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Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), especially PD‐1 inhibitors, are among the first‐line therapeutic drugs for the treatment of advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, most patients are not sensitive to PD‐1 inhibitors, and prolonged exposure can lead to acquired resistance. Thus, it is urgent to elucidate the mechanism underlying the resistance of NSCLC to ICIs. Connexin 43 (Cx43) is a gap junction (GJ) protein that is important in therapeutic efficacy to ICIs. In this study, we observed that Cx43 in murine Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells mediated cyclic GMP‐AMP (cGAMP) transfer to macrophages. Knockdown of Cx43 reduced T‐cell activation, leading to decreased sensitivity of LLC cells to anti‐PD‐1 therapy. The mechanism might be that knockdown of Cx43 in LLC cells promotes macrophages differentiation into pro‐tumour M2 type (TAM), thus activating the STING pathway in macrophages. These findings indicate that downregulation of Cx43 in LLC cells leads to immunotherapy resistance by negatively regulating the cGAS–STING pathway in macrophages. Therefore, Cx43/GJ‐mediated signal transmission between lung cancer cells and macrophages provides new insights for increasing immunotherapy sensitivity in NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protective coating is one of the effective ways to help concrete structures resist environmental erosion. However, most of the existing coating materials are organic compounds, which have the disadvantages of poor durability and high energy consumption. In this study, metakaolin with excellent durability was used as the main raw material, and a flexible and waterproof ethylene‐vinyl acetate emulsion was added to improve the high brittleness characteristics of metakaolin, resulting in a metakaolin‐based geopolymer coating material. Through tests such as water absorption, hardness, gloss, and tensile properties, we investigated the effects of the powder–liquid ratio and the type and amount of admixture on the properties of the coating. The results show that the coating exhibits better performance when the powder‐to‐liquid ratio is 0.6. Based on this, it was found that the optimal dosage of water‐reducing agent, coupling agent, and defoamer was 0.7%, 0.3%, and 0.3%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyaniline (PANI) particles were synthesized using aniline (AN), dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid (DBSA), and ammonium persulfate (APS). The particles were analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). A PANI/waterborne polyurethane composite material (PANI‐WPU) was obtained by combining it with polyethylene glycol (PEG600), diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA), N‐methyl pyrrolidone (NMP), and dibutyltin lauric acid (DBTDL). The structure was characterized by the FTIR spectrum. The mechanical characteristics of the coating film were evaluated with respect to the PANI content, as well as its water absorption, glossiness, electrochemical corrosion resistance, and acid and alkali resistance. The PANI/waterborne polyurethane film has a maximum tensile strength of 23 ±1$$ \pm 1 $$ MPa, an elongation of 1012%, a pencil hardness of 5H, a flexibility of 2 mm, an impact resistance of 50 cm, the water absorption of 14.66%, and the glossiness of 99.9 ±0.1$$ \pm 0.1 $$ at 60°. When the PANI content is 0.7%, the mechanical characteristics, glossiness, and anti‐corrosion performance of the composite film improve. The corrosion inhibition efficiency of the aqueous polyurethane coating film with PANI can reach 99.74%, as shown by the examination of electrochemical polarization curves and impedance spectra. The tinplate is coated with a 0.7% PANI‐WPU composite material and edge sealing. This coating provides excellent protection against acid and alkali resistance, as demonstrated by its ability to withstand immersion in 10% H2SO4 and 10% NaOH solution for 90 days without any paint peeling off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyaniline−dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (PANI‐DBSA) particles were synthesized through in situ lotion polymerization of aniline and DBSA as raw materials, followed by combining with epoxy resin (E‐44) and castor oil (CO) to prepare a PANI mixture (PANI‐DBSA/CO) which was used as a nanofiller to create a nano polyaniline/polyurethane (PANI‐PU) interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) coating. SEM, XRD and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the PANI‐DBSA and PANI‐PU IPN composite coatings that were produced. The coatings' physical and mechanical characteristics were investigated, as well as the system's corrosion behaviour in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, utilizing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and electrokinetic polarization. Acid, alkali and saltwater immersion investigations were used to further evaluate the coatings' medium resistance. The results show that when PANI‐DBSA is added at 1 wt%, the contact angle reaches 102.6°, the adhesion reaches S1 grade after 720 h immersion, the tensile strength is 16.22 MPa and the elongation reaches 208%. The impedance value of the composite coating grew by 569 times with the addition of 1 wt% PANI, and the resistance duration to 10 wt% H2SO4, 10 wt% NaOH and 3.5 wt% NaCl reached more than 90 days. The addition of PANI to IPN coatings can increase corrosion resistance and extend their application range. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLB) is routinely used to diagnose the interstitial lung disease (ILD). These results are consistent with those of surgical lung biopsy. Fluoroscopy is also used to confirm the final position of the cryoprobe; however, it can increase radiation exposure for both patients and medical care personnel. Probe‐based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) is a novel optical imaging technique that allows real‐time imaging at the cellular level in vivo. pCLE technology can also be used to identify malignancy, acute rejection in lung transplantation, amiodarone lung, and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and visualize elastin fibres in the alveolar compartment. Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the ability of pCLE to distinguish fibrotic pulmonary issues from normal lung disease and the safety and feasibility of CLE‐guided bronchoscopy and transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Methods: pCLE images from 17 ILD patients were obtained during TBLB. These images were then compared with histology results to assess the correspondence rate. Results: pCLE imaging of the alveolar structures was performed. Key characteristics were visible, which could potentially influence the diagnostic rate (fibrotic areas) and the complication rate (blood vessel and pleura). Conclusion: pCLE may reduce complications and increase the diagnostic yield. It is a potential guidance tool for cryobiopsy in the patients with ILD without fluoroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Durability is of great importance property in the sustainable development of green building materials. In this paper, metakaolin based geopolymer was used as control group and modified geopolymer specimens were prepared by adding different dosages (1–4 wt%) of APTES (3‐Aminopropyltriethoxysilane) to study the effect of silane on basic properties and durability of metakaolin based geopolymer. Meanwhile, microscopic tests were used to reveal the mechanism of geopolymer modified with silane on durability performance. Basic properties and durability experiments included fluidity, consistency, mechanical strength, sulfate wet‐dry cycles, and freeze–thaw cycles. Microscopic experiments included SEM, XRD, N2 adsorption–desorption for characterization. The results showed that 1–2 wt% APTES modified geopolymer specimens improved the fluidity and consistency. However, excessive dosages inhibited fluidity and consistency of specimens. On the other hand, with the increase of APTES contents, mechanical strength under 7th days and 28th days showed a trend of first rise and then fall. Sulfate dry‐wet cycles experiments under 28th days and 56th days indicated that with the increase of APTES dosages, the weight loss of modified geopolymer decreased firstly and then increased compared to the control group, while coefficient of sulfate resistance showed the opposite trend. The 25 times and 50 times freeze–thaw cycles experiments were consistent with the changes of sulfate dry‐wet cycles results. Microscopic experiments were used to characterize the control and modified groups and to reveal the mechanism on basic properties and durability of geopolymer modified with silane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dermatomyositis and rheumatoid arthritis are inflammatory diseases that affect the skeletal muscles and joints, respectively. A common systemic complication of these diseases is interstitial lung disease (ILD), which leads to a poor prognosis and increased mortality. However, the mechanism for the initiation and development of ILD in patients with dermatomyositis is currently unknown. In the present study, we used 16S rRNA high‐throughput sequencing to profile the bacterial community composition of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with dermatomyositis associated with ILD (DM‐ILD; shortened to DM below), rheumatoid arthritis associated with ILD (RA‐ILD; shortened to RA below) and healthy controls (N) aiming to understand the differences in their lung microbiota and to predict gene function. We found that there were more operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the lung microbiota of both RA and DM compared to N, although there was no significant difference in the number of OTUs between RA and DM. Similarly, the diversity in alphaproteobacteria differed between RA and DM compared to N, but not between RA and DM. The lung microbiota of RA, DM and N was mainly comprised of five phyla: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Fusobacteria, with 10 dominant genera. Despite the similarity in microbiota composition, we also identified 41 OTUs of lung microbiota that differed among RA, DM and N. Additionally, linear discriminant analysis effect size and linear discriminant analysis genus scores confirmed that 31 microbial biomarkers were clearly distinguished among RA, DM and N. The functional and metabolic alterations of the lung microbiota among RA, DM and N were predicted using picrust, and differentially abundant KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways were identified. Research on the lung microbiota of patients with DM and RA may open new opportunities for developing biomarkers to identify high‐risk patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A parametric design method, which was based on super-elliptical transition and self-adaption infrared radiation shield for the double S-shaped nozzle, was introduced. The complete shielding of high-temperature components in the S-shaped nozzle was realized. Model experiments and numerical simulations were performed to investigate the effects of offset ratio S/D, the ratio of length to diameter L/D, and the aspect ratio W/H on the aerodynamics and infrared radiation. The results showed that the total pressure recovery and thrust coefficients were improved initially, but dropped rapidly with the increase in offset ratios with the range of investigated parameters. There existed an optimal offset ratio for the aerodynamic performances. Considering the weight penalty, the length of nozzles should only be increased properly to achieve better aerodynamic performances. Both friction and viscous losses caused by large streamwise vortices dominated the aerodynamic performances of nozzles. The nozzle with the aspect ratio of W/H=5.0 was recommended for achieving optimal aerodynamics. The increase in aspect and offset ratios could effectively suppress plume radiation, which was, however, not sensitive to overall radiation. Compared to circular nozzles, double S-shaped nozzles reduced overall infrared radiation by over 50%, which proves significant stealth ability. A balance between aerodynamic performances and infrared radiation suppression could be reached for double S-shaped nozzles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free fatty acids are typically activated by thioesterification processes and catalyzed by the fatty acyl-CoA synthetase or fatty acyl-ACP synthetase. However, the routes for fatty acid activation in cyanobacteria are not well understood. In this investigation, the slr1609 gene, which encodes the fatty acid activation enzyme, was cloned from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. This gene was identified by heterologous expression and in vitro enzymatic activity analyses. Different from previous reports stating that free fatty acids are only activated through the fatty acyl-ACP synthetases encoded by these genes in cyanobacteria, this gene was also proven to possess a fatty acyl-CoA synthetase activity, by in vitro enzymatic activity analyses and in vivo complementation experiments. The protein Slr1609 is located in both the cell membrane and the cytosol of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. The differences in the transcriptional profiles between the wild type and the slr1609 deletion mutant strain were evaluated using microarray analyses. These analyses indicated that 299 differentially expressed genes are involved in fatty acid metabolism, photosynthesis, carbon fixation, stress tolerance and other metabolic processes. Our experiments demonstrate the observed compositional changes in the unsaturated fatty acids from the membrane lipids of the slr1609 deletion mutant when shifted from 30 to 24 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apoptosis is a distinct mode of cell death that is responsible for the deletion of cells in tumors and in normal tissues. We pursued a pathway-based approach to investigate the association of potentially functional genetic polymorphisms of the corresponding genes with the outcomes of platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer ( NSCLC). A MALDI- TOF mass spectrometer was used for genotyping 10 polymorphisms of eight apoptosis-related genes, including BCL2 rs1801018, rs1564483, rs2279115, BAX rs4645878, caspase ( CASP3) rs6948, CASP8 rs3834129, CASP10 rs13006529, rs3900115, tumor necrosis factor α ( TNFα) rs1800629, and macrophage migration inhibitory factor ( MIF) rs755622. The associations between these single nucleotide polymorphisms and the outcomes of 445 advanced NSCLC patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy were evaluated. The CASP3 rs6948 polymorphism was most significantly associated with hematologic toxicity in a dose-dependent manner. The incidence of severe hematologic toxicity was significantly lower in C allele carriers ( P = 0.005; odds ratio = 0.524; 95% confidence interval = 0.333-0.824) and still significant after a Bonferroni correction. The function of this single nucleotide polymorphism in gene expression was also investigated. Quantitative PCR showed that individuals with the C allele had lower levels of CASP3 transcripts in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Luciferase reporter assays showed that the minor C allele significantly decreased the reporter gene expression level. In addition, the TNFα rs1800629 mutant allele significantly elevated gastrointestinal toxicity ( P = 0.020; odds ratio = 3.020; 95% confidence interval = 1.188-7.676), when compared to the wild-type homozygote. No other association was found. In conclusion, for the first time, our study suggests that CASP3 rs6948 might influence CASP3 expression and be associated with severe hematologic toxicity risk. ( Cancer Sci 2012; 103: 1451-1459) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]