Search

Because aluminum-based parts cannot be used for long-term applications in large load-wear environments, nickel–tungsten (molybdenum disulfide)/carbon fiber/aluminum composites were successfully prepared in this study for that purpose. By adjusting the plating solution ratio, nickel–tungsten was used as a carrier to introduce molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles, forming a nickel–tungsten/molybdenum disulfide composite coating on the surface of carbon fibers. To enhance the interfacial bonding strength between the carbon fiber and aluminum matrix, a laser was employed to induce the formation of a honeycomb-like structure on the surface of the aluminum base. This increased the contact area between the carbon fiber, aluminum matrix, and epoxy resin adhesives, forming a nickel–tungsten (molybdenum disulfide)/carbon fiber/aluminum composite material. The performance of this composite material was tested and analyzed. The results demonstrated that compared with the carbon fiber/aluminum composite material, the shear strength of the nickel–tungsten (molybdenum disulfide)/carbon fiber/aluminum composite material was increased by 129.7 %, and the friction coefficient and wear rate were reduced by 54.8 % and 83 %, respectively. Next, investigation of the mechanism underlying the honeycomb structure's contribution to the adhesive strength of the composites and their resistance to shear load revealed that the wear-resistant mechanism of molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles reinforced the nickel–tungsten composite coatings. The preparation and study of nickel–tungsten (molybdenum disulfide)/carbon fiber/aluminum composites provide a reference for expanding the applications of aluminum-based composite materials to meet the service requirements of complex environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional convolutional neural networks (CNNs) typically use fixed scale convolutional kernels for feature extraction when processing image classification tasks, while ignoring the multi-scale information present in the image. To overcome this limitation, we propose an algorithm based on multi-scale CNNs, which capture features at different levels by introducing convolutional kernels of different scales into the convolutional layer. In this study, we first designed a multi-scale convolutional layer consisting of multiple convolutional kernels of different scales to extract multi-scale features of the image. To further enhance classification performance, we introduced a multi-scale feature fusion module that can effectively fuse features of different scales and classify them through a fully connected layer. Then we conducted extensive experiments on several commonly used image classification datasets. The experimental results show that this network can not only effectively identify and locate hyperspectral image targets in different scenarios, but also reduce missed detections and false positives during the detection process. The average accuracy of the improved model has been improved, and the recognition accuracy of some small markers affected by external factors such as occlusion and lighting has also been improved. In addition, by comparing the detection effect of a single image, the progressiveness and anti-leakage ability of the improved model are proved. The image classification method based on multi-scale CNNs has broad application prospects in image recognition and feature extraction, and can provide valuable reference and reference for research in related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear receptor coactive 4 (NCOA4), which functions as a selective cargo receptor, is a critical regulator of the particularly autophagic degradation of ferritin, a process known as ferritinophagy. Mechanistically, NCOA4‐mediated ferritinophagy performs an increasingly vital role in the maintenance of intracellular iron homeostasis by promoting ferritin transport and iron release as needed. Ferritinophagy is not only involved in iron‐dependent responses but also in the pathogenesis and progression of various human diseases, including metabolism‐related, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and infectious diseases. Therefore, ferritinophagy is of great importance in maintaining cell viability and function and represents a potential therapeutic target. Recent studies indicated that ferritinophagy regulates the signalling pathway associated with ferroptosis, a newly discovered type of cell death characterised by iron‐dependent lipid peroxidation. Although accumulating evidence clearly demonstrates the importance of the interplay between dysfunction in iron metabolism and ferroptosis, a deeper understanding of the double‐edged sword effect of ferritinophagy in ferroptosis has remained elusive. Details of the mechanisms underlying the ferritinophagy–ferroptosis axis in regulating relevant human diseases remain to be elucidated. In this review, we discuss the latest research findings regarding the mechanisms that regulate the biological function of NCOA4‐mediated ferritinophagy and its contribution to the pathophysiology of ferroptosis. The important role of the ferritinophagy–ferroptosis axis in human diseases will be discussed in detail, highlighting the great potential of targeting ferritinophagy in the treatment of diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mule duck is vitally important to the production of global duck meat. Here, we present two high-quality haplotypes of a female mule duck (haplotype 1 (H1):1.28 Gb, haplotype 2 (H2): 1.40 Gb). The continuity (H1: contig N50 = 14.90 Mb, H2: contig N50 = 15.70 Mb) and completeness (BUSCO: H1 = 96.9%, H2 = 97.3%) are substantially better than those of other duck genomes. We detected the structural variations (SVs) in H1 and H2. We observed a positive correlation between autosome length and the number of SVs. Z chromosome was some deficient in deletions and insertions, but W chromosome was some excessive. A total of 1,451 genes were haplotype specific expression (HSEs). Among them, 737 specifically expressed in H1, and 714 specifically expressed in H2. We found that H1 and H2 HSEs tended to be involved in similar biological processes, such as myometrial relaxation and contraction pathways, muscle structure development and phosphorylation. Our haplotype-resolved genome assembly provides a powerful platform for future functional genomics, molecular breeding, and genome editing in mule duck. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Microplasma fractional radiofrequency (MP FRF) technology has been increasingly used for acne scars. Nevertheless, little evidence has analyzed the factors influencing its effectiveness before and during treatment. Aims: To evaluate the clinical factors affecting the effectiveness of MP FRF therapy for atrophic acne scars. Methods: We analyzed retrospectively the clinical data of 79 acne scar patients treated with MP FRF technology. The outcome of interest included the effectiveness and adverse events after MP FRF treatment. Multivariable logistic regression was utilized to evaluate clinical factors associated with effectiveness after the initial session. Results: All patients received 115 sessions of MP FRF therapy (average: 1.5 sessions). Twenty‐eight (35.4%) patients improved moderately to excellently after one session. We found that the severe grade before treatment was negatively correlated with the effectiveness according to Goodman–Baron qualitative scores (OR = 0.02, 95% CI [0.001, 0.37], p = 0.009). The presence of icepick scars was also a negative correlation factor for the effectiveness (OR = 0.06, 95% CI [0.004, 1.00], p = 0.049). Furthermore, after excluding the effects of icepick scars and Goodman–Baron scores before treatment, ECCA scores were also correlated with effectiveness (OR = 1.04, 95% CI [1.01, 1.06], p = 0.009). Conclusion: MP FRF therapy was effective in treating atrophic acne scars with no permanent adverse events. The severity of Goodman–Baron qualitative scores and icepick scars were independent clinical factors affecting effectiveness, suggesting the possible requirement for additional treatments other than MP FRF for severe acne scars and icepick scars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Radiotherapy promotes the binding of CDK2 and TRIM32, thus leading to increased CDK2-dependent phosphorylation of TRIM32 at serines 328 and 339. • Cis-trans isomerization of TRIM32 recruit PIN1, which resulting in importin α3 binding to TRIM32 and contributing to its nuclear translocation. • Nuclear TRIM32 inhibits TC45-dephosphorylated STAT3, Leading to increased transcription of STAT3 and radioresistance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). • Regulating the CDK2/TRIM32/STAT3 pathway is a promising strategy for reducing radioresistance in TNBC, which is important for TNBC therapy. Despite radiotherapy being one of the major treatments for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), new molecular targets for its treatment are still required due to radioresistance. CDK2 plays a critical role in TNBC. However, the mechanism by which CDK2 promotes TNBC radioresistance remains to be clearly elucidated. We aimed to elucidate the relationship between CDK2 and TRIM32 and the regulation mechanism in TNBC. We performed immunohistochemical staining to detect nuclear TRIM32, CDK2 and STAT3 on TNBC tissues. Western blot assays and PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA level changes. CRISPR/Cas9 used to knock out CDK2. shRNA-knockdown and transfection assays also used to knock out target genes. GST pull-down analysis, immunoprecipitation (IP) assay and in vitro isomerization analysis also used. Tumorigenesis studies also used to verify the results in vitro. Herein, tripartite motif-containing protein 32 (TRIM32) is revealed as a substrate of CDK2. Radiotherapy promotes the binding of CDK2 and TRIM32, thus leading to increased CDK2-dependent phosphorylation of TRIM32 at serines 328 and 339. This causes the recruitment of PIN1, involved in cis–trans isomerization of TRIM32, resulting in importin α3 binding to TRIM32 and contributing to its nuclear translocation. Nuclear TRIM32 inhibits TC45-dephosphorylated STAT3, Leading to increased transcription of STAT3 and radioresistance in TNBC. These results were validated by clinical prognosis confirmed by the correlative expressions of the critical components of the CDK2/TRIM32/STAT3 signaling pathway. Our findings demonstrate that regulating the CDK2/TRIM32/STAT3 pathway is a promising strategy for reducing radioresistance in TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haplotype‐resolved 3D chromatin architecture related to allelic differences in avian skeletal muscle development has not been addressed so far, although chicken husbandry for meat consumption has been prevalent feature of cultures on every continent for more than thousands of years. Here, high‐resolution Hi‐C diploid maps (1.2‐kb maximum resolution) are generated for skeletal muscle tissues in chicken across three developmental stages (embryonic day 15 to day 30 post‐hatching). The sequence features governing spatial arrangement of chromosomes and characterize homolog pairing in the nucleus, are identified. Multi‐scale characterization of chromatin reorganization between stages from myogenesis in the fetus to myofiber hypertrophy after hatching show concordant changes in transcriptional regulation by relevant signaling pathways. Further interrogation of parent‐of‐origin‐specific chromatin conformation supported that genomic imprinting is absent in birds. This study also reveals promoter‐enhancer interaction (PEI) differences between broiler and layer haplotypes in skeletal muscle development‐related genes are related to genetic variation between breeds, however, only a minority of breed‐specific variations likely contribute to phenotypic divergence in skeletal muscle potentially via allelic PEI rewiring. Beyond defining the haplotype‐specific 3D chromatin architecture in chicken, this study provides a rich resource for investigating allelic regulatory divergence among chicken breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has been rising in recent years. Despite its relatively low mortality, PTC frequently metastasizes to lymph nodes and often recurs, posing significant health and economic burdens. The role of iodine in the pathogenesis and advancement of thyroid cancer remains poorly understood. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are recognized to function as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) that modulate gene expression and play a role in various cancer stages. Consequently, this research aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which circRNA influences the impact of iodine on PTC. Our research indicates that high iodine levels can exacerbate the malignancy of PTC via the circ_0004851/miR-296-3p/FGF11 axis. These insights into iodine's biological role in PTC and the association of circRNA with the disease could pave the way for novel biomarkers and potentially effective therapeutic strategies to mitigate PTC progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oncolytic adenoviruses are in development as immunotherapeutic agents for solid tumors. Their efficacy is in part dependent on their ability to replicate in tumors. It is, however, difficult to obtain evidence for intratumoral oncolytic adenovirus replication if direct access to the tumor is not possible. Detection of systemic adenovirus DNA, which is sometimes used as a proxy, has limited value because it does not distinguish between the product of intratumoral replication and injected virus that did not replicate. Therefore, we investigated if detection of virus-associated RNA (VA RNA) by RT-qPCR on liquid biopsies could be used as an alternative. We found that VA RNA is expressed in adenovirus-infected cells in a replication-dependent manner and is secreted by these cells in association with extracellular vesicles. This allowed VA RNA detection in the peripheral blood of a preclinical in vivo model carrying adenovirus-injected human tumors and on liquid biopsies from a human clinical trial. Our results confirm that VA RNA detection in liquid biopsies can be used for minimally invasive assessment of oncolytic adenovirus replication in solid tumors in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iodine, an essential trace element for the human body, plays a pivotal role in sustaining health. Malnutrition has emerged as a pressing public health concern, posing a significant threat to human well‐being. Iodine deficiency poses a substantial threat to the development of children, potentially leading to neurological developmental disorders and mental retardation. Conversely, excessive iodine intake can result in structural and functional abnormalities in the thyroid gland. In this study, we selected children aged 3–6 years through a stratified cluster sampling approach in six regions across China to explore the correlation between iodine nutrition and their physical growth. A total of 5920 preschool children participated in this study, with a median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) of 177.33 [107.06, 269.92] μg/L. Among these children, 250 (4.2%) exhibited stunting, 180 (3.0%) were underweight, 198 (3.3%) experienced wasting, 787 (3.3%) were overweight and 414 (7.0%) were classified as obese. The multivariate linear regression revealed that UIC exhibited a positive correlation with body mass index z‐Score (BMIZ) in overweight children (β = 0.038; 95% CI: 0.001, 0.075). In normally growing children, the associations between UIC and height‐for‐age z‐score, weight‐for‐age z‐score and BMIZ displayed nonlinear patterns. Our findings suggest that iodine nutrition is adequate for Chinese children aged 3–6 years. Furthermore, iodine nutrition is intricately linked to the growth and development of these children. Consequently, it is imperative to implement decisive measures to prevent both iodine deficiency and excess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the performance of diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) and hydrogen proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) parameters in predicting the immunohistochemistry (IHC) biomarkers of glioma. Methods: Patients with glioma confirmed by pathology from March 2015 to September 2019 were analyzed, the preoperative DTI and 1H-MRS images were collected, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA), in the lesion area were measured, the relative values relative ADC (rADC) and relative FA (rFA) were obtained by the ratio of them in the lesion area to the contralateral normal area. The peak of each metabolite in the lesion area of 1H-MRS image: N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), and creatine (Cr), and metabolite ratio: NAA/Cho, NAA/(Cho + Cr) were selected and calculated. The preoperative IHC data were collected including CD34, Ki-67, p53, S-100, syn, vimentin, NeuN, Nestin, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Results: One predicting parameter of DTI was screened, the rADC of the Ki-67 positive group was lower than that of the negative group. Two parameters of 1H-MRS were found to have significant reference values for glioma grades, the NAA and Cr decreased as the grade of glioma increased, moreover, Ki-67 Li was negatively correlated with NAA and Cr. Conclusion: NAA and Cr have potential application value in predicting glioma grades and tumor proliferation activity. Only rADC has predictive value for Ki-67 expression among DTI parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new command filter-based adaptive NN control strategy is developed to address the prescribed tracking performance issue for a class of nonstrict-feedback nonlinear systems. Compared with the existing performance functions, a new performance function, the fixed-time performance function, which does not depend on the accurate initial value of the error signal and has the ability of fixed-time convergence, is proposed for the first time. A radial basis function neural network is introduced to identify unknown nonlinear functions, and the characteristic of Gaussian basis functions is utilized to overcome the difficulties of the nonstrict-feedback structure. Moreover, in contrast to the traditional Backstepping technique, a command filter-based adaptive control algorithm is constructed, which solves the "explosion of complexity" problem and relaxes the assumption on the reference signal. Additionally, it is guaranteed that the tracking error falls within a prescribed small neighborhood by the designed performance functions in fixed time, and the closed-loop system is semi-globally uniformly ultimately bounded (SGUUB). The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is verified by numerical simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recombination of charges and thermal excitation of carriers at the interface between methylammonium lead iodide perovskite (PVK) and the carbon electrode are crucial factors that affect the optoelectronic performance of carbon-based hole transport layer (HTL)-free perovskite photodetectors. In this work, a method was employed to introduce SnS quantum dots (QDs) on the back surface of perovskite, which passivated the defect states on the back surface of perovskite and addressed the energy-level mismatch issue between perovskite and carbon electrode. Performance testing of the QDs and the photodetector revealed that SnS QDs possess energy-level structures that are well matched with perovskite and have high absorption coefficients. The incorporation of these QDs into the interface layer effectively suppresses the dark current of the photodetector and greatly enhances the utilization of incident light. The experimental results demonstrate that the introduction of SnS QDs reduces the dark current by an order of magnitude compared to the pristine device at 0 V bias and increases the responsivity by 10%. The optimized photodetector exhibits a wide spectral response range (350 nm to 750 nm), high responsivity (0.32 A/W at 500 nm), and high specific detectivity (>1 × 1012 Jones). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study investigated whether COS in the diet can improve the digestion and rumen health of beef cattle under in vitro fermentation conditions. A total of 24 fermentation tanks were randomly allocated into four groups. Each treatment had six replicates, with one tank per replicate. Each group received a different concentration of 0.02% COS, 0.04% COS, 0.08% COS, and a control group (CON). The results demonstrated that the addition of COS facilitates a shift in rumen fermentation from the acetate model to the propionate model. This is achieved by influencing the microbial population, resulting in alterations to the fermentation level, nutrient disappearance rate, and gas production. These changes have the potential to enhance rumen health. The study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) meal levels on the nutrient disappearance rate, rumen fermentation, and microflora of beef cattle in vitro. A total of 24 fermentation tanks were randomly divided into four treatments containing 0% COS (CON), 0.02% COS, 0.04% COS, and 0.08% COS for an 8-day experiment period, with each treatment comprising six replicates. The disappear rates of DM, CP, EE, and total gas production were quadratically increased with increasing COS levels. The disappear rates of DM, CP, EE, and ADF were greatest, whereas the total gas production was lowest in the 0.08% COS group. The pH, NH3-N, MCP, the content of propionate, isobutyrate, butyrate, valerate, and the A/P were quadratically increased with increasing COS levels, while the A/P were linearly decreased. The pH, MCP, and the content of propionate, and butyrate were highest, whereas the NH3-N and the content of acetate, isobutyrate, valerate, and the A/P were lowest in the 0.08% COS group. Microbiomics analysis showed that the rumen microbial diversity was not altered between the CON and the 0.08% COS group. However, the relative abundance of Methanosphaera, Ruminococcus, Endomicrobium, and Eubacterium groups was increased, and the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria Dorea and Escherichia-Shigella showed a decrease in the 0.08% COS group. Overall, the 0.08% COS was the most effective among the three addition levels, resulting in an increase in the disappearance rate of in vitro fermented nutrients and improvements in rumen fermentation indexes and microbial communities. This, in turn, led to the maintenance of rumen health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the SWT model was improved by incorporating the Walker equation into the strain–life curve. The established model takes into account the material's sensitivity to mean stress by introducing the Walker exponent, w. Under uniaxial loading condition, the proposed model can reduce to the SWT model, Manson‐Coffin equation, and Walker model for w values of 0.5, 1, and 0, respectively. Under multiaxial symmetric loading, when w = 0.5, the proposed model can be simplified as another SWT correction model (CXH) proposed by Chen et al. The prediction accuracy of the established model was validated using about 200 data points collected from literature. These data points were obtained from tests conducted on eight different kinds of metals under various multiaxial loading paths. The verification results indicate that 96.8% and 97.9% of the data points fall within the factor‐of‐three boundary for the loading paths without and with mean stresses, respectively. Highlights: Shear terms have significant influence on fatigue damage under non‐proportional loading.An improved SWT model is proposed by incorporating Walker equation into strain–life curve.Procedures for determining the critical plane and damage parameters were presented.Good predictions are obtained for loadings with/without mean stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capmatinib is a potent selective mesenchymal-epithelial transition inhibitor approved in 2020 for the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. As real-world evidence is very limited, this study evaluated capmatinib-induced adverse events through data mining of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database. Four disproportionality analysis methods were employed to quantify the signals of capmatinib-related adverse events. The difference in capmatinib-associated adverse event signals was further investigated with respect to sex, age, weight, dose, onset time, continent, and concomitant drug. A total of 1518 reports and 4278 adverse events induced by capmatinib were identified. New significant adverse event signals emerged, such as dysphagia, dehydration, deafness, vocal cord paralysis, muscle disorder, and oesophageal stenosis. Notably, higher risk of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase increases were observed in females, especially when capmatinib was combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Compared with Europeans and Asians, Americans were more likely to experience peripheral swelling, especially in people > 65 years of age. Renal impairment and increased blood creatinine were more likely to occur with single doses above 400 mg and in Asians. This study improves the understanding of safety profile of capmatinib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is dedicated to optimizing the design of microfluidic cells to minimize mass transfer effects and ensure a uniform flow field distribution, which is essential for accurate SPR array detection. Employing finite element simulations, this study methodically explored the internal flow dynamics within various microfluidic cell designs to assess the impact of different contact angles on flow uniformity. The cells, constructed from Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), were subjected to micro-particle image velocimetry to measure flow velocities in targeted sections. The results demonstrate that a contact angle of 135° achieves the most uniform flow distribution, significantly enhancing the capability for high-throughput array detection. While the experimental results generally corroborated the simulations, minor deviations were observed, likely due to fabrication inaccuracies. The microfluidic cells, evaluated using a custom-built SPR system, showed consistent repeatability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In experiments, the distributions of mRNA or protein numbers in single cells are often fitted to the random telegraph model which includes synthesis and decay of mRNA or protein, and switching of the gene between active and inactive states. While commonly used, this model does not describe how fluctuations are influenced by crucial biological mechanisms such as feedback regulation, non-exponential gene inactivation durations, and multiple gene activation pathways. Here we investigate the dynamical properties of four relatively complex gene expression models by fitting their steady-state mRNA or protein number distributions to the simple telegraph model. We show that despite the underlying complex biological mechanisms, the telegraph model with three effective parameters can accurately capture the steady-state gene product distributions, as well as the conditional distributions in the active gene state, of the complex models. Some effective parameters are reliable and can reflect realistic dynamic behaviors of the complex models, while others may deviate significantly from their real values in the complex models. The effective parameters can also be applied to characterize the capability for a complex model to exhibit multimodality. Using additional information such as single-cell data at multiple time points, we provide an effective method of distinguishing the complex models from the telegraph model. Furthermore, using measurements under varying experimental conditions, we show that fitting the mRNA or protein number distributions to the telegraph model may even reveal the underlying gene regulation mechanisms of the complex models. The effectiveness of these methods is confirmed by analysis of single-cell data for E. coli and mammalian cells. All these results are robust with respect to cooperative transcriptional regulation and extrinsic noise. In particular, we find that faster relaxation speed to the steady state results in more precise parameter inference under large extrinsic noise. Author summary: Over the past decade, significant progress has been made in the theory and experiments of single-cell stochastic gene expression dynamics. The most well studied and widely used stochastic gene expression model is the two-state telegraph model. However, the conventional telegraph model is too simple and limited in its predictive power because it lacks a description of some important biological mechanisms, such as feedback regulation, multiple gene activation steps, and multiple gene activation pathways. This raises a important question: what can we learn when fitting a complex gene expression model to a simple telegraph model? In this paper, we investigate four complex gene expression models by fitting their steady-state mRNA or protein number distributions to the telegraph model and then obtain estimates of the effective parameters. We show that while the estimated values of the parameters in the "artificial" telegraph model are not always accurate, they are still sometimes reliable and can also reveal important dynamical properties of the complex models such as the ability for a complex model to produce bimodality. Moreover, we provide an effective method of distinguishing the complex models from the telegraph model by using additional information such as gene expression data at multiple time points. Finally, we show that fitting the mRNA or protein number distributions to the telegraph model may even reveal the underlying gene regulation mechanism of a complex model by using measurements under varying experimental conditions. The effectiveness of these methods is well confirmed by analysis of single-cell gene expression data for E. coli and mammalian cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) defines constitutions which are relevant to corresponding diseases among people. As one of the common constitutions, Yin-deficiency constitution influences a number of Chinese population in the disease onset. Therefore, accurate Yin-deficiency constitution identification is significant for disease prevention and treatment. Methods: In this study, we collected participants with Yin-deficiency constitution and balanced constitution, separately. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and logistic regression were used to analyze genetic predictors. Four machine learning models for Yin-deficiency constitution classification with multiple combined genetic indicators were integrated to analyze and identify the optimal model and features. The Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) interpretation was developed for model explanation. Results: The results showed that, NFKBIA, BCL2A1 and CCL4 were the most associated genetic indicators with Yin-deficiency constitution. Random forest with three genetic predictors including NFKBIA, BCL2A1 and CCL4 was the optimal model, area under curve (AUC): 0.937 (95% CI 0.844–1.000), sensitivity: 0.870, specificity: 0.900. The SHAP method provided an intuitive explanation of risk leading to individual predictions. Conclusion: We constructed a Yin-deficiency constitution classification model based on machine learning and explained it with the SHAP method, providing an objective Yin-deficiency constitution identification system in TCM and the guidance for clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To compare the refractive errors measured by the Spot photoscreener (with or without cycloplegia) to cycloplegic retinoscopy in 6- to 10-week-old infants. Materials and Methods. 101 right eyes from 101 healthy infants aged 6 to 10 weeks were recruited for this cross-sectional observational study. Refractive errors were measured using Spot photoscreener before and after cycloplegia, as well as cycloplegic retinoscopy. Comparisons between the refractive measurements were performed using one-way ANOVA with the post hoc Tukey HSD test or Kruskal–Wallis test with the Steel–Dwass test according to the data normality. Pearson's correlation test and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The agreement was evaluated using a Bland–Altman plot with 95% limits of agreement of the differences. Results. Spot photoscreener was found to underestimate the spherical equivalent by 2.33 Diopters (D) in these infants. Following the induction of cycloplegia, the spherical equivalent measured by Spot photoscreener was in excellent agreement with cycloplegic retinoscopy with the mean difference of 0.01 D. Spot photoscreener overestimated cylindrical parameter by 0.2 D with poor agreement with cycloplegic retinoscopy no matter whether cycloplegia was induced. It had good agreement with cycloplegic retinoscopy in the J 0 vector than the J 45 vector measurement. Conclusions. With the induction of cycloplegia, Spot photoscreener can accurately evaluate spherical equivalent in hyperopic infants with mild-to-moderate astigmatism. While it may provide valuable measurements of astigmatism, discrepancies in cylinder and axis should be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), functioning as artificial bioreceptors, hold significant promise for biomarker detection in healthcare, disease diagnosis, and addressing drug abuse. In contrast to natural bioreceptors, MIP-based sensors offer numerous advantages, such as high stability, cost-effectiveness, high selectivity, sensitivity, and notably straightforward preparation with customizable binding sites for diverse targets. Conventional MIP sensors often necessitate external redox reagents in analytes to transduce binding events into electrochemical signals for indirect detection, presenting challenges for practical applications in wearables or point-of-care (POC) testing. Redox-active MIP sensors have emerged as a viable alternative, enabling direct and label-free electrochemical detection, with two types developed. The first type utilizes electrocatalytic materials to expedite electron transfer and facilitate a redox reaction between the captured electroactive target and the electrode. The second type incorporates an embedded redox reactive component that allows selective binding of a target to modulate its electron transfer, leading to a change in the electrical signal. This review covers emerging trends and challenges in redox-active MIP sensors for direct electrochemical detection of biomarkers, focusing on sensing mechanisms, synthesis methods, and applications. Additionally, recent progress in wearable and POC redox-active MIP sensors is highlighted. A comprehensive outlook of challenges is further provided, aiming to advance direct biomarker detection for diverse healthcare applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of neutrophil elastase inhibitor (sivelestat sodium) on gastrointestinal function in sepsis. A reanalysis of the data from previous clinical trials conducted at our center was performed. Septic patients were divided into either the sivelestat group or the non‐sivelestat group. The gastrointestinal dysfunction score (GIDS), feeding intolerance (FI) incidence, serum levels of intestinal barrier function and inflammatory biomarkers were recorded. The clinical severity and outcome variables were also documented. A total of 163 septic patients were included. The proportion of patients with GIDS ≥2 in the sivelestat group was reduced relative to that in the non‐sivelestat group (9.6% vs. 22.5%, p = 0.047) on the 7th day of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The FI incidence was also remarkably reduced in the sivelestat group in contrast to that in the non‐sivelestat group (21.2% vs. 37.8%, p = 0.034). Furthermore, the sivelestat group had fewer days of FI [4 (3, 4) vs. 5 (4–6), p = 0.008]. The serum levels of d‐lactate (p = 0.033), intestinal fatty acid‐binding protein (p = 0.005), interleukin‐6 (p = 0.001), white blood cells (p = 0.007), C‐reactive protein (p = 0.001), and procalcitonin (p < 0.001) of the sivelestat group were lower than those of the non‐sivelestat group. The sivelestat group also demonstrated longer ICU‐free days [18 (0–22) vs. 13 (0–17), p = 0.004] and ventilator‐free days [22 (1–24) vs. 16 (1–19), p = 0.002] compared with the non‐sivelestat group. In conclusion, sivelestat sodium administration appears to improve gastrointestinal dysfunction, mitigate dysregulated inflammation, and reduce disease severity in septic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) on board the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellite has been widely used in climate and environment studies to obtain the vertical profiles of atmospheric aerosols. To retrieve the vertical profile of aerosol extinction, the CALIOP algorithm assumes column-averaged lidar ratios based on a clustering of aerosol optical properties measured at surface stations. On one hand, these lidar ratio assumptions may not be appropriate or representative at certain locations. One the other hand, the two-wavelength design of CALIOP has the potential to constrain aerosol size information, which has not been considered in the operational algorithm. In this study, we present a modified inversion algorithm to simultaneously retrieve aerosol extinction and effective radius profiles using two-wavelength elastic lidars such as CALIOP. Specifically, a lookup table is built to relate the lidar ratio with the Ångström exponent calculated using aerosol extinction at the two wavelengths, and the lidar ratio is then determined iteratively without a priori assumptions. The retrieved two-wavelength extinction at each layer is then converted to the particle effective radius assuming a lognormal distribution. The algorithm is tested on synthetic data, Raman lidar measurements and then finally the real CALIOP backscatter measurements. Results show improvements over the CALIPSO operational algorithm by comparing with ground-based Raman lidar profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, carriers are designed to deliver pharmaceutical (featuring small drug‐molecules) and biopharmaceutical (featuring large‐molecule drugs, e.g., antibodies, proteins, etc.) active ingredients and platform that is capable of transporting nanoparticles is rare. Herein, the fabrication of a supramolecular carrier with a nano‐grid structure for the entrapment of liposomes and exosomes is reported. The nano‐grid particles (NGP) are made of cyclodextrins as elementary units which are widely used to load drugs through host–guest inclusion complexes, whilst its secondary structure further formed the NGP tertiary architectures, enabling the entrapment of nanoparticles. The NGP features stimuli responsiveness, tunable surface charge, and good biocompatibility. The entrapped liposomes in NGP present enhanced distribution in lungs and extended duration of action in mice. And elongated release profiles for over 14 days is obtained for exosomes—making one‐of‐its‐kind unique platform to load and deliver nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although some studies have reported on the expression and clinical significance of Fascin-1 (FSCN1) in liver cancer, the clinical application and differential diagnosis value of FSCN1 in liver cancer are still unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression level of FSCN1 protein in liver cancer tissues and explore its diagnostic and application value in differentiating between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The immunehistochemical analysis was used to detect the expression of FSCN1 in 108 cases of HCC, 26 cases of ICC, 23 cases of liver cirrhosis, and 11 cases of normal liver tissues. The differences in the positive expression rate and strong positive expression rate of FSCN1 among different groups were analyzed. The positive rate of FSCN1 in normal liver tissues, liver cirrhosis, HCC, and ICC tissues was 0.0% (0/11), 0.0% (0/23), 13.9% (15/108), and 92.3% (24/26), respectively, while the strong positive rate was 0.0% (0/11), 0.0% (0/23), 0.9% (1/108), and 69.2% (18/26), respectively. Both the positive rate and strong positive rate of FSCN1 in ICC tissues were significantly higher than those in HCC, liver cirrhosis, and normal liver tissues. Additionally, the positive rate of FSCN1 in moderately to poorly differentiated HCC tissues was 18.8% (15/80), significantly higher than in well-differentiated HCC (0.0%, 0/28) (P = 0.031). In liver cancer, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of FSCN1 positive prediction for ICC were 92.3%, 86.1%, 61.5%, and 97.9%, respectively, whereas the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of FSCN1 strong positive prediction for ICC were 69.2%, 99.1%, 94.7%, and 93.0%, respectively. These results suggest that FSCN1 may play an important role in the occurrence and progression of liver cancer, and it can be used as a novel diagnostic marker for ICC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are caused by a deficiency in the enzymes needed to degrade glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the lysosome. The storage of GAGs leads to the involvement of several systems and even to the death of the patient. In recent years, an increasing number of therapies have increased the treatment options available to patients. Early treatment is beneficial in improving the prognosis, but children with MPSs are often delayed in their diagnosis. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a method for early screening and diagnosis of the disease. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is an analytical method that can detect multiple substrates or enzymes simultaneously. GAGs are reliable markers of MPSs. MS/MS can be used to screen children at an early stage of the disease, to improve prognosis by treating them before symptoms appear, to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment, and for metabolomic analysis or to find suitable biomarkers. In the future, MS/MS could be used to further identify suitable biomarkers for MPSs for early diagnosis and to detect efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerosol remote sensing typically relies on reflected shortwave radiation and thus lacks nighttime retrievals. Here we made an original attempt to retrieve nighttime aerosol optical depth (AOD) by utilizing longwave measurements in the atmospheric window region from the Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS) instrument. A machine‐learning based algorithm is developed using AIRS longwave radiance and auxiliary data as the input and AOD from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) as well as reanalysis surface temperature as the output. Independent validation indicates good agreement with lunar AOD derived from surface photometers. An overall increase in nighttime AOD compared to daytime is also uncovered, which is further corroborated by surface and space lidar measurements. The theoretical basis of the algorithm is further verified using radiative transfer simulations. Our approach substantially extends the potential of hyperspectral longwave measurements and offers valuable insights into nighttime aerosol properties. Plain Language Summary: Aerosol optical depth (AOD) is an important parameter for understanding the effects of aerosols on the Earth's atmosphere and air quality. However, current satellite‐based methods for estimating AOD mainly rely on reflected sunlight, thus lacking the capability of deriving aerosol properties at night. In this study, we develop a novel machine‐learning based method for estimating nighttime AOD using longwave far infrared measurements from the Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS) satellite instrument. Our algorithm shows satisfactory performance with good agreements with surface AOD derived from moonlight, as well as from space lidar. Through radiative transfer simulations, we were able to verify the theoretical basis of our method and establish a relationship between AOD and the longwave measurements. This new approach greatly expands our ability to estimate AOD during nighttime and provides valuable insights into day‐time aerosol variability. Key Points: Nighttime AOD is successfully retrieved from satellite longwave radiance measurementsResults agree well with AERONET lunar AOD and CALIPSO nighttime AODNighttime AOD is found to be overall higher than daytime AOD globally [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer, and chemotherapy still serves as the cornerstone treatment functioning by inducing cytotoxic cell death. Notably, emerging evidence suggests that dying cell-released signals may induce cancer progression and metastasis by modulating the surrounding microenvironment. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms and targeting strategies are yet to be explored. Methods: Apoptotic TNBC cells induced by paclitaxel or adriamycin treatment were sorted and their released extracellular vesicles (EV-dead) were isolated from the cell supernatants. Chemokine array analysis was conducted to identify the crucial molecules in EV-dead. Zebrafish and mouse xenograft models were used to investigate the effect of EV-dead on TNBC progression in vivo. Results: It was demonstrated that EV-dead were phagocytized by macrophages and induced TNBC metastasis by promoting the infiltration of immunosuppressive PD-L1+ TAMs. Chemokine array identified CXCL1 as a crucial component in EV-dead to activate TAM/PD-L1 signaling. CXCL1 knockdown in EV-dead or macrophage depletion significantly inhibited EV-dead-induced TNBC growth and metastasis. Mechanistic investigations revealed that CXCL1EV-dead enhanced TAM/PD-L1 signaling by transcriptionally activating EED-mediated PD-L1 promoter activity. More importantly, TPCA-1 (2-[(aminocarbonyl) amino]-5-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-thiophenecarboxamide) was screened as a promising inhibitor targeting CXCL1 signals in EVs to enhance paclitaxel chemosensitivity and limit TNBC metastasis without noticeable toxicities. Conclusions: Our results highlight CXCL1EV-dead as a novel dying cell-released signal and provide TPCA-1 as a targeting candidate to improve TNBC prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is widely used in clinical practice to treat diseases related to central nervous system (CNS) damage. However, the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) constitutes a significant impediment to the effective delivery of TCM, thus substantially diminishing its efficacy. Advances in nanotechnology and its applications in TCM (also known as nano‐TCM) can deliver active ingredients or components of TCM across the BBB to the targeted brain region. This review provides an overview of the physiological and pathological mechanisms of the BBB and systematically classifies the common TCM used to treat CNS diseases and types of nanocarriers that effectively deliver TCM to the brain. Additionally, drug delivery strategies for nano‐TCMs that utilize in vivo physiological properties or in vitro devices to bypass or cross the BBB are discussed. This review further focuses on the application of nano‐TCMs in the treatment of various CNS diseases. Finally, this article anticipates a design strategy for nano‐TCMs with higher delivery efficiency and probes their application potential in treating a wider range of CNS diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Refractoriness to surgical resection and chemotherapy makes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) a fatal cancer of the digestive system with high mortality and poor prognosis. Important function invests circRNAs with tremendous potential in biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Nevertheless, it is still unknown how circRNAs contribute to the evolution of ICC. Methods: CircRNAs in paired ICC and adjacent tissues were screened by circRNAs sequencing. To explore the impact of circRNAs on ICC development, experiments involving gain and loss of function were conducted. Various experimental techniques, including quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), western blotting, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), luciferase reporter assays, RNA pull-down, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), ubiquitination assays and so on were employed to identify the molecular regulatory role of circRNAs. Results: Herein, we reported a new circRNA, which originates from exon 9 to exon 15 of the SLCO1B3 gene (named circSLCO1B3), orchestrated ICC progression by promoting tumor proliferation, metastasis and immune evasion. We found that the circSLCO1B3 gene was highly overexpressed in ICC tissues and related to lymphatic metastasis, tumor sizes, and tumor differentiation. Mechanically, circSLCO1B3 not only promoted ICC proliferation and metastasis via miR-502-5p/HOXC8/SMAD3 axis, but also eradicated anti-tumor immunity via suppressing ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent degradation of PD-L1 by E3 ubiquitin ligase SPOP. We further found that methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) mediated the m6A methylation of circSLCO1B3 and stabilizes its expression. Our findings indicate that circSLCO1B3 is a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target in ICC patients. Conclusions: Taken together, m6A-modified circSLCO1B3 was correlated with poor prognosis in ICC and promoted ICC progression not only by enhancing proliferation and metastasis via potentiating HOXC8 expression, but also by inducing immune evasion via antagonizing PD-L1 degradation. These results suggest that circSLCO1B3 is a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target for ICC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3)-based alloys have been extensively employed in energy harvesting and refrigeration applications for decades. However, commercially produced Bi2Te3-based alloys using the zone-melting (ZM) technique often encounter challenges such as insufficient mechanical properties and susceptibility to cracking, particularly in n-type Bi2Te3-based alloys, which severely limit the application scenarios for bismuth telluride devices. In this work, we seek to enhance the mechanical properties of n-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 alloys while preserving their thermoelectrical performance by a mixed mechanism of grain refinement and the TiN composite phase-introduced pinning effect. These nanoscale processes, coupled with the addition of TiN, result in a reduction in grain size. The pinning effects of nano-TiN contribute to increased resistance to crack propagation. Finally, the TiN-dispersed Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 samples demonstrate increased hardness, bending strength and compressive strength, reaching 0.98 GPa, 36.3 MPa and 74 MPa. When compared to the ZM ingots, those represent increments of 181%, 60% and 67%, respectively. Moreover, the thermoelectric performance of the TiN-dispersed Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 samples is identical to the ZM ingots. The samples exhibit a peak dimensionless figure of merit (ZT) value of 0.957 at 375 K, with an average ZT value of 0.89 within the 325–450 K temperature range. This work has significantly enhanced mechanical properties, increasing the adaptability and reliability of bismuth telluride devices for various applications, and the multi-effect modulation of mechanical properties demonstrated in this study can be applied to other thermoelectric material systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-transcriptional regulation by small RNAs and post-translational modifications (PTM) such as lysine acetylation play fundamental roles in physiological circuits, offering rapid responses to environmental signals with low energy consumption. Yet, the interplay between these regulatory systems remains underexplored. Here, we unveil the cross-talk between sRNAs and lysine acetylation in Streptococcus mutans, a primary cariogenic pathogen known for its potent acidogenic virulence. Through systematic overexpression of sRNAs in S. mutans, we identified sRNA SmsR1 as a critical player in modulating acidogenicity, a key cariogenic virulence feature in S. mutans. Furthermore, combined with the analysis of predicted target mRNA and transcriptome results, potential target genes were identified and experimentally verified. A direct interaction between SmsR1 and 5'-UTR region of pdhC gene was determined by in vitro binding assays. Importantly, we found that overexpression of SmsR1 reduced the expression of pdhC mRNA and increased the intracellular concentration of acetyl-CoA, resulting in global changes in protein acetylation levels. This was verified by acetyl-proteomics in S. mutans, along with an increase in acetylation level and decreased activity of LDH. Our study unravels a novel regulatory paradigm where sRNA bridges post-transcriptional regulation with post-translational modification, underscoring bacterial adeptness in fine-tuning responses to environmental stress. Author summary: Post-transcriptional regulation and post-translational modification are widely present in physiological circuits due to their low energy consumption and rapid response to the environment. sRNA is an important post-transcriptional regulatory factor in bacterial response to environmental stress, and bacteria also use sRNA as a key signal to control multicellular behaviors such as biofilm formation and quorum sensing to regulate virulence. S. mutans is an intractable cariogenic pathogen, but the role of sRNA in S. mutans is poorly understood. Here, we elucidated the virulence regulation and mechanism of sRNA SmsR1 in S. mutans by means of transcriptomics, acetyl-proteomics and animal models, and found its relationship with protein acetylation (post-translational modification), and a new role of sRNA physiological regulatory network was shown. This study presents an innovative perspective that a sRNA in S. mutans is involved in the correlation between post-transcriptional regulation and post-translational modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity is often associated with multiple comorbidities. However, whether obese subjects with hyperlipidemia in the absence of other complications have worse cardiac indices than metabolically healthy obese subjects is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to determine the effect of hyperlipidemia on subclinical left ventricular (LV) function in obesity and to evaluate the association of cardiac parameters with body fat distribution. Materials and methods: Ninety-two adults were recruited and divided into 3 groups: obesity with hyperlipidemia (n = 24, 14 males), obesity without hyperlipidemia (n = 25, 13 males), and c ntrols (n = 43, 25 males). LV strain parameters (peak strain (PS), peak diastolic strain rate (PDSR), peak systolic strain rate) derived from cardiovascular magnetic resonance tissue tracking were measured and compared. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometer was used to measure body fat distribution. Correlations of hyperlipidemia and body fat distribution with LV strain were assessed by multivariable linear regression. Results: Obese individuals with preserved LV ejection fraction showed lower global LV longitudinal, circumferential, and radial PS and longitudinal and circumferential PDSR than controls (all P < 0.05). Among obese patients, those with hyperlipidemia had lower longitudinal PS and PDSR and circumferential PDSR than those without hyperlipidemia (− 12.8 ± 2.9% vs. − 14.2 ± 2.7%, 0.8 ± 0.1 s−1 vs. 0.9 ± 0.3 s−1, 1.2 ± 0.2 s−1 vs. 1.4 ± 0.2 s−1; all P < 0.05). Multivariable linear regression demonstrated that hyperlipidemia was independently associated with circumferential PDSR (β = − 0.477, P < 0.05) in obesity after controlling for growth differences, other cardiovascular risk factors, and central fat distribution. In addition, android fat had an independently negative relationship with longitudinal and radial PS (β = − 0.486 and β = − 0.408, respectively; all P < 0.05); and visceral fat was negatively associated with longitudinal PDSR (β = − 0.563, P < 0.05). Differently, gynoid fat was positively correlated with circumferential PS and PDSR and radial PDSR (β = 0.490, β = 0.481, and β = 0.413, respectively; all P < 0.05). Conclusion: Hyperlipidemia is independently associated with subclinical LV diastolic dysfunction in obesity. Central fat distribution (android and visceral fat) has a negative association, while peripheral fat distribution (gynoid fat) has a positive association on subclinical LV function. These results suggest that appropriate management of hyperlipidemia may be beneficial for obese patients, and that the differentiation of fat distribution in different regions may facilitate the precise management of obese patients. Clinical trials registration Effect of lifestyle intervention on metabolism of obese patients based on smart phone software (ChiCTR1900026476). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is associated with sleep disturbances. However, mechanisms underlying these interactions remain unclear. Male acute and chronic sleep deprivation (SD) mice were used for this study. Mice in the chronic SD group exhibited anxiety‐ and depression‐like behaviors. We further performed high‐throughput genome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis to screen for featured differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the esophageal tissue. The acute SD group, comprised 25 DEGs including 14 downregulated and 11 upregulated genes. Compared with the acute SD group, more DEGs were present in the chronic SD group, with a total of 169 DEGs, including 88 downregulated and 81 upregulated genes. Some DEGs that were closely related to GERD and associated esophageal diseases were significantly different in the chronic SD group. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction verified the downregulation of Krt4, Krt13, Krt15 and Calml3 and upregulation of Baxl1 and Per3. Notably, these DEGs are involved in biological processes, which might be the pathways of the neuroregulatory mechanisms of DEGs expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat powdery mildew is a fungal disorder caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) and is a severe and significant threat to the yield and quality of its host. The most practical and environmentally friendly approach to controlling this disease is through resistance gene identification to develop resistant varieties. Wild germplasm relatives of wheat are a valuable reservoir of genes contributing to resistance against powdery mildew. In our study, we identified the Aegilops tauschii germplasm "KU-2013", exhibiting seedling resistance to Bgt isolate E09 following hexaploidization. Genetic analysis and chromosomal localization of the powdery mildew resistance gene in doubled haploid (DH) KU-2013 indicated that the disease resistance gene in DHKU-2013 is governed by a dominant gene situated in 5DS, tentatively named PmKu-2013. Following the analysis of PmKu-2013 relative to the genes at the Pm2 locus, it was inferred that PmKu-2013 represented a distinct novel gene separate from Pm2. Using molecular marker analysis, PmKu-2013 was found to be ultimately mapped between the sdau5DS5-3 and sdau5DS6-1 markers, with genetic distances of 0.6 cM and 1.3 cM, respectively. Using markers tightly linked to PmKu-2013, the genotypes of core wheat varieties from various regions were identified, laying the foundation for the transfer and utilization of PmKu-2013 in molecular-assisted selection (MAS) for breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tool wear is one of the factors restraining the improvement of product efficiency and machining quality, especially for the aerospace industries with high-added-value parts and hard-to-cut material. During the finish milling of the free-form surface, tool orientations and engagement regions constantly change, which renders the traditional average flank wear hard to describe the tool wear condition accurately. In the present work, tool wear in multiple dimensions is studied comprehensively by using solid carbide ball-end mills with different lend angles, and it is designed by a fixed GH4169 workpiece in various angles. The results show that flank wear, wear depth, wear area, and wear volume increase with the cutting length. The relationship between cutting parameters and those wear features was analyzed with the variance and cluster analysis. The rates of wear area and wear volume were more sensitive to cutting parameters compared to flank wear. What's more, wear volume was affected significantly by all the main effects and some intersections of those factors, that is, spindle speeds, feeds, lead angles, and initial flank wear, which gave the maximum information in distinguishing the effects of cutting parameters. From the perspective of statistics, 36.1% of cases owned higher wear rates in cluster analysis for the stochastic wear process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose—This study aims to perform an in-depth analysis of double-diffusive natural convection (DDNC) in an irregularly shaped porous cavity. We investigate the convective heat transfer process induced by the lower wall treated as a heat source while the side walls of the enclosure are maintained at a lower temperature and concentration, and the remaining wall is adiabatic. Various factors, such as the Rayleigh number, Darcy effects, Hartmann number, Lewis number and effects of magnetic inclination are evaluated for their influence on flow dynamics and heat distribution. Design/methodology/approach—After validating the results, the FEM (finite element method) is used to simulate the flow pattern, temperature variations, and concentration by solving the nonlinear partial differential equations with the modified Rayleigh number (104 ≤ Ra ≤ 107), Darcy number (10−4 ≤ Da ≤ 10−1), Lewis number (0.1 ≤ L e ≤ 10) , and Hartmann number 0 ≤ H a ≤ 40 as the dimensionless operating parameters. Findings—The finding shows that the patterns of convection and the shape of the isotherms within porous enclosures are notably affected by the angle of the applied magnetic field. This study enhances our understanding of how double-diffusive natural convection (DDNC) operates in these enclosures, which helps improve heating and cooling technologies in various engineering fields. Research limitations/implications—Numerical and experimental extensions of the present study make it possible to investigate differences in thermal performance as a result of various curvatures, orientations, boundary conditions, and the use of three-dimensional analysis and other working fluids. Practical implications—The geometry configurations used in this study have wide-ranging applications in engineering fields, such as in heat exchangers, crystallization, microelectronics, energy storage, mixing, food processing, and biomedical systems. Originality/value—This study shows how an inclined magnetic field affects double-diffusive natural convection (DDNC) within a porous system featuring an irregularly shaped cavity, considering various multiphysical conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address issues of high water content and low calorific value during combustion of municipal sludge, we added water-absorbent, easy-to-burn agricultural waste to improve the overall combustion performance. Cotton straw or corn stover were added to the sludge and mixed at high-speed to compare their capacities for improving combustion performance. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed that cotton straw or corn stover attached to the surface of the municipal sludge particles after blending, while analysis of thermogravimetric curves and activation energies of the blends showed that combustion and exhaustion rates increased significantly when 40% cotton straw or corn stover were blended into the sludge. Using the quadrilateral cut-ring boiler as a prototype, the mix of sludge with cotton straw or corn stover was simulated, and FLUENT software was used to obtain the temperature and pollutant emissions of the boiler. Sludge blended with cotton straw or corn stover increased furnace temperature and reduced SO2 and NO emissions, while that with cotton straw burned at higher temperatures with lower SO2 and NO emissions. Overall, the CO content of sludge combustion was lower when blended with proportions of cotton straw or corn stover under 50%. The findings of this study lay a theoretical foundation for treatment of municipal sludge according to local conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the expression level, biological function, and underlying mechanism of transmembrane protein 176B (TMEM176B) in gastric cancer (GC). Methods: TMEM176B expression was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting (WB). The function of TMEM176B was determined by various in vitro assays including colony formation, 5-ethynyl-2ʹ-deoxyuridine (EdU), Transwell, and flow cytometry. Bioinformatics techniques were then used to elucidate the signaling pathways associated with TMEM176B activity. Tumor formation experiments were conducted on nude mice for in vivo validation of the preceding findings. TMEM176B expression was cross-referenced to clinicopathological parameters and survival outcomes. Results: It was observed that TMEM176B was overexpressed in GC cells and tissues. Targeted TMEM176B abrogation inhibited colony formation, proliferation, migration, and invasion but promoted apoptosis in GC cell lines while TMEM176B overexpression had the opposite effects. Subsequent experimental validation disclosed an association between TMEM176B and the phosphatidylinositol 3-carboxykinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt)-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling axis. Moreover, TMEM176B affects GC cancer progression by regulating asparagine synthetase (ASNS). The in vivo assays confirmed that TMEM176B is oncogenic and the clinical data revealed a connection between TMEM176B expression and the clinicopathological determinants of GC. Conclusion: The foregoing results suggest that TMEM176B significantly promotes the development of gastric cancer and is an independent prognostic factor of it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop a predictive nomogram model to estimate the odds of osteoporosis (OP) in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and validate its prediction efficiency. The hospitalized elderly patients with T2DM from the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical University between July 2022 and March 2023 were included in this study. We sorted them into the model group and the validation group with a ratio of 7:3 randomly. The selection operator regression (LASSO) algorithm was utilized to select the optimal matching factors, which were then included in a multifactorial forward stepwise logistic regression to determine independent influencing factors and develop a nomogram. The discrimination, accuracy, and clinical efficacy of the nomogram model were analyzed utilizing the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and clinical decision curve analysis (DCA). A total of 379 study participants were included in this study. Gender (OR = 8.801, 95% CI 4.695–16.499), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) < 98 (OR = 4.698, 95% CI 2.416–9.135), serum calcium (Ca) (OR = 0.023, 95% CI 0.003–0.154), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (OR = 1.181, 95% CI 1.055–1.322), duration of diabetes (OR = 1.076, 95% CI 1.034–1.119), and serum creatinine (SCr) (OR = 0.984, 95% CI 0.975–0.993) were identified as independent influencing factors for DOP occurrence in the elderly. The area under the curve (AUC) of the nomogram model was 0.844 (95% CI 0.797–0.89) in the modeling group and 0.878 (95% CI 0.814–0.942) in the validation group. The nomogram clinical prediction model was well generalized and had moderate predictive value (AUC > 0.7), better calibration, and better clinical benefit. The nomogram model established in this study has good discrimination and accuracy, allowing for intuitive and individualized analysis of the risk of DOP occurrence in elderly individuals. It can identify high-risk populations and facilitate the development of effective preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly integrated and high-power devices place higher demands on the heat dissipation capability of heat sink components, and graphene meets the heat dissipation requirements due to its extremely high thermal conductivity of 5300 Wm−1 K−1 and good mechanical properties. Graphene by redox is one of the most promising methods for large-scale preparation of graphene; however, the quality of graphene prepared by different reduction processes varies. Herein, this paper presents a fast and efficient reduction process. Benzene was added as a reduction aid to increase the temperature from room to 2000 °C in 30 s and complete the reduction process. By this method, we obtained graphene with low defects and high thermal conductivity. The reduction process restored the lattice destroyed by the oxidation process, and the repaired material showed a higher crystallinity with a measured ID/IG of 0.18 (Ph-rGO-0, 0.58) and in-plane thermal conductivity of 510 ± 10 Wm−1 K−1. The in-plane thermal conductivity was increased by 262 Wm−1 K−1 compared with the film without benzene addition (Ph-rGO-0), which showed better homogeneous temperature performance and heat dissipation performance in practical applications. These results show the great potential for the application of graphene films prepared by this method in the field of heat dissipation materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal studies have shown that virus infection causes changes in host chromatin accessibility, but little is known about changes in chromatin accessibility of plants infected by viruses and its potential impact. Here, rice infected by rice stripe virus (RSV) was used to investigate virus‐induced changes in chromatin accessibility. Our analysis identified a total of 6462 open‐ and 3587 closed‐differentially accessible chromatin regions (DACRs) in rice under RSV infection by ATAC‐seq. Additionally, by integrating ATAC‐seq and RNA‐seq, 349 up‐regulated genes in open‐DACRs and 126 down‐regulated genes in closed‐DACRs were identified, of which 34 transcription factors (TFs) were further identified by search of upstream motifs. Transcription levels of eight of these TFs were validated by reverse transcription‐PCR. Importantly, four of these TFs (OsWRKY77, OsWRKY28, OsZFP12 and OsERF91) interacted with RSV proteins and are therefore predicted to play important roles in RSV infection. This is the first application of ATAC‐seq and RNA‐seq techniques to analyse changes in rice chromatin accessibility caused by RSV infection. Integrating ATAC‐seq and RNA‐seq provides a new approach to select candidate TFs in response to virus infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Trastuzumab has a relatively low incidence of drug resistance, which can be used as an adjuvant treatment to improve clinical efficacy. It has been used to treat breast cancer in the past, but its application in other cancers has been less studied. This study aimed to explore the effects of trastuzumab assisted modified DOF fortnightly regimen on serum tumor markers and survival rate in cisplatin-resistant gastric cancer patients, in order to provide more references for the selection of clinical treatment methods for cisplatin-resistant gastric cancer. Methods: Eighty patients with cisplatin-resistant gastric cancer treated in Harison International Peace Hospital from January 2017 to January 2019 were selected as the study objects, and they were divided into observation group and control group according to random number table method. All of them received improved DOF fortnightly treatment, and trastuzumab adjuvant treatment was added to the observation group on this basis. The serum tumor markers [serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), CA72-4], serum neovascular markers [vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), pigment epithelial derived factor (PEDF), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2)], biochemical indicators [N-terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide (NT proBNP), aspartate transaminase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), alanine aminotransferase (ALT)], adverse reactions and survival rate were compared between two groups. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Harison International Peace Hospital (number: 20160511). Results: After treatment, CEA, CA19-9 and CA72-4 in both groups decreased, and CEA, CA19-9 and CA72-4 levels were lower in the observation group than in the control group with statistical significance (P<0.01). After treatment, VEGF, PEDF and Ang-2 in two groups decreased, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). The levels of VEGF, PEDF and Ang-2 were compared between the two groups before and after treatment, and there was no significant difference (P>0.05). The levels of NT-proBNP, AST, BUN and ALT were compared between the two groups before and after treatment, and there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). The number of patients with fatigue, gastrointestinal reaction and myelosuppression and the total incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups, and there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). At 5 years after treatment, 11 cases (27.5%) survived and 29 cases (72.5%) died in the observation group. There were 3 cases (7.5%) of survival and 37 cases (92.5%) of death in the control group. The median survival was 2 years (95% CI: 1.8-2.2) in the observation group and 1 year (95% CI: 0.6-1.4) in the control group. The survival rate of 1-5 years was higher in the observation group than in the control group. The difference was statistically significant (log-rank χ² = 13.853, P=0.001). Conclusion: In the clinical treatment of cisplatin-resistant gastric cancer, trastuzumab assisted modified DOF fortnightly regimen suggests that it can reduce the expression levels of serum tumor markers, improve the 5-year survival rate of patients, and has certain drug safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: This was the first article reported a fatal case of chlorfenapyr poisoning in a child, and the typical symptoms before death include high fever, severe sweating, coma, and limb stiffness, and elevation of myocardial enzymes and myoglobin; neurological symptoms tend to appear earlier in children than in adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper documents are an important carrier of information related to human civilization, with the reinforcement and protection of fragile paper documents being a key aspect of their protection. This research utilized amphoteric polyvinylamine polymer as a paper reinforcement agent, strengthening the Xuan paper commonly used in paper documents. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), solid-state 13C NMR, and other analytical methods were employed to compare the physical properties, micro-morphology, crystallinity, and aging resistance of the paper before and after reinforcement. Research was conducted on the effects of reinforcement, the aging resistance, and the effects on the fiber structure. The results indicate that polyethylenimine has a filling and bridging effect between the paper fibers. After treatment with polyethylenimine, there was a significant improvement in the folding endurance and tensile strength of the paper. Additionally, the paper maintains a good mechanical strength even after undergoing dry heat and humid aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress is one of the key factors impeding agricultural productivity worldwide. This experiment aimed at investigating the polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced drought stress effects on seed germination, physiology, and biochemical mechanisms in Tartary buckwheat genotypes. Four PEG-induced stress conditions (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%) were applied to 14 selected genotypes at the germination stage to evaluate their stress tolerance capacity. Significant differences were obtained in germination percentage, relative water content (RWC), and all growth parameters among the studied 14 genotypes. Based on the stress tolerance index (STI), XiNong 9943, XiNong 9940, and QianKu-5 were found to be tolerant, and QuanKu-4 was susceptible. These cultivars were selected for further physiological and biochemical characterization. The results demonstrated that the activity of enzymes was significantly increased with the increase in PEG dose. SOD (superoxide dismutase), POD (peroxidase), CAT (catalase), and APX (ascorbate peroxidase) levels obtained at 30% PEG in the XiNong 9943 genotype were 2.01, 2.19, 4.92, and 4.46 times higher, respectively, than the normal growth condition (T0). Moreover, the secondary metabolite content also increased with the increase in PEG dose. At 30% PEG, the genotype XiNong 9943 yielded phenols, flavonoids, polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) levels that were higher by 131%, 95%, 154%, and 164%, respectively, than T0 condition. From both the findings of the activity of enzymes and the secondary metabolite content, the genotypic response to drought was ranked in the following order: XiNong 9943 > XiNong 9940 > QianKu-5 > QianKu-4, which supported the STI selection system. Assessing the overall performance, the genotype XiNong 9943 shows drought tolerance, which can be useful material for future buckwheat breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimation of the region of attraction of the power system using sum of squares (SOS) programming theory is investigated in this paper. Firstly, the Taylor expansion formula is applied to explore the inherent polynomial structure of the swing equation. The single machine projection equation for a multi-machine system is proposed based on the amplitude characteristic of the rotor angle response in decoupled space. Secondly, the theory of SOS programming originating from the polynomial system is derived, and the theory about estimation of the region of attraction for the differential algebraic system is summarized. Thirdly, the method for estimating the region of attraction for the polynomial swing equation based on a V-S two-stage iterative procedure is proposed. Finally, a single machine infinite bus power system, an IEEE 3-machine power system, and an IEEE 4-machine power system are employed to validate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transcription of glycine-rich RNA-binding protein 2 (PeGRP2) transiently increased in the roots and shoots of Populus euphratica (a salt-resistant poplar) upon initial salt exposure and tended to decrease after long-term NaCl stress (100 mM, 12 days). PeGRP2 overexpression in the hybrid Populus tremula × P. alba '717-1B4' (P. × canescens) increased its salt sensitivity, which was reflected in the plant's growth and photosynthesis. PeGRP2 contains a conserved RNA recognition motif domain at the N-terminus, and RNA affinity purification (RAP) sequencing was developed to enrich the target mRNAs that physically interacted with PeGRP2 in P. × canescens. RAP sequencing combined with RT-qPCR revealed that NaCl decreased the transcripts of PeGRP2-interacting mRNAs encoding photosynthetic proteins, antioxidative enzymes, ATPases, and Na+/H+ antiporters in this transgenic poplar. Specifically, PeGRP2 negatively affected the stability of the target mRNAs encoding the photosynthetic proteins PETC and RBCMT; antioxidant enzymes SOD[Mn], CDSP32, and CYB1-2; ATPases AHA11, ACA8, and ACA9; and the Na+/H+ antiporter NHA1. This resulted in (i) a greater reduction in Fv/Fm, YII, ETR, and Pn; (ii) less pronounced activation of antioxidative enzymes; and (iii) a reduced ability to maintain Na+ homeostasis in the transgenic poplars during long-term salt stress, leading to their lowered ability to tolerate salinity stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypertension influences the inflammatory pathological changes in the retina. The function of the inflammasomes is significant. To see if Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) regulates angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertensive retinopathy and inflammation by modulating NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and the potential protective effects of fucoidan (FO) in mouse retinal vascular endothelial cells (mRECs) and mice retina. Methods: The diagnosis of hypertensive retinopathy was made after three weeks of Ang II infusion (3000 ng/kg/min). One day prior to the commencement of Ang II infusion, the mice were treatment with NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 (10 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneal injections) or FO (300 mg/kg/day, oral gavage). A blood pressure was recorded. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to conduct pathological alterations, dihydroethidium bromide (DHE) was utilized to assess oxidative stress damage in the retina, and fluorescence angiography was used to identify vascular disorders in the eye. Using immunohistochemical labeling, NLRP3 expression was found. Reactive protein and mRNA expression levels in mouse retina and cells were assessed using Western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results: NLRP3 inflammasome activation and SIRT1 decrease were brought about by Ang II infusion. Retinopathy and dysfunction were lessened by MCC950 target-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation, while overexpression of SIRT1 had the opposite impact on NLRP3 inflammasome activation, indicating that SIRT1 functions as an upstream regulator of NLRP3 activity. FO may improve SIRT1 expression and decrease NLRP3 activation in retinopathy and dysfunction brought on by Ang II, and the effects were consistent across both in vivo and in vitro models. Conclusions: SIRT1 adversely regulates the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, which in turn increases Ang II-induced inflammation and hypertensive retinopathy. FO may mitigate Ang II-induced retinopathy and dysfunction via modulating the expression of SIRT1/NLRP3. This implies practical approaches to the management of hypertensive retinopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This abstract presents a formaldehyde catalytic mechanism diagram, illustrating the catalyst's subtle changes during the reaction process and providing a deeper understanding of its underlying mechanisms. [Display omitted] The elimination of formaldehyde at room temperature holds immense potential for various applications, and the incorporation of a catalyst rich in surface hydroxyl groups and oxygen significantly enhances its catalytic activity towards formaldehyde oxidation. By employing a coprecipitation method, we successfully achieved a palladium domain confined within the manganese carbonate lattice and doped with iron. This synergistic effect between highly dispersed palladium and iron greatly amplifies the concentration of surface hydroxyl groups and oxygen on the catalyst, thereby enabling complete oxidation of formaldehyde at ambient conditions. The proposed method facilitates the formation of domain-limited palladium within the MnCO 3 lattice, thereby enhancing the dispersion of palladium and facilitating its partial incorporation into the MnCO 3 lattice. Consequently, this approach promotes increased exposure of active sites and enhances the catalyst's capacity for oxygen activation. The co-doping of iron effectively splits the doping sites of palladium to further enhance its dispersion, while simultaneously modifying the electronic modification of the catalyst to alter formaldehyde's adsorption strength on it. Manganese carbonate exhibits superior adsorption capability for activated surface hydroxyl groups due to the presence of carbonate. In situ infrared testing revealed that dioxymethylene and formate are primary products resulting from catalytic oxidation of formaldehyde, with catalyst surface oxygen and hydroxyl groups playing a crucial role in intermediate product decomposition and oxidation. This study provides novel insights for designing palladium-based catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]