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Background: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, is one of the most common autoimmune disease (AITD) in clinical practice. It is urgent to explore the mechanism of amiodarone-induced thyroid dysfunction. Objective: This study aims to assess the expression levels of miR-214 and FasL in amiodarone contact type of HT, and the effect of miR-214 on cell viability and apoptosis and potential mechanism. Results: We found that miR-214 was low expressed in the tissues of amiodarone-treated thyroiditis patients. MiR-214 increased the survival rate of amiodarone-induced thyroid epithelial follicular cells and inhibited apoptosis. Mechanically, we found that miR-214 could bind to FASL and regulate MAPK signaling pathway through FASL. Conclusions: Our results suggested that miR-214 could be a potential therapeutic target for Hashimoto's thyroiditis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ship trajectory in maritime surveillance videos provides crucial on-site traffic information (e.g., ship speed, traffic volume, density) to help maritime traffic situation awareness and management in the smart ship era. To that aim, many focuses are paid to track ships from maritime videos by exploring distinct visual features from maritime images, which may fail under complex maritime environment interference (occlusion, sea clutter interference, etc.). The study proposes a novel video-based ship tracking framework with the help of Multi-view learning model and data quality control procedure. First, we obtain raw ship positions from maritime images with particle filter and Multi-view learning models. Then, a data quality control procedure is implemented to suppress ship tracking outliers with the help of Kalman filter. Finally, we verify our proposed model performance on three typical maritime traffic situations (ship occlusion, sea clutter interference and small ship tracking). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human Hippo signaling pathway plays an important role in the tumorigenesis of diverse cancers and has been recognized as an attractive therapeutic target of gastric cancer. The transcriptional coactivators Yes-associated protein (YAP)/transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) are the major downstream effectors of Hippo, which interact primarily with transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD) protein through their TEAD-binding domain (TBD). Competitive disruption of the TEAD–YAP/TAZ interaction using peptide inhibitors has been exploited as a potential strategy to treat gastric cancer by regulating Hippo signaling. Here, the crystal structures of TEAD complex with YAP/TAZ TBD domain are investigated systematically at structural, energetic and dynamic levels, from which two binding hotspots are identified; they separately correspond to an α-helix and a Ω-loop of TBD domain, and contribute essentially to the complex interaction. Several linear peptide segments derived from the hotspot regions are highly flexibility and exhibit moderate or modest affinity for TEAD. The Ω-loop-derived peptides are found to have a higher affinity, which are cyclized by introducing a disulfide bridge across their two termini. Affinity assay confirms that the cyclization can considerably improve peptide affinity by 3.7–6.6-fold. Computational analysis reveals that the designed cyclic peptides exhibit a decreased flexibility and intrinsic disorder; they can roughly maintain in native active conformation out of TBD protein context, with a reduced entropy cost upon binding to TEAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of alternative isothermal amplification assays including multiple cross displacement amplification (MCDA) may address speed and portability limitations of real-time PCR (rt-PCR) methods for SARS-CoV-2 detection. We developed a novel SARS-CoV-2 MCDA assay and compared its speed and sensitivity to loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and rt-PCR. Two MCDA assays targeting SARS-CoV-2 N gene and ORF1ab were designed. The fastest time to detection and sensitivity of MCDA was compared to LAMP and rt-PCR using DNA standards and transcribed RNA. For the N gene, MCDA was faster than LAMP and rt-PCR by 10 and 20 min, respectively with fastest time to detection at 5.2 min. rt-PCR had the highest sensitivity with the limit of detection at 10 copies/µl compared with MCDA (100 copies/µl) and LAMP (500 copies/µl). For ORF1ab, MCDA and LAMP had similar speed with fastest time to detection at 9.7 and 8.4 min, respectively. LAMP was more sensitive for ORF1ab detection with 50 copies/µl compared to MCDA (500 copies/µl). In conclusion, different nucleic acid amplification methods provide different advantages. MCDA is the fastest nucleic acid amplification method for SARS-CoV-2 while rt-PCR is the most sensitive. These advantages should be considered when determining the most suitable nucleic acid amplification methods for different applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-level sensation seeking (HSS) has been linked to a range of risky and unhealthy behavior; however, the neural mechanisms underlying such linkage remain unclear. In the present study, we used event-related potential (ERP) with a Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) to investigate how sensation seeking modulates brain responses to sequential decision-making with variable reward/loss outcome magnitudes. Behavior data showed that decision-making behavior was significantly affected by the large compared with the small magnitude of monetary outcome in the BART for individuals with low-level sensation seeking (LSS), but not for individuals with HSS. Similarly, HSS individuals displayed no changes in feedback-related negativity (FRN) in response to negative outcomes from decision-making with large or small reward/loss magnitudes, whereas LSS individuals showed greater FRN in response to decision-making with large loss magnitude than those with small loss magnitude. In addition, FRN amplitude differences correlated with decision-making behavior changes from small to large outcome magnitude for LSS, while such correlation was not observed for HSS. These findings suggest that a high-level of sensation seeking is associated with behavioral and neural insensitivity to increased negative outcome during decision-making under uncertainty, which may lead to greater risky behavior in these individuals when facing potential loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and molecular characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes in cooked products in Zigong City, China. The overall occurrence of the L. monocytogenes in the ready-to-eat (RTE) shops and mutton restaurants surveyed was 16.2% (141/873). An occurrence of 13.5% was observed in RTE pork, 6.5% in RTE vegetables, and more than 24.0% in either cooked mutton or cooked haggis. Serotype 1/2b (45.4%), 1/2a (33.3%), and 1/2c (14.2%) were the predominant types. By comparing the clonal complexes (CCs) based on multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of the L. monocytogenes from cooked foods in Zigong City and 33 listeriosis cases from different districts of China, CC87, CC9, CC8, and CC3 were showed to be prevalent in cooked products and CC87 and CC3 were the first two frequent types in the 33 clinic-source strains. All CC87 stains harbored the newly reported Listeria pathogenicity island 4 (LIPI-4) gene fragment ptsA, and all CC3 strains possessed the Listeria pathogenicity island 3 (LIPI-3) gene fragment llsX. These may increase the occurrence of the strains belonging to CC87 and CC3 in listeriosis cases in China and also underline the risk of infection owing to the consumption of the cooked products from Zigong. ST619 (serotype 1/2b) harbored both llsX and ptsA, indicating a potential hypervirulent sequence type in Zigong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sensitive molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor was developed for selective detection of streptomycin by combination of mercaptoacetic acid-modified PbS nanoparticles with Au-coated FeO magnetic nanoparticles dispersed multi-walled carbon nanotubes doped chitosan film. The imprinted sensor was fabricated onto the Au electrode via stepwise modification of nanocomposites and an electrodeposited thin film of molecularly imprinted polymers via sol-gel technology. The morphologies and electrochemical behaviors of the imprinted sensor were characterized by scanning electron microscope, cyclic voltammetry, and differential pulse voltammetry, respectively. The prepared sensor showed very high recognition ability and selectivity for streptomycin. Under optimal conditions, the imprinted sensor displayed good electrocatalytic activity to the redox of streptomycin. And the differential voltammetric anodic peak current was linear to the logarithm of streptomycin concentration in the range from 1.0 × 10 to 1.0 × 10 mol L, and the detection limit obtained was 1.5 × 10 mol L. This proposed imprinted sensor was used successfully for streptomycin determination in different injection solution samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes@FeO molecularly imprinted polymers (MWNTs@FeO-MIPs) intended for bovine serum albumin (BSA) recognition were successfully developed. The MWNTs@FeO-MIPs were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the FeO nanoparticles (diameter: 50-60 nm) were coated with a layer of MIPs with an average thickness of 25-30 nm. The magnetic material was easily dispersed and retrieved through the application of an external magnetic field. Adsorption experiments showed that the estimated maximum amount of BSA that could be adsorbed onto the MWNTs@FeO-MIPs was 52.8 mg/g, and the time taken to reach equilibrium was about 40 min. Meanwhile, the MWNTs@FeO-MIPs exhibited excellent selectivity towards (i.e., recognition of) BSA. The feasibility of the use of the MWNTs@FeO-MIPs as a solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbent was evaluated, and the results showed that the MWNTs@FeO-MIPs were able to separate the template protein BSA from a binary protein solution. The proposed sorbent based on MWNTs@FeO-MIPs for BSA separation exhibited satisfactory recoveries ranging from 92.0% to 97.3% in real samples. It was also successfully used for the purification of BSA from bovine calf serum. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyruvate kinase (PK) catalyzes the final step of glycolysis. There are few reports on the role of PK in rice. Here, we identified a novel rice dwarf mutant, designated as ospk1, showing dwarfism, panicle enclosure, reduced seed set, and outgrowth of axillary buds from culm nodes. Sequence analyses of 5′-RACE indicated that a single T-DNA was inserted in the transcriptional regulatory region of OsPK1 in ospk1. Quantitative RT-PCR result showed that OsPK1 expression was decreased by approximately 90% in ospk1 compared with that in WT. Enzyme assay and transient expression in protoplasts indicated that OsPK1 encodes a cytosolic PK (PK). Complementation with OsPK1 demonstrated that OsPK1 is responsible for the phenotype of ospk1. Quantitative RT-PCR and GUS staining analyses exhibited that OsPK1 was expressed mainly in leaf mesophyll cells, phloem companion cells in stems, and cortical parenchyma cells in roots. The transcriptions of four other putative enzymes involved in the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway were altered in ospk1. The amount of pyruvate is decreased in ospk1. We propose that OsPK1 plays an important role through affecting the glycolytic pathway. The contents of glucose and fructose were markedly accumulated in flag leaf blade and panicle of ospk1. The sucrose level in panicle of ospk1 was decreased by approximately 84%. These findings indicated that both monosaccharide metabolism and sugar transport are altered due to the decreased expression of OsPK1. Together, these results provide new insights into the role of PK in plant morphological development, especially plant height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original article unfortunately had "?" in place of "훥 "on few lines and those are corrected below [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inverse correlations between serum bilirubin level and obesity had been reported in adults. We aimed to investigate the associations between neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and childhood obesity. Data was obtained from the U.S. Collaborative Perinatal Project (CPP), a multicenter study from 1959 to 1976. Data of serum bilirubin in term newborns were used to observe the association with obesity at age of 7 years. Logistic regression models were performed to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for obesity. For children from the same mother sharing similar factors, Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) model was used to correct for intracluster correlation. Relative to newborns with total serum bilirubin (TSB) < 3 mg/dl, there are lower risks for obesity in those with 3 mg/dl ≤ TSB < 6 mg/dl (aOR 0.91; 95%CI 0.81, 1.02), 6 mg/dl ≤ TSB < 9 mg/dl (aOR 0.88; 95%CI 0.78, 0.99), 9 mg/dl ≤ TSB<13 mg/dl (aOR 0.83; 95%CI 0.71, 0.98). By stratifying for subtypes of bilirubin, the inverse correlations only existed in exposure to unconjugated bilirubin. By using the GEE model correcting for intracluster correlations, the results are consistent. In summary, exposure to bilirubin up to 13 mg/dl is inversely associated with obesity at the age of 7 years in term infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Algal blooms cause great damage to water quality and aquaculture. However, this study showed that dead algal cells and chlorophyll could accelerate the photo-transformation of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a ubiquitous and persistent pollutant with potently mutagenic and carcinogenic toxicities, under visible light irradiation. Chlorophyll was found to be the major active substance in dead algal cells, and generated a high level of singlet oxygen to catalyse the photo-transformation of BaP. According to various BaP metabolites formed, the degradation mechanism was proposed as that chlorophyll in dead algal cells photo-oxidized BaP to quinones via photocatalytic generation of singlet oxygen. The results provided a good insight into the role of chlorophyll in the photo-transformation of organic contaminants and could be a possible remediation strategy of organic pollutants in natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Xisha Islands constitute the largest coral reef archipelago on the northern margin of the Coral Triangle and are the largest coral reef archipelago among the islands in the South China Sea. This study employed various survey methods including underwater spearfishing, gill netting, handline fishing, longlining fishing, underwater visual surveys, and environmental DNA (eDNA). Additionally, historical data from 1956 to 2023 were reviewed to comprehensively analyze the adaptation characteristics of the fish community structure in the Xisha Islands. The Xisha Islands have documented a total of 874 coral reef fish species, categorized into 27 orders, 102 families, and 337 genera. Of these species, the order Perciformes demonstrated the greatest species richness, which represents 71.05% of the total fish species documented. The structure of coral reef fish communities in the Xisha Islands has undergone significant changes. Firstly, a significant decline in the population of large-sized and carnivorous fish species was observed. The proportion of large-sized fish species diminished by 6.02% (62 species), and the medium-sized fish species saw a reduction of 3.09% (51 species). In contrast, there was a surge of 9.12% in the small-sized fish species population. The carnivorous fish species experienced a decrease of 4.73% (102 species), while an increase was noted in the population of herbivorous and omnivorous fish species. Secondly, the numbers of orders, families, and genera have also significantly decreased, with noticeable declines in the average taxonomic distinctness (Delta +), the variation taxonomic distinctness (Lambda +), functional richness (FRic), and quadratic entropy (RaoQ). Thirdly, the similarity between fish species at different time periods is relatively low. Among different functional groups, large-sized and carnivorous fish species exhibit the lowest similarity, whereas herbivorous fish species exhibit the highest. The turnover of live coral fish species is also evident. Overall, the coral reef fish in the Xisha Islands are showing a trend towards herbivory, miniaturization, and a simplification in species composition and functionality. This study contributes to a better understanding and prediction of the adaptation trends in fish species composition in the Xisha Islands, which is crucial for ensuring the ecosystem services of coral reefs and for the conservation and restoration of ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]