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In order to improve the device performance of ionic Ir(III) complexes, multi dentate ligands were used to enhance the rigidity and stability of ionic Ir(III) complexes. Therefore, five cationic Ir(III) complexes with tridentate ligands were prepared. The decomposition temperatures (5% weight loss) of these complexes are between 290 and 441 °C. In polymethyl methacrylate films, these complexes show emission peaks between 488 and 537 nm with quantum efficiencies of 0.28–0.47. The density functional theory calculations indicate that the electron donating substituents on the cyclometalated benzene rings will reduce the proportion of Ir atoms in the frontier orbitals of these bis-tridentate Ir(III) complexes, thereby reducing their luminescence efficiency. Record-high device performance has been achieved with a superior external quantum efficiency over 17%, maximum brightness over 30 000 cd m−2, and quite small efficiency roll-off. The device efficiencies of complexes with triptycene groups only slowly decrease until 6000 cd cm2. These results demonstrate the great potential of ionic bis-tridentate Ir(III) complexes in state-of-the-art optoelectronic device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been recognized as pivotal regulators in tumorigenesis, yet the biological functions as well as molecular mechanisms of the majority of circRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain elusive. We sought to unveil the expression profile and biological role of circMYBL2 in HCC. Initial microarray analyses were conducted to probe the expression profile of circMYBL2 in HCC cells, and qRTPCR analysis was then performed in HCC cell lines and tissues, revealing significant upregulation of circMYBL2. Subsequent experiments were conducted to evaluate the biological function of circMYBL2 in HCC progression. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis, qRT-PCR analysis, luciferase reporter assays, and western blot analysis were employed to investigate the interplay among circMYBL2, miR-1205, and E2F1. CircMYBL2 was found to exhibit marked upregulation in tumor tissues as well as HCC cell lines. Elevated expression of circMYBL2 increased the proliferation and migration of HCC cells, whereas circMYBL2 knockdown elicited contrasting effects. Mechanistically, our results indicated that circMYBL2 promoted E2F1 expression and facilitated HCC progression by sponging miR-1205. Our findings revealed that circMYBL2 contributed to HCC progression through the circMYBL2/miR-1205/E2F1 axis, suggesting the potential of circMYBL2 as a novel target for HCC treatment or a prognostic biomarker for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Compound Ku-Shen Injection (CKI) is a traditional Chinese medicine preparation derived from Ku-Shen and Bai-Tu-Ling, commonly used in the adjunctive treatment of advanced cancers, including liver cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms of CKI’s effectiveness in cancer treatment are not well defined. Methods: This study employs network pharmacology to investigate the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compatibility theory underlying CKI’s action in treating liver cancer, with findings substantiated by molecular docking and in vitro experiments. Sixteen active components were identified from CKI, along with 193 potential targets for treating liver cancer. Key therapeutic target proteins, including EGFR and ESR1, were also identified. KEGG enrichment results showed that the neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction, cAMP signaling pathway, and serotonergic synapses make up the key pathway of CKI in the treatment of liver cancer. Molecular docking results confirmed that the key active ingredients effectively bind to the core targets. CCK-8 cytotoxic experiment results show that the CKI key components of oxymatrine and matrine can inhibit the growth of HepG2 liver cancer cell proliferation. A Western blot analysis revealed that oxymatrine suppresses the expression of EGFR, contributing to its therapeutic efficacy against liver cancer. Conclusion: our study elucidated the therapeutic mechanism of CKI in treating liver cancer and unveiled the underlying principles of its TCM compatibility through its mode of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global prevalence of obesity is rising year by year, which has become a public health problem worldwide. Many animal and clinical studies have shown that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is considered an ideal probiotic and potential supplement for the treatment of obesity. In this study, we aimed to complete the genome sequence of L. plantarum HOM2217, which was isolated from human milk, and study its physiological characteristics and anti-obesity effects in 3T3-L1 cells and rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) to determine its potential as a starter for functional food products. Whole-genome analysis demonstrated that HOM2217 contained a single circular chromosome of 3,267,529 bp with a GC content of 44.5% and one plasmid (62,350 bp) with a GC content of 38.5%. Compared to the reference strains, HOM2217 demonstrated superior tolerance to gastrointestinal conditions, higher adhesion to intestinal epithelial cell lines, potent antimicrobial activity against Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047, and effective cholesterol removal ability in vitro. Treatment with heat-killed HOM2217 significantly reduced lipid accumulation and intracellular triglyceride production in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Daily treatment of HFD-fed rats with HOM2217 for 7 weeks decreased body weight, body weight gain, and body fat without changes in food intake. HOM2217 also significantly increased the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level, decreased the serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a) and increased short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) (formic acid, acetic acid, and butyric acid) levels in the cecum. Thus, HOM2217 could potentially prevent obesity in rats by inhibiting inflammatory responses and regulating lipid metabolism and SCFAs expression. Therefore, HOM2217 has potential as an alternative treatment for obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin B12 is a complex compound synthesized by microorganisms. The industrial production of vitamin B12 relies on specific microbial fermentation processes. E. coli has been utilized as a host for the de novo biosynthesis of vitamin B12, incorporating approximately 30 heterologous genes. However, a metabolic imbalance in the intricate pathway significantly limits vitamin B12 production. In this study, we employed multivariate modular metabolic engineering to enhance vitamin B12 production in E. coli by manipulating two modules comprising a total of 10 genes within the vitamin B12 biosynthetic pathway. These two modules were integrated into the chromosome of a chassis cell, regulated by T7, J23119, and J23106 promoters to achieve combinatorial pathway optimization. The highest vitamin B12 titer was attained by engineering the two modules controlled by J23119 and T7 promoters. The inclusion of yeast powder to the fermentation medium increased the vitamin B12 titer to 1.52 mg/L. This enhancement was attributed to the effect of yeast powder on elevating the oxygen transfer rate and augmenting the strain’s isopropyl-β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) tolerance. Ultimately, vitamin B12 titer of 2.89 mg/L was achieved through scaled-up fermentation in a 5-liter fermenter. The strategies reported herein will expedite the development of industry-scale vitamin B12 production utilizing E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A perfect directed code (or an efficient twin domination) of a digraph is a vertex subset where every other vertex in the digraph has a unique in- and a unique out-neighbor in the subset. In this paper, we show that a digraph covers a complete digraph if and only if the vertex set of this digraph can be partitioned into perfect directed codes. Equivalent conditions for subsets in Cayley digraphs to be perfect directed codes are given. Especially, equivalent conditions for normal subsets, normal subgroups, and subgroups to be perfect directed codes in Cayley digraphs are given. Moreover, we show that every subgroup of a finite group is a perfect directed code for a transversal Cayley digraph. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty acid desaturases (FADs) are rate-limiting enzymes for the biosynthesis of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs). As a new member of the FAD family, Fad6 and its roles remain unclear in various teleost fishes. In this study, we identified a fad6 gene from yellow catfish (ycfad6) and determined its spatiotemporal expression patterns and responses to different initial diets and nutritional status in yellow catfish. Our results showed that the open reading frame (ORF) of ycfad6 was 1,080 bp in length, encoding a protein of 359 amino acids. Multiple protein sequences alignment proved that fad6 is highly conserved among diverse vertebrates. Meanwhile, phylogenetic analysis revealed that Southern catfish and yellow catfish were clustered into one branch, supporting evolutionary consistence between the fad6 gene and fish morphology. Moreover, comparisons of genomic synteny and gene structure revealed functional and evolutionary conservation of the fad6 gene in various teleost fishes. Tissue distribution analysis by quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated that the ycfad6 gene was extensively expressed in examined tissues, with higher transcription levels in the heart and liver. Meanwhile, ycfad6 gene was widely expressed in various developmental stages, indicating Fad6 may play important roles in HUFA biosynthesis at early developmental stages in yellow catfish. Functional experiments verified that the transcription of ycfad6 decreased significantly with the extension of feeding time (with egg yolk or Artemia nauplii) at the early developmental stages, indicating that a diet rich in HUFA can remarkably inhibit the transcription of ycfad6 in yellow catfish. In addition, ycfad6 transcription was significantly reduced after a short-term (24-h) or long-term food deprivation (1-week) and then continued to decrease during refeeding, suggesting that nutritional states can affect the transcription of ycfad6, which further regulates the metabolism of HUFAs. Anyway, these fundamental findings provide basic references for further investigating evolutionary and physiological functions of the fad6 gene in yellow catfish as well as in other teleost fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the investigation on the collapse performances of steel frames with various structural scales has not formed a system resultant force, which leads to the current "overall qualitative and local quantitative" modes of structural system anticollapse resistance design. This paper numerically and analytically investigated the load-bearing capacities of the frame assemblies with various structural scales extracted from an overall steel frame structure subjected to the removal of an internal column. First, the accuracy of the numerical simulation methods was verified by comparing with the experimental results of the representative experimental collapse tests with various structural scales. Afterwards, numerical simulation analysis was conducted to investigate the variations in load-resisting capacities, axial forces generated in beams, and bending moments at beam ends in frame assemblies with different structural scales. The finding revealed that the boundary constraint is the one of the most critical parameters influencing the development of various load-bearing mechanisms, which is critical to identifying the internal links among the load-resisting capacities of assemblies with varying different scales. Finally, theoretical analysis methods for achieving the correlation transformation of the collapse capacities of steel frames with different structural scales were proposed, using member resistance based on the evolution laws of internal force among each story beam. The load-displacement curves generated by the display expression and its corresponding numerical models demonstrate a high level of accuracy, which demonstrates that the analytical methods can be employed for structural resistance evaluation before the anticollapse design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sandwich plate (SP) with supported mass can model structural systems such as platform or floor with installed vibration-sensitive apparatus under random loading. The stochastic optimal control (in time domain) of periodic (in space) viscoelastomer (VE) SP with supported mass subjected to random excitation is an important research subject, which can fully use VE controllability, but it is a challenging problem on optimal bounded parametric control (OBPC). In this paper, a stochastic OBPC for periodic VESP with supported mass subjected to random base loading is proposed according to the stochastic dynamical programming (SDP) principle. Response-reduction capability using the proposed OBPC is studied to demonstrate further control effectiveness of periodic SP via SDP. Controllable VE core modulus of SP is distributed periodically in space. Differential equations for coupling vibration of periodic SP with supported mass are derived and transformed into multi-dimensional system equations with parameters as nonlinear functions of bounded control. The OBPC problem is established by the system equations and performance index with bound constraint. Then, an SDP equation is derived according to the SDP principle. The OBPC law is obtained from the SDP equation under bound constraint. Optimally controlled responses are calculated and compared with passively controlled responses to evaluate control effectiveness. Numerical results on responses and statistics of SP via the proposed OBPC show further remarkable control effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cell energy metabolism controls the activation and function of dendritic cells (DCs). Inflammatory dendritic epidermal cells (IDECs) in skin lesions of atopic dermatitis (AD) express high-affinity IgE receptor (FceRI) and toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), which mediate the generation and maintenance of inflammation. However, cellular energy metabolism and effector function of IDECs mediated by FceRI and TLR2 have not been fully elucidated. Methods: IDECs in vitro were treated with TLR2 agonist Pam3CSK4 and anti-IgE alone or in combination for 24 h. Further, we analyzed the expression of cell surface activation markers, production of inflammatory factors, and cellular energy metabolism profiles of IDECs by using flow cytometry, multiplex assay, RNA sequencing, targeted energy metabolism, and seahorse assays. Results: Compared to the unstimulated or anti-IgE groups, Pam3CSK4 alone or combined with anti-IgE groups significantly increased the expression of CD80, CD83, and CD86 on IDECs, but did not affect the expression of the above markers in the anti-IgE group. The release of inflammatory cytokines increased in the Pam3CSK4 alone or combined with anti-IgE groups, while there was a weak increasing trend in the anti-IgE group. The glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway of carbon metabolism was affected in all treatment groups. Furthermore, compared to the control group, we found a decrease in pyruvic acid, upregulation of PFKM, downregulation of FBP1, and increase in extracellular lactate, glycolysis rate, and glycolysis capacity after all treatments, while there was no difference between each treatment group. However, there was no difference in glycolytic reserve and mitochondrial basic and maximum respiration among all groups. Conclusion: Our results indicate that glycolysis of IDECs may be activated through FceRI and TLR2 to upregulate inflammatory factors, suggesting that danger signals from bacteria or allergens might evoke an inflammatory response from AD through the glycolysis pathway [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore the consistency of FRACTURE (Fast-field-echo Resembling A CT Using Restricted Echo-spacing) MRI and X-Ray/computerized tomography (CT) in the evaluation of bone injuries in knee and ankle joints. Methods: From Nov. 2020 to Jul. 2023, 42 patients with knee joint or ankle joint injuries who underwent FRACTURE MRI examinations were retrospectively collected. 11 patients were examined by both X-Ray and FRACTURE examinations. 31 patients were examined by both CT and FRACTURE examinations. The fracture, osteophyte, and bone destruction of the joints were evaluated by two radiologists using X-Ray/CT and FRACTURE images, respectively. Kappa test was used for consistency analysis. Results: The evaluation consistency of fracture, osteophyte and bone destruction via X-Ray and FRACTURE images by radiologist 1 were 0.879, 0.867 and 0.847 respectively, and for radiologist 2 were 0.899, 0.930, and 0.879, respectively. The evaluation consistency of fracture, osteophyte and bone destruction via CT and FRACTURE images by radiologist 1 were 0.938, 0.937 and 0.868 respectively, and for radiologist 2 were 0.961, 0.930, and 0.818, respectively. Conclusion: For fracture, osteophyte, and bone destruction of knee and ankle joints. FRACTURE MRI showed a high consistency with X-Ray/CT examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the primary cause of maternal mortality globally, with uterine atony being the predominant contributing factor. However, accurate prediction of PPH in the general population remains challenging due to a lack of reliable biomarkers. Methods: Using retrospective cohort data, we quantified 48 cytokines in plasma samples from 40 women diagnosed with PPH caused by uterine atony. We also analyzed previously reported hemogram and coagulation parameters related to inflammatory response. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and logistic regression were applied to develop predictive models. Established models were further evaluated and temporally validated in a prospective cohort. Results: Fourteen factors showed significant differences between the two groups, among which IL2Ra, IL9, MIP1b, TNFb, CTACK, prenatal Hb, Lymph%, PLR, and LnSII were selected by LASSO to construct predictive model A. Further, by logistic regression, model B was constructed using prenatal Hb, PLR, IL2Ra, and IL9. The area under the curve (AUC) values of model A in the training set, internal validation set, and temporal validation set were 0.846 (0.757–0.934), 0.846 (0.749–0.930), and 0.875 (0.789–0.961), respectively. And the corresponding AUC values for model B were 0.805 (0.709–0.901), 0.805 (0.701–0.894), and 0.901 (0.824–0.979). Decision curve analysis results showed that both nomograms had a high net benefit for predicting atonic PPH. Conclusion: We identified novel biomarkers and developed predictive models for atonic PPH in women undergoing “low-risk” vaginal delivery, providing immunological insights for further exploration of the mechanism underlying atonic PPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene-based warm uterus acupoint paste (GWUAP) is an emerging non-drug alternative therapy for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea (PD), but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. SD female rats were randomly divided into control group, model group and treatment group to explore the mechanism of GWUAP in the treatment of PD. Combined with 16S rDNA and fecal metabolomics, the diversity of microbiota and metabolites in each group was comprehensively evaluated. In this study, GWUAP reduced the torsion score of PD model rats, improved the pathological morphology of uterine tissue, reduced the pathological damage score of uterine tissue, and reversed the expression levels of inflammatory factors, pain factors and sex hormones. The 16 S rDNA sequencing of fecal samples showed that the abundance of Lactobacillus in the intestinal flora of the model group decreased and the abundance of Romboutsia increased, while the abundance of Lactobacillus in the intestinal flora of the treatment group increased and the abundance of Romboutsia decreased, which improved the imbalance of flora diversity in PD rats. In addition, 32 metabolites related to therapeutic effects were identified by metabolomics of fecal samples. Moreover, there is a close correlation between fecal microbiota and metabolites. Therefore, the mechanism of GWUAP in the treatment of PD remains to be further studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop and validate a nomogram based on extracellular volume (ECV) fraction derived from dual-energy CT (DECT) for preoperatively predicting microsatellite instability (MSI) status in gastric cancer (GC). Materials and Methods: A total of 123 patients with GCs who underwent contrast-enhanced abdominal DECT scans were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were divided into MSI (n=41) and microsatellite stability (MSS, n=82) groups according to postoperative immunohistochemistry staining, then randomly assigned to the training (n=86) and validation cohorts (n=37). We extracted clinicopathological characteristics, CT imaging features, iodine concentrations (ICs), and normalized IC values against the aorta (nICs) in three enhanced phases. The ECV fraction derived from the iodine density map at the equilibrium phase was calculated. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent risk predictors for MSI status. Then, a nomogram was established, and its performance was evaluated by ROC analysis and Delong test. Its calibration performance and clinical utility were assessed by calibration curve and decision curve analysis, respectively. Results: The ECV fraction, tumor location, and Borrmann type were independent predictors of MSI status (all P < 0.05) and were used to establish the nomogram. The nomogram yielded higher AUCs of 0.826 (0.729-0.899) and 0.833 (0.675-0.935) in training and validation cohorts than single variables (P<0.05), with good calibration and clinical utility. Conclusions: The nomogram based on DECT-derived ECV fraction has the potential as a noninvasive biomarker to predict MSI status in GC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enforcing a well-differentiated state on cells requires tumor suppressor p53 activation as a key player in apoptosis induction and well differentiation. In addition, recent investigations showed a significant correlation between poorly differentiated status and higher expression of NANOG. Inducing the expression of NANOG and decreasing p53 level switch the status of liver cancer cells from well differentiated to poorly status. In this review, we highlighted p53 and NANOG cross-talk in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which is regulated through mitophagy and makes it a novel molecular target to attenuate cancerous phenotype in the management of this tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latest review published in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery by Michael W. Mullowney and co-authors focuses on the use of artificial intelligence techniques, specifically machine learning, in natural product drug discovery. The authors discussed various applications of AI in this field, such as genome and metabolome mining, structural characterization of natural products, and predicting targets and biological activities of these compounds. They also highlighted the challenges associated with creating and managing large datasets for training algorithms, as well as strategies to address these obstacles. Additionally, the authors examine common pitfalls in algorithm training and offer suggestions for avoiding them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of Yb(II) complex [L2Yb(THF)2] (L = PhC(NSiMe3)2) with elemental sulfur, selenium or tellurium resulted in the isolation of a series of dinuclear Yb(III) complexes featuring side-on bound S32− (1), Se22− (2) or Te22− (3) moieties, respectively. Magnetic study on these complexes revealed that 3 is a rare lanthanide telluride single-molecule magnet (SMM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil and groundwater contamination has always been a global concern. Contaminants are migrated and transformed in the soil and groundwater environments, which in turn pose potential environmental risks to humans. This paper describes four typical contaminants, including heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, microplastics, and perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Based on a systematic summary of the sources, hazards, and migration behaviors of these four contaminants, various existing remediation methods are analyzed, and the advantages and disadvantages of different methods are discussed. Finally, the future research prospects of soil and groundwater remediation are described, and the significance of the study of contaminant migration and remediation in the subsurface environment is emphasized. This research can help to provide theoretical and technical support for the study of contaminant migration and removal in soil and groundwater environments, and further improve the removal rate in actual contaminant sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study used latent profile analysis to explore the level of depression among US adults with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) symptoms and to identify different latent categories of depression to gain insight into the characteristic differences between these categories. Methods: The data of this study were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database, and the subjects with OSAHS symptoms were aged 18 years and older. The latent profile analysis (LPA) method was used to fit the latent depression categories in subjects with OSAHS symptoms. The chi-square test, rank sum test, and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the influencing factors of depression subgroups in subjects with OSAHS symptoms. Results: Three latent profiles were identified: low-level (83.7%), moderate-level (14.5%) and high-level (1.8%) depression. The scores of 9 items in the high-level depression group were higher than those in the other two groups. Among them, item 4 "feeling tired or lack of energy" had the highest score in all categories. Conclusion: Depression in subjects with OSAHS symptoms can be divided into low-level, moderate-level and high-level depression. There are significant differences among different levels of depression in gender, marital status, PIR, BMI, smoking, general health condition, sleep duration and OSAHS symptom severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integrated rice-Azolla imbircata cropping is a traditional rice cultivation way in China, which can improve the rice yield and nitrogen use efficiency. However, few studies have focused on the effect of integrated rice- Azolla imbircata cropping on the phosphorus fertilizer use efficiency in rice. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of the treatment of integrated rice-Azolla imbircata cropping on the soil physical and chemical properties in paddy field, rice yield and the utilization efficiency of phosphorus fertilizer. The results showed that the treatment of integrated rice-Azolla imbircata cropping did not significantly change the contents of soil organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and available phosphorus, but significantly increased the content of nitrate nitrogen in soil (P< 0.05). The integrated rice-Azolla imbircata cropping promoted the acquisition of phosphorus in rice, significantly increased the phosphorus uptake in grain (P<0.05) and the total phosphorus uptake in the aboveground part (P<0.05). In addition, the integrated rice-Azolla imbircata cropping also improved the recovery and utilization rate of phosphate fertilizer in rice (P<0.05), indicating that the treatment of integrated rice-Azolla imbircata cropping could effectively improve the utilization efficiency of phosphate fertilizer in rice, which provided a reference way for the efficient utilization of phosphate fertilizer in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Accumulating evidence has indicated that neurodevelopmental defects may underlie the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD). Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are a family of neurotrophic factors that are essential for the survival and development of neurons. The present study aims to investigate whether IGF-2 signaling is implicated in the pathophysiological processes of BD. Method: 50 healthy controls and 78 patients with BD, including 23 patients who diagnosed acute depressive episode and 55 patients who diagnosed acute manic episode, were recruited in this study. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) and the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) were used to assess the severity of the depressive and manic symptoms, respectively. The serum IGF2 level was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for between-group comparisons and spearman analysis was used to analyze correlations. Results: Patients with BD had lower serum IGF-2 levels (66.08 ± 21.22 ng/ml) when compared to healthy controls (88.72 ± 31.55 ng/ml). BD patients were divided into manic episode and depressive episode subgroups. We found that serum IGF-2 levels were reduced in both the mania and depression subgroups (mania: 67.19 ± 21.52 ng/ml, depression: 63.43 ± 20.67 ng/ml; P < 0.001), while no significant difference was observed between two groups (P > 0.05). Spearman correlation analyses revealed that the levels of serum IGF-2 were negatively correlated with the YMRS scores in BD patients (r = -0.522, P < 0.001). Furthermore, IGF-2 was found to be an independent contributor to the severity of symptoms in patients with manic episodes (B = -0.610, t = -5.299, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Lower serum IGF-2 levels were found in BD patients and correlated with the severity of the manic symptoms in these patients during manic episodes. These results suggest that reduced IGF-2 levels might be involved in the pathophysiology of BD, and serum IGF-2 could be a peripheral biomarker for the evaluation of the severity of manic symptoms in BD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ischemic stroke (IS) is a cerebrovascular disease that can be disabling and fatal, and there are limitations in the clinical treatment and prognosis of IS. It has been reported that changes in the expression profile of circRNAs have been found during injury in ischemic stroke, and circRNAs play an important role in the IS cascade response. However, the specific mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of IS are not yet fully understood, and thus indepth studies are needed. Methods: In this study, one circRNA dataset (GSE161913), one miRNA dataset (GSE60319) and one mRNA dataset (GSE180470) were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and included, and the datasets were differentially expressed analyzed by GEO2R and easyGEO to get the DEcircRNA, DEmiRNA and DEmRNA, and DEmRNA was enriched using ImageGP, binding sites were predicted in the ENCORI database, respectively, and the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network was visualized by the cytoscape software, and then selected by MCC scoring in the cytoHubba plugin Hub genes. In addition, this study conducted a case-control study in which blood samples were collected from stroke patients and healthy medical examiners to validate the core network of ceRNAs constructed by biosignature analysis by real-time fluorescence quantitative qRT-PCR experiments. Results: A total of 233 DEcircRNAs, 132 DEmiRNAs and 72 DEmRNAs were screened by bioinformatics analysis. circRNA-mediated ceRNA regulatory network was constructed, including 148 circRNAs, 43 miRNAs and 44 mRNAs. Finally, CLEC16A|miR-654-5p|RARA competitive endogenous regulatory axis was selected for validation by qRT-PCR, and the validation results were consistent with the bioinformatics analysis. Discussion: In conclusion, the present study establishes a new axis of regulation associated with IS, providing new insights into the pathogenesis of IS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization and dispersibility of single-atom catalysts make them widely employed in electrocatalysis. A series of SACs are designed to investigate their NO reduction capabilities and properties, and high throughput DFT calculations and machine learning are used for activity prediction and screening. Based on the calculated activity, selectivity, and stability, MoS2&lowbar;N3&lowbar;Zn, MoS2&lowbar;N3&lowbar;Cd, and Mo&lowbar;N3&lowbar;Zr are considered as excellent performing SACs. Electronic structure analysis showed that a self-regulation mechanism of the coordination environment coordinated by the support and N atom resulted in excellent NORR activity of the three SACs, and the NORR tends to have no thermodynamic barrier. Linear descriptors for NO adsorption energy, bond length, and charge transfer are constructed through constructing quantitative formulae. Additionally, novel volcanic descriptors for adsorption energy (*NHO) and DGmax are also developed. The descriptors show that a good description of catalyst performance can be achieved by quantifying the intrinsic properties of the catalyst and atoms. These descriptors serve as inputs under various machine learning methods, among which GBR has proven effective in predicting and classifying SAC performance. The machine learning strategies presented in this study can significantly reduce computation time while providing valuable insights for high-throughput screening of SACs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The school-enterprise model is a collaborative approach that links educational institutions, local education in nearby companies, and the community to provide students with strong practical learning opportunities. This paper's primary goal was to investigate the use of deep reinforcement learning (DRL) in the analysis and research of schoolenterprise cooperation's present state as well as its mechanism. Distance-Driven Proximal Policy Optimization (DD-PPO) based school-enterprise collaboration model has been presented in an attempt to address the issue of the method through which schools and businesses collaborate. The study analyzed with the higher vocational colleges in Hangzhou City school-enterprise partnership method, the case creation and assessment were finished. Local education refers to educational institutions, such as higher vocational colleges that are situated within a specific area or city. It indicates that 55% of the businesses decided to "select fresh employees". The school-enterprise collaboration was judged as having a "collaboration effect is universal" by 50% of the schools. The school has developed its professional orientation in terms of cooperative content based on the demands of the business, which could offer ways for graduates to find jobs. This approach of "cooperation-employment" in management is very simplistic. It lacks certainty and support from national policy, as well as methodical planning. Because schools and businesses have varied ways of evaluating, it applies to departments, classes, instructors, and students. Because of this, it is hard to set up an adaptable and efficient system between businesses and schools. Additionally, it causes significant disparities in the practical operating skills of students in various courses and professions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In traditional Mongolian or Tibetan medicine in China, Chebulae Fructus (CF) is widely used to process or combine with aconitums to decrease the severe toxicity of aconitums. Researches in this area have predominantly focused on tannins, with few research on other major CF components for cardiotoxicity mitigation. The present study aimed to clarify whether triterpenoids can attenuate the cardiotoxicity caused by mesaconitine (MA) and investigate the mechanism of cardiotoxicity attenuation. Methods: Firstly, the pharmacophore model, molecular docking, and 3D-QSAR model were used to explore the mechanism of CF components in reducing the toxicity of MA mediated by the TRPV1 channel. Then three triterpenoids were selected to verify whether the triterpenoids had the effect of lowering the cardiotoxicity of MA using H9c2 cells combined with MTT, Hoechst 33258, and JC-1. Finally, Western blot, Fluo-3AM, and MTT assays combined with capsazepine were used to verify whether the triterpenoids reduced H9c2 cardiomyocyte toxicity induced by MA was related to the TRPV1 channel. Results: Seven triterpenoids in CF have the potential to activate the TRPV1 channel. And they exhibited greater affinity for TRPV1 compared to other compounds and MA. However, their activity was relatively lower than that of MA. Cell experiments revealed that MA significantly reduced H9c2 cell viability, resulting in diminished mitochondrial membrane potential and nuclear pyknosis and damage. In contrast, the triterpenoids could improve the survival rate significantly and counteract the damage of MA to the cells. We found that MA, arjungenin (AR), and maslinic acid (MSA) except corosolic acid (CRA) upregulated the expression of TRPV1 protein. MA induced a significant influx of calcium, whereas all three triterpenoids alleviated this trend. Blocking the TRPV1 channel with capsazepine only increased the cell viability that had been simultaneously treated with MA, and AR, or MSA. However, there was no significant difference in the CRA groups treated with or without capsazepine. Conclusion: The triterpenoids in CF can reduce the cardiotoxicity caused by MA. The MSA and AR function as TRPV1 agonists with comparatively reduced activity but a greater capacity to bind to TRPV1 receptors, thus antagonizing the excessive activation of TRPV1 by MA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the mechanism underlying high acid resistance of enamel after erbium laser etching. Forty-five premolars were collected and assigned to three groups. A 4×4×1 mm enamel sample was prepared, the left side was the control side, the right side was the treated side, which was treated with different surface treatments, including 35% phosphoric acid etching, Er:YAG laser etching, and Er,Cr:YSGG laser etching. The hydroxyapatite crystal size on the enamel surface of the samples was observed. The contents of Ca, P, O, F, Cl, C, Mg were detected. The crystallinity of the hydroxyapatite crystal was analyzed. After erbium laser etching, the enamel surface had high hydroxyapatite crystal size, beneficial content of chemical elements and crystallinity. The morphological and composition changes of crystals in the enamel surface after erbium laser etching may be one of the crucial mechanisms underlying the enhancement of acid resistance of enamel after erbium laser etching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim was to analyze the serological and molecular genetic characteristics of a rare B(A) subtype pedigree, explore its pathogenesis, and discuss transfusion strategies. Methods: ABO blood typing serological tests were conducted on a female subject and her family member using standard serological methods. Sequencing analysis of the ABO gene exons 6 and 7 was performed using PCR technique for the female subject and her family member to examine the blood types of the participants. Results: The serological test results showed a discrepancy between the forward and reverse typings of the female subject. The forward typing was similar to that of AB subtype serological forward typing, while the reverse typing indicated AB blood type. Based on the sequencing results, it is inferred that the female subject and her son have 8 mutations on one BA.02 chain: 297A>G, 526C>G, 657C>T, 700C>G, 703G>A, 796C>A, 803G>C, and 930G>A. Comparing these eight mutation sites with the Blood Group Antigen Gene Mutation Database (BGMUT), it was found that the female subject had a heterozygous mutation at c.700C>G in the 7th exon of the B.01 gene, consistent with the characteristics of the BA.02 allele. The genotype of the female subject was determined as A1.02/BA.02, while the genotype of her son was determined as O.01.01/BA.02. Conclusions: The serological presentation of the B(A) subtype for the female subject reported in this study was unique. It differed from previously reported cases, indicating that the determination of B(A) subtypes cannot solely rely on serological testing. It requires a comprehensive analysis combining the results of genetic testing and pedigree investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kidney fibrosis is a prominent pathological feature of hypertensive kidney diseases (HKD). Recent studies have highlighted the role of ubiquitinating/deubiquitinating protein modification in kidney pathophysiology. Ovarian tumor domain-containing protein 6 A (OTUD6A) is a deubiquitinating enzyme involved in tumor progression. However, its role in kidney pathophysiology remains elusive. We aimed to investigate the role and underlying mechanism of OTUD6A during kidney fibrosis in HKD. The results revealed higher OTUD6A expression in kidney tissues of nephropathy patients and mice with chronic angiotensin II (Ang II) administration than that from the control ones. OTUD6A was mainly located in tubular epithelial cells. Moreover, OTUD6A deficiency significantly protected mice against Ang II-induced kidney dysfunction and fibrosis. Also, knocking OTUD6A down suppressed Ang II-induced fibrosis in cultured tubular epithelial cells, whereas overexpression of OTUD6A enhanced fibrogenic responses. Mechanistically, OTUD6A bounded to signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and removed K63-linked-ubiquitin chains to promote STAT3 phosphorylation at tyrosine 705 position and nuclear translocation, which then induced profibrotic gene transcription in epithelial cells. These studies identified STAT3 as a direct substrate of OTUD6A and highlighted the pivotal role of OTUD6A in Ang II-induced kidney injury, indicating OTUD6A as a potential therapeutic target for HKD. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Ovarian tumor domain-containing protein 6 A (OTUD6A) knockout mice are protected against angiotensin II-induced kidney dysfunction and fibrosis. OTUD6A promotes pathological kidney remodeling and dysfunction by deubiquitinating signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). OTUD6A binds to and removes K63-linked-ubiquitin chains of STAT3 to promote its phosphorylation and activation, and subsequently enhances kidney fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies reporting the status of coronary microvascular function in the infarct-related artery (IRA) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remain limited. This study utilized the coronary angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance (caIMR) to assess coronary microvascular function in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary PCI. Methods: We used the FlashAngio system to measure the caIMR after primary PCI in 157 patients with STEMI. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), defined as a composite endpoint encompassing cardiac mortality, target vessel revascularization, and rehospitalization due to congestive heart failure (CHF), myocardial infarction (MI), or angina. Results: Approximately 30% of patients diagnosed with STEMI and who experienced successful primary PCI during the study period had a caIMR in the IRA of >40. The caIMR in the IRA was significantly higher than in the reference vessel (32.9 ± 15.8 vs. 27.4 ± 11.1, p < 0.001). The caIMR in the reference vessel of the caIMR >40 group was greater than in the caIMR ≤40 group (30.9 ± 11.3 vs. 25.9 ± 10.7, p = 0.009). Moreover, the caIMR >40 group had higher incidence rates of MACEs at 3 months (25.5% vs. 8.3%, p = 0.009) and 1 year (29.8% vs. 13.9%, p = 0.04), than in the caIMR ≤40 group, which were mainly driven by a higher rate of rehospitalization due to CHF, MI, or angina. A caIMR in the IRA of >40 was an independent predictor of a MACE at 3 months (hazard ratio (HR): 3.459, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.363-8.779, p = 0.009) and 1 year (HR: 2.384, 95% CI: 1.100-5.166, p = 0.03) in patients with STEMI after primary PCI. Conclusions: Patients with STEMI after primary PCI often have coronary microvascular dys-function, which is indicated by an increased caIMR in the IRA. An elevated caIMR of >40 in the IRA was associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of grading and dynamically optimizing the design and construction parameters of the surrounding rock mass of a rock tunnel face, efficiently and accurately acquiring the geometrical parameters of the rock discontinuities is an important basic task. To address the problems of time consuming, low accuracy, and high danger associated with traditional methods of obtaining the structural information of rock mass, this paper proposes a method for three-dimensional reconstruction and intelligent information extraction of tunnel face based on binocular stereo vision (BSV). First, the parallel binocular device with a single camera was improved, calibrated using the checkerboard calibration method. By integrating with the semi-global matching algorithm, the BSV based method for the three-dimensional reconstruction of the rock mass of the tunnel face was optimized. Furthermore, based on the results from on-site engineering applications, this study leveraged two parameters, point cloud density and algorithm runtime, to determine the optimal values for the disparity range and window size parameters within the semi-global stereo matching algorithm. This enhancement improved the performance of the 3D reconstruction method based on binocular stereo vision. Finally, efficient and refined intelligent methods for extracting structural parameters of the rock mass were proposed based on k-nearest neighbor search and kernel density estimation. The research results can provide reliable technical support for the intelligent and efficient acquisition of rock mass structural information in rock tunnel engineering faces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In neuronal cell types, vesicular exocytosis is governed by the SNARE (soluble NSF attachment receptor) complex consisting of synaptobrevin2, SNAP25, and syntaxin1. These proteins are required for vesicle priming and fusion. We generated an improved SNAP25-based SNARE COmplex Reporter (SCORE2) incorporating mCeruelan3 and Venus and overexpressed it in SNAP25 knockout embryonic mouse chromaffin cells. This construct rescues vesicle fusion with properties indistinguishable from fusion in wild-type cells. Combining electrochemical imaging of individual release events using electrochemical detector arrays with total internal reflection fluorescence resonance energy transfer (TIR-FRET) imaging reveals a rapid FRET increase preceding individual fusion events by 65 ms. The experiments are performed under conditions of a steady-state cycle of docking, priming, and fusion, and the delay suggests that the FRET change reflects tight docking and priming of the vesicle, followed by fusion after ~65 ms. Given the absence of wt SNAP25, SCORE2 allows determination of the number of molecules at fusion sites and the number that changes conformation. The number of SNAP25 molecules changing conformation in the priming step increases with vesicle size and SNAP25 density in the plasma membrane and equals the number of copies present in the vesicle–plasma membrane contact zone. We estimate that in wt cells, 6 to 7 copies of SNAP25 change conformation during the priming step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf trait networks (LTNs) visualize the intricate linkages reflecting plant trait-functional coordination. Typical karst vegetation, developed from lithological dolomite and limestone, generally exhibits differential communities, possibly due to habitat rock exposure, soil depth, and soil physicochemical properties variations, leading to a shift from plant trait variation to functional linkages. However, how soil and habitat quality affect the differentiation of leaf trait networks remains unclear. LTNs were constructed for typical dolomite and limestone habitats by analyzing twenty-one woody plant leaf traits across fifty-six forest subplots in karst mountains. The differences between dolomite and limestone LTNs were compared using network parameters. The network association of soil and habitat quality was analyzed using redundancy analysis (RDA), Mantle's test, and a random forest model. The limestone LTN exhibited significantly higher edge density with lower diameter and average path length when compared to the dolomite LTN. It indicates LTN differentiation, with the limestone network displaying a more compact architecture and higher connectivity than the dolomite network. The specific leaf phosphorus and leaf nitrogen contents of dolomite LTN, as well as the leaf mass and leaf carbon contents of limestone LTN, significantly contributed to network degree and closeness, serving as crucial node traits regulating LTN connectedness. Additionally, both habitat LTNs significantly correlated with soil nitrogen and phosphorus, stoichiometric ratios, pH, and organic carbon, as well as soil depth and rock exposure rates, with soil depth and rock exposure showing greater relative importance. Soil depth and rock exposure dominate trait network differentiation, with the limestone habitat exhibiting a more compact network architecture than the dolomite habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nursing care of diabetic wounds remains a significant challenge due to a variety of reasons including low blood flow, impaired activity of inflammatory responses, and high oxidative stress in the diabetic wounds bed. Materials and Methods: In the current research, silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) were loaded into a chitosan hydrogel system to produce a potential wound dressing for treating diabetic wounds. Various in vitro studies such as scanning electron microscopy assay, cell viability assay, and swelling assay were performed in order to characterize the dressing system. Wound healing potential of the developed wound dressing was investigated in a rat model of excisional wound. Results: In vitro study confirmed the biocompatibility of these hydrogels. In vivo study showed that wounds treated with AgNPs/chitosan hydrogel had higher wound closure and histological restoration compared with other groups. Degree of inflammation and formation of epithelium in AgNPs-loaded hydrogels were improved compared with other groups. Conclusion: Our developed systems have potential applicability to be used as wound dressing in nursing care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo fibers (BFs) at different ages (1, 3, and 5 years old) were prepared by pretreatment and steam explosion. The results demonstrated that the separation degrees of BFs increased with the age of the bamboo. The combined effects of pretreatment and steam explosion partially removed the hemicellulose and lignin from BFs, while the crystalline structure of cellulose remained unaltered. The water vapor adsorption isotherms of BFs at different ages all showed a typical S-shape and could be classified as type II, and the hysteresis of BFs increased with the age of the bamboo. After pretreatment and steam explosion, the tissues in the vascular bundle were effectively crushed, and the parenchyma tissues were dislodged and separated from the fiber sheath. During the steam explosion process, hot steam penetrated the bamboo's pores, including the pores induced by pretreatment. This caused fractures and delamination in the interface between the vascular bundle and the parenchyma tissues. These cracks progressed layer by layer along the vascular bundle interface, leading to the fracture of the bamboo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil phosphorus (P) is pivotal for crop health and growth. We collated a dataset spanning 65 studies from 19 countries to quantify the effects of both natural and anthropogenic factors on P dynamics (dataset provided). Our meta-analysis encompassed five variables: the type of fertilizer (chemical or organic fertilizer), tillage practices (tillage or no-till), land use (cultivated or forest), soil texture (either loam soil or sandy loam soil) and soil depth (surface or subsurface). The interplay between soil management strategies, especially those encompassing fertilizer application and tillage, and soil phosphorus dynamics is well established. Our quantitative data suggests the use of organic fertilizers relates to a significant 82% increase in soil Olsen-P content. Additionally, while the no-till method has resulted in only a slight 1.6% increase in Total-P, it has brought about a remarkable 60% increase in organic phosphorus, especially NaHCO3-Po, in contrast to conventionally tilled soils. Further, we found that the concentrations of Total-P and Olsen-P in surface loam soils is elevated, being 24.8% and 1023.6% higher, respectively, compared with subsurface loam soils. In sandy loam soils, these values are 35.3% and 872.2% higher, respectively. These meta-analysis data highlight how soil management practices can cause variation in P species in soil. They not only underscore potential strategies for refined phosphorus use in diverse farming contexts but also pave the way for further research focusing on agricultural P management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinization is the main factor that threatens the growth and development of plants and limits the increase of yield. It is of great significance to study the key soil environmental factors affecting plant root traits to reveal the adaptation strategies of plants to saline-alkaline-stressed soil environments. In this study, the root biomass, root morphological parameters and root mineral nutrient content of two alfalfa cultivars with different sensitivities to alkaline stress were analyzed with black soil as the control group and the mixed saline-alkaline soil with a ratio of 7:3 between black soil and saline-alkaline soil as the saline-alkaline treatment group. At the same time, the correlation analysis of soil salinity indexes, soil nutrient indexes and the activities of key enzymes involved in soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles was carried out. The results showed that compared with the control group, the pH, EC, and urease (URE) of the soil surrounding the roots of two alfalfa cultivars were significantly increased, while soil total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), organic carbon (SOC), and α-glucosidase activity (AGC) were significantly decreased under saline-alkaline stress. There was no significant difference in root biomass and root morphological parameters of saline-alkaline tolerant cultivar GN under saline-alkaline stress. The number of root tips (RT), root surface area (RS) and root volume (RV) of AG were reduced by 61.16%, 44.54%, and 45.31%, respectively, compared with control group. The ratios of K+/Na+, Ca2+/Na+ and Mg2+/Na+ of GN were significantly higher than those of AG (p < 0.05). The root fresh weight (RFW) and dry weight (RDW), root length (RL), RV and RT of alfalfa were positively regulated by soil SOC and TN, but negatively regulated by soil pH, EC, and URE (p < 0.01). Root Ca2+/Na+ ratio was significantly positively correlated with soil TN, TP and SOC (p < 0.01). The absorption of Mg and Ca ions in roots is significantly negatively regulated by soil β-glucosidase activity (BGC) and acid phosphatase activity (APC) (p < 0.05). This study improved knowledge of the relationship between root traits and soil environmental factors and offered a theoretical framework for elucidating how plant roots adapt to saline-alkaline stressed soil environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]