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Objective: In search of the better anticancer agents, fifteen bakuchiol-1,3,5-triazine derivatives were designed and synthesized through nucleophilic substitution reaction. Methods: The newly synthesized derivatives were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against Panc-1, MDA-MB-231, A549, and UM-UC-3 using the MTT assay. Results and Discussion: The data revealed that all of the bakuchiol-1,3,5-triazine derivatives could inhibit the proliferation of Panc-1 cells. Four compounds exhibited better antiproliferative activities than that of bakuchiol. Among them, compound (IVj) displayed potent antiproliferative activity with IC50 values of 21.83 μM. Compound (IVj) also showed potent inhibitory activity against the proliferation of MDA-MB-231, A549, and UM-UC-3 cells when compared with bakuchiol. Additionally, compound (IVj) exhibited strong inhibitory effects on the migration, invasion, and adhesion of Panc-1 cells. Conclusions: The results showed that, compound (IVj) could be a promising candidate agent for the treatment of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of society, it is of paramount importance to expeditiously assess environmental pollution and provide early warning of toxicity risks. Microbial fuel cell–based self-powered biosensors (MFC-SPBs) have emerged as a pivotal technology, obviating the necessity for external power sources and aligning with the prevailing trends toward miniaturization and simplification in biosensor development. In this case, vigorous advancements in MFC-SPBs have been acquired in past years, irrespective of whether the target identification event transpires at the anode or cathode. The present article undertakes a comprehensive review of developed MFC-SPBs, categorizing them into substrate effect and microbial activity effect based on the nature of the target identification event. Furthermore, various enhancement strategies to improve the analytical performance like accuracy and sensitivity are also outlined, along with a discussion of future research trends and application prospects of MFC-SPBs for their better developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nine quinoline‐1,2,4‐triazine hybrids (5 a–5 i) were designed, synthesized, and subjected to evaluation as potential anti‐cancer agents. Structures validation of the synthesized analogues was accomplished through comprehensive analysis employing NMR, HRMS, and IR spectroscopy techniques. Furthermore, the molecular structures of compounds 5 a, 5 d and 5 h were authenticated via single crystal X‐ray diffraction. In an extensive screening process against the human pancreatic cancer PANC‐1 cell line utilizing the MTT assay, all quinoline‐1,2,4‐triazine hybrids (5 a–5 i) manifested significant anti‐proliferative activity. Compound 5 g demonstrated a significant anti‐proliferative effect with an IC50 value of 26.8 μM, similar to the positive control, 5‐Fu. Subsequent investigations revealed varying degrees of cell viability in MDA‐MB‐231, A549, and UM‐UC‐3 cell lines upon exposure to different concentrations of compound 5 g. These findings lead us to postulate that compound 5 g may impede the migration, invasion, and adhesion of PANC‐1 cells, similar to the effects observed with 5‐Fu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution is an extended in-depth study of our previously initial research work about the compact Log-periodic microstrip DGS lowpass filters. The improved filters proposed use a log-periodic zig-zag structure defected on the ground plane under a compensated microstrip line for microwave filter applications. More importantly, a comprehensive index called figure-of-merit (FoM) is introduced in this paper to characterize the achieved performance of this kind of filters. Results show that high FoMs can be realized for this contribution. The developed filters B and C have dimensions 30.307 mm × 31.17 mm and 22.35 mm × 31.524 mm, while the achieved FoMs for the two demonstrators are approximately 3.5×104 and 3.1×104, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeted fluorescence probes for imaging and differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are highly desirable from its scientific research and clinical applications. However, most of the current targeted fluorescence probes focus on the variation of intracellular microenvironment caused by the cancerization of hepatocyte, which causes a fluorescence intensity alteration but fails to produce a spatial differentiation due to the lack of robust parameters for further improving accuracy. Herein, the study develops a new fluorescent carbon dot (CTF‐CDs) that can target the overexpressed GABAA receptor (GABAAR) on cell membrane for accurate and high‐contrast imaging of HCC and differentiation. The competition response between CTF‐CDs and typical receptor‐binding ligands reveals their affinity toward the picrotoxin‐binding site of GABAAR. Based on this GABAAR‐targeting ability, accurate imaging of HCC cells is realized by lighting their membranes, along with a big difference from the intracellular fluorescence of normal liver cells and other cancer cells. In addition, the CTF‐CDs have also been used to visualize the anticancer drug‐induced variations on HCC cell membrane and fluorescent imaging in HCC tissue. This work extends the targeting object of fluorescence probes from intracellular microenvironment to membrane protein, adding a new dimension to the imaging and differentiation of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the application of deep learning-based fault diagnosis, more often than not, the network model could perform better with a balanced dataset input, whereby the number of fault data is equivalent to that of normal data. However, in the context of real-world applications, the number of fault data is generally insufficient compared to the normal data. In this study, a new approach for fault diagnosis in unbalanced data sets is proposed using the Gramian angular field (GAF) method. Firstly, the GAF method is employed to convert one-dimensional data into two-dimensional data, which enhances the feature extraction process. Secondly, to balance the sample distribution, fault data is generated using Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). Finally, the Residual neural network (ResNet) with an attention mechanism is utilized to improve the accuracy of fault diagnosis. The proposed method is experimentally validated using open-source bearing datasets that are published by Case Western Reserve University and the University of Ottawa. The experimental results show that the proposed method has greatly improved fault diagnosis performance in cases of data distribution imbalance, surpassing that of the compared methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dimethyldichlorosilane has been one of the most widely used monomers in the organic silicon industry chain, which can be synthesised through the methylchlorosilanes disproportionation reaction with the interchange of functional groups. In this research, the disproportionation mechanism catalysed by ZSM-5(3 T)@MIL-53(Al) and AlCl3/ZSM-5(3 T)@MIL-53(Al) core–shell catalysts were studied by using the hybrid functional method on the level of M06-2X/Def2-TZVP. The results showed that the two catalysts possessed different catalytic effect assigning to their different acidic active structures. The surface activity of ZSM-5(3 T)@MIL-53(Al) core–shell catalyst modified by AlCl3 transformed to Lewis acid center of Al–Cl bond with better disproportionation activity than before modification. Energy, frequency vibration and IRC calculations, bond level, ELF and LOL analyses were used to verify the reaction mechanism proposed in this manuscript. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weyl ferromagnets, with large anomalous Hall (and Nernst) effects, are an ideal playground to study unconventional transport phenomena. Here, we report a sizable unidirectional magnetoresistance with a ratio of up to 7.73 × 10−5 per current density of 1 MA cm−2 in single-layer epitaxial Co2MnGa films. Surprisingly, the nonlinear signal has an isotropic crystallographic axis dependence and scales almost linearly with the film thickness. Both features cannot be explained by the spin transport from an intrinsic band structure, but rather agree with the current induced transverse thermoelectric effect. By employing a 1D heat transfer model to account for the temperature gradient, we derived an analytical expression of this thermoelectrically driven unidirectional magnetoresistance, from which a upper bound of transverse thermopower Sxy = 3.70 ± 1.10 µV K−1 can be obtained. Our work provides direct evidences of thermoelectric voltages in the nonlinear transport signals that may be extended to other material systems as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: A visible‐light mediated exclusively regioselective synthesis of 2,2‐disubstituted thio‐functionalized tetrahydrofurans, tetrahydro‐ pyrans and oxepanes has been described through an operationally simple and mild photoredox protocol. Thiyl radical generated from N‐phenylsulfenyl phthalimide by photoredox catalysis was proven to be the key reactive intermediate in this reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2 electrochemical conversion on copper electrocatalysts demonstrates selectivity and activity towards multicarbon compounds such as ethylene. However, the complex product distribution, as well as the wasted carbon and electrons in non-target products such as HCOOH, CO, and H2, can significantly increase the energy input and separation costs. As a result, we designed an electro-bio tandem reactor using copper electrocatalysts and microorganisms to transform CO2 into specific multicarbon compounds in both the gas and liquid phases. The unavoidable reducing products from electrocatalysis, including HCOOH in the liquid phase, and CO and H2 in the gas phase, can be consumed and recycled as electron donors or better carbon feedstocks for selective acetate synthesis in Moorella thermoacetica via the Wood–Ljungdahl pathway. In neutral electrolytes, the faradaic selectivity of acetate in liquid products is the highest (79.6%) for Cu-based CO2 electroreduction, and the electron conversion rate to ethylene and acetate is the highest for microbial electrosynthesis (8113.8 mmol h−1 m−2), demonstrating a green design for CO2 upcycling targeting multicarbon products via the parallel integration of electrocatalysis and fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For GaN-based vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), a suitable current confinement layer is essential for high-performance devices. The effect of different current confinement layers, including SiO2, AlN, and diamond, on the performance of GaN-based VCSELs was compared through simulation. The devices' heat dissipation and current confinement characteristics were analyzed based on the electro-opto-thermal model. Considering thermal management, the diamond was a better candidate under high injected current. Benefiting from the excellent heat dissipation, the device with diamond shows a significant improvement in output power and the thermal roll-over current. This work gives a superior option for the current confinement layer and can be helpful for future design and fabrication of high-power GaN-based VCSELs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperglycemia, which can be caused by either an insulin deficit and/or insulin resistance, is the main symptom of Type 2 diabetes, a significant endocrine metabolic illness. Conventional medications, including insulin and oral antidiabetic medicines, can alleviate the signs of diabetes but cannot restore insulin release in a physiologically normal amount. The liver detects and reacts to shifts in the nutritional condition that occur under a wide variety of metabolic situations, making it an essential organ for maintaining energy homeostasis. It also performs a crucial function in glucolipid metabolism through the secretion of hepatokines. Emerging research shows that feeding induces hepatokines release, which regulates glucose and lipid metabolism. Notably, these feedinginduced hepatokines act on multiple organs to regulate glucolipotoxicity and thus influence the development of T2DM. In this review, we focus on describing how feeding-induced cross-talk between hepatokines, including Adropin, Manf, Leap2 and Pcsk9, and metabolic organs (e.g.brain, heart, pancreas, and adipose tissue) affects metabolic disorders, thus revealing a novel approach for both controlling and managing of Type 2 diabetes as a promising medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1,2‐Diol mono‐esters are useful building blocks in various areas. Herein, we report an efficient zwitterion‐catalyzed epoxide ring‐opening with carboxylic acids to give 1,2‐diol monoesters. The catalytic protocol was applicable to a wide range of substrates. In addition, aziridine instead of epoxide could be used. The zwitterionic catalyst could be recycled by a simple aqueous extraction. The synthetic utilities of the 1,2‐diol monoesters have been demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the design and synthesis of an unprecedented cobaloxime-based zirconium metal–organic framework (Zr-TCPCo) with an she net is reported. This heterogeneous material as a photocatalyst exhibits excellent catalytic activity for aerobic oxidation of arylboronic acids to phenols. Recycling experiments demonstrate the stability and reusability of Zr-TCPCo as a robust catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first example of using commercially available and cheap nBu4NBr as a cocatalyst, which is photoactivated by 4-CzIPN, to selectively activate the α-C–H bond of tetrahydrofuran for C–S and C–C cross-couplings is reported herein. This transition-metal free strategy features operational simplicity, mild and inherent green conditions as well as broad substrate scope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flash−butt welded rail is widely used in railway transportation; however, the welded joint is vulnerable after a long time of service, and its damage mechanism is controversial. Here, tensile and reciprocating friction tests were carried out to analyze the mechanical and tribological behaviors between the welded joint and the base metal of a U75VG rail. The results show that flash−butt welding promotes the pearlite to transform into ferrite, leading to a relatively low hardness value but high plasticity. In addition, the yielding and strength of the all−weld−metal specimen are 385 MPa and 1090 MPa, respectively, which are about 24.51% and 7.63% lower than that of the base metal specimen. It is worth noting that the elongation of the all−weld−metal specimen is 57.1% higher than that of the base metal specimen, and more dimples and tearing ridges can be detected on the fracture morphology of the all−weld−metal specimen, while the fracture morphology of the base metal specimen is filled with shallow dimples and cleavage planes. Moreover, the weld metal has a relatively higher COF (coefficient of friction), and its fluctuation amplitude is 1.25 times higher than that of the base metal, which is due to the rougher worn surface. Furthermore, the introduction of flash−butt welding changes the wear mechanism of the U75VG rail from adhesive wear and oxidation to fatigue wear and slight oxidation, and ultimately leads to more serious damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis C remains a major public health problem in the world. The host immune system plays a key role in viral clearance. This study aimed to investigate the connection between retinoic acid-inducible gene I-like (RIG-I-like) receptor gene polymorphism and hepatitis C chronicity in the Chinese Han population. The current study genotyped three SNPs (IFIH1 rs10930046 and DHX58 rs2074158, rs2074160) to assess their association with the chronicity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among 1,590 participants (590 spontaneous HCV clearance cases and 1,000 persistent infection patients). Our research shows that DHX58 rs2074158-G allele (dominant model: adjusted OR D 1.53, 95% CI [1.20-1.95], P D0:001; additive model: adjusted OR D 1.50, 95% CI [1.27-1.78], P <0:001) and IFIH1 rs10930046-C allele (additive model: adjusted OR D 1.26, 95% CI [1.07-1.49], P D 0:005) were associated with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). And the risk of CHC increased in people carrying more unfavorable genotypes (rs2074158-AG/GG or rs10930046-CC), with the chronic rates for genotypes number from zero to two in 60.69%, 57.33%, and 85.93%, respectively (adjusted OR D 3.64, 95% CI [2.18-6.08]; P <0:001). Genetic polymorphism of IFIH1 and DHX58 may be related to CHC in the Chinese Han population. Furthermore, the risk of CHC increases as the number of unfavorable genotypes carried by the HCV-infected person increases. IFIH1 rs10930046, DHX58 rs2074158, age, ALT, and AST levels were all independent predictors of CHC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stool-based molecular markers have shown potential as a strategy for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using microRNA-92a expression as a biomarker for CRC in stool samples. Methods: The level of microRNA-92a was measured in stool samples from 210 CRC patients, 29 patients with advanced adenomas, 15 patients with other cancers, and 101 healthy controls, using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate sensitivity and specificity. Results: MicroRNA-92a expression was positive in 70.1% of CRC patients, 44.8% of advanced adenomas patients, and 36.6% of healthy controls, using a cut-off value of 31.5. The corresponding sensitivity and specificity for discriminating CRC from advanced adenomas were 66.9% and 63.4%, respectively. Moreover, stool-based microRNA-92a expression was better at detecting CRC cancers in the distal colon (sensitivity 82.1%) than the proximal colon (sensitivity 67.9%). There were no significant differences in clinical stage of CRC when comparing AUCs of each parameter (P > 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that microRNA-92a expression in stool samples could serve as a promising non-invasive biomarker for CRC detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an autosomal dominant cardiac disorder characterized by ventricular hypertrophy resulting from the disordered arrangement of myocardial cells, which leads to impaired cardiac function or death. Autophagy (AT) is a biochemical process through which lysosomes degrade and recycle damaged or discarded intracellular components to protect cells against external environmental conditions, such as hypoxia and oxidative stress. AT is closely related to HCM, and thus, serves an important role in myocardial hypertrophy. However, the precise mechanism underlying the regulation of AT in cardiac hypertrophy remains elusive. The present study aimed to examine the role and mechanisms of AT-related genes (ARGs) in HCM through bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation and to identify potential targeted drugs for HCM. In this study, cardiac samples were obtained from healthy individuals and patients with HCM from the GEO database, and screened for differentially expressed ARGs to further investigate their potential interactions and functional pathways. These genes were subjected to functional enrichment analysis to identify potential crosstalk and involved pathways. Based on a protein-protein interaction network, EIF4EBP1, MCL1, PIK3R1, CCND1 and PPARG were identified as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of HCM. Furthermore, 10 components with therapeutic potential for HCM were predicted based on the aforementioned hub genes. The results of bioinformatics analysis were validated using H9c2 cells stimulated with angiotensin II, which represented an in vitro model of cardiac hypertrophy. Overall, the present study demonstrated that the expression levels of ARGs were substantially altered in HCM. Therefore, these genes may be used as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocular metastasis (OM) in breast cancer (BC) always predicts poor prognosis. The present study explored differences in tumor markers in patients with BC with and without OM, and attempted to determine risk factors for OM in patients with BC. This study involved 629 patients with BC. Patients' clinical features were tested using χ2 test, unpaired Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U. These parameters were analyzed using binary logistic regression to obtain risk factors for OM. A receiver operating characteristic curve was then established to determine the diagnostic value for OM. There were no significant differences in age, sex, menopausal state, and pathological type between the two groups. Significantly more axillary lymph node metastases were observed in the OM group compared with the non-ocular metastases group. Cancer antigen 153 (CA153) was revealed to be a significant independent risk factor for OM in patients with BC. The cutoff CA153 value for diagnosis of OM was 43.00 u/ml, the sensitivity was 96.15% and the specificity was 96.02%. In conclusion, CA153 was demonstrated to be a risk factor for OM in patients with BC. High levels of CA153 were associated with OM in patients with BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If predictors of HCC metastasis can be identified, it may be possible to provide effective intervention, in a timely manner, to patients prone to postoperative metastasis to reduce the risk of metastasis. Some studies reported that the rate of intravascular metastasis in male HCC patients was significantly higher than that in female patients, indicating that the former is prone to intravascular metastasis. Studies have shown that tumor size, degree of cell differentiation, whether the tumor breaks through the capsule, whether it is accompanied by peripheral micro-metastasis, and whether there is portal vein tumor thrombus are significantly correlated with the metastasis and recurrence of HCC. The analysis of hematogenous metastasis in the context of HCC metastasis and identification of the most frequent sites of metastasis are crucial for early clinical diagnosis of this disease as well as to guide the choice of clinical treatment strategies and aid prognosis. [Extracted from the article]

This work reports the development of a multifunctional thermosensitive liposomal nanoplatform (PcS4@Lip‐FA) based on a metal‐free phthalocyanine modified with tetra‐sulfonates (PcPS4), which exhibited photodynamic and photothermal activities simultaneously. Upon irradiation with a near infrared laser, thermosensitive PcS4@Lip‐FA could release PcS4 as a result of the local hyperthermia of PcS4. Interestingly, PcS4 could easily chelate with Cu2+, leading to the enhancement of photothermal activity and decrease of photodynamic activity. In addition, in vivo fluorescence imaging revealed that PcS4@Lip‐FA could selectively accumulate in tumor tissue of H22 tumor‐bearing mice after tail vein injection, and exhibited a significant anticancer phototherapeutic effect, with a tumor inhibition rate of 83.5 %. Therefore, PcPS4@Lip‐FA has realized fluorescence imaging‐guided combined cancer treatment, providing a promising multifunctional nanoplatform for cancer diagnostics and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toothache (TA) is a common and severe pain, but its effects on the brain are somewhat unclear. In this study, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to compare regional homogeneity (ReHo) between TA patients and a normal control group and to explore the brain activity changes during TA, establishing the theoretical basis for the mechanism of neuropathic pain. In total, 20 TA patients and 20 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited and underwent assessment of pain, and then resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI). The ReHo method was used to analyze the original whole-brain images. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between mean ReHo values in each brain region and clinical symptoms, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to conduct correlation analysis on the brain regions studied. The ReHo values of the right lingual gyrus (RLG), right superior occipital gyrus (RSOG), left middle occipital gyrus (LMOG) and right postcentral gyrus (RPG) in the TA group were significantly higher than in HCs. The mean ReHo values in the RLG were positively correlated with the anxiety score (AS) (r = 0.723, p < 0.001), depression score (DS) (r = 0.850, p < 0.001) and visual analogue score (VAS) (r = 0.837, p < 0.001). The mean ReHo values of RSOG were also positively correlated with AS (r = 0.687, p = 0.001), DS (r = 0.661, p = 0.002) and VAS (r = 0.712, p < 0.001). The areas under the ROC curve of specific brain area ReHo values were as follows: RLG, 0.975; RSOG, 0.959; LMOG, 0.975; RPG, 1.000. Various degrees of brain activity changes reflected by ReHo values in different areas of the brain indicate the impact of TA on brain function. These findings may reveal related neural mechanisms underlying TA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C30H36F2N6O9S, orthorhombic, P212121 (no. 19), a = 5.2364(8) Å, b = 10.0250(14) Å, c = 59.689(9) Å, V = 3133.4(8) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0384, wRref(F2) = 0.0969, T = 170 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore alterations in macular retinal thickness (RT) and analyze correlation between macular RT and pterygium area, length in pterygium patients. Methods: Totally 13 patients with pterygium (left eye) and 13 healthy controls (left eye) were recruited. OCTA was applied to scan each eye to generate three-dimensional images. Based on the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) method, each image was divided into nine subregions for the ETDRS: central (C); inner superior (IS); outer superior (OS); inner nasal (IN); outer nasal (ON); inner inferior (II); outer inferior (OI); inner temporal (IT); and outer temporal (OT). The macular RT in each subregion was measured. Furthermore, the correlation between RT and the area, length of pterygium was analyzed. Results: The visual acuity of pterygium patient was different from that of the control (P < 0.05). Besides, decreased intraretinal thickness of the IN and ON, increased intraretinal thickness of OT, decreased extraretinal thickness of OT, IN, ON, OS, and decreased retinal full layer thickness of medial superior, OS, IN, ON, and II subregions in pterygium group were observed. There was a negative correlation between RT of the IN and ON subregions and the length of pterygium (r = −0.5803 and r = −0.6013, P = 0.0376 and P = 0.0297). The RT of IN subregion was negatively correlated with pterygium area (r = −0.5844, P = 0.0359). According to the receiver operating characteristic analysis, in the ON subregion, the areas under the curve of the inner retinal thickness, outer retinal thickness and the whole retinal thickness were 1.0 (95% CI: 1.0), 0.882 (95% CI: 0.715 and 0.963), and 1.0 (95% CI: 1.0). The smallest area under the curve of retinal thickness in OT subregion was 0.018 (95% CI: 0–0.059). Conclusion: RT of pterygium patients was significantly decreased, and the main alterations occurred in the temporal side suggesting there might exist retinal structural alterations in pterygium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate spontaneous brain activity in patients with dry eye (DE) and healthy control (HC) using the fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (fALFF) technique with the aim of elucidating the relationship between the clinical symptoms of DE and changes in brain function. Material and Methods: A total of 28 patients with DE and 28 matched healthy volunteers (10 males and 18 females in each group) were enrolled. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed in both groups. Then all subjects were required to complete a comprehensive Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the differences in fALFF values between the two groups and their diagnostic value. Linear correlations between HADS and fALFF values in different brain regions of DE patients were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: Patients with DE had significantly higher fALFF values in the left calcarine sulcus (CS) than the HC group, while fALFF values in the bilateral middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and right MFG/right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) were significantly lower in DE patients than in HC group. fALFF values had a high diagnostic value for differentiating patients with DE from the HC group (P < 0.001). Right MFG and right MFG/IFG were significantly correlated with HADS values. Conclusion: Our study found that DE mainly involved functional disorders in the brain areas of the left CS, bilateral MFG and right MFG/right IFG, which helped us to find possible clinical features of DE disease and reflected the potential pathological mechanism of DE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We identify and explore the candidate susceptibility genes for cirrhosis and their underlying biological mechanism. Methods: We downloaded the genome-wide association studies summary data of 901 cirrhosis cases and 451,363 controls and integrated them with reference models of five potential tissues from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) Project, including whole blood, liver, pancreas, spleen, and thyroid, to identify genes whose expression is predicted to be associated with cirrhosis. Then, we downloaded gene expression data of individuals with hepatocellular carcinoma from TCGA database to conduct differential expression analysis to validate these identified genes and explored their possible role in driving cirrhosis via functional enrichment and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Results: We identified 10 significant genes (SKIV2L , JPH4 , UQCC2 , RP11-91I8.3 , MAU2 , ERAP1 , PUS3 , ZNF677 , ARHGAP40 , and SHANK3) associated with cirrhosis at a Bonferroni-corrected threshold of p < 0.01, among which two (SKIV2L and JPH4) were identified in the liver and five (SKIV2L , JPH4 , MAU2 , SHANK3 , and UQCC2) were validated by differential expression analysis at an FDR-corrected threshold of p < 0.01. The enrichment analysis showed that the degradation process of RNA, which is enriched by 58 genes, is significantly under-enriched in liver cancer tissues (p = 0.0268). Conclusion: We have identified several candidate genes for cirrhosis in multiple tissues and performed differential genetic analysis using the liver cancer database to verify the significant genes. We found that the genes SKIV2L and JPH4 identified in the liver are of particular concern. Finally, through enrichment analysis, we speculate that the process of mRNA transcription and RNA degradation may play a role in cirrhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More and more studies showed that strabismus is not simply an ocular disease, but a neuro-ophthalmology disease. To analyze potential changes in brain activity and their relationship to behavioral performance in comitant strabismus patients and healthy controls. Our study recruited 28 patients with comitant strabismus and 28 people with matched weight, age range, and sex ratio as healthy controls. Using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, we evaluated fALFF to compare spontaneous brain activity between comitant strabismus and healthy controls. We did hospital anxiety and depression scale questionnaires for these patients. We found significantly lower fALFF value in comitant strabismus patients compared with controls in the left frontal superior medial gyrus and the right middle cingulum. In the latter region, fALFF was significantly negatively correlated with the hospital anxiety and depression scale, as well as the duration of disease. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the fALFF method has clear potential for the diagnosis of comitant strabismus patients. These results revealed abnormal spontaneous activity in two brain regions of comitant strabismus patients, which may indicate underlying pathologic mechanisms and may help to advance clinical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previous studies have demonstrated altered brain activity in strabismic amblyopia (SA). In this study, low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was applied in children with strabismic amblyopia after they had undergone strabismus surgery. The effect of rTMS was investigated by measuring the changes of brain features using the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF). Materials and Methods: In this study, 21 SA patients (12 males and 9 females) were recruited based on their age (7–13 years old), weight, and sex. They all had SA in their left eyes and they received rTMS treatment one month after strabismus surgery. Their vision before and after surgery were categorized as pre-rTMS (PRT) and post-rTMS (POT). All participants received rTMS treatment, underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and their data were analyzed using the repeated measures t -test. The team used correlation analysis to explore the relationship between logMAR visual acuity and ALFF. Results: Pre- versus post-rTMS values of ALFF were significantly different within individuals. In the POT group, ALFF values were significantly decreased in the Angular_R (AR), Parietal_Inf_L (PIL), and Cingulum_Mid_R (CMR) while ALFF values were significantly increased in the Fusiform_R (FR) and Frontal_Inf_Orb_L(FIL) compared to the PRT stage. Conclusion: Our data showed that ALFF recorded from some brain regions was changed significantly after rTMS in strabismic amblyopes. The results may infer the pathological basis of SA and demonstrate that visual function may be improved using rTMS in strabismic amblyopic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optic neuritis (ON) is a general term for inflammation of any part of the optic nerve resulting from demyelination or infection. The number of patients with MOG-lgG antibody-related optic neuritis is increasing recently. Our study uses the fractional amplitude of lowfrequency fluctuation (fALFF) method to compare the activity of specific brain regions in MOG-lgG ON patients and healthy controls (HCs). We selected a total of 21 MOG-lgG ON patients and 21 HCs were included in the study. All subjects underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). The independent-samples t-test was used to compare demographic data and average fALFF values between groups. The specificity and sensitivity of fALFF values for distinguishing between MOG-lgG ON patients and HCs were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between fALFF values and clinical characteristics in MOG-lgG ON patients. Our results showed that fALFF values of the right cerebellum and left middle cingulum were lower whereas those of bilateral inferior temporal lobes, right gyrus rectus, and the left superior and right middle frontal lobes of MOG-lgG ON patients were higher than those of HCs (P < 0.05). The average fALFF value of the left superior frontal lobe in MOG-lgG ON patients was positively correlated with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score (HADS) (r = 0.6004; P < 0.05) and duration of MOG-lgG ON (r = 6487; P < 0.05). Thus, patients with MOG-lgG ON have abnormal activity in the brain regions related to vision. Changes in fALFF value can reflect functional sequelae of MOG-lgG ON, including abnormal anxiety or depressive emotional changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes visual damage and blindness globally. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in functional connectivity (FC) in AMD patients using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Subjects and Methods: A total of 23 patients (12 male, 11 female) with AMD were enrolled to the AMD patients group (AMDs), and 17 healthy age-, sex-, and education-matched controls (9 male, 8 female) to the healthy controls group (HCs). All participants underwent rs-fMRI and mean FC values were compared between the two groups. Results: Significantly higher FC values were found in the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), superior frontal gyrus (SFG), inferior parietal lobule (IPL), rectal gyrus (RTG), and superior parietal lobule (SPL) in AMDs compared with HCs. Conversely, FC values in the cerebellum posterior lobe (CPL), middle cingulate gyrus (MCG), medulla (MDL), cerebellum anterior lobe (CAL), and thalamus (TLM) were significantly lower in AMDs than in HCs. Conclusion: This study demonstrated FC abnormalities in many specific cerebral regions in AMD patients, and may provide new insights for exploration of potential pathophysiological mechanism of AMD-induced functional cerebral changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Numerous anterior neuroimaging researches have revealed that corneal ulcers (CU) are related to changes in cerebral anatomic structure and functional area. Nonetheless, functional characteristics of the brain's network organization still show no definite research results. The study was designed to confirm CU-associated spatial centrality distribution functional network of the whole cerebrum and explore the mechanism through which the larvaceous changed the intrinsic functional hubs. Material and Methods: In this study, 40 patients with CU and 40 normal controls (matched in sex, age, and education level) were enrolled in this study to undergo resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. The differences between the groups were determined by measuring the voxel-wise degree centrality (DC) throughout the whole cerebrum. For the purpose of assessing the correlation between abnormal DC value and clinical variables, the Linear correlation analysis was used. Results: Compared with normal controls (NCs), CU patients revealed high DC values in the frontal lobe, precuneus, inferior parietal lobule, posterior cingulate, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe in the brain functional connectivity maps throughout the brain. The intergroup differences also had high similarity on account of different thresholds. In addition, DC values were positively related to the duration of CU in the left middle frontal gyrus. Conclusions: The experimental results revealed that patients with CU showed spatially unnatural intrinsic functional hubs whether DC values increased or decreased. This brings us to a new level of comprehending the functional features of CU and may offer useful information to make us obtain a clear understanding of the dysfunction of CU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducing excellent capacitive materials and tailoring their combination modes with bacterial cells are promising steps to improve the integration degree and performance of supercapacitive paper-based microbial fuel cells (SC-PMFCs). Herein, through a layer-by-layer (LBL) strategy, in situ formed polypyrrole and bacterial cells were alternately constructed on carbon cloth for the anode of a SC-PMFC. The capacitive bioanode fabricated by three modifications of the polypyrrole/bacteria bilayer achieved the best performance due to the combined effects of bacterial loading amount, conductivity and metabolic activity loss during the whole LBL fabrication process. Benefiting from the functions of polypyrrole as both a capacitive material and a conductive intercalator between the bacterial layers, this bioanode exhibited improved electron transfer efficiency, enhanced power density and increased capacitance. Meanwhile, the polypyrrole layers in this capacitive bioanode can provide a protective effect to the bacterial layers, leading to superior performance-retention capacity during the storage period. This work creates an effective way to improve the integration level between MFC and supercapacitor technologies, which would push the development of SC-PMFCs and provide guidance to other biofuel cell-involved combination technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hantaviruses (HVs) are major zoonotic pathogens in China that cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) posing a major threat to people's health. Hainan Province, an island located in Southeast China, is an ideal region for sea ports. The unique tropical monsoon climate in Hainan provides sufficient living conditions for rodents, which help spread HVs and other rodent-borne diseases. In the routine monitoring of hantavirus, there was no evidence that rodents in Hainan carried hantavirus. No patients infected with hantavirus were found in the past. However, the surveillance of HVs-carrying rodents covering the whole territory of Hainan has not stopped. Methodology/principal findings: For the monitoring of the prevalence of HVs in rodents and the search for theoretical reference for rodent control and HFRS prevention, a total of 60 rodents from 6 monitoring spots were trapped around main ports in Hainan between 2016 and 2019. HV positive samples were identified by a specific kit and sequenced. The data indicated that seven rodents (Rattus norvegicus) were positive for hantavirus with a positivity rate of 11.67%. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the two complete sequence strains HN1 and HN4 in this research were highly similar to the sequence strains GZRn36 and GZRn148 isolated in Guangdong Province, and they located in the same phylogenetic tree branch which belongs to S2 subtype. Although the two partial sequences HT1 and HT2 isolated in Xisha Islands belong to S2 subtype according to the phylogenetic tree of L segment, they showed a great nucleotide difference with HN1 and HN4. We also found 13 amino acid variations compared with SEOV 80–39 and 6 amino acid mutations related to epitope, and the variations may reduce the effectiveness of the current HFRS vaccines used in humans. Conclusions/significance: The study indicated HVs carried by rodents found in Hainan Province may be transmitted from Guangdong Province through trading ports and carriage of goods by sea. So it is of great significance to strengthen the surveillance of rodents in port areas especially capture and eliminate rodents on ship. Timely elimination of host animals of hantavirus in port areas is necessary to prevent an outbreak of HVs disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the risk factors for Ocular metastasis (OM) of Gastric cancer (GC). Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. A total of 1165 patients with GC were enrolled in this study and divided into OM and non-ocular metastasis (NOM) groups. Chi-square and independent samples t tests were used to determine whether differences in demographic characteristics and serological indicators (SI) between the two groups were significant. In addition, binary logistic regression was used to analyze the value of various SI as risk factors for OM in patients with GC. The statistical threshold was set as P <.05. Finally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the diagnostic value of various SI in differentiating the occurrence of OM in patients with GC. Results: The incidence of OM in older adults with GC was 1.1%. Adenocarcinoma was the most common type of GC in both groups, and there was no significant difference in demographic characteristics between the groups. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), carbohydrate antigen-724 (CA724), and carcinoembryonic antigen levels were significantly higher in the OM group than the NOM group, while those of apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) were significantly lower in the OM than the NOM group. Binary logistic analysis showed that LDL, ApoA1, and CA724 were independent risk factors for OM in patients with GC (P <.001, P =.033, and P =.008, respectively). ROC curve analysis generated area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.881, 0.576, and 0.906 for LDL, ApoA1, and CA724, respectively. In addition, combined analysis of LDL, ApoA1, and CA724 generated the highest AUC value of 0.924 (P <.001). Conclusion: Among SI, LDL, ApoA1, and CA724 have predictive value for the occurrence of OM in GC, with the three factors combined having the highest value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional connectivity of the primary visual cortex was explored with resting functional magnetic resonance imaging among adults with strabismus and amblyopia and healthy controls. We used the two-sample test and receiver operating characteristic curves to investigate the differences in mean functional connectivity values between the groups with strabismus and amblyopia and healthy controls. Compared with healthy controls, functional connectivity values in the left Brodmann areas 17, including bilateral lingual/angular gyri, were reduced in groups with strabismus and amblyopia. Moreover, functional connectivity values in the right Brodmann area 17, including left cuneus, right inferior occipital gyrus, and left inferior parietal lobule, were reduced in adults with strabismus and amblyopia. Our findings indicate that functional connectivity abnormalities exist between the primary visual cortex and other regions. This may be the basis of the pathological mechanism of visual dysfunction and stereovision disorders in adults with strabismus and amblyopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of network science, the coupling between networks has become the focus of complex network research. However, previous studies mainly focused on the coupling between nodes, while ignored the coupling between edges. We propose a novel cascading failure model of two-layer networks. The model considers the different loads and capacities of edges, as well as the elastic and coupling relationship between edges. In addition, a more flexible load-capacity strategy is adopted to verify the model. The simulation results show that the model is feasible. Different networks have different behaviors for the same parameters. By changing the load parameters, capacity parameters, overload parameters, and distribution parameters reasonably, the robustness of the model can be significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability and death among military personnel and civilians during wartime [[1]]. Keywords: Skill set; Competencies; Traumatic brain injury; Navy EN Skill set Competencies Traumatic brain injury Navy 1 3 3 12/06/22 20221205 NES 221205 Xin-Jie Hong and Kai-Wei Han contributed equally to this work Dear Editor, Recent advances in military technology have led to the development of sophisticated and intelligent weapons, which increase mortality and morbidity. TBI traumatic brain injury We hope that the introduction of such skills and training methods would help naval medical professionals prepare for and make better treatment decisions for TBI at sea. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a chronic progressive cerebrovascular abnormality characterized by chronic occlusion of large intracranial vessels with smoky vascular development at the base of the skull. In patients with MMD, abnormal spontaneous brain activity would be expected. Purpose: To assess the brain activity changes in patients with MMD by resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI), using the percent amplitude of fluctuation (PerAF) analysis method. Materials and Methods: A total of 17 patients with MMD (3 males and 14 females) and 17 healthy control (HC) subjects with matched gender and age were recruited for this study. We used rs-fMRI to scan all the patients with MMD. Spontaneous neural activity was evaluated using the PerAF approach. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the ability of the PerAF to distinguish patients with MMD from HCs. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) tests were performed to assess the emotional status of patients with MMD and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) was measured using high-resolution optical coherence tomography (hr-OCT). The relationship between the HADS scores, RNFLT values, and the PerAF signals was assessed using the Pearson's correlation analysis. Results: Compared with HCs, the PerAF signals in patients with MMD were decreased in the Frontal_Sup_Medial_R and Precentral_L, whereas those in the Caudate_L were increased. The areas under the ROC curves indicated that signals in these brain regions could distinguish between patients with MMD and HCs. The PerAF value of Frontal_Sup_Medial_R was positively correlated with the left and right eye RNFLT values and negatively correlated with the HADS scores. Conclusion: In patients with MMD, reduced PerAF signals in the Frontal_Sup_Medial_R, Precentral_L, and Caudate_L may be associated with psychiatric diseases including anxiety and depression and decreased RNFLT may be associated with ophthalmic complications due to the compression of terminal branches of the internal carotid artery in the retinal fiber layer. The PerAF can be used as an effective indicator of ocular complications of MMD and to study the neural mechanism underpinning emotional complications in patients with MMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) is a serious eye disease that causes irreversible damage to the eye. It can significantly increase intraocular pressure and cause severe pain, as well as abnormal activity in the cortical and pre-cortical visual systems. However, there are few studies in this area. This trial assessed the altered regional brain activity in patients with NVG using the percentage of fluctuation amplitude (PerAF) method. Methods: Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) scans were conducted in 18 individuals with NVG and 18 healthy controls (HCs), matched for education level, gender, and age. The PerAF method was applied to assess brain activity. Mean PerAF values of brain regions in NVG and HCs were compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: Lower PerAF values were found in the NVG group than in controls in the right anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri (ACG.R), right superior occipital gyrus (SOG.R) and left superior frontal gyrus (orbital part) (ORBsup.L) (p < 0.001). In contrast, PerAF value was higher in NVG patients than in controls in the left inferior temporal gyrus (ITG.L) (p < 0.001). The hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and visual analog score (VAS) were significantly and positively correlated with PerAF in ITG.L (r = 0.9331, p < 0.0001; and r = 0.7816, p = 0.0001, respectively). Conclusion: Abnormal activity in the patient's brain regions further confirms that the NVG affects the entire brain, not just the visual pathways and posterior retinal mechanisms (including the hypothalamic lateral geniculate nucleus and the primary visual cortex). This strengthens our understanding of the NVG and provides potential diagnostic and therapeutic support for patients who are difficult to diagnose and treat early. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spontaneous changes in brain activity in patients with diabetic optic neuropathy using steady-state fMRI. The fractional amplitude of the low-frequency fluctuation method was applied to evaluate neural activity changes. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to assess the anxiety and depression status of participants. The independent sample t-test and chi-squared test were applied to analyze the demographics of diabetic optic neuropathy patients and healthy controls. Receiver operating characteristic curves were applied to analyze the variation in mean fractional amplitude of lowfrequency fluctuation values between diabetic optic neuropathy patients and healthy controls. Pearson's correlation analysis analyzed the relationships between the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation values of brain regions and clinical behaviors in the diabetic optic neuropathy group. The fractional amplitude of lowfrequency fluctuation value of diabetic optic neuropathy patients was significantly higher than healthy controls in the right precentral gyrus. However, the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation values in the right anterior cingulate gyrus and left middle cingulate gyrus were markedly decreased in diabetic optic neuropathy patients. The area under the curve of receiver operating characteristics for each brain region showed high accuracy. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation values of the right anterior cingulate gyrus and left middle cingulate gyrus was negatively correlated with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores. The fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation values of the left middle cingulate gyrus was negatively correlated with diabetic optic neuropathy disease duration. In conclusion, we found abnormal spontaneous brain activities in regions related to cognitive and emotional dysfunction, eye movement disorder, and vision loss in patients with diabetic optic neuropathy. These results may indicate the underlying neuropathological mechanisms of diabetic optic neuropathy and show that fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation may be an effective method to distinguish patients with diabetic optic neuropathy from healthy individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used correlation analysis to examine whether changes in grey matter volume in patients correlated with clinical presentation. gray matter volume was markedly reduced in neovascular glaucoma patients than healthy controls in the following brain regions: left cingulum anterior/medial frontal gyrus; left middle frontal gyrus, orbital part; left inferior frontal gyrus, orbital part; superior temporal gyrus/right frontal inferior orbital part. VBM directly suggests that neovascular glaucoma patients have changed in the volume of multiple brain regions. These changes exist in brain areas related to the visual pathway, as well as other brain areas which are not related to vision. The alteration of specific brain areas are closely related to clinical symptoms such as increased intraocular pressure and optic nerve atrophy in neovascular glaucoma patients. In conclusion, neovascular glaucoma may cause paralgesia, anxiety, and depression in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study begins with a brief translation history of Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms in France, Italy, and Spain, showing that, due to the novel’s anti-war and anti-fascist nature, in many cases its translations were shaped not only by cultural and literary factors, but also by socio-political and economic factors. Following the introduction, based on Anthony Pym’s “humanizing” (agent-based) approach to translation history, I explore the roles played by many Chinese publishers, translators, and editors in the novel’s translation history in the first half of the twentieth century, with the intention to show why, compared to the translation boom of A Farewell to Arms since the second half of the twentieth century, translations of this novel were produced so infrequently from 1929 to 1949. Review of related historical facts indicates that at least two Chinese translations of A Farewell to Arms were published because Hemingway was identified by many Chinese intellectuals, including communists, as an anti-war and anti-fascist “leftist writer”; and even the allegedly pro-communist scholar-official John K. Fairbank was involved in a translation project of Hemingway’s works. This study aims at showing that at least a part of the history of translating Hemingway in China has been determined by strategies and choices that the American translation theorist and historian Lawrence Venuti has identified as the “cultural politics of translation,” in which the translation process is shaped by political agendas and ideologies, not just by translators’ poetic judgment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]