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Abstract With the increase in high-rise buildings in cities, public flue exhaust systems have a direct impact on residential air quality and the living environment. Although existing studies have analyzed the problems in public flue exhaust systems through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical simulations and experimental tests, these studies often lack an in-depth exploration of the specific impacts of individual components in the system. To solve this problem, this study not only thoroughly analyzes the key components in the public flue system, such as branch pipes, check valves, and tee pipes, but also develops a parametric public flue simulation system software based on C# and verifies the accuracy of the simulation through experiments. The study first determines the key parameters affecting the comprehensive resistance coefficient of the branch pipe, check valve, tee pipe, and other components through CFD simulation and experimental testing. Subsequently, a visualization program is developed using the C# language, which can quickly simulate and visualize the flow changes in the flue according to different building parameters such as the number of floors, height of floors, and size of the flue. The results confirm that the program can efficiently predict the flow distribution under different design options, providing a practical tool for the optimal design and performance evaluation of public flues, which is important for improving the air quality of the living environment.

Abstract The detection of pathogens is critical for clinical diagnosis and public health surveillance. Detection is usually done with nucleic acid-based tests (NATs) and rapid antigen tests (e.g., lateral flow assays [LFAs]). Although NATs are more sensitive and specific, their use is often limited in resource-poor settings due to specialized requirements. To address this limitation, we developed a rapid DNA-RNA Hybrid Capture immunoassay (HC) that specifically detects RNA from pathogens. This assay utilizes a unique monoclonal antibody, S9.6, which binds DNA-RNA hybrids. Biotinylated single-stranded DNA probes are hybridized to target RNAs, followed by hybrid capture on streptavidin and detection with S9.6. The HC-ELISA assay can detect as few as 104 RNA molecules that are 2.2 kb in length. We also adapted this assay into a LFA format, where captured Bacillus anthracis rpoB RNA of 3.5 kb length was detectable from a bacterial load equivalent to 107 CFU per 100 mg of mouse tissue using either HC-ELISA or HC-LFA. Importantly, we also demonstrated the versatility of HC by detecting other pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2 and Toxoplasma gondii, showing its potential for broad pathogen detection. Notably, HC does not require amplification of the target nucleic acid and utilizes economical formats like ELISA and LFA, making it suitable for use in sentinel labs for pathogen detection or as a molecular tool in basic research laboratories. Our study highlights the potential of HC as a sensitive and versatile method for RNA-based pathogen detection.

Abstract Selective vascular access to the brain is desirable in metabolic tracer, pharmacological and other studies aimed to characterize neural properties in isolation from somatic influences from chest, abdomen or limbs. However, current methods for artificial control of cerebral circulation can abolish pulsatility-dependent vascular signaling or neural network phenomena such as the electrocorticogram even while preserving individual neuronal activity. Thus, we set out to mechanically render cerebral hemodynamics fully regulable to replicate or modify native pig brain perfusion. To this end, blood flow to the head was surgically separated from the systemic circulation and full extracorporeal pulsatile circulatory control (EPCC) was delivered via a modified aorta or brachiocephalic artery. This control relied on a computerized algorithm that maintained, for several hours, blood pressure, flow and pulsatility at near-native values individually measured before EPCC. Continuous electrocorticography and brain depth electrode recordings were used to evaluate brain activity relative to the standard offered by awake human electrocorticography. Under EPCC, this activity remained unaltered or minimally perturbed compared to the native circulation state, as did cerebral oxygenation, pressure, temperature and microscopic structure. Thus, our approach enables the study of neural activity and its circulatory manipulation in independence of most of the rest of the organism.

Abstract To analyze the relationship between the composition of urinary stones and various influencing factors in the Enshi region. We used FT-IR to examine the composition of 1092 stone samples. Combined with the relevant clinical materials, the data were analyzed using both one-dimensional statistical methods and multivariate statistical methods. The study included 1092 stone samples, classified as follows: 457 (41.8%) with a single component, 453 (41.5%) with two components, 149 (13.6%) with three components, and 33 (3.0%) with four components. Stones were categorized into five types: Calcium Oxalate (CaOx) (76.4%), carbapatite (CaP) (9.3%), Struvite (ST) (8.3%), Uric Acid (UA) (4.9%), and Others (1.0%). Age, gender, urinary tract infection (UTI), family history of urinary stones (FH), hyperuricemia (HUA) and stone location were significantly associated with stone type. Logistic regression revealed that females and UTI were relative risk factors for predicting CaP and ST, while FH and HUA were relative risk factors for predicting UA. Our study indicates that the overall composition of urinary tract stones in the Enshi region is consistent with that of the entire China. Additionally, the predisposing factors for stone formation vary in terms of gender, age, FH, UTI, hyperuricemia HUA, and stone location.

Abstract As the most aggressive tumor, TNM staging does not accurately identify patients with pancreatic cancer who are sensitive to therapy. This study aimed to identify associated risk factors and develop a nomogram to predict survival in pancreatic cancer surgery patients and to select the most appropriate comprehensive treatment regimen. First, the survival difference between radiotherapy and no radiotherapy was calculated based on propensity score matching (PSM). Cox regression was conducted to select the predictors of overall survival (OS). The model was constructed using seven variables: histologic type, grade, T stage, N stage, stage, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. All patients were classified into high- or low-risk groups based on the nomogram. The nomogram model for OS was established and showed good calibration and acceptable discrimination (C-index 0.721). Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and DCA curves showed that nomograms had better predictive performance than TNM stage. Patients were divided into low-risk and high-risk groups according to nomogram scores. Radiotherapy is recommended for high-risk patients but not for low-risk patients. We have established a well-performing nomogram to effectively predict the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients underlying surgery. The web version of the nomogram https://rockeric.shinyapps.io/DynNomapp/ may contribute to treatment optimization in clinical practice.

Abstract The non-coding RNA secondary structure largely determines its function. Hence, accuracy in structure acquisition is of great importance. Currently, this acquisition primarily relies on various computational methods. The prediction of the structures of long RNA sequences with high precision and reasonable computational cost remains challenging. Here, we propose a deep learning model, RNA-par, which could partition an RNA sequence into several independent fragments (i-fragments) based on its exterior loops. Each i-fragment secondary structure predicted individually could be further assembled to acquire the complete RNA secondary structure. In the examination of our independent test set, the average length of the predicted i-fragments was 453 nt, which was considerably shorter than that of complete RNA sequences (848 nt). The accuracy of the assembled structures was higher than that of the structures predicted directly using the state-of-the-art RNA secondary structure prediction methods. This proposed model could serve as a preprocessing step for RNA secondary structure prediction for enhancing the predictive performance (especially for long RNA sequences) and reducing the computational cost. In the future, predicting the secondary structure of long-sequence RNA with high accuracy can be enabled by developing a framework combining RNA-par with various existing RNA secondary structure prediction algorithms. Our models, test codes and test data are provided at https://github.com/mianfei71/RNAPar .

Abstract To explore the clinical application value of optical coherence microscopy (OCM) in Hirschsprung’s disease. 109 HSCR patients were recuited in a Chinese hospital from January 2018 to July 2021. All the recruited patients underwent barium enema angiography preoperatively and the resected diseased intestinal tubes were evaluated intraoperatively. The OCM and the histopathological examination were performed successively on the surgical specimens, and the OCM images were compared with the relevant tissue sections to characterize different lesions. 10 non-HSCR fetal colorectal tissues at the same period were retained for OCM, the characteristics of which with and without HSCR under OCM imaging were analyzed. In the OCM images of in vitro tissue, it can be clearly observed that the scattering degree of HSCR narrow segment mucosal is high, glands and crypt structures are reduced or even atrophy, and the scattering degree of submucosal and intermuscular is low; In the dilated segment, the low scattering and high scattering are complex, and the muscle layer is obviously hypertrophy and structural disorder. Compared with the pathological findings, the OCM sensitivity, Kappa value, and AUC area reached 92.66%, 0.63, and 0.91, respectively. OCM can quickly and clearly display the structure of all layers of colorectal tissue, which is highly consistent with the corresponding histopathological examination results and has high sensitivity. which will provide a more reliable basis for OCM diagnosis of early HSCR, targeted biopsy and location of operative treatment, and has a certain potential for clinical application.

Abstract In this study, a prospective study was conducted by using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in the in vivo detection of vulvar diseases. The clinical efficacy of the OCT we investigated in the detection of vulvar diseases, and the characteristics of the OCT images were defined. Overall, this study recruited 63 patients undergoing the colposcopy for vulvar lesions in three Chinese hospitals from December 20th, 2018 and September 24th, 2019. The colposcopy and the OCT examination were performed successively, and the OCT images were compared with the relevant tissue sections to characterize different lesions. The OCT diagnoses where categorized into 7 types, including normal and inflammatory vulva, condyloma acuminata, papilloma, lichen sclerosus, atrophic sclerosing lichen, fibrous epithelial polyp as well as cysts. The structural characteristics of the vulva tissue can be clearly observed in the OCT image, which are consistent with the characteristics of the tissue section. Compared with the pathological results, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the OCT examination reached 83.82% (95% confidence interval, CI 72.5%–91.3%), 57.89% (95% CI 34.0%–78.9%) and 78.16%, respectively. The OCT is found with the advantages of being noninvasive, real-time and sensitive and with high resolution. It is of high significance to screening vulva diseases, and it is expected as one of the methods to clinically diagnose vulva diseases.

Abstract Deep coal seam mining often leads to water resource loss due to bedrock water entering the workings of the mine and is discharged adjacent to the mining area. Using the geological conditions of the Maiduoshan coal mine, this paper applied a physical simulation experiment. The specified rock above the coal seam was hydraulically fractured in advance to form a postmining grouted fracture network, followed by grouting to construct a flexible isolation layer that blocked the infiltration of groundwater from the aquifer into the water-conducting fracture zone. Stress sensors, flow sensors and strata displacement monitoring technology were deployed inside the experimental material to study the spatial distribution characteristics and evolution law of the water-conducting fracture zone in the overlying rocks. Analysis of the water-conducting fracture zone development law, stress variation, overburden evolution characteristics, fracturing and grouting sequence of the flexible isolation layer and the effect of postmining grouting on the water barrier was conducted. These experiments verified the feasibility of fracture and grouting of the flexible isolation layer. These research results will provide practical guidance for the transition from the current safe and efficient mining methods to safe and green mining methods of deep coal mining in the western mining areas of China.

Abstract RNA-seq has matured and become an important tool for studying RNA biology. Here we compared two RNA-seq (MGI DNBSEQ and Illumina NextSeq 500) and two microarray platforms (GeneChip Human Transcriptome Array 2.0 and Illumina Expression BeadChip) in healthy individuals administered recombinant human erythropoietin for transcriptome-wide quantification of differential gene expression. The results show that total RNA DNB-seq generated a multitude of target genes compared to other platforms. Pathway enrichment analyses revealed genes correlate to not only erythropoiesis and oxygen transport but also a wide range of other functions, such as tissue protection and immune regulation. This study provides a knowledge base of genes relevant to EPO biology through cross-platform comparisons and validation.

Abstract Chinese prickly ash (Zanthoxylum) is extensively used as spice and traditional medicine in eastern Asian countries. Recently, an emergent yellow-flower disease (YFD) break out in green Chinese prickly ash (Zanthoxylum schinifolium, Qinghuajiao in Chinese) at Chongqing municipality, and then leads to a sharp reduction in the yield of Qinghuajiao, and thus results in great economic losses for farmers. To address the molecular response for the emergent YFD of Qinghuajiao, we analyzed the transcriptome of 12 samples including the leaves and inflorescences of asymptomatic and symptomatic plants from three different towns at Chongqing by high-throughput RNA-Seq technique. A total of 126,550 genes and 229,643 transcripts were obtained, and 21,054 unigenes were expressed in all 12 samples. There were 56 and 164 different expressed genes (DEGs) for the AL_vs_SL (asymptomatic leaf vs symptomatic leaf) and AF_vs_SF (asymptomatic flower vs symptomatic flower) groups, respectively. The results of KEGG analysis showed that the “phenylpropanoid biosynthesis” pathway that related to plant–pathogen interaction were found in AL_vs_SL and AF_vs_SF groups, and the “Plant–pathogen interaction” found in AF_vs_SF group, implying that this Qinghuajiao YFD might cause by plant pathogen. Interestingly, we detected 33 common unigenes for the 2 groups, and almost these unigenes were up-regulated in the symptomatic plants. Moreover, most of which were homologs to virus RNA, the components of viruses, implying that this YFD was related to virus. Our results provided a primary molecular basis for the prevention and treatment of YFD of Qinghuajiao trees.

Abstract Time-to-fall off an accelerating rotating rod (rotarod) is widely utilized to evaluate rodent motor performance. We reasoned that this simple outcome could be refined with additional measures explicit in the task (however inconspicuously) to examine what we call movement sub-structure. Our goal was to characterize normal variation or motor impairment more robustly than by using time-to-fall. We also hypothesized that measures (or features) early in the sub-structure could anticipate the learning expected of a mouse undergoing serial trials. Using normal untreated and baclofen-treated movement-impaired mice, we defined these features and automated their analysis using paw video-tracking in three consecutive trials, including paw location, speed, acceleration, variance and approximate entropy. Spectral arc length yielded speed and acceleration uniformity. We found that, in normal mice, paw movement smoothness inversely correlated with rotarod time-to-fall for the three trials. Greater approximate entropy in vertical movements, and opposite changes in horizontal movements, correlated with greater first-trial time-to-fall. First-trial horizontal approximate entropy in the first few seconds predicted subsequent time-to-fall. This allowed for the separation, after only one rotarod trial, of different-weight, untreated mouse groups, and for the detection of mice otherwise unimpaired after baclofen, which displayed a time-to-fall similar to control. A machine-learning support vector machine classifier corroborated these findings. In conclusion, time-to-fall off a rotarod correlated well with several measures, including some obtained during the first few seconds of a trial, and some responsive to learning over the first two trials, allowing for predictions or preemptive experimental manipulations before learning completion.

Abstract Genetic factors are one of the most important causes of non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). ESX1 is an X-linked testis-biased expressed gene, and a potential biomarker for testicular sperm retrieval in NOA patients, yet few systematic studies have investigated its association with NOA. Here, we performed selected exonic sequencing in a large cohort of Chinese males, and four novel missense mutations (including one compound mutation), one novel synonymous mutation of ESX1 unique to NOA patients were identified. We analyzed the effects of ESX1 mutations on cyclin A degradation and cell cycle progression by immunoprecipitation assay and flow cytometry, and found that the compound mutant p.[P365R; L366V] ESX1 compromised the stabilizing effect of ESX1 on polyubiquitinated cyclin A, thereby causing the failure of M phase arrest in cells. Further studies showed that the deleterious effect of the compound mutations on ESX1 protein function was attributed to p.P365R but not p.L366V alteration. The novel ESX1 mutation p.P365R might confer high risk for NOA in Han Chinese population, probably via affecting cell cycle control.

Abstract Taurine has been reported high amounts in marine animals to maintain osmotic balance between osmoformers and sea water. Approximately 80% of the total amino-acid content is taurine in Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, an intertidal and euryhaline species. In this study, we cloned the two copies of cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase (CSAD), the key enzyme in taurine biosynthesis pathway, screened in oyster genome data. Sequentially, we compared the expression patterns of CgCSAD1 and CgCSAD2 under low salinity treatment (8‰ and 15‰) using different families from two populations. There was no correlation between the expression of CSAD and the different population. Notably, CgCSAD1 increased significantly in treated groups for 24 h, but CgCSAD2 had no significant differentiation. Moreover, the results of CgCSAD1 interference provided the evidence of the positive correlation between CgCSAD1 expressions and taurine contents. The zinc finger domain showed in multi-alignment results may be the important character of CgCSAD1 as the key enzyme in taurine biosynthesis to regulate taurine pool in response to low salinity. This study provides a new evidence for the important role of taurine in adaptation to low salinity in oyster. In addition, it is a good model to discuss the function and evolution of the duplication in mollusks.

Abstract Chemical sensors detect a variety of chemicals across numerous fields, such as automobile, aerospace, safety, indoor air quality, environmental control, food, industrial production and medicine. We successfully assemble an alcohol-sensing device comprising a thin-film sensor made of graphene nanosheets (GNs) and bacterial cellulose nanofibers (BCNs). We show that the GN/BCN sensor has a high selectivity to ethanol by distinguishing liquid–phase or vapor–phase ethanol (C2H6O) from water (H2O) intelligently with accurate transformation into electrical signals in devices. The BCN component of the film amplifies the ethanol sensitivity of the film, whereby the GN/BCN sensor has 12400% sensitivity for vapor-phase ethanol compared to the pure GN sensor, which has only 21% sensitivity. Finally, GN/BCN sensors demonstrate fast response/recovery times and a wide range of alcohol detection (10–100%). The superior sensing ability of GN/BCN compared to GNs alone is due to the improved wettability of BCNs and the ionization of liquids. We prove a facile, green, low-cost route for the assembly of ethanol-sensing devices with potential for vast application.

Abstract Carotenoids not only play indispensable roles in plant growth and development but also enhance nutritional value and health benefits for humans. In this study, total carotenoids progressively decreased during fruit ripening. Fifty-four genes involving in mevalonate (MVA), 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP), carotenoid biosynthesis and catabolism pathway were identified. The expression levels of most of the carotenoid metabolism related genes kept changing during fruit ripening generating a metabolic flux toward carotenoid synthesis. Down regulation of VvDXS, VvDXR, VvGGPPS and VvPSY and a dramatic increase in the transcription levels of VvCCD might be responsible for the reduction of carotenoids content. The visible correlation between carotenoid content and gene expression profiles suggested that transcriptional regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis pathway genes is a key mechanism of carotenoid accumulation. In addition, the decline of carotenoids was also accompanied with the reduction of chlorophyll content. The reduction of chlorophyll content might be due to the obstruction in chlorophyll synthesis and acceleration of chlorophyll degradation. These results will be helpful for better understanding of carotenoid biosynthesis in grapevine fruit and contribute to the development of conventional and transgenic grapevine cultivars for further enrichment of carotenoid content.

The purpose of this research was to investigate the association between leisure activity and cognitive function in Chinese older adults, and to explore the mediating role of individual evaluation, anxiety and depression. Using cross-sectional data from the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), Pearson correlation analyses were employed to examine the relationships among various indicators. A multiple mediation model was constructed to investigate the mediating pathways through which leisure activities impact cognitive function in elderly individuals. Leisure activities, individual evaluation, anxiety, and depression were significantly correlated with cognitive function (p < 0.01). Leisure activities not only directly positively impacted cognitive function in elderly individuals (effect = 0.3780; 95% CI = [0.3459, 0.4101]), but also exerted indirect effects through five pathways. Individual evaluation, anxiety, depression, they plays a mediating role in the association between leisure activity and cognitive function in older adults in China. Leisure activities can positively impact cognitive function in elderly individuals by enhancing individual evaluation and subsequently reducing anxiety and depression., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Asthma is a prevalent chronic disease characterized by airflow obstruction, causing breathing difficulties and wheezing. This study investigates the association between the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) and asthma prevalence, as well as all-cause and respiratory mortality among asthma patients, using data from the 2001-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We included participants aged 20 years and older with complete CAR data, excluding those who were pregnant or lost to follow-up. The analysis employed weighted logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models with stepwise adjustment, restricted cubic spline analysis for nonlinear relationships, and time-dependent ROC curves for predictive accuracy. Results showed that the highest CAR quartile significantly increased the risk of asthma (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.38-1.78), all-cause mortality (HR 2.20, 95% CI 1.67-2.89), and respiratory mortality (HR 2.56, 95% CI 1.30-5.38). The impact of CAR on all-cause mortality was particularly significant in hypertensive patients. These findings highlight CAR's potential as a valuable biomarker for predicting asthma prevalence and mortality, underscoring its role in asthma management and prognostication., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The exploration of traumatic spinal fractures (TSFs) within the senior demographic has not been thoroughly scrutinized, particularly with respect to variations across genders, age groups, seasonal periods, and causative factors. This retrospective analysis aimed to dissect differences in the prevalence and characteristics of TSFs among the elderly, factoring in gender, age, seasonal timing, and causation. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical and imaging records of 1,415 patients, all aged 60 years or older, who were diagnosed with TSFs from 2013 to 2019. This study categorized the data by gender, age groups (60-70, 70-80, and 80 years or older), seasons, and the cause of injuries, including road traffic crashes (RTCs), falls from low heights (LHF), falls from high heights (HHF), and injuries incurred during everyday activities and agricultural labor (DFI). Male patients exhibited notably higher incidences of RTCs, high-height falls (HHFs), outdoor incidents, comas post-injury, fractures of the lower limbs (LLFs), pelvic fractures (PFs), rib fractures (RFs), intra-thoracic injuries (ITIs), intra-abdominal injuries (IAIs), cervical fractures, and spinal cord injuries (SCIs). With advancing age, there was a marked decline in occurrences of RTCs, HHFs, outdoor incidents, RFs, craniocerebral injuries (CCIs), ITIs, cervical fractures, and SCIs, while the incidences of DFIs, indoor incidents, and thoracic and lumbar (T + L) fractures notably increased. During autumn, LLF occurrences were significantly reduced, whereas the winter season saw an increase in thoracic fractures. Spring time was associated with a higher frequency of lumbar fractures and noncontiguous spinal fractures (NSFs). Significant distinctions were observed in the age distribution, injury circumstances, associated injuries, and SCIs between high-energy impacts (RTCs and HHFs) and low-energy traumas (LHFs and DFIs). In the elderly demographic, TSFs exhibited discernible distinctions based on gender, age, seasonal variations, and etiological factors, impacting the nature and circumstances of injuries, associated traumas, complications, fracture sites, and the occurrence of SCIs., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

To elucidate the neurological features of Hansen disease. The medical records of patients with confirmed Hansen disease transferred from the neurology department were reviewed, and all medical and neurological manifestations of Hansen disease were assessed. Eleven patients with confirmed Hansen disease, 10 with newly detected Hansen disease and 1 with relapsed Hansen disease, who visited neurology departments were enrolled. The newly detected patients with Hansen disease were classified as having lepromatous leprosy (LL, n = 1), borderline lepromatous leprosy (BL, n = 2), borderline leprosy (BB, n = 2), borderline tuberculoid leprosy (BT, n = 1), tuberculoid leprosy (TT, n = 2), or pure neural leprosy (PNL, n = 2). All of the patients with confirmed Hansen were diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy (100.00%, 11/11). The symptoms and signs presented were mainly limb numbness (100.00%, 11/11), sensory and motor dysfunction (100.00%, 11/11), decreased muscle strength (90.90%, 10/11), and skin lesions (81.81%, 9/11). Nerve morphological features in nerve ultrasonography (US) included peripheral nerve asymmetry and segmental thickening (100.00%, 9/9). For neuro-electrophysiology feature, the frequency of no response of sensory nerves was significantly higher than those of motor nerves [(51.21% 42/82) vs (24.70%, 21/85)(P = 0.0183*)] by electrodiagnostic (EDX) studies. Nerve histological features in nerve biopsy analysis included demyelination (100.00%, 5/5) and axonal damage (60.00%, 3/5). In addition to confirmed diagnoses by acid-fast bacteria (AFB) staining (54.54%, 6/11) and skin pathology analysis (100.00%, 8/8), serology and molecular technology were positive in 36.36% (4/11) and 100.00% (11/11) of confirmed patients of Hansen disease, respectively. It is not uncommon for patients of Hansen disease to visit neurology departments due to peripheral neuropathy. The main pathological features of affected nerves are demyelination and axonal damage. The combination of nerve US, EDX studies, nerve biopsy, and serological and molecular tests can improve the diagnosis of Hansen disease., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders are correlated with cellular stress. Macroautophagy (autophagy) may represent an important protective pathway to maintain cellular homeostasis and functionality, as it targets cytoplasmic components to lysosomes for degradation and recycling. Given recent evidence that some novel psychiatric treatments, such as the neuroactive steroid (NAS) allopregnanolone (AlloP, brexanolone), may induce autophagy, we stably transfected human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK) cells with a ratiometric fluorescent probe to assay NAS effects on autophagy. We hypothesized that NAS may modulate autophagy in part by the ability of uncharged NAS to readily permeate membranes. Microscopy revealed a weak effect of AlloP on autophagic flux compared with the positive control treatment of Torin1. In high-throughput microplate experiments, we found that autophagy induction was more robust in early passages of HEK cells. Despite limiting studies to early passages for maximum sensitivity, a range of NAS structures failed to reliably induce autophagy or interact with Torin1 or starvation effects. To probe NAS in a system where AlloP effects have been shown previously, we surveyed astrocytes and again saw minimal autophagy induction by AlloP. Combined with other published results, our results suggest that NAS may modulate autophagy in a cell-specific or context-specific manner. Although there is merit to cell lines as a screening tool, future studies may require assaying NAS in cells from brain regions involved in neuropsychiatric disorders., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The attraction between unequally sized like magnetic poles is characterized herein. Finite element analysis (FEA) simulation has verified that attraction can occur between like poles. Between two unequally sized like poles with various dimensions and alignments, a turning point (TP) appears on the curves of force vs. distance between them, which is caused by the localized demagnetization (LD). The LD plays a role far before the distance between the poles reduces to the TP. The LD area may have a changed polarity, making the attraction possible and not in violation of basic laws of magnetism. Here, the LD levels have been determined using FEA simulation, and the factors affecting the LD have been explored, including the geometry, the linearity of the BH curve, and the alignment of the magnet pairs. Novel devices can be designed with attraction between the centers of such like poles and repulsion when off-center., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This investigation reveals the mystery of the cases where magnetic like poles attract each other, and unlike poles repel one another. It is identified that for two unequally sized like poles, the pole with a higher P c (permeance coefficient) causes a localized demagnetization (LD) to the pole with a lower P c . If the LD is large enough, the polarity of a localized area can be reversed, resulting in an attraction between these two like poles in the LD area in a small gap. Two unusual behaviors are observed: (1) an inflection point IP appears on the force vs gap curves of all the unequally sized like poles since they have different P c . Normally, the like poles' repelling force increases when the gap decreases, but this IP results in nonmonotonic curves, even an attractive force in a small gap; (2) for some NdFeB magnets with a low coercivity and nonlinear B-H curve in the 2nd quadrant, a repulsion can occur for these unequal sized unlike poles, after previously pairing with their like poles that left an unrecoverable LD and reversed polarity area. The relationship of the LD, the P c ratio, and the B-H curve are also explored in this paper.

Autoantibodies against M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) serve as specific biomarkers for idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN), and its quantification helps monitor disease activity. In this study, we describe a rapid and highly sensitive quantum dots-based immunochromatography assay (QD-ICA) for quantifying PLA2R autoantibodies. Serum samples from 135 biopsy-confirmed patients with nephrotic syndrome were analyzed for PLA2R autoantibodies using the novel QD-ICA as well as commercialized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) of QD-ICA were significantly greater than those of ELISA (91.1% [95% CI 85.9-96.3%] and 83.9% [95% CI 76.5-91.2%] respectively; p < 0.01). The detection sensitivity and specificity of QD-ICA (80.9% [95% CI 69.2-89.0%] and 100% [95% CI 93.2-100.0%], respectively) exceeded those of ELISA (72.1% [95% CI 59.7-81.9%] and 98.5% [95% CI 90.9-100.0%], respectively). The optimum cut-off value of QD-ICA was 18.18 relative units (RU)/mL, and the limit of detection was 2.86 RU/mL. The novel QD-ICA outperforms ELISA in detecting PLA2R autoantibodies, with shorter detection time, fewer steps, smaller equipment size, and broader testing application, suggesting its capability to improve IMN diagnosis and monitor patient response to treatment.

Diagnosis of pediatric paragonimiasis is difficult because of its non-specific clinical manifestations. We retrospectively reviewed the records of pediatric paragonimiasis in Children's Hospital of Fudan University from January 2011 to May 2019. The confirmed diagnosis of paragonimiasis was based on positive anti-parasite serological tests from the local Center for Disease Control (CDC). A total of 11 patients (mean age: 7.7 ± 3.1, male-female ratio: 7:4) diagnosed as paragonimiasis were included. 81.8% were from endemic areas such as Sichuan and Yunnan, and 36% had a clear history of raw crab or crayfish consumption. The characteristic clinical features of pediatric paragonimiasis were eosinophilia (100%), pleural effusion (81.8%), hepatomegaly (54.5%), ascites (54.5%), and subcutaneous nodules (45.5%). Misdiagnosed with other diseases including tuberculosis (18.2%), pneumonia (9.1%), intracranial space-occupying lesions (9.1%) and brain abcess (9.1%) led to rehospitalization and prolonged hospitalization. For treatment, a 3-day course of 150 mg/kg praziquantel (PZQ) didn't show ideal treatment effectivity and 63.6% needed more than one course of PZQ, while triclabendazole in a total dose of 10 mg/kg had a better efficacy to stubborn manifestations. This study indicated that pediatric paragonimiasis was often misdiagnosed, and the treatment with a 3-day course of 150 mg/kg PZQ had a high rate of failure.

The plant hormone auxin is essential for plant growth and development. YUCCA proteins catalyse the rate-limiting step for endogenous auxin biosynthesis. In this study, we isolated 20 MdYUCCA genes from apple genome. MdYUCCA6a, MdYUCCA8a, and MdYUCCA10a were expressed in most organs and could support whole plant basal auxin synthesis. MdYUCCA4a, MdYUCCA10b, and MdYUCCA11a expression indicated roles for these genes in auxin biosynthesis in vegetative organs. MdYUCCA2b, MdYUCCA11b, and MdYUCCA11d were mainly expressed in flower organs. High temperature induced the expression of MdYUCCA4a, MdYUCCA6a, MdYUCCA8a, and MdYUCCA10a, and down-regulated the expression of MdYUCCA2b and MdYUCCA6b. Dual-luciferase assay indicated that MdPIF4 could trans-activate the MdYUCCA8a promoter. Overexpression of MdYUCCA8a increased IAA content, increased stem height, enhanced apical dominance, and led to silique malformation. These results provide a foundation for further investigation of the biological functions of apple MdYUCCAs.

Magnetic refrigeration is of great interest due to its high energy efficiency, environmental friendliness and low cost. However, undesired hysteresis losses, concentrated working temperature interval (WTI) and poor mechanical stability are vital drawbacks that hinder its practical application. Off-stoichiometric Ni-Mn-Ga Heusler alloys are capable of giant magnetocaloric effect (MCE) and tunable transformation temperatures. Here, by creating Ni-Mn-Ga microwires with diameter of 35-80 μm using a melt-extraction technique, negligible hysteresis and relatively good mechanical stability are found due to the high specific surface area (SSA) that reduces incompatibility between neighboring grains. The high SSA also favors the element evaporation at high temperatures so that the transformation temperatures can be feasibly adjusted. Tunable magnetocaloric effect owing to different magneto-structural coupling states is realized by (i) composition design and subsequent tuning, which adjusts the temperature difference between the martensite transformation (MT) and the magnetic transition, and (ii) creation of gradient composition distribution state, which manipulates the MT range. Magnetic entropy change ΔS m ~-18.5 J kg -1 K -1 with relatively concentrated WTI and WTI up to ~60 K with net refrigeration capacity ~240 J kg -1 at 50 kOe are demonstrated in the present Ni-Mn-Ga microwires. This criterion is also applicable for other small-sized materials.

High magnetocaloric refrigeration performance requires large magnetic entropy change ΔS M and broad working temperature span ΔT FWHM . A fourth element doping of Co in ternary Ni-Mn-Sn alloy may significantly enhance the saturation magnetization of the alloy and thus enhance the ΔS M . Here, the effects of Co-doping on the martensite transformation, magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects (MCE) of quaternary Ni 47-x Mn 43 Sn 10 Co x (x = 0, 6, 11) alloys were investigated. The martensite transformation temperatures decrease while austenite Curie point increases with Co content increasing to x = 6 and 11, thus broadening the temperature window for a high magnetization austenite (13.5, 91.7 and 109.1 A·m 2 /kg for x = 0, 6 and 11, respectively). Two successive magnetostructural transformations (A → 10 M and A → 10 M + 6 M) occur in the alloy x = 6, which are responsible for the giant magnetic entropy change ΔS M =  29.5 J/kg·K, wide working temperature span ΔT FWHM  = 14 K and large effective refrigeration capacity RC eff  = 232 J/kg under a magnetic field of 5.0 T. These results suggest that Ni 40.6 Mn 43.3 Sn 10.0 Co 6.1 alloy may act as a potential solid-state magnetic refrigerant working at room temperature.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to play critical roles in cancer. lncTCF7 (gene symbol: WSPAR) has been reported to maintain stemness in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stem cells. However, little is known about the role of lncTCF7 in glioma. The aim of this study was to identify the role of lncTCF7 in the pathogenesis of glioma. We analysed the relationship of lncTCF7 expression with clinicopathological characteristics in glioma patients. Our results showed that lncTCF7 expression was increased in glioma tissues compared with that in normal brain tissues (P < 0.001). Moreover, lncTCF7 was significantly associated with WHO grade (I-II vs. III-IV; P = 0.006) and tumour size (<3 cm vs. T ≥ 3 cm; P = 0.025). Meanwhile, patients with high lncTCF7 expression levels exhibited markedly worse overall survival prognoses (P < 0.01). Loss of function assays revealed that knockdown of lncTCF7 significantly inhibited glioma cell migration, proliferation and tumorigenicity in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we found that hypoxia induced lncTCF7 expression in an autocrine manner through IL-6 in glioma. In conclusion, lncTCF7 may play a vital role in glioma progression and serves as a potential prognostic biomarker in glioma patients, providing new targets for glioma therapy.

A series of plasmonic Ag-TiO 2 /H 3 PW 12 O 40 composite films were fabricated and immobilized by validated preparation technique. The chemical composition and phase, optical, SPR effect and pore-structure properties together with the morphology of as-prepared composite film are well-characterized. The multi-synergies of as-prepared composite films were gained by combined action of electron-capture action via H 3 PW 12 O 40 , visible-response induced by Ag, and Schottky-junction formed between TiO 2 -Ag. Under simulated sunlight, the maximal K app of o-chlorophenol (o-CP) reached 0.0075 min -1 which was 3.95-fold larger than that of TiO 2 film, while it was restrained obviously under acid condition. In the photocatalytic degradation process, ·OH and ·O 2 - attacked preferentially ortho and para position of o-CP molecule, and accordingly the specific degradation pathways were speculated. The novel composite film exhibited an excellent applicability due to self-regeneration of H 3 PW 12 O 40 , well-protection of metal Ag° and favorable immobilization.

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are crucial calcium sensors that play important roles in the regulation of plant growth and developmental processes, as well as protective responses to environmental stress. Here, we identified 28 CDPK genes from barley and cloned 5 new, full-length CDPK genes, MLOC&#95;58648a, MLOC&#95;19618a, MLOC&#95;71733a, AK249361a and MLOC&#95;4965a, using their expressed sequence tags. Phylogenetic and gene structural analyses revealed that the CDPK could be divided into four subgroups. Significant site-specific altered constraints and a high evolutionary rate may have contributed to the functional divergences among CDPK gene subfamilies. Expression profiles of different tissues and developmental stages suggested that several CDPK genes are involved in the functional development of plants. Different expression levels under a variety of abiotic stresses also indicated that the CDPK family underwent functional divergence during long-term evolution. Furthermore, several CDPK genes responded to single treatments and individual CDPK genes responded to multiple treatments, suggesting that barley CDPKs may be involved in mediating cross-talk among different signalling pathways. Our data provide an important foundation for the functional and evolutionary analyses of this important gene family in barley.

Influenza viruses are a major public health threat worldwide. The influenza hemagglutinin (HA) plays an essential role in the virus life cycle. Due to the high conservation of the HA stem region, it has become an especially attractive target for inhibitors for therapeutics. In this study, molecular simulation was applied to study the mechanism of a small molecule inhibitor (MBX2329) of influenza HA. Behaviors of the small molecule under neutral and acidic conditions were investigated, and an interesting dynamic binding mechanism was found. The results suggested that the binding of the inhibitor with HA under neutral conditions facilitates only its intake, while it interacts with HA under acidic conditions using a different mechanism at a new binding site. After a series of experiments, we believe that binding of the inhibitor can prevent the release of HA1 from HA2, further maintaining the rigidity of the HA2 loop and stabilizing the distance between the long helix and short helices. The investigated residues in the new binding site show high conservation, implying that the new binding pocket has the potential to be an effective drug target. The results of this study will provide a theoretical basis for the mechanism of new influenza virus inhibitors.

Bagging is an efficient method to improve fruit colour development. This work reported a transcriptome analysis using bagging-treated red Chinese sand pear peels. In total, 8,870 differentially expressed genes were further analysed by a weighted gene co-expression network analysis and early-, middle- and late light-responsive genes were identified. An annotation analysis revealed several pathways involved in the different responsive stages. The presence of LONG HYPOCOTLY 5, CRY-DASH and a CONSTANS-like transcription factors among the early light-responsive genes indicated the pivotal role of light, especially blue light, in the biological changes that occurred after bag removal. Other light-responsive transcription factors were also identified from the three light-responsive stages. In addition, the light-responsive pattern of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes differed among the biosynthetic steps. Although yeast-one hybrid assay showed that most of the structural genes were regulated by PpMYB10, their different temporal expressive pattern suggested that besides PpMYB10, other light-responsive transcriptional factors were also involved in the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis. In summary, our transcriptome analysis provides knowledge of the transcriptional regulatory network operating during light responses, which results in anthocyanin accumulation and other significant physiological changes in red Chinese sand pear peels after bag removal.

The present work examined the effects of dipentaerythritol penta-acrylate phosphate (PENTA) as an alternative phosphate ester monomer for bonding of methacrylate-based resins to yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (Y-TZP) and further investigated the potential bonding mechanism involved. Shear bond strength testing was performed to evaluate the efficacy of experimental PENTA-containing primers (5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 wt% PENTA in acetone) in improving resin-Y-TZP bond strength. Bonding without the use of a PENTA-containing served as the negative control, and a Methacryloyloxidecyl dihydrogenphosphate(MDP)-containing primer was used as the positive control. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to investigate the potential existence of chemical affinity between PENTA and Y-TZP. Shear bond strengths were significant higher in the 15 and 20 wt% PENTA groups. The ICP-MS, XPS and FTIR data indicated that the P content on the Y-TZP surface increased as the concentration of PENTA increased in the experimental primers, via the formation of Zr-O-P bond. Taken together, the results attest that PENTA improves resin bonding of Y-TZP through chemical reaction with Y-TZP. Increasing the concentration of PENTA augments its binding affinity but not its bonding efficacy with zirconia.

Although increases in cardiovascular load (pressure overload) are known to elicit ventricular remodeling including cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis, the molecular mechanisms of pressure overload or AngII -induced cardiac interstitial fibrosis remain elusive. In this study, serpinE2/protease nexin-1 was over-expressed in a cardiac fibrosis model induced by pressure-overloaded via transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mouse. Knockdown of serpinE2 attenuates cardiac fibrosis in a mouse model of TAC. At meantime, the results showed that serpinE2 significantly were increased with collagen accumulations induced by AngII or TGF-β stimulation in vitro. Intriguingly, extracellular collagen in myocardial fibroblast was reduced by knockdown of serpinE2 compared with the control in vitro. In stark contrast, the addition of exogenous PN-1 up-regulated the content of collagen in myocardial fibroblast. The MEK1/2- ERK1/2 signaling probably promoted the expression of serpinE2 via transcription factors Elk1 in myocardial fibroblast. In conclusion, stress-induced the ERK1/2 signaling pathway activation up-regulated serpinE2 expression, consequently led accumulation of collagen protein, and contributed to cardiac fibrosis.

Local inflammation in tissues is one of primary causes in development of metabolic disorder in obesity. The accumulation of macrophages in some tissues can induce inflammatory reactions in obesity. Gpr97 is highly expressed in some immunocytes, but its potential role in inflammatory regulation has not been revealed clearly. In our research, we investigated Gpr97 in regulating macrophage inflammation and metabolic dysfunction in the high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. The major metabolic phenotyping were not different after Gpr97 knockout in HFD-fed mice. Similar pathological alterations in adipose tissue, liver, and kidney were observed in Gpr97(-/-) HFD mice compared with WT-HFD mice. In white adipose tissue, loss of Gpr97 reduced the ratio of M1-macrophages and increased the M2-macrophage ratio, which was opposite to that seen in the wild-type HFD mice. More macrophages invaded in the liver and kidney after Gpr97 knockout in HFD mice. Furthermore, the levels of TNF-α were higher in the liver and kidney of Gpr97(-/-) HFD mice compared to those in wild-type HFD mice. The data indicate that Gpr97 might be required for local inflammation development in obesity-relative tissues, but does not play a role in metabolic disorder in HFD-induced obesity.

A boron carbide coating was applied to diamond particles by heating the particles in a powder mixture consisting of H3BO3, B and Mg. The composition, bond state and coverage fraction of the boron carbide coating on the diamond particles were investigated. The boron carbide coating prefers to grow on the diamond (100) surface than on the diamond (111) surface. A stoichiometric B4C coating completely covered the diamond particle after maintaining the raw mixture at 1200 °C for 2 h. The contribution of the boron carbide coating to the oxidation resistance enhancement of the diamond particles was investigated. During annealing of the coated diamond in air, the priory formed B2O3, which exhibits a self-healing property, as an oxygen barrier layer, which protected the diamond from oxidation. The formation temperature of B2O3 is dependent on the amorphous boron carbide content. The coating on the diamond provided effective protection of the diamond against oxidation by heating in air at 1000 °C for 1 h. Furthermore, the presence of the boron carbide coating also contributed to the maintenance of the static compressive strength during the annealing of diamond in air.