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A novel bacterium designated as SSA5.23T was isolated from seawater. Cells of SSA5.23T are Gram-stain-negative, short, rod-shaped, and exhibit motility via numerous peritrichous flagella. The strain could grow at temperatures ranging from 15 to 35 °C (optimum at 25 °C), in a salinity range of 0–5.0% (w/v) NaCl, and within a pH range of 6.0–9.0 (optimum at pH 7.0). The predominant cellular fatty acid of SSA5.23T was C18:1 ω7c/C18:1 ω6c, and the major respiratory quinones were Q-9 and Q-10. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylglycerol were identified as the primary polar lipids. The complete genome (5.47 Mb) of SSA5.23T comprises of a circular chromosome of 3.64 Mb and three plasmids, specifically sized at 59.73 kb, 227.82 kb, and 1.54 Mb, respectively. Certain genes located on the plasmids play roles in denitrification, oxidative stress resistance, and osmotic tolerance, which likely contribute to the adaptability of this strain in marine conditions. Core-proteome average amino acid identity analysis effectively identified the strain's affiliation with the genus Affinirhizobium, showing the highest value (89.9%) with Affinirhizobium pseudoryzae DSM 19479T. This classification was further supported by the phylogenetic analysis of concatenated alignment of 170 single-copy orthologous proteins. When compared to related reference strains, SSA5.23T displayed an average nucleotide identity ranging from 74.9 to 80.3% and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values ranging from 19.9 to 23.9%. Our findings confirmed that strain SSA5.23T represents a novel species of the genus Affinirhizobium, for which the name Affinirhizobium gouqiense sp. nov. (type strain SSA5.23T = LMG 32560T = MCCC 1K07165T) was suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive impairment is recognized as a risk factor for suicide in schizophrenia (SZ) patients. Despite empathy being an important aspect of social cognition, the association between suicidal behavior and empathy has received little attention. We aimed to compare empathy and neurocognition in SZ patients with and without suicide attempts (SAs), and to explore the relationship between empathy, neurocognition, and clinical symptoms in SZ patients with and without SAs. Data on SAs and socio-demographic characteristics were collected from 628 chronic SZ patients. The patients' symptomatology was measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Empathy and neurocognition were assessed with the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), respectively. Patients with SAs performed better on all IRI domains (except for Perspective Taking) and total scores. Regression results showed that negative symptoms, positive symptoms, and duration of illness were independently associated with IRI total score in patients without SAs (adjusted R2 = 0.048). In patients without SAs, negative symptoms, general psychopathology, education, age, and sex were independently associated with RBANS total score (adjusted R2 = 0.265), while in patients with SAs, education, PANSS total score, and age at onset were independently associated with RBANS total score (adjusted R2 = 0.456). Our results show that SZ patients with SAs may have better empathic performance than patients without SAs. In chronic SZ patients, negative and positive symptoms may have different effects on cognition in the SAs and non-SAs groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predefined-time control has experienced substantial advancements in recent years. Nevertheless, the current technology has not achieved widespread adoption in nonlinear multi-agent systems (NMASs), and significant issues pertaining to the input quantization and actuator failures remain unaddressed. This paper investigates the problem of predefined-time consensus control for NMASs with input quantization and actuator faults. Notably, the study takes into account scenarios where each actuator may experience an infinite number of faults. In conjunction with practical predefined-time stability theory, an innovative predefined-time adaptive consensus control method has been developed within the framework of the backstepping method, incorporating the approximation technique of the multi-dimensional Taylor network (MTN). Additionally, by utilizing the characteristics of quantized nonlinear sectors and the structural model of actuator faults, novel adaptive estimation techniques are devised to handle the effects caused by actuator faults and quantized inputs. To further alleviate computational burdens and tackle the issue of computational explosion, a finite-time differentiator is employed to estimate the derivative of the virtual control. The proposed control scheme achieves the desired performance of predefined-time convergence. Rigorous theoretical analyses indicate that the proposed control scheme can drive consensus errors to converge within a small range within a predefined-time, and users have the flexibility to choose the settling time. Moreover, all signals in the closed-loop system remain bounded. Finally, simulation results are provided to validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gram-stain-negative, light khaki, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, motile via multiple flagella, and catalase- and oxidase-positive bacterium, designated as SSM4.3T, was isolated from the seaweed of Gouqi Island in the East China Sea. The novel isolate grows at 0–5.0% NaCl concentrations (w/v) (optimum 1%), pH 5.0–9.0 (optimum pH 7.0), and 15–37 °C (optimum 30 °C). The 16S rRNA gene sequences-based phylogeny indicates that the novel marine isolate belongs to the family Rhizobiaceae and that it shared the greatest sequence similarity (98.9%) with Peteryoungia rhizophila CGMCC 1.15691T. This classification was also supported by phylogenetic analysis using core genes. The predominant fatty acids (≥ 10%) of the strain were identified as C18:1 ω7c/C18:1 ω6c. Q-10 was identified as the major isoprenoid quinone, with trace levels of Q-9 present. The major polar lipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The complete genome size of strain SSM4.3T is 4.39 Mb with a DNA G+C content of 61.3%. The average nucleotide identity, digital DNA-DNA hybridization, and average amino acid identity values between the genomes of strain SSM4.3T and its closely related representatives were 74.80–86.93%, 20.00–32.30%, and 70.30–91.52%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis, grounded on the core genes, reveals the evolutionary relationship between SSM4.3T and other Peteryoungia strains. Pan-genomics analysis of 8 previously classified Peteryoungia species and SSM4.3T revealed their unique genetic features and functions. Overall, strain SSM4.3T was considered to be a new species of the Peteryoungia genus; the name Peteryoungia algae sp. nov. has been proposed, with type strain SSM4.3T (= LMG 32561 = MCCC 1K07170). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The implementation of the universal two-child policy contributes to adverse pregnancy outcomes, but how the policy change leads to adverse pregnancy outcomes is not well elaborated. In this study, we aimed to compare maternal characteristics and complications, accessed the change in the proportion of maternal characteristics and maternal complications, and evaluated the mediation of maternal characteristics on maternal complications. Methods: Demographic and clinical data of three-level sample facilities were extracted from China's National Maternity Near Miss Obstetrics Surveillance System from Jan 1, 2012 to May 31, 2021. The associations between the universal two-child policy and maternal risk factors, the universal two-child policy and maternal complications, and maternal risk factors and maternal complications were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analyses, with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Mediation analysis was used to estimate the potential mediation effects on the associations between the policy and maternal complications. Population-attributable fractions (PAF) were conducted to quantify the maternal complications burden attributable to the implementation of the universal two-child policy. Results: In the context of the universal two-child policy, the incidence of maternal near miss, antepartum or intrapartum complication, and post-partum complication increased at municipal- and county-level sample facilities. After adjusting for covariables, there were significant associations between the universal two-child policy and maternal risk factors (P < 0.001), the universal two-child policy and an increased risk of maternal complications (P < 0.001), and maternal risk factors and maternal complications(P < 0.001). The effects of the universal two-child policy on maternal near miss and medical disease were significantly mediated by maternal risk factors with mediation proportions of 19.77% and 4.07% at the municipal-level sample facility, and mediation proportions for 2.72% at the county-level sample facility on medical disease. The universal two-child policy contributed 19.34%, 5.82%, 8.29%, and 46.19% in the incidence of the maternal near miss, antepartum or intrapartum complication, post-partum complication, and medical disease at municipal-level sample facility, respectively. The corresponding PAF% at county-level sample facility was 40.49% for maternal near miss, 32.39% for the antepartum or intrapartum complication, 61.44% for post-partum complication, and 77.72% for medical disease. For provincial-level sample facility, the incidence of maternal near miss, antepartum or intrapartum complications, and medical diseases decreased (P < 0.05) and no statistically significant difference occurred in the incidence of post-partum complications. Conclusions: In the context of the universal two-child policy, the incidence of maternal near miss, antepartum or intrapartum complication, and post-partum complication increased at municipal- and county-level sample facility. Maternal risk factors may play a mediating role in the effect of policy change and maternal complications. Provincial hospitals have been able to improve the quality of perinatal health care and reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes by adjusting their obstetric service strategies in the context of the new birth policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare histiocytosis that tends to co-exist with other myeloid malignancies. Here, we use genetic and transcriptomic sequencing to delineate a case of co-occurring BRAFV600E-mutated ECD and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), followed by AML remission and relapse. The AML relapse involved the extinction of clones with KMT2A-AFDN and FLT3-ITD, and the predominance of PTPN11-mutated subclones with distinct transcriptomic features. This case report has highlighted the screening for other myeloid malignancies at the diagnosis of ECD and the clinical significance of PTPN11-mutated AML subclones that require meticulous monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Well-differentiated papillary peritoneal mesothelial tumors (WDPMTs) are understudied and discrete from peritoneal mesotheliomas (PMs). We report clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes of a large prospective WDPMT cohort. Methods: Patients with WDPMT identified between August 2007 and December 2020 were followed through January 2023. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were annotated. Overall survival (OS) was assessed from pathologic diagnosis. Germline variants were analyzed, and targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS; MSK-IMPACT) data were compared to PMs and diffuse pleural mesotheliomas (DPMs). Results: Among 54 patients, median age at diagnosis was 55 (range 20–76), 50% were female (n = 27), and 46% were smokers (n = 25; median 8 pack/years). Most (94%, n = 51) WDPMTs were found during surgical explorations for other indications, primarily other malignancies. Two patients underwent surgical resection for WDPMT; none received systemic therapy for WDPMT. Median OS was not reached (19/54; median follow up 4.5 years). Somatic NGS was available for 35% (19/54) of patients. TRAF7 alterations were enriched in WDPMT (89%; 17/19) compared with PM (0%; 0/50; p < 0.0001) and DPM (0%; 0/74; p < 0.0001). In WDPMT compared with PM and DPM, there were less BAP1 (0% [0/0] vs. 4% [8/50] vs. 46% [34/74]; p = 0.001 and p < 0.0001, respectively) and NF2 (0% [0/0] vs. 24% [12/50] vs. 31% [23/74]; p = 0.03 and p = 0.001 respectively) alterations. Pathogenic germline variants were present in 23% (4/17) of WDPMTs. Conclusions: Well-differentiated papillary peritoneal mesothelial tumors were primarily incidental findings. There was no WDPMT-related mortality, so there was no distinct role for routine cytoreductive surgery or systemic therapy. Genomic profiles can help to differentiate WDPMT from DPM and PM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although birth defects are of great concern globally, the latest national prevalence has not yet been quantified in China. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the perinatal prevalence of birth defects in the Mainland of China between 2000 and 2021. Methods: We performed a systematic literature search of six databases for relevant articles published between January 1, 2000, and March 1, 2023. We included published studies that reported data on the perinatal prevalence of birth defects in the Mainland of China. The DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models were used to estimate the pooled prevalence and its 95% confidence interval (CI). We also conducted subgroup analyses and univariable meta-regressions to explore differences in prevalence by time period, geographic region, and other characteristics. Results: We included 254 studies reporting the perinatal prevalence of birth defects and 86 studies reporting only the prevalence of specific types of birth defects. Based on 254 studies covering 74,307,037 perinatal births and 985,115 cases with birth defects, the pooled perinatal prevalence of birth defects was 122.54 (95% CI 116.20–128.89) per 10,000 perinatal births in the Mainland of China during 2000–2021. Overall, the perinatal prevalence of birth defects increased from 95.60 (86.51–104.69) per 10,000 in 2000–2004 to 208.94 (175.67–242.22) per 10,000 in 2020–2021. There were also significant disparities among different geographical regions. Congenital heart defects (33.35 per 10,000), clefts of the lip and/or palate (13.52 per 10,000), polydactyly (12.82 per 10,000), neural tube defects (12.82 per 10,000), and inborn errors of metabolism (11.41 per 10,000) were the five most common types of birth defects. The perinatal prevalence among males was significantly higher than that among females (β = 2.44 × 10−3, P = 0.003); a higher perinatal prevalence of birth defects was observed among perinatal births whose mothers were ≥ 35 years (β = 4.34 × 10−3, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Comprehensive and sustained efforts are needed to strengthen surveillance and detection of birth defects, improve prenatal and postnatal healthcare, and promote rehabilitation, especially in underdeveloped areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to identify survival risk factors in Chinese children with hepatoblastoma (HB) and assess the effectiveness of the new treatment protocol proposed by the Chinese Children's Cancer Group (CCCG) in 2016. Methods: A multicenter, prospective study that included 399 patients with HB from January 2015 to June 2020 was conducted. Patient demographics, treatment protocols, and other related information were collected. Cox regression models and Kaplan–Meier curve methods were used. Results: The 4-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 76.9 and 93.5%, respectively. The 4-year EFS rates for the very-low-risk, low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk groups were 100%, 91.6%, 81.7%, and 51.0%, respectively. The 4-year OS was 100%, 97.3%, 94.4%, and 86.8%, respectively. Cox regression analysis found that age, tumor rupture (R +), and extrahepatic tumor extension (E +) were independent prognostic factors. A total of 299 patients had complete remission, and 19 relapsed. Patients with declining alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) > 75% after the first two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a better EFS and OS than those ≤ 75%. Conclusions: The survival outcome of HB children has dramatically improved since the implementation of CCCG-HB-2016 therapy. Age ≥ 8 years, R + , and E + were independent risk factors for prognosis. Patients with a declining AFP > 75% after the first two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy had better EFS and OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Glucose not only provides energy for tumor cells, but also provides various biomolecules that are essential for their survival, proliferation and invasion. Therefore, it is of great clinical significance to understand the mechanism of how tumor cells adapt to metabolic stress and maintain their survival. The aim of this research was to study the critical role of OGT and TRIM29 O-GlcNAc modification driven adaptability of PDAC cells to low glucose stress, which might have important medical implications for PDAC therapy. Methods: Western blotting, mass spectrometry and WGA-immunoprecipitation were used to examined the levels of OGT and O-GlcNAc glycosylated proteins in BxPC3 and SW1990 cells in normal culture and under glucose deprivation conditions. Crystal violet assay, flow cytometry, RIP, RT-qPCR, protein stability assay, biotin pull down were used to investigate the mechanism of OGT and TRIM29-mediated adaptive response to glucose deficiency in PDAC cells. Results: The current study found that under the condition of low glucose culture, the levels of OGT and O-GlcNAc glycosylation in PDAC cells were significantly higher than those in normal culture. Moreover, the high expression of OGT has a protective effect on PDAC cells under low glucose stress. This study confirmed that there was no significant change in mRNA level and protein degradation of OGT under low glucose stress, which was mainly reflected in the increase of protein synthesis. In addition, O-GlcNAc modification at T120 site plays a critical role in the metabolic adaptive responses mediated by TRIM29. Conclusions: Taken together, our study indicated that O-GlcNAcylation of TRIM29 at T120 site and OGT translation forms a loop feedback to facilitate survival of PDAC under glucose deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC) is a distinct molecular subtype of gastric cancer (GC). At present, the clinical characteristics and prognostic implications of EBV infection and the potential clinical benefits of immune checkpoint blockade in GC remain to be clarified. Hence, this study was designed to analyze the clinical and pathological characteristics of GC patients with varying EBV infection states and compare their overall survival (OS). Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 1031 consecutive GC patients who underwent gastrectomy at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from February 2018 to November 2022. EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) in situ hybridization (ISH) was used for EBV assessment, and immunohistochemical staining was used for evaluation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), and Ki67 expression. EBVaGC was defined as tumors with EBV positivity. In addition, EBV-negative GC (EBVnGC) patients were matched with EBVaGC patients based on seven clinicopathological parameters (age, gender, anatomic subsite, tumor size, Lauren classification, degree of differentiation, and tumor-node-metastasis [TNM] stage). The correlations of clinical features with HER2, PD-L1, and Ki67 expression were evaluated statistically. The survival of patients was assessed through medical records, telephone, or WeChat communication, and prognostic analysis was performed using the logrank test as well as univariable and multivariable regression analysis. Results: Out of 1031 GC patients tested, 35 (3.4%) were diagnosed with EBVaGC. Notably, the EBVaGC group exhibited a distinct predominance of males and younger patients, significantly higher Ki67 and PD-L1 expression levels, and a lower prevalence of pericancerous nerve invasion than the EBVnGC group (P < 0.01). In the 35 EBVaGC cases, Ki67 expression was negatively correlated with age (P < 0.05), suggesting that a younger onset age was associated with higher Ki67 expression. In addition, PD-L1 expression was correlated with the degree of differentiation, T-stage, and clinical stage of the patient. Furthermore, PD-L1 expression was elevated in tumors with lower differentiation or at later stages (P < 0.05). Using univariate analysis, Ki67, PD-L1, and clinical stage were identified as significant factors influencing the overall survival (OS) of EBVaGC patients (P < 0.05). Moreover, multivariate survival analysis revealed that clinical stage and Ki67 expression were independent risk factors for the OS of the patients (P < 0.05), and the three-year OS rate of EBVaGC patients was 64.2%. Conclusion: EBV-ISH is a practical and valuable method to identify EBVaGC. Owing to its unique etiological, pathological, and clinical characteristics, patients with EBVaGC might benefit from immune checkpoint blockade therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: The synergistic effects of combining arsenic compounds with imatinib against chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) have been established using in vitro data. We conducted a clinical trial to compare the efficacy of the arsenic realgar–indigo naturalis formula (RIF) plus imatinib with that of imatinib monotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed chronic phase CML (CP-CML). Methods: In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, phase 3 trial, 191 outpatients with newly diagnosed CP-CML were randomly assigned to receive oral RIF plus imatinib (n = 96) or placebo plus imatinib (n = 95). The primary end point was the major molecular response (MMR) at 6 months. Secondary end points include molecular response 4 (MR4), molecular response 4.5 (MR4.5), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events. Results: The median follow-up duration was 51 months. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the recruitment to this study had to be terminated early, on May 28, 2020. The rates of MMR had no significant statistical difference between combination and imatinib arms at 6 months and any other time during the trial. MR4 rates were similar in both arms. However, the 12-month cumulative rates of MR4.5 in the combination and imatinib arms were 20.8% and 10.5%, respectively (p = 0.043). In core treatment since the 2-year analysis, the frequency of MR4.5 was 55.6% in the combination arm and 38.6% in the imatinib arm (p = 0.063). PFS and OS were similar at five years. The safety profiles were similar and serious adverse events were uncommon in both groups. Conclusion: The results of imatinib plus RIF as a first-line treatment of CP-CML compared with imatinib might be more effective for achieving a deeper molecular response (Chinadrugtrials number, CTR20170221). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The violent goods vibration during curve negotiation is a huge threat to the vehicle running safety. Qualified load restraint assemblies that can significantly suppress the cargo vibration are necessary. This study proposes a novel method for evaluating the essential restraint strength, focusing on the relative motion between cargo and wagon. In the beginning, as a comparison, current methods are used to calculate the necessary stiffness of lashings, which are adopted to restrain the cargo vibration on the wagon. Based on the data of the field test, the accuracy of the established wagon-cargo coupled dynamics model is validated. The loaded wagon model negotiates the curve under different running and loading conditions. The simulation results and analysis demonstrate effective strategies for suppressing the vibration of the cargo and reveal the necessary lashing stiffness. The comparison among the results of different evaluation methods shows that the stability of the cargo can be improved by optimizing the lashing stiffness with the method of dynamics simulations. We hope this study will make a positive contribution to the safety of railway freight transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the tracking control problem of the state constrained stochastic nonlinear systems with unknown control direction is studied, and a novel adaptive prescribed performance control (PPC) approach is developed with the help of the multi-dimensional Taylor network (MTN). Firstly, a performance function is introduced into the first step of backstepping to ensure transient performance under state constraints. Secondly, the tangent time-varying barrier Lyapunov functions (tan-TVBLFs) are constructed to prevent all states from violating the given time-varying boundary. Thirdly, the MTNs are employed to estimate the unknown nonlinearity in the process of controller design, and a new adaptive PPC strategy is designed. Then, the Lyapunov stability theorem is used to prove that the closed-loop system is semi-global uniformly ultimately bounded (SGUUB) in probability, and the tracking error can be kept in an adjustable small neighborhood of the origin. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed scheme is verified by the simulation of a numerical example and an actual control system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The main objectives of this study were to investigate the distribution characteristics and evaluate the potential ecological hazard associated with rare earth elements (REEs) within the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) sediment. Furthermore, we still have not fully understood the contamination and potential ecological risks of REEs in aquatic sediments. Moreover, the factors influencing their distribution remain unidentified. Hence, we selected the PRE as the central focus for our case study in this paper. Materials and methods: Sediment samples in this study (0–20 cm) were collected from 156 locations. The total organic carbon (TOC) and grain size were measured. The concentrations of REEs were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Furthermore, contamination models, including geoaccumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor ( C f i ), and pollution load index (PLI), along with ecological risk assessment models potential ecological risk factors ( E r i ) and ecological risk index (RI) have been employed to evaluate pollution levels and ecological risks. Results: The concentrations of sum REEs (ΣREEs) were in the range of 51.21 to 567.08 mg kg−1, with an average of 299.06 mg kg−1. We identified two accumulation centers for REEs, indicating that these elements primarily originated from these two centers. It can be seen from the values of EF of REEs that these elements showed minimal enrichment. Moreover, the pollution load index (PLI), which assesses the combined contamination of REEs, was computed to evaluate the collective contamination in the study area. The PLI results indicate a slight multi-element contamination in the research region. Furthermore, based on the E r i values, it is evident that all studied REEs pose a low ecological risk. Conclusions: The distributions of REEs were mainly controlled by TOC and median grain size. The RI was also calculated to assess the combined potential risks on the ecology. The study's findings indicate that the PRE's sediments produce low ecological risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early and accurate diagnosis of ear deformities in newborns is crucial for an effective non-surgical correction treatment, since this commonly seen ear anomalies would affect aesthetics and cause mental problems if untreated. It is not easy even for experienced physicians to diagnose the auricular deformities of newborns and the classification of the sub-types, because of the rich bio-metric features embedded in the ear shape. Machine learning has already been introduced to analyze the auricular shape. However, there is little publicly available datasets of ear images from newborns. We released a dataset that contains quality-controlled photos of 3,852 ears from 1,926 newborns. The dataset also contains medical diagnosis of the ear shape, and the health data of each newborn and its mother. Our aim is to provide a freely accessible dataset, which would facilitate researches related with ear anatomies, such as the AI-aided detection and classification of auricular deformities and medical risk analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs), including porosity, catalytic activity as well as electronic and optical properties, are greatly affected by their interlayer stacking structures. However, the precise control of their interlayer stacking mode, especially in a reversible fashion, is a long-standing and challenging pursuit. Herein, we prepare three 2D copper-organic frameworks, namely JNM-n (n = 7, 8, and 9). Interestingly, the reversible interlayer sliding between eclipsed AA stacking (i.e., JNM-7-AA and JNM-8-AA) and staggered ABC stacking (i.e., JNM-7-ABC and JNM-8-ABC) can be achieved through environmental stimulation, which endows reversible encapsulation and release of lipase. Importantly, JNM-7-AA and JNM-8-AA exhibit a broader light absorption range, higher charge-separation efficiency, and higher photocatalytic activity for sensitizing O2 to 1O2 and O2•− than their ABC stacking isostructures. Consequently, JNM-8-AA deliver significantly enhanced photocatalytic activities for oxidative cross-coupling reactions compared to JNM-8-ABC and other reported homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. The precise control of interlayer stacking mode of 2D materials is a long-standing pursuit. Here, the authors report two 2D copper-organic frameworks that can undergo the reversible interlayer sliding through environmental stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing specific reference intervals (RIs) of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D] for children is essential for improving the accuracy of diagnosis and prognosis monitoring of diseases such as rickets and growth retardation. The study including 6,627 healthy children was conducted to establish specific RIs of 25(OH)D for children in Nanning area of China. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences among age, season, and gender of serum 25(OH)D levels, and the age-specific RIs of serum 25(OH)D were 20.3 ~ 53.6 ng/mL for 0 ~ ≤ 1 year and 18.9 ~ 49.6 ng/mL for 2 ~ ≤ 3 years. The age-, season-specific RIs of serum 25(OH)D for 4 ~ ≤ 6 years in spring–summer and autumn–winter were 15.8 ~ 42.6 ng/mL and 15.2 ~ 37.7 ng/mL, respectively. The age-, gender-specific RIs of serum 25(OH)D for 7 ~ ≤ 18 years for males and females were 12.1 ~ 36.1 ng/mL and 10.8 ~ 35.3 ng/mL, respectively. This study successfully established the RIs of serum 25(OH)D, which may help to improve disease diagnosis and monitoring for children in the Nanning area of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a widely used brominated flame retardant; however, it is a persistent organic pollutant as well as affects the human thyroid hormones and causes cancer. However, the degradation of HBCD has received little attention from researchers. Due to its bioaccumulative and hazardous properties, an appropriate strategy for its remediation is required. In this study, we investigated the biodegradation of HBCD using Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 under optimized conditions. The Box-Behnken design (BBD) was implemented for the optimization of the physical degradation parameters of HBCD. S. oneidensis MR-1 showed the best degradation performance at a temperature of 30 °C, pH 7, and agitation speed of 115 rpm, with an HBCD concentration of 1125 μg/L in mineral salt medium (MSM). The strain tolerated up to 2000 μg/L HBCD. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis identified three intermediates, including 2-bromo dodecane, 2,7,10-trimethyldodecane, and 4-methyl-1-decene. The results provide an insightful understanding of the biodegradation of HBCD by S. oneidensis MR-1 under optimized conditions and could pave the way for further eco-friendly applications. Key points: • HBCD biodegradation by Shewanella oneidensis • Optimization of HBCD biodegradation by the Box-Behnken analysis • Identification of useful metabolites from HBCD degradation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a widely used brominated flame retardant; however, it is a persistent organic pollutant as well as affects the human thyroid hormones and causes cancer. However, the degradation of HBCD has received little attention from researchers. Due to its bioaccumulative and hazardous properties, an appropriate strategy for its remediation is required. In this study, we investigated the biodegradation of HBCD using Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 under optimized conditions. The Box-Behnken design (BBD) was implemented for the optimization of the physical degradation parameters of HBCD. S. oneidensis MR-1 showed the best degradation performance at a temperature of 30 °C, pH 7, and agitation speed of 115 rpm, with an HBCD concentration of 1125 μg/L in mineral salt medium (MSM). The strain tolerated up to 2000 μg/L HBCD. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis identified three intermediates, including 2-bromo dodecane, 2,7,10-trimethyldodecane, and 4-methyl-1-decene. The results provide an insightful understanding of the biodegradation of HBCD by S. oneidensis MR-1 under optimized conditions and could pave the way for further eco-friendly applications. Key points: • HBCD biodegradation by Shewanella oneidensis • Optimization of HBCD biodegradation by the Box-Behnken analysis • Identification of useful metabolites from HBCD degradation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In virtual reality (VR) applications, haptic gloves provide feedback and more direct control than bare hands do. Most VR gloves contain flex and inertial measurement sensors for tracking the finger joints of a single hand; however, they lack a mechanism for tracking two-hand interactions. In this paper, a vision-based method is proposed for improved two-handed glove tracking. The proposed method requires only one camera attached to a VR headset. A photorealistic glove data generation framework was established to synthesize large quantities of training data for identifying the left, right, or both gloves in images with complex backgrounds. We also incorporated the "glove pose hypothesis" in the training stage, in which spatial cues regarding relative joint positions were exploited for accurately predict glove positions under severe self-occlusion or motion blur. In our experiments, a system based on the proposed method achieved an accuracy of 94.06% on a validation set and achieved high-speed tracking at 65 fps on a consumer graphics processing unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of transition metal-based photocatalysts with low cost, strong visible light absorption, and high efficiency is a long-stand pursuit for advanced organic synthesis, yet remains highly challenging. In this article, an anthraquinone-based copper(I) cyclic trinuclear complex (1) was designed and it featured strong visible light absorption, high charge separation efficiency and photochemical properties. Complex 1 as a heterogeneous photocatalyst can efficiently catalyze homo-coupling of terminal alkynes and denitrification-oxidative coupling reaction between hydrazinopyridine and terminal alkynes with excellent yield (up to 99%), broad substrate tolerance (27 examples) and superior reusability (up to 10 cycles without loss of performance) under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathology of spinal cord injury (SCI), including primary and secondary injuries, primarily involves hemorrhage, ischemia, edema, and inflammatory responses. Cell transplantation has been the most promising treatment for SCI in recent years; however, its specific molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this study, bioinformatics analysis verified by experiment was used to elucidate the hub genes associated with SCI and to discover the underlying molecular mechanisms of cell intervention. GSE46988 data were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus dataset. In our study, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were reanalyzed using the "R" software (R v4.2.1). Functional enrichment and protein–protein interaction network analyses were performed, and key modules and hub genes were identified. Network construction was performed for the hub genes and their associated miRNAs. Finally, a semi-quantitative analysis of hub genes and pathways was performed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. In total, 718 DEGs were identified, mainly enriched in immune and inflammation-related functions. We found that Cd4, Tp53, Rac2, and Akt3 differed between vehicle and transplanted groups, suggesting that these genes may play an essential role in the transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells, while a toll-like receptor signaling pathway was significantly enriched in Gene set enrichment analysis, and then, the differences were statistically significant by experimentally verifying the expression of their associated molecules (Tlr4, Nf-κb, Ikkβ, Cxcl2, and Tnf-α). In addition, we searched for upstream regulatory molecules of these four central genes and constructed a regulatory network. This study is the first to construct a regulatory network for olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation in treating SCI, providing a new idea for SCI cell therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathological features of Alzheimer's disease are the formation of amyloid plaques and entanglement of nerve fibers. Studies have shown that Cu may be involved in the formation of amyloid plaques. However, their role has been controversial. The aim of this study was to explore the role of Cu in AD. We applied the "R" software for our differential analysis. Differentially expressed genes were screened using the limma package. Copper metabolism-related genes and the intersection set of differential genes with GSE5281 were searched; functional annotation was performed. The protein–protein interaction network was constructed using several modules to analyse the most significant hub genes. The hub genes were then qualified, and a database was used to screen for small-molecule AD drugs. We identified 87 DEGs. gene ontology analysis focused on homeostatic processes, response to toxic substances, positive regulation of transport, and secretion. The enriched molecular functions are mainly related to copper ion binding, molecular function regulators, protein-containing complex binding, identical protein binding and signalling receptor binding. The KEGG database is mainly involved in central carbon metabolism in various cancers, Parkinson's disease and melanoma. We identified five hub genes, FGF2, B2M, PTPRC, CD44 and SPP1, and identified the corresponding small molecule drugs. Our study identified key genes possibly related to energy metabolism in the pathological mechanism of AD and explored potential targets for AD treatment by establishing interaction networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) expressed at endothelial adherens junctions (AJs) is vital for vascular integrity and endothelial homeostasis. Here we identify the requirement of the ubiquitin E3-ligase CHFR as a key mechanism of ubiquitylation-dependent degradation of VE-cadherin. CHFR was essential for disrupting the endothelium through control of the VE-cadherin protein expression at AJs. We observe augmented expression of VE-cadherin in endothelial cell (EC)-restricted Chfr knockout (ChfrΔEC) mice. We also observe abrogation of LPS-induced degradation of VE-cadherin in ChfrΔEC mice, suggesting the pathophysiological relevance of CHFR in regulating the endothelial junctional barrier in inflammation. Lung endothelial barrier breakdown, inflammatory neutrophil extravasation, and mortality induced by LPS were all suppressed in ChfrΔEC mice. We find that the transcription factor FoxO1 is a key upstream regulator of CHFR expression. These findings demonstrate the requisite role of the endothelial cell-expressed E3-ligase CHFR in regulating the expression of VE-cadherin, and thereby endothelial junctional barrier integrity. Vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin), endothelial cell-cell adhesive protein maintains blood vessel barrier integrity and vascular homeostasis. Here, the authors show that infectious bacterial toxin activates ubiquitin ligase CHFR which in turn degrades VEcadherin via ubiquitylation in endothelial cells to cause vascular injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is common in patients with trauma, and thromboprophylaxis has been advocated. However, conflicting results regarding VTE rates in the Asian population following orthopaedic procedures have been presented. We aimed to investigate the VTE incidence in Taiwanese patients with pelvic and/or acetabular fractures and identify the associated risk factors. We included 402 patients who underwent surgery for pelvic and/or acetabular fractures. All patients received mechanical thromboprophylaxis with graduated compression stockings. Duplex scanning was performed postoperatively or during follow-up when signs or symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) developed. Variables with a significance level of ≤ 0.1 in the univariate analyses were introduced into the multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify DVT risk factors. The overall DVT and symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) rate was 3.48% (14/402 patients). Among patients with DVT, 46.1% were asymptomatic. Patients with VTE were significantly older than those without. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age was a VTE risk factor. The incidence of DVT and symptomatic PE in our cohort was low. Advanced age was a risk factor for VTE. These findings could help clinicians develop appropriate prevention and treatment strategies for VTE in Taiwanese patients with pelvic and/or acetabular fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slow movements and irregular muscle contraction have been reported separately in different studies targeting individuals with psychotic-like experiences (PLEs). To date, it remains unknown whether these two movement abnormalities, possibly associated with hypo- and hyper-dopaminergia, respectively, co-existed in one sample with PLEs and interrelated in the early stage of psychotic progression. Therefore, this study was to examine if facial and upper-limb slow movements and irregular muscle contraction co-existed in individuals with PLEs, interrelated, and were associated with PLEs. A total of 26 individuals with PLEs, who were identified using the 16-item Prodromal Questionnaire, and 26 age- and gender-matched healthy controls received the facial and upper-limb movement measurement. A motion capture system was used to record the movement procedure and thus calculate kinematic variables that represented severity of slow movements and irregular muscle contraction. Results showed that facial and upper-limb slow movements and facial irregular muscle contraction existed in individuals with PLEs. For the total sample, slower facial movements were associated with less regular facial muscle contraction; slower upper-limb movements were associated with less regular upper-limb muscle contraction. Slower and less regular facial and upper-limb movements were associated with more severe PLEs. Compensatory changes in dopaminergic neural pathways in response to elevated dopamine might explain connection between slow movements and irregular muscle contraction. Because of the ability to detect facial and upper-limb movement abnormalities objectively and sensitively, motion analysis has great applicability to sensorimotor studies for people in the psychosis continuum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: The deletion mutated rpoC2 leads to yellow stripes of Clivia miniata var. variegata by down regulating the transcription of 28 chloroplast genes and disturbing chloroplast biogenesis and thylakoid membrane development. Clivia miniata var. variegata (Cmvv) is a common mutant of Clivia miniata but its genetic basis is unclear. Here, we found that a 425 bp deletion mutation of chloroplast rpoC2 underlies the yellow stripes (YSs) of Cmvv. Both RNA polymerase PEP and NEP coexist in seed-plant chloroplasts and the β″ subunit of PEP is encoded by rpoC2. The rpoC2 mutation changed the discontinuous cleft domain required to form the PEP central cleft for DNA binding from 1103 to 59 aa. RNA-Seq revealed that 28 chloroplast genes (cpDEGs) were all down-regulated in YSs, of which, four involved in chloroplast protein translation and 21 of photosynthesis system (PS)I, PSII, cytochrome b6/f complex and ATP synthase are crucial for chloroplast biogenesis/development. The accuracy and reliability of RNA-Seq was verified by qRT-PCR. Moreover, the chlorophyll (Chl) a/b content, ratio of Chla/Chlb and photosynthetic rate (Pn) of YS decreased significantly. Meanwhile, chloroplasts of the YS mesophyll cells were smaller, irregular in shape, contain almost no thylakoid membrane, and even proplastid was found in YS. These findings indicate that the rpoC2 mutation down-regulated expression of the 28 cpDEGs, which disturb chloroplast biogenesis and its thylakoid membrane development. Thus, there are not enough PSI and II components to bind Chl, so that the corresponding areas of the leaf are yellow and show a low Pn. In this study, the molecular mechanism of three phenotypes of F1 (Cmvv ♀ × C. miniata ♂) was revealed, which lays a foundation for the breeding of variegated plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are widely used, a series of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have been reported, including immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis (ICI-pneumonitis). The incidence of ICI-pneumonitis is higher in reality than in clinical trials. The diagnosis is challenging, mainly based on clinical and imaging features, and requires the exclusion of other causes. The data on the biological mechanisms of ICI-pneumonitis are scarce, resulting in little knowledge of the best treatment for ICI-pneumonitis. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) may be helpful to identify the biological differences or find predictive biomarkers, and may in turn help to develop phenotype-specific targeted drugs to treat ICI-pneumonitis. Herein, we outline the characterization of immunomodulatory factors and cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for ICI-pneumonitis. Through careful sorting and literature review, we find crosstalk between pathogenic Th17/Th1 cells (i.e., Th17.1) and pro-inflammatory monocytes, and activation of Th17(/Th1)/IL-17A (/IFN-γ) pathways may play a key role in the pathogenesis of ICI-pneumonitis. Disruption of the interaction between pathogenic Th17/Th1 cells and pro-inflammatory monocytes (such as, anti-IL-23) may be a potential treatment for ICI-pneumonitis. We first describe the possible pathophysiological mechanisms of ICI-pneumonitis, hoping to contribute to the optimization of diagnosis and treatment, as well as provide readers with research inspiration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Sevoflurane, commonly administered to children as anesthesia, often leads to emergence delirium (ED). Currently, a consensus is lacking among clinicians regarding pharmacological interventions to improve recovery. To determine an effective approach, we compared the effects of several drugs in lowering the incidence of ED after sevoflurane anesthesia in children. We searched online databases for relevant randomized controlled trials (59 studies selected; 5199 NMA-eligible participants) and performed a frequentist network meta-analysis (NMA). This study was registered on PROSPERO (number CRD: 42022329939). All included studies had a low to moderate risk of overall bias. The incidence of ED after sevoflurane anesthesia in children differed according to other drugs administered, and were ranked from high to low according to the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). Sufentanil (91.2%) and dexmedetomidine (77.6%) were more likely to reduce the incidence (SUCRA value) of ED, whereas the placebo (6.5%), ramelteon (11.1%), and magnesium (18%) were less likely to reduce the incidence of ED. Remifentanil (89.3%) ranked first in shortening emergence time, followed by placebo (82.4%) and ketamine (69.7%). Placebo shortened extubation time, followed by remifentanil (66.5%) and alfentanil (61.4%). Sufentanil and remifentanil lowered sevoflurane-induced ED incidences among children and shortened the emergence time more effectively than other drugs. Most adjuvant drugs that are combined with sevoflurane either do not change or may even prolong extubation time. Further research and clinical trials are required to support and update these conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir, some huge ancient landslides were reactivated and deformed, showing typical hydrodynamic pressure landslide characteristics. The Baishuihe landslide was a typical hydrodynamic pressure landslide. The management department conducted slope cutting treatments from 2018 to 2019. To evaluate the treatment effect of rear slope cutting, this study analyzed the data of the surface deformation survey and field monitoring over the past 20 years and the characteristics of the reservoir water-triggered Baishuihe landslide deformation, and calculated the seepage field, displacement field, and stability coefficient before and after landslide treatment. The results showed that the deformation of the Baishuihe landslide was primarily related to a decrease in the reservoir water level. Owing to the poor permeability of the landslide soil, the decrease in the reservoir water level produced a seepage force pointing to the outside of the landslide body, leading to the step deformation of the landslide displacement. The landslide was treated by rear slope cutting, and the "step" deformation of the landslide disappeared after treatment. The hydrodynamic pressure caused by the change in reservoir water after cutting the slope did not disappear. However, as the slope cutting greatly reduced the overall sliding force of the landslide, its stability was greatly improved. Notably, high stability can still be ensured under extreme rainfall after treatment. Slope cutting is effective for treating hydrodynamic pressure landslides. This study can provide effective technical support for the treatment of reservoir landslides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Movement abnormalities, including movement slowing and irregular muscle contraction, exist in individuals with psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and serve as vulnerable factors of developing psychotic diseases in the psychosis continuum. To date scarce studies have developed early intervention programs tackling these initial impairments, which may be caused by basal ganglia alterations, in the early stage of the psychosis course. Rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) is a technique of neurological music therapy and has been proved effective in inducing faster movements in patients with psychotic diseases. This pilot study examined if RAS incorporated in functional movement training reduced severity of movement slowing and irregular muscle contraction in individuals with PLEs. Seventeen individuals with PLEs were randomly allocated to receiving RAS or receiving no RAS and underwent daily 40-min movement training (picking up beans) for three weeks. This study used motion analysis to measure movement performance at pretest and posttest. Eighteen age- and gender-matched individuals without PLEs were also recruited to provide data of intact movements. Results showed that RAS may reduce severity of movement slowing and irregular muscle contraction in individuals with PLEs. This pilot study is one of the pioneering studies validating effectiveness of early intervention programs tackling movement abnormalities, which are initial impairments in the psychosis continuum, in individuals with PLEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, with dramatically increasing incidence and mortality for decades. However, current therapeutic strategies for CRC, including chemotherapies and immunotherapies, have only demonstrated limited efficacy. Here, we report a novel immune molecule, CD43, that can regulate the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and serves as a promising target for CRC immunotherapy. Methods: The correlation of CD43 expression with CRC patient prognosis was revealed by public data analysis. CD43 knockout (KO) CRC cell lines were generated by CRISPR-Cas9 technology, and a syngenetic murine CRC model was established to investigate the in vivo function of CD43. The TIME was analyzed via immunohistochemical staining, flow cytometry and RNA-seq. Immune functions were investigated by depletion of immune subsets in vivo and T-cell functional assays in vitro, including T-cell priming, cytotoxicity, and chemotaxis experiments. Results: In this study, we found that high expression of CD43 was correlated with poor survival of CRC patients and the limited infiltration of CD8+ T cells in human CRC tissues. Importantly, CD43 expressed on tumor cells, rather than host cells, promoted tumor progression in a syngeneic tumor model. Loss of CD43 facilitated the infiltration of immune cells and immunological memory in the TIME of CRC tumors. Mechanistically, the protumor effect of CD43 depends on T cells, thereby attenuating T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity and cDC1-mediated antigen-specific T-cell activation. Moreover, targeting CD43 synergistically improved PD-L1 blockade immunotherapy for CRC. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that targeting tumor-intrinsic CD43 could activate the antitumor immune response and provide particular value for optimized cancer immunotherapy by regulating the TIME in CRC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Few data are available regarding the nephrotoxicity of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) combination therapy in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This study aimed to investigate the nephrotoxicity of ICI-based combination therapy versus standard of care sunitinib in patients with advanced RCC. Methods: We searched Embase/PubMed/Cochrane Library for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Treatment-related nephrotoxicities including increase of creatinine and proteinuria were analyzed by Review Manager 5.4 software. Results: Seven RCTs involving 5239 patients were included. The analysis showed that ICI combination therapy had similar risks of any grade (RR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.77–1.37, P = 0.87) and grade 3–5 (RR = 1.48, 95% CI: 0.19–11.66, P = 0.71) increased creatinine compared with sunitinib monotherapy. However, ICI combination therapy was associated with significantly higher risks of any grade (RR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.54–3.51, P < 0.0001) and grade 3–5 proteinuria (RR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.21–4.17, P = 0.01). Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests that ICI combination therapy shows more nephrotoxicity of proteinuria than sunitinib in advanced RCC, which deserves a high attention in the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uranium (U) phytotoxicity is an inherently difficult problem in the phytoremediation of U-contaminated environments. Plant chelating and antioxidant systems play an authoritative role in resistance to abiotic stress. To reveal the toxicity of U, the changes of chelating system, osmoregulatory substances and antioxidant systems in Vicia faba roots were studied after short-term (24 h) U exposure. The results indicated that the development of lateral roots and root activity of V. faba were significantly inhibited with U accumulation. Compared with the control, plant chelating systems showed significant positive effects after U exposure (15 − 25 μM). Osmoregulatory substances (proline and soluble protein) increasingly accumulated in roots with increasing U concentration, and O2− and H2O2 rapidly accumulated after U exposure (15 − 25 μM). Thus, the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, were also significantly increased. Antioxidant systems were activated after U exposure but were inhibited at higher U concentrations (15 − 25 μM). In summary, although the chelating, osmotic regulation and antioxidant systems in V. faba were activated after short-term U exposure, the antioxidases (CAT, SOD and POD) were inhibited at higher U concentrations (15 − 25 μM). Therefore, the root cells were severely damaged by peroxidation, which eventually resulted in inhibited activity and arrested root development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette (ABC) transporters play an important role in the response to methotrexate (MTX). In this study, we investigated the frequency distribution of three splicing-regulatory polymorphisms in ABC transporters (ABCC2 rs2273697 G>A, ABCG2 rs2231142 G>T, and ABCB1 rs1128503 A>G) and their effects on MTX concentrations and the clinical outcome in a Chinese pediatric population with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methods: A fluorescence polarization immunoassay was used to measure the serum MTX concentrations in 24 h (C24h) and 42 h (C42h). The Sequenom MassARRAY system was used for single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. Results: The study population had significantly lower frequencies of ABCC2 rs2273697 A, ABCG2 rs2231142 G, and ABCB1 rs1128503 G than African and European samples (P < 0.05). The dose-normalized MTX concentrations after 24 h and the proportion of C42h > 0.5 µmol/L were significantly lower in patients with the ABCG2 rs2231142 GG genotype than in patients with the GT or TT genotype (P = 0.01 and 0.006, respectively). No significant effects on MTX pharmacokinetics were observed for ABCC2 rs2273697 and ABCB1 rs1128503 polymorphisms. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that the three SNPs overlapped with the putative binding sites of several splicing factors. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study confirmed the ethnicity-based differences in the distribution of the three investigated SNPs. The ABCG2 rs2231142 polymorphism exerted a significant effect on the level of MTX exposure. These findings may help explain the variability in MTX responses and optimize MTX treatment in pediatric patients with ALL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the use of the capacitive coupled radio frequency double-pipe atmospheric-pressure plasma jet for the improvement of CoQ10 production from plasma treated Rhodobacter species UNLI-82 cells. This plasma jet can be ignited and sustained in both continuous and pulsed modes with different plasma carrier gases such as argon or helium. In this study, an argon carrier gas is fed through the atmospheric-pressure plasma source; oxygen reactive gas is injected into the plasma. The experimentally measured gas phase temperature of the atmospheric pressure plasma jet maintained was from 40 to 80°C, indicating this plasma jet to be low temperature plasma discharge. The atmospheric pressure plasma jet was used to create mutants of Rhodobacter species UNLI-82 by globally altering their metabolism and CoQ10 production. The cell mutant showed improved CoQ10 yield, which was increased by 25%. The possible mechanism is that atmospheric pressure plasma jet yield and oxidation state balance indicated that the cellular metabolism was changed by the mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The perfect matching polytope of a graph G is the convex hull of the incidence vectors of all perfect matchings of G. A graph G is PM-compact if the 1-skeleton graph of the prefect matching polytope of G is complete. Equivalently, a matchable graph G is PM-compact if and only if for each even cycle C of G, G ∔ V(C) has at most one perfect matching. This paper considers the class of graphs from which deleting any two adjacent vertices or nonadjacent vertices, respectively, the resulting graph has a unique perfect matching. The PM-compact graphs in this class of graphs are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the aim of isolating clopyralid-degrading bacterial species for potential bioremediation, a pale-yellow, Gram-negative, rod-shaped, and non-motile designated as Clo-40T was isolated from soil which was about 10 years use of clopyralid in Zaozhuang city, Shandong province. Growth occurred within the ranges from 10 to 40 °C and 0–2.5% (w/v) NaCl. Strain could completely degrade 50 mg/L clopyralid within 2 days after induction and formed 3, 6-hydroxypicolinic acid, a major clopyralid metabolite, hydrolyze esculin, and reduce nitrates to nitrites, but could not hydrolyze gelatin. Based on phylogenetic analysis, strain clustered within the genus Xinfangfangia clade and branched with Xinfangfangia humi IMT-291T (97.6%) and Xinfangfangia soli ZQBWT (96.9%). Genome sequencing revealed a genome size of 4.41 Mbp and G + C content of 67.3%. The average nucleotide ANI values of strain with respect to X. humi IMT-291T and X. soli ZQBWT were 77.5% and 76.9%, respectively. The DDH estimated values between strain Clo-40T and X. humi IMT-291T and X. soli ZQBWT were 20.5% and 20.0%, respectively. The predominant fatty acids (> 5% of the total fatty acids) were C18:1w7c (42.9%), C16:0 (28.8%), C17:0 cyclo (13.0%), and C14:0 (7.0%). The major polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, unidentified phospholipid, unidentified glycolipid, and unidentified lipids. The predominant respiratory quinone was Q-10. Based on data from phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic analyses in this study, strain Clo-40T represent a novel species in the genus of Xinfangfangia, for which the name Xinfangfangia pollutisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Clo-40T (= KCTC 92089T = GDMCC 1.2845T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]