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Lipids and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are essential contributors to meat flavor. However, no studies to date have comprehensively explored the lipids and VOCs in raw pork from Ningxiang (NX) pigs and their hybrid breed Berkshire × Ningxiang (BN) pigs. This study aimed to identify the lipids and VOCs and reveal the crucial lipids for characteristic flavor formation. Samples were collected from the longissimus dorsi muscle of six NX and BN 8-month-old pigs each. The intramuscular fat (IMF) content of NX pork was 5.43%, almost twice that of BN pork (p 1, p

Urban vitality stands as a pivotal metric for evaluating the sustainability and appeal of urban environments. Global experiences underscore the significance of parks and shopping centers as crucial components of urban vitality spaces. However, existing literature predominantly concentrates on the individual impacts of parks or shopping centers on urban vitality, with limited exploration into the vitality relationship between them, often relying on linear correlation analyses. To address this gap, this study, centered on the renowned Park City of Chengdu in China, employs Baidu heatmap and POI data, utilizing a combination of spatial syntax and linear and non-linear analysis methods to examine the influence of road accessibility on the vitality of shopping malls and parks, as well as their correlation. Findings indicate: (1) High-vitality shopping malls primarily cluster within the first ring road, while park utilization is notably higher in the southern urban area. (2) High-vitality parks and shopping centers are situated in regions characterized by elevated global integration and efficiency values, suggesting their vitality is influenced by road accessibility. (3) Linear correlation analysis, with global integration and efficiency values controlled, yields correlation coefficients of 0.797 and 0.795 for high-vitality parks and shopping centers, respectively. Non-linear correlation analysis indicates a correlation coefficient close to 0.7 between park vitality and shopping mall vitality, highlighting a strong correlation between them. This study elucidates the critical relationship between park vitality and commercial vitality in urban layout, offering valuable insights for urban planning strategies aimed at promoting sustainable urban development.

Abstract Slow transit constipation (STC) is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in children and adults worldwide. Paeoniflorin (PF), a monoterpene glycoside compound extracted from the dried root of Paeonia lactiflora, has been found to alleviate STC, but the mechanisms of its effect remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of PF on intestinal fluid metabolism and visceral sensitization in rats with compound diphenoxylate‐induced STC. Based on the evaluation of the laxative effect, the abdominal withdrawal reflex test, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the visceral sensitivity, fluid metabolism‐related proteins, and acid‐sensitive ion channel 3/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ASIC3/ERK) pathway‐related molecules. PF treatment not only attenuated compound diphenoxylate‐induced constipation symptoms and colonic pathological damage in rats but also ameliorated colonic fluid metabolic disorders and visceral sensitization abnormalities, as manifested by increased colonic goblet cell counts and mucin2 protein expression, decreased aquaporin3 protein expression, improved abdominal withdrawal reflex scores, reduced visceral pain threshold, upregulated serum 5‐hydroxytryptamine, and downregulated vasoactive intestinal peptide levels. Furthermore, PF activated the colonic ASIC3/ERK pathway in STC rats, and ASIC3 inhibition partially counteracted PF's modulatory effects on intestinal fluid and visceral sensation. In conclusion, PF alleviated impaired intestinal fluid metabolism and abnormal visceral sensitization in STC rats and thus relieved their symptoms through activation of the ASIC3/ERK pathway.

Abstract The demand for optically transparent temperature sensors in intelligent devices is increasing. However, the performance of these sensors, particularly in terms of their sensitivity and resolution, must be further enhanced. This study introduces a novel transparent and highly sensitive temperature sensor characterized by its ultrathin, freestanding design based on a Mn-Co-Ni-O nanofilm. The Mn-Co-Ni-O-based sensor exhibits remarkable sensitivity, with a temperature coefficient of resistance of −4% °C−1, and can detect minuscule temperature fluctuations as small as 0.03 °C. Additionally, the freestanding sensor can be transferred onto any substrate for versatile application while maintaining robust structural stability and excellent resistance to interference, indicating its suitability for operation in challenging environments. Its practical utility in monitoring the surface temperature of optical devices is demonstrated through vertical integration of the sensor and a micro light-emitting diode on a polyimide substrate. Moreover, an experiment in which the sensor is implanted in rats confirms its favorable biocompatibility, highlighting the promising applications of the sensor in the biomedical domain.

Abstract Ferroelectric materials have important applications in transduction, data storage, and nonlinear optics. Inorganic ferroelectrics such as lead zirconate titanate possess large polarization, though they are rigid and brittle. Ferroelectric polymers are light weight and flexible, yet their polarization is low, bottlenecked at 10 μC cm−2. Here we show poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanocomposite with only 0.94% of self-nucleated CH3NH3PbBr3 nanocrystals exhibits anomalously large polarization (~19.6 μC cm−2) while retaining superior stretchability and photoluminance, resulting in unprecedented electromechanical figures of merit among ferroelectrics. Comprehensive analysis suggests the enhancement is accomplished via delicate defect engineering, with field-induced Frenkel pairs in halide perovskite stabilized by the poled ferroelectric polymer through interfacial coupling. The strategy is general, working in poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) as well, and the nanocomposite is stable. The study thus presents a solution for overcoming the electromechanical dilemma of ferroelectrics while enabling additional optic-activity, ideal for multifunctional flexible electronics applications.

Abstract Micro-thermoelectric coolers are emerging as a promising solution for high-density cooling applications in confined spaces. Unlike thin-film micro-thermoelectric coolers with high cooling flux at the expense of cooling temperature difference due to very short thermoelectric legs, thick-film micro-thermoelectric coolers can achieve better comprehensive cooling performance. However, they still face significant challenges in both material preparation and device integration. Herein, we propose a design strategy which combines Bi2Te3-based thick film prepared by powder direct molding with micro-thermoelectric cooler integrated via phase-change batch transfer. Accurate thickness control and relatively high thermoelectric performance can be achieved for the thick film, and the high-density-integrated thick-film micro-thermoelectric cooler exhibits excellent performance with maximum cooling temperature difference of 40.6 K and maximum cooling flux of 56.5 W·cm−2 at room temperature. The micro-thermoelectric cooler also shows high temperature control accuracy (0.01 K) and reliability (over 30000 cooling cycles). Moreover, the device demonstrates remarkable capacity in power generation with normalized power density up to 214.0 μW · cm−2 · K−2. This study provides a general and scalable route for developing high-performance thick-film micro-thermoelectric cooler, benefiting widespread applications in thermal management of microsystems.

Abstract Piezoelectric sensors whose sensing performances can be flexibly regulated hold significant promise for efficient signal-acquisition applications in the healthcare field. The existing methods for regulating the properties of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) films mainly include material modification and structural design. Compared to material modification, which has a long test period and an unstable preparation process, structural design is a more efficient method. The irigami structure combined with compressive buckling can endow the flexible film with rich macrostructural features. Here, a method is fabricated to modulate the sensing performance by employing distinct 3D structures and encapsulation materials with varying Young’s moduli. The relationship among the aspect ratio (α), pattern factor (η), elastic modulus of encapsulation materials, and equivalent stiffness is obtained by finite element simulation, which provides theoretical guidance for the design of the 2D precursor and the selection of encapsulation materials. In the demonstration applications, the sensor accurately captures pulse waveforms in multiple parts of the human body and is employed for the pressure monitoring of different parts of the sole under various posture states. This method of structure design is efficient, and the preparation process is convenient, providing a strategy for the performance control of piezoelectric pressure sensors.

Streptomycetes are well-known antibiotic producers possessing in their genomes numerous silent biosynthetic pathways that might direct the biosynthesis of novel bio-active specialized metabolites. It is thus of great interest to find ways to enhance the expression of these pathways to discover most needed novel antibiotics. In this study, we demonstrated that the over-expression of acetyltransferase SCO0988 up-regulated the production of specialized metabolites and accelerated sporulation of the weak antibiotic producer, Streptomyces lividans and that the deletion of this gene had opposite effects in the strong antibiotic producer, Streptomyces coelicolor. The comparative analysis of the acetylome of a S. lividans strain over-expressing sco0988 with that of the original strain revealed that SCO0988 acetylates a broad range of proteins of various pathways including BldKB/SCO5113, the extracellular solute-binding protein of an ABC-transporter involved in the up-take of a signal oligopeptide of the quorum sensing pathway. The up-take of this oligopeptide triggers the “bald cascade” that regulates positively specialized metabolism, aerial mycelium formation and sporulation in S. coelicolor. Interestingly, BldKB/SCO5113 was over-acetylated on four Lysine residues, including Lys425, upon SCO0988 over-expression. The bald phenotype of a bldKB mutant could be complemented by native bldKB but not by variant of bldKB in which the Lys425 was replaced by arginine, an amino acid that could not be acetylated or by glutamine, an amino acid that is expected to mimic acetylated lysine. Our study demonstrated that Lys425 was a critical residue for BldKB function but was inconclusive concerning the impact of acetylation of Lys425 on BldKB function.

Abstract It remains a challenge to obtain biocompatible afterglow materials with long emission wavelengths, durable lifetimes, and good water solubility. Herein we develop a photooxidation strategy to construct near-infrared afterglow carbon nanodots with an extra-long lifetime of up to 5.9 h, comparable to that of the well-known rare-earth or organic long-persistent luminescent materials. Intriguingly, size-dependent afterglow lifetime evolution from 3.4 to 5.9 h has been observed from the carbon nanodots systems in aqueous solution. With structural/ultrafast dynamics analysis and density functional theory simulations, we reveal that the persistent luminescence in carbon nanodots is activated by a photooxidation-induced dioxetane intermediate, which can slowly release and convert energy into luminous emission via the steric hindrance effect of nanoparticles. With the persistent near-infrared luminescence, tissue penetration depth of 20 mm can be achieved. Thanks to the high signal-to-background ratio, biological safety and cancer-specific targeting ability of carbon nanodots, ultralong-afterglow guided surgery has been successfully performed on mice model to remove tumor tissues accurately, demonstrating potential clinical applications. These results may facilitate the development of long-lasting luminescent materials for precision tumor resection.

The application of high-density and high-performance micro thermoelectric devices is still in its infancy, mainly restricted by the low performance of Bi2Te3-based thick film as well as the limited device integration. In this study, we proposed a dynamic regulation strategy to simultaneously strengthen the thermoelectric and mechanical properties for n-type Bi2Te3-based thick films. The effects of growth temperature and time on thermoelectric properties have been firstly explored. As the thermoelectric properties exhibit consistent degradation with increasing thickness at static growth temperature, an effective rising temperature method is introduced to dynamically regulate the nucleation rate and growing diffusion ability. Thus, the grain refinement with compact texture structure leads to a relatively large carrier mobility (77.1 cm2·V−1·s−1) and appropriate concentration (5.25 × 1019 cm−3) as well as further 12% improvement of power factor with an average value up to 12.0 μW·cm−1·K−2 over a wide temperature ranging from 313 K to 453 K. Furthermore, significant enhancement of mechanical property is also achieved with high elastic modules (56.03 GPa), hardness (0.63 GPa) and large energy dissipation capacity to prevent micro-cracks. This study provides a practical solution with dynamic temperature control to fabricate high-performance Bi2Te3 thick films with enhanced mechanical property and processing feasibility for micro thermoelectric devices.

This study evaluated the effects of flavonoids from mulberry leaves (FML) on plasma biochemical indices, serum activities of lipid metabolism-related enzymes, fat morphology, fatty acid composition, and lipid metabolism in different adipose tissues of finishing pigs. We used 120 Chinese hybrid barrows of Berkshire and Bama mini-pigs with an average initial body weight of 45.11 ± 4.23 kg. The pigs were randomly assigned to five treatment groups and fed a control diet based on corn, soybean meal, and wheat bran or a control diet supplemented with 0.02%, 0.04%, 0.08%, or 0.16% FML. Each experimental group had six replicates (pens), with four pigs per pen. After a 7-d adaptation period, the feeding trial was conducted for 58 d. Blood and adipose tissue samples were collected from 30 pigs (one pig per pen) at the end of the test. The results showed that FML supplementation significantly decreased the feed intake to body gain ratio, the plasma concentrations of total cholesterol and free fatty acids, and the serum activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (linear or quadratic effects, P

In this paper, the adaptability of distributed motor control system in window motor is investigated, aiming at improving the accuracy and efficiency of the system. The accuracy and efficiency of traditional methods are insufficient. Then, intelligent automation systems combining high-precision instruments and advanced algorithms are used to better simulate real-world situations and enhance noise analysis. The research method combines random position control technology and noise analysis mechanism. The experiment is carried out by simulating various working conditions of window motor to measure the rotation angle error, signal acquisition difference, and sound quality change. The results showed that the rotation angle error was less than 2 degrees, the signal acquisition error was less than 0.8%, and the amplitude error was kept below 2%, indicating that the system had good performance and significantly improved the reliability and accuracy of the test. The results showed that the integration of modern electronic information technology and intelligent algorithm significantly improved the adaptability, accuracy, and noise evaluation ability of distributed motor measurement and control system. The paper lays a foundation for the future development of motor test system and suggests further exploration of machine learning model and real-time data processing technology.

Abstract Single‐atom alloys (SAAs) have gained increasing prominence in the field of selective hydrogenation reactions due to their uniform distribution of active sites and the unique host‐guest metal interactions. Herein, 15 SAAs are constructed to comprehensively elucidate the relationship between host‐guest metal interaction and catalytic performance in the selective hydrogenation of 4‐nitrostyrene (4‐NS) by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results demonstrate that the SAAs with strong host‐guest metal interactions exhibit a preference for N─O bond cleavage, and the reaction energy barrier of the hydrogenation process is primarily influenced by the host metal. Among them, Ir1Ni SAA stands out as the prime catalyst candidate, showcasing exceptional activity and selectivity. Furthermore, the Ir1Ni SAA is subsequently prepared through precise synthesis techniques and evaluated in the selective hydrogenation of 4‐NS to 4‐aminostyrene (4‐AS). As anticipated, the Ir1Ni SAA demonstrates extraordinary catalytic performance (yield > 96%). In situ FT‐IR experiments and DFT calculations further confirmed that the unique host‐guest metal interaction at the Ir‐Ni interface site of Ir1Ni SAA endows it with excellent 4‐NS selective hydrogenation ability. This work provides valuable insights into enhancing the performance of SAAs catalysts in selective hydrogenation reactions by modulating the host‐guest metal interactions.

Thermal pollution from the cooling system of the nuclear power plants greatly changes the environmental and the ecological conditions of the receiving marine water body, but we know little about their impact on the steady-state transition of marine bacterioplankton communities. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing based on the 16S rRNA gene to investigate the impact of the thermal pollution on the bacterioplankton communities in a subtropical bay (the Daya Bay). We observed that thermal pollution from the cooling system of the nuclear power plant caused a pronounced thermal gradient ranging from 19.6°C to 24.12°C over the whole Daya Bay. A temperature difference of 4.5°C between the northern and southern parts of the bay led to a regime shift in the bacterioplankton community structure. In the three typical scenarios of regime shifts, the steady-state transition of bacterioplankton community structure in response to temperature increasing was more likely consistent with an abrupt regime shift rather than a smooth regime or a discontinuous regime model. Water temperature was a decisive factor on the regime shift of bacterioplankton community structure. High temperature significantly decreased bacterioplankton diversity and shifted its community compositions. Cyanobium and Synechococcus of Cyanobacteria, NS5 marine group of Bacteroidota, and Vibrio of Gammaproteobacteria were found that favored high temperature environments. Furthermore, the increased water temperature significantly altered the community assembly of bacterioplankton in Daya Bay, with a substantial decrease in the proportion of drift and others, and a marked increase in the proportion of homogeneous selection. In summary, we proposed that seawater temperature increasing induced by the thermal pollution resulted in an abrupt regime shift of bacterioplankton community in winter subtropical bay. Our research might broad our understanding of marine microbial ecology under future conditions of global warming.

Abstract Manganese (Mn) is an essential trace element for almost all living organisms. In plants, Mn deficiency, which is occurs in calcareous soils or alkaline soils, severely limiting crop yields. However, the potential mechanism of Mn transport in Triticum aestivum is still obscure. Here, we found that TaNRAMP3, a member of the naturally resistant macrophage protein (NRAMP) family in Triticum aestivum, is located in the plasma membrane of protoplasts and functions as an influx transporter for Mn in yeast (Δsmf1). The expression of TaNRAMP3 was induced under Mn-deficiency conditions. Furthermore, TaNRAMP3-RNAi plants exhibited a sensitive phenotype, while transgenic plants overexpressing TaNRAMP3 showed a tolerant phenotype. In addition, TaNRAMP3 rescued the sensitive phenotype of Arabidopsis nramp1 mutant under Mn deficiency condition. In summary, our study reveals the key role of TaNRAMP3 in Mn transport in Triticum aestivum, allowing it to adapt to Mn-deficiency stress. These findings provide new insights for the cultivation of Mn-deficiency tolerant wheat varieties.

Abstract Background The advantages of γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) include its high solubility, ability to form inclusion complexes with various poorly water-soluble molecules, and favorable toxicological profile; thus, γ-CD is an attractive functional excipient widely used in many industrial settings. Unfortunately, the high cost of γ-CD caused by the low activity and stability of γ-cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (γ-CGTase) has hampered large-scale production and application. Results This study reports the in vivo one-step production of immobilized γ-CGTase decorated on the surface of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) nanogranules by the N-terminal fusion of γ-CGTase to PHA synthase via a designed linker. The immobilized γ-CGTase-PHA nanogranules showed outstanding cyclization activity of 61.25 ± 3.94 U/mg (γ-CGTase protein) and hydrolysis activity of 36,273.99 ± 1892.49 U/mg, 44.74% and 18.83% higher than that of free γ-CGTase, respectively. The nanogranules also exhibited wider optimal pH (cyclization activity 7.0–9.0, hydrolysis activity 10.0–11.0) and temperature (55–60 °C) ranges and remarkable thermo- and pH-stability, expanding its utility to adapt to wider and more severe reaction conditions than the free enzyme. A high yield of CDs (22.73%) converted from starch and a high ratio (90.86%) of γ-CD in the catalysate were achieved at pH 9.0 and 50 °C for 10 h with 1 mmol/L K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ added to the reaction system. Moreover, γ-CGTase-PHA beads can be used at least eight times, retaining 82.04% of its initial hydrolysis activity and 75.73% of its initial cyclization activity. Conclusions This study provides a promising nanobiocatalyst for the cost-efficient production of γ-CD, which could greatly facilitate process control and economize the production cost.

Soft robots with good deformability and adaptability have important prospects in the bionics and intelligence field. However, current research into soft robots is primarily limited to the study of actuators and ignores the integrated use of functional devices and actuators. To enrich the functions of soft robots and expand their application fields, it is necessary to integrate various functional electronic devices into soft robots to perform diverse functions during dynamic deformation. Therefore, this paper discusses methods and strategies to manufacture optical stimuli-responsive soft actuators and integrate them into functional devices for soft robots. Specifically, laser cutting allows us to fabricate an optically responsive actuator structure, e.g., the curling direction can be controlled by adjusting the direction of the cutting line. Actuators with different bending curvatures, including nonbending, can be obtained by adjusting the cutting depth, cutting width, and the spacing of the cutting line, which makes it easy to obtain a folded structure. Thus, various actuators with complex shape patterns can be obtained. In addition, we demonstrate a fabrication scheme for a worm-like soft robot integrated with functional devices (LEDs are used in this paper). The local nonbending design provides an asymmetric structure that provides driving power and avoids damage to the functional circuit caused by the large deformation during movement. The integration of drive and function provides a new path for the application of soft robots in the intelligence and bionics field.

Aiming at the nonlinear radiometric differences between multi-source sensor images and coherent spot noise and other factors that lead to alignment difficulties, the registration method of gradient weakly sensitive multi-source sensor images is proposed, which does not need to extract the image gradient in the whole process and has rotational invariance. In the feature point detection stage, the maximum moment map is obtained by using the phase consistency transform to replace the gradient edge map for chunked Harris feature point detection, thus increasing the number of repeated feature points in the heterogeneous image. To have rotational invariance of the subsequent descriptors, a method to determine the main phase angle is proposed. The phase angle of the region near the feature point is counted, and the parabolic interpolation method is used to estimate the more accurate main phase angle under the determined interval. In the feature description stage, the Log-Gabor convolution sequence is used to construct the index map with the maximum phase amplitude, the heterogeneous image is converted to an isomorphic image, and the isomorphic image of the region around the feature point is rotated by using the main phase angle, which is in turn used to construct the feature vector with the feature point as the center by the quadratic interpolation method. In the feature matching stage, feature matching is performed by using the sum of squares of Euclidean distances as a similarity metric. Finally, after qualitative and quantitative experiments of six groups of five pairs of different multi-source sensor image alignment correct matching rates, root mean square errors, and the number of correctly matched points statistics, this algorithm is verified to have the advantage of robust accuracy compared with the current algorithms.

【Objective】The study aims to verify the application effect of bacterial agent PA9 degrading omethoate which residual in the soil. Soil physical and chemical properties, tomato growth and soil microbial diversity affect by bacterial agent PA9 were researched at the same time.【Method】Bacterial agent PA9 was made from bacteria strain ZZY-C13-1-9, when omethoate artificial add into the soil about 100 mg/kg, the bacterial agent PA9 were applied 0.1%. The period of remediation lasted for 50 days. Soil samples were taken every 10 days. The content of omethoate in soil were measured by HPLC. A selective culture medium is used to isolate strain ZZY-C13-1-9. The microbial diversity were measured by illumina miSeq high-throughput sequencing. Soil physical and chemical indexes were determined by national standard method. Tomato growth index were monitored.【Result】Initial content of omethoate in soil was 100 mg/kg at 0 days. After 40 days, the omethoate content in soil decrease to 5.3 mg/kg at remediation experimental group, which was significantly different with control group (48.79 mg/kg). Microbial strain ZZY-C13-1-9 could colonize in the soil and the proportion of soil microorganisms in omethoate soil increased after 10 - 20 days of remediation. The residual omethoate content in the soil was significantly reduced, which indicated that the functional strain could play a role in degrading omethoate in contaminated soil. The results of high-throughput sequencing showed that the proportion of Pseudomonas sp. in soil microbial flora decreased with the decrease of omethoate content, indicating that the bacterial agent PA9 would not permanently change the distribution of soil microbial diversity, and the restored soil could effectively restore the diversity of bacterial flora. The contents of total nitrogen, microbial nitrogen, available phosphorus and MWD in soil aggregates increased significantly compared with the control, and the use of microbial agent PA9 had no negative effect on the growth of tomato.【Conclusion】The bacterial agent PA9 can colonize and accelerate the degradation of omethoate in omethoate-contaminated soil in a short period of time, improve the microbial diversity of contaminated soil and have no adverse effects on the physical and chemical properties of the soil and the planting of tomatoes.

Abstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the effect of preoperative albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) on overall survival (OS) and health-related quality of life in patients with esophageal cell squamous carcinoma (ESCC). Methods Serum albumin and globulin were measured within one week before surgery. Multiple follow-ups were conducted among patients with ESCC in the study in order to assess their life quality. The method used in the study was a telephone interview. Quality of life was measured using the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30, version 3.0) and Esophageal Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ- OES18). Results A total of 571 ESCC patients were included in the study. The results illustrated that 5-year OS of high AGR group (74.3%) was better than the low one (62.3%) (P = 0.0068). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis found that preoperative AGR (HR = 0.642, 95%CI: 0.444–0.927) are prognostic factor for patients with ESCC after surgery. In terms of quality of life, found that low AGR associated with increased postoperative time to deterioration (TTD) events in ESCC patients, and compared to low AGR, high AGR could delay the deterioration of emotional functioning(P = 0.001), dysphagia(P = 0.033), trouble with taste(P = 0.043) and speech problems(P = 0.043). After using the multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that high AGR could improve patients’ emotional function (HR = 0.657, 95% CI: 0.507–0.852) and trouble with taste (HR = 0.706, 95% CI: 0.514–0.971). Conclusions Preoperative AGR in patients with ESCC after esophagectomy was positively correlated with overall survival rate and quality of life after operation.

Abstract Advanced sustainable biomedical materials are urgently needed for clinical applications; however, developing biomedical materials with exceptional mechanical and bactericidal properties as well as removable functionalities to reduce unintended secondary injury remains a challenge. Here, we report a biomass‐derived composite consisting of water‐soluble fish gelatin (FG) and antibacterial ZnO@silk fibroin (ZSF) microspheres for potential application as the wound dressing. The ZSF microspheres are embedded in a FG matrix to realize the stretchable, antibacterial, and removable ZSF/FG composites. By introducing glycerin as the plasticizer, ZSF/FG composites deliver a tensile strength of 4.5 MPa and stretchability of 550%. Acting as both the germicide and hydrophile components, ZSF microspheres endow the composites with excellent antibacterial capacity and water solubility. To prevent secondary injury, the ZSF/FG composites can be easily removed from the wounds by simply exposing them to excess water. Additionally, the ZSF/FG composites exhibit favorable biocompatibility and sustain high cell viability of over 100%. The full‐thickness skin wound model on infected mice demonstrated an efficient rate of wound closure and a reduced inflammatory response. The ZSF/FG composite shows promise to hasten the healing of infected wounds and is expected a promising candidate as wound dressing for clinical therapy.

ABSTRACTObjectives Optimal post-remission treatment for individual favorable and intermediate risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients has not yet been established. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-mismatched stem cell microtransplantation (MST), may improve outcomes and avoid graft-versus-host disease in patients with first complete remission of AML.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the efficacy, safety, and survival of 63 patients with favorable- or intermediate-risk AML who received MST, autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), or cytarabine single agent (CSA) as post-remission treatment from January 2014 to August 2021.Results The neutrophil recovery time was shorter in the MST group than in the CSA group. The 2-year cumulative incidences of relapse in the MST, ASCT, and CSA groups were 27.27%, 29.41%, and 41.67%, respectively. During follow-up, 21 patients (33.30%) died of relapse, including six (9.52%), five (7.94%), and 10 (15.84%) in the MST, ASCT, and CSA groups, respectively. The estimated 2-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were 62.20% vs. 50.00% (P = 0.101) and 57.10% vs. 50.00% (P = 0.136), in the >60 years MST and CSA groups (P = 0.101). The estimated 2-year OS was 100%, 66.20%, and 69.10% in the MST, ASCT, and CSA groups (MST vs CSA, P = 0.044), meanwhile, the estimated 2-year RFS was 100%, 65.40%, and 59.80% in patients ≤60 years.Conclusion MST, ASCT, and CSA are acceptable post-remission treatments for patients with favorable- and intermediate-risk AML and may not only improve the prognosis of the elderly but also prolong the OS and RFS of favorable- or intermediate-risk patients ≤60 years.

Abstract Polyimide (PI), an important engineering polymer with a rigid chemical structure, readily has excellent chemical stability, heat resistance, and electrical insulation but lacks broadband photothermal properties. Herein, we design and synthesize PI copolymers that embrace intrinsic photothermal properties by using two diamine monomers of (Z)‐2,3‐bis(4‐aminophenyl) acrylonitrile (CNDA) and 4,4‐diphenyldiamine (NDA) with strong ultraviolet (UV), and near‐infrared (NIR) absorption capabilities, respectively. Tuning the molar ratio of the two diamines can modulate UV and NIR light absorption and regulate the intrinsic photothermal properties of PIs. After condensation with pyromellitic dianhydride, the resulting PI‐0.5 with a unit molar ratio of CNDA:NDA = 1 shows the best photothermal efficiency. PI‐0.5 is used to construct 3D steam generators with vertically dried channels by a freeze‐drying method. The 3D steam generators show a good water evaporation rate and continuously operate with excellent stability under varying salinity and pH conditions. The synthetic design herein suggests that PI can be molecularly engineered to be intrinsic photothermal materials, expanding the properties and applications of existing PIs.

Objective Daweizi (DWZ) is a famous indigenous pig breed in China and characterized by tender meat and high fat percentage. However, the expression profiles and functions of transcripts in DWZ pigs is still in infancy. The object of this study was to depict the transcript profiles in DWZ pigs and screen the potential pathway influence adipogenesis and fat deposition, Methods Histological analysis of backfat tissue was firstly performed between DWZ and lean-type Yorkshire pigs, and then RNA sequencing technology was utilized to explore miRNAs, lncRNAs and mRNAs profiles in backfat tissue. 18 differentially expressed (DE) transcripts were randomly selected for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) to validate the reliability of the sequencing results. Finally, gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were conducted to investigate the potential pathways influence adipocyte differentiation, adipogenesis and lipid metabolism, and a schematic model was further proposed. Results A total of 1,625 differentially expressed transcripts were identified in DWZ pigs, including 27 upregulated and 45 downregulated miRNAs, 64 upregulated and 119 downregulated lncRNA, 814 upregulated and 556 downregulated mRNAs. QPCR analysis exhibited strong consistency with the sequencing data. GO and KEGG analysis elucidated that the differentially expressed transcripts were mainly associated with cell growth and death, signal transduction, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), PI3K-Akt, adipocytokine and foxo signaling pathways, all of which are strongly involved in cell development, lipid metabolism and adipogenesis. Further analysis indicated that the BGIR9823_87926/miR-194a-5p/AQP7 network may be effective in the process of adipocyte differentiation or adipogenesis. Conclusion Our study provides comprehensive insights into the regulatory network of backfat deposition and lipid metabolism in pigs from the point of view of miRNAs, lncRNAs and mRNAs.

The quality of source and reservoir rocks as well as their spatial assemblage types are crucial factors that controlling the charging, accumulation, and enrichment of tight oil resource. However, there are still deficiencies in the understanding about these factors, especially regarding differences in the mechanism of charging, accumulation, and enrichment of tight oil between different source-reservoir assemblage types, which restricts the formation of theory as well as the process of exploration and development. Taking the Qingxi Sag of the Jiuquan Basin as an example, we have drawn conclusions by field observations, core descriptions, and drilling analyses that there may be eight types of source-reservoir assemblages. Among these, there are three basic types, namely, the lower-generating and upper-reserving type, upper-generating and lower-reserving type, and sandwich-like type. In addition, there are two special types, the self-generating and self-reserving type and source-reservoir interbedding type. Moreover, the other three types are composite types, which are the lowergenerating and upper-reserving type Ⅱ, upper-generating and lower-reserving type Ⅱ, and sandwich-like type Ⅱ. Among the above mentioned eight types, the first five types are common. The results of statistical drilling and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments mutually verify the corresponding relation between source-reservoir assemblage type and tight oil enrichment. The assemblage types can be ranked according to their positive correlation with enrichment in the following order, from the highest to the lowest: self-generating and self-reservoiring type, sandwich-like type, upper-generating and lower-reservoiring type, lower-generating and upper-reservoiring type, and source-reservoir interbedding type. Differences in the mechanism of charging, accumulation, and enrichment of tight oil among the five common source-reservoir assemblage types are revealed and explained. In addition, their accumulation and enrichment patterns are determined and principal controlling factors are proposed, namely, accumulation dynamics, charging patterns, and storage conditions, which are in fact closely related to the source-reservoir assemblage types.

To study the potential disasters caused by tunnels crossing water-abundant fault areas, this study takes the Jinyunshan Tunnel as an example, and studies the groundwater flow law between different rock layers, the interaction between surrounding rock hydrostatic pressure and soil pressure, and the mechanical features and safety of the lining during construction by combining field tests and finite element simulation analysis. The results show that the displacement change rate of the tunnel vault reaches 2.8 mm/d, and the maximum earth pressure and hydrostatic pressure are 2.3 MPa and 1.15 MPa, respectively, both at the bottom of the tunnel in section II. When the tunnel enters the fault fracture zone from the V surrounding rock, the bending moment of the lining increases by 222.78% at the left haunch and 60.87% at the bottom of the right wall. The axial force of the right spandrel increases by 2579.2%, and the left spandrel increases by 221.18%. The safety factor of the two sections is greater than 2.4, indicating that the overall structure is in a safe state, but the safety factor of the second right shoulder is 2.54, which is close to the safety threshold of 2.4. The research results provide a basis for the safety design and construction safety of tunnels through water-rich sections in similar fault fracture zones, and provide a reference for reducing groundwater loss and protecting ecological vegetation.

Fat deposition is an economically important trait in pigs. Ningxiang pig, one of the four famous indigenous breeds in China, is characterized by high fat content. The underlying gene expression pattern in different developmental periods of backfat tissue remains unclear, and the purpose of this investigation is to explore the potential molecular regulators of backfat tissue development in Ningxiang pigs. Backfat tissue (three samples for each stage) was initially collected from different developmental stages (60, 120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 days after birth), and histological analysis and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) were then conducted. Fragments per kilobase of transcript per million (FPKM) method was used to qualify gene expressions, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Furthermore, strongly co-expressed genes in modules, which were named by color, were clustered by Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) based on dynamic tree cutting algorithm. Gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment were subsequently implemented, and hub genes were described in each module. Finally, QPCR analysis was employed to validate RNA-seq data. The results showed that adipocyte area increased and adipocyte number decreased with development of backfat tissue. A total of 1,024 DEGs were identified in five comparison groups (120 days vs. 60 days, 180 days vs. 120 days, 240 days vs. 180 days, 300 days vs. 240 days, and 360 days vs. 300 days). The turquoise, red, pink, paleturquoise, darkorange, and darkgreen module had the highest correlation coefficient with 60, 120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 days developmental stage, while the tan, black and turquoise module had strong relationship with backfat thickness, adipocyte area, and adipocyte number, respectively. Thirteen hub genes (ACSL1, ACOX1, FN1, DCN, CHST13, COL1A1, COL1A2, COL6A3, COL5A1, COL14A1, OAZ3, DNM1, and SELP) were recognized. ACSL1 and ACOX1 might perform function in the early developmental stage of backfat tissue (60 days), and FN1, DCN, COL1A1, COL1A2, COL5A1, COL6A3, and COL14A1 have unignorable position in backfat tissue around 120 days developmental stage. Besides, hub genes SELP and DNM1 in modules significantly associated with backfat thickness and adipocyte area might be involved in the process of backfat tissue development. These findings contribute to understand the integrated mechanism underlying backfat tissue development and promote the progress of genetic improvement in Ningxiang pigs.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the effect of biomaterials with different stiffness on Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (ADSC)–macrophage crosstalk in bone tissue engineering and its role in bone repair.Methods: Biomaterials with Young’s modulus of 64 and 0.2 kPa were selected, and the crosstalk between ADSCs and macrophages was investigated by means of conditioned medium treatment and cell co-culture, respectively. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the polarization of macrophages. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alizarin red staining (ARS) solutions were used to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs. Transwell assay was used to evaluate the chemotaxis of ADSCs and macrophages. Moreover, mass spectrometry proteomics was used to analyze the secreted protein profile of ADSCs of different substrates and macrophages in different polarization states.Results: On exploring the influence of biomaterials on macrophages from ADSCs on different substrates, we found that CD163 and CD206 expression levels in macrophages were significantly higher in the 64-kPa group than in the 0.2-kPa group in conditioned medium treatment and cell co-culture. Flow cytometry showed that more cells became CD163+ or CD206+ cells in the 64-kPa group under conditioned medium treatment or cell co-culture. The Transwell assay showed that more macrophages migrated to the lower chamber in the 64-kPa group. The proteomic analysis found that ADSCs in the 64-kPa group secreted more immunomodulatory proteins, such as LBP and RBP4, to improve the repair microenvironment. On exploring the influence of biomaterials on ADSCs from macrophages in different polarization states, we found that ALP and ARS levels in ADSCs were significantly higher in the M2 group than in the other three groups (NC, M0, and M1 groups) in both conditioned medium treatment and cell co-culture. The Transwell assay showed that more ADSCs migrated to the lower chamber in the M2 group. The proteomic analysis found that M2 macrophages secreted more extracellular remodeling proteins, such as LRP1, to promote bone repair.Conclusion: In bone tissue engineering, the stiffness of repair biomaterials can affect the crosstalk between ADSCs and macrophages, thereby regulating local repair immunity and affecting bone repair.

Abstract Sleep deprivation (SD) can lead to cognitive impairment caused by neuroinflammation. MiR-181c-5p/HMGB1 axis plays a part in anti-inflammation effects. However, the mechanism that miR-181c-5p facilitates learning and memory in SD mice remains unclear. So we investigated the role of miR-181c-5p in learning and memory impairment induced by SD. We overexpressed miR-181c-5p in the mice hippocampus by injecting lentivirus vector-miR-181c-5p (LV-miR-181c-5p) particles. Mice were divided into four groups: control (Ctrl), SD, SD + miR-181c-5p and SD + vector. We found that mice in the third group showed ameliorated learning and memory compared with the fourth group. The content of ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA-1) in the third group was decreased compared with the fourth group. Moreover, the expression levels of HMGB1, TLR4 and p-NF-κB in the hippocampus of overexpressed miR-181c-5p mice were reduced. In total, miR-181c-5p ameliorated learning and memory in SD mice via the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

Objectives: To study the prevalence and the association of HPV infection in retinoblastoma and to determine the most common genotype presented in RB.Methods: Following the PRIMSA guideline, 14 studies reporting HPV infection in RB acquired from six databases were included.Results: The prevalence of HPV from 941 RB samples was 15.6% [95% confidence interval (CI): 7.3–30]. Mexico followed by India and Brazil had the highest HPV prevalence in RB samples, 61.7% (95% CI: 17–93), 22.5% (95% CI: 9–47), and 12.1% (95% CI: 2–52), in order. HPV 16 was the most common genotype presented in RB samples 23% (95% CI: 9–47), followed by HPV 18 10% (95% CI: 3–30) and the combined HPV 16–18 6% (95% CI: 0–50). We did not find a significant association between HPV and RB [odds ratio (OR): 12.2; 95% CI: 0.65–232; p = 0.09]. However, after removing the largest-weighted study, a significant association between HPV and RB was observed (OR: 45.9; 95% CI; 8.6–245; p < 0.001).Conclusion: HPV prevalence in RB samples was 15% and HPV 16 was the most presented genotype in RB samples. There may be an association between HPV and RB that is needed to be confirmed by high quality future studies. Preventive and treatment measures against HPV infection are essential for the prevention of any possible consequences, in particular, RB.

The construction of the future energy structure of China under the 2050 carbon-neutral vision requires compact direct current (DC) gas-insulation equipment as important nodes and solutions to support electric power transmission and distribution of long-distance and large-capacity. This paper reviews China's 10-year progress in DC gas-insulated equipment. Important progresses in basic research and industry perspective are presented, with related scientific issues and technical bottlenecks being discussed. The progress in DC gas-insulated equipment worldwide (Europe, Japan, America) is also reported briefly.

Context Suchilactone, a lignan compound extracted from Monsonia angustifolia E.Mey. ex A.Rich. (Geraniaceae), has little research on pharmacological activity; whether suchilactone has inhibitory effect on acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is unclear. Objective To investigate the antitumor effect of suchilactone and its mechanism in AML. Materials and methods The effects of suchilactone on cell growth were detected by CCK-8 and flow cytometry. Network pharmacology was conducted to explore target of suchilactone. Gene expression was detected by western blot and RT-PCR. SHI-1 cells (1 × 106 cell per mouse) were subcutaneously inoculated into the female SCID mice. Suchilactone (15 and 30 mg/kg) was dissolved in PBS with 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose sodium and administered (i.g.) to mice once a day for 19 days, while the control group received PBS with 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose sodium. Tumour tissues were stained with Ki-67 and TUNEL. Results Suchilactone exerted an effective inhibition on the growth of SHI-1 cells with IC50 of 17.01 μM. Then, we found that suchilactone binds to the SHP2 protein and inhibits its activation, and suchilactone interacted with SHP2 to inhibit cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis via blocking the activation of SHP2. Moreover, Suchilaction inhibited tumour growth of AML xenografts in mice, as the tumour weight decreased from 0.618 g (control) to 0.35 g (15 mg/kg) and 0.258 g (30 mg/kg). Suchilactone inhibited Ki-67 expression and increased TUNEL expression in tumour tissue. Discussion and conclusions Our study is the first to demonstrate suchilactone inhibits AML growth, suggesting that suchilactone is a candidate drug for the treatment of AML.

Abstract Purpose Divided nevus with verrucous hyperplasia will always recur after surgery but non-verrucous divided eyelid nevus rarely recur. This study analyzed the differential expression of Ki-67, S100, Melan A and HMB45 and identified the correlation between the clinical and histopathological features of verrucous and non-verrucous divided eyelid nevus. Methods This study included 29 patients, of whom 8 patients had verrucous divided nevus. Immunohistochemistry labeling was used to assess the expression of Ki-67, S100, Melan A and HMB45 after excision. The difference between verrucous and non-verrucous divided eyelid nevus was analyzed. Results The patients’ ages ranged from 2 to 59 years, with a mean age of 19 years. The lesion size ranged from 1.5 to 2.0 cm in diameter and invaded the eyelid margins and the posterior lamella of the eyelids. Immunohistochemistry labeling showed strong positivity for approximately 98.5% of S100 and positive staining for approximately 27.6% of Ki-67, 72.4% of Melan A and 6.8% of HMB45. However, Ki-67 was significantly upregulated in verrucous divided nevus of the eyelids compared with non-verrucous divided nevus, with approximately 38.8% upregulation in verrucous and 18.3% upregulation in non-verrucous nevus. Conclusions This study correlated the clinic-pathologic features of verrucous divided eyelid nevus by means of statistically analyzing the varied clinical features and pathological impressions. The significant over-expression of S100 may be used as an indicator of divided nevus of the eyelids, and the over-expressed Ki-67 may contribute to the recurrence of verrucous divided nevus. High expression of HMB45 and Melan A may represent malignant transformation.

Influenced by the anisotropy and water-softening characteristics of gently inclined layered shale, many tunnels have encountered bottom deformation issues during construction and operation, which severely impact the safety of tunnel structures. The energy evolution law during rock deformation and damage can provide support for the assessment and prediction of structure deformation. However, most studies have been conducted on enstatite, granite, and sandstone with limited research on shale. In this study, both conventional and single-cyclic loading-and-unloading uniaxial compression tests were conducted on shale specimens with varying dip angles of the structural plane (Dφ) and water content (Wc) in addressing the most typical layered shale in the Chaoyang Tunnel. The energy evolution features of rock samples at each stage of the tests were analyzed to determine the discriminating indicator (SC) for tunnel bottom deformation tendency. The indicator was based on the elastic strain energy (Uei) and the post-peak dissipation energy (Udi). The results demonstrated that the Dφ and Wc directly affected the energy storage and dissipation process of rock specimens, which in turn enabled them to exhibit different damage evolution features. The Uei and the total input energy (Uli) satisfied a linear relationship, which was determined by the Dφ and Wc of rock specimens. The energy evolution-based indicator SC can accurately characterize the bottom deformation of the tunnel constructed in a gently inclined layered shale stratum. The findings can offer a scientific foundation for rational evaluation of the structure deformation of tunnels under construction.

Abstract Highly crystalline Bi2Te3 based compounds with small grain size were successfully synthesized by flash sintering (FS) method in 10 s at room temperature under suitable current density using Bi, Te and Se powders. The instantaneously generated local Joule heat at grain boundary is regarded as the main reason for the rapid completion of chemical reaction and crystallization. By combining FS synthesis method with spark plasma sintering (SPS), Bi2Te3 based bulk materials with high relative density were fabricated in 10 min. Suitably prolonging sintering temperature and holding time in SPS process can decrease carrier concentration and phonon thermal conductivity, while increasing carrier mobility. Hence, the sample prepared at 753 K for 3 min shows 20% higher ZT value than that of the sample prepared at 723 K for 3 min. Compared with common zone melting or powder metallurgy methods taking several hours by complex operation, this method is time-saving and low cost.

Abstract Glucagonoma is an extremely rare neuroendocrine tumor that arises from pancreatic islet alpha cells. Although glucagonoma is usually accompanied by a variety of characteristic clinical symptoms, early diagnosis is still difficult due to the scarcity of the disease. In this study, we present the cumulative experiences, clinical characteristics and treatments of seven patients diagnosed with glucagonoma during the past 10 years at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University. The seven patients in our cohort consisted of six females and one male with an average diagnosis age of 40.1 years (range 23–51). The average time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis of glucagonoma was 14 months (range 2–36 months). All the patients visited dermatology first for necrolytic migratory erythema (NME) 7/7 (100%), and other presenting symptoms included diabetes mellitus (DM) 4/7 (57%), stomatitis 2/7 (28%), weight loss 4/7 (57%), anemia 4/7 (57%), diarrhea 1/7 (14%), and DVT1/7 (14%). Plasma glucagon levels were increased in all patients (range 216.92–3155 pg/mL) and declined after surgery. Imaging studies revealed that four of seven patients had liver metastasis. Six of seven patients received surgical resection, and all of them received somatostatin analog therapy. Symptoms improved significantly in 6 out of 7 patients. Three of seven patients died of this disease by the time of follow-up. Our data suggest that if persistent NME is associated with DM and high glucagon levels, timely abdominal imaging should be performed to confirm glucagonoma. Once diagnosed, surgery and somatostatin analogs are effective for symptom relief and tumor control.

Abstract Background Granulomatous mastitis (GM) is a chronic inflammatory mastitis disease that requires long-term treatment and has a high recurrence rate. Case management has been proven to be an effective mechanism in assisting patients with chronic illness to receive regular and targeted disease monitoring and health care service. The aim of this study was to investigate the application of a hospital-to-community model of case management for granulomatous mastitis and explore the related factors associated with its recurrence. Methods This was a prospective study on patients with granulomatous mastitis based on a case management model. Data on demographic, clinical and laboratory information, treatment methods, follow-up time, and recurrence were collected and analyzed. The eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) was used to investigate patients' adherence to medications. Logistic regression models were built for analysis of risk factors for the recurrence of granulomatous mastitis. Results By October 2021, a total of 152 female patients with a mean age of 32 years had undergone the entire case management process. The mean total course of case management was 24.54 (range 15–45) months. Almost all the patients received medication treatment, except for one pregnant patient who received observation therapy, and approximately 53.9% of the patients received medication and surgery. The overall recurrence rate was 11.2%, and “high” medication adherence (RR = 0.428, 95% CI 0.224–0.867, P = 0.015) was significantly associated with a lower rate of recurrence, while the rate of recurrence with a surgical procedure + medication was higher than that with medication alone (RR = 4.128, 95% CI 1.026–16.610, P = 0.046). Conclusion A case management model for patients with granulomatous mastitis was applied to effectively monitor changes in the disease and to identify factors associated with disease recurrence. “Low” medication adherence was a significant risk factor for the recurrence of granulomatous mastitis. Patients treated with medication and surgery were more likely to experience recurrence than those treated with medication alone. The optimal treatment approach should be planned for granulomatous mastitis patients, and patient medication adherence should be of concern to medical staff.

Unhealthy diets rich in fats and/or sugar are considered as the major external cause of the obesity epidemic, which is often accompanied by a significant decrease in gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1) levels. Numerous studies have demonstrated notable contributions of the gut microbiota in this process. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism still needs further investigation. The role of epigenetic modifications in gene expression and metabolism has been well demonstrated, with m6A methylation on RNAs being the most prevalent modification throughout their metabolism. In the present study, we found that the expressions of small intestinal Gcg and Pc3, two key genes regulating GLP1 expression, were significantly downregulated in obese mice, associated with reduced GLP1 level. Immunohistochemistry analysis indicated that a high-fat diet slightly increased the density of enteroendocrine L cells in the small intestine, implying that decreased GLP1 levels were not caused by the changes in L cell intensity. Instead, the small intestinal m6A level as well as the expression of known “writers”, mettl3/14 and wtap, were found to be positively correlated with the expression of Gcg and Pc3. Fecal microbiota transplantation with feces from normal and obese mice daily to antibiotic-treated mice revealed that dysbiosis in diet-induced obesity was sufficient to reduce serum GLP1, small intestinal m6A level, and intestinal expressions of Gcg, Pc3, and writer genes (mettl3/14, wtap). However, as the most direct and universal methyl donor, the production of fecal S-adenosylmethionine was neither affected by the different dietary patterns nor their shaped microbiota. These results suggested that microbial modulation of the epitranscriptome may be involved in regulating GLP1 expression, and highlighted epitranscriptomic modifications as an additional level of interaction between diet and individual health.

Semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) hold immense potential as luminescent materials for various optoelectronic applications. While significant progress has been made in developing NCs with outstanding optical properties in the visible range, their counterparts emitting in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum are less developed. Rb2AgI3 is a promising UV-emitting material due to its large band gap and high stability. However, the optical properties of low-dimensional Rb2AgI3 NCs are yet to be thoroughly explored. Here, we synthesized Rb2AgI3 NCs via a hot injection method and investigated their properties. Remarkably, these NCs exhibit UV luminescence at 302 nm owing to self-trapped excitons. The wide-bandgap nature of Rb2AgI3 NCs, combined with their intrinsic UV luminescence, offers considerable potential for applications in UV photonic nanodevices. Our findings contribute to the understanding of Rb2AgI3 NCs and pave the way for exploiting their unique properties in advanced optoelectronic systems.

Abstract Background Coconut is an important tropical oil and fruit crop whose evolutionary position renders it a fantastic species for the investigation of the evolution of monocot chromosomes and the subsequent differentiation of ancient plants. Results Here, we report the assembly and annotation of reference-grade genomes of Cn. tall and Cn. dwarf, whose genome sizes are 2.40 Gb and 2.39 Gb, respectively. The comparative analysis reveals that the two coconut subspecies diverge about 2–8 Mya while the conserved Arecaceae-specific whole-genome duplication (ω WGD) occurs approximately 47–53 Mya. It additionally allows us to reconstruct the ancestral karyotypes of the ten ancient monocot chromosomes and the evolutionary trajectories of the 16 modern coconut chromosomes. Fiber synthesis genes in Cn. tall, related to lignin and cellulose synthesis, are found at a higher copy number and expression level than dwarf coconuts. Integrated multi-omics analysis reveals that the difference in coconut plant height is the result of altered gibberellin metabolism, with both the GA20ox copy number and a single-nucleotide change in the promoter together leading to the difference in plant height between Cn. tall and Cn. dwarf. Conclusion We provide high-quality coconut genomes and reveal the genetic basis of trait differences between two coconuts through multi-omics analysis. We also reveal that the selection of plant height has been targeted for the same gene for millions of years, not only in natural selection of ancient plant as illustrated in coconut, but also for artificial selection in cultivated crops such as rice and maize.

ObjectiveTo develop a preoperative scoring system (PSS) to predict whether laparoendoscopic single-site extracorporeal (LESS-E) cystectomy can be performed in patients with benign ovarian cysts.MethodWe reviewed data on patients who underwent LESS cystectomy between August 2016 and October 2019 at the first Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University. The independent predictors of LESS-E cystectomy in patients with benign ovarian cysts were identified using multivariate logistic regression analyses. A nomogram for predicting LESS-E cystectomy in patients with benign ovarian cysts was developed, and to simplify the score, we establish a preoperative scoring system to guide the choice of surgical approach in patients with highly probable benign ovarian cysts.ResultsOur analysis showed that age, BMI, height and the diameter of ovarian cysts were independent predictors of LESS-E cystectomy. A nomogram was developed based on these four factors, which had a concordance index of 0.838 and R2 = 0.415. To simplify the score, the predicted indicators in the regression model were scored by dividing the beta coefficient by the absolute value of the minimum beta coefficient, and the sum of each predictor score established a PSS. In the total set, the selected cutoff value according to the maximum point of the Youden index was 8, and a preoperative score ≥ 8 identified patients undergoing LESS-E cystectomy with a positive predictive value of 67.4% and a negative predictive value of 88.6%.ConclusionA PSS to predict the chances of LESS-E cystectomy was established. This system could be helpful for selecting the appropriate surgical strategy for patients with benign ovarian cysts.

Abstract The effective treatment of advanced cervical cancer remains challenging. Herein, single‐nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA‐seq) and SpaTial enhanced resolution omics‐sequencing (Stereo‐seq) are used to investigate the immunological microenvironment of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). The expression levels of most immune suppressive genes in the tumor and inflammation areas of CSCC are not significantly higher than those in the non‐cancer samples, except for LGALS9 and IDO1. Stronger signals of CD56+ NK cells and immature dendritic cells are found in the hypermetabolic tumor areas, whereas more eosinophils, immature B cells, and Treg cells are found in the hypometabolic tumor areas. Moreover, a cluster of pro‐tumorigenic cancer‐associated myofibroblasts (myCAFs) are identified. The myCAFs may support the growth and metastasis of tumors by inhibiting lymphocyte infiltration and remodeling of the tumor extracellular matrix. Furthermore, these myCAFs are associated with poorer survival probability in patients with CSCC, predict resistance to immunotherapy, and might be present in a small fraction (< 30%) of patients with advanced cancer. Immunohistochemistry and multiplex immunofluorescence staining are conducted to validate the spatial distribution and potential function of myCAFs. Collectively, these findings enhance the understanding of the immunological microenvironment of CSCC and shed light on the treatment of advanced CSCC.

Lead-free copper halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) are emerging materials with excellent photoelectric properties. Herein, we present a colloidal synthesis route for orthorhombic Cs2CuCl4 NCs with a well-defined cubic shape and an average diameter of 24 ± 2.1 nm. The Cs2CuCl4 NCs exhibited bright, deep blue photoluminescence, which was attributed to the Cu(II) defects. In addition, passivating the Cs2CuCl4 NCs by Ag+ could effectively improve the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and environmental stability.

Air gap defects inside a spacer reduce its insulation performance, resulting in stress concentration, partial discharge, and even flashover. If such gap defects are located at the interface between the insulation and conductor, a decrease in mechanical stress may occur. In this work, a finite element method-based simulation model is developed to analyze the influence of gap defects on the electrical and mechanical properties of a ±320 kV direct current gas insulated line (DC GIL) spacer. Present findings reveal that a radially distributed air gap produces a more significant effect on the electric field distribution, and an electric field strength 1.7 times greater than that of the maximum surface value is observed at the air gap. The axial distribution dominates the distortion of the surface stress by generating a stress concentration region in which the maximum stress of the air gap is twice the pressure in the surrounding area.

Abstract Detachment is the initial and critical step for cancer metastasis. Only the cells that survive from detachment can develop metastases. Following the disruption of cell–extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions, cells are exposed to a totally different chemical and mechanical environment. During which, cells inevitably suffer from multiple stresses, including loss of growth stimuli from ECM, altered mechanical force, cytoskeletal reorganization, reduced nutrient uptake, and increased reactive oxygen species generation. Here we review the impact of these stresses on the anchorage-independent survival and the underlying molecular signaling pathways. Furthermore, its implications in cancer metastasis and treatment are also discussed.

Many obligate symbionts, including parasites, have reduced genomes. A comparison of leaf-cutter ant genomes reveals parallel gene losses, particularly in olfactory receptors, in socially parasitic species compared to their closely-related hosts, consistent with relaxed selection for cooperative colony life in the parasites.

A thin-film thermal meta-device with a dual-function of thermal shield and generation is proposed and fabricated in this work. The tilted layered structure composed of thermoelectric materials with low thermal conductivity and metal materials with high thermal conductivity is designed to realize the orientation of the incident heat flux and the utilization of heat energy based on the Seebeck effect of the materials. The constructed transverse thin-film thermoelectric device with a Bi2Te3/Cu-layered structure can achieve a maximum output voltage of 20.4 mV and a maximum output power of 7.39 μW at a temperature difference of 80 K. On this basis, the dual-functional film meta-device based on transformation thermodynamics is capable of realizing a heat flux shielding in the central area and generating a transverse output voltage. The experimental results also indicate that there exists a well linear relationship between the output voltage of the meta-device and the temperature difference, which can be extended to accurately monitor the temperature of the central area. This work provides a certain reference for the development of a new class of thermoelectric devices with thermal protection and temperature detection capability.

The viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state has been studied in detail in bacteria. However, it has received much less attention in eukaryotic cells. The induction of a VBNC beer-spoilage yeast (Brettanomyces bruxellensis) by hop bitter acids with different concentrations and its recovery were studied in this work. B. bruxellensis cells were completely induced into the VBNC state by treatment of 250 mg/L hop bitter acids for 2 h. The addition of catalase at a concentration of 2,000 U/plate on YPD agars enabled these VBNC cells to recover their culturability within 2 days. Moreover, the transcriptome profiling revealed that 267 and 197 genes were significantly changed upon VBNC state entry and resuscitation, respectively. The differentially expressed genes involved in the peroxisome activities, ABC transporter, organic acid metabolism, and TCA cycle were mainly downregulated in the VBNC cells. In contrast, the amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism, cell division, and DNA replication were promoted. This study supplies a theoretical basis for microbial risk assessment in the brewing industry.

It has been documented that processing L2 and L1 engages a very similar brain network in bilingual adults. However, it is not known whether this similarity is evident in bilingual children as well or it develops with learning from children to adults. In the current study, we compared brain activation in Chinese-English bilingual children and adults during L1 and L2 processing. We found greater similarity between L1 and L2 in adults than in children, supporting the convergence hypothesis which argues that when the proficiency of L2 increases, the L2’s brain network converges to the L1’s brain network. We also found greater differences between adults and children in the brain for L2 processing than L1 processing, even though there were comparable increase in proficiency from children to adults in L1 and L2. It suggests an elongated developmental course for L2. This study provides important insights about developmental changes in the bilingual brain.