treated hepatocytes cells and NAFLD patients. Lipid droplets were stained and analyzed by oil red O staining. Expression of fatty acid synthase (FASN), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and GRIA3 was detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. RNA level of lncRNA NEAT1 and miR-212-5p was analyzed by qRT-PCR. The binding sequences of lncRNA NEAT1/miR-212-5p and miR-212-5p/GRIA3 were predicted bioinformatically and validated through luciferase assay. ChIP was performed to analyze H3K27 acetylation on the promoter of lncRNA NEAT1. LncRNA NEAT1 and GRIA3 was upregulated, while miR-212-5p was downregulated in NAFLD patients. FFA promoted lncRNA NEAT1 and GRIA3 expression while suppressing miR-212-5p and promoted lipid accumulation as indicated by increased oil red O staining and FAS and ACC expression. ChIP indicated enrichment of H3K27 on NEAT1 promoter. Inhibition of H3K27 acetylation suppressed lncRNA NEAT1 level. Luciferase results indicated direct interaction of NEAT1/miR-212-5p (which was confirmed by RIP) and miR-212-5p/GRIA3. LncRNA NEAT1 knockdown upregulated miR-212-5p level and inhibited FFA-induced lipid accumulation while suppressing GRIA3 expression. Such function was antagonized by miR-212-5p inhibition and GRIA3 knockdown counteracted with miR-212-5p inhibition. H3K27 acetylation was enriched within the promoter of lncRNA NEAT1 and promoted lncRNA NEAT1 transcription. LncRNA NEAT1 could then interact with miR-212-5p and suppress its cellular concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of adsorbent by modified walnut shell using disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate acid (EDTA-2Na) was studied. The adsorbents were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that under the conditions of Cr(VI) mass concentration of simulated wastewater of 20 mg/L, pH of 2. 0, adsorption time of 260 min, and the dosage of adsorbent of 25 g/L, the adsorption rate of Cr(VI) can reach 99. 59%. The adsorption process is more consistent with Langmuir adsorption isotherm and second-order kinetic equation, and the adsorption process is monolayer adsorption. The characterization results show that the modified walnut shell has developed pore structure and increased specific surface area, and EDTA-2Na is successfully loaded on the surface of walnut shell and shows good adsorption performance for Cr(VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saikosaponin A (SSA), a main triterpenoid saponin component from Radix Bupleurum , has been revealed to have a variety of pharmacological activities. However, whether SSA can inhibit angiogenesis, a key step in solid tumor progression, remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that SSA could powerfully suppress the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. SSA also significantly inhibited angiogenesis in the models of the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane and Matrigel plugs. Moreover, SSA was found to inhibit tumor growth in both orthotopic 4T1 breast cancer and subcutaneous HCT-15 colorectal tumor by the inhibition of tumor angiogenesis. Western blot assay indicated the antiangiogenic mechanism of SSA in the suppression of the protein phosphorylation of VEGFR2 and the downstream protein kinase including PLCγ1, FAK, Src, and Akt. In summary, SSA can suppress angiogenesis and tumor growth by blocking the VEGFR2-mediated signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of inorganic copper in feed is hazardous. As probiotics of animals, Candida utilis can absorb copper ions and transform them to organic copper. This study aimed to domesticate the ability of C. utilis (CICC 32211) to absorb and transform copper ions. So, C. utilis (CICC 32211) was cultured in media with different concentrations of copper ions for 24, 48 and 72 h to identify the optimum copper ion concentration. C. utilis (CICC 32211) strains were domesticated for three generations, then the absorption and distribution of copper ions in the yeast cells were studied. We found that the optimum concentration of copper ions was 110 µg/mL. After 48 h, the number of yeast cells was low, but copper ion absorption efficiency was maximized (43.83%). Most of the enriched copper ions were distributed in the yeast cell wall (up to 30.58% when grown in the medium with 110 µg/mL copper ions), while the intracellular copper ion content was low (2.095%). High concentrations of copper ions affected the morphological structure, element content and distribution of yeast cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the resource theory for quantifying the coherence of quantum channels, we introduce a new coherence quantifier for quantum channels via maximum relative entropy. We prove that the maximum relative entropy for coherence of quantum channels is directly related to the maximally coherent channels under a particular class of superoperations, which results in an operational interpretation of the maximum relative entropy for coherence of quantum channels. We also introduce the conception of sub-superchannels and sub-superchannel discrimination. For any quantum channels, we show that the advantage of quantum channels in sub-superchannel discrimination can be exactly characterized by the maximum relative entropy of coherence for quantum channels. Similar to the maximum relative entropy of coherence for channels, the robustness of coherence for quantum channels has also been investigated. We show that the maximum relative entropy of coherence for channels provides new operational interpretations of robustness of coherence for quantum channels and illustrates the equivalence of the dephasing-covariant superchannels, incoherent superchannels, and strictly incoherent superchannels in these two operational tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in the development of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We hypothesized that germline variants in the major EMT regulatory genes (SNAIL1 , ZEB1 , ZEB2 , TWIST1) may influence the development of HBV-related HCC. We included 421 cases of HBsAg-positive patients with HCC, 1371 cases of HBsAg-positive subjects without HCC [patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) or liver cirrhosis (LC)] and 618 cases of healthy controls in the case-control study. Genotype, allele, and haplotype associations in the major EMT regulatory genes were tested. Environment-gene and gene-gene interactions were analysed using the non-parametric model-free multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) method. The SNAIL1 rs4647958T>C was associated with a significantly increased risk of both HCC (CT+CC vs. TT: OR =1.559; 95% confidence interval [ CI ], 1.073-2.264; P =0.020) and CHB+LC (CT+CC vs. TT: OR =1.509; 95% CI , 1.145-1.988; P =0.003). Carriers of the TWIST1 rs2285681G>C (genotypes CT+CC) had an increased risk of HCC (CG+CC vs. GG: OR =1.407; 95% CI , 1.065-1.858; P =0.016). The ZEB2 rs3806475T>C was associated with significantly increased risk of both HCC (P recessive =0.001) and CHB+LC (P recessive<0.001). The CG haplotype of the rs4647958/rs1543442 haplotype block was associated with significant differences between healthy subjects and HCC patients (P =0.0347). Meanwhile, the CT haplotype of the rs2285681/rs2285682 haplotype block was associated with significant differences between CHB+LC and HCC patients (P =0.0123). In MDR analysis, the combination of TWIST1 rs2285681, ZEB2 rs3806475, SNAIL1 rs4647958 exhibited the most significant association with CHB+LC and Health control in the three-locus model. Our results suggest significant single-gene associations and environment-gene/gene-gene interactions of EMT-related genes with HBV-related HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To distill quantum coherence, in [Phys. Rev. A 99, 012321 (2019)], authors proposed a strictly incoherent operation that produces one of a family of maximally coherent states of variable dimension from any pure quantum state. For a d-dimensional pure state, an incoherent state may be obtained with a nonzero probability, which results in a complete waste of resource, namely the probability of transforming a given pure state to the incoherent state is not zero. Here, we give a specific method to avoid a complete waste of resource with the maximal probability to transform the pure state to a d-dimensional maximally coherent state and study the range of average coherence of the corresponding output state in this case. We also give a method to transform a mixed state to a maximally coherent state with probability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elatostema stewardii is an important medicinal plant endemic to China. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of E. stewardii was sequenced and assembled using next-generation sequencing technology. The complete chloroplast genome length of E. stewardii was 150,263 bp, including two inverted repeats (IRs) of 24,681 bp, which are separated by LSC and SSC of 83,791 bp and 17,110 bp, respectively. A total of 129 genes were included in the genome, consisting 85 protein-coding genes, eight rRNA genes, and 36 tRNA genes, the overall GC content of this genome was 36.3%. There are few studies on the genus Elatostema of Urticaceae, this chloroplast genome sequence will provide useful data for further research on solving the generic and familial relationships in Urticaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foliar nitrogen (N) fertilizer application at later stages of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth is an effective method of attenuating drought stress and improving grain filling. The influences or modes of action of foliar application of various nitrogen forms on wheat growth and grain filling need further research. The objective of this study was to examine the regulatory effects of various forms of foliar nitrogen [NO3–, NH4+, and CO(NH2)2] on wheat grain filling under drought stress and to elucidate their underlying mechanisms. The relative effects of each nitrogen source differed in promoting grain filling. Foliar NH4+-N application notably prolonged the grain filling period. In contrast, foliar application of CO(NH2)2 and NO3–-N accelerated the grain filling rate and regulated levels of abscisic acid (ABA), z-riboside (ZR), and ethylene (ETH) in wheat grains. Analysis of gene expression revealed that CO(NH2)2 and NO3–-N upregulated the genes involved in the sucrose–starch conversion pathway, promoting the remobilization of carbohydrates and starch synthesis in the grains. Besides, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) were increased, whereas the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) declined under foliar nitrogen application (especially NH4+-N). Under drought stress, enhancement of carbohydrate remobilization and sink strength became key factors in grain filling, and the relative differences in the effects of three N forms became more evident. In conclusion, NH4+-N application improved the antioxidant enzyme system and delayed photoassimilate transportation. On the other hand, foliar applications of NO3–-N and CO(NH2)2 enhanced sink capacity and alleviated drought stress injury in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is the standard treatment for early-stage gastric cancer, but the large post-operative ulcers caused by ESD often lead to serious side effects. Post-ESD mucosal repair materials provide a new option for the treatment of post-ESD ulcers. In this study, we developed a polyurethane/small intestinal submucosa (PU/SIS) hydrogel and investigated its efficacy for accelerating ESD-induced ulcer healing in a canine model. PU/SIS hydrogel possessed great biocompatibility and distinctive pH-sensitive swelling properties and protected GES-1 cells from acid attack through forming a dense film in acidic conditions in vitro. Besides, PU/SIS gels present a strong bio-adhesion to gastric tissues under acidic conditions, thus ensuring the retention time of PU/SIS gels in vivo. In a canine model, PU/SIS hydrogel was easily delivered via endoscopy and adhered to the ulcer sites. PU/SIS hydrogel accelerated gastric ulcer healing at an early stage with more epithelium regeneration and slight inflammation. Our findings reveal PU/SIS hydrogel is a promising and attractive candidate for ESD-induced ulcer repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This prospective study was performed to investigate long-term (8-year) survival in patients with solitary large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranging from 5 to 7 cm who underwent transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and identify factors that significantly affected outcomes. Methods: Forty-eight patients with large HCC (36 men, 12 women; mean age, 57.0 ± 11.2 [range, 37–82] years) without fever or signs of infection were enrolled. All patients were treated with TACE + RFA. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Prognostic factors were assessed using the Cox hazards regression method. Results: The median OS duration was 47.0 months, and the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 8-year OS rates were 73%, 57%, 53%, and 27%, respectively. The median DFS duration was 9.05 (3.99–12.01) months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year DFS rates were 35%, 9%, and 0%, respectively. Cox hazards regression analysis revealed that the Child–Pugh class, platelet count, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and DFS were independent predictive factors of OS (p = 0.000, 0.003, 0.020, and 0.000, respectively). The LMR and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were independent predictive factors of recurrence (p = 0.046 and 0.016, respectively). Conclusion: TACE + RFA may be a safe and effective treatment for selected solitary large HCC ranging from 5 to 7 cm. Measurement of the LMR (> 4) and PLR (≤ 100) in peripheral blood before the intervention might help to identify which patients with solitary large HCC are suitable for TACE + RFA. Registration number: ChiCTR-TRC-12002768 (https://www.chictr.org.cn). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genuine multipartite entanglement plays important roles in quantum information processing. The detection of genuine multipartite entanglement has been long time a challenging problem in the theory of quantum entanglement. We propose a criterion for detecting genuine tripartite entanglement of arbitrary dimensional tripartite states based on quantum Fisher information. We show that this criterion is more effective for some states in detecting genuine tripartite entanglement by detailed example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid and reliable method based on supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) technology was established for the analysis of 14 ultraviolet (UV) absorbents in plastic food contact materials. The separation was optimized by employing different chromatographic conditions including stationary phases, organic modifiers, column temperatures and back pressures to achieve appropriate selectivity and resolution. The 14 UV absorbents were analyzed within 4.5 min on the sub-2-micron particles column (ACQUTY UPC2 HSS C18 SB) via gradient elution with methanol as the organic modifier. The calibrations were carried out in the concentration range of 0.1–50.0 mg/L (except for UV-329 and UV-320 were 0.2–50.0 mg/L, UV-360 was 0.3–50.0 mg/L), and excellent linearity was observed with correlation coefficients (R2) greater than 0.99. The limits of quantification (LOQ) were in the range of 0.10–0.30 µg/g. The recoveries for accuracy were ranged from 90.4 to 114.1%, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) for repeatability was between 0.67 and 7.23%, respectively. The established method was successfully applied for the analysis of UV absorbents in five plastic food contact materials samples. The SFC method developed in this study can provide an alternative route for routine analysis of UV absorbents in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Originating from the superposition principle in quantum mechanics, coherence has been extensively studied as a kind of important resource in quantum information processing. We investigate the distinguishability of coherence-breaking channels with the help of quantum entanglement. By explicitly computing the minimal error probability of channel discrimination, it is shown that entanglement can enhance the capacity of coherence-breaking channel distinguishability with same types for some cases while it cannot be enhanced for some other cases. For coherence-breaking channels with different types, the channel distinguishability cannot be enhanced via entanglement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate polygamy relations of multipartite entanglement in arbitrary-dimensional quantum systems. By improving an inequality and using the βth (0 ≤ β ≤ 1) power of entanglement of assistance, we provide a new class of weighted polygamy inequalities of multipartite entanglement in arbitrary-dimensional quantum systems. We show that these new polygamy relations are tighter than the ones given in Kim (Phys. Rev. A 97, 042332 2018). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) is involved in various cancers, but its roles in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) have not yet been fully elucidated.Methods: Initially, RACK1 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in NPC and normal nasopharyngeal (NP) tissues. It was also detected by qPCR and Western blot in NPC cells. Confocal microscope and immunofluorescence were performed to detect the subcellular compartmentalization of RACK1. Subsequently, after up- or down-regulating RACK1 in NPC cells, cell proliferation and migration/invasion were tested using in vitro assays including MTT, EdU, colony formation, Transwell and Boyden assays. Furthermore, several key molecules were detected by Western blot to explore underlying mechanism. Finally, clinical samples were analyzed to confirm the relationship between RACK1 expression and clinical features.Results: Receptor for activated C kinase 1 expression was much higher in NPC than NP tissues. And RACK1 was mainly located in the cytoplasm. Overexpression of RACK1 promoted NPC cell proliferation and metastasis/invasion, whereas depletion of this protein suppressed NPC cell proliferation and metastasis/invasion. Mechanistically, RACK1 deprivation obviously suppressed the activation of Akt and FAK, suggesting the PI3K/Akt/FAK pathway as one of functional mechanisms of RACK1 in NPC. Furthermore, clinical sample analysis indicated a positive correlation between in vivo expression of RACK1 with lymph node invasion and clinical stage of NPC.Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that RACK1 protein plays an important role in NPC development and progression. The upregulation of RACK1 can promote the proliferation and invasion of NPC by regulating the PI3K/Akt/FAK signal pathway. Thus, this study contributes to the discovery of a potential therapeutic target for NPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovative cancer therapy strategy regarding the interface engineering of kaolinite has been designed. The exposed silanol group facilitates more guest species with high dispersion on the supports. Mn3O4 magnetic nanoparticles are uniformly distributed on external surfaces of the KaolinC12N with the Al-O-Mn bond for the detection of the tumor microenvironment by T1-MRI; Doxorubicin (DOX) are loaded in the interlayer space with the electrostatic interaction for chemo-treating; and KI is coated on the outer layer of the nanocomposites based on the electrostatic interaction for thyroid cancer targeting. The synergetic effects and the treatment mechanism enhanced by the interface engineering, KI@DOX-Mn3O4-KaolinC12N can cause remarkably low cell viability (57%, 200 μg/mL), tumor shrinking (75%, 20 μg/kg), and accumulation into the tumor tissues. The novel kaolinite based drug delivery system is expected to incorporate imaging diagnosis, targeted therapy and drug delivery into one single system for postoperative residual thyroid cancer treatment and observation for metastasis of focal area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coherence-breaking channels play a significant role in quantum information theory. We study the coherence-breaking channels and give a method to amend the coherence-breaking channels by applying unitary operations. For given incoherent channel Φ, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for the channel to be a coherence-breaking channel and amend it via unitary operations. For qubit incoherent channels Φ that are not coherence-breaking ones, we consider the mapping Φ ∘Φ and present the conditions for coherence-breaking and channel amendment as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yes‑associated protein (YAP) serves a critical role in the initiation and progression of a variety of types of cancer via modulating the expression of genes involved in cell proliferation and the downregulation of apoptosis. Recent studies have suggested that YAP is responsible for the development of drug resistance and cancer metastasis and recurrence. However, the association between YAP and chemoresistance in lung cancer, particularly in lung cancer stem cells (LCSCs) remains largely unknown. In the current study, lung cancer cell spheres were established using the A549 cell line, which demonstrated stem cell properties. It was revealed that YAP was overexpressed in lung cancer spheres compared with normal A549 adherent cells and was associated with enhanced cisplatin (CDDP) resistance. Knockdown of YAP effectively sensitized the adherent A549 and tumor spheres to CDDP treatment and resulted in enhanced cell death. These results suggest that YAP serves a critical role in LCSCs drug resistance and YAP targeting could become a promising adjuvant to current the chemotherapy for lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]