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Clock genes play a pivotal role in the rhythm maturation of bony fish ovaries. To explore the role of clock genes in the rhythmic ovarian development and maturation of tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis), we used real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR technique to analyze the expression profiles of circadian locomotor output cycles Kaput 1a (Clock1a), brain and muscle Arntlike 1a (Bmal1a), Cryptochrome 1a (Cry1a), Cryptochrome 2 (Cry2), and Period 2 (Per2) at the ovarian stages Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, Ⅴ, and Ⅵ.The coding DNA sequence (CDS) of five clock genes were cloned and phylogenetically analyzed. We found that the CDS sequence length of Clock1a was 1 620 bp and encoded 539 amino acids, with the encoded amino acid sequence of Clock1a having a predicted molecular weight of 81.9 kDa. Clock1a has the functional domain PASD1 (consisting of 64 amino acids) and PAS11 (consisting of 103 amino acids). The CDS sequence length of Bmal1a was 1 881 bp and encoded 626 amino acids, with the encoded amino acid sequence of Bmal1a having a predicted molecular weight of 68.9 kDa. In the Bmal1a sequence, the functional domain PASD3 is composed of 63 amino acids, and the functional domain PAS11 is composed of 103 amino acids. The CDS sequence length of Cry1a was 1 896 bp and encoded 631 amino acids, with the encoded amino acid sequence of Cry1a having a predicted molecular weight of 71.4 kDa. Its functional domain FAD7 was composed of 199 amino acids. The CDS sequence length of Cry2 was 2 007 bp and encoded 669 amino acids, with the encoded amino acid sequence of Cry2 having a predicted molecular weight of 76.0 kDa. The Cry2 sequence contains a functional domain FAD7 consisting of 199 amino acids. The CDS sequence length of Per2 was 4 248 bp, encoding 1 415 amino acids, and the encoded amino acid sequence of Per2 has a predicted molecular weight of 154.0 kDa. In the Per2 sequence, the functional domain PeriodC consists of 295 amino acids and a functional domain PAS11 consists of 102 amino acids.The neighbor-joining method was used to analyze the Clock1a, Bmal1a, Cry1a, Cry2, and Per2 phylogenetic relationships between C. semilaevis and other bony fish, amphibians, birds, and mammals. The homology of Clock1a, Bmal1a, Cry1a, Cry2, and Per2 with other bony fish was 60%–79%, 94%–100%, 85%–91%, 84%–94%, and 70%–84%, respectively. Therefore, we believe that these five amino acid sequences show strong conserved property. In addition, the homology of Cry1a and Cry2 was 62%, indicating that Cry1a and Cry2 evolved differently during the evolution of C. semilaevis. In the constructed phylogenetic tree, Clock1a, Bmal1a, Cry1a, Cry2, and Per2 of C. semilaevis were clustered together with other bony fishes, indicating a close relationship between C. semilaevis and other bony fish in the evolutionary process. Moreover, the homology of Clock1a between C. semilaevis and mammals, birds, and amphibians is low, indicating that there are evolutionary differences in the evolutionary process of Clock1a. The high homology of Bmal1a, Cry1a, Cry2, and Per2 with mammals, birds, and amphibians suggests that these four clock genes were strongly conserved during the evolution of C. semilaevis.In the present study, we found that the expression levels of five clock genes were high in stagesⅡ and Ⅲ, which were equivalent to the non-reproductive season (P < 0.05). However, the expression levels of five clock genes were low in stages Ⅳ and Ⅴ, which were equivalent to the reproductive season (P < 0.05). Therefore, the expression profiles of Clock1a, Bmal1a, Cry1a, Cry2, and Per2 in the ovaries of C. semilaevis also have seasonal characteristics. The ovarian development and maturation of C. semilaevis goes through stages Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, Ⅴ, and Ⅵ, and then reaches stage Ⅱ again and starts a new reproductive cycle. The variation patterns of seasonal factors, such as light and temperature, in fish ovaries were consistent with the annual expression patterns of the five clock genes in this study. Therefore, it can be considered that the expression of clock genes in C. semilaevis has an annual cycle. The findings presented in this study can enrich the theory of ovarian development and maturation of C. semilaevis and provide a theoretical basis for improving breeding technology and seedling efficiency.

The whitespotted conger (Conger myriaster) is an important fish species with high economic value in China and Japan owing to its high nutritional content. It occupies an important position in marine-eel export in China. C. myriaster has the potential to be artificially cultured and has promising economic prospects. Thus, there is growing international interest in C. myriaster research. Indeed, to meet the demands of domestic and foreign markets, artificial culturing of C. myriaster is urgently required. However, at present, there is no report on the research of C. myriaster reared in industrial recirculating aquaculture systems. Feeding frequency has been reported to affect feed intake and growth performance in a number of fish species. Feed management in terms of optimization of feeding frequency has emerged as one of the crucial areas of research in the field of aquaculture. Overfeeding and leftover food disrupts the water quality, while inadequate food supply has direct impact on production cost. Traditional flow through systems uses large volumes of water, and intensified aquaculture has drawbacks, such as large amount of discharged waste from effluent water. Among the excreted nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus constitute the largest proportion. Sustainability with low environmental impacts is one of the concerns when developing aquaculture systems. Based on the concepts of reduced water consumption and efficient water management, recirculating aquaculture systems offer the possibility of creating a sustainable future for fish production. Thus, a 70-day experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different feeding frequencies and water quality on the growth performance and physiological and biochemical indices of C. myriaster [body weight: (150.64±5.43) g] reared in industrial recirculating aquaculture systems; physiological and ecological methods were used in this study. The experiment comprised two feeding frequency groups, feeding once (group T1) and twice (group T2) per day, and each treatment group had three replicates. The average body weight of the fish in each culture pond and the water quality indices of the culture system were measured and analyzed every 14 d. At the end of the experiment, the blood, liver, and intestine samples of C. myriaster were collected to determine and analyze growth and physiological indices. The results indicated that (1) the growth performance of group T2 was better than that of group T1. The final body weight, final body length, weight gain, and specific growth rate of group T2 was significantly higher than those of group T1 (P < 0.05). The feed coefficient of group T1 was significantly higher than that of group T2 (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found in the final body height, liver body ratio, visceral body ratio, condition factor, or survival rate at different feeding frequencies (P > 0.05). (2) The serum malondialdehyde of group T1 was significantly higher than that of group T2 (P < 0.05). The hepatic alanine aminotransferase and hepatic aspartate transaminase of group T1 was significantly higher than those of group T2 (P < 0.05). The intestinal trypsin of group T2 was significantly higher than that of group T1 (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the levels of serum superoxide dismutase, serum catalase, intestinal amylase, or intestinal lipase between groups T1 and T2 (P > 0.05). (3) In the 24 h changes of ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) and nitrite nitrogen (NO2–-N), the change patterns of the two indices in outlet of the T1 group were similar to those of the outlet of the bio-filter; the two indices of the outlet water in T1 and T2 groups were one (24:00) and two peaks (20:00 and 08:00) respectively; the difference in NH4+-N in the outlet water of the two test groups within 24 h was significant (P < 0.05); at 04:00 and 08:00, the NO2–-N content of the outlet water of the biofilter was significantly lower than that of the other two test groups (P < 0.05); the 24 h changes range of NH4+-N and NO2–-N in T2 group were smaller than those in T1 group. (4) During the whole test period, each water quality index was maintained within the safe breeding range, and no significant differences were found in NH4+-N, NO2–-N, chemical oxygen demand, and active phosphate concentration between T1 and T2 groups (P > 0.05); at the end of the test, the total nitrogen and total phosphorus of T2 group were significantly higher than those of T1 group (P < 0.05); the biofilter has different treatment effects on various water quality indices, among which the treatment effect on NH4+-N is the most efficient, up to 54.23%. Based on the above results, the feeding frequency of twice per day was better than that of once per day in the industrial recirculating aquaculture mode for C. myriaster (body weight: 150~250 g). Without affecting the survival rate and condition factor, the twice per day group can save costs and improve economic benefits. However, due to the limitations of the test conditions, we did not explore more times of feeding, and further tests are needed in the future. The predominance, which was the high efficiency of water qualities treatment and optimal effect of culture, was demonstrated obviously in closed recirculating aquaculture systems. This study aims to provide a theoretical reference for the appropriate feeding strategy in the industrial recirculating aquaculture model of C. myriaster.

Abstract A series of terpenoids (1–17), comprising six new compounds designated bipolariterpenes A-F (1–6) and eleven recognized compounds (7–17), were isolated from the wheat culture of the potato endophytic fungus Bipolaris eleusines. Their structures and stereochemistry were clarified by HRESIMS, NMR, DP4 + probability analyses, and computations for electronic circular dichroism (ECD). All compounds are made up of six meroterpenoids, four sesterterpenes and seven sesquiterpenes. Among them, four sesterterpenes (4, 5, 10, 11) were investigated for their antifungal, antibacterial and cytotoxic properties, and six meroterpenoids (1–3, 7–9) were evaluated for their antifungal properties. The compounds 7, 9, and 10 had substantial antifungal activity against Epidermophyton floccosum at a concentration of 100 µM. No antibacterial and cytotoxic activities were observed. Graphical Abstract

Gravity field is the most basic physical field generated by the material properties of the Earth system. It reflects the spatial distribution, movement and change of materials determined by the interaction and dynamic process inside the Earth. Over the years, a variety of technical means have been used to detect the Earth’s gravity field and supported numerous studies on the global change, resource detection, geological structure movement, water resources change and other related fields of research. Here is part of the progress in surface and marine gravimetry obtained by Chinese geodesy scientists from 2019 to 2023 from the following aspects, including: ① Continuous gravity network in Chinese mainland; ② Application of superconducting gravity measurement; ③ Network adjustment for continental-scale gravity survey campaign and data quality control; ④ Regional time-variable gravity field and its application; ⑤ Research progress on novel technologies for gravity inversion; ⑥ Research progress on marine gravity field determination; ⑦ Application research on marine gravity field.

BackgroundUltrasound-guided percutaneous device closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (PmVSD) is a minimally invasive recent treatment approach. Perventricular PmVSD device closure is an emerging radiation-free intervention, yet it comes with certain limitations. No studies compared both of these treatment approaches.MethodsWe performed a retrospective institutional data comparison of percutaneous (PCP Group, n = 138) and perventricular (PVP Group, n = 67) ultrasound-guided device closure procedures in 205 patients with PmVSD between March 2017 and December 2022.ResultsPatients of the PCP and PVP groups had a median age of 4.9 years (IQR, 3.1–14.0) and 5.3 years (IQR, 3.4–13.1) respectively. The median PmVSD diameter in the PCP Group was 4.0 mm (IQR, 3.3–5.3) and 5.2 mm (IQR, 4.0–7.0) in the PVP Group (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference in success rates between the PCP and PVP Groups (intention-to-treat population, 88.4% vs. 92.5%, p = 0.36; as-treated population, 88.4% vs. 89.3%, p = 0.84). 5/8 failed percutaneous cases that were shifted to the perventricular approach were successful. Compared to the PVP Group, patients of the PCP group experienced a significant decrease in ventilation time, drainage volume, and postoperative hospital stay (p

Abstract Three hitherto undescribed Stemona alkaloids, named stemajapines A–C (1–3), along with six known alkaloids (4–9), were isolated and identified from the roots of Stemona japonica (Blume) Miq. (Stemonaceae). Their structures were established by the analysis of the mass data, NMR spectra, and computational chemistry. Stemjapines A and B were degraded maistemonines without spiro-lactone ring and skeletal methyl from maistemonine. Concurrence of alkaloids 1 and 2 revealed an undescribed way to form diverse Stemona alkaloids. Bioassay results disclosed the anti-inflammatory natural constituents stemjapines A and C with IC50 values of 19.7 and 13.8 µM, respectively, compared to positive control dexamethasone with 11.7 µM. The findings may point out a new direction of Stemona alkaloids inaddition to its traditional antitussive and insecticide activities.

Meniscus is a wedge-shaped fibrocartilaginous tissue, playing important roles in maintaining joint stability and function. Meniscus injuries are difficult to heal and frequently progress into structural breakdown, which then leads to osteoarthritis. Regeneration of heterogeneous tissue engineering meniscus (TEM) continues to be a scientific and translational challenge. The morphology, tissue architecture, mechanical strength, and functional applications of the cultivated TEMs have not been able to meet clinical needs, which may due to the negligent attention on the importance of microenvironment in vitro and in vivo. Herein, we combined the 3D (three-dimensional)-printed gradient porous scaffolds, spatiotemporal partition release of growth factors, and anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant microenvironment regulation of Ac2-26 peptide to prepare a versatile meniscus composite scaffold with heterogeneous bionic structures, excellent biomechanical properties and anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. By observing the results of cell activity and differentiation, and biomechanics under anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant microenvironments in vitro, we explored the effects of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant microenvironments on construction of regional and functional heterogeneous TEM via the growth process regulation, with a view to cultivating a high-quality of TEM from bench to bedside.

Wearable flexible pressure sensors are a novel class of human activity detection device. However, the preparation of pressure sensors with high sensitivity and wide sensing range still faces great challenges. This study reveals an flexible heat-resistant variable density point pressure sensing array (PSA) with ultra-wide sensing range based on Ti3C2Tx-MXene. MXene containing polar oxygen-containing functional groups coated polyester fiber fabricated the pressure sensing layer while a stainless steel wire core is used as a flexible electrode for signal collection. The signal processing device rapidly converts the mechanical signal into electrical signal output to increase the transmission speed and range. Experimental results show that the PSA can effectively sense dynamic and static pressures with high sensitivity (0.14–0.87 kPa−1 over a pressure range of 7.2 Pa–2000 kPa), a wide sensing range (0–15000 kPa), fast response time (80 ms), 10,000 cycles (2000 kPa) stability and maintains a 81.25% current response. The noval fully woven structural flexible PSA exhibited larger area, of which the weave density is varied to control resolution and the pressure mapping is referenced to each pixel point to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze shape and pressure distribution. Variable density points pressure sensor with wide sensing range and spatial pressure mappinghas promising applications in healthcare.

Abstract Backgrounds Hyperlactatemia is a common metabolic disorder after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Epinephrine use has been identified as a potential cause of increased lactate levels after cardiac surgery. Stress can lead to an increase in catecholamines, mainly epinephrine, in the body. Exogenous epinephrine causes hyperlactatemia, whereas endogenous epinephrine released by stress may have the same effect. Opioids are the most effective anesthetics to suppress the stress response in the body. The authors sought to provide evidence through a retrospective data analysis that helps investigate the relationship between intraoperative opioid dosage and postoperative lactic acidosis after cardiac surgery. Methods The clinical data of 215 patients who underwent valvular heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass from July 2016 to July 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Blood lactate levels were measured at 0.1 h, 2 h, 4 h, and 8 h after surgery. Patients with continuous increases in lactate levels and lactate levels exceeding 5 mmol/L at two or more time points were included in the lactic acidosis group, whereas the other patients were included in the control group. First, univariate correlation analysis was used to identify parameters that were significantly different between the two groups, and then multivariate regression analysis was conducted to elucidate the independent risk factors for lactic acidosis. Fifty-one pairs of patients were screened by propensity score matching analysis (PSM). Then, lactic acid levels at four time points in both groups were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. Results he EF (heart ejection fraction) (OR = 0.94, P = 0.003), aortic occlusion time (OR = 10.17, P

Moderate clothes-changing person re-identification is to find the same person from different camera scenes under the premise of considering the moderate change of clothes.The implementation of existing person re-identification methods is usually based on the assumption that the pedestrian’s clothing is invariant,so they rely on clothing-related features.Then,when the above assumptions are not valid,these methods are difficult to achieve the ideal recognition performance.Considering the important characteristic that pedestrian’s shape hardly change when the change of clothes is moderate,the moderate clothes-changing person re-identification is studied.Inspired by the binocular summation in biological vision system,a self-attention siamese network is proposed in this paper.Analogous to biological binocular information acquisition process,the network takes two types of images of the same pedestrian with different clothes as two branch inputs,and then achieves summation effect with siamese architecture.Subsequently,the contrastive learning and fusion learning of multiple features are carried out to obtain the pedestrian feature representation with identity discrimination.Finally,empirical studies show that the proposed method achieves best performance at present on clothes-changing person re-identification benchmark.

Abstract Five undescribed alkaloids were isolated from the seeds of Cephalotaxus oliveri along with 27 known ones. The new structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic data including 1D and 2D NMR, MS and calculated ECD spectra. Among them, (+)-acetylcephalofortine C was an enantiomeric Cephalotaxine alkaloids. The performed bioassay revealed that those alkaloids were not cytotoxic against cancer cells and had no neuroprotective properties in the HEI-OC-1 cells model.

Objective: In this study, we compared the enhancement of blood vessels and liver parenchyma on enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the upper abdomen with two concentrations of contrast media (400 and 300 mg I/mL) based on similar iodine delivery rate (IDR) of 0.88 and 0.9 g I/s and iodine load of 450 mg I/kg.Methods: We randomly assigned 160 patients into two groups: iomeprol 400 mg I/mL (A group) and iohexol 300 mg I/mL (B group). The CT attenuation values of the main anatomical structures in the two groups with different scanning phases were measured and the image quality of the two groups was analyzed and compared. The peak pressure and local discomfort (including fever and pain) during contrast medium injection were recorded.Results: The mean attenuation value of the abdominal aorta was 313.6 ± 29.6 in the A group and 322.4 ± 30.1 in the B group during the late arterial phase (p = 0.8). Meanwhile, the mean enhancement values of the portal vein were 176.2 ± 19.3 and 165.9 ± 24.5 in the A and B groups, respectively, during the portal venous phase (p = 0.6). The mean CT values of liver parenchyma were 117.1 ± 15.3 and 108.8 ± 18.7 in the A and B groups, respectively, during the portal venous phase (p = 0.9). There was no statistical difference in image quality, peak injection pressure (psi), and local discomfort between the two groups (p > 0.05).Conclusion: When a similar IDR and the same iodine load are used, CT images with different concentrations of contrast media have the same subjective and objective quality, and can meet the diagnostic needs.

As an important part of die steels, hot-work die steels are mainly used to manufacture molds made of solid metal or high-temperature liquid metal from heating to recrystallization temperature. In view of the requirements for mechanical properties and service life for hot-work die steel, it is conducive to improve the thermal fatigue resistance, wear resistance, and oxidation resistance of hot work die steel. In this review, the main failure modes of hot-work die steel were analyzed. Four traditional methods of strengthening and toughening die steel were summarized, including optimizing alloying elements, electroslag remelting, increasing the forging ratio, and heat treatment process enhancement. A new nano-strengthening method was introduced that aimed to refine the microstructure of hot-work abrasive steel and improve its service performance by adding nanoparticles into molten steel to achieve uniform dispersion. This review provides an overview to improve the service performance and service life of hot work die steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines pedaling asymmetry using the electromyogram (EMG) complexity of six bilateral lower limb muscles for chronic stroke survivors. Fifteen unilateral chronic stroke and twelve healthy participants joined passive and volitional recumbent pedaling tasks using a self-modified stationary bike with a constant speed of 25 revolutions per minute. The fuzzy approximate entropy (fApEn) was adopted in EMG complexity estimation. EMG complexity values of stroke participants during pedaling were smaller than those of healthy participants (p = 0.002). For chronic stroke participants, the complexity of paretic limbs was smaller than that of non-paretic limbs during the passive pedaling task (p = 0.005). Additionally, there was a significant correlation between clinical scores and the paretic EMG complexity during passive pedaling (p = 0.022, p = 0.028), indicating that the paretic EMG complexity during passive movement might serve as an indicator of stroke motor function status. This study suggests that EMG complexity is an appropriate quantitative tool for measuring neuromuscular characteristics in lower limb dynamic movement tasks for chronic stroke survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal is the main energy source in China. As flat and shallow coal seams are being depleted, adverse coal seams such as inclined and steeply inclined coal seams account for larger proportion of seams that are mined. For these coal seams, instability such as slip and tipping of mining equipment due to the large inclination is a significant challenge for the productive operation of intelligent or smart mines. Therefore, this paper serves to provide some insights into improving their stability. In this paper, research on the anti-tipping and anti-slip technology of shields is carried out on an intelligent working face with a large dip angle. A mechanical model of “support-surrounding rock” was established. Through the analysis of the influence of the self-weight of the support on its stability and through theoretical analysis and field practice, it was found that the critical tipping angle of the support in the free state is 27.8, the critical slip angle is 16, and the support is more prone to slip in the free state; the shields in the middle of the working face are the key area for stability control. Suitable technical measures are taken to ensure the stability of the supports, which provides the management and practical basis for safe and efficient mining in the intelligent working face with a large dip angle.

Highlights Ti3C2T x MXene-based coaxial zinc-ion hybrid fiber supercapacitors (FSCs) were fabricated with braided structure, which can be prepared continuously and present excellent flexibility and ultrastability. A sports watch driven by the watch belts which weaved uses the obtained zinc-ion hybrid FSC and LED arrays lighted by the FSCs under embedding into textiles, demonstrating the great potential application in smart wearable textiles. Abstract Zinc-ion hybrid fiber supercapacitors (FSCs) are promising energy storages for wearable electronics owing to their high energy density, good flexibility, and weavability. However, it is still a critical challenge to optimize the structure of the designed FSC to improve energy density and realize the continuous fabrication of super-long FSCs. Herein, we propose a braided coaxial zinc-ion hybrid FSC with several meters of Ti3C2T x MXene cathode as core electrodes, and shell zinc fiber anode was braided on the surface of the Ti3C2T x MXene fibers across the solid electrolytes. According to the simulated results using ANSYS Maxwell software, the braided structures revealed a higher capacitance compared to the spring-like structures. The resulting FSCs exhibited a high areal capacitance of 214 mF cm–2, the energy density of 42.8 μWh cm−2 at 5 mV s−1, and excellent cycling stability with 83.58% capacity retention after 5000 cycles. The coaxial FSC was tied several kinds of knots, proving a shape-controllable fiber energy storage. Furthermore, the knitted FSC showed superior stability and weavability, which can be woven into watch belts or embedded into textiles to power smart watches and LED arrays for a few days.

A total of eleven new dimeric chromanones, paecilins F-P (2–12), were isolated from the endophytic fungus Xylaria curta E10, along with four known analogs (1, 13–15). Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by extensive experimental spectroscopic methods, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and equivalent circulating density (ECD) calculations. In addition, the structure of paecilin A, which was reported to be a symmetric C8-C8′ dimeric pattern, was revised by analysis of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 showed antifungal activity against the human pathogenic fungus Candida albicans with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 16 μg/mL, and Compounds 8 and 10 showed antibacterial activity against the gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli with the same minimum inhibitory concentration of 16 μg/mL.

Abstract Background The stem cells of the stem cell banks have prominent problems for insufficient sources, easy contamination, unstable biological characteristics after serial subcultivations, and high cost. Methods After collecting the construction processes of the existing stem cell banks and suggestions from authoritative experts in the past 10 years, 230 reference principles were obtained, and finally, the principles of “5C” for the establishment of modern standardized stem cell banks were summarized, and their related applications on the management of sports injuries were reviewed as well. Results The basic principles of “5C” for the establishment of modern standardized stem cell banks include (1) principle of informed consent, (2) confidentiality principle, (3) conformity principle, (4) contamination-free principle, and (5) commonweal principle. The applications of stem cells on repairs, reconstructions, and regenerations of sports injuries were also reviewed, especially in tissue-engineered cartilage, tissue-engineered meniscus, and tissue-engineered ligament. Conclusions The proposal of the basic principles of “5C” is conducive to relevant stem cell researchers and clinical medical experts to build modern stem cell banks in a more standardized and efficient manner while avoiding some major mistakes or problems that may occur in the future. On this basis, stem cells from stem cell banks would be increasingly used in the management of sports injuries. More importantly, these days, getting stem cell samples are difficult in a short time, and such banks with proper legal consent may help the scientific community.

Abstract. Background:. Mastectomy techniques have been extended to nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM). This study aimed to assess the actual application of NSM in China and identify the factors influencing postoperative complications. Methods:. The clinical data of 615 patients (641 surgeries) undergoing NSM from January 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2018 at 28 centers nationwide were retrospectively analyzed to obtain the rate of NSM and investigate factors related to NSM surgery. Results:. The proportion of NSM surgery performed in this study was 2.67% (17/641). Malignant breast tumors accounted for the majority of NSM surgery (559/641, 87.2%). A total of 475 (77.3%) patients underwent NSM combined with reconstructive surgery. The rate of reconstruction decreased with age in our study, and implants were the most common option (344/641, 53.7%) in reconstruction. Radial incision was the most selected method regardless of reconstruction. However, for those who underwent reconstruction surgery, 18.4% (85/462) of cases also chose curvilinear incision, while in the simple NSM surgery group, more patients chose circumareolar incision (26/136, 19.1%). The tumor-to-nipple distance (TND) influenced postoperative complications (P = 0.004). There were no relationships between postoperative complications and tumor size, tumor location, histologic grade, molecular subtype, nipple discharge, and axillary lymph nodes. Conclusions:. NSM surgery is feasible and only TND influenced postoperative complications of NSM surgery. But the proportion of NSM surgery performed is still low in nationwide centers of China. The selection criteria for appropriate surgical methods are important for NSM in clinical practice. To optimize clinical applications of NSM, further multicenter prospective randomized controlled studies are needed. Trial Registration:. ChiCTR.org.cn, ChiCTR1900027423; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=38739

Illite is a widely distributed clay mineral with huge reserves in Earth’s crust, but its effect on heavy oil biodegradation is rarely reported. This study made an investigation of the interactions between illite and a Pseudomonas stutzeri-heavy oil complex (PstHO). Results showed that, although illite exerted a negative effect on P. stutzeri degrading heavy oil by inhibiting the biodegradation of 64 saturated hydrocarbons (SHs) and 50 aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs), it selectively stimulated the biodegradation of 45 AHs with a specific structure, and its biogenic kaolinization at room temperature (35 °C) and pressure (1 atm) was observed in PstHO for the first time. The finding points out for the first time that, in PstHO, illite may change the quasi-sequential of AHs biodegradation of heavy oil, as well as its kaolinization without clay intermediate.

Most of the images encountered in daily life are color images, yet grayscale remains prevalent in many fields due to its reduced data size and simplified operations. When reducing the dimensions of a three-channel color image to a single-channel grayscale, a portion of the original color information is inevitably lost. To yield high-quality grayscale images, this study introduces a color-to-gray conversion method based on chroma difference. This method defines a novel color distance metric for color-to-grayscale conversion, incorporating pixel chromaticity differences alongside brightness variations. The discrepancy in gray pixel values in the output grayscale image effectively mirrors the overall differences among input color image pixels. Optimization is conducted using the conjugate gradient method, ensuring appropriate reflection of luminance information from the input image and chromaticity data from the original color image within the grayscale rendering. Experimental validation confirms the efficacy of this approach. However, as the method accounts for all pixel pairs, it occasionally considers unnecessary pairs, leading to potential distortion in color differences between pixels and consequent inadequacies in chromaticity variation. To address this issue, a weighting factor is introduced, prioritizing color combinations with similar color differences. Experimental findings demonstrate that grayscale images produced using the proposed method outperform those generated by alternative approaches in preserving color differentials and retaining detailed features of the original image. The resulting output exhibits clear and natural outlines, as supported by both subjective and objective assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 45 alkylbenzenes were detected and identified in crude oils with different depositional environments and thermal maturities from the Tarim Basin, Beibuwan Basin, and Songliao Basin using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC x GCTOFMS). By analyzing the distribution characteristics of C0eC5 alkylbenzenes, it is found that the content of some alkylbenzenes varies greatly in crude oils. Based on the distribution characteristics of 1,2,4,5- tetramethylbenzene (TeMB) and 1,2,3,4-TeMB, the ratio of 1,2,4,5-TeMB to 1,2,3,4-TeMB is proposed to indicate the organic matter origin and depositional environment of ancient sediments. Oil samples originated mainly from lower hydrobiont, algae, bacteria and source rocks deposited under reducing/ anoxic conditions have low 1,2,4,5-/1,2,3,4-TeMB values (less than 0.6), while oil samples originated mainly from terrestrial higher plants and source rocks deposited under oxic/sub-oxic conditions have higher 1,2,4,5-/1,2,3,4-TeMB values (greater than 1.0). The significant difference of 1,2,4,5-/1,2,3,4-TeMB values is controlled by 1,2,4,5-TeMB content. 1,2,4,5-TeMB content in oils derived from source rocks deposited in oxidized sedimentary environment (greater than 1.0 mg/g whole oil) is higher than that in oils from source rocks deposited in reduced sedimentary environment (less than 1.0 mg/g whole oil). 1,2,4,5-/1,2,3,4-TeMB ratio might not or slightly be affected by evaporative fractionation, biodegradation and thermal maturity. 1,2,4,5-/1,2,3,4-TeMB ratio and 1,2,4,5-TeMB content can be used as supplementary parameter for the identification of sedimentary environment and organic matter input. It should be noted that compared to the identification of organic matter sources, the 1,2,4,5-/1,2,3,4-TeMB parameter is more effective in identifying sedimentary environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Since the meniscus is an important stabilizing structure of the knee joint and has a significant role in load‐bearing and shock absorption, so the complete structural and functional reconstructions of the teared menisci should be done not only after partial meniscectomy but also post total meniscectomy. So far, animal experiments and good clinical practice have showed that TMAT after total meniscectomy has partially solved the problem of structural and functional reconstructions after total meniscectomy. However, partial meniscectomy will also lead to accelerated knee degeneration, and its proportion is much higher than that of patients with total meniscectomy. Herein, the feasibility of PMAT after partial meniscectomy was investigated for the first time by using the 40% posterior horn meniscectomy model of the medial meniscus in Beagle dogs, and also for the first time, TMAT group and the total meniscectomy group were used as control groups. Compared with the TMAT, the transcriptomics evaluation, scanning electron microscope observation, histological regeneration and structure, biomechanical property, inflammation environment, and the knee function post PMAT were more similar to that of normal meniscus was first reported. This study provides a PMAT scheme with clinical translational value for the complete structural and functional reconstruction of the patients with partial meniscectomy and fills the gap in the field of teared meniscus therapy on the basis of quite well clinical applications of the meniscus repair and the TMAT.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified to be involved in half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) reproduction. However, studies of their roles in reproduction have focused mainly on the ovary, and their expression patterns and potential roles in the brain and pituitary are unclear. Thus, to explore the mRNAs and lncRNAs that are closely associated with reproduction in the brain and pituitary, we collected tongue sole brain and pituitary tissues at three stages for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), the 5,135 and 5,630 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs and 378 and 532 DE lncRNAs were identified in the brain and pituitary, respectively. The RNA-seq results were verified by RT-qPCR. Moreover, enrichment analyses were performed to analyze the functions of DE mRNAs and lncRNAs. Interestingly, their involvement in pathways related to metabolism, signal transduction and endocrine signaling was revealed. LncRNA-target gene interaction networks were constructed based on antisense, cis and trans regulatory mechanisms. Moreover, we constructed competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. In summary, this study provides mRNA and lncRNA expression profiles in the brain and pituitary to understand the molecular mechanisms regulating tongue sole reproduction.

There is a previously neglected influence of geochemical conditions on plant phytochemistry. In particular, high concentrations of dissolved salts can affect their biosynthesis of natural products. Detoxification is most likely an important aspect for the plant, but additional natural products can also give it an expanded range of bioactivities. During the phytochemical analysis a Palicourea luxurians plant collected in a sulfate-rich environment (near the Río Sucio, Costa Rica) showed an interesting natural product in this regard. The structure of this compound was determined using spectroscopic and computational methods (NMR, MS, UV, IR, CD, optical rotation, quantum chemical calculations) and resulted in a megastigmane sulfate ester possessing a β-ionone core structure, namely blumenol C sulfate (1, C13H22O5S). The levels of sulfur and sulfate ions in the leaves of the plant were determined using elemental analysis and compared to the corresponding levels in comparable plant leaves from a less sulfate-rich environments. The analyses show the leaves from which we isolated blumenol C sulfate (1) to contain 35% more sulfur and 80% more sulfate than the other samples. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of compound 1 were tested against Escherichia coli, E. coli ampR and Bacillus subtilis as well as measured using complementary in vitro FRAP and ATBS assays, respectively. These bioactivities are comparable to those determined for structurally related megastigmanes. The sulfur and sulfate content of the plant leaves from the sulfate-rich environment was significantly higher than that of the other plants. Against this background of salt stress, we discuss a possible biosynthesis of blumenol C sulfate (1). Furthermore, there appears to be no benefit for the plant in terms of extended bioactivities. Hence, the formation of blumenol C sulfate (1) probably primarily serves the plant detoxification process.

The lack of biomarkers greatly limits the diagnosis and treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Endogenous L-carnitine (LC) and its derivative acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) play antidepressant roles by improving brain energy metabolism, regulating neurotransmitters and neural plasticity. The levels of ALC in people and rodents with depression are significantly reduced. It is necessary to determine whether serum LC and ALC might be used as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of MDD. Here, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was used to determine the concentration of LC and ALC in the serum of healthy controls and patients with MDD; among the latter, in patients who were responsive (effective group) and non-responsive (ineffective group) after 2 weeks of treatment. The diagnostic value of serum LC and ALC for MDD was assessed. Compared with healthy controls, the serum LC and ALC concentrations in patients with MDD were significantly decreased (P < 0.001). Pearson correlation analysis shows that the HDRS-24 score was negatively associated with serum ALC (r = −0.325, P = 0.007). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.801 with 83.1% sensitivity and 66.3% specificity for LC, and an AUC of 0.898 with 88.8% sensitivity and 76.4% specificity for ALC, differentiating patients with MDD from healthy controls. Furthermore, the concentration of LC and ALC in patients with depression was significantly increased in the effective treatment group, and no significant change was observed in the ineffective treatment group. These results suggest that serum LC and ALC may be novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of MDD.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be involved in multiple biological processes. However, the roles of lncRNAs in the reproduction of half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) are unclear, especially in the molecular regulatory mechanism driving ovarian development and ovulation. Thus, to explore the mRNA and lncRNA mechanisms regulating reproduction, we collected tongue sole ovaries in three stages for RNA sequencing. In stage IV vs. V, we identified 312 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs and 58 DE lncRNAs. In stage V vs. VI, we identified 1,059 DE mRNAs and 187 DE lncRNAs. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses showed that DE mRNAs were enriched in ECM-receptor interaction, oocyte meiosis and steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways. Furthermore, we carried out gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) to identify potential reproduction related-pathways additionally, such as fatty metabolism and retinol metabolism. Based on enrichment analysis, DE mRNAs with a potential role in reproduction were selected and classified into six categories, including signal transduction, cell growth and death, immune response, metabolism, transport and catabolism, and cell junction. The interactions of DE lncRNAs and mRNAs were predicted according to antisense, cis-, and trans-regulatory mechanisms. We constructed a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. Several lncRNAs were predicted to regulate genes related to reproduction including cyp17a1, cyp19a1, mmp14, pgr, and hsd17b1. The functional enrichment analysis of these target genes of lncRNAs revealed that they were involved in several signaling pathways, such as the TGF-beta, Wnt signaling, and MAPK signaling pathways and reproduction related-pathways such as the progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, oocyte meiosis, and GnRH signaling pathway. RT-qPCR analysis showed that two lncRNAs (XR_522278.2 and XR_522171.2) were mainly expressed in the ovary. Dual-fluorescence in situ hybridization experiments showed that both XR_522278.2 and XR_522171.2 colocalized with their target genes cyp17a1 and cyp19a1, respectively, in the follicular cell layer. The results further demonstrated that lncRNAs might be involved in the biological processes by modulating gene expression. Taken together, this study provides lncRNA profiles in the ovary of tongue sole and further insight into the role of lncRNA involvement in regulating reproduction in tongue sole.

Colorectal cancer is a common malignancy with the third highest incidence and second highest mortality rate among all cancers in the world. Chemotherapy resistance in colorectal cancer is an essential factor leading to the high mortality rate. The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) confers multidrug resistance (MDR) to a range of chemotherapeutic agents by decreasing their intracellular content. The development of novel ABCG2 inhibitors has emerged as a tractable strategy to circumvent drug resistance. In this study, an ABCG2-knockout colorectal cancer cell line was established to assist inhibitor screening. Additionally, we found that ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase inhibitor AZ32 could sensitize ABCG2-overexpressing colorectal cancer cells to ABCG2 substrate chemotherapeutic drugs mitoxantrone and doxorubicin by retaining them inside cells. Western blot assay showed that AZ32 did not alter the expression of ABCG2. Moreover, molecule docking analysis predicted that AZ32 stably located in the transmembrane domain of ABCG2. In conclusion, our result demonstrated that AZ32 could potently reverse ABCG2-mediated MDR in colorectal cancer.

Four series of total 35 new pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidine compounds were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory activity against LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Among them, compound 4e was found to be the most potent inhibitor, which decreased the production of cytokines in vitro, such as NO, IL-6 and TNF-α, with IC50 values of 2.64, 4.38 and 5.63 μM, respectively. Further studies showed that compound 4e inhibited cytokines secretion of macrophages through suppressing TLR4/p38 signaling pathway. Additionally, compound 4e showed in vivo anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-induced model of acute lung injury. These data suggested that compound 4e may be a promising lead structure for the treatment of ALI.

Three new species of the genus Zodarion Walckenaer, 1826, from China, are described as Zodarion apertum sp. n. (♂♀, from Xinjiang), Z. planum sp. n. (♂, from Shaanxi), and Z. ovatum sp. n. (♂♀, from Yunnan).

Four new eremophilane-type sesquiterpenes, boeremialanes A–D (1–4) were obtained from solid substrate cultures of Boeremia exigua (Didymellaceae), an endophytic fungus isolated from Fritillaria hupehensis (Liliaceae). Boeremialanes A–C (1–3) are highly oxygenated eremophilanes with a benzoate unit attached at the C-13 position and are rarely found in nature. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by extensive spectroscopic methods, electronic circular dichroism (ECD), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) calculations with DP4+ analysis. Boeremialane D (4) potently inhibited nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW264.7 macrophages with an IC50 of 8.62 μM and was more potent than the positive control, pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (IC50 = 23.1 μM).

Three new species of the genus Asceua Thorell, 1887, from the natural forests of Malaysia, are described as Asceua bifurca sp. n. (♂♀), A. curva sp. n. (♂), and A. trimaculata sp. n. (♀). The genus Asceua is reported from Malaysia for the first time.

Human endometrial stem cells (hEnSCs), dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) and adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hADSCs) are considered to be the promising candidates for the treatment of pancreas diseases. The prognosis is better with in situ injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to the damaged pancreas compared with intravenous injection. However, the clinical application of these cells are limited, due to poor engraftment of transplanted cells after delivery. On the other hand, understanding the role of the biomaterials in cell therapy is essential to promote the therapeutic effects of MSCs. Matrigel, a basement membrane matrix biomaterial, is rich in laminin and collagen IV. The aim of this study is to investigate the difference of biological characteristics of hEnSCs, hDPSCs and hADSCs in vitro and their survival situation with Matrigel post intrapancreatic transplantation in vivo. Our findings showed, firstly, there was no significant difference in morphology and immunophenotype of these MSCs. Secondly, the biological properties, including cell proliferation, the ability of adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation and the mRNA expression levels of pancreas development-related genes, have been showed distinct difference among these MSCs. Thirdly, Matrigel can improve the survival of MSCs in vivo, especially for Matrigel-based hDPSCs and Matrigel-based hEnSCs in pancreas parenchyma of SD rats. These results suggest that hDPSCs and hEnSCs are with the greater inherent therapeutic potential for pancreas diseases compared with hADSCs.

BackgroundPeripheral blood (PB) is a potential source of chondrogenic progenitor cells that can be used for cartilage repair and regeneration. However, the cell types, isolation and implantation methods, seeding dosage, ultimate therapeutic effect, and in vivo safety remain unclear.MethodsPubMed, Embase, and the Web of Science databases were systematically searched for relevant reports published from January 1990 to December 2019. Original articles that used PB as a source of stem cells to repair cartilage in vivo were selected for analysis.ResultsA total of 18 studies were included. Eight human studies used autologous nonculture-expanded PB-derived stem cells (PBSCs) as seed cells with the blood cell separation isolation method, and 10 animal studies used autologous, allogenic or xenogeneic culture-expanded PB-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PB-MSCs), or nonculture-expanded PBSCs as seed cells. Four human and three animal studies surgically implanted cells, while the remaining studies implanted cells by single or repeated intra-articular injections. 121 of 130 patients (in 8 human clinical studies), and 230 of 278 animals (in 6 veterinary clinical studies) using PBSCs for cartilage repair achieved significant clinical improvement. All reviewed articles indicated that using PB as a source of seed cells enhances cartilage repair in vivo without serious adverse events.ConclusionAutologous nonculture-expanded PBSCs are currently the most commonly used cells among all stem cell types derived from PB. Allogeneic, autologous, and xenogeneic PB-MSCs are more widely used in animal studies and are potential seed cell types for future applications. Improving the mobilization and purification technology, and shortening the culture cycle of culture-expanded PB-MSCs will obviously promote the researchers' interest. The use of PBSCs for cartilage repair and regeneration in vivo are safe. PBSCs considerably warrant further investigations due to their superiority and safety in clinical settings and positive effects despite limited evidence in humans.

Osteochondral damage from trauma or osteoarthritis is a general joint disease that can lead to an increased social and economic burden in the modern society. The inefficiency of osteochondral defects is mainly due to the absence of suitable tissue-engineered substrates promoting tissue regeneration and replacing damaged areas. The hydrogels are becoming a promising kind of biomaterials for tissue regeneration. The biomimetic hydrogel microenvironment can be tightly controlled by modulating a number of biophysical and biochemical properties, including matrix mechanics, degradation, microstructure, cell adhesion, and intercellular interactions. In particular, advances in stem cell-laden hydrogels have offered new ideas for the cell therapy and osteochondral repair. Herein, the aim of this review is to underpin the importance of stem cell-laden hydrogels on promoting the development of osteochondral regeneration, especially in the field of manipulation of biomimetic microenvironment and utilization growth factors with various delivery methods.

Coastal waters are polluted by heavy metals to varying degrees, posing potential risks to marine ecology and human health. In May 2006, the pollution levels, sources, and ecological risks of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Hg, and As) in seawater, surface sediments, and living organisms were studied in Jiuzhen Bay in Fujian, China. This study identified Hg (0.26–0.72 µg/L) and As (20.3–31.5 µg/L) pollution in the seawater of Jiuzhen Bay. In sediments, heavy Pb pollution (946 µg/g dw) was only detected at one station at a level posing very serious potential risk, while Hg pollution (0.052–0.087 µg/g dw) was observed at three stations at a level posing serious potential risk. No heavy metal pollution was detected in sediments at other stations. The concentrations of five heavy metals (Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) exceeded the corresponding National Quality Standards for oysters, indicating heavy pollution, based on an ecological risk assessment. In clams, two heavy metals (Pb and As) exceeded the standards, indicating light pollution, based on an ecological risk assessment. No heavy metal pollution was found in fish or shrimps. The heavy metals in the seawater and sediments of Jiuzhen Bay are mainly derived from the river discharges of Luxi and Wujiang Rivers although sewage discharge along the coast of Jiuzhen Bay is another source of heavy metal pollution at some stations. Given the pollution of Pb, Hg, and As in seawater and sediments at some stations within the bay, the potential risks of Pb, Hg, and As in living organisms to both the marine ecology and human health deserve increased attention.

Abstract Three new monoterpene indole alkaloids, 3α-hydroxymethyl-ibogamine (1), 3α-acetatemethoxyl-ibogamine (2), 16α-hydroxyl-ibogamine (3) together with six known alkaloids were isolated from the branches and leaves of Tabernaemontana divaricata (Apocynaceae). The structures of these alkaloids were determined by spectroscopic analyses. All isolated compounds showed no significant cytotoxicity against SGC-7901 gastric cancer, HeLa, and A-549 lung cancer cell lines (IC50 > 20 µM). Graphical Abstract

CircRNAs are novel endogenous non-coding small RNAs involved in the regulation of multiple biological processes. However, little is known regarding circRNAs in ovarian development and maturation of fish. Our study, for the first time, provides the genome-wide overview of the types and relative abundances of circRNAs in tongue sole tissues during three ovarian developmental stages. We detected 6790 circRNAs in the brain, 5712 in the pituitary gland, 4937 in the ovary and 4160 in the liver. Some circRNAs exhibit tissue-specific expression, and qRT-PCR largely confirmed 6 differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs. Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway analyses of DE mRNAs were performed. Some DE circRNA parental genes were closely associated with biological processes in key signalling pathways and may play essential roles in ovarian development and maturation. We found that the selected circRNAs were involved in 10 pathways. RNase R digestion experiment and Sanger sequencing verified that the circRNA had a ring structure and was RNase R resistant. qRT-PCR results largely confirmed differential circRNA expression patterns from the RNA-seq data. These findings indicate that circRNAs are widespread in terms of present in production-related tissues of tongue sole with potentially important regulatory roles in ovarian development and maturation.