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Recent research reveals the critical roles of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated protein degradation (ERAD)-related ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme AtUBC32 orthologs and their partnering E3 ligases, which play dual roles in enhancing both crop yield and stress resistance. These findings open avenues for breeding high-yield, stress-tolerant crops and inspire further exploration of the ERAD pathway in agricultural innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to map the correlation between thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) and Gafchromic film for measuring absorbed doses and to compare minimum, maximum, and mean absorbed doses over larger regions of interest and at various craniofacial organs and tissues during cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) exposure of the mandibular third molar region. We positioned TLDs at 75 measurement points in a head phantom. Gafchromic film was cut to the same shape as the 5 levels of the phantom and was placed on top of the TLDs. Both dosimetry methods thus included the surface of each level simultaneously. CBCT scans were made using a 5 × 5 cm field of view and a rotation angle of 200°. Measurements included absorbed dose distributions, doses at all 75 points, and minimum, maximum, and mean doses within organs and tissues. The correlation of point-dose measurements at all TLD sites with doses measured on film was strong (R2 = 0.9687), with greatest correlation at lower doses (<2 mGy). Large deviations between TLD and film measurements of minimum and maximum doses and absorbed doses to the organs occurred at all 5 levels. TLD positioning failed to cover several organ sites; for these, only absorbed dose measurements from the film were available. TLDs were unable to sample dose distributions and gradients accurately. The characteristics of Gafchromic LD-V1 film make it a favorable alternative in dental CBCT dosimetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium carbide (TiC x) films were deposited by reactively sputtering Ti target with varied methane (CH 4) flow rates using an unbalanced magnetron sputtering equipment operating in conventional (CMS) and plasma-enhanced (PEMS) mode. The microstructure and properties of the TiC x films were mainly scrutinized with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, nano indentation, and ball-on-disk tribo-test. As the CH 4 flow rate is increased from 4 to 16 sccm, x in the TiC x films deposited by PEMS and CMS is gradually increased from 0.28 to 0.96 and 0.28 to 0.73, respectively; and the concentration of TiC phase in the films rises. A densified microstructure with strong preferred growth is observed in the PEMS-deposited films, while a loose columnar microstructure with almost random growth exists in the CMS-deposited films. When the CH 4 flow rate is increased, the hardness of the films deposited by PEMS is firstly increased and then decreased, and reaches a maximum value of 29.6 GPa; but that of CMS-TiC x film is fluctuated below 10.6 GPa. The friction coefficient of TiC x -coated samples against pure aluminum is gradually increased with increasing CH 4 flow rate from 4 to 14 sccm, accompanied by a reduction of the aluminum adhesion. The wear rate of the TiC x -coated samples as a function of the CH 4 flow rate is firstly decreased and then increased. The lowest wear rate of the PEMS-prepared samples is 7.2 × 10−16 m3/(N·m) obtained at a CH 4 flow rate of 14 sccm, while that of the CMS-prepared samples is 9.3 × 10−15 m3/(N·m) obtained at 12 sccm. Therefore, PEMS is a promising method to prepare TiC x films with a good combination of the mechanical properties and wear-resistance against pure aluminum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate how cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) affects the therapeutic planning of impacted maxillary canines. A total of 132 impacted canines from 89 pediatric patients were collected from 3 specialist clinics in Stockholm, Sweden. An interdisciplinary therapy planning team consisting of 5 dental specialists evaluated each case and chose their preferred treatment alternative, initially without and later with CBCT images, to decide whether CBCT was justified for therapy planning. Predefined variables measurable using only 2-dimensional (2D) assessments were analyzed using stepwise logistic regression analyses. The CBCT was considered indicated in 47% of the cases. Additional information from CBCT led to a treatment decision change in 9.8%. Significant 2D predictors for CBCT justification were horizontal canine angulation compared with vertical angulation (odds ratio [OR] = 10.9), extraction strategy involvement (OR = 6.7), and buccally positioned canines compared with palatal (OR = 5.3), central (OR = 25.0), and distal or uncertain positions (OR = 7.7). The benefit-risk assessment of CBCT for impacted canines may be reinforced by performing and applying justification decisions for CBCT acquisition at the therapeutic thinking level. If preliminary treatment planning motivates further in-depth investigation of either root status or tooth location, a CBCT is indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the development of chemo-immunotherapy, many efforts have been focusing on designing suitable carriers to realize the co-delivery of chemotherapeutic and immunotherapeutic with different physicochemical properties and mechanisms of action. Besides, rapid drug release at the tumor site with minimal drug degradation is also essential to facilitate the antitumor effect in a short time. Here, we reported a cancer cell membrane-coated pH-responsive nanogel (NG@M) to co-deliver chemotherapeutic paclitaxel (PTX) and immunotherapeutic agent interleukin-2 (IL-2) under mild conditions for combinational treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. In the designed nanogels, the synthetic copolymer PDEA- co -HP- β -cyclodextrin- co -Pluronic F127 and charge reversible polymer dimethylmaleic anhydride-modified polyethyleneimine endowed nanogels with excellent drug-loading capacity and rapid responsive drug-releasing behavior under acidic tumor microenvironment. Benefited from tumor homologous targeting capacity, NG@M exhibited 4.59-fold higher accumulation at the homologous tumor site than heterologous cancer cell membrane-coated NG. Rapidly released PTX and IL-2 enhanced the maturation of dendritic cells and quickly activated the antitumor immune response in situ , followed by prompted infiltration of immune effector cells. By the combined chemo-immunotherapy, enhanced antitumor effect and efficient pulmonary metastasis inhibition were achieved with a prolonged median survival rate (39 days). A cancer cell membrane-coated pH-responsive nanogel to co-deliver paclitaxel (PTX) and immunotherapeutic agent IL-2, for combinational treatment of triple-negative breast cancer was reported here. By the combined chemo-immunotherapy, enhanced antitumor effect and efficient pulmonary metastasis inhibition were achieved. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate overall image quality and visibility of anatomic structures on low-dose cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and the effect of a noise reduction filter for assessment of the anterior maxilla.Methods: We obtained 48 CBCT volumes on 8 skull-phantoms using 6 protocols: 2 clinical default protocols [standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD)] and 4 low-dose protocols, 2 with a noise reduction filter [ultra-low-dose with high definition (ULDHD) and ultra-low-dose (ULD)] and 2 without [low-dose with high definition (LDHD) and low-dose (LD)]. Overall image quality and visibility of 8 anatomic structures were assessed by 5 observers and statistically analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Intra- and interobserver agreement was measured using Cohen's weighted kappa.Results: HD provided higher overall image quality than diagnostically required; LD scored lower than diagnostically acceptable. ULDHD, ULD, and LDHD were acceptable. For anatomic structures, ULDHD and ULD were acceptable. LDHD and LD showed significantly inferior visibility for 1 and 4 structures, respectively. Mean values of intra- and interobserver agreement were 0.395 to 0.547 and 0.350 to 0.370, respectively.Conclusions: ULDHD, ULD, and LDHD may be recommended for assessment of impacted maxillary canines. The noise reduction filter affects image quality positively only at low exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stomach diseases have become global health concerns. Protoberberine alkaloids (PBAs) are a group of quaternary isoquinoline alkaloids from abundant natural sources and have been shown to improve gastric disorders in preclinical and clinical studies. The finding that PBAs exhibit low oral bioavailability but potent pharmacological activity has attracted great interest. This review aims to provide a systematic review of the molecular mechanisms of PBAs in the treatment of gastric disorders and to discuss the current understanding of the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of PBAs. The articles related to PBAs were collected from the Web of Science, Pubmed, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases using relevant keywords. The collected articles were screened and categorized according to their research content to focus on the gastroprotective effects, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of PBAs. Based on the results of preclinical studies, PBAs have demonstrated therapeutic effects on chronic atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer by activating interleukin-4 (IL-4)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) pathway and suppressing transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), Janus kinase-2 (JAK2)/signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. The major PBAs exhibit similar pharmacokinetic properties, including rapid absorption, slow elimination, and low bioavailability. Notably, the natural organ-targeting property of PBAs may account for the finding of their low blood levels and high pharmacological activity. PBAs interact with other compounds, including conventional drugs and natural products, by modulation of metabolic enzymes and transporters. The potential tissue toxicity of PBAs should be emphasized due to their high tissue accumulation. This review highlights the gastroprotective effects, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of PBAs and will contribute to the evaluation of drug properties and clinical translational studies of PBAs, accelerating their transfer from the laboratory to the bedside. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flame-to-flame interaction in a dual-pool fire scenario is a crucial issue. However, current research on multiple fires in tunnels primarily focuses on scenarios where the fire sources are situated along the central axis of the tunnel. However, in real tunnel fires, the lateral positions of the fire sources are variable and unpredictable. Therefore, studying the flame behavior of two fire sources at different lateral positions within the tunnel is of significant importance in elucidating the interaction mechanisms between two fire sources inside the tunnel. In this investigation, a synergistic approach involving experimental inquiry and theoretical derivation was employed to systematically examine the phenomena of flame merging and tilting induced by two pool fires at diverse lateral positions within a naturally ventilated tunnel. The results indicate that flame entrainment is more likely to occur due to sidewall restrictions in tunnels, thereby increasing the probability of flame merging. A piecewise expression for determining the probability of flame merging from dual fire sources within tunnels was established. Furthermore, considering how sidewalls influence flame tilting angles, an air entrainment model for dual fire sources within tunnels was developed to derive flame tilting angles at different lateral positions and fire source spacing within tunnels. [Display omitted] • Studied flame traits of 2 heptane fires in a naturally ventilated tunnel. • Flame merging probability and tilt angle with different lateral fire positions. The maximum flame tilt angle is 24.20°. • Established dual-fire air entrainment model for predicting flame tilt angle. • Modified the velocity of flame entrains air from the region between fire sources. • Establishing the tilt angle of the flame by analyzing its geometric characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study on corrole photosensitizers (PSs) for photodynamic therapy (PDT) has made remarkable progress. Targeted delivery of PSs is of great significance for enhancing therapeutic efficiency, decreasing the dosage, and reducing systemic toxicity during PDT. The development of PSs that can be specifically delivered to the subcellular organelle is still an attractive and challenging work. Herein, we synthesize a series of azide-modified corrole phosphorus and gallium complex PSs, in which phosphorus corrole 2-P could not only precisely target the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) with a Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) up to 0.92 but also possesses the highest singlet oxygen quantum yields (Φ Δ = 0.75). This renders it remarkable PDT activity at a very low dosage (IC 50 = 23 nM) towards HepG2 tumor cell line while ablating solid tumors in vivo with excellent biosecurity. Furthermore, 2-P exhibits intense red fluorescence (Φ F = 0.25), outstanding photostability, and a large Stokes shift (190 nm), making it a promising fluorescent probe for ER. This study provides a clinically potential photosensitizer for cancer photodynamic therapy and a promising ER fluorescent probe for bioimaging. A new kind of azide-modified corrole gallium (III) and phosphorus(V) complexes were synthesized and used as PDT photosensitizers. The prepared corrole phosphorus complex (2-P) can precisely target the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and in situ generate massive reactive oxygen species (ROS) under irradiation to induce tumor regression at a very low dosage. [Display omitted] • Novel azide-modified corrole complexes for PDT were synthesized and evaluated. • 2-P could specifically target to endoplasmic reticulum. • 2-P could generate ROS and evoke mitochondria dysfunction upon PDT. • 2-P -mediated PDT could effectively eliminate tumor in vitro and in vivo. • 2-P -mediated PDT caused cell apoptosis in the caspase pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]