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Heterostructures endow electrochemical hybrids with promising energy storage properties owing to synergistic effects and interfacial interaction. However, developing a facile but effective approach to maximize interface effects is crucial but challenging. Herein, a bimetallic selenide heterostructure is realized in a confined carbon network via an in situ electrochemical strategy to induce highly active and stable electrode architecture. The dynamically formed heterostructures upon repeated delithiation/lithiation process not only yield abundant interconnected SnSe2/FeSe2 heterojunctions with continuous channels for ion/electron transfer but maintain excellent conversion reversibility. Serving as anode for lithium storage, the SnSe2/FeSe2@C framework enables a high discharging capacity of 1781.9 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 after 500 cycles and superior cycling stability (no capacity fade after 1200 cycles at 2 A g−1). This study can guide future design protocols for interface engineering through the formation of dynamic channels of conversion reaction kinetics for potential applications in high‐performance electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: By employing three surface‐guided radiotherapy (SGRT)‐assisted positioning methods, we conducted a prospective study of patients undergoing SGRT‐based deep inspiration breath‐hold (DIBH) radiotherapy using a Sentine/Catalys system. The aim of this study was to optimize the initial positioning workflow of SGRT‐DIBH radiotherapy for breast cancer. Materials and methods: A total of 124 patients were divided into three groups to conduct a prospective comparative study of the setup accuracy and efficiency for the daily initial setup of SGRT‐DIBH breast radiotherapy. Group A was subjected to skin marker plus SGRT verification, Group B underwent SGRT optical feedback plus auto‐positioning, and Group C was subjected to skin marker plus SGRT auto‐positioning. We evaluated setup accuracy and efficiency using cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) verification data and the total setup time. Results: In groups A, B, and C, the mean and standard deviation of the translational setup‐error vectors were small, with the highest values of the three directions observed in group A (2.4 ± 1.6, 2.9 ± 1.8, and 2.8 ± 2.1 mm). The rotational vectors in group B (1.8 ± 0.7°, 2.1 ± 0.8°, and 1.8 ± 0.7°) were significantly larger than those in groups A and C, and the Group C setup required the shortest amount of time, at 1.5 ± 0.3 min, while that of Group B took the longest time, at 2.6 ± 0.9 min. Conclusion: SGRT one‐key calibration was found to be more suitable when followed by skin marker/tattoo and in‐room laser positioning, establishing it as an optimal daily initial set‐up protocol for breast DIBH radiotherapy. This modality also proved to be suitable for free‐breathing breast cancer radiotherapy, and its widespread clinical use is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The most common causes of plantar and heel pain are plantar fasciitis and calcaneal spurs, and they often co‐exist. Surgery is a recognized treatment for refractory plantar fasciitis. However, few studies have proposed treatment options for patients with metatarsophalangeal fasciitis with bone spurs. Accordingly, this study's purpose was to propose a four‐step surgical regimen, and to improve the surgical outcome of plantar fasciitis with osteophytes and to establish a procedure for surgical treatment. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 45 patients suffering from plantar fasciitis with bone spurs from 2020 to 2023. All patients underwent a four‐step procedure, including plantar fascia release, calcaneal spur grinding, inflammatory tissue removal, and calcaneal burr decompression. The imaging parameters and functional scores were recorded before and after the operation. The objective evaluation included the measurement of calcaneal spur length on radiographs. Clinical evaluation included the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the Foot and Ankle Outcome Scale (FAOS). Measurement data that conformed to normal distribution were expressed as (x2 ± s), and pre‐and postoperative AOFAS, FAOS, and VAS scores were compared using repeated‐measures ANOVA, and preoperative and postoperative spur lengths were compared using paired t‐tests. Results: The 45 patients were followed up for 3 to 30 months, (17.72 ± 8.53) months, at final follow‐up, the patient's AOFAS score improved from preoperative (74.93 ± 5.56) to (94.78 ± 3.98), FAOS score increased from preoperative (76.42 ± 3.37) to (96.16 ± 2.74), the VAS score decreased from (3.18 ± 0.54) to (1.07 ± 1.20) (p < 0.05), the length of spur decreased from (0.72 ± 1.81) cm to (0.23 ± 1.19) cm, and there were significant differences before and after operation (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The four‐step surgical regimen is an appropriate and effective surgical procedure to treat plantar fasciitis with bone spurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforcement is a critical aspect in the preservation of waterlogged wooden artifacts to ensure their long‐term stability. In this study, we investigated the use of bacterial cellulose compounded with xylitol as a reinforcement material for simulated waterlogged wooden artifacts at varying concentrations. Evaluation of the reinforcement effects was based on indicators such as antishrinking efficacy, mechanical strength, and microscopic morphology. Our findings revealed that bacterial cellulose alone had limited effectiveness but showed enhanced reinforcement when mixed with xylitol. Optimized conditions resulted in remarkable improvements in bending strength (94.5 MPa) and deformation (20 mm) of the reinforced wood. This study offers novel insights and a scientific foundation for the reinforcement of waterlogged wooden artifacts, with potential implications for their preservation in cultural heritage conservation practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa, the mechanism of its inflammatory progression has not yet been fully elucidated. PA28γ plays a significant role in a variety of immune‐related diseases. However, the exact role of PA28γ in the pathogenesis of OLP remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that PA28γ is overexpressed in epithelial cells and inflammatory cells of OLP tissues but has no significant relationship with OLP subtypes. Functionally, keratinocytes with high PA28γ expression could induce dendritic cell (DC) maturation and promote the T‐cell differentiation into Th1 cells in response to the immune response. In addition, we found that a high level of PA28γ expression is associated with high numbers of infiltrating mature DCs and activated T‐cells in OLP tissues. Mechanistically, keratinocytes with high PA28γ expression could promote the secretion of C–C motif chemokine (CCL)5, blocking CCL5 or/and its receptor CD44 could inhibit the induction of T‐cell differentiation by keratinocytes with high PA28γ expression. In conclusion, we reveal that keratinocytes with high expression of PA28γ in OLP can induce DC maturation and promote T‐cell differentiation through the CCL5‐CD44 pathway, providing previously unidentified mechanistic insights into the mechanism of inflammatory progression in OLP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Serum response factor (SRF) and myocardial‐associated transcription factor‐A (MRTF‐A) had different regulatory effects on the tumorigenesis and development in different cancers. However, the role of MRTF‐A/SRF in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains to be determined. Methods: CCK‐8 assay, cell scratch experiment, and transwell invasion assay were conducted to investigate the effects of MRTF‐A/SRF on biological behavior of OSCC cells. The expression pattern and prognostic value of MRTF‐A/SRF in OSCC were analyzed based on cBioPortal website and TCGA database. Protein–protein interaction network was visualized to identify protein functions. Go and KEGG pathway analyses were performed to investigate related pathways. The effect of MRTF‐A/SRF on epithelial–mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of OSCC cells was explored by western blot assay. Results: Overexpression of MRTF‐A/SRF inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells in vitro. High expression of SRF was related to better prognosis of OSCC patients on hard palate, alveolar ridge, and oral tongue. Besides, overexpression of MRTF‐A/SRF inhibited the EMT of OSCC cells. Conclusion: SRF was closely related to the prognosis of OSCC. High expression of SRF and its co‐activator MRTF‐A inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells in vitro, possibly via EMT suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larvae of Melolonthinae (white grubs) are usually considered as serious pests for some of them attacking plant roots and causing great losses of agriculture and forestry. However, not all the white grubs are pest species. In this study, the adult Apogonia cupreoviridis were observed to feed on gramineous grasses and fallen ginkgo leaves, while their larvae were frequently collected in the lawn. The larvae were reared in the laboratory and observed using scanning electron microscopy. The larvae have the plegmatia expanded in the middle; distal antennomere with an apical process bearing one bifurcated sensilla and nine sensilla basiconica on the apex; the palidia are V‐shaped and each palidium bearing five to nine pali. The V‐shaped palidia are found in the known larvae of Diplotaxini, as to genera Apogonia and Liogenys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Oral lichen planus, a chronic inflammatory immune disease, occurs in the oral mucosa. We aimed to assess the prevalence and possible influencing factors of oral lichen planus in patients with diabetes mellitus. Subjects and Methods: This cross‐sectional study involved 525 patients with diabetes mellitus and 525 controls. We collected information on blood glucose level, duration of diabetes, diabetic complications, treatment methods, other systemic diseases and medication history. Results: Oral lichen planus was significantly more prevalent in the diabetes mellitus/type 2 diabetes mellitus group than in the controls (2.3%/2.2% vs. 0.6%, p = 0.019/0.022). There was no significant association between patients with diabetes mellitus with and those without oral lichen planus in age (p = 0.195), sex (p = 0.390), blood glucose level (p = 1), duration of diabetes (p = 0.638), diabetic complications (p = 1), treatment methods (p = 0.962), other systemic diseases (p = 0.891) and medication history (p = 0.848). Conclusions: Diabetes mellitus was associated with oral lichen planus; there was a higher prevalence of oral lichen planus in patients with diabetes mellitus/type 2 diabetes mellitus than in those without diabetes. Oral lichen planus development in patients with diabetes mellitus was not significantly associated with age, sex, blood glucose level, duration of diabetes, diabetic complications, treatment methods, other systemic diseases and medication history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deep learning (DL) CT denoising models have the potential to improve image quality for lower radiation dose exams. These models are generally trained with large quantities of adult patient image data. However, CT, and increasingly DL denoising methods, are used in both adult and pediatric populations. Pediatric body habitus and size can differ significantly from adults and vary dramatically from newborns to adolescents. Ensuring that pediatric subgroups of different body sizes are not disadvantaged by DL methods requires evaluations capable of assessing performance in each subgroup. Purpose: To assess DL CT denoising in pediatric and adult‐sized patients, we built a framework of computer simulated image quality (IQ) control phantoms and evaluation methodology. Methods: The computer simulated IQ phantoms in the framework featured pediatric‐sized versions of standard CatPhan 600 and MITA‐LCD phantoms with a range of diameters matching the mean effective diameters of pediatric patients ranging from newborns to 18 years old. These phantoms were used in simulating CT images that were then inputs for a DL denoiser to evaluate performance in different sized patients. Adult CT test images were simulated using standard‐sized phantoms scanned with adult scan protocols. Pediatric CT test images were simulated with pediatric‐sized phantoms and adjusted pediatric protocols. The framework's evaluation methodology consisted of denoising both adult and pediatric test images then assessing changes in image quality, including noise, image sharpness, CT number accuracy, and low contrast detectability. To demonstrate the use of the framework, a REDCNN denoising model trained on adult patient images was evaluated. To validate that the DL model performance measured with the proposed pediatric IQ phantoms was representative of performance in more realistic patient anatomy, anthropomorphic pediatric XCAT phantoms of the same age range were also used to compare noise reduction performance. Results: Using the proposed pediatric‐sized IQ phantom framework, size differences between adult and pediatric‐sized phantoms were observed to substantially influence the adult trained DL denoising model's performance. When applied to adult images, the DL model achieved a 60% reduction in noise standard deviation without substantial loss in sharpness in mid or high spatial frequencies. However, in smaller phantoms the denoising performance dropped due to different image noise textures resulting from the smaller field of view (FOV) between adult and pediatric protocols. In the validation study, noise reduction trends in the pediatric‐sized IQ phantoms were found to be consistent with those found in anthropomorphic phantoms. Conclusion: We developed a framework of using pediatric‐sized IQ phantoms for pediatric subgroup evaluation of DL denoising models. Using the framework, we found the performance of an adult trained DL denoiser did not generalize well in the smaller diameter phantoms corresponding to younger pediatric patient sizes. Our work suggests noise texture differences from FOV changes between adult and pediatric protocols can contribute to poor generalizability in DL denoising and that the proposed framework is an effective means to identify these performance disparities for a given model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Small animal irradiation is essential to study the radiation response of new interventions before or parallel to human therapy. Image‐guided radiotherapy (IGRT) and intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) are recently adopted in small animal irradiation to more closely mimic human treatments. However, sophisticated techniques require exceedingly high time, resources, and expertize that are often impractical. Purpose: We propose a high throughput and high precision platform named Multiple Mouse Automated Treatment Environment (Multi‐MATE) to streamline image‐guided small animal irradiation. Methods: Multi‐MATE consists of six parallel and hexagonally arranged channels, each equipped with a transfer railing, a 3D‐printed immobilization pod, and an electromagnetic control unit, computer‐controlled via an Arduino interface. The mouse immobilization pods are transferred along the railings between the home position outside the radiation field and the imaging/irradiation position at the irradiator isocenter. All six immobilization pods are transferred to the isocenter in the proposed workflow for parallel CBCT scans and treatment planning. The immobilization pods are then sequentially transported to the imaging/therapy position for dose delivery. The positioning reproducibility of Multi‐MATE are evaluated using CBCT and radiochromic films. Results: While parallelizing and automating the image‐guided small animal radiation delivery, Multi‐MATE achieved the average pod position reproducibility of 0.17 ± 0.04 mm in the superior–inferior direction, 0.20 ± 0.04 mm in the left–right direction, and 0.12 ± 0.02mm in the anterior–posterior direction in repeated CBCT tests. Additionally, in image‐guided dose delivery tasks, Multi‐MATE demonstrated the positioning reproducibility of 0.17 ± 0.06 mm in the superior–inferior direction, 0.19 ± 0.06 mm in the left–right direction. Conclusions: We designed, fabricated, and tested a novel automated irradiation platform, Multi‐MATE to accelerate and automate image‐guided small animal irradiation. The automated platform minimizes human operation and achieves high setup reproducibility and image‐guided dose delivery accuracy. Multi‐MATE thus removes a major barrier to implementing high‐precision preclinical radiation research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The number of pollen grains is a critical determinant of reproductive success in seed plants and varies among species and individuals. However, in contrast with many mutant‐screening studies relevant to anther and pollen development, the natural genetic basis for variations in pollen number remains largely unexplored. To address this issue, we carried out a genome‐wide association study in maize, ultimately revealing that a large presence/absence variation in the promoter region of ZmRPN1 alters its expression level and thereby contributes to pollen number variation. Molecular analyses showed that ZmRPN1 interacts with ZmMSP1, which is known as a germline cell number regulator, and facilitates ZmMSP1 localization to the plasma membrane. Importantly, ZmRPN1 dysfunction resulted in a substantial increase in pollen number, consequently boosting seed production by increasing female–male planting ratio. Together, our findings uncover a key gene controlling pollen number, and therefore, modulation of ZmRPN1 expression could be efficiently used to develop elite pollinators for modern hybrid maize breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We retrospectively studied the dosimetry and setup accuracy of deep inspiration breath‐hold (DIBH) radiotherapy in right‐sided breast cancer patients with regional nodal irradiation (RNI) who had completed treatment based on surface‐guided radiotherapy (SGRT) technology by Sentinel/Catalyst system, aiming to clarify the clinical application value and related issues. Methods: Dosimetric indicators of four organs at risk (OARs), namely the heart, right coronary artery (RCA), right lung, and liver, were compared on the premise that the planning target volume met dose‐volume prescription requirements. Meanwhile, the patients were divided into the edge of the xiphoid process (EXP), sternum middle (SM), and left breast wall (LBW) groups according to different positions of respiratory gating primary points. The CBCT setup error data of the three groups were contrasted for the treatment accuracy study, and the effects of different gating window heights on the right lung volume increases were compared among the three groups. Results: Compared with free breath (FB), DIBH reduced the maximum dose of heart and RCA by 739.3 ± 571.2 cGy and 509.8 ± 403.8 cGy, respectively (p < 0.05). The liver changed the most in terms of the mean dose (916.9 ± 318.9 cGy to 281.2 ± 150.3 cGy, p < 0.05). The setup error of the EXP group in the anterior‐posterior (AP) direction was 3.6 ± 4.5 mm, which is the highest among the three groups. The right lung volume increases in the EXP, SM, and LBW groups were 72.3%, 69.9%, and 67.2%, respectively (p = 0.08), and the corresponding breath‐holding heights were 13.5 ± 3.7 mm, 10.3 ± 2.4 mm, and 9.6 ± 2.8 mm, respectively (p < 0.05). Conclusions: SGRT‐based DIBH radiotherapy can better protect the four OARs of right‐sided breast cancer patients with RNI. Different respiratory gating primary points have different setup accuracy and breath‐hold height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parenteral nutrition, received by many patients with intestinal failure, can induce hepatobiliary complications, which is termed as parenteral nutrition‐associated liver disease (PNALD). The spectrum of PNALD ranges from cholestasis and steatosis to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Although many factors contribute to the pathogenesis of PNALD, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we performed targeted metabolomics to characterize the metabolomic profile in neonatal piglets receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or enteral nutrition (EN) for 1 or 2 weeks. Overall, the metabolomic signature of TPN groups differed from EN groups at both time points. Among the 20 acylcarnitines identified, a majority of them were significantly reduced in TPN groups. KEGG pathway analysis showed that phenylalanine metabolism‐associated pathways were dysregulated accompanied by more progressive liver steatosis associated with TPN. Next, we evaluated phenylalanine catabolism and its association with fatty acid oxidation in piglets and rats with PNALD. We showed that the hepatic expression of phenylalanine‐degrading enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) was reduced and systemic phenylalanine levels were increased in both animal models of PNALD. Moreover, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A, a central regulator of fatty acid oxidation, was downregulated and its expression was negatively correlated with phenylalanine levels in TPN‐fed animals. To explore the effects of phenylalanine accumulation on lipid metabolism, we treated HepG2 cells with phenylalanine co‐cultured with sodium palmitate or soybean oil emulsion to induce lipid accumulation. We found that phenylalanine treatment exacerbated lipid accumulation by inhibiting fatty acid oxidation without affecting fatty acid synthesis. In summary, our findings establish a pathogenic role of increased phenylalanine levels in driving liver steatosis, linking dysregulation of phenylalanine catabolism with lipid accumulation in the context of PNALD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mpox is caused by the mpox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus and Poxviridae family. Animal hosts, such as African rodents, mice, prairie dogs, and non‐human primates, play important roles in the development and transmission of outbreaks. Laboratory animal infection experiments have demonstrated that some animals are susceptible to mpox virus. This review summarizes the current progress on the animal hosts for mpox virus. The surveillance of mpox virus in animal hosts will provide important insights into virus tracing, analysis of mutation evolutionary patterns, transmission mechanisms, and development of control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fagus L. is a key component in temperate deciduous broadleaf forests of the Northern Hemisphere. However, its biogeographic history has not been examined under the framework of a fully resolved and reasonably time‐calibrated phylogeny. In this study, we sequenced 28 nuclear single/low‐copy loci (18 555 bp in total) of 11 Fagus species/segregates and seven outgroups. Phylogenetic trees were reconstructed using both concatenation‐based (maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference) and coalescent‐based methods (StarBEAST2, ASTRAL). The monophyly of two subgenera (Fagus and Engleriana) and most sections was well supported, except for sect. Lucida, which was paraphyletic with respect to sect. Longipetiolata. We also found a major phylogenetic conflict among North American, East Asian, and West Eurasian lineages of subgen. Fagus. Three segregates that have isolated distribution (F. mexicana, F. multinervis, and F. orientalis) were independent evolutionary units. Biogeographic analysis with fossils suggested that Fagus could have originated in the North Pacific region in late early Eocene. Major diversifications coincided with a climate aberration at the Eocene/Oligocene boundary and the global cooling since mid‐Miocene. The late Miocene accelerated global cooling and the Pleistocene glaciations would have driven beeches into East Asia, North America, and West Eurasia. Meanwhile, range reduction and extinction in high latitudes, central Asia, and western North America converged to form the beech modern distribution pattern. This study provides a first attempt to disentangle the biogeographic history of beeches in the context of a nearly resolved and time‐calibrated phylogeny, which could shed new insights into the formation of the temperate biome in the Northern Hemisphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Partially encased composite (PEC) members are novel composite members that efficiently exploit the advantages of mechanical properties of concrete and steel. However, the application of PEC members is limited to low‐ and mid‐rise buildings. To overcome this limitation, a study was conducted to assess the seismic performance of a newly proposed steel–concrete hybrid coupled wall consisting of PEC wall piers coupled by means of steel beams. Parametric analysis was conducted to investigate the elastic coupling ratio (CRelastic) and the way of changing CRelastic on the seismic behavior of the hybrid coupled PEC wall. The results showed that the CRelastic was the main parameter that affected the seismic performance of the wall. The way of changing CRelastic had little influence on the trend of the energy dissipation capacity and strength reservation of the wall. The failure mode and the development of plastic hinges of the wall were also not affected by the way of changing CRelastic. Both too large and too small CRelastic were detrimental to the seismic performance of the wall. To form an ideal plastic hinge development mode and experience good seismic performance, it is suggested that the reasonable range of CRelastic for the wall was 60%–70%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Arabidopsis cryptochrome 1 (CRY1) is an important blue light photoreceptor that promotes photomorphogenesis under blue light. The blue light photoreceptors CRY2 and phototropin 1, and the red/far‐red light photoreceptors phytochromes B and A undergo degradation in response to blue and red light, respectively. This study investigated whether and how CRY1 might undergo degradation in response to high‐intensity blue light (HBL).We demonstrated that CRY1 is ubiquitinated and degraded through the 26S proteasome pathway in response to HBL. We found that the E3 ubiquitin ligase constitutive photomorphogenic 1 (COP1) is involved in mediating HBL‐induced ubiquitination and degradation of CRY1. We also found that the E3 ubiquitin ligases LRBs physically interact with CRY1 and are also involved in mediating CRY1 ubiquitination and degradation in response to HBL.We further demonstrated that blue‐light inhibitor of cryptochromes 1 interacts with CRY1 in a blue‐light‐dependent manner to inhibit CRY1 dimerization/oligomerization, leading to the repression of HBL‐induced degradation of CRY1.Our findings indicate that the regulation of CRY1 stability in HBL is coordinated by COP1 and LRBs, which provides a mechanism by which CRY1 attenuates its own signaling and optimizes photomorphogenesis under HBL. See also the Commentary on this article by Batschauer, 234: 1109–1111. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the comparative efficacy and safety of topical administration for oral lichen planus. Materials and Methods: An electronic database search (1st January 1946 to 1st May 2020) for randomised controlled trials identified 34 studies involving eight interventions (clobetasol, betamethasone, triamcinolone, dexamethasone, fluocinolone, tacrolimus, pimecrolimus, and cyclosporine); these studies were subjected to network meta‐analysis using direct and indirect comparisons [efficacy indicators: clinical response rate, symptom‐reducing effect (visual analogue scale score), sign‐reducing effect (Thongprasom‐scale score) and relapse; safety indicator: adverse event occurrence]. Results: Compared with placebo, tacrolimus had the best clinical response rate (odds ratio (OR), 57.78 [95% CI 3.15–1060.52]; P–score, 0.8654) and cyclosporine had the worst (OR, 3.61[95% CI 0.20–66.62]; P–score, 0.2236); tacrolimus had the best symptom‐reducing effect (standardised mean difference (SMD), 1.06 [95% CI 0.41–1.71]; P–score, 0.9323) and fluocinolone had the worst (SMD, −0.54 [95% CI −1.44–0.36]; P–score, 0.0157); dexamethasone had the best sign‐reducing effect (SMD, 3.60 [95% CI 1.74–5.45]; P–score, 0.8306) and clobetasol had the worst (SMD, 2.63 [95% CI 1.66–3.61]; P–score, 0.2581); and pimecrolimus performed best (OR, 0.04 [95% CI 0.00–0.64]; P–score, 0.9227) and clobetasol performed the worst [OR, 0.60; 95% CI 0.15–2.45; P–score, 0.2545] in reducing relapse. Regarding safety, dexamethasone was the safest compared with placebo [OR, 0.37; 95% CI 0.05–2.57; P–score, 0.9337), whereas fluocinolone ranked low for safety [OR, 9.48; 95% CI 1.50– 60.03; P–score, 0.1189]. Conclusions: The relative ranking of topical administration varies according to the different indicators. Based on the joint consideration of clinical response rate and adverse event occurrence, dexamethasone, triamcinolone and betamethasone are recommended for better efficacy and safety. The optimal treatment for oral lichen patients varies under different conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long‐term and fine‐scale monitoring of surface urban heat island (SUHI) is critical for the design of heat mitigation strategies. Landsat series offer long‐term (since the 1980s) and fine‐scale land surface temperature (LST) observations for such SUHI analysis. However, Landsat data are characterized by a long revisit period (16 days) and are seriously impacted by cloud contamination and stripe gaps, making the Landsat‐derived long‐term SUHI trends across cities incomparable. To address this issue, here we applied the Prophet model to reconstruct temporally consistent long‐term (∼1985–2019) clear‐sky Landsat LSTs over four megacities in China (Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen). The results show that the mean absolute error of the SUHI intensity (SUHII) estimated using the reconstructed LSTs ranges from 0.2 to 0.6°C. The reliability of the reconstructed LSTs is further evidenced by the general consistency between the reconstructed Landsat and original Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer LSTs. Our analysis further demonstrates that the overall SUHII has been increasing slowly over Beijing but has been increasing rapidly in the other three megacities since the 1980s. Local SUHII trends also varied between urban regions. Urban core is characterized by an initial increase and then a slight decrease in the local SUHII, while a continuously increasing trend is observed for the urban fringe. For the new urban development, the interannual SUHII trend lies somewhere between these trends. Overall, our study provides a practical approach to reconstruct long‐term clear‐sky Landsat LSTs, and delivers a better understanding of long‐term and fine‐scale SUHI variations across cities. Key Points: Landsat land surface temperatures since the 1980s are reconstructed in four Chinese megacities using the Prophet modelReconstructed Landsat land surface temperatures match well Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer land surface temperatures in depicting interannual trendsLong‐term and fine‐scale variations of the overall surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) and region‐based local SUHII are compared over four megacities [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thisstudy aimed to investigate the impact of fish oil–based lipid emulsion (FO) on enterohepatic injuries and intestinal microbiota in piglets of parenteral nutrition (PN). Methods: Newborn piglets were divided into three groups, including enteral diet (the controls), PN with 100% FO and PN with medium‐chain triglyceride/long‐chain triglyceride–based lipid emulsion (MCT/LCT) for 14 days. Serum biochemical indicators, hepatic and intestinal histology, and expression of genes associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipid metabolism were measured. The bile acid (BA) profiles in serum and the taxonomic composition of the gut microbiome in different intestinal segments were analyzed. Results: Compared with MCT/LCT–piglets, FO reduced inflammation, promoted fatty acid oxidation, and decreased oxidative stress in the liver. In the intestine, FO decreased intestinal inflammation and intestinal permeability, leading to reduced lipopolysaccharide entry into the blood circulation relative to MCT/LCT–piglets. PN groups have dominant contents of Proteobacteria and Bacteroides, whereas the control group have Firmicutes at the phylum level. FO altered the taxonomic compositions of the gut microbiome in different segments, increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidaceae in ileum, and Rikenellaceae and Ruminococcaceae in the colon. FO treatment shifted BA composition ratio in serum and had a lower ratio of secondary BAs to primary BAs. Conclusion: FO alleviates PNLAD and intestinal injury by regulating the homeostasis of BAs' enterohepatic circulation and altering microbiota composition in different intestinal segments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Deep learning (DL) is rapidly finding applications in low‐dose CT image denoising. While having the potential to improve the image quality (IQ) over the filtered back projection method (FBP) and produce images quickly, performance generalizability of the data‐driven DL methods is not fully understood yet. The main purpose of this work is to investigate the performance generalizability of a low‐dose CT image denoising neural network in data acquired under different scan conditions, particularly relating to these three parameters: reconstruction kernel, slice thickness, and dose (noise) level. A secondary goal is to identify any underlying data property associated with the CT scan settings that might help predict the generalizability of the denoising network. Methods: We select the residual encoder–decoder convolutional neural network (REDCNN) as an example of a low‐dose CT image denoising technique in this work. To study how the network generalizes on the three imaging parameters, we grouped the CT volumes in the Low‐Dose Grand Challenge (LDGC) data into three pairs of training datasets according to their imaging parameters, changing only one parameter in each pair. We trained REDCNN with them to obtain six denoising models. We test each denoising model on datasets of matching and mismatching parameters with respect to its training sets regarding dose, reconstruction kernel, and slice thickness, respectively, to evaluate the denoising performance changes. Denoising performances are evaluated on patient scans, simulated phantom scans, and physical phantom scans using IQ metrics including mean‐squared error (MSE), contrast‐dependent modulation transfer function (MTF), pixel‐level noise power spectrum (pNPS), and low‐contrast lesion detectability (LCD). Results: REDCNN had larger MSE when the testing data were different from the training data in reconstruction kernel, but no significant MSE difference when varying slice thickness in the testing data. REDCNN trained with quarter‐dose data had slightly worse MSE in denoising higher‐dose images than that trained with mixed‐dose data (17%–80%). The MTF tests showed that REDCNN trained with the two reconstruction kernels and slice thicknesses yielded images of similar image resolution. However, REDCNN trained with mixed‐dose data preserved the low‐contrast resolution better compared to REDCNN trained with quarter‐dose data. In the pNPS test, it was found that REDCNN trained with smooth‐kernel data could not remove high‐frequency noise in the test data of sharp kernel, possibly because the lack of high‐frequency noise in the smooth‐kernel data limited the ability of the trained model in removing high‐frequency noise. Finally, in the LCD test, REDCNN improved the lesion detectability over the original FBP images regardless of whether the training and testing data had matching reconstruction kernels. Conclusions: REDCNN is observed to be poorly generalizable between reconstruction kernels, more robust in denoising data of arbitrary dose levels when trained with mixed‐dose data, and not highly sensitive to slice thickness. It is known that reconstruction kernel affects the in‐plane pNPS shape of a CT image, whereas slice thickness and dose level do not, so it is possible that the generalizability performance of this CT image denoising network highly correlates to the pNPS similarity between the testing and training data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Rhizoma coptidis, is reported to possess antiviral activity. Our previous study has shown that BBR alleviates coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) replication in HeLa cells. However, the anti‐CVB3 activity of BBR is still unclear in vivo. In this study, we explored the effect of BBR on CVB3‐induced viral myocarditis in mice. These results demonstrated the beneficial effect of BBR on alleviating CVB3‐induced myocarditis in vivo, which sheds new light on the utility of BBR as a therapeutic strategy against CVB3‐induced viral myocarditis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melolonthinae are the largest subfamily of Scarabaeidae, considered as serious pests for their larvae attacking plant roots and tubers. The edaphic larvae are difficult to be identified because the study on larval taxonomy is far from satisfactory. In this study, multivoltine white grubs Melolontha incana (Motschulsky, 1853) were investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy, in order to provide more morphological characters for the pest identification. The white grubs are atypical for the epipharynx bearing 14 heli arranged in two rows; the mandible is furnished with a patch of minute granules; the maxilla is equipped with 18 acute stridulatory teeth arranged in line; each femur and tibiotarsus is furnished ventrally with a cluster of fossorial setae. The morphological comparisons with the other melolonthine species were provided. The adaptative relationship between the morphological feature and the multivoltine life history were briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of bis‐acryl functionalized porphyrins and their corresponding metalloporphyrins (M=Co, Mn) were synthesized and investigated for their antimicrobial properties through MIC screening and bacteria time‐kill kinetic studies. The Mn(III) 4‐(bis)methylphenyl‐substituted‐porphyrins showed superior batericidal activities even in the dark with low hemotoxicity and good cytotoxicity profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the association between oral lichen planu(OLP) and anxiety. Subjects and Methods: This study included 174 OLP patients and 174 healthy controls. We assessed anxiety by Self‐rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and recorded OLP lesion type and severity. t test and analysis of variance were applied for continuous variants and chi‐square test was performed for categorical variants. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression analysis were used for multi‐variable analysis. Results: he SAS score of OLP patients was higher than that of healthy individuals. There was no significant difference in SAS score between the OLP subgroups, obtained according to age, type, and severity, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed gender was the only factor that affected the SAS score of OLP patients. Compared with weakly anxiety‐related groups, the SAS score and female ratio of highly anxiety‐related group were obviously higher. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that males were less exposed to highly anxiety‐related types than females. Conclusions: OLP patients tend to be more anxious compared with healthy individuals, and female patients are more anxious than male patients. There might be two types of OLP patients: weakly anxiety‐related or highly anxiety‐related. These results highlight the significance of psychological counseling in OLP disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly emissive microgel is synthesized by polymerizing tetraphenylethene (TPE) based comonomers, acrylic acid, NIPAM, and permanent crosslinker ethylenebisacrylamide (BIS) (named as TPE microgel), which exhibited temperature responsive fluorescence emission. Rhodamine B (RhB), a positively charged molecule, is then inserted onto the surface of fabricated microgels through electrostatic interaction. As a result, a novel artificial light harvesting system with high energy transfer efficiency is constructed (named as TPE microgel‐RhB light harvesting system), which is the first light harvesting system based on TPE microgels presenting dual response to pH and temperature. MTT assay indicates the fabricated TPE microgel and TPE microgel‐RhB light harvesting system has good cytocompatibility. The strong fluorescence and good cytocompatibility make them perfect candidates for cell imaging. The prepared emissive microgel and light‐harvesting system with desirable fluorescent property not only provide a new strategy for the fabrication of tunable luminescent nanomaterials, but also expand potential applications in the fields of stomach recognition, temperature sensors, and drug delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There were rarely investigations on the effects and molecular mechanisms of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells when treated with isorhamnetin. This article assesses the anti‐cancer effect of isorhamnetin. Methods and materials: Oral squamous cell carcinoma cells were treated with or without isorhamnetin. Cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, cell migration, cell death, and the related signaling pathways were evaluated. Results: The results revealed that cell proliferation was inhibited in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner, which was confirmed by diminished cell viability and revealed by decreased in the number of cell colonies. In addition, the cell cycle arrested in the G2/M phase, and the protein levels of cyclin B1 and CDC2 were suppressed. Moreover, the cell migration was inhibited, and the protein levels of related proteins were modulated. Furthermore, it could be observed that abundant cytoplasmic vacuoles existed which that were derived from mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum. It was confirmed that cell death did not result from apoptosis and may have which may be apt to paraptosis. Isorhamnetin was observed to upregulate phosphorylated ERK cascades and increase intracellular reactive oxygen species levels. Conclusions: Our study suggested that the anti‐cancer effect of isorhamnetin might trigger paraptosis, which may indicate a new therapeutic approach to OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autophagy is frequently induced in the hypoxic tumour microenvironment. Accumulating evidence reveals important functions of autophagy at the tumour‐immune interface. Herein, we propose an update on the roles of autophagy in modulating tumour immunity. Autophagy promotes adaptive resistance of established tumours to the cytotoxic effects of natural killer cells (NKs), macrophages and effector T cells. Increased autophagic flux in tumours dampen their immunogenicity and inhibits the expansion of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) by suppressing the activation of STING type I interferon signalling (IFN‐I) innate immune sensing pathway. Autophagy in suppressive tumour‐infiltrating immune subsets maintains their survival through metabolic remodelling. On the other hand, autophagy is involved in the antigen processing and presentation process, which is essential for anti‐tumour immune responses. Genetic deletion of autophagy induces spontaneous tumours in some models. Thus, the role of autophagy is context‐dependent. In summary, our review has revealed the dichotomous roles of autophagy in modulating tumour immunity. Broad targeting of autophagy may not yield maximal benefits. The characterization of specific genes regulating tumour immunogenicity and innovation in targeted delivery of autophagy inhibitors into certain tumours are among the most urgent tasks to sensitize cold cancers to immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cetoniinae is one of the showiest scarab groups, exhibiting bright‐metallic body colors, and usually attract great attention from entomologists and amateur collectors. Larvae of Cetoniinae show dramatically diversity on morphology and living habits. Although being considered one of the best‐studied groups of Scarabaeidae, larvae have been described for less than 5% species to the known Cetoniinae. In this study, the final instar larva of Lasiotrichius succinctus hananoi was described using scanning electron microscopy. The larvae are peculiar for bearing a haptomeral process dividing 10 spines into two groups: six on the left side, four on the right side, different from the previous descriptions on L. succinctus (Pallas, 1781). The morphological differences under SEM imply the further requirement of taxonomic revision in Lasiotrichius. Both advantage and disadvantage of SEM utilizing in larval descriptions were briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The value of top‐hat procedure during loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) for squamous intraepithelial lesions had remained controversial. This study aimed to evaluate whether top‐hat specimens positive for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) on histopathology can serve as an independent risk factor to predict treatment failure. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent LEEP and top‐hat procedures in Peking University First Hospital between 2011 and 2016 and collected their follow‐up data until January 2019. We compared the pathological risk factor of treatment failure. Multivariate analysis was carried out to clarify the independent determinant of treatment failure. A Cox model was used to assess the influence of different variables on cumulative treatment failure rates. Results: This study included 295 cases for short‐term treatment failure, and among them, 178 cases were used to study the long‐term. The presence of CIN in top‐hat was relevant to short‐term treatment failure (OR = 9.64, 95% CI 2.55–36.4) despite a clear margin. On multivariate analysis, top‐hat result (OR = 3.58, 95% CI 1.30–9.89), age ≥ 50 (OR = 10.2, 95%CI 3.64–28.3) and post‐treatment HPV 16/18 infection (OR = 2.35, 95%CI 1.19–4.63) were independent risk factors in predicting short‐term failure. In the Cox model, these factors were also associated with higher cumulative failure rates. Conclusion: The current study supported the predictive value of top‐hat procedure in short‐term failure after LEEP. Typically, women with positive top‐hat need closer follow‐up despite their negative margin status. Older women with positive top‐hat findings and HPV 16/18 infections after the treatment suffer a higher risk of short‐term failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.), Schott), from the Araceae family, is one of the oldest crops with important edible, medicinal, nutritional and economic value. Taro is a highly polymorphic species including diverse genotypes adapted to a broad range of environments, but the taro genome has rarely been investigated. Here, a high‐quality chromosome‐level genome of C. esculenta was assembled using data sequenced by Illumina, PacBio and Nanopore platforms. The assembled genome size was 2,405 Mb with a contig N50 of 400.0 kb and a scaffold N50 of 159.4 Mb. In total, 2,311 Mb (96.09%) of the contig sequences was anchored onto 14 chromosomes to form pseudomolecules, and 2,126 Mb (88.43%) was annotated as repetitive sequences. Of the 28,695 predicted protein‐coding genes, 26,215 genes (91.4%) could be functionally annotated. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis using 769 genes, C. esculenta and Spirodela polyrhiza were placed on one branch of the tree that diverged approximately 73.23 million years ago. The synteny analyses showed that there have been two whole‐genome duplication events in C. esculenta separated by a relatively short gap. According to comparative genome analysis, a larger number (1,189) of distinct gene families and long terminal repeats were enriched in C. esculenta. Our high‐quality taro genome will provide valuable resources for further genetic, ecological and evolutionary analyses of taro or other species in the Araceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty acids are involved in the development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, genetic effects of fatty acid biosynthesis pathway on CRC outcome are unclear. Cox regression model was used to evaluate genetic effects on CRC overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS), accompanied by calculating hazard ratios (HRs) and confidence intervals (CIs). Differential expression analysis, expression quantitative trait loci analysis, dual‐luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay were performed to explore the genetically biological mechanism. The rs10838164 C>T in HSD17B12 was significantly associated with an increased risk of death and progression of CRC (OS, HR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.40‐3.22, P = 4.03 × 10−4; PFS, HR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.11‐2.44, P = 1.35 × 10−2), of which T allele could increase HSD17B12 expression (P = 1.78 × 10−11). Subsequently, the functional experiments indicated that rs10838164 T allele could not only enhance the binding affinity of transcription factor YY1 to HSD17B12 region harbouring rs10838164 but also promote the transcriptional activity of HSD17B12, which was significantly up‐regulated in colorectal tumour tissues. Our findings suggest that genetic variants in fatty acid biosynthesis pathway play an important role in CRC outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fucosyltransferase 2 (Fut2)‐mediated intestinal α1‐2‐fucosylation is important in maintaining a symbiotic host–microbiota relationship and can protect against several pathogens. Intestinal dysbiosis is an important factor for the progression of experimental ethanol (EtOH)‐induced liver disease, but the role of Fut2 in modulating the intestinal glycocalyx during alcohol‐associated liver disease is unknown. We investigated the role of Fut2‐mediated intestinal α1‐2‐fucosylation for the development of alcohol‐associated liver disease. Methods: Immunohistochemistry staining was applied to evaluate α1‐2‐fucosylation in duodenal biopsies from patients with alcohol use disorder. Wild‐type (WT) and Fut2‐deficient littermate mice were subjected to Lieber–DeCarli models of chronic EtOH administration and the chronic‐binge EtOH diet (NIAAA model). Results: Intestinal α1‐2‐fucosylation was down‐regulated in patients with alcohol use disorder. Lack of α1‐2‐fucosylation in Fut2‐deficient mice exacerbates chronic EtOH‐induced liver injury, steatosis, and inflammation without affecting EtOH metabolism. Dietary supplementation of the α1‐2‐fucosylated glycan 2′‐fucosyllactose (2′‐FL) ameliorates EtOH‐induced liver disease in Fut2‐deficient mice in the NIAAA model. Despite no direct effects on growth of Enterococcus faecalis in vitro, intestinal α1‐2‐fucosylation reduces colonization of cytolysin‐positive E. faecalis in the intestine of EtOH‐fed mice. Conclusions: Intestinal α1‐2‐fucosylation acts as a host‐protective mechanism against EtOH‐induced liver disease. 2′‐FL is an oligosaccharide naturally present in human milk that could be considered as therapeutic agent for alcohol‐associated liver disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Burning mouth syndrome is a syndrome with tongue as the main affected site and burning pain as the main complaint. Although a variety of therapies have been reported to treat BMS, there is a lack of widely recognized therapies and it is still a dilemma for clinicians to treat BMS.Objective: To develop the position paper and provide the references for clinical practice of BMS in China.Methods: Under the guidance of WHO (World Health Organization) Handbook for Guideline Development, we used the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach as a tool to develop this position paper in the following steps: setting up the groups, formulating the clinical questions and choosing the outcomes, retrieving and synthesizing of evidence, assessing the evidence, investigating the patients' values and preferences, developing the recommendations, reviewing the recommendations, and writing the position paper.Results: The 27 recommendations were formed from the following 7 aspects: pre-treatment examination, removal of stimuli, medication, physical therapy, psychological therapy, and antipsychotics. There are 3 strong recommendations and 12 weak recommendations in pre-treatment examination and removal of stimuli, as well as 12 weak recommendations in therapies.Conclusion: The Chinese position paper for management of BMS has been developed, which could provide the references for clinical practice of BMS in China. Twenty-seven recommendations were formed based on consensus of experts on the balance of benefits vs side effects, evidence, cost, and patients' values and preferences, although the quality of evidence is relatively low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to investigate the validity of noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) based on direct haplotype phasing without the proband or other family members and its feasibility for clinical application in the case of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).Methods: Thirteen singleton-pregnancy families affected by DMD were recruited. The pathogenic variants in the pregnant females have been identified by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). We resolved maternal haplotypes for each family by performing targeted linked-read sequencing of their high molecular weight DNA, respectively. Then, we integrated the maternal haplotypes and the targeted sequencing results of maternal plasma DNA to infer the fetal haplotype and the DMD gene variant status. The fetal genotypes were further validated by using chorionic villus sampling.Results: The method of directly resolving maternal haplotype through targeted linked-read sequencing was smoothly performed in 12 participated families, but one failed (F11). The predicted variant status of 12 fetuses was correct, which had been confirmed by invasive prenatal diagnosis.Conclusion: Direct haplotyping of NIPD based on linked-read sequencing for DMD is accurate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Maize exhibits marked growth and yield response to supplemental nitrogen (N). Here, we report the functional characterization of a maize NIN‐like protein ZmNLP5 as a central hub in a molecular network associated with N metabolism. Predominantly expressed and accumulated in roots and vascular tissues, ZmNLP5 was shown to rapidly respond to nitrate treatment. Under limited N supply, compared with that of wild‐type (WT) seedlings, the zmnlp5 mutant seedlings accumulated less nitrate and nitrite in the root tissues and ammonium in the shoot tissues. The zmnlp5 mutant plants accumulated less nitrogen than the WT plants in the ear leaves and seed kernels. Furthermore, the mutants carrying the transgenic ZmNLP5 cDNA fragment significantly increased the nitrate content in the root tissues compared with that of the zmnlp5 mutants. In the zmnlp5 mutant plants, loss of the ZmNLP5 function led to changes in expression for a significant number of genes involved in N signalling and metabolism. We further show that ZmNLP5 directly regulates the expression of nitrite reductase 1.1 (ZmNIR1.1) by binding to the nitrate‐responsive cis‐element at the 5′ UTR of the gene. Interestingly, a natural loss‐of‐function allele of ZmNLP5 in Mo17 conferred less N accumulation in the ear leaves and seed kernels resembling that of the zmnlp5 mutant plants. Our findings show that ZmNLP5 is involved in mediating the plant response to N in maize. Significance Statement: In this study, we report the functional characterization of ZmNLP5 for its role in modulating the N response, suggesting that ZmNLP5 is a potential candidate for improving N use efficiency in maize production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of pulsed high‐intensity focused ultrasound (PHIFU) versus continuous high‐intensity focused ultrasound (CHIFU) ablation at identical doses. Methods: Continuous and pulsed HIFU (1200 J) at duty cycles (DCs) of 60% and 20% were examined for their capacity to ablate bovine liver tissue in vitro and rabbit liver tissue in vivo. After ablation, grayscale changes and pathologic characteristics were observed or measured, and the tissue necrosis volume, energy efficiency factor, and average grayscale density were calculated. Results: The pulsed mode generated greater liquefaction necrosis. An inconspicuous grayscale change was observed for PHIFU at a DC of 20% in some samples, which appeared as an elliptical cavity. The energy efficiency factor of PHIFU at a DC of 60% was significantly lower than that of CHIFU, as observed both in vitro and in vivo (P <.05). The grayscale value and average grayscale density in response to CHIFU were significantly greater than those in response to PHIFU (60% or 20%; P <.05). Histopathologic analysis revealed liquefaction necrosis in all PHIFU groups. Conclusions: At identical doses, compared with CHIFU, a single session of PHIFU can generate liquefaction necrosis and at a higher DC can improve ablation efficiency. This increased efficacy of PHIFU may involve enhancement of tissue destruction by cavitation effects and a reduction in the obstruction effect of endogenous microbubbles through cavitation effects or a more effective diffusion of heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Arabidopsis CRY1 and phyB are the primary blue and red light photoreceptors mediating blue and red light inhibition of hypocotyl elongation, respectively. Auxin is a pivotal phytohormone involved in promoting hypocotyl elongation. CRY1 and phyB interact with and stabilize auxin/indole acetic acid proteins (Aux/IAAs) to inhibit auxin signaling. The present study investigated whether photoreceptors might interact directly with Auxin Response Factors (ARFs) to regulate auxin signaling.Protein–protein interaction studies demonstrated that CRY1 and phyB interact physically with ARF6 and ARF8 through their N‐terminal domains in a blue and red light‐dependent manner, respectively. Moreover, the N‐terminal DNA‐binding domain of ARF6 and ARF8 is involved in mediating their interactions with CRY1.Genetic studies showed that ARF6 and ARF8 act partially downstream from CRY1 and PHYB to regulate hypocotyl elongation under blue and red light, respectively. Chromatin immunoprecipitation‐PCR assays demonstrated that CRY1 and phyB mediate blue and red light repression of the DNA‐binding activity of ARF6 and ARF6‐target gene expression, respectively.Altogether, the results herein suggest that the direct repression of auxin‐responsive gene expression mediated by the interactions of CRY1 and phyB with ARFs constitutes a new layer of the regulatory mechanisms by which light inhibits auxin‐induced hypocotyl elongation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the eighth most common cancer worldwide with a relatively high rate of metastasis (~40%). Previously, we showed that microRNA-138 serves as a functional tumor suppressor and plays an important role in oral squamous cell carcinoma metastasis. However, to date, microRNA-138 expression has not been examined in this tumor tissue. Herein, we demonstrated that microRNA-138 expression is downregulated in metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma specimens using tissue microarray technology with in situ hybridization.Methods: The study included 254 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients from two centers (160 from the Chengdu center and 90 from the Guangzhou center) and four healthy volunteers.Results: Multivariate analysis showed that microRNA-138 expression was independent of tumor stage, age, gender, smoking, and alcohol consumption in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. Interestingly, patients that expressed lower levels of microRNA-138 (determined by in situ hybridization) were more prone to regional lymph node metastasis and exhibited poorer outcomes. These findings support the role of microRNA-138 as a tumor suppressor in oral squamous cell carcinoma.Conclusion: In summary, the expression level of microRNA-138 is negatively correlated with oral squamous cell carcinoma metastasis; the lower the expression of microRNA-138, the higher the rate of metastasis and the poorer the prognosis of the patients. Therefore, our study confirms that microRNA-138 serves as a tumor suppressor and plays a functional role in oral squamous cell carcinoma tumor metastasis; microRNA-138 constitutes a promising prognosis biomarker and therapeutic target for oral squamous cell carcinoma with metastasis potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a straightforward FeCl3 promoted synthesis of dihydropyrrolo[2,1‐a]isoquinolines through formal (3+2) cycloaddition/oxidative aromatization cascade of dihydroisoquinoline with Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman carbonates (up to 96% yield). Further modifications of the obtained products were successful through simple chemical transformations providing a diverse range of natural product‐like molecules (12 examples). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phosphine‐catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of γ‐substituted allenoates with α,α‐dicyanoolefins has been established, affording indole‐incorporated highly functionalized cyclopentenes. In addition, the vinylation of indole‐derived α,α‐dicyanoolefins has also been realized under the same reaction conditions by switching to indole‐derived α,α‐dicyanoolefins without protective group at N‐1 position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, straightforward, and atom economic catalyst‐free [2+2+2] annulation of dihydroisoquinolines and allenoates has been developed. A diverse range of novel dimeric tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives can be prepared in moderate to good yields (37–87 %) from readily available material. Dihydro‐β‐carboline can also be used in this reaction system delivering corresponding dimeric dihydro‐β‐carboline derivatives. Notably, the reaction could be easily scaled up to gram scale. The easy scale‐up of this process may provide structurally diversified natural product‐like molecules possessing privileged scaffold for potential application in biomedical research and other research fields. Interestingly, in contrast to the α,β‐selectivity observed in our previous study, β,γ‐selective [2+2+2] annulation was preferred in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]