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

Purpose: Teratozoospermia is the main pathogenic factor of male infertility. However, the genetic etiology of teratozoospermia is largely unknown. This study aims to clarify the relationship between novel variations in TENT5D and teratozoospermia in infertile patients. Materials and methods: Two infertile patients were enrolled. Routine semen analysis of patients and normal controls was conducted with the WHO guidelines. Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) was conducted to identify pathogenic variants in the two patients. Morphology and ultrastructure analysis of spermatozoa in the two patients was determined by Papanicolaou staining, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The functional effect of the identified variants was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining and western blotting. The expression of TENT5D in different germ cells was detected by immunofluorescence staining. Results: Two new hemizygous variations, c.101C > T (p.P34L) and c.125A > T (p.D42V), in TENT5D were detected in two patients with male infertility. Morphology analysis showed abnormalities in spermatozoa morphology in the two patients, including multiple heads, headless, multiple tails, coiled, and/or bent flagella. Ultrastructure analysis showed that most of the spermatozoa exhibited missing or irregularly arranged '9+2' structures. Further functional experiments confirmed the abrogated TENT5D protein expression in patients. In addition, both p.P34L and p.D42V substitutions resulted in a conformational change of the TENT5D protein. We precisely analyzed the subcellular localization of TENT5D in germ cells in humans and mice. And we found that TENT5D was predominantly detected in the head and flagellum of elongating spermatids and epididymal spermatozoa. Conclusions: Our results showed further evidence of a relationship between TENT5D mutation and human male infertility, providing new genetic insight for use in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The litchi fruit borer Conopomorpha sinensis Bradley is a major destructive pest of litchi and longan plants in China, India and South East Asia. Given its strong olfactory‐based oviposition behaviour, interfering with the chemical communication between this insect pest and its host plant may serve as a potential control strategy. However, the chemical compounds associated with its egg‐laying behaviour remain poorly understood. RESULTS: In this study, we investigated the olfactory preference of female C. sinensis for oviposition on intact mature fruits of the Feizixiao (FZX) and Guiwei (GW) varieties. Results showed that female C. sinensis preferred to lay eggs on FZX compared with GW fruits, and this preference was olfactory‐induced. In addition, we identified differences in the chemical composition of the volatile blend and proportions between FZX and GW fruits, with terpenes being the main volatile components contributing to this divergence. Compounds that induced electrophysiological activity in female borers were subsequently screened from FZX. d‐Limonene exhibited the strongest oviposition attraction among four candidates. Furthermore, this compound served as a volatile olfactory cue for recognition and orientation in female C. sinensis. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide a deeper understanding of the olfactory preferences of female C. sinensis for oviposition on specific litchi varieties. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid cancer (TC) is a significant global healthcare burden. However, the lack of comprehensive data has impeded our understanding of its global impact. We aimed to examine the burden of TC and its trends at the global, regional, and national levels using data stratified by sociodemographic index (SDI), sex, and age. Data on TC, including incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) from 1990 to 2021, were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were calculated to assess the incidence rate, mortality, and DALYs trends. The incidence, mortality, and DALYs of TC in 2021 were 249,538 (95% uncertainty interval: 223,290–274,638), 44,799 (39,925–48,541), and 646,741 (599,119–717,357), respectively. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) in 2021 was 2.914 (2.607–3.213), with an EAPC of 1.25 (1.14–1.37) compared to 1990. In 2021, the age-standardized death rate (ASDR) was 0.53 (0.47–0.575) and age-standardized DALYs rate was 14.571 (12.783–16.115). Compared with 1990, the EAPCs of ASDR and age-standardized DALYs rate showed decreasing trends, at − 0.24 (− 0.27 to − 0.21) and − 0.14 (− 0.17 to − 0.11), respectively. Low SDI regions showed the highest ASDR and age-standardized DALYs rate, at 0.642 (0.516–0.799) and 17.976 (14.18–23.06), respectively. Low-middle SDI regions had the highest EAPCs for ASDR and age-standardized DALYs rate, at 0.74 (0.71–0.78) and 0.67 (0.63–0.7), respectively. Females exhibited decreasing trend in ASDR and age-standardized DALYs rate, with EAPCs of − 0.58 (− 0.61 to − 0.55) and − 0.45 (− 0.47 to − 0.42), respectively. In contrast, males showed an increasing trend in ASDR and age-standardized DALYs rate, with EAPCs of 0.41 (0.35–0.46) for both. In high-income regions, most countries with decreased annual changes in deaths experience increasing age-related deaths. Over the past few decades, a notable increase in TC incidence and decreased mortality has been observed globally. Regions characterized by lower SDI, male sex, and an aging population exhibited no improvement in TC mortality. Effective resource allocation, meticulous control of risk factors, and tailored interventions are crucial for addressing these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ischemic stroke (IS) is a major cause of death and disability worldwide. Genetic factors are important risk factors for the development of IS. The quinone oxidoreductase 1 gene (NQO1) has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective properties. Thus, in this study, we investigated the relationship between NQO1 gene polymorphism and the risk of IS. Methods: Peripheral blood was collected from 143 patients with IS and 124 the control groups in Yunnan, China, and NQO1 rs2917673, rs689455, and rs1800566 were genotyped. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between the three NQO1 loci and IS susceptibility. The difference in the expression levels of NQO1 between the control groups and IS groups was verified using public databases and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The rs2917673 locus increased the risk of IS by 2.375 times in TT genotype carriers under the co-dominance model compared with CC carriers and was statistically associated with the risk of IS (OR = 2.375, 95% CI = 1.017–5.546, P = 0.046). In the recessive model, TT genotype carriers increased IS risk by 2.407 times compared with CC/CT carriers and were statistically associated with the risk of IS (OR = 2.407, 95% CI = 1.073–5.396, P = 0.033). Conclusions: NQO1 rs2917673 polymorphism is significantly associated with IS. Mutant TT carriers are risk factors for IS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharide (PSP) was extracted and purified from raw material obtained from P. sibiricum. The structural features of PSP were investigated by Congo red, circular dichroism spectrum, high‐performance gel permeation chromatography, scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, ultraviolet spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. In vitro simulations were conducted to investigate the kinetics of PSP enzyme inhibition. Moreover, a type II diabetes mouse model (T2DM) with streptozotocin‐induced insulin resistance was established, and the indexes of lipid quadruple, insulin resistance index, oral glucose tolerance (OGTT), organ index, and pancreatic morphology of model mice were measured. The results showed that PSP mainly consists of monosaccharides, such as mannose, glucose, galactose, xylose, and arabinose. It also has a β‐glycosidic bond of a pyranose ring and an irregular reticulated aggregated structure with a triple helix. In vitro enzyme inhibition assays revealed that PSP acts as a reversible competitive inhibitor of α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase. Furthermore, PSP was found to reduce insulin resistance index, increase OGTT and serum insulin levels, decrease free fatty acid content to improve lipid metabolism, and lower glycated serum protein content to enhance glucose metabolism in T2DM mice, thereby leading to a reduction in blood glucose concentration. Additionally, PSP exhibited reparative effects on the damaged liver tissue cells and pancreatic tissue in T2DM mice. The experiment results provide a preliminary basis for the therapeutic mechanism of PSP about type II diabetes and a theoretical reference for application in food and pharmaceutical development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Early ambulation is an important step in accelerating post-joint replacement surgery recovery. However, there is limited research on populations who are unable to walk immediately after the operation. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors influencing postoperative ambulation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients. Methods: Primary TKA patients were included in this retrospective study. All patients were divided into two groups. Patients who began walking within 24 h were categorized as the early ambulation group, while patients who began walking after 24 h were classified as the late ambulation group. Recorded demographic data included age, gender, body mass index (BMI), clinical diagnosis, and comorbidities. Hematological parameters potentially affecting patients' preoperative physical condition were also documented. Additionally, intraoperative metrics such as surgical time, surgical side, tourniquet time, intraoperative blood loss, the placement of drains, and prosthetic model were recorded. Results: A total of 453 patients (79.0% female, 21.0% male) were included in this study. The average age of all patients was 68.5±7.9 years, ranging from 36 to 87 years, with an average BMI of 27.2±9.9 kg/ m 2 . The mean postoperative ambulation time was 1.6 days, with a range of 0–4 days. In univariate group comparisons, an increase in postoperative time to ambulation was significantly associated with a history of heart disease ( P < 0.001 ), stroke history ( P = 0.003 ), and prior surgeries ( P = 0.003 ). Patients who delayed ambulation also exhibited significantly higher coagulation-related parameters including PT ( P < 0.001 ), APTT ( P = 0.002 ), TT ( P = 0.039 ) before surgery compared to those who mobilized early. Furthermore, prolonged surgical time ( P = 0.030 ), increased intraoperative blood loss ( P < 0.001 ), and the placement of intraoperative drains ( P < 0.001 ) also significantly extended the time to postoperative ambulation. However, after multivariate logistic regression analysis, only PT (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.32 - 2.61, P < 0.001 ), TT (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.09 - 1.55, P = 0.004 ) intraoperative blood loss (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00 - 1.01, P = 0.008 ) and the placement of intraoperative drains (OR 11.39, 95% CI 6.59 - 19.69, P < 0.001 ) were identified as predictive factors for late ambulation in patients after TKA. Conclusion: In this study, preoperative coagulation function, intraoperative blood loss and the placement of intraoperative drains were factors contributing to delay ambulation time. Therefore, it is believed that properly improving preoperative coagulation function, effective intraoperative hemostasis, and reducing the placement of drains have a positive impact on early postoperative ambulation in patients undergoing TKA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Excessive visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with a spectrum of diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Remnant cholesterol (RC), denoting cholesterol within triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and their metabolic byproducts, has been identified as a key contributor to cardiovascular diseases and related mortality. However, the association between the VAT and RC remains unclear. In this study, the objective is to provide new evidence regarding the association between VAT and RC concentrations. Methods: 4727 individuals aged 18–59 were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2011 and 2018 as study participants. This study utilized several weighted linear regression models and a restricted cubic spline (RCS) to explore the association and potential nonlinearities between VAT and RC. Subgroup analyses were performed to determine the consistency of findings. Results: The mean VAT value was 103.82 ± 1.42 cm2, and the median RC value was 18 mg/dl. VAT demonstrated a positive association with RC in a fully adjusted model, with a β and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.09 (0.08, 0.11) after adjustment for potential confounders. Analysis using RCS revealed a nonlinear association between the VAT area and RC (P < 0.001 for nonlinearity). Adjusted two-piecewise regression models demonstrated β coefficients of 0.13 (95%CI: 0.11 ~ 0.16, P < 0.001) for RC in individuals with VAT < 143 cm2, and 0.02 (95%CI: -0.01 ~ 0.06, P = 0.15) for those with VAT ≥ 143 cm2. Interactions were observed among the body mass index (BMI) subgroup; the β coefficients for RC were 0.14 (95%CI: 0.12 ~ 0.16) in those with BMI < 30 kg/m2 and 0.05 (95%CI:0.04 ~ 0.07) in those with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, with a P-value of < 0.001 for interaction. Conclusions: This study identified a nonlinear association between VAT and RC in American adults. Reducing the VAT area may be beneficial in lowering RC concentration, particularly when VAT is < 143 cm2 and those with a BMI < 30 kg/m2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) refers to the transformation of polar epithelial cells into motile mesenchymal cells under specific physiological or pathological conditions, thus promoting the metastasis of cancer cells. Epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) is a protein that plays an important role in the acquisition of tumor cell motility and serves as a key EMT epithelial marker. In the present study, AW01178, a small-molecule compound with potential therapeutic efficacy, was identified via in-cell Western high-throughput screening technology using E-cadherin as the target. The compound induced the upregulation of E-cadherin at both mRNA and protein levels and inhibited the EMT of breast cancer cells in vitro as well as metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, AW01178 is a novel benzacetamide histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) mainly targeting class I histone deacetylases. AW01178 promoted the transcription and expression of E-cadherin through enhancing the acetylation level of histone H3 in the E-cadherin promoter region, thereby inhibiting the metastasis of breast cancer cells. The collective findings support the potential utility of the novel HDACi compound identified in this study, AW01178, as a therapeutic drug for breast cancer and highlight its value for the future development of HDACi structures as anticancer drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article introduces a dual meta-learning (DML) technique to enhance semi-supervised text classification, improving both teacher and student classifiers iteratively. Topics include the challenge of noisy pseudo-labels in semi-supervised text classification, the proposed meta-learning methods for noise correction and pseudo supervision, and the experimental validation demonstrating the effectiveness of the DML framework.

Background: Mitochondrial dynamics play a fundamental role in determining stem cell fate. However, the underlying mechanisms of mitochondrial dynamics in the stemness acquisition of cancer cells are incompletely understood. Methods: Metabolomic profiling of cells were analyzed by MS/MS. The genomic distribution of H3K27me3 was measured by CUT&Tag. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells depended on glucose or glutamine fueling TCA cycle were monitored by 13C-isotope tracing. Organoids and tumors from patients and mice were treated with DRP1 inhibitors mdivi-1, ferroptosis inducer erastin, or combination with mdivi-1 and erastin to evaluate treatment effects. Results: Mitochondria of OSCC stem cells own fragment mitochondrial network and DRP1 is required for maintenance of their globular morphology. Imbalanced mitochondrial dynamics induced by DRP1 knockdown suppressed stemness of OSCC cells. Elongated mitochondria increased α-ketoglutarate levels and enhanced glutaminolysis to fuel the TCA cycle by increasing glutamine transporter ASCT2 expression. α-KG promoted the demethylation of histone H3K27me3, resulting in downregulation of SNAI2 associated with stemness and EMT. Significantly, suppressing DRP1 enhanced the anticancer effects of ferroptosis. Conclusion: Our study reveals a novel mechanism underlying mitochondrial dynamics mediated cancer stemness acquisition and highlights the therapeutic potential of mitochondria elongation to increase the susceptibility of cancer cells to ferroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acrylic photoresist could be applied as a functional layer for OLED display, and it is required to be fabricated mainly on the hybrid substrate of metal and inorganic silicide substrate or the polymer substrate. Through simulation, this paper concludes that moderately increasing the silane coupling agent content and moderate crosslinking degree of the material system could contribute to improving the adhesion force at the interface between acrylic photoresist and substrate, thereby avoiding peeling. Four acrylic photoresists named OC1‐4 with different formula are introduced, their adhesion force and peeling performances on different substrates are researched. The experimental results are consistent with that of simulation. Among them, OC1&4 with high content of silane coupling agent did not exhibit peeling on the hybrid substrate and polymer substrate, and their adhesion forces are large enough, making them suitable as functional layers for OLED display. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low‐temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) thin‐film transistor devices can be used as core components of pixel driving circuits for active matrix organic light‐emitting displays （AMOLED）. Poly silicon (P‐Si) film and device performance directly affects the display effect. This paper investigates polysilicon grain boundary reduction for LTPS devices on PI substrates, exploring the effects of grain boundary reduction on LTPS devices and image sticking. Reduction of polysilicon grain boundaries through optimization of a‐Si deposition process, a‐Si two‐step deposition and excimer laser annealing (ELA) doublescan process, ELA double‐scan process reduces grain boundaries by 67 %. We prepared LTPS devices with thinner gate interlayers (GI) based on P‐Si grain boundary reduction, LTPS devices with positive threshold voltage bias and increased mobility, AMOLED displays with thinner GI can have 23% better image sticking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We investigated whether spleen volume (SV) changes were associated with treatment outcomes in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who received immunotherapy or first-line sorafenib. Patients and Methods: Patients with advanced HCC who underwent immunotherapy or first-line sorafenib at our institute were retrospectively analyzed. CT was used to measure SV before and within 3 months of treatment initiation. Tumor assessment followed Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. The association between SV change and tumor response or progression-free survival (PFS) was analyzed. The inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics. Results: The immunotherapy group comprised 143 patients (124 men, mean age, 59.8 years ± 11.2 [standard deviation]), while the sorafenib group had 57 (47 men, mean age, 59.6 years ± 9.9). SV increased in 108 (75.5%) immunotherapy and 21 (36.8%) sorafenib patients. In the immunotherapy group, patients with increased SV were more likely than those with decreased SV to have a higher disease control rate (76.9% vs 57.1%, p = 0.024) and durable clinical benefit (52.8% vs 25.7%, p = 0.005). It was also associated with extended PFS in the immunotherapy group in both the univariate (p = 0.028) and multivariate (p = 0.014) analysis. By contrast, in the sorafenib group, an increased in SV was not associated with treatment response but was presumably associated with reduced PFS (p = 0.072) in the multivariate analysis. After IPTW adjustment, the increase in SV remained a significant predictor for DCB and PFS in the immunotherapy group. Conclusion: Most patients exhibited an increase in SV after the initiation of immunotherapy, which may be used to predict response and prognosis. However, this association was not observed in patients who received sorafenib. Plain Language Summary: The study provides significant evidence that an increase in spleen volume is associated with better treatment outcomes in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing immunotherapy. These findings offer oncologists a new potential biomarker for optimizing treatment strategies. Specifically, increased spleen volume could be used to predict higher rates of disease control and durable clinical benefits, allowing for more personalized care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency and dynamic response of air compressors are crucial for stability and lifespan of hydrogen fuel cells. A predictive control scheme with surge‐ and choke‐constrained awareness is proposed to ensure safe and efficient operation of air compressors in this study. The proposed scheme consists of an efficiency enhancement model predictive control (EE‐MPC), and an improved active disturbance rejection control (IADRC). Surge‐ and choke‐constrained awareness is achieved by comparing predicted air flow with surge and choke limitations. Simultaneously, the EE‐MPC is constrained with oxygen excess ratio (OER) and obtains optimal solution by searching active set. The reference flow and supply manifold pressure trajectories for IADRC are generated by EE‐MPC. A designed piecewise differentiable nonlinear smoothing function is embedded in IADRC. The disturbances are estimated for coordinating flow and pressure control. Under China heavy‐duty commercial vehicle test cycle for bus conditions, root‐mean‐squared errors (RMSEs) of flow and pressure are 3.27 g s−1 and 1.88 × 103 Pa, respectively, and the mean efficiency can be enhanced by 13.4% compared to the MPC with fixed OER. Finally, a controller hardware‐in‐the‐loop test is conducted, with flow and pressure RMSEs of 2.48 g s−1 and 4.28 × 103 Pa between the test and simulation, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the H∞$$ {H}_{\infty } $$ optimal output tracking control problem for Markov jump systems is investigated, where the two cases with known or completely unknown transition probabilities are both considered. Based on game theory and H∞$$ {H}_{\infty } $$ performance, quadratic cost is considered, where a discount parameter is introduced into the quadratic cost in order to track unstable systems and eliminate the assumption that the noise energy is bounded. The game coupled algebraic Riccati equation and the corresponding controller are presented by dynamic programming. The stochastic stability of the tracking error system is further investigated. Moreover, iterative and reinforcement learning‐based algorithms are proposed for solving the H∞$$ {H}_{\infty } $$ optimal tracking controller with known or completely unknown transition probabilities, respectively. Finally, some numerical simulations on a DC motor are performed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To establish a rat model that accurately replicates the clinical characteristics of male infertility (MI) with Liver Depression and Kidney Deficiency (LD & KD) and investigate the pathogenesis. Methods: After subjecting the rats to chronic restraint stress (CRS) and adenine treatment, a series of tests were conducted, including ethological assessments, evaluations of reproductive characteristics, measurements of biochemical parameters, histopathological examinations, and analyses of urinary metabolites. Additionally, bioinformatics predictions were performed for comprehensive analysis. Results: Compared to the control, the model exhibited significant manifestations of MI with LD & KD, including reduced responsiveness, diminished frequency of capturing estrous female rats, and absence of mounting behavior. Additionally, the kidney coefficient increased markedly, while the coefficients of the testis and epididymis decreased significantly. Sperm counts and viabilities decreased notably, accompanied by an increase in sperm abnormalities. Dysregulation of reproductive hormone levels in the serum was observed, accompanied by an upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines expressions in the liver and kidney, as well as exacerbated oxidative stress in the penile corpus cavernosum and testis. The seminiferous tubules in the testis exhibited a loose arrangement, loss of germ cells, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Furthermore, utilizing urinary metabolomics and bioinformatics analysis, 5 key biomarkers and 2 crucial targets most closely linked to MI were revealed. Conclusion: The study successfully established a clinically relevant animal model of MI with LD & KD. It elucidates the pathogenesis of the condition, identifies key biomarkers and targets, and provides a robust scientific foundation for the prediction, diagnosis, and treatment of MI with LD & KD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable hematological malignancy characterized by clonal proliferation of malignant plasma B cells in bone marrow, and its pathogenesis remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the role of kinesin family member 22 (KIF22) in MM and elucidate its molecular mechanism. Methods: The expression of KIF22 was detected in MM patients based upon the public datasets and clinical samples. Then, in vitro assays were performed to investigate the biological function of KIF22 in MM cell lines, and subcutaneous xenograft models in nude mice were conducted in vivo. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assay were used to determine the mechanism of KIF22-mediated regulation. Results: The results demonstrated that the expression of KIF22 in MM patients was associated with several clinical features, including gender (P = 0.016), LDH (P < 0.001), β2-MG (P = 0.003), percentage of tumor cells (BM) (P = 0.002) and poor prognosis (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, changing the expression of KIF22 mainly influenced the cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo, and caused G2/M phase cell cycle dysfunction. Mechanically, KIF22 directly transcriptionally regulated cell division cycle 25C (CDC25C) by binding its promoter and indirectly influenced CDC25C expression by regulating the ERK pathway. KIF22 also regulated CDC25C/CDK1/cyclinB1 pathway. Conclusion: KIF22 could promote cell proliferation and cell cycle progression by transcriptionally regulating CDC25C and its downstream CDC25C/CDK1/cyclinB1 pathway to facilitate MM progression, which might be a potential therapeutic target in MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anti-programmed death-1 (PD1) antibodies have changed the treatment landscape for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and exhibit promising treatment efficacy. However, the majority of HCCs still do not respond to anti-PD-1 therapy. Methods: We analyzed the expression of CXCL9 in blood samples from patients who received anti-PD-1 therapy and evaluated its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes. Based on the results of Cox regression analysis, a nomogram was established for predicting HCC response to anti-PD-1 therapy. qRT‒PCR and multiple immunofluorescence assays were utilized to analyze the proportions of N1-type neutrophils in vitro and in tumor samples, respectively. Results: The nomogram showed good predictive efficacy in the training and validation cohorts and may be useful for guiding clinical treatment of HCC patients. We also found that HCC cell-derived CXCL9 promoted N1 polarization of neutrophils in vitro and that AMG487, a specific CXCR3 inhibitor, significantly blocked this process. Moreover, multiple immunofluorescence (mIF) showed that patients with higher serum CXCL9 levels had greater infiltration of the N1 phenotype of tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs). Conclusion: Our study highlights the critical role of CXCL9 as an effective biomarker of immunotherapy efficacy and in promoting the polarization of N1-type neutrophils; thus, targeting the CXCL9-CXCR3 axis could represent a novel pharmaceutical strategy to enhance immunotherapy for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD), as a neurologically implemented disease with complex etiological factors, has a complex and variable pathogenesis. Accompanying further research, neuroinflammation has been found to be one of the possible factors in its pathogenesis. Microglia, as intrinsic immune cells in the brain, play an important role in maintaining microenvironmental homeostasis in the brain. However, over-activation of neurotoxic microglia in PD promotes neuroinflammation, which further increases dopaminergic (DA) neuronal damage and exacerbates the disease process. Therefore, targeting and regulating the functional state of microglia is expected to be a potential avenue for PD treatment. In addition, plant extracts have shown great potential in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders due to their abundant resources, mild effects, and the presence of multiple active ingredients. However, it is worth noting that some natural products have certain toxic side effects, so it is necessary to pay attention to distinguish medicinal ingredients and usage and dosage when using to avoid aggravating the progression of diseases. In this review, the roles of microglia with different functional states in PD and the related pathways inducing microglia to transform into neuroprotective states are described. At the same time, it is discussed that abscisic acid (ABA) may regulate the polarization of microglia by targeting them, promote their transformation into neuroprotective state, reduce the neuroinflammatory response in PD, and provide a new idea for the treatment of PD and the selection of drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used for tumor treatment. Nonetheless its clinical application is heavily limited by its cardiotoxicity. There is accumulated evidence that transplantation of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC-EXOs) can protect against Dox-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC). This study aimed to examine the cardioprotective effects of EXOs isolated from human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived MSCs (iPSC-MSCs) against DIC and explore the potential mechanisms. EXOs were isolated from the cultural supernatant of human BM-MSCs (BM-MSC-EXOs) and iPSC-MSCs (iPSC-MSC-EXOs) by ultracentrifugation. A mouse model of DIC was induced by intraperitoneal injection of Dox followed by tail vein injection of PBS, BM-MSC-EXOs, or iPSC-MSC-EXOs. Cardiac function, cardiomyocyte senescence and mitochondrial dynamics in each group were assessed. In vitro, neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes (NMCMs) were subjected to Dox and treated with BM-MSC-EXOs or iPSC-MSC-EXOs. The mitochondrial morphology and cellular senescence of NMCMs were examined by Mitotracker staining and senescence-associated-β-galactosidase assay, respectively. Compared with BM-MSC-EXOs, mice treated with iPSC-MSC-EXOs displayed improved cardiac function and decreased cardiomyocyte mitochondrial fragmentation and senescence. In vitro, iPSC-MSC-EXOs were superior to BM-MSC-EXOs in attenuation of cardiomyocyte mitochondrial fragmentation and senescence caused by DOX. MicroRNA sequencing revealed a higher level of miR-9-5p in iPSC-MSC-EXOs than BM-MSC-EXOs. Mechanistically, iPSC-MSC-EXOs transported miR-9-5p into DOX-treated cardiomyocytes, thereby suppressing cardiomyocyte mitochondrial fragmentation and senescence via regulation of the VPO1/ERK signal pathway. These protective effects and cardioprotection against DIC were largely reversed by knockdown of miR-9-5p in iPSC-MSC-EXOs. Our results showed that miR-9-5p transferred by iPSC-MSC-EXOs protected against DIC by alleviating cardiomyocyte senescence via inhibition of the VPO1/ERK pathway. This study offers new insight into the application of iPSC-MSC-EXOs as a novel therapeutic strategy for DIC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binaural audio synthesis (BAS) aims to restore binaural audio from mono signals obtained from the environment to enhance users' immersive experiences. It plays an essential role in building Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality environments. Existing deep neural network (DNN)-based BAS systems synthesize binaural audio by modeling the overall sound propagation processes from the source to the left and right ears, which encompass early decay, room reverberation, and head/ear-related filtering. However, this end-to-end modeling approach brings in the overfitting problem for BAS models when they are trained using a small and homogeneous data set. Moreover, existing losses cannot well supervise the training process. As a consequence, the accuracy of synthesized binaural audio is far from satisfactory on binaural differences. In this work, we propose a novel DNN-based BAS method, namely DIFFBAS, to improve the accuracy of synthesized binaural audio from the perspective of the interaural phase difference. Specifically, DIFFBAS is trained using the average signals of the left and right channels. To make the model learn the binaural differences, we propose a new loss named Interaural Phase Difference (IPD) loss to supervise the model training. Extensive experiments have been performed and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the DIFFBAS model and the IPD loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common chronic complication of herpes zoster (HZ) and results in severe refractory neuropathic pain. This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of premedication with duloxetine in the prevention of PHN. Methods The PROCESS trial is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint trial used a 1:1 duloxetine:control ratio. Adults 50 years or older with HZ who presented with vesicles within 72 hours were recruited. The primary outcome was the incidence of PHN at 12 weeks. PHN was defined as any pain intensity score other than 0 mm on the visual analog scale (VAS) at week 12 after the onset of the rash. The secondary outcomes were the number of participants with VAS >0 and VAS ≥3. The modified intention-to-treat (mITT) principle and per-protocol (PP) principle were used for the primary outcome analysis. Results A total of 375 participants were randomly assigned to the duloxetine group and 375 were assigned to the control group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of PHN in the duloxetine group compared with the control group in the mITT analysis (86 [22.9%] of 375 vs 108 [28.8%] of 375; P =.067). PP analysis produced similar results. However, there were significant differences between the 2 groups in the number of participants with VAS >0 and VAS ≥3 (P <.05 for all comparisons). Conclusions Although absolute prevention of PHN does not occur, this trial found that premedication with duloxetine can reduce pain associated with HZ, and therefore can have clinically relevant benefits. Clinical Trials Registration.   Clinicaltrials.gov , NCT04313335. Registered on 18 March 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COE (Color on Encapsulation) technology is a new technology that uses CF (color films) and BM (black matrix) structures to replace the polarizer. It has the advantages of low power consumption and the thin film layer, and is an emerging technology in the field of OLED displays. Due to the high transmittance of CF and the fact that OLED film pattern structure, COE technology has the disadvantage of the obvious reflection diffraction. Based on the finite difference time domain method, the paper studies the film factors of OLED, and summarizes the main factors that affect diffraction. According to the simulation results, the diffraction phenomenon of COE technology was significantly improved by optimizing the OLED film layer parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acrylic photoresist could be applied as a functional layer for OLED display, and it is required to be fabricated mainly on the hybrid substrate of metal and inorganic silicide substrate or the polymer substrate. Through simulation, this paper concludes that moderately increasing the silane coupling agent content and moderate crosslinking degree of the material system could contribute to improving the adhesion force at the interface between acrylic photoresist and substrate, thereby avoiding peeling. Four acrylic photoresists named OC1‐4 with different formula are introduced, their adhesion force and peeling performances on different substrates are researched. The experimental results are consistent with that of simulation. Among them, OC1&4 with high content of silane coupling agent did not exhibit peeling on the hybrid substrate and polymer substrate, and their adhesion forces are large enough, making them suitable as functional layers for OLED display. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In real-world practice, most non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving combined immunochemotherapy are exposed to short-course corticosteroids following immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) infusion to prevent chemotherapy-related adverse events. However, whether this early short-course corticosteroid use prevents immune-related adverse events (irAEs) remains unknown. Methods: Between January 1st, 2015, and December 31st, 2020, NSCLC patients who received at least one cycle of ICI with or without chemotherapy were enrolled. Early short-course corticosteroids were defined as corticosteroids administered following ICI injection and before chemotherapy on the same day and no longer than 3 days afterward. The patients were categorized as either "corticosteroid group" or "non-corticosteroid group" depending on their exposure to early short-course corticosteroid. The frequencies of irAEs requiring systemic corticosteroid use and irAEs leading to ICI discontinuation were compared between the two groups, and exploratory survival analyses were performed. Results: Among 252 eligible patients, 137 patients were categorized as "corticosteroid group" and 115 patients as "non-corticosteroid group." The corticosteroid group enriched patients in the first-line setting (n = 75, 54.7%), compared to the non-corticosteroid group (n = 28, 24.3%). Thirty patients (21.9%) in the corticosteroid group and 35 patients (30.4%) in the non-corticosteroid group developed irAEs requiring systemic corticosteroid use (odds ratio [OR], 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35–1.18; p = 0.15). Eight patients (5.8%) in the corticosteroid group, as compared with 18 patients (15.7%) in the non-corticosteroid group, permanently discontinued ICI due to irAEs (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.12–0.85; p = 0.013). Conclusion: Early short-course corticosteroids following each ICI injection may reduce the rate of irAEs that lead to ICIs discontinuation, warranting further investigation of its prophylactic use to mitigate clinically significant irAEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tietonggou pluton is mainly composed of gabbroic diorite and diorite. The petrology, zircon U-Pb age, and geochemistry of the Tietonggou diorite have been studied to determine its petrogenesis and metallogenic significance. The diorite samples have 56–58 wt% SiO2 and 11–14 wt% Al2O3 and are peraluminous and sodic (Na2O/K2O = 1.29–2.07). All the samples are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREEs) and large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs; e.g., Rb, Ba, and Sr) but depleted in heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) and high field strength elements (HFSEs; e.g., Zr, Nb, and Ta), suggesting subduction-related affinities. The rocks have narrow ranges of (206Pb/204Pb)t (18.5–19.0), (207Pb/204Pb)t (15.71–15.75), and (208Pb/204Pb)t (38.4–39.0) ratios, respectively. Zircons from the Tietonggou diorite yielded a weighted average U-Pb age of 132.86 ± 0.92 Ma (MSWD = 0.48), whilst those from the nearby Laowa diorite yielded 129.72 ± 0.61 Ma (MSWD = 1.05). This suggests that the rocks represent Early Cretaceous plutons, coeval with the peak lithospheric thinning in eastern North China Craton (NCC). The magma likely originated from partial melting of the enriched lithospheric mantle and was contaminated by ancient lower NCC crustal materials. Our study clarifies the tectonic background of the Tietonggou pluton and provides support for the study of the genesis of Fe–skarn deposits in western Shandong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most common clinical manifestation of sepsis-related encephalopathy (SAE) is the deterioration of cognitive function. Besides, increasing evidence shows that SAE patients exhibit coordination and sensorimotor dysfunctions, suggesting that SAE affects motor function with unclear mechanism. In the present work, we explored the effects of SAE on cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) using cecal ligation and perforation (CLP), a standard model for inducing sepsis symptoms similar to those in human patients. Our results show that the sepsis can activate microglia in the cerebellum and promote the secretion of inflammatory factor TNF-α, which increases intrinsic excitability and synaptic transmission of PCs, inhibits the synaptic plasticity of PCs, and impairs motor learning of mice. These findings address how SAE changes PC functions, and thereby are of great significance to reveal pathophysiological feathers of human patients suffering from SAE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibody-based bispecific T cell engagers (TCEs) that redirect T cells to kill tumor cells have shown a promising therapeutic effect on hematologic malignancies. However, tumor-specific targeting is still a challenge for TCEs, impeding the development of TCEs for solid tumor therapy. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) presents almost all intracellular peptides (including tumor-specific peptides) on the cell surface to be scanned by the TCR on T cells. With the premise of choosing optimal peptides, the final complex peptide–MHC could be the tumor-specific target for TCEs. Here, a novel TCR-directed format of a TCE targeting peptide–MHC was designed named IgG-T-TCE, which was modified from the IgG backbone and prepared in a mammalian cell expression system. The recombinant IgG-T-TCE-NY targeting NY-ESO-1157–165/HLA-A*02:01 could be generated in HEK293 cells with a glycosylated TCR and showed potency in T cell activation and redirecting T cells to specifically kill target tumor cells. We also found that the in vitro activity of IgG-T-TCE-NY could be leveraged by various anti-CD3 antibodies and Fc silencing. The IgG-T-TCE-NY efficiently inhibited tumor growth in a tumor–PBMC co-engrafted mouse model without any obvious toxicities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parental mosaicism is important in families with de novo mutations. Herein, we report a case of fetal CHARGE syndrome (CS) with a CHD7 variant inherited from maternal CHD7 gonosomal mosaicism. The variant was detected through trio‐based whole‐exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing. High‐depth whole‐exome sequencing was performed for the identification of parental mosaicism. A novel heterozygous CHD7 nonsense mutation (c.5794G>T/ p.E1932*) was detected in the tissue from the aborted fetus. The parents were wild‐type, indicating that the mutation was a de novo variant. The mutation was suspected to be the cause of the fetal CS. However, high‐depth whole‐exome sequencing revealed maternal gonosomal mosaicism at a variant allele frequency of 3.2%–23.3%. The variant was identified in various tissues (peripheral blood, hair follicles, buccal epithelia, and pharyngeal epithelia) from the asymptomatic mother. We confirmed maternal CHD7 gonosomal mosaicism as a genetic cause of fetal CS. Our results emphasize the importance of clinical analysis in accurately determining the parents' status in detecting the CHD7de novo variant in fetal CS, as this analysis has vital implications for evaluating the recurrence risk for genetic counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Human autoantibodies (auto‐Abs) neutralizing type I IFNs were first discovered in a woman with disseminated shingles and were described by Ion Gresser from 1981 to 1984. They have since been found in patients with diverse conditions and are even used as a diagnostic criterion in patients with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy syndrome type 1 (APS‐1). However, their apparent lack of association with viral diseases, including shingles, led to wide acceptance of the conclusion that they had no pathological consequences. This perception began to change in 2020, when they were found to underlie about 15% of cases of critical COVID‐19 pneumonia. They have since been shown to underlie other severe viral diseases, including 5%, 20%, and 40% of cases of critical influenza pneumonia, critical MERS pneumonia, and West Nile virus encephalitis, respectively. They also seem to be associated with shingles in various settings. These auto‐Abs are present in all age groups of the general population, but their frequency increases with age to reach at least 5% in the elderly. We estimate that at least 100 million people worldwide carry auto‐Abs neutralizing type I IFNs. Here, we briefly review the history of the study of these auto‐Abs, focusing particularly on their known causes and consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of Internet of Things technology makes people need to deal with an increasing amount of data, which brings the poor data quality, fast data generation speed and other problems. These problems have become one of the main obstacles restricting the development of human resource attendance. At present, data fusion methods as important methods in data fusion technology. This article fully utilizes human resource attendance data and proposes the LSTM‐Attention data fusion method. This method uses LSTM to model the data, extract potential features of the data, and filter out meaningful data in the human resource attendance mechanism through the Attention mechanism to achieve data fusion. Finally, experimental results in this article showed that the LSTM‐Attention data fusion method designed in this article has higher prediction accuracy. It fully mines the correlation between data, and further improves the accuracy of analysis and prediction in the human resource attendance mechanism based on the Internet of Things. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Impaired collateral formation is a major factor contributing to poor prognosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, the current pharmacological treatments for improving collateral formation remain unsatisfactory. The induction of endothelial autophagy and the elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) represent potential therapeutic targets for enhancing endothelial angiogenesis and facilitating collateral formation. This study investigates the potential of molybdenum disulfide nanodots (MoS2 NDs) for enhancing collateral formation and improving prognosis. Results: Our study shows that MoS2 NDs significantly enhance collateral formation in ischemic tissues of diabetic mice, improving effective blood resupply. Additionally, MoS2 NDs boost the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of endothelial cells under high glucose/hypoxia conditions in vitro. Mechanistically, the beneficial effects of MoS2 NDs on collateral formation not only depend on their known scavenging properties of ROS (H2O2, •O2-, and •OH) but also primarily involve a molecular pathway, cAMP/PKA-NR4A2, which promotes autophagy and contributes to mitigating damage in diabetic endothelial cells. Conclusions: Overall, this study investigated the specific mechanism by which MoS2 NDs mediated autophagy activation and highlighted the synergy between autophagy activation and antioxidation, thus suggesting that an economic and biocompatible nano-agent with dual therapeutic functions is highly preferable for promoting collateral formation in a diabetic context, thus, highlighting their therapeutic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of solution treatment on the corrosion resistance and cytocompatibility of micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coating on biodegradable Mg-2Zn-1Gd-0.5Zr alloy were studied in this work. Microstructural characterization, coating adhesion, electrochemical, immersion and cytocompatibility tests were carried out. The results demonstrated that the MAO coating was much more uniform after solution treatment with coating adhesion enhanced by about 30% compared with the as-extruded + MAO coated. Moreover, the corrosion resistance of the solution treated + MAO coated samples was respectively improved by more than 20% and twice, compared with as-extruded + MAO coated and as-extruded samples. In addition, solution treatment further improved the cell viability of the MAO coating of the alloy with the RGR exceeding 90% during the entire culture period with MG63 cells. Consequently, solution treatment is recommended as a preferred pretreatment for improving the corrosion resistance and cytocompatibity of MAO-coated Mg alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

M1 microglial activation is crucial for the pathogenesis of early brain injury (EBI) following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and there is growing evidence that glucose metabolism is frequently involved in microglial activation. However, the molecular mechanism of glycolysis and its role in M1 microglial activation in the context of EBI are not yet fully understood. In this study, firstly, the relationship between aerobic glycolysis and M1 microglial activation as well as SAH-induced EBI was researched in vivo. Then, intervention on mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) was performed to investigate the effects on glycolysis-dependent M1 microglial activation and EBI and its relationship with hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in vivo. Next, Hif-1α was inhibited to analyze its role in aerobic glycolysis, M1 microglial activation, and EBI in vivo. Lastly, both in vivo and in vitro, mTOR inhibition and Hif-1α enhancement were administered simultaneously, and the combined effects were further confirmed again. The results showed that aerobic glycolysis and M1 microglial polarization were increased after SAH, and glycolytic inhibition could attenuate M1 microglial activation and EBI. Inhibition of mTOR reduced glycolysis-dependent M1 microglial polarization and EBI severity by down-regulating HIF-1α expression, while enhancement had the opposite effects. Blockading HIF-1α had the similar effects as suppressing mTOR, while HIF-1α agonist worked against mTOR antagonist when administered simultaneously. In conclusion, the present study showed new evidence that aerobic glycolysis induced by mTOR/HIF-1α might promote EBI after SAH by activating M1 microglia. This finding provided new insights for the treatment of EBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A top‐down transfer process is developed via a rolling process associated with thermal release tape/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bi‐supporting layers to realize large‐scale transfer processes on transition metal dichalcogenide materials. A 2‐inch MoS2 thin film transferred on SiO2/Si substrates with high integrity and a yield of ≈99% can be successfully achieved via the proposed process. MoS2‐based transistors with a transferred Au thin film as the contact electrode indicate a lower contact resistance of 8.4 kΩ with improved mobility and a higher on/off ratio compared with that of the MoS2‐based transistors with the evaporated Au thin film as the contact electrode. By applying the difference in adhesion force between metal oxides and metal on MoS2 and PMMA surfaces, the selective transfer of MoS2 films can be demonstrated. Furthermore, all‐transferred MoS2‐based transistor arrays are demonstrated by combining the selectively transferred MoS2 film as the channel material and the transferred Au thin films as the contact electrode, which results in uniform electrical properties featuring a carrier mobility of 10.45 cm2 V−1 s−1, a subthreshold swing of 203.94 mV dec−1, a normalized Ion of 8.3 μA μm−1, and an on/off ratio of 105. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information storage and security is one of the perennial hot issues in society, while the further advancements of related chemical anti-counterfeiting systems remain a formidable challenge. As emerging anti-counterfeiting materials, stimulus-responsive polymers (SRPs) have attracted extensive attention due to their unique stimulus-responsiveness and charming discoloration performance. At the same time, single-channel decryption technology with low-security levels has been unable to effectively prevent information from being stolen or mimicked. As a result, it would be of great significance to develop SRPs with multi-mode and multi-level anti-counterfeiting characteristics. This study summarizes the latest achievements in advance anti-counterfeiting strategies based on SRPs, including multi-mode anti-counterfeiting (static information) and multi-level anti-counterfeiting (dynamic information). In addition, the promising applications of such materials in anti-counterfeiting labels, identification platforms, intelligent displays, and others are briefly reviewed. Finally, the challenges and opportunities in this emerging field are discussed. This review serves as a useful resource for manipulating SRP-based anti-counterfeiting materials and creating cutting-edge information security and encryption systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the association between circulating secretoneurin (SN) and angiographic coronary collateralization in stable angina patients with chronic coronary total occlusion (CTO). Methods: SN concentrations in serum were measured in 641 stable angina patients with CTO by radioimmunoassay. The status of coronary collaterals from the contra-lateral vessel was visually estimated using the Rentrop grading system, and was categorized into poor (grade 0 or 1) or good (grade 2 or 3) collateralization. Results: Serum SN levels were significantly higher in patients with good coronary collaterals compared to those with poor collaterals (175.23 ± 52.09 pmol/L vs. 143.29 ± 42.01 pmol/L, P < 0.001). Serum SN increased stepwise across Rentrop score 0 to 3 (P < 0.001), and increasing SN tertiles were associated with higher proportion of good coronary collateralization (OR, 1.907; 95% CI, 1.558 ~ 2.335, P < 0.001). After adjustment for confounding variables, serum SN (per tertile) remained an independent factor for predicting good coronary collaterals (OR, 1.870; 95% CI, 1.515 ~ 2.309; P < 0.001). Moreover, the diagnostic value of serum SN (per tertile) was consistent after stratifying patients based on gender, age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, history of smoking, severity of coronary artery disease and kidney function (OR: 1.511 ~ 2.680, P interaction ≥ 0.327). Conclusion: Elevated circulating SN reflects good angiographic coronary collaterals in stable angina patients with CTO. The findings may provide insight into decision-making for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoporosis (OP) is a progressive metabolic disorder that is difficult to cure clinically. The molecular mechanisms of OP urgently need to be further examined. This study was designed to explore the potential function of circ_0027885 during osteogenic differentiation, as well as the systematic interactions among circ_0027885, miR-203-3p and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2). Methods: Relative levels of circ_0027885, miR-203-3p and RUNX2 were analyzed with RT-qPCR and western blotting. Alizarin red staining was performed to detect the mineralization ability under the control of circ_0027885 and miR-203-3p. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was conducted to examine the combination among circ_0027885, miR-203-3p and RUNX2. Results: Our research demonstrated that circ_0027885 was significantly increased during hBMSCs differentiation. Overexpression of circ_0027885 notably facilitated osteogenic differentiation and upregulated RUNX2 expression, while knockdown of circ_0027885 reversed the above results. Through prediction on bioinformatics analysis, miR-203-3p was the target binding circ_0027885, and RUNX2 was the potential target of miR-203-3p. Subsequently, these changes induced by the overexpression of circ_0027885 were reversed upon addition of miR-203-3p mimic. Conclusions: Circ_0027885 could sponge miR-203-3p to regulate RUNX2 expression and alleviate osteoporosis progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a frequent complication following hip arthroplasty. There still has been a lack of studies analyzing the perioperative risk factors of DVT following hip arthroplasty via direct anterior approach (DAA). Methods: Patients who underwent unilateral primary hip arthroplasty via DAA in our hospital from August 2015 to January 2022 were included. Patients' data, including demographic data, clinical features, past medical history, operative data, and laboratory data, were analyzed and compared between patients with and without DVT. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the independent risk factors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the best cutoff value of continuous variables with statistical significance. Result: A total of 651 patients were included. The incidence of DVT before and after hip arthroplasty was 12.7% and 6.7%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis indicated that age ≥ 65 years (OR 4.594, 95% CI 1.994–10.587), women (OR 2.331, 95% CI 1.285–4.227), and cerebral infarction (OR 1.984, 95% CI 1.138–3.460) were independent risk factors for preoperative DVT. And age ≥ 65 years (OR 4.859, 95% CI 1.062–22.226), tumor (OR 3.622, 95% CI 1.108–11.841), and preoperative D-dimer (OR 1.040, 95% CI 1.004–1.078) were risk factors for postoperative DVT. The ROC curve analysis showed that the best cutoff value of preoperative D-dimer for the diagnosis of postoperative DVT is 1.44 mg/L. Conclusions: The incidence of DVT in patients undergoing DAA hip arthroplasty was low and the occurrence of DVT before and after unilateral primary hip arthroplasty performed through DAA was related to multiple factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activity and climate change affect biodiversity and cause species range shifts, contractions, and expansions. Globally, human activities and climate change have emerged as persistent threats to biodiversity, leading to approximately 68% of the ~522 primate species being threatened with extinction. Here, we used habitat suitability models and integrated data on human population density, gross domestic product (GDP), road construction, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), the location of protected areas (PAs), and climate change to predict potential changes in the distributional range and richness of 26 China's primate species. Our results indicate that both PAs and NDVI have a positive impact on primate distributions. With increasing anthropogenic pressure, species' ranges were restricted to areas of high vegetation cover and in PAs surrounded by buffer zones of 2.7–4.5 km and a core area of PAs at least 0.1–0.5 km from the closest edge of the PA. Areas with a GDP below the Chinese national average of 100,000 yuan were found to be ecologically vulnerable, and this had a negative impact on primate distributions. Changes in temperature and precipitation were also significant contributors to a reduction in the range of primate species. Under the expected influence of climate change over the next 30–50 years, we found that highly suitable habitat for primates will continue to decrease and species will be restricted to smaller and more peripheral parts of their current range. Areas of high primate diversity are expected to lose from 3 to 7 species. We recommend that immediate action be taken, including expanding China's National Park Program, the Ecological Conservation Redline Program, and the Natural Forest Protection Program, along with a stronger national policy promoting alternative/sustainable livelihoods for people in the local communities adjacent to primate ranges, to offset the detrimental effects of anthropogenic activities and climate change on primate survivorship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the variations in luminance of active‐matrix organic light‐emitting diodes (AMOLED) when viewed at small angles, employing different micro lens arrangements. By examining the micro lens array (MLA) structure, we analyzed how luminance behaves at various angles. Concurrently, we explored the alignment of red, green, and blue (R/G/B) pixel apertures with the micro lens placement, aiming to achieve precise luminance modulation for acute viewing angles. Initially, micro lens arrays are crafted by utilizing materials with varying refractive indices above the pixel aperture, ensuring total internal reflection of light at thejunction between materials of high and low refractive indices. This arrangement also alters the emission angle of light. Within this architecture, the critical angle — determined by the disparity in refractive indices — and the variance in the angle at the reflective interface are crucial in influencing light emission reflection. Furthermore, we explored how the spacing of graphic openings with low refractive indices influences the angle of light emission. This spacing affects the reflection angle, as it is not produced by a singular interface but rather by a composite of multiple angles. The size of the pixel apertures and the spacing of these openings cause the point of total internal reflection to vary, altering the deflection angle of light. Thus, the design of pixel openings and the external expansion is crucial to controlling the light emission angle. Lastly, we examined the influence of the reflective interface and the external expansion design on the light output angle. This analysis highlighted the enhancement of light output at narrow angles and provided strategies to minimize luminance fluctuations at such angles, contributing to the development of high‐precision luminance control in AMOLED displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]