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Dichondra (Dichondra repens) is an important ground cover plant for landscaping and establishment of green space, but adaptive mechanism of drought tolerance is not well understood in this species. This study was conducted to compare differential response to drought stress among three genotypes (Dr5, Duliujiang, and Dr29) based on integrated physiological, ultrastructural, and metabolic assays. Results showed that drought significantly inhibited photosynthesis, accelerated lipids peroxidation, and also disrupted water balance and cellular metabolism in dichondra plants. Dr5 showed better photochemical efficiency of photosystem II and water homeostasis, less oxidative damage, and more stable chlorophyll metabolism than Duliujinag or Dr29 in response to drought stress. In addition, Dr5 accumulated more amino acids, organic acids, and other metabolites, which was good for maintaining better antioxidant capacity, osmotic homeostasis, and energy metabolism under drought stress. Drought tolerance of Duliujiang was lower than Dr5, but better than Dr29, which could be positively correlated with accumulations of sucrose, maltitol, aconitic acid, isocitric acid, and shikimic acid due to critical roles of these metabolites in osmotic adjustment and metabolic homeostasis. Current findings provide insights into understanding of underlying mechanism of metabolic regulation in dichondra species. Dr5 could be used as an important drought-tolerant resource for cultivation and water-saving breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure of the oxide film on FGH96 alloy powders significantly influences the mechanical properties of superalloys. In this study, FGH96 alloy powders with various oxygen contents were investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and atomic probe technology to elucidate the structure evolution of the oxide film. Energy dispersive spectrometer analysis revealed the presence of two distinct components in the oxide film of the alloy powders: amorphous oxide layer covering the γ matrix and amorphous oxide particles above the carbide. The alloying elements within the oxide layer showed a laminated distribution, with Ni, Co, Cr, and Al/Ti, which was attributed to the decreasing oxygen equilibrium pressure as oxygen diffused from the surface into the γ matrix. On the other hand, Ti enrichment was observed in the oxide particles caused by the oxidation and decomposition of the carbide phase. Comparative analysis of the oxide film with oxygen contents of 140, 280, and 340 ppm showed similar element distributions, while the thickness of the oxide film varies approximately at 9, 14, and 30 nm, respectively. These findings provide valuable insights into the structural analysis of the oxide film on FGH96 alloy powders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute postoperative pain is commonly treated with flurbiprofen (FBP), but conventional delivery methods are suboptimal. This study prepared a new non-burst release microneedles (MNs) using genipin cross-linked gelatin (cGel). By adding varying amounts of genipin to modulate the crosslinking degree of cGel, the drug release behavior of the drug-loaded MNs in the skin can be altered. The crosslinking parameters that meet therapeutic requirements are selected, thus providing rapid and long-lasting analgesic effects. cGel solutions were successfully cross-linked, altering matrix material microstructure, confirmed by scanning electron microscope imaging and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. MNs demonstrated increasing mechanical strength with higher crosslinking. Drug release rates were rapid initially, then slowed, exhibiting a characteristic of decreased release rates with increasing degrees of crosslinking. In vivo, FBP/cGel MNs significantly reduced allodynia and hyperalgesia post-surgery, with the greatest effect observed at 2–3 h post-surgery, and can maintain analgesia for up to 6 h. Biosafety tests confirmed good biocompatibility. FBP/cGel MNs effectively penetrate the stratum corneum, safely delivering drugs with significant analgesic effects, excellent mechanical properties, and good biocompatibility, representing a promising strategy for managing acute postoperative pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Global warming due to increasing greenhouse gas emissions intensifies frequency and duration of extreme high temperature which has become a primary threat to cool-season crops worldwide. Aim of this study was to examine root adaptability to high temperature regulated by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) associated with changes in antioxidant metabolism, root vitality, osmotic balance, and global metabolites remodeling in roots. Methods: A cool-season creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) plants were pretreated with or without the 0.5 mM GABA before being subjected to heat stress (35/30 °C) or optimal temperature condition (23/19 °C) for 15 days. Roots were sampled to analyze changes in physiological parameters and metabolomics. Results: Heat stress significantly induced reactive oxygen species production in roots resulting in oxidative damage to proteins and cell membranes. However, the GABA could effectively alleviate heat-induced decline in total antioxidant capacity and also improve multiple antioxidant enzyme activities, root vitality, and osmotic adjustment ability in roots. Metabolomic analysis found that a total of 71 metabolites were jointly or differentially regulated by heat stress or heat stress together with the GABA application in roots. In response to heat stress, the GABA improved the accumulation of multiple amino acids, sugars, organic acids, and other metabolites (urea, putrescine, myoinositol, arbutin, campesterol, and stigmasterol) in roots. Conclusions: GABA could effectively increase antioxidant capacity, root vitality, and osmotic adjustment associated with improved root adaptability to heat stress. In addition, the GABA-regulated metabolites remodeling could be attributed to better energy metabolism, osmotic balance, antioxidant capacity, and cellular structures in roots under heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: γ-Aminobutyric acid alleviates acid-aluminum toxicity to roots associated with enhanced antioxidant metabolism as well as accumulation and transportation of citric and malic acids. Aluminum (Al) toxicity has become the main limiting factor for crop growth and development in acidic soils and is further being aggravated worldwide due to continuous industrial pollution. The current study was designed to examine effects of GABA priming on alleviating acid-Al toxicity in terms of root growth, antioxidant defense, citrate and malate metabolisms, and extensive metabolites remodeling in roots under acidic conditions. Thirty-seven-day-old creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) plants were used as test materials. Roots priming with or without 0.5 mM GABA for 3 days were cultivated in standard nutrient solution for 15 days as control or subjected to nutrient solution containing 5 mM AlCl3·6H2O for 15 days as acid-Al stress treatment. Roots were sampled for determinations of root characteristics, physiological and biochemical parameters, and metabolomics. GABA priming significantly alleviated acid-Al-induced root growth inhibition and oxidative damage, despite it promoted the accumulation of Al in roots. Analysis of metabolomics showed that GABA priming significantly increased accumulations of organic acids, amino acids, carbohydrates, and other metabolites in roots under acid-Al stress. In addition, GABA priming also significantly up-regulated key genes related to accumulation and transportation of malic and citric acids in roots under acid-Al stress. GABA-regulated metabolites participated in tricarboxylic acid cycle, GABA shunt, antioxidant defense system, and lipid metabolism, which played positive roles in reactive oxygen species scavenging, energy conversion, osmotic adjustment, and Al ion chelation in roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Metformin, a well‐known antidiabetic drug, has been repurposed for cancer treatment; however, recently observed drug resistance and tumor metastasis have questioned its further application. Here, we found that long‐term metformin exposure led to metabolic adaptation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, which was characterized by an obvious epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype and compensatory elevation of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). TOMM34, a translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane, was upregulated to promote tumor metastasis in response to metformin‐induced metabolic stress. Mechanistically, TOMM34 interacted with ATP5B to preserve F1FO‐ATPase activity, which conferred mitochondrial OXPHOS and ATP production. This metabolic preference for OXPHOS suggested a large requirement of energy supply by cancer cells to survive and spread in response to therapeutic stress. Notably, disturbing the interaction between TOMM34 and ATP5B using Gboxin, a specific OXPHOS inhibitor, increased sensitivity to metformin and suppressed tumor progression both in vitro and in vivo. Overall, this study demonstrates a molecular link of the TOMM34/ATP5B‐ATP synthesis axis during metformin adaptation and provides promising therapeutic targets for metformin sensitization in cancer treatment.

This study aimed to examine the immuntoxic effects of arsenic in the nervous system. Our results showed that arsenic increased corticocerebral and hippocampal weights (p < 0.05). Morris water maze tests revealed that arsenic significantly increased the time spent in latency to platform on the fourth day in 50 mg/L arsenic exposure and the fifth day in 25 and 50 mg/L arsenic exposure, as well as reduced the path length in target quadrant, time spent in target quadrant, and crossing times of the platform (p < 0.05). Hematoxylin–eosin staining showed that the vacuolated degeneration and pyknosis was found in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of arsenic-treated mice. The mRNA levels of corticocerebral and hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were decreased in the 50 mg/L arsenic-treated group (p < 0.05). In addition, immunofluorescence staining showed that 25 and 50 mg/L arsenic all increased the expression of CD11b and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus (p < 0.05). Arsenic markedly raised antigen-presenting molecule MHCII and CD40 mRNA levels in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus and upregulated the cell chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) and CCR7 mRNA levels in the cerebral cortex at the 50 mg/L arsenic group, and increased the CCR7 mRNA levels in the hippocampus at the 25 and 50 mg/L arsenic groups (p < 0.05). Arsenic activated the nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor protein-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, and enhanced its upstream promoter NF-κB protein level and downstream regulators IL-18 mRNA levels. Collectively, these results provide new evidences for the neuro-immune toxicity of arsenic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Microgravity offers an enticing synthetic knob for materials scientists to explore—however, this environment creates major challenges in hardware development that can turn a simple 3-day experiment into a 3-year long nightmare. This paper provides an overview of engineering an autoclave, compatible with NASA's Solidification Using a Baffle in Sealed Ampoules (SUBSA) furnace, to enable microgravity hydrothermal synthesis—an acceleration-sensitive technique that processes aqueous samples above the boiling point of water. Hydrothermal synthesis is a universal chemical transformation technique that is used to produce a range of advanced materials with applications in alternative energy, healthcare, and the food industry. In this work, we use the synthesis of graphene hydrogel as a case study to verify our hardware design on Earth before launching to the International Space Station for microgravity testing. The design addresses pertinent challenges which include enabling thermal expansion while preventing air bubble formation in solution and implementing a pressure fail-safe above the maximum operating temperature. Our goal in presenting this autoclave design is to provide a step forward towards commercial-of-the-shelf microgravity hardware. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-temperature amorphous thin films with excellent energy storage properties play a crucial role in silicon-based microelectronic applications. The (1-x)Sr0.925Bi0.05TiO3-xBiMg0.5Ti0.5O3 (SBT-BMT) (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) amorphous films were prepared on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates by chemical solution deposition in order to achieve high energy storage performance. The X-ray diffractometer results show that amorphous films were successfully fabricated. The addition of BMT can results in a reduction of the crystallization temperature for the SBT film, and this can be used to obtain an critical amorphous state for the 0.9SBT-0.1BMT film, where the dielectric constant increases significantly and the leakage current is the minimum. The final 0.9SBT-0.1BMT film exhibited a recoverable energy storage density of 32 J/cm3 and an energy storage efficiency of 78% at an electric field of 4097 kV/cm. Furthermore, the energy storage performance remained stable over the temperature range of 20 ~ 200 °C, the frequency range of 2 ~ 10 kHz, and even after 107 electrical cycles. It is expected to provide new strategy to optimize the energy storage performance of dielectric capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the recognition effect of the folk dance image recognition model and put forward new suggestions for teachers’ teaching strategies, this study introduces a Deep Neural Network (DNN) to optimize the folk dance training image recognition model. Moreover, a corresponding teaching strategy optimization scheme is proposed according to the experimental results. Firstly, the image preprocessing and feature extraction of DNN are optimized. Secondly, classification and target detection models are established to analyze the folk dance training images, and the C-dance dataset is used for experiments. Finally, the results are compared with those of the Naive Bayes classifier, K-nearest neighbor, decision tree classifier, support vector machine, and logistic regression models. The results of this study provide new suggestions for teaching strategies. The research results indicate that the optimized classification model shows a significant improvement in classification accuracy across various aspects such as action complexity, dance types, movement speed, dance styles, body dynamics, and rhythm. The accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 scores have increased by approximately 14.7, 11.8, 13.2, and 17.4%, respectively. In the study of factors such as different training images, changes in perspective, lighting conditions, and noise interference, the optimized model demonstrates a substantial enhancement in recognition accuracy and robustness. These findings suggest that, compared to traditional models, the optimized model performs better in identifying various dances and movements, enhancing the accuracy and stability of classification. Based on the experimental results, strategies for optimizing the real-time feedback and assessment mechanism in folk dance teaching, as well as the design of personalized learning paths, are proposed. Therefore, this study holds the potential to be applied in the field of folk dance, promoting the development and innovation of folk dance education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Xinjiang unearthed brocade as a significant cultural heritage records the historical and cultural information of diverse ethnic groups, and it also influences cultural product development. However, the existing knowledge concerning these brocades is disorganized, fragmented, and incomplete, hindering a comprehensive understanding of their intricate relationships. To address these issues, this study has developed an integrated ontological model for Xinjiang's unearthed brocades (XJUBontology). By applying Conceptual Reference Model of International Committee for Documentation (CIDOC CRM) ontology and the Remanufactured Process Planning (RPP) approach, this XJUBontology comprises knowledge about both the brocades and their cultural derivatives, and knowledge in these two domains are able to be organized and refined. The implementation of XJUBontology in Protégé and validation via SPARQL queries not only centralize and manage Xinjiang unearthed brocade-related knowledge but also establish vital connections among this fragmented information. The contribution is to help in associating, managing, and sharing knowledge in the domain of Xinjiang unearthed brocades, providing a framework for establishing related data repository, and helping researchers, apparel and accessories designers, museums, and other cultural and tourism institutions to access a more systematic information to assist their works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, Si-based composites coated by a multi-component layer have been synthetically prepared, via a solvothermal process, mechanical ball milling, and subsequent high-temperature calcination. The multi-component surface layer consists of an amorphous SiOx/C layer with well dispersion of TiC and TiB2 nanocrystals and amorphous TiOx and B2O3. The introduction of titanium and boron species is beneficial for the improvement of mechanical stability of the coating layer and ensures the structural integrity of the electrode during cycling, consequently leading to excellent electrochemical performances. Therefore, the obtained Si-based composites exhibit much better high-rate performances and cycling stability than Si and Si/C electrodes. Si-based composites from 2.94 mmol tetrabutyl titanate deliver specific capacities of 1377, 1361, 1247, 1104, 949, 833, 669, and 526 mAh·g−1 at 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0, and 8.0 A·g−1, respectively, and capacity retention of 76.7% after 500 cycles at 1 A·g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harvesting biomechanical energy from cardiac motion is an attractive power source for implantable bioelectronic devices. Here, we report a battery-free, transcatheter, self-powered intracardiac pacemaker based on the coupled effect of triboelectrification and electrostatic induction for the treatment of arrhythmia in large animal models. We show that the capsule-shaped device (1.75 g, 1.52 cc) can be integrated with a delivery catheter for implanting in the right ventricle of a swine through the intravenous route, which effectively converts cardiac motion energy to electricity and maintains endocardial pacing function during the three-week follow-up period. We measure in vivo open circuit voltage and short circuit current of the self-powered intracardiac pacemaker of about 6.0 V and 0.2 μA, respectively. This approach exhibits up-to-date progress in self-powered medical devices and it may overcome the inherent energy shortcomings of implantable pacemakers and other bioelectronic devices for therapy and sensing. Harvesting biomechanical energy from cardiac motion is an attractive power source for implantable bioelectronic devices. Here, the authors report a battery-free, transcatheter, self-powered intracardiac pacemaker for the treatment of arrhythmia in large animal models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure cobalt (Co) thin films were fabricated by direct current magnetron sputtering, and the effects of sputtering power and pressure on the microstructure and electromagnetic properties of the films were investigated. As the sputtering power increases from 15 to 60 W, the Co thin films transition from an amorphous to a polycrystalline state, accompanied by an increase in the intercrystal pore width. Simultaneously, the resistivity decreases from 276 to 99 µΩ·cm, coercivity increases from 162 to 293 Oe, and in-plane magnetic anisotropy disappears. As the sputtering pressure decreases from 1.6 to 0.2 Pa, grain size significantly increases, resistivity significantly decreases, and the coercivity significantly increases (from 67 to 280 Oe), which can be attributed to the increase in defect width. Correspondingly, a quantitative model for the coercivity of Co thin films was formulated. The polycrystalline films sputtered under pressures of 0.2 and 0.4 Pa exhibit significant in-plane magnetic anisotropy, which is primarily attributable to increased microstress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionically conductive fibers have promising applications; however, complex processing techniques and poor stability limit their practicality. To overcome these challenges, we proposed a stress-induced adaptive phase transition strategy to conveniently fabricate self-encapsulated hydrogel-based ionically conductive fibers (se-HICFs). se-HICFs can be produced simply by directly stretching ionic hydrogels with ultra-stretchable networks (us-IHs) or by dip-drawing from molten us-IHs. During this process, stress facilitated the directional migration and evaporation of water molecules in us-IHs, causing a phase transition in the surface layer of ionic fibers to achieve self-encapsulation. The resulting sheath-core structure of se-HICFs enhanced mechanical strength and stability while endowing se-HICFs with powerful non-contact electrostatic induction capabilities. Mimicking nature, se-HICFs were woven into spider web structures and camouflaged in wild environments to achieve high spatiotemporal resolution 3D depth-of-field sensing for different moving media. This work opens up a convenient route to fabricate stable functionalized ionic fibers.Fabrication methods for ionic conductive hydrogel fibers are challenged by complexity and poor stability. Using a stress-induced adaptive phase transition strategy, Liu et al. fabricate self-encapsulated hydrogel fibers for depth-of-field sensing applications in a sustainable, two-step process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: PABPN1 acts as a modulator of poly(A) tail length and alternative polyadenylation. This research was aimed to explore the role of PABPN1 in colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Public databases were performed to analyze expression, location, roles of prognosis and tumor immunity and interaction with RNAs and proteins of PABPN1. To investigate PABPN1 expression in tissues, 78 CRC specimens were collected to conduct IHC, and 30 pairs of frozen CRC and corresponding adjacent normal tissues were used to conduct qRT-PCR and WB. In addition, in vitro experiments were then carried out to identify the role of PABPN1 in CRC. Results: Compared with normal tissues, PABPN1 expression was significant higher in CRC. Its high level predicted poor outcome of CRC. Th1 and Treg had significant negative relationships not only with PABPN1 expression, but also with six molecules interacting with PABPN1, including IFT172, KIAA0895L, RECQL4, WDR6, PABPC1 and NCBP1. In addition, PABPN1 had negative relationships with quite a few immune markers, such as CSF1R, IL-10, CCL2 and so on. In cellular experiments, silencing PABPN1 inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis in HCT-116 CRC cells. Conclusion: In summary, PABPN1 might become a novel biomarker and correlate with tumor immunity in CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: PABPN1 acts as a modulator of poly(A) tail length and alternative polyadenylation. This research was aimed to explore the role of PABPN1 in colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Public databases were performed to analyze expression, location, roles of prognosis and tumor immunity and interaction with RNAs and proteins of PABPN1. To investigate PABPN1 expression in tissues, 78 CRC specimens were collected to conduct IHC, and 30 pairs of frozen CRC and corresponding adjacent normal tissues were used to conduct qRT-PCR and WB. In addition, in vitro experiments were then carried out to identify the role of PABPN1 in CRC. Results: Compared with normal tissues, PABPN1 expression was significant higher in CRC. Its high level predicted poor outcome of CRC. Th1 and Treg had significant negative relationships not only with PABPN1 expression, but also with six molecules interacting with PABPN1, including IFT172, KIAA0895L, RECQL4, WDR6, PABPC1 and NCBP1. In addition, PABPN1 had negative relationships with quite a few immune markers, such as CSF1R, IL-10, CCL2 and so on. In cellular experiments, silencing PABPN1 inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis in HCT-116 CRC cells. Conclusion: In summary, PABPN1 might become a novel biomarker and correlate with tumor immunity in CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the evolution of carbides in FGH96 Ni-based superalloys during solidification carries profound significance in the context of regulating prior particle boundaries (PPBs) formation and enhancing the mechanical properties of the alloys. This study utilized interrupted sintering to produce sintering neck interfaces at various stages and systematically investigated the evolution of carbides during sintering in conjunction with an analysis of the surface characteristics of the original alloy powders. The results reveal that the original powder surface contains large amounts of M(Ti, Nb)C precipitates, which could serve as a source for the MC particles appearing at PPBs. Typically, the formation of the typical core–shell structure of the MC particle with the oxides as the core is due to the growth of MC at subsequent consolidation process, and the MC particle would engulf the surrounding oxide particles during sintering. This mechanism differs from the precipitation of carbides with oxides as nucleation sites during sintering, and this work provides a new insight about the evolution of the carbides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of annealing treatment on the mechanical properties and interfacial characteristics of a TA1/Al5083 bimetal composite was investigated in this research. The bimetal composite plates were prepared by explosive welding and annealing at temperatures ranging from 400 to 550 °C at intervals of 50 °C for 3 h. Uniaxial tensile and shear tests were employed to study the influence of the annealing treatments. Uniaxial tensile tests indicate that the tensile strength and elongation display a tendency to first improve and then decrease with increasing annealing temperature. No obvious necking phenomenon is observed in the composite sheet annealed at 400 and 450 °C, and extremely short cracks appear in the interfacial transition zone, while localized necking and delamination phenomena are found to occur in the composite sheet annealed at 500 and 550 °C. The ultimate tensile strength and elongation of specimens annealed at 450 and 500 °C is improved, while specimens annealed at 550 °C show a serious deterioration in elongation. In addition, shear tests demonstrate that the shear strength first improves and then decreases with increasing annealing temperature. On the basis of a finite element method (FEM) simulation, a cohesive zone model is validated to reveal the interfacial characteristics. The research results obtained in this work provide a direction for further investigation and design of bimetal or laminated composite components for application in industrial fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the detection of a quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) in the optical R -band light curve of the blazar S5 0716+714 spanning approximately 32 years. Using both the Weighted Wavelet Z-transform and Lomb-Scargle Periodogram methods, we identified a prominent QPO of 1060 ± 50 days at a 5 σ confidence level against the red noise background. Our findings align well with previous studies. We introduce a supermassive binary black hole (SMBBH) model to account for the observed QPO and estimate the binary system's Keplerian orbit to be 0.0053 parsec, indicating S5 0716+714 as a notable subject for upcoming nanohertz gravitational wave studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common and serious disease. Its diagnosis usually requires 12-lead electrocardiogram, which is heavy and inconvenient. At the same time, the venue for diagnosis is also limited to the hospital. With the development of the concept of intelligent medical, a wearable, portable, and reliable diagnostic method is needed to improve the patient's comfort and alleviate the patient's pain. Here, we reported a wearable atrial fibrillation prediction wristband (AFPW) which can provide long-term monitoring and AF diagnosis. AFPW uses polyvinylidene fluoride piezoelectric film as sensing material and hydrogel as skin bonding material, of which the structure and design have been optimized and improved. The hydrogel skin bonding layer has good stability and skin affinity, which can greatly improve the user experience. AFPW has enhanced signal, strong signal-to-noise ratio, and wireless transmission function. After a sample library of 385 normal people/patients is analyzed and tested by linear discriminant analysis, the diagnostic success rate of atrial fibrillation is 91%. All these excellent performances demonstrate the great application potential of AFPW in wearable device diagnosis and intelligent medical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aging of natural rubber (NR) at high temperatures will seriously affect its service lifetime in many key applications. In the present work, the changes in microstructure and mechanical properties of semi-efficient vulcanized NR/carbon black (CB) vulcanizates during thermo-oxidative aging at high temperatures (150–200 °C) and a moderate temperature (95 °C) were compared. At high temperatures, a two-stage aging behavior, which was characteristic of a first rapid decline and then a continuous rise in the crosslinking density (ve), was identified and was found to be closely related to the depletion behavior of antioxidants. The surface cracking behavior observed in the second stage of high-temperature aging was discussed in terms of the grafting reaction of macromolecular radicals on CB particles and thermal expansion. In contrast, the aging of NR at moderate temperatures was much mild, which featured a continuous increase in ve and an oxidation mechanism dominated by peroxy radicals attacking double bonds. In general, the mechanical properties of NR vulcanizates during high-temperature aging depended on the competition effects of structural evolution in the crosslinked network and oxidation-induced chain scission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a Cu-3.20Ni-0.61Co-0.75Si-0.19Cr-0.15 Mg (wt.%) alloy was subjected to hot compression at temperatures of 700–950°C and strain rates of 0.001–10 s−1. The constitutive equations were established using a strain-related Arrhenius model and a feed-forward artificial neural network (ANN) model. Evaluation showed that the ANN-type constitutive equation had a high Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.9997 and a low mean squared error of 2.55 MPa2; thus, it was more accurate to describe the flow behavior of the Cu-Ni-Co-Si-Cr-Mg alloy than the strain-related Arrhenius-type constitutive equation. The hot processing maps in the conditions of non-linear dissipation governed by the two constitutive equations were also established. Evaluation showed that the ANN-type hot processing maps successfully predicted unstable deformation and dynamically-recrystallized microstructure and thus had better performance than the Arrhenius-type hot processing maps. The microstructure of the Cu-Ni-Co-Si-Cr-Mg alloy after hot compression was also characterized in detail. The microstructural features were unstable deformation for the compression at 700°C and 0.001 s−1, uneven deformation for the compression at 700°C and 1 s−1, equiaxed subgrains for the compression at 950°C and 0.001 s−1 and equiaxed grains and annealing twins for the compression 950°C and 1 s−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence has confirmed that the nervous system shows innate and adaptive immunity, which also participates in nerve damage. This study aimed to explore the neuroimmune imbalance induced by arsenic and its possible mechanism. Mice were exposed to NaAsO2 (0, 5, 10, 25, and 50 mg/L) for 1 month by drinking water. Y-maze and Morris water maze tests revealed that arsenic impaired learning and memory. The optical density of Evans blue showed a marked dose-dependent increase in the brain, and the mRNA and protein levels of the BBB tight junctions (TJs), occludin at 25 and 50 mg/L arsenic, and claudin-5 at 50 mg/L arsenic, were markedly decreased in the cerebral cortex. Arsenic downregulated occludin and claudin-5 mRNA expression at 50 mg/L and protein expression at 25 and 50 mg/L in the hippocampus. Immunohistochemical staining showed that 50 mg/L arsenic increased corticocerebral and hippocampal CD3+ T, CD4+ T, and CD8+ T cells; CD4 and CD8 proteins were increased with 25 and 50 mg/L arsenic. Arsenic decreased the corticocerebral and hippocampal Th1, Th17, and regulatory Treg transcription factors T-bet, Rorγt, and Foxp3 and the cytokine IFN-γ, IL-17, and TGF-β mRNA levels and increased the Th2 transcription factor GATA3 and cytokine IL-4 mRNA levels. Moreover, arsenic enhanced the expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2) and its downstream enzymes heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). In conclusion, these results demonstrate that arsenic exposure induces BBB dysfunction and T lymphocyte infiltration and affects CD4+ T lymphocyte differentiation, which may be associated with Nrf2 activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic exerts neurotoxicity and immunomodulatory effects. Studies have shown that the nervous system is not considered to be an immune-privileged site. However, the effect of arsenic-induced neuroimmune toxicity has rarely been reported. We aimed to investigate the toxic effects of arsenic on the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and the Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg balance in the brain tissue of mice. Mice were exposed to NaAsO2 (0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg) for 24 h. Our results showed that 10 mg/kg arsenic exposure significantly decreased brain and hippocampal indices (p < 0.05). The mRNA and protein levels of the blood‒brain barrier (BBB) tight junction protein occludin were decreased in the 5 and 10 mg/kg arsenic-treated groups. Compared with those in the control group, NLRP3 protein levels in 10 mg/kg arsenic-treated mice, caspase-1 protein levels in 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg arsenic-treated mice, and IL-1β protein levels in 5 and 10 mg/kg arsenic-treated mice were increased in the hippocampus (p < 0.05). In addition, arsenic induced a hippocampal inflammatory response by upregulating the mRNA levels of the proinflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α and downregulating the mRNA level of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10. Moreover, arsenic decreased the mRNA levels of the Th1 and Th2 transcription factors T-bet and GATA3 and the cytokines IFN-γ and IL-4 and increased the mRNA levels of the Th17 transcription factor RORγt and the cytokine IL-22 (p < 0.05). Collectively, our study demonstrated that arsenic could induce immune-inflammatory responses by regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome and CD4+ T lymphocyte differentiation. These results provide a novel strategy to block the arsenic-induced impairment of neuroimmune responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly efficient gas sensors able to detect and identify hazardous gases are crucial for numerous applications. Array of conventional single-output sensors is currently limited by problems including drift, large size, and high cost. Here, we report a sensor with multiple chemiresistive and potentiometric outputs for discriminative gas detection. Such sensor is applicable to a wide range of semiconducting electrodes and solid electrolytes, which allows to tailor and optimize the sensing pattern by tuning the material combination and conditions. The sensor performance is boosted by equipping a mixed-conducting perovskite electrode with reverse potentiometric polarity. A conceptual sensor with dual sensitive electrodes achieves superior three-dimensional (sub)ppm sensing and discrimination of humidity and seven hazardous gases (2-Ethylhexanol, ethanol, acetone, toluene, ammonia, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide), and enables accurate and early warning of fire hazards. Our findings offer possibilities to design simple, compact, inexpensive, and highly efficient multivariate gas sensors. The application of multivariate gas sensors is limited due to their size and cost. Here the authors developed a compact gas sensor with multiple chemiresistive and potentiometric readouts enabling 3D discriminative response of gases at (sub)ppm levels and used the sensor for early fire detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India's attempt to forge a distinct role for itself in the global order started soon after independence in 1947. Since this watershed event, India's policymakers have gradually recast their initial strategy of nonalignment, as they realized that Nehruvian "soft" power was not adequate for creating an especially dynamic presence in an increasingly volatile international environment. In response to this realization, India embarked on a journey of transforming its diplomatic benchmarks. In 2017, to counter China's assertiveness across the region, India joined then-U.S. President Donald Trump's advocacy in launching the Indo-Pacific strategy. Transforming the nation's diplomatic benchmarks while maintaining a coherent narrative of national identity was the main challenge. This paper examines the role that media narratives play in maintaining that coherent national identity. To do so, we analyzed 47 reports by the Times of India (TOI) on the Indo-Pacific strategy in order to reveal how elite media strategically framed the nation's regional policy, thereby ensuring its ontological security—its sense of continuity and order—while conveying its global aspirations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper alloys are often used as a substitute for gold because of their bright gold color and low production cost. Seventeen kinds of Cu-Al alloys, Cu-Zn alloys, and Cu-Sn alloys with different compositions were fabricated to investigate the effect of chemical composition and oxidation treatment on their colors. In addition, machine learning was used to establish the relationship between all alloys' composition and color. The best model for each alloy also had been sought out. More importantly, through the analysis of the calculated results, the tree-structure-based models, gradient boosting regressor, random forest regressor, and decision tree regressor, exhibited a better predictive power on the small data set. Subsequently, Cu-4.17 wt.% Al, Cu-24.3 wt.% Zn, and Cu-10.1 wt.% Sn alloys were selected for oxidation at 100°C, which showed that later oxidation could also change sample color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White clover (Trifolium repens) is one of the most widely cultivated livestock forage plants whose persistence is severely affected by abiotic stresses. For the white clover, efficient regeneration systems is still a great necessity. In this study, inoculating 4-day-old cotyledons into MS media fortified with 0.4 mg·L−1 6-BA and 2 mg·L−1 2,4-D significantly increased the callus induction rate. Roots and cotyledons proved to be better explants, followed by hypocotyls, leaves, and petioles for callus induction. The development of differentiated structures occurred effectively on MS supplemented with 1 mg·L−1 6-BA and 0.1 mg·L−1 NAA. To increase transformation, we investigated various factors affecting the Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation in white clover. The optimal conditions for root-derived callus and 4-day-old cotyledons were as follows: Agrobacterium suspension density with OD600 of 0.5, 20 mg·L−1 AS, and 4 days of co-cultivation duration. Subsequently, we developed two transformation protocols: transformation after callus induction from 4-day-old roots (Protocol A) and transformation before initiation of callus from cotyledons (Protocol B). The transformation frequencies varied from 1.92 to 3.17% in Protocol A and from 2.76 to 3.47% in Protocol B. We report the possibility to regenerate multiple transgenic white clover plants from a single genetic background. Our research may also contribute to successful genetic manipulation and genome editing in white clover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several scoring systems are currently used to predict prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but none of them integrates liver function, systemic inflammation, and tumor characteristics in a unified model. The current study aimed to develop and validate a novel prognostic score that integrates liver function, systemic inflammation, and tumor characteristics in a unified model to predict the prognosis of HCC after curative resection. Methods: Patients with HCC who underwent curative liver resection were included in a training set (n = 1027). Multivariate Cox regression was performed to determine the risk factors for a poor prognosis. A prognostic score was developed by assigning points for risk factors in proportion to beta coefficients in a Cox multivariable model. Predictive performance and distinction ability of the prognostic score were further evaluated in two independent validation cohorts treated with either curative resection (n = 281) or transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) (n = 404) and compared with 16 other models. Results: The prognostic predictive system, named the function-inflammation-burden-alpha-fetoprotein (FIBA) score, was derived by assigning points for six independent predictors including albumin, total bilirubin, lymphocyte count, diameter of the largest tumor, number of tumors, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The FIBA score showed an outperformed predictive value compared with other systems in both training and validation cohorts by giving the highest C-index, likelihood ratio chi-square values, and Wald test values as well as the lowest Akaike information criterion. Conclusion: The FIBA score can be used to stratify HCC patients treated with curative resection. Meanwhile, the FIBA score performs well against other prognostic scoring systems and is potentially broadly applicable to a TACE-treated patient cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the nonlocal optical conductivity of Fermi surface nesting materials that support charge density waves (CDWs) or spin density waves (SDWs). The nonlocal optical conductivity contains information on correlations in electron fluids, which could not be accessed by standard optical probes. A half-metal emerges from doping a CDW, and similarly, a spin-valley half-metal emerges from doping an SDW. Based on the parabolic band approximation, we find that the Drude peak is shifted to a higher frequency and splits into two peaks in the nonlocal optical conductivity. We attribute this to the two Fermi velocities in the half-metal or spin-valley half-metal states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work allowed the study and comparison of the cooling rate, surface morphology, and microstructure of nickel-based super-alloy powders produced by the atomization of argon and nitrogen. The results show that the principal phase in argon and nitrogen atomized powders has an FCC structured γ-phase with γ′-strengthening phase. X-ray diffraction detected no apparent nitride or oxide on the powder surface. The interplanar spacing and lattice constant of γ-phase increase as the powder size decreases. Nitrogen- and argon-atomized powders are spherical, but argon- atomized powders have higher sphericity and smoother surfaces. Atomization by argon has produced a small number of satellite particles, whereas atomized nitrogen powders have more split particles. The proportion of special-shaped powder decreases with the decreasing powder particle size. The super-alloy powder with high sphericity can be effectively obtained by controlling the particle size. Because of the higher coefficient of thermal expansion, the trough of argon-atomized powders is higher than that of nitrogen-atomized powders with the same particle size. As the powder particle size decreases, the hollowness of the powders declines for both powders, with the argon- atomized powder falling more quickly. The cooling rate of melted alloy droplets has an essential effect on the surface characteristics of the powder. The dendrite morphology of argon-atomized powders is more evident than that of nitrogen-atomized powders. As the powder particle size decreases, the radial dendrites gradually disappear, with dendrites and cellular crystals dominating the powder surface. The cooling rate of the powder is calculated based on the surface secondary dendrite arm spacing. It is found that argon-atomized powders exhibit cooling rates from 2.09 × 104 K ∙ s–1 to 1.26 ∙ 105 K ∙ s–1, while nitrogen-atomized powders show higher cooling rates in the range between 2.71 ∙ 104 K ∙ s–1 and 1.86 ∙ 105 K · s–1. Because of the higher cooling rate, nitrogen- atomized powders have a lower secondary dendrite arm spacing than argon-atomized powders with similar particle sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Male infertility, a global public health problem, exhibits complex pathogenic causes and genetic factors deserve further discovery and study. We identified a novel homozygous missense mutation c.224A > C (p.D75A) in ACTL7A gene in two infertile brothers with teratozoospermia by whole-exome sequencing (WES). In vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) showed fertilization failure of the two affected couples. The three-dimensional (3D) models showed that a small section of α‐helix transformed into random coil in the mutant ACTL7A protein and mutant amino acid lacked a hydrogen bond with Ser170 amino acid. Immunofluorescence revealed that ACTL7A protein was degraded in sperms of patients. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of sperms from the infertile patients showed that the irregular perinuclear theca (PT) and acrosomal ultrastructural defects. Furthermore, ACTL7A mutation caused abnormal localization and reduced the expression of PLCZ1 in sperms of the patients, which may be the key reasons for the fertilization failure after ICSI. Our findings expand the spectrum of ACTL7A mutations and provide novel theoretical basis for genetic counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar, as a sustainable amendment, effectively remediates soils contaminated with potentially toxic metals. However, the immobilization efficiencies of biochar can vary according to the soil properties. To investigate the critical impact factor of soil properties on the immobilization of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in soil by biochar, this study was conducted with an incubation batch experiment and a pot experiment by using an acid soil sample (soil A), a weakly acidic soil sample (soil B), and an alkaline soil sample (soil C). The results showed that the CaCl2-extracted Cd in the three soil samples was reduced by 15.2% (soil A), 44.3% (soil B), and 22.0% (soil C) with biochar application, and the decrease rate of the available Cd concentration is significantly negatively (P < 0.05) related with soil pH, cation exchange capacity, and the proportion of illite and illite–smectite mixed layers of clay minerals. Biochar significantly reduced the soil available Pb concentration of soil A, soil B, and soil C by 57.2%, 52.3%, and 40.3%, respectively. And the decreased rate of available Pb concentration is significantly negatively related to soil pH and soil organic materials (P < 0.05). The Cd concentration of rice shoots is positively related to the amount of iron plaque. Biochar application decreased the formation of iron plaque on rice roots grown in soils A and B due to the biochar slowing down the decreasing trend of the redox potential during flooding. However, biochar increased the amount of iron plaque on rice roots grown in soil C, which had a higher pH. As a result, biochar reduced the accumulation of Cd and Pb in rice shoots and promoted the biomass of rice grown in soils A and B (acid soils) but had the opposite effect on soil C (an alkaline soil). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Variants in the pannexin1 (PANX1) gene have been reported to be associated with oocyte death and recurrent in vitro fertilization failure. In this study, we performed genetic analysis in the patient with female infertility due to oocyte death to identify the disease-causing gene variant in the patient. Methods: We characterized one patient from a non-consanguineous family who had suffered from oocyte death and female infertility. Whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were used to identify the variant in the family. Western blot analysis was used to check the effect of the variant on PANX1 glycosylation pattern in vitro. Results: We identified a novel heterozygous PANX1 variant (NM_015368.4 c.976_978del, (p.Asn326del)) associated with the phenotype of oocyte death in a non-consanguineous family, followed by an autosomal dominant (AD) mode. This variant showed a more delayed emergence of oocyte death than previously reported articles. Western blot analysis confirmed that the deletion variant of PANX1 (c.976_978del) altered the glycosylation pattern in HeLa cells. Conclusions: Our findings expand the variant spectrum of PANX1 genes associated with oocyte death and provide new support for the genetic diagnosis of female infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For mechanized maize production, a low grain water content (GWC) at harvest is necessary. However, as a complex quantitative trait, understand the genetic mechanism of GWC remains a large gap, especially in hybrids. In this study, a hybrid population through two environments including 442 F1 was used for genome-wide association analysis of GWC and the grain dehydration rate (GDR), using the area under the dry down curve (AUDDC) as the index. Then, we identified 19 and 17 associated SNPs for GWC and AUDDC, including 10 co-localized SNPs, along with 64 and 77 pairs of epistatic SNPs for GWC and AUDDC, respectively. These loci could explain 11.39–68.2% of the total phenotypic variation for GWC and 41.07–67.02% for AUDDC at different stages, whose major effect was the additive and epistatic effect. By exploring the candidate genes around the significant sites, a total of 398 and 457 possible protein-coding genes were screened, including autophagy pathway and auxin regulation-related genes, and five inbred lines with the potential to reduce GWC in the combined F1 hybrid were identified. Our research not only provides a certain reference for the genetic mechanism analysis of GWC in hybrids but also provides an added reference for breeding low-GWC materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong interest in organic produce has warranted great demand in organically produced forages. However, extremely limited research has focused on organic forage production and its ecological contribution. Grass-legume biculture has been suggested to reduce dependency on external N inputs, control weed encroachment, and achieve better soil health. A 2-year study was designed as a conservative organic system with minimum tillage and no external inputs to investigate productivity, botanical composition, nutritive value, mineral concentration, economic benefit, and soil total carbon changes in five certified forage biculture systems; including (1) one annual rotation of winter wheat-Austrian winter pea biculture followed by sorghum-sudangrass hybrid-cowpea biculture, and four perennial systems of (2) bermudagrass-alfalfa, (3) tall fescue-white clover, (4) old world bluestem-sainfoin, and (5) orchardgrass-alfalfa bicultures. Annual systems indicated the greatest productivity (12.7 Mg ha−1) followed by old world bluestem-sainfoin (11.3 Mg ha−1) and bermudagrass-alfalfa (10.3 Mg ha−1) bicultures; but with very limited nutritive value advantages, low mineral concentration, and poor economic return. Perennial systems, particularly old world bluestems-sainfoin biculture, indicated great adaptation, soil carbon enhancement capacity. Monthly biomass production was influential on several nutritive value indices (P < 0.05, R2 ≈ 0.5) within many forage systems. No treatment effects were detected on soil total carbon (P = 0.27), but significant year-wise increase was found under old world bluestems-sainfoin biculture (P < 0.05). Soil moisture levels were affected by treatments and correlated well to botanical composition. Path analysis indicated that Radiation Use Efficiency is the key driver for determining forage yield in the temperate environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Indications for adjuvant chemotherapy in stage IIA (T3N0M0) colon cancer are still controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels for cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with stage IIA colon cancer. We aimed to examine the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on OS in stage IIA colon cancer patients with elevated CEA levels. Methods: Patients with stage IIA colon cancer (N = 3477) diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the prognostic effect of CEA on CSS and OS. Results: Cox regression analysis demonstrated that CEA was an independent risk factor for CSS and OS in patients with stage IIA colon cancer (CSS: HR = 2.001, 95% CI 1.603–2.499, P < 0.001; OS: HR = 1.530, 95% CI 1.335–1.752, P < 0.001). In the subgroup with elevated CEA, patients received adjuvant chemotherapy had a better OS compared with those did not (χ2 = 10.585, p = 0.001). Conclusion: CEA was an independent risk factor for CSS and OS in patients with stage IIA colon cancer. Patients with stage IIA colon cancer with an elevated CEA level might benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZP1 is a critical glycoprotein in the formation of the zona pellucida. It plays an indispensable role in the maturation of oocytes. To identify the causative gene of empty follicle syndrome (EFS) in a patient from a consanguineous family, whole-exome sequencing was performed in the proband. We identified a novel homozygous nonsense mutation c.1260C > G (p. Tyr420X) in the ZP1 gene from two primary infertile patients. Western blot showed that Y420X mutation in ZP1 gene produced a truncated protein. However, the mutation had no significant effect on subcellular localization of the mutant protein. Our findings confirmed the important role of the ZP1 gene in human female reproduction, enriched the mutation spectrums of ZP1 gene, and expanded its applications in the clinical and molecular diagnoses of EFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycrystalline tantalum sheets have been deformed through room-temperature rolling (RTR), accumulative pack-rolling (APR), and cryogenic-rolling (CR), respectively. The fraction of α-texture in the APR-ed samples was relatively higher, while the fraction of γ-texture was slightly lower. The rolled samples have similar microstructure and average grain size regardless of the rolling methods. After annealing at 900°C for 30 min, the recrystallization in the cryogenically rolled samples occurred much more easily, and the average grain size of the samples was 2.5 times larger than that of the room-temperature-rolled samples. With the increasing of annealing time, the fraction of the α-texture in the APR-ed samples decreased dramatically. According to the calculation of the stored energy, cryogenically-rolled samples contained a high dislocation density and stored energy, with values of 11.70 × 1015/m2 and 1.32 J/g, respectively, which could be contributing to its recrystallization during annealing. These findings are of great help in developing polycrystalline tantalum sheets with fine grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myostatin (MSTN), a member of the TGF-β superfamily, negatively regulates muscle growth. MSTN inhibition has been known to cause a double-muscled phenotype in skeletal muscle and fibrosis reduction in the heart. However, the role of MSTN in the cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) needs more studies in various species of animal models to draw more objective conclusions. The main objective of the present study was to investigate whether loss of MSTN affects the cardiac extracellular matrix in pigs. Three MSTN knockouts (MSTN−/−) and three wild type (WT) male pigs were generated by crossing MSTN ± heterozygous gilts and boars. Cardiac ECM and underlying mechanisms were determined post-mortem. The role of MSTN on collagen expression was investigated by treating cardiac fibroblasts with active MSTN protein in vitro. MSTN protein was detected in WT hearts, while no expression was detected in MSTN−/− hearts. The heart-to-body weight ratio was significantly decreased in MSTN−/− pigs. The morphometric analyses, including picrosirius red staining, immunofluorescent staining, and ultra-structural thickness examination of the endomysium, revealed a significant reduction of connective tissue content in MSTN−/− hearts compared to WT. Hydroxyproline, type I collagen (Col1A), and p-Smad3/Smad3 levels were significantly lower in MSTN−/− hearts in vivo. On the contrary, cardiac fibroblasts treated with exogenous MSTN protein overexpressed Col1A and activated Smad and AKT signaling pathways in vitro. The present study suggests that inhibition of MSTN decreases cardiac extracellular matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zona pellucida (ZP) which is an extracellular matrix consisting of ZP1, ZP2, ZP3, and ZP4 plays a vital role in oocyte maturity, early embryonic development, and fertilization process. Any alterations of structure or function may lead to the abnormal formation of ZP and female infertility. Two novel heterozygous mutations c.1859G > A (p.Cys620Tyr) and c.1421 T > C (p.Leu474Pro) in ZP2 gene were recognized in three patients from two unrelated families with abnormal ZP and female infertility in this study. The expression constructs carrying wild-type ZP2 gene, c.1859G > A (p.Cys620Tyr) mutant ZP2 gene, and c.1421 T > C (p.Leu474Pro) mutant ZP2 gene were transfected into CHO cells respectively. There was a remarkable decrease in the expression of p.Cys620Tyr mutant protein with western blot. In addition, secretion of p.Leu474Pro mutant protein in the culture medium reduced markedly compared with that of wild-type ZP2 protein. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation showed that the p.Leu474Pro mutation affected the interaction between ZP2 and ZP3. Prediction of three-dimensional (3D) structure of the proteins showed that p.Cys620Tyr mutation altered the disulfide bond of ZP2 protein and may affect its function. These findings extend the ranges of mutations of ZP2 gene. Meanwhile, it will be helpful to the precise diagnosis of abnormal ZP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF), characteristic with bent, short, coiled, absent, and abnormal caliber flagella, is an important basis of male infertility. Genetic factors account for a large proportion of patients with MMAF. The fibrous sheath interacting protein 2 (FSIP2) has a significant function in the spermatogenesis and flagellar motility. In our study, a novel compound heterozygous mutation (c.1494C > A, p.C498* and c.11020_11024del, p.Tyr3675Cysfs*3) in FSIP2 gene was identified in an infertile male patient with MMAF. H&E staining presented typical MMAF phenotype and thick neck, midpiece in the patient's sperm cells. Transmission electron microscopy observation showed abnormal mitochondrial arrangement and disorganization and dysplastic of the fibrous sheath (FS), which were verified again under light microscopy. Immunofluorescence (IF) analysis of FISP2 expression showed that FSIP2 was absent in the flagellum of the patient's sperm cells. Our findings will be helpful to the precise diagnosis of MMAF and male infertility and enrich the mutational spectrum of FSIP2 gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cutaneous cosmetology surgery, local injection or coated anesthetics are generally used to provide analgesia at the treatment site to achieve painless operation. Due to the barrier of corneum, topical cream may cause uncertain dosage and delayed analgesia. Local injection has problems such as pain, infection, and misoperation. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a painless and rapid administration method for local anesthesia. Here, a lidocaine/hyaluronic acid bubble microneedle patch (Lido/HA bMNP) was prepared for rapid drug delivery and efficient analgesia. The bubble structure between microneedles (MNs) and the backing layer allowed the MNs to efficiently penetrate into the skin and remove from the backing layer under shear force to rapidly complete the administration. Drugs were quickly released with the dissolution of HA within 15 s, which immediately played an analgesic effect and lasted for 1 h. Lido/HA bMNP could deliver precise doses to the skin in an extremely short time, which had the advantages of convenient operation, high biosafety, rapid onset of analgesia, and reasonable pain relief time. This patch provided an alternative way for local anesthesia and it was a promising transdermal drug delivery method for the realization of high quality and efficiency "painless medical beauty". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, Cu2GeS3 has been obtained through solid-state reaction. However, the pure phase Cu2GeS3 synthesized still faces challenges due to the low boiling point of the sulfur element. Herein, we have prepared pristine Cu2GeS3 by a two-step method. Firstly, the pure phase GeS2 was synthesized by solvothermal method and then used the freshly as-synthesized GeS2 as raw material to react with copper powder to fabricate pure phase Cu2GeS3. Further, the thermoelectric properties of Cu2GeS3 crystal have been explored. At room temperature, the electric resistance value measured by multimeter was ~ 2634 Ω for intrinsic Cu2GeS3 crystal, which exceeded the instrument (electrical conductivity/Seebeck coefficient) test range of 0–2000 Ω, so there is no relevant report in the thermoelectric field about Cu2GeS3 crystal. In order to improve its conductivity, Cu2GeS3 crystal is alloyed with a small amount of Te powder to obtainable Cu2GeS3−xTex samples, which have obvious thermoelectric properties. By adjusting the content of Te, finally, the electrical conductivity of the Cu3GeS2.6Te0.4 sample reached 364.20 S m−1 and the figure-of-merit ZTmax value of ~ 0.12 were obtained at 816 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By employing a nonlinear amplifying loop mirror into an all-polarization-maintaining fiber laser, the effective evolution length of high-energy pulses is shorter than the soliton fission length. A stable self-starting mode-locked soliton fiber laser delivers 1.19 nJ high-energy soliton free of soliton fission, which is confirmed both in spectral and temporal domain measurements. A seventh-order soliton with an estimated energy of 4.47 nJ is able to stably oscillate in the laser resonator. Two segments symmetrically placed gain fibers can be pumped independently, providing a large gain with a large power tuning range. In general, the results obtained here can be used for other wavelengths, and, in principle, can circumvent the limitation on the soliton laser output energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter is a response to an article titled "Prognostic and Clinical Significance of Human Leukocyte Antigen Class I Expression in Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis." The authors of the letter congratulate the original authors on their comprehensive meta-analysis but suggest some points for further discussion. They recommend registering the protocol of systematic reviews or meta-analyses in an international database, providing a table of quality assessment for eligible studies, stratifying the studies into "triple-negative breast cancer" and "non-TNBC" groups, and explaining the potential sources of heterogeneity. The authors believe that the meta-analysis provides evidence that HLA class I may serve as a prognostic indicator for breast cancer and could contribute to BC immunotherapy. [Extracted from the article]

The aim of this study is to evaluate fertility preservation (FP) popularization in China among female cancer patients in terms of awareness of fertility, knowledge about FP, and attitudes toward FP. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted among female cancer patients in Tongji Hospital in China from March 2019 to July 2019. The 29 fertility-related issues, which were presented in either five-point Likert scales or "yes or no", in this questionnaire consisted of demographic characteristic and disease-related situation, awareness of fertility, knowledge about FP, and attitudes toward FP. Participants were required to finish the questionnaire, and data were gathered and analyzed by SPSS. Forty-five valid questionnaires without missing data remained in the final analysis. The survey discovered that a regional imbalanced limitation in knowledge of infertility risk and FP in young cancer patients acted as a major obstacle in FP promotion nationwide and FP decision-making in patients. Compared with rural patients, patients from urban areas were more eager to give birth and more likely to have a better understanding of FP with a more positive attitude. Moreover, most of the participants (62.2%) had a low level of understanding of FP, although they remained positive toward it. "Cancer treatment as the priority", "Cancer relapse caused by FP", and "Health of the next generation" were the top three factors affecting decisions on FP. The findings revealed a general FP actuality in China and specifically offered some intervention targets in the near future to improve FP service and networks, benefiting more female patients of childbearing age who are at risk of infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]