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Background: Evidence of an association between maternal use of antiseizure medication (ASM) during pregnancy and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children is conflicting. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the relationship between fetal exposure to ASM and the development of ASD or ADHD in offspring. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and other databases to identify relevant epidemiological studies published from inception until 1 March 2024. Results: Seven cohort studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that maternal exposure to ASMs during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of ASD [odds ratio (OR): 2.1, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.63-2.71; p < 0.001] in the general population. This association became weaker (ASD: OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.11-1.73; p = 0.004) when the reference group was mothers with a psychiatric disorder or epilepsy not treated during pregnancy. Furthermore, an increased risk of ADHD was observed when the study data adjusted for drug indications were pooled (OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.07-1.92; p = 0.015). In subgroup analyses based on individual ASM use, only exposure to valproate preconception was significantly associated with an increased risk of ASD or ADHD. Conclusion: The significant association between maternal ASM use during pregnancy and ASD or ADHD in offspring may be partially explained by the drug indication or driven by valproate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An underwater image enhancement technique based on weighted guided filter image fusion is proposed to address challenges, including optical absorption and scattering, color distortion, and uneven illumination. The method consists of three stages: color correction, local contrast enhancement, and fusion algorithm methods. In terms of color correction, basic correction is achieved through channel compensation and remapping, with saturation adjusted based on histogram distribution to enhance visual richness. For local contrast enhancement, the approach involves box filtering and a variational model to improve image saturation. Finally, the method utilizes weighted guided filter image fusion to achieve high visual quality underwater images. Additionally, our method outperforms eight state-of-the-art algorithms in no-reference metrics, demonstrating its effectiveness and innovation. We also conducted application tests and time comparisons to further validate the practicality of our approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In situ protein labeling through homologous recombination is a powerful method for studying protein function across various fungal organisms. Traditionally, research on gene function in plant pathogens depends on methods like ectopic or overexpression, which may not always reflect natural protein behavior. Our study successfully implemented in situ labeling of proteins in the fungus Verticillium dahliae, a plant pathogen, by attaching Flag/GFP tags to proteins' C-terminus via homologous recombination. We demonstrated the technique's effectiveness by analyzing the subcellular localization and protein levels, confirming its utility in this organism. This advancement in protein in situ labeling provides a more precise approach to examine protein expression and function in plant pathogens, enhancing our understanding of their biological functions and potentially aiding in the development of disease control strategies. Accurate determination of protein localization, levels, or protein−protein interactions is pivotal for the study of their function, and in situ protein labeling via homologous recombination has emerged as a critical tool in many organisms. While this approach has been refined in various model fungi, the study of protein function in most plant pathogens has predominantly relied on ex situ or overexpression manipulations. To dissect the molecular mechanisms of development and infection for Verticillium dahliae, a formidable plant pathogen responsible for vascular wilt diseases, we have established a robust, homologous recombination-based in situ protein labeling strategy in this organism. Utilizing Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT), this methodology facilitates the precise tagging of specific proteins at their C-termini with epitopes, such as GFP and Flag, within the native context of V. dahliae. We demonstrate the efficacy of our approach through the in situ labeling of VdCf2 and VdDMM2, followed by subsequent confirmation via subcellular localization and protein-level analyses. Our findings confirm the applicability of homologous recombination for in situ protein labeling in V. dahliae and suggest its potential utility across a broad spectrum of filamentous fungi. This labeling method stands to significantly advance the field of functional genomics in plant pathogenic fungi, offering a versatile and powerful tool for the elucidation of protein function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) has proven to be an effective treatment for improving cognition, a crucial factor in motor learning. However, current studies are predominantly focused on the motor cortex, and the potential brain mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effects are still unclear. Given the interconnected nature of motor learning within the brain network, we have proposed a novel approach known as multi-target tACS. This study aims to ascertain whether multi-target tACS is more effective than single-target stimulation in stroke patients and to further explore the potential underlying brain mechanisms by using techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: This study employs a double-blind, sham-controlled, randomized controlled trial design with a 2-week intervention period. Both participants and outcome assessors will remain unaware of treatment allocation throughout the study. Thirty-nine stroke patients will be recruited and randomized into three distinct groups, including the sham tACS group (SS group), the single-target tACS group (ST group), and the multi-target tACS group (MT group), at a 1:1:1 ratio. The primary outcomes are series reaction time tests (SRTTs) combined with electroencephalograms (EEGs). The secondary outcomes include motor evoked potential (MEP), central motor conduction time (CMCT), short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), intracortical facilitation (ICF), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Box and Block Test (BBT), and blood sample RNA sequencing. The tACS interventions for all three groups will be administered over a 2-week period, with outcome assessments conducted at baseline (T0) and 1 day (T1), 7 days (T2), and 14 days (T3) of the intervention phase. Discussion: The study's findings will determine the potential of 40-Hz tACS to improve motor learning in stroke patients. Additionally, it will compare the effectiveness of multi-target and single-target approaches, shedding light on their respective improvement effects. Through the utilization of techniques such as TMS and MRI, the study aims to uncover the underlying brain mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic impact. Furthermore, the intervention has the potential to facilitate motor learning efficiency, thereby contributing to the advancement of future stroke rehabilitation treatment. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2300073465. Registered on 11 July 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic targeting (e.g., gene knockout and tagging) based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a simple yet powerful approach for studying gene functions. Although originally developed in classic budding and fission yeast models, the same principle applies to other eukaryotic systems with efficient homologous recombination. One‐step PCR‐based genetic targeting is conventionally used but the sizes of the homologous arms that it generates for recombination‐mediated genetic targeting are usually limited. Alternatively, gene targeting can also be performed via fusion PCR, which can create homologous arms that are orders of magnitude larger, therefore substantially increasing the efficiency of recombination‐mediated genetic targeting. Here, we present GetPrimers (https://www.evomicslab.org/app/getprimers/), a generalized computational framework and web tool to assist automatic targeting and verification primer design for both one‐step PCR‐based and fusion PCR‐based genetic targeting experiments. Moreover, GetPrimers by design runs for any given genetic background of any species with full genome scalability. Therefore, GetPrimers is capable of empowering high‐throughput functional genomic assays at multipopulation and multispecies levels. Comprehensive experimental validations have been performed for targeting and verification primers designed by GetPrimers across multiple organism systems and experimental setups. We anticipate GetPrimers to become a highly useful and popular tool to facilitate easy and standardized gene modification across multiple systems. Take‐away: Developed GetPrimers for generalized primer design of PCR‐based genetic targeting.GetPrimers shines with its high versatility and genome‐wide scalability.GetPrimers was validated across multiple organisms and experimental setups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous development of smart industrial parks has imposed increasingly stringent requirements on safety helmet detection in environments such as factories, construction sites, rail transit, and fire protection. Current models often suffer from issues like false alarms or missed detections, especially when dealing with small and densely packed targets. This study aims to enhance the YOLOv5 target detection method to provide real-time alerts for individuals not wearing safety helmets in complex scenarios. Our approach involves incorporating the ECA channel attention mechanism into the YOLOv5 backbone network, allowing for efficient feature extraction while reducing computational load. We adopt a weighted bi-directional feature pyramid network structure (BiFPN) to facilitate effective feature fusion and cross-scale information transmission. Additionally, the introduction of a decoupling head in YOLOv5 improves detection performance and convergence rate. The experimental results demonstrate a substantial improvement in the YOLOv5 model's performance. The enhanced YOLOv5 model achieved an average accuracy of 95.9% on a custom-made helmet dataset, a 3.0 percentage point increase compared to the original YOLOv5 model. This study holds significant implications for enhancing the accuracy and robustness of helmet-wearing detection in various settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ischemic stroke is a severe type of stroke with high disability and mortality rates. In recent years, microglial exosome-derived miRNAs have been shown to be promising candidates for the treatment of ischemic brain injury and exert neuroprotective effects. Mechanisms underlying miRNA dysregulation in ischemic stroke are still being explored. Here, we aimed to verify whether miRNAs derived from exosomes exert effects on functional recovery. Methods: MiR-212-5p agomir was employed to upregulate miR-212-5p expression in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) as well as an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) in vitro. Western blot analysis, qRT–PCR and immunofluorescence staining and other methods were applied to explore the underlying mechanisms of action of miR-212-5p. Results: The results of our study found that intervention with miR-212-5p agomir effectively decreased infarct volume and restored motor function in MCAO/R rats. Mechanistically, miR-212-5p agomir significantly reduced the expression of PlexinA2 (PLXNA2). Additionally, the results obtained in vitro were similar to those achieved in vivo. Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study indicated that PLXNA2 may be a target gene of miR-212-5p, and miR-212-5p has great potential as a target for the treatment and diagnosis of ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The identification of the ultrastructure on the surface of insects serves as the foundation for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying their perception of various environmental cues. In this study, we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate the morphology, type, and distribution of sensilla on the antennae, mouthparts, and legs of the economically significant pest, Heortia vitessoides, which feeds on the valuable plant Aquilaria sinensis. Furthermore, we conducted a comparative analysis to assess the differences in sensillum characteristics, quantity, and distribution between male and female individuals. Heortia vitessoides Moore, 1885 (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an economically important lepidopteran pest that caused severe damage to the plantation area of Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg, 1825 (Thymelaeaceae), resulting in extensive defoliation of the trees during an epidemic. In this study, we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyze the external morphology and ultrastructure of sensilla on various body parts of H. vitessoides. Specifically, seven, four, four, and five types of sensilla were found, respectively, on the antennae, proboscis, labial palps, and legs. We described the types, distributions, and sexual dimorphism of these sensilla on antennae, and found that the number and size of sensilla differed significantly between males and females. This study provides crucial information for future investigations into the function of these sensilla in H. vitessoides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2015, stroke has become the leading cause of death and disability in China, posing a significant threat to the health of its citizens as a major chronic non-communicable disease. According to the China Stroke High-risk Population Screening and Intervention Program, an estimated 17.8 million [95% confidence interval (CI) 17.6–18.0 million] adults in China had experienced a stroke in 2020, with 3.4 million (95% CI 3.3–3.5 million) experiencing their first-ever stroke and another 2.3 million (95% CI 2.2–2.4 million) dying as a result. Additionally, approximately 12.5% (95% CI 12.4–12.5%) of stroke survivors were left disabled, as defined by a modified Rankin Scale score greater than 1, equating to 2.2 million (95% CI 2.1–2.2 million) stroke-related disabilities in 2020. As the population ages and the prevalence of risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia continues to rise and remains poorly controlled, the burden of stroke in China is also increasing. A large national epidemiological survey initiated by the China Hypertension League in 2017 showed that the prevalence of hypertension was 24.7%; the awareness, treatment, and control rates in hypertensive patients were: 60.1%, 42.5%, and 25.4%, respectively. A nationally representative sample of the Chinese mainland population showed that the weighted prevalence of total diabetes diagnosed by the American Diabetes Association criteria was 12.8%, suggesting there are 120 million adults with diabetes in China, and the awareness, treatment, and control rates in diabetic patients were: 43.3%, 49.0%, and 49.4%, respectively. The "Sixth National Health Service Statistical Survey Report in 2018" showed that the proportion of the obese population in China was 37.4%, an increase of 7.2 points from 2013. Data from 1599 hospitals in the Hospital Quality Monitoring System and Bigdata Observatory Platform for Stroke of China (BOSC) showed that a total of 3,418,432 stroke cases [mean age ± standard error (SE) was (65.700 ± 0.006) years, and 59.1% were male] were admitted during 2020. Of those, over 80% (81.9%) were ischemic stroke (IS), 14.9% were intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) strokes, and 3.1% were subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) strokes. The mean ± SE of hospitalization expenditures was Chinese Yuan (CNY) (16,975.6 ± 16.3), ranging from (13,310.1 ± 12.8) in IS to (81,369.8 ± 260.7) in SAH, and out-of-pocket expenses were (5788.9 ± 8.6), ranging from (4449.0 ± 6.6) in IS to (30,778.2 ± 156.8) in SAH. It was estimated that the medical cost of hospitalization for stroke in 2020 was CNY 58.0 billion, of which the patient pays approximately CNY 19.8 billion. In-hospital death/discharge against medical advice rate was 9.2% (95% CI 9.2–9.2%), ranging from 6.4% (95% CI 6.4–6.5%) for IS to 21.8% for ICH (95% CI 21.8–21.9%). From 2019 to 2020, the information about 188,648 patients with acute IS receiving intravenous thrombolytic therapy (IVT), 49,845 patients receiving mechanical thrombectomy (MT), and 14,087 patients receiving bridging (IVT + MT) were collected through BOSC. The incidence of intracranial hemorrhage during treatment was 3.2% (95% CI 3.2–3.3%), 7.7% (95% CI 7.5–8.0%), and 12.9% (95% CI 12.3–13.4%), respectively. And in-hospital death/discharge against medical advice rate was 8.9% (95% CI 8.8–9.0%), 16.5% (95% CI 16.2–16.9%), and 16.8% (95% CI 16.2–17.4%), respectively. A prospective nationwide hospital-based study was conducted at 231 stroke base hospitals (Level III) from 31 provinces in China through BOSC from January 2019 to December 2020 and 136,282 stroke patients were included and finished 12-month follow-up. Of those, over 86.9% were IS, 10.8% were ICH strokes, and 2.3% were SAH strokes. The disability rate [% (95% CI)] in survivors of stroke at 3-month and 12-month was 14.8% (95% CI 14.6–15.0%) and 14.0% (95% CI 13.8–14.2%), respectively. The mortality rate [% (95% CI)] of stroke at 3-month and 12-month was 4.2% (95% CI 4.1–4.3%) and 8.5% (95% CI 8.4–8.6%), respectively. The recurrence rate [% (95% CI)] of stroke at 3-month and 12-month was 3.6% (95% CI 3.5–3.7%) and 5.6% (95% CI 5.4–5.7%), respectively. The Healthy China 2030 Stroke Action Plan was launched as part of this review, and the above data provide valuable guidelines for future stroke prevention and treatment efforts in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-pathogenicity island (HPI) was initially identified in Yersinia and can be horizontally transferred to Escherichia coli to produce yersiniabactin (Ybt), which enhances the pathogenicity of E. coli by competing with the host for Fe3+. Pyroptosis is gasdermin-induced necrotic cell death. It involves the permeabilization of the cell membrane and is accompanied by an inflammatory response. It is still unclear whether Ybt HPI can cause intestinal epithelial cells to undergo pyroptosis and contribute to gut inflammation during E. coli infection. In this study, we infected intestinal epithelial cells of mice with E. coli ZB-1 and the Ybt-deficient strain ZB-1Δirp2. Our findings demonstrate that Ybt-producing E. coli is more toxic and exacerbates gut inflammation during systemic infection. Mechanistically, our results suggest the involvement of the NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pathway in E. coli infection. Ybt promotes the assembly and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to GSDMD cleavage into GSDMD-N and promoting the pyroptosis of intestinal epithelial cells, ultimately aggravating gut inflammation. Notably, NLRP3 knockdown alleviated these phenomena, and the binding of free Ybt to NLRP3 may be the trigger. Overall, our results show that Ybt HPI enhances the pathogenicity of E. coli and induces pyroptosis via the NLRP3 pathway, which is a new mechanism through which E. coli promotes gut inflammation. Furthermore, we screened drugs targeting NLRP3 from an existing drug library, providing a list of potential drug candidates for the treatment of gut injury caused by E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute diarrhea with fever can potentially represent a more severe form of the disease compared to non-febrile diarrhea. This study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and enteric pathogen composition of febrile-diarrheal patients, and to explore factors including pathogens associated with fever by age group. Methods: A nationwide surveillance study of acute diarrheal patients of all ages was conducted in 217 sentinel hospitals from 31 provinces (autonomous regions or municipalities) in China between 2011 and 2020. Seventeen diarrhea-related pathogens, including seven viruses and ten bacteria, were investigated and their association with occurrence of fever symptoms was assessed using multivariate logistic analysis. Results: A total of 146,296 patients with acute diarrhea (18.6% with fever) were tested. Th diarrheal children below 5 years had the highest frequency of fever (24.2%), and related to significantly higher prevalence of viral enteropathogens (40.2%) as compared with other age groups (P < 0.001). Within each age group, the febrile-diarrheal patients were associated with a significantly higher prevalence of bacterial pathogens than afebrile-diarrheal patients (all P < 0.01). There was discrepancy when each pathogen was compared, i.e., nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) was overrepresented in febrile vs non-febrile patients of all age groups, while the febrile vs non-febrile difference for diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) was only significant for adult groups. The multivariate analysis revealed significant association between fever and infection with rotavirus A among children [odds ratio (OR) = 1.60], for DEC in adult groups (OR = 1.64), for NTS in both children (OR = 2.95) and adults (OR = 3.59). Conclusions: There are significant discrepancy of the infected enteric pathogens in patients with acute diarrhea with fever between age groups, and it is valuable for priority detection of NTS and rotavirus A in patients with children < 5 years old and NTS and DEC in adult patients. The results may be useful in identifying dominant pathogen candidates for the application of diagnostic assays and prevention control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to investigate the consistency and diversity between metabolic and structural brain networks at individual level constructed with divergence-based method in healthy Chinese population. The 18F-FDG PET and T1-weighted images of brain were collected from 209 healthy participants. The Jensen-Shannon divergence (JSD) was used to calculate metabolic or structural connectivities between any pair of brain regions and then individual brain networks were constructed. The global and regional topological properties of both networks were analyzed with graph theoretical analysis. Regional properties including nodal efficiency, degree, and betweenness centrality were used to define hub regions of networks. Cross-modality similarity of brain connectivity was analyzed with differential power (DP) analysis. The default mode network (DMN) had the largest number of brain connectivities with high DP values. The small-worldness indexes of metabolic and structural networks in all participants were greater than 1. The structural network showed higher assortativity and local efficiency than metabolic network, while hierarchy and global efficiency were greater in the metabolic network (all P < 0.001). Most of hubs in both networks were symmetrically spatial distributed in the regions of the DMN and subcortical nuclei including thalamus and amygdala, etc. The human brain presented small-world architecture both in perspective of individual metabolic and structural networks. There was a structural substrate that supported the brain to globally and efficiently integrate and process metabolic interaction across brain regions. The cross-modality cooperation or specialization in both networks might imply mechanisms of achieving higher-order brain functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of IoT technology has promoted the integration of physical space and cyberspace. At the same time, it has also increased the risk of privacy leakage of Internet users. A large number of research works have shown that attackers can infer Internet surfing privacy through traffic patterns without decryption. Most of the existing research work on anti-traffic analysis is based on a weakened experimental assumption, which is difficult to apply in the actual IoT network environment and seriously affects the user experience. This article proposes a novel lightweight and reliable defense—SMART, which can ensure the anonymity and security of network communication without sacrificing network transmission performance. SMART introduces a multi-path transmission model in the Tor network, and divides traffic at multiple Tor entry onion relays, preventing attackers from obtaining network traffic statistical characteristics. We theoretically proved that SMART can improve the uncertainty of website fingerprint analysis results. The experimental result shows that SMART is able to resist encrypted traffic analysis tools, reducing the accuracy of four state-of-the-art classifiers from 98% to less than 12%, without inducing any additional artificial delay or dummy traffic. In order to avoid the performance degradation caused by data reassembly, SMART proposes a redundant slice mechanism to ensure reliability. Even in the case of human interference, the communication success rate is still as high as 97%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post‐translational modifications in histones play important roles in regulating chromatin structure and gene expression programs, and the modified histones can be passed on to subsequent generations as an epigenetic memory. The fission yeast has been a great model organism for studying histone modifications in heterochromatin assembly and epigenetic inheritance. Here, we review findings in this organism that cemented the idea of chromatin‐based inheritance and highlight recent studies that reveal the role of histone turnover in regulating this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To clarify the toxicological effect of sublethal doses of avermectin on Hyphantria cunea, and thereby provide a theoretical basis for the rational use of this pesticide. [Methods] The growth and development of 4th to 6th instar H. cunea larvae were measured after these had consumed artificial diets containing sublethal concentrations of abamectin (LC10 or LC30) for 72 h. Control groups were fed an aqueous solution containing 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide. The reproductive ability of adults obtained from these treatment groups was also measured. [Results] The 4th instar LC30 treatment group grew 22% less than the respective control group (P<0.05), whereas there were no significant differences in growth between the 5th and 6th instar LC30 treatment groups and their respective control groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in growth between the LC10 treatment groups and their respective control groups (P>0.05). Development of the 4th, 5th and 6th larval instars in the LC30 treatment groups (3.4, 2.2 and 1.7 days, respectively) was significantly prolonged relative to the respective control groups (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the duration of development of the LC10 treatment groups (P>0.05) and the respective control groups. Adult longevity in the LC10 and LC30 treatment groups (1-1.7 and 2.3-2.7 days, respectively) was significantly shorter than that of the respective control groups (P<0.05). The pupation rate, emergence rate, fecundity and hatching rate of the LC10 and LC30 treatment groups were also significantly shorter compared to the respective control groups (P<0.05). Pupation and emergence rates, fecundity, and hatching rate in the LC30 treatment group were 36%-56%, 33%-66%, 49%-78% and 45%-62%, respectively, those of the respective control groups. The fecundity and hatching rate of the LC10 treatment groups were 66-88% and 62-82%, respectively, those of the respective control groups. Only the feeding, larvae period, emergence rates and pupation rates of 4th instar larvae, the larvae period and emergence rates of 5th instar larvae, and the emergence rates and egg hatching rate of 6th instar larvae, were significantly less in the LC10 and LC30 treatment groups than in the respective control groups; the differences were greater for the LC30 treatment group than for the LC10 treatment group. [Conclusion] Exposure of H. cunea larvae to sublethal concentrations of abamectin (LC10 and LC30) inhibits both larval growth and development and the reproductive capacity of larvae that survive to adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyphantria cunea has many hosts, a broad distribution, caused serious economic damage, is difficult to control, and has seriously affected the development of forestry in China. Control of this pest mainly relies on a combination of chemical and biological methods, including the use of sex pheromones traps and monitoring population dynamics in combination with chemical and biological control. However, developing more sustainable and effective methods for controlling of H. cunea has always been a focus of research on this species. This paper reviews the current distribution of H. cunea in China, problems in the prevention and control of this pest, and progress in the application of ecological control. It also introduces new control technologies, such as genetically-modified sterile insect technology, RNAi and Bt transgenic insect-resistant tree species. Finally, it forecasts the future trends in the development of H. cunea control methods [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] To investigate the selection and feeding adaptability of Hyphantria cunea with respect to eight widely distributed and planted trees in Heilongjiang province. [Methods] The behavioral responses of 4th instar larvae and male and female adults to the leaf odors of Tilia amurensis, Phellodendron amurens, Populus simonii, Larix gmelinii, Quercus mongolica, Fraxinus mandshurica, Syringa oblata and Betula platyphylla were measured in a Y-type olfactometer. The leaves of a single tree species and 4th instar larvae of H. cunea were placed in the olfactometer and the feeding rate of larvae on the leaves was determined after 24 hours. [Results] Unmated female moths significantly preferred the leaves of all tree species, except of L. gmelinii, to the control (P<0.05). Mated female moths significantly preferred the leaves of T amurensis, P. .simonii, Q. mongolica and F mandshurica to the control (P < 0.05). However, unmated male moths showed no significant preference for the leaves of all eight tree species over the control. Fourth instar larvae significantly preferred the leaves of T. amurensis, P. amurense, P. simonii, Q. mongolica, F. mandshurica and B. platyphylla to the control (P < 0.05). Fourth instar larvae fed significantly more on T. amurensis leaves than they did on those of P. simonii, P. amurense, L. gmelinii, Q. mongolica, F. mandshurica or S. oblata (P < 0.05). They also fed significantly more on the leaves of B. platyphylla, P. .simonii, P. amurense, L. gmelinii, Q. mongolica and F. mandshurica than on those of S. oblata (P<0.05). [Conclusion] Female adults and 4th instar larvae of H. cunea preferred the odour of leaves T. amurensis, P. simonii, Q. mongolica and F. mandshurica to those of P. amurens, L. gmelinii, S. oblata or B. platyphylla, and fourth instar larvae also consumed significantly more of the leaves of these species than those of S. oblata. These results suggest that T. amurensis, P. simonii, Q. mongolica and F. mandshurica could be suitable hosts for the growth and development of H. cunea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-cellular organisms such as humans contain hundreds of cell types that share the same genetic information (DNA sequences), and yet have different cellular traits and functions. While how genetic information is passed through generations has been extensively characterized, it remains largely obscure how epigenetic information encoded by chromatin regulates the passage of certain traits, gene expression states and cell identity during mitotic cell divisions, and even through meiosis. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances on molecular mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance, discuss the potential impacts of epigenetic inheritance during normal development and in some disease conditions, and outline future research directions for this challenging, but exciting field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alizarin (1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone) is a natural red dye extracted from the roots of Rubia cordifolia L. (family Rubiaceae). Alizarin has been used as a biological red stain for calcium. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has critical roles in multiple physiological pathways. This study aimed to determine whether alizarin is an unreported ligand of AhR. In the present study, we investigated the effects on cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 mRNA, protein expression, AhR nuclear translocation, aryl hydrocarbon response element (AHRE) reporter activity, and AhR-specific antagonist following alizarin treatment of cells of the human hepatoma cell line, HepG2, and murine hepatoma cell line, Hepa-1c1c7. Alizarin induced CYP1A1 mRNA and protein expression in HepG2 and Hep-1c1c7 cells. Such induction was not present in C4 (B13NBii1) cells, which are AhR signal deficient, C12 (B15ECiii2) cells, which reduce AhR protein levels. The alizarin-induced responses were blocked by CH-223191, which is an AhR antagonist. Alizarin, the same as with the AhR ligand, induced the nuclear localization of AhR, as well as stimulated the transcriptional activity of AHRE. The results of this study suggest that alizarin is an AhR agonist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generation of art images using computers has been studied recently. A new type of art image called a stripe-based Futurism-like image, and its application to covert communication, are proposed. Firstly, a source image is segmented into regions. The region corners are extracted by chain code analysis, and polygon approximation is conducted accordingly to simplify the region shapes. Then, each region is partitioned into stripes according to the region direction and the stripes are filled with the region's average color, or the color white alternatively, resulting in an image with the abstraction and dynamism of Futurism. Furthermore, a data hiding method is proposed to embed a secret message into the created art image by filling the stripes with the aforementioned colors in a message-dependent fashion, with the message bits being adjusted beforehand by a 2-to-3 mapping scheme to avoid filling a region's stripes with consecutive identical colors. Furthermore, hidden data security is enhanced by randomizing both the message-bit embedding order and the region processing sequence via the use of a secret key. By processing a database of 100 images, good experimental results of art image creation and secure message hiding have been obtained, showing the feasibility of the proposed methods for covert communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multimedia information (e.g., photos) is subject to numerous attacks when extensively dispersed, excellent stealth and robustness play a critical role in information concealment. Next, to further improve the imperceptibility of the generated images, we introduce an information embedding based on feature extraction, since the feature points themselves are robust as strong corner points in the images. We will perform specific practical applications in information‐hiding scenarios, such as ticket anticounterfeiting, copyright protection, tampering hints, and covert marking. As a result, while assuring the accuracy of hidden data, assault resistance must also be addressed. In this paper, a strategy for watermark embedding utilizing image feature points is proposed. In principle, the embedding and extraction of digital watermarks are achieved in the transform domain by discrete wavelet transform processing to make digital images more robust than before. The effectiveness of the algorithm is analyzed by experimental data, in which different wavelet bases are used. To check the robustness of the watermarking algorithm, various attacks are performed on watermarked images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In wireless blockchain network (WBN), it is necessary to study the impact of delay performance on blockchain technology with different data rates, because the throughput performance is not the only goal. We propose an analysis model to evaluate network performance based on both delay performance and network performance. Firstly, we separate the communication process from business process in WBN, and package the business data into the payload in a frame. Secondly, we define throughput-time S V as a ratio of throughput to data transmission rate and propose a ratio model of S V to network delay. Then, we analyze the ratio model with the parameter of payload transmission time, which is defined as a ratio of payload in a frame to data transmission rate. Using the DATA/ACK type in IEEE 802.11, we learn that the optimal payload transmission time is independent of node number and only determined by some interframe space of access mechanism and propagation time. Finally, we analyze the performance of network delay and throughput between DATA/ACK type and RTS/CTS/DATA/ACK type based on payload transmission time. The simulation data verify the validity and accuracy of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Integrating training on health equity of sexual and gender minorities (SGM) in medical education has been challenging globally despite emphasis on the need for medical students to develop competence to provide adequate care for diverse patient groups. This study elicits Taiwanese medical students' perceptions of their values and preparedness to care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender (LGBT) patients using a qualitative approach that considers broader societal changes, and more focused topics such as the provision of relevant training in medical education. Methods: Eighty-nine medical students/trainees from two southern Taiwanese medical schools (one public and one private) participated in focus groups (n = 70) and individual interviews (n = 19). Qualitative analysis was conducted using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Participants (i) expressed wide social acceptance and openness toward LGBT individuals, but were unsure of ways to communicate with LGBT patients; (ii) confirmed that stigmatization and biases might be developed during their training; (iii) recognized gender stereotypes could have negative impacts on clinical reasoning; (iv) considered themselves prepared to care for LGBT patients, yet equated non-discriminatory attitudes to preparedness; (v) acknowledged a lack of relevant professional skills; (vi) implicated curriculum did not address LGBT issues systematically and explicitly. Conclusion: This study has identified the insufficiencies of current medical training and inadequate preparedness of medical students/trainees to provide better care for LGBT patients. It provides insights for medical educators to design and implement effective medical curriculum and training, and faculty development programs to equip medical students/trainees with self-awareness and competencies to more readily provide holistic care for SGM, in keeping up with social progress, and promote health equity for a more diverse patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 6G network is not only faster, but also offers a wider range of services than 5G networks, which will lead to an increased number of participants. However, combined with the Internet of Everything, 6G networks face security issues such as man-in-the-middle hijacking and bypass listening. Because covert transmission is inherently highly concealed and difficult to detect, a 6G network based on information hiding has become a new paradigm to solve such security problems. In this article, we propose a large-capacity local multi-dimensional information hiding method based on orthogonal space and spread transform. By extending the quantization index modulation hiding approach, the proposed method hides the multi-layer information in digital signals' multi-dimensional space using orthogonal space and spread transform. In theory, this method can hide information in multiple layers at the same location while allowing the extraction of information from multiple layers independently. This proposed method offers a much higher hiding capacity than prior work. Through performance analysis and comparison against existing advanced methods, we demonstrate the superiority of the proposed scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were implemented worldwide, which impacted a broad spectrum of acute respiratory infections (ARIs). Methods Etiologically diagnostic data from 142 559 cases with ARIs, who were tested for 8 viral pathogens (influenza virus [IFV], respiratory syncytial virus [RSV], human parainfluenza virus [HPIV], human adenovirus [HAdV], human metapneumovirus [HMPV], human coronavirus [HCoV], human bocavirus [HBoV], and human rhinovirus [HRV]) between 2012 and 2021, were analyzed to assess the changes in respiratory infections in China during the first COVID-19 pandemic year compared with pre-pandemic years. Results Test-positive rates of all respiratory viruses decreased during 2020, compared to the average levels during 2012–2019, with changes ranging from −17.2% for RSV to −87.6% for IFV. Sharp decreases mostly occurred between February and August when massive NPIs remained active, although HRV rebounded to the historical level during the summer. While IFV and HMPV were consistently suppressed year-round, RSV, HPIV, HCoV, HRV, and HBoV resurged and went beyond historical levels during September 2020–January 2021, after NPIs were largely relaxed and schools reopened. Resurgence was more prominent among children <18 years and in northern China. These observations remain valid after accounting for seasonality and long-term trend of each virus. Conclusions Activities of respiratory viral infections were reduced substantially in the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, and massive NPIs were likely the main driver. Lifting of NPIs can lead to resurgence of viral infections, particularly in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Motor imagery training might be helpful in stroke rehabilitation. This study explored if a specific modulation of movement-related regions is related to motor imagery (MI) ability. Methods: Twenty-three patients with subcortical stroke and 21 age-matched controls were recruited. They were subjectively screened using the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire (KVIQ). They then underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while performing three repetitions of different motor tasks (motor execution and MI). Two separate runs were acquired [motor execution tasks (ME and rest) and motor imagery (MI and rest)] in a block design. For the different tasks, analyses of cerebral activation and the correlation of motor/imagery task-related activity and KVIQ scores were performed. Results: During unaffected hand (UH) active grasp movement, we observed decreased activations in the contralateral precentral gyrus (PreCG), contralateral postcentral gyrus (PoCG) [ p < 0.05, family wise error (FWE) corrected] and a positive correlation with the ability of FMA-UE (PreCG: r = 0.46, p = 0.028; PoCG: r = 0.44, p = 0.040). During active grasp of the affected hand (AH), decreased activation in the contralateral PoCG was observed (p < 0.05, FWE corrected). MI of the UH induced significant activations of the contralateral superior frontal gyrus, opercular region of the inferior frontal gyrus, and ipsilateral ACC and deactivation in the ipsilateral supplementary motor area (p < 0.05, AlphaSim correction). Ipsilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) activity negatively correlated with MI ability (r = =–0.49, p = 0.022). Moreover, we found significant activation of the contralesional middle frontal gyrus (MFG) during MI of the AH. Conclusion: Our results proved the dominant effects of MI dysfunction that exist in stroke during the processing of motor execution. In the motor execution task, the enhancement of the contralateral PreCG and PoCG contributed to reversing the motor dysfunction, while in the MI task, inhibition of the contralateral ACC can increase the impaired KVIQ ability. The bimodal balance recovery model can explain our results well. Recognizing neural mechanisms is critical to helping us formulate precise strategies when intervening with electrical or magnetic stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Normal aging causes profound changes of structural degeneration and glucose hypometabolism in the human brain, even in the absence of disease. In recent years, with the extensive exploration of the topological characteristics of the human brain, related studies in rats have begun to investigate. However, age-related alterations of topological properties in individual brain metabolic network of rats remain unknown. In this study, a total of 48 healthy female Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were used, including 24 young rats and 24 aged rats. We used Jensen-Shannon Divergence Similarity Estimation (JSSE) method for constructing individual metabolic networks to explore age-related topological properties and rich-club organization changes. Compared with the young rats, the aged rats showed significantly decreased clustering coefficient (Cp) and local efficiency (E loc ) across the whole-brain metabolic network. In terms of changes in local network measures, degree (D) and nodal efficiency (E nod ) of left posterior dorsal hippocampus, and E nod of left olfactory tubercle were higher in the aged rats than in the young rats. About the rich-club analysis, the existence of rich-club organization in individual brain metabolic networks of rats was demonstrated. In addition, our findings further confirmed that rich-club connections were susceptible to aging. Relative to the young rats, the overall strength of rich-club connections was significantly reduced in the aged rats, while the overall strength of feeder and local connections was significantly increased. These findings demonstrated the age-related reorganization principle of the brain structure and improved our understanding of brain alternations during aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To find out whether there is any vulnerability in software programs where conditional judgment is ignored, this article proposes a software vulnerability detection method based on complex network community. First, the method abstracts the software system into a directed weighted graph by using the software algebraic component model and then preprocesses the directed weighted graph to get a complex network graph. Then, by using the partition algorithm, the complex network graph is divided into the communities, and the key nodes in communities are found by nRank algorithm. Finally, the graph of the key nodes with high influence is matched with the complex network graph that has been preprocessed. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the community partition algorithm and the nRank algorithm, comparative experiments are carried out on two datasets. The experimental results show that the community partition algorithm is better than the comparison algorithm in precision, recall, and comprehensive evaluation index, and the nRank algorithm is closer to the result of degree centrality measurement index than the PageRank algorithm and the LeaderRank algorithm. The spring-shiro-training project is used to verify the vulnerability detection method based on complex network community, and the results show that the method is effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To study the influence of umbilical cord milking versus delayed cord clamping on the early prognosis of preterm infants with a gestational age of <34 weeks. Methods PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, Weipu Database, and SinoMed were searched for randomized controlled trials on umbilical cord milking versus delayed cord clamping in preterm infants with a gestational age of <34 weeks published up to November 2021. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two researchers independently performed literature screening, quality evaluation, and data extraction. Review Manger 5.4 was used for Meta analysis. Results A total of 11 articles were included in the analysis, with 1 621 preterm infants in total, among whom there were 809 infants in the umbilical cord milking group and 812 in the delayed cord clamping group. The Meta analysis showed that compared with delayed cord clamping, umbilical cord milking increased the mean blood pressure after birth (weighted mean difference=3.61, 95%CI: 0.73-6.50, P=0.01), but it also increased the incidence rate of severe intraventricular hemorrhage (RR=1.83, 95%CI: 1.08-3.09, P=0.02). There were no significant differences between the two groups in hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood transfusion rate, proportion of infants undergoing phototherapy, bilirubin peak, and incidence rates of complications such as periventricular leukomalacia and necrotizing enterocolitis (P>0.05). Conclusions Compared with delayed cord clamping, umbilical cord milking may increase the risk of severe intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants with a gestational age of <34 weeks; however, more highquality large-sample randomized controlled trials are needed for further confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the interactive effect between aging and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on brain glucose metabolism, individual metabolic connectivity, and network properties. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, 83 patients with T2DM (40 elderly and 43 middle-aged) and 69 sex-matched healthy control subjects (HCs) (34 elderly and 35 middle-aged) underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance scanning. Jensen-Shannon divergence was applied to construct individual metabolic connectivity and networks. The topological properties of the networks were quantified using graph theoretical analysis. The general linear model was used to mainly estimate the interaction effect between aging and T2DM on glucose metabolism, metabolic connectivity, and network. There was an interaction effect between aging and T2DM on glucose metabolism, metabolic connectivity, and regional metabolic network properties (all P < 0.05). The post hoc analyses showed that compared with elderly HCs and middle-aged patients with T2DM, elderly patients with T2DM had decreased glucose metabolism, increased metabolic connectivity, and regional metabolic network properties in cognition-related brain regions (all P < 0.05). Age and fasting plasma glucose had negative correlations with glucose metabolism and positive correlations with metabolic connectivity. Elderly patients with T2DM had glucose hypometabolism, strengthened functional integration, and increased efficiency of information communication mainly located in cognition-related brain regions. Metabolic connectivity pattern changes might be compensatory changes for glucose hypometabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment prominently attenuates the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies, yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we investigate the metabolic profile of TAMs and identify S-2-hydroxyglutarate (S-2HG) as a potential immunometabolite that shapes macrophages into an antitumoral phenotype. Blockage of L-2-hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase (L2HGDH)-mediated S-2HG catabolism in macrophages promotes tumor regression. Mechanistically, based on its structural similarity to α-ketoglutarate (α-KG), S-2HG has the potential to block the enzymatic activity of 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases (2-OGDDs), consequently reshaping chromatin accessibility. Moreover, S-2HG-treated macrophages enhance CD8+ T cell-mediated antitumor activity and sensitivity to anti-PD-1 therapy. Overall, our study uncovers the role of blockage of L2HGDH-mediated S-2HG catabolism in orchestrating macrophage antitumoral polarization and, further, provides the potential of repolarizing macrophages by S-2HG to overcome resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy. [Display omitted] • Macrophage L2HGDH deficiency restricts tumor progression • S-2HG accumulation caused by L2HGDH blockage guides macrophage antitumoral polarization • S-2HG promotes macrophage antitumoral polarization dependent on α-KG inhibition • S-2HG increases macrophage antigen presentation and enhances antitumor T cell immunity How immunometabolism shapes the macrophage immune response remains to be explored. Feng et al. demonstrate that blockage of L2HGDH-mediated S-2HG catabolism in macrophages drives antitumoral polarization via competitive inhibition of α-KG, thereby enhancing CD8+ T cell-mediated antitumor immunity to overcome resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epigenetic landscape of a cell frequently changes in response to fluctuations in nutrient levels, but the mechanistic link is not well understood. In fission yeast, the JmjC domain protein Epe1 is critical for maintaining the heterochromatin landscape. While loss of Epe1 results in heterochromatin expansion, overexpression of Epe1 leads to defective heterochromatin. Through a genetic screen, we found that mutations in genes of the cAMP signaling pathway suppress the heterochromatin defects associated with Epe1 overexpression. We further demonstrated that the activation of Pka1, the downstream effector of cAMP signaling, is required for the efficient translation of epe1+ mRNA to maintain Epe1 overexpression. Moreover, inactivation of the cAMP-signaling pathway, either through genetic mutations or glucose deprivation, leads to the reduction of endogenous Epe1 and corresponding heterochromatin changes. These results reveal the mechanism by which the cAMP signaling pathway regulates heterochromatin landscape in fission yeast. Author summary: Genomic DNA is folded with histones into chromatin and posttranslational modifications on histones separate chromatin into active euchromatin and repressive heterochromatin. These chromatin domains often change in response to environmental cues, such as nutrient levels. How environmental changes affect histone modifications is not well understood. Here, we found that in fission yeast, the cAMP signaling pathway is required for the function of Epe1, an enzyme that removes histone modifications associated with heterochromatin. Moreover, we found that active cAMP signaling ensures the efficient translation of epe1+ mRNA and therefore maintains high Epe1 protein levels. Finally, we show that changing glucose levels, which modulate cAMP signaling, also affect heterochromatin in a way consistent with cAMP signaling-mediated Epe1 protein level changes. As histone-modifying enzymes often require cofactors that are metabolic intermediates, previous studies on the impact of nutrient levels on chromatin states have mainly focused on metabolites. Our results suggest that nutrient-sensing signaling pathways also regulate histone-modifying enzymes in response to nutritional conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circadian misalignment of the gut microbiota caused by unusual eating times in adult animals is related to disease development. However, whether the composition and diurnal rhythm of gut microbiota can be optimized by synchronizing the window period of eating with natural eating habits to reduce the risk of diarrhea remains unclear, especially in growing animals. In this study, 108 5-week-old weaned rabbits (nocturnal animals) were randomly subjected to daytime feeding (DF) and night-restricted feeding (NRF). At age 12 weeks, six rabbits were selected from each group, and caecum and cecal contents, as well as serum samples were collected at 4-h intervals during 24 h. Overall, NRF was found to reduce the risk of diarrhea in growing rabbits, improved the diurnal rhythm and abundance of beneficial microorganisms, along with the production of beneficial metabolites, whereas reduced the abundance of potential pathogens (Synergistes , Desulfovibrio , and Alistipes). Moreover, NRF improved diurnal rhythm of tryptophan hydroxylase isoform 1 and serotonin. Furthermore, NRF strengthened the diurnal amplitude of body core temperature, and promoted the diurnal expression of intestinal clock genes (BMAL1 , CLOCK , REV-ERBα , and PER1), and genes related to the regulation of the intestinal barrier (CLAUDIN-1), and intestinal epithelial cell self-proliferation and renewal (BMI1). In vitro simulation experiments further revealed that synchronization of microbial-driven serotonin rhythm and eating activity-driven body temperature oscillations, which are important zeitgebers, could promote the diurnal expression of clock genes and CLAUDIN-1 in rabbit intestinal epithelial cells (RIEC), and enhance RIEC proliferation. This is the first study to reveal that NRF reprograms the diurnal rhythm of the gut microbiome, promotes the diurnal expression of clock genes and tight junction genes via synchronization of microbial-driven serotonin rhythm and eating activity-driven body temperature oscillations, thereby improving intestinal health and reducing the risk of diarrhea in growing rabbits. Collectively, these results provide a new perspective for the healthy feeding and management of growing animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of Internet of Things (IoT), massive sensor data are being generated by the sensors deployed everywhere at an unprecedented rate. As the number of Internet of Things devices is estimated to grow to 25 billion by 2021, when facing the explicit or implicit anomalies in the real-time sensor data collected from Internet of Things devices, it is necessary to develop an effective and efficient anomaly detection method for IoT devices. Recent advances in the edge computing have significant impacts on the solution of anomaly detection in IoT. In this study, an adaptive graph updating model is first presented, based on which a novel anomaly detection method for edge computing environment is then proposed. At the cloud center, the unknown patterns are classified by a deep leaning model, based on the classification results, the feature graphs are updated periodically, and the classification results are constantly transmitted to each edge node where a cache is employed to keep the newly emerging anomalies or normal patterns temporarily until the edge node receives a newly updated feature graph. Finally, a series of comparison experiments are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed anomaly detection method for edge computing. And the results show that the proposed method can detect the anomalies in the real-time sensor data efficiently and accurately. More than that, the proposed method performs well when there exist newly emerging patterns, no matter they are anomalous or normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cyclophilin A (CypA) inhibits CD4+ T cell signal transduction via interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase (Itk), a tyrosine kinase required for T helper (Th) 2 cells function. Furthermore, mice with CypA silencing developed allergic diseases associated with increased Th2 cytokines production. CD4+ T cells with a Th2-cytokine pattern have been demonstrated to have a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of asthma. However, the effects of CypA in regulating immunity in asthma and in relieving asthmatic symptoms in vivo are entirely unknown. Methods: Recombinant CypA protein (rCypA) was generated and purified. Ovalbumin (OVA)-challenged asthmatic rats model and acetylcholine chloride (ACh)-induced contraction of tracheal spirals were established. The pulmonary resistance (RL) value of asthmatic rats in vivo and the isometric tension of tracheal spirals ex vivo were recorded by MFLab 3.01 software. The levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines and the quantities of immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG, IgM and IgE) in the supernatants of rat spleen lymphocytes were detected and analysed by bio-plex Suspension Array System and ELISA, respectively. CD4+ T cells were separated by MicroBeads, and the levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were detected by ELISA. Results: rCypA (10 ng/kg) significantly reduced RL within 2– 7 min in OVA-challenged asthmatic rats in vivo, and there were no significant differences compared with terbutaline (TB) and hydrocortisone (HC). Furthermore, rCypA (10 ng/mL) significantly reduced the isometric tension in the ACh-induced contraction of the tracheal spiral ex vivo, and the effect of rCypA was better than that of TB. Additionally, rCypA suppressed the secretion of both Th1 and Th2 cytokines, and the suppressive effects of rCypA were stronger than those of HC, especially on Th2 cytokines. Conclusion: These findings indicate that CypA may serve as a potential novel therapeutic strategy for asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new structural design to excite surface plasmonic polaritons to enhance the double-ring interference structure. The double-ring structure was etched into a thin film to form fundamental interference patterns, and periodic concentric-ring grooves were employed to gather energy from the surrounding regions through the excitation of surface plasmonic polaritons. Accordingly, the energy of the incident light can be concentrated at the center. The surface plasmon modulates the interference pattern and the transmission spectra. The transmission peak position and its intensity can be tuned by changing the alignment of the grooves. The proposed structure can be applied for designing plasmonic devices as useful components of the plasmonic toolbox. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Texture classification plays an important role for various computer vision tasks. Depending upon the powerful feature extraction capability, convolutional neural network (CNN)-based texture classification methods have attracted extensive attention. However, there still exist many challenges, such as the extraction of multilevel texture features and the exploration of multidirectional relationships. To address the problem, this paper proposes the compressed wavelet tensor attention capsule network (CWTACapsNet), which integrates multiscale wavelet decomposition, tensor attention blocks, and quantization techniques into the framework of capsule neural network. Specifically, the multilevel wavelet decomposition is in charge of extracting multiscale spectral features in frequency domain; in addition, the tensor attention blocks explore the multidimensional dependencies of convolutional feature channels, and the quantization techniques make the computational storage complexities be suitable for edge computing requirements. The proposed CWTACapsNet provides an efficient way to explore spatial domain features, frequency domain features, and their dependencies which are useful for most texture classification tasks. Furthermore, CWTACapsNet benefits from quantization techniques and is suitable for edge computing applications. Experimental results on several texture datasets show that the proposed CWTACapsNet outperforms the state-of-the-art texture classification methods not only in accuracy but also in robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer is a major cause of death in males. Cyproterone acetate (CPA), the steroidal anti-androgen for part of androgen deprivation therapy, may block the androgen-receptor interaction and then reduce serum testosterone through its weak anti-gonadotropic action. In addition to CPA inducing hepatitis, CPA is known to cause liver tumors in rats also. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a cytoplasmic receptor and regulates multiple physiological functions. CYP1A1 is an AhR-targeted gene. We found that CPA induced CYP1A1 expression, transcriptional activity of the aryl hydrocarbon response element (AHRE), and the nuclear localization of AhR in mouse Hepa-1c1c7 cells. However, CPA suppressed CYP1A1 mRNA expression and the transcriptional activity of AHRE in human HepG2 and MCF7 cells, and also decreased AhR ligand-induced CYP1A1 protein expression and transcriptional activity of AHRE in HepG2 cells. In summary, CPA is an AhR agonist in mouse cells, but an AhR antagonist in human cells. Accordingly, CPA potentially plays a role as an endocrine disruptor of the AhR. This study helps us to understand why CPA induces acute hepatitis, gene mutation, and many other side effects. In addition, it may trigger further studies investigating the relationships between CPA, glucocorticoid receptor and castration-resistant prostate cancer in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The important issues of network TCP congestion control are how to compute the link price according to the link status and regulate the data sending rate based on link congestion pricing feedback information. However, it is difficult to predict the congestion state of the link-end accurately at the source. In this paper, we presented an improved NUMFabric algorithm for calculating the overall congestion price. In the proposed scheme, the whole network structure had been obtained by the central control server in the Software Defined Network, and a kind of dual-hierarchy algorithm for calculating overall network congestion price had been demonstrated. In this scheme, the first hierarchy algorithm was set up in a central control server like Opendaylight and the guiding parameter B is obtained based on the intelligent data of global link state information. Based on the historical data, the congestion state of the network and the guiding parameter B is accurately predicted by the machine learning algorithm. The second hierarchy algorithm was installed in the Openflow link and the link price was calculated based on guiding parameter B given by the first algorithm. We evaluate this evolved NUMFabric algorithm in NS3, which demonstrated that the proposed NUMFabric algorithm could efficiently increase the link bandwidth utilization of cloud computing IoT datacenters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim-To study the imaging features of leukoaraiosis (LA) and hemorrhage in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) patients. Methods-The earliest MRI images of probable CAA patients and non-CAA patients were collected. The characteristics of LA in the two groups were analyzed. Cerebral micro bleeding (CMB), superficial siderosis (SS), and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) were recorded in the follow-up study. The space relationship between CMB or SS and ICH was assessed. Results-We found that 10/21 (47.6%) patients had occipital prominent LA and 14/21 (66.7%) patients had subcortical punctate LA before the ICH, which was higher than that of the ones in the control group (p = 0.015 and 0.038, respectively). The recurrence rate of ICH was 100% (3/3) in patients with diffuse SS and 36.4% (4/11) in patients without. The recurrence rate of ICH was 60% (3/5) in patients with multiple-lobe CMBs and 44.4% (4/9) in those without. The location of the ICH and CMB was inconsistent. ICH occurred in the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere of SS in three patients with diffuse SS. Conclusion-LA, diffuse SS, and multiple-lobe CMBs are important imaging characteristics of CAA, which may help make early diagnosis and predict the recurrence of ICH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant cell growth involves a complex interplay among cell-wall expansion, biosynthesis, and, in specific tissues, secondary cell wall (SCW) deposition, yet the coordination of these processes remains elusive. Cotton fiber cells are developmentally synchronous, highly elongated, and contain nearly pure cellulose when mature. Here, we report that the transcription factor GhTCP4 plays an important role in balancing cotton fiber cell elongation and wall synthesis. During fiber development the expression of miR319 declines while GhTCP4 transcript levels increase, with high levels of the latter promoting SCW deposition. GhTCP4 interacts with a homeobox-containing factor, GhHOX3, and repressing its transcriptional activity. GhTCP4 and GhHOX3 function antagonistically to regulate cell elongation, thereby establishing temporal control of fiber cell transition to the SCW stage. We found that overexpression of GhTCP4A upregulated and accelerated activation of the SCW biosynthetic pathway in fiber cells, as revealed by transcriptome and promoter activity analyses, resulting in shorter fibers with varied lengths and thicker walls. In contrast, GhTCP4 downregulation led to slightly longer fibers and thinner cell walls. The GhHOX3–GhTCP4 complex may represent a general mechanism of cellular development in plants since both are conserved factors in many species, thus providing us a potential molecular tool for the design of fiber traits. In cotton fiber, the high level of miR319 at the early stage of fiber development cleaves GhTCP4 transcripts, while GhTCP4 regulates the phase transition from elongation to wall thickening. GhTCP4 affects fiber cell elongation by repressing the transcriptional activity of an HD-ZIP IV protein, GhHOX3, activating the SCW biosynthesis genes required for cellulose deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]