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Reducing the interface barrier between metals and semiconductors is crucial for designing high-performance optoelectronic devices based on van der Waals heterojunctions (HJs). This study proposes four models of HJs composed of graphene (GR) and Ga2X3 (X = S, Se) and systematically investigates their interface electronic properties, along with strain engineering and electric field effects. The results indicated that exploiting the interface dipole-induced potential step allows modulation of the Schottky barrier height (SBH) and contact type of the HJs by altering the contact interfaces. In the BGR/Ga2S3 HJs (BGR means GR positioned at the bottom of Ga2X3), only a small positive (negative) electric field is required to realize the transition from n-type Schottky to p-type Schottky (Ohmic) contacts. Also, strain engineering provides additional means for flexible and controllable contact types, facilitating the design of reversible logic circuits. It indicates the physical insights and strategic interventions of GR/Ga2X3 HJs tunable SBH and offers theoretical guidance for the design of two-dimensional ferroelectric nanodevices with high-quality electrical contact interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate the diagnostic and predictive role of 18F‐FDG PET/CT in patients with autoimmune encephalitis (AE) as a whole group. Methods: Thrty‐five patients (20 females and 15 males) with AE were recruited. A voxel‐to‐voxel semi‐quantitative analysis based on SPM12 was used to analyze 18F‐FDG PET/CT imaging data compared to healthy controls. Further comparison was made in different prognostic groups categorized by modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Results: In total, 24 patients (68.6%) were tested positive neuronal antibodies in serum and/or CSF. Psychiatric symptoms and seizure attacks were major clinical symptoms. In the acute stage, 13 patients (37.1%) demonstrated abnormal brain MRI results, while 33 (94.3%) presented abnormal metabolism patterns. 18F‐FDG PET/CT was more sensitive than MRI (p < 0.05). Patients with AE mainly presented mixed metabolism patterns compared to the matched controls, demonstrating hypermetabolism mainly in the cerebellum, BG, MTL, brainstem, insula, middle frontal gyrus, and relatively hypometabolism in the frontal cortex, occipital cortex, temporal gyrus, right parietal gyrus, left cingulate gyrus (p < 0.05, FWE corrected). After a median follow‐up of 26 months, the multivariable analysis identified a decreased level of consciousness as an independent risk factor associated with poor outcome of AE (HR = 3.591, p = 0.016). Meanwhile, decreased metabolism of right superior frontal gyrus along with increased metabolism of the middle and upper brainstem was more evident in patients with poor outcome (p < 0.001, uncorrected). Conclusion: 18F‐FDG PET/CT was more sensitive than MRI to detect neuroimaging abnormalities of AE. A mixed metabolic pattern, characterized by large areas of cortical hypometabolism with focal hypermetabolism was a general metabolic pattern. Decreased metabolism of right superior frontal gyrus with increased metabolism of the middle and upper brainstem may predict poor long‐term prognosis of AE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate reconstruction of the in vivo dose is a critical step in radiation therapy. X-ray-induced acoustic imaging is a promising technology for in vivo dose reconstruction, as it enables the nonradiative and noninvasive monitoring of radiation dose. However, current X-ray acoustic imaging methods suffer from several limitations, including high signal-to-noise ratio, poor imaging quality and massive loss of structural information. To address these limitations, we propose a dose image reconstruction method based on tensor sparse dictionary learning. Specifically, we combine tensor coding with compressed sensing data, extend two-dimensional dictionary learning to three-dimensional by using tensor product, and then utilize the spatial information of X-ray acoustic signal more efficiently. To reduce the artifacts of reconstruction images caused by spare sampling, we design the alternate iterative solution of the tensor sparse coefficient and tensor dictionary. In addition, we build the X-ray-induced acoustic dose images reconstruction system, simulate the X-ray acoustic signals based on patients' information from Sichuan Cancer Hospital, and then create the simulated datasets. Compared to some typical state-of-the art imaging methods, the experimental results demonstrate that our method can significantly improve the quality of reconstructed images and the accuracy of dose distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To facilitate better implementation of flood control and risk mitigation strategies, a model for evaluating the flood defense capability of China is proposed in this study. First, nine indicators such as slope and precipitation intensity are extracted from four aspects: objective inclusiveness, subjective prevention, etc. Secondly, the entropy weight method in the multi-attribute decision making (MADM) model and the improved three-dimensional technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (3D-TOPSIS) method were combined to construct a flood defense capacity index evaluation system. Finally, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the Taylor plot method were innovatively used to test the model and indicators. The results show that nationwide, there is fine flood defense performance in Shandong, Jiangsu and room for improvement in Guangxi, Chongqing, Tibet and Qinghai. The good representativity of nine indicators selected by the model was verified by the Taylor plot. Simultaneously, the ROC calculated area under the curve (AUC) was 70%, which proved the good problem-solving ability of the MADM-GIS model. An accurate assessment of the sensitivity of flood control capacity in China was achieved, and it is suitable for situations where data is scarce or discontinuous. It provided scientific reference value for the planning and implementation of China's flood defense and disaster reduction projects and emergency safety strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological and experimental evidence indicate that selenium is associated with a reduced risk of some cancers, including esophageal cancer. However, the exact mechanism is still unclear. In the present study, we used esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell lines and animal models to explore the anti-cancer mechanism of methylseleninic acid (MSA). Firstly, MSA treatment dramatically attenuated Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) protein expression but did not alter mRNA levels in ESCC cells. On the contrary, EGFR overexpression partly abolished the inhibitory effect of MSA. With a microRNA-array, we found MSA up-regulated miR-146a which directly targeted EGFR, whereas miR-146a inhibitor antagonized MSA-induced decrease of EGFR protein. We further used 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO)-induced esophageal tumor mice model to evaluate the inhibitory effect of MSA in vivo. MSA treatment significantly decreased the tumor burden and EGFR protein expression in tumor specimens. Furthermore, MSA treatment inhibited EGFR pathway and subsequntly reduced Interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion in the supernatant of cancer cell lines. MSA-induced IL-6 suppression was EGFR-dependent. To further evaluate the association of IL-6 and the anti-tumor effect of MSA on esophageal cancer, we established the 4NQO-induced esophageal tumor model in IL-6 knock-out (IL-6 KO) mice. The results showed that IL-6 deficiency did not affect esophageal tumorigenesis in mice, but the inhibitory effect of MSA was abolished in IL-6 KO mice. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that MSA upregulated miR-146a which directly targeted EGFR, and inhibited EGFR protein expression and pathway activity, subsequently decreased IL-6 secretion. The inhibitory effect of MSA on esophageal cancer was IL-6 dependent. These results suggested that MSA may serve as a potential drug treating esophageal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at high performance requirements of snake-like robots under complex environment, we present a control system of our proposed design which utilizes a STM32 as the core processor and incorporates real-time image acquisition, multisensor fusion, and wireless communication technology. We use Solidworks to optimize the design of head, body, and tail joint structure of the snake-like robot. The system is a real-time system with a simple-circuit structure and multidegrees of freedom are attributed to the flawless design of control system and mechanical structure. We propose a control method based on our simplified CPG model. Meanwhile, we improve Serpenoid control function and then investigate how different parameters affect the motion gait in terms of ADAMS emulation. Finally, experimental results show that the snake-like robot can tackle challenging problems including multi-information acquisition and processing, multigait stability, and autonomous motion and further verify the reliability and accuracy of the system in our combinatory experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Strategies to increase radiosensitivity are urgently needed. Combining radiosensitizing reagents with radiotherapy could improve the outcome of cancer treatment. Some preclinical studies showed that sepantronium bromide (YM155) could sensitize cancer cells to radiation by inhibiting the survivin protein. In this study, we try to investigate the function of YM155 on radiosensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells. Materials and methods: ESCC cell lines were treated with radiation and YM155, and the radiation efficacy was evaluated by cell counting kit-8 assay and clonogenic survival assay. Cell senescence was measured by senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay, fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled Annexin V/propidium iodide assay, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase cleavage were used to detect apoptosis. KYSE150 xenografts model was used to test the efficacy of radiation combined with YM155. Results: YM155 could inhibit the upregulation of survivin induced by radiation in all ESCC cell lines, but the efficacy of radiosensitization varied in different cell lines. Radiation-induced senescence in KYSE150 and KYSE410 cells, and the combination with YM155 inhibited senescence and promoted apoptosis of ESCC cells, thereby enhancing radiosensitivity. Combination with YM155 and radiation delayed the growth of KYSE150 xenografts in nude mice by switching radiation-induced senescence to apoptosis. When p21 was inhibited in KYSE150 cells, radiation did not induce senescence, and the radiosensitization of YM155 was also attenuated. In KYSE510 and KYSE180 cells, radiation did not induce senescence, and YM155 could not enhance the radiosensitivity. Conclusion: Our results suggest a new mechanism that YM155 might sensitize ESCC cells to radiation by switching radiation-induced senescence to apoptosis. The major determinant of radiosensitization by YM155 might be the induction of senescence by radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate the diagnostic and predictive role of 18 F-FDG PET/CT in patients with autoimmune encephalitis (AE) as a whole group., Methods: Thrty-five patients (20 females and 15 males) with AE were recruited. A voxel-to-voxel semi-quantitative analysis based on SPM12 was used to analyze 18 F-FDG PET/CT imaging data compared to healthy controls. Further comparison was made in different prognostic groups categorized by modified Rankin Scale (mRS)., Results: In total, 24 patients (68.6%) were tested positive neuronal antibodies in serum and/or CSF. Psychiatric symptoms and seizure attacks were major clinical symptoms. In the acute stage, 13 patients (37.1%) demonstrated abnormal brain MRI results, while 33 (94.3%) presented abnormal metabolism patterns. 18 F-FDG PET/CT was more sensitive than MRI (p < 0.05). Patients with AE mainly presented mixed metabolism patterns compared to the matched controls, demonstrating hypermetabolism mainly in the cerebellum, BG, MTL, brainstem, insula, middle frontal gyrus, and relatively hypometabolism in the frontal cortex, occipital cortex, temporal gyrus, right parietal gyrus, left cingulate gyrus (p < 0.05, FWE corrected). After a median follow-up of 26 months, the multivariable analysis identified a decreased level of consciousness as an independent risk factor associated with poor outcome of AE (HR = 3.591, p = 0.016). Meanwhile, decreased metabolism of right superior frontal gyrus along with increased metabolism of the middle and upper brainstem was more evident in patients with poor outcome (p < 0.001, uncorrected)., Conclusion: 18 F-FDG PET/CT was more sensitive than MRI to detect neuroimaging abnormalities of AE. A mixed metabolic pattern, characterized by large areas of cortical hypometabolism with focal hypermetabolism was a general metabolic pattern. Decreased metabolism of right superior frontal gyrus with increased metabolism of the middle and upper brainstem may predict poor long-term prognosis of AE., (© 2024 The Author(s). CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aims: This study aimed to comprehensively explore the cerebellar structural and functional changes in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and its association with clinical information., Methods: The SUIT toolbox was utilized to perform cerebellar volume and diffusion analysis. In addition, we extracted the average diffusion values of cerebellar peduncle tracts to investigate microstructure alterations. Seed-based whole-brain analysis was used to investigate cerebellar-cerebral functional connectivity (FC). Subgroup analyses were performed to identify the cerebellar participation in TLE with/without hippocampal sclerosis (HS)/focal-to-bilateral tonic-clonic seizure (FBTCS) and TLE with different lateralization., Results: TLE showed widespread gray matter atrophy in bilateral crusII, VIIb, VIIIb, left crusI, and left VIIIa. Both voxel and tract analysis observed diffusion abnormalities in cerebellar afferent peduncles. Reduced FC between the right crus II and the left parahippocampal cortex was found in TLE. Additionally, TLE showed increased FCs between left lobules VI-VIII and cortical nodes of the dorsal attention and visual networks. Across all patients, decreased FC was associated with poorer cognitive function, while increased FCs appeared to reflect compensatory effects. The cerebellar structural changes were mainly observed in HS and FBTCS subgroups and were regardless of seizure lateralization, while cerebellar-cerebral FC alterations were similar in all subgroups., Conclusion: TLE exhibited microstructural changes in the cerebellum, mainly related to HS and FBTCS. In addition, altered cerebellar-cerebral functional connectivity is associated with common cognitive alterations in TLE., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Wang, Liu, Zhang, Wang, Liu, Chen, Wu, Zhao, Xiao, Wan and Long.)

Background: Cerebellar functional alterations are common in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), which contribute to cognitive decline. This study aimed to deepen our knowledge of cerebellar functional alterations in patients with MTLE., Methods: In this study, participants were recruited from an ongoing prospective cohort of 13 patients with left TLE (LTLE), 17 patients with right TLE (RTLE), and 30 healthy controls (HCs). Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected during a Chinese verbal fluency task. Group independent component (IC) analysis (group ICA) was applied to segment the cerebellum into six functionally separated networks. Functional connectivity was compared among cerebellar networks, cerebellar activation maps, and the centrality parameters of cerebellar regions. For cerebellar functional profiles with significant differences, we calculated their correlation with clinical features and neuropsychological scores., Result: Compared to HCs and patients with LTLE, patients with RTLE had higher cerebellar functional connectivity between the default mode network (DMN) and the oculomotor network and lower cerebellar functional connectivity from the frontoparietal network (FPN) to the dorsal attention network (DAN) ( p < 0.05, false discovery rate- (FDR-) corrected). Cerebellar degree centrality (DC) of the right lobule III was significantly higher in patients with LTLE compared to HC and patients with RTLE ( p < 0.05, FDR-corrected). Higher cerebellar functional connectivity between the DMN and the oculomotor network, as well as lower cerebellar degree centrality of the right lobule III, was correlated with worse information test performance., Conclusion: Cerebellar functional profiles were altered in MTLE and correlated with long-term memory in patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Peng, Wang, Liu, Tan, Zhang, He, Dai, Wang, Liu, Xiao, Xie and Long.)

Targeting EGFR combined with chemotherapy is one of the most valuable therapeutic strategies in colorectal cancer. However, resistance remains a major obstacle to improve efficacy. IRE1α-XBP1s signaling pathway is activated in many malignant tumors, and plays important roles in chemoresistance. Therefore, IRE1α-XBP1s might be a potential target to overcome the chemoresistance in colorectal cancer. In this study, we detected the activation of IRE1α-XBP1s signaling in patient cancer tissues and colorectal cancer cell lines. The phosphorylation level of IRE1α and the spliced XBP1s were aberrantly elevated in colorectal cancer, and IRE1α-XBP1s signaling activation was correlated with high EGFR expression. By overexpression of EGFR protein or activation by EGF treatment, we found that EGFR activation could enhance the phosphorylation of IRE1α and spliced XBP1s expression. On the contrary, inhibition of EGFR decreased the IRE1α-XBP1s signaling. Further, we examined the downstream signaling pathways regulated by EGFR. Inhibition of ERK activity could reverse the EGFR induced IRE1α-XBP1s activation. Co-IP confirmed the physical interaction of ERK and IRE1α. Cell growth and colony formation assay showed that the inhibition of IRE1α activity could suppress EGFR driven colorectal cancer cell proliferation. Furthermore, we found that oxaliplatin could activate IRE1α-XBP1s signaling, and combination with cetuximab partially reversed the activation. Inhibition of EGFR signaling could enhance the efficacy of oxaliplatin in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed that IRE1α RNase activity is aberrantly elevated in colorectal cancer, and EGFR signaling could activate IRE1α/XBP1s possibly through EGFR-MEK-ERK pathway. IRE1α-XBP1s pathway might involve in EGFR driven tumor cell proliferation. Cetuximab could partially recover oxaliplatin-induced IRE1α-XBP1s activation, and therefore enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of oxaliplatin. Our findings declare a new mechanism that targeting EGFR could inhibit chemotherapy-induced IRE1α-XBP1s activation and therefore enhance the efficacy., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a target of colon cancer therapy, but the effects of this therapy on the tumor microenvironment remain poorly understood. Our in vivo studies showed that cetuximab, an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, effectively inhibited AOM/DSS-induced, colitis-associated tumorigenesis, downregulated M2-related markers, and decreased F4/80+/CD206+ macrophage populations. Treatment with conditioned medium of colon cancer cells increased macrophage expression of the M2-related markers arginase-1 (Arg1), CCL17, CCL22, IL-10 and IL-4. By contrast, conditioned medium of EGFR knockout colon cancer cells inhibited expression of these M2-related markers and induced macrophage expression of the M1-related markers inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), IL-12, TNF-α and CCR7. EGFR knockout in colon cancer cells inhibited macrophage-induced promotion of xenograft tumor growth. Moreover, colon cancer-derived insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) increased Arg1 expression, and treatment with the IGF1R inhibitor AG1024 inhibited that increase. These results suggest that inhibition of EGFR signaling in colon cancer cells modulates cytokine secretion (e.g. IGF-1) and prevents M1-to-M2 macrophage polarization, thereby inhibiting cancer cell growth.

Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a transcription factor and functions as a tumor suppressor or tumor promoter in different cancer types. KLF4 regulates many gene expression, thus affects the process of cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Recently, KLF4 was reported to induce senescence during the generation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, but the exact mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we constructed two doxycycline-inducing KLF4 cell models, and demonstrated overexpression of KLF4 could promote cell senescence, detected by senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity assay. Then we confirmed that p21, a key effector of senescence, was directly induced by KLF4. KLF4 could also inhibit survivin, which could indirectly induce p21. By miRNA microarray, we found a series of miRNAs regulated by KLF4 and involved in senescence. We demonstrated that KLF4 could upregulate miR-203, and miR-203 contributed to senescence through miR-203-survivin-p21 pathway. Our results suggest that KLF4 could promote cell senescence through a complex network: miR-203, survivin, and p21, which were all regulated by overexpression of KLF4 and contributed to cell senescence.

Hereditary retinal dystrophy usually leads to blindness. Using Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats as a hereditary retinal dystrophy model, we investigated the possible neuroprotective effects of the aqueous extract of dried Lycium barbarum (LBA). Sixty postnatal RCS rats were selected and randomly divided into a control group (CG, thirty rats) and an experimental group (EG). Ten days after birth, EG rats were treated by 1 mg/kg of LBA per day, and CG rats were normally fed. These rats were killed at postnatal day (P) 25, P35 and P50, and retinal tissue was prepared for analysis. Photoreceptor cells were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, TUNEL detection and Caspase-2 protein expression. We found that in rats at P25, the outer nuclear layer (ONL) of EG was thicker and more photoreceptor cells survived. Meanwhile, the TUNEL expression in EG was obviously reduced compared with CG. The Caspase-2 positive cells were found in the ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer in both CG and EG at 25-50 postnatal days, but the expression in EG rats was significantly lower than in CG at P25. The results demonstrated that LBA might have a neuroprotective role on the retinal tissue of RCS rats at the early stage by protecting photoreceptors and inhibiting apoptosis involving Caspase-2 protein.