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Copyright of Journal of Zhejiang University: Science B is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Chronic stress triggers activation of the sympathetic nervous system and drives malignancy. Using an immunodeficient murine system, we showed that chronic stress-induced epinephrine promoted breast cancer stem-like properties via lactate dehydrogenase A-dependent (LDHA-dependent) metabolic rewiring. Chronic stress- induced epinephrine activated LDHA to generate lactate, and the adjusted pH directed USP28-mediated deubiquitination and stabilization of MYC. The SLUG promoter was then activated by MYC, which promoted development of breast cancer stem-like traits. Using a drug screen that targeted LDHA, we found that a chronic stress-induced cancer stem-like phenotype could be reversed by vitamin C. These findings demonstrated the critical importance of psychological factors in promoting stem-like properties in breast cancer cells. Thus, the LDHA-lowering agent vitamin C can be a potential approach for combating stress-associated breast cancer., Introduction Patients suffering from cancer often experience a variety of chronic emotional stressors (1), including depression, anxiety, and fear (2, 3). These serve as risk factors by facilitating tumor growth [...]

The electrophysiological function of the tongue involves complicated activities in taste sense, producing the perceptions of salty, sweet, bitter, and sour. However, therapies and prevention of taste loss arising from dysfunction in electrophysiological activity require further fundamental research. Optogenetics has revolutionized neuroscience and brought the study of sensory system to a higher level in taste. The year 2022 marks a decade of developments of optogenetics in taste since this technology was adopted from neuroscience and applied to the taste research. This review summarizes a decade of advances that define near‐term translation with optogenetic tools, and newly‐discovered mechanisms with the applications of these tools. The main limitations and opportunities for optogenetics in taste research are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the accuracy of autonomous robotic and fully guided static computer‐assisted implant surgery (sCAIS) performed on models and patients. Materials and Methods: This study was divided into in vitro and in vivo sections. In vitro, 80 operators were assigned to two groups randomly. Forty operators performed forty autonomous robotic implant (ARI group) surgeries and the remaining forty operators carried out forty fully guided sCAIS (FGI group) surgeries on maxillary models, respectively. Each operator placed an implant in one maxillary model. In vivo, 60 patients with 113 implants from 2019 to 2023 (ARI group: 32 patients, 58 implants; FGI group: 28 patients, 55 implants) receiving implant surgeries were incorporated in this retrospective research. The preoperative and postoperative cone beam computer tomographs (CBCTs) were utilized to estimate the linear deviations and angular deviations in two‐dimensional (2D) and three‐dimensional (3D) space. The Pearson's chi‐square test, Shapiro–Wilk test, Student's t test, Mann–Whitney U test and mixed models were applied, and p <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In vitro, a total of 80 implants were enrolled and significant differences were found between the two groups (p < 0.001): The 3D deviation at the platform of ARI and FGI group was 0.58 ± 0.60 mm and 1.50 ± 1.46 mm, respectively, at the apex was 0.58 ± 0.60 mm and 1.78 ± 1.35 mm, respectively, and angle was 1.01 ± 0.87° and 2.93 ± 1.59°, respectively. Also, except for mesiodistal deviation at the implant platform, the rest linear and angular deviations in the ARI group were significantly lower than those in the FGI group in 2D space (p < 0.001). In vivo, a significantly lower mean of angular deviation (0.95 ± 0.50°, p < 0.001) and the linear deviation at both platform (0.45 ± 0.28 mm, p < 0.001) and apex (0.47 ± 0.28 mm, p < 0.001) were observed in ARI group when compared to the FGI group (4.31 ± 2.60°; 1.45 ± 1.27 mm; 1.77 ± 1.14 mm). Conclusions: The use of autonomous robotic technology showed significantly higher accuracy than the fully guided sCAIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to provide an accurate finite element (FE) modeling method for structural vibration serviceability evaluation of the suspended floor under human-induced excitation. The fundamental dynamic characteristics and human-induced vibration responses of a typical suspended floor were first measured via a series of field tests. Subsequently, the overall and local equivalent FE models of the suspended floor were respectively established, and their applicability was then verified by comparing the predicted dynamic characteristics and responses of the suspended floor with the corresponding field test results. Finally, passive tuned mass dampers (TMDs) were designed for vibration control of the suspended floor using the local equivalent FE model, and the applicability of the local FE model in assessing the vibration serviceability of the suspended floor with TMDs was further confirmed via pedestrian-induced vibration tests. Results demonstrate that the simplified local equivalent FE model proposed in this study can well replace the complicated overall FE model to evaluate the vibration serviceability of the suspended floor with and without TMDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly epidemic metabolic disease with complex pathogenesis. Multi-target therapy may be an effective strategy for NAFLD treatment, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) characterized by multi-ingredients and multi-targets has unique advantages in long-term clinical practice. Zexie–Baizhu (ZXBZ) decoction is a Chinese classical formula to treat body fluid disorders initially. Although many bioactive monomers from Zexie and Baizhu had been discovered to improve lipid disorders, limited research studies were focused on the aqueous decoction of ZXBZ, the original clinical formulation. In the current study, we identified 94% chemical composition of ZXBZ decoction and first discovered its hepaprotective effect in a gubra-amylin NASH (GAN) diet-induced NAFLD mouse model. Based on metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses, we speculated that lipid and glucose metabolisms might be regulated by ZXBZ decoction, which was further confirmed by improved dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis in ZXBZ groups. Consistently with cross-omics analysis, we discovered ZXBZ decoction could influence two energy sensors, Sirt1 and AMPK, and subsequently affect related proteins involved in lipid biosynthesis, catabolism, and transport. In conclusion, ZXBZ decoction regulated energy sensors, consequently impeded lipogenesis, and promoted fatty acid oxidation (FAO) to alleviate lipid disorders and protect the liver in NAFLD models, which suggested ZXBZ decoction might be a promising treatment for NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Modern Food Science & Technology is the property of Editorial Office of Modern Food Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We systematically investigated the modulation effects of substrates on the ferromagnetism properties of Fe3GeTe2 experimentally and theoretically. The polar refractive magnetic circular dichroism results demonstrate that the ferromagnetism could be modulated significantly by selecting different substrates. We explain this phenomenon using the first-principles calculation, revealing that it was induced by the lattice distortion and charge redistribution between the interfaces. Our work is useful to understand the fundamental mechanism of tunable ferromagnetism and paves the way for exploring interface physics and practical spintronic applications of two-dimensional ferromagnetic van der Waals crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liquid biopsy is being integrated into cancer diagnostics and surveillance. However, critical questions still remain, such as how to precisely evaluate cancer mutation burden and interpret the corresponding clinical implications. Herein, we evaluated the role of peripheral blood cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) in characterizing the dynamic mutation alterations of 48 cancer driver genes from cervical cancer patients. We performed targeted deep sequencing on 93 plasma cfDNA from 57 cervical cancer patients and from this developed an algorithm, allele fraction deviation (AFD), to monitor in an unbiased manner the dynamic changes of genomic aberrations. Differing treatments, including chemotherapy (n = 22), radiotherapy (n = 14) and surgery (n = 15), led to a significant decrease in AFD values (Wilcoxon, p = 0.029). The decrease of cfDNA AFD values was accompanied by shrinkage in the size of the tumor in most patients. However, in a subgroup of patients where cfDNA AFD values did not reflect a reduction in tumor size, there was a detection of progressive disease (metastasis). Furthermore, a low AFD value at diagnosis followed a later increase of AFD value also successfully predicted relapse. These results show that plasma cfDNA, together with targeted deep sequencing, may help predict treatment response and disease development in cervical cancer. What's new? Liquid biopsy is increasingly being integrated into cancer diagnostics and surveillance. However, critical questions still remain, such as how to precisely evaluate cancer mutation burden and infer clinical implications. Here, the authors develop a new algorithm that evaluates in an unbiased manner the mutation deviation of every single site in the target regions covered by a cancer panel, including the sites that usually fail to pass the single nucleotide variations (SNV)‐calling criteria of most algorithms. By analyzing 93 cervical cancer samples, they demonstrate that this algorithm is able to efficiently monitor patient response to treatment and prognosticate tumor progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal community structure in tree roots and in surrounding soils is constrained significantly by plant phylogenetic relationships among multiple species. However, whether plant phylogenetic relationships within a single species can mediate fungal community structure has not been investigated. Here, we surveyed ectomycorrhizal (EcM) and saprotrophic (SAP) fungal community structure in fine roots and in neighboring soils of Betula ermanii along the Changbai Mountain timberline. When accounting for the effects of soil properties, root traits, and geographic distance, within-species plant phylogeny was the sole driver of EcM fungal community composition in roots, whereas geographic distance was the strongest driver of SAP fungal community composition in soils and roots. Deterministic processes were dominant in root EcM fungal community assembly, and stochastic processes were dominant in SAP fungal community assembly. Overall, the findings demonstrate that within-species plant phylogeny drives EcM fungal community composition in roots, and fungal community assembly is both guild- and habitat-dependent. • Within-species plant phylogeny drove root ectomycorrhizal fungal community composition. • Geographic distance primarily affected saprotrophic fungal community composition. • Deterministic processes dominated root ectomycorrhizal fungal community assembly. • Stochastic processes dominated saprotrophic fungal community assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural products are some of the most important sources of lead compounds for drug discovery. It is an effective way to isolate some lead compounds from complex multiconstituent extracts by combining some advanced isolation techniques with therapeutically relevant bioassays. Smilax china L. exhibits important pharmacological property of anti-chronic pelvic inflammation disease (CPID). With the bioassay guiding in induced CPID rats, high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was applied to separate and purify some bioactive compounds from the effective solvent extract of the Smilax china L. with the optimized solvent system of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water(1:10:1:10, v/v/v/v). 4 mg epicatechin and 10 mg catechin-[8,7-e]-4 β-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-dihydro-2(3H)-pyranone were successfully obtained from 300 mg of crude sample with purity of 98.5 and 95.6 %, respectively. The anti-inflammation of the separated compounds was also studied by MTT assay. The results showed that HSCCC method was successful for the separation of the flavanols from Smilax china L. and suggested catechin-[8,7-e]-4β-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-dihydro-2(3H)-pyranone be one potential compound for the anti-inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoids are the main chemical constituents ofSmilax chinaL. and thought to be responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity ofSmilax chinaL. In this study, a suitable HSCCC method was developed to separate the three main flavonoids in a one-separation from the anti-chronic pelvic inflammation disease (CPID) effective fraction ofSmilax chinaL. with a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (1:10:1:10, v/v/v/v). 42 milligrams of astilbin, 10 mg neoisoastilbin, and 6 mg quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside were separated from 200 mg of the anti-CPID effective fraction ofSmilax chinaL. with purity of 98.3%, 98.7%, 98.5%, respectively, by HPLC analysis. Orthogonal test L9(34) was also applied to investigate the optimum extracting conditions of the three flavonoids. HSCCC was successfully used for the isolation and purification of the three flavonoids from the anti-CPID effective fraction ofSmilax chinaL. and the neoisoastilbin was first separated fromSmilax chinaL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) thermal response in space vacuum thermal environment. The FBGs were packaged with 6061-T6 aluminum. The liquid nitrogen immersion experiment results show that its wavelength shift standard deviation is 0.76 pm for 217 h. The combination effect of vacuum and cryogenic temperature was studied by thermal cycling process in space environment simulator. The FBG sensors show accuracy better than 2% full scale, and the hysteresis errors are below 1%. It proves that these metal packaged FBG sensors can survive and meet the requirement of space measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ultrasonication was applied to the thawing process of bighead carp. • Differences of thawing methods on quality of slow/fast frozen bighead carp were compared. • Shorten thawing time by ultrasound was observed. • Fast frozen samples lost massive water after water immersion or ultrasonic thawing. • Freezing-thawing cycles did not affect the primary protein structure of fish samples. Effects of ultrasound-assisted thawing (UAT), air thawing (AT) and water immersion thawing (WIT) on the quality of slow freezing (SF)/fast freezing (FF) bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) fillets were investigated. The thawing time of AT, WIT and UAT were 138, 30 and 12 min, respectively, indicating that UAT improved the thawing efficiency. UAT maintained the color and pH, and inhibited the lipid oxidation of SF/FF samples. For SF samples, thawing methods did not affect water retention and muscle structure. However, massive water loss and muscle destruction were observed in FF-WIT and FF-UAT samples. The AT did not produce any structural muscle damage; instead, it maintained the water retention in FF samples and prevented the FF fish fillets from massive water loss. No significant difference in the primary protein structure was observed among all samples. UAT can be an alternative strategy to the traditional thawing of SF fish fillets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smilax china L. has been used clinically to treat various inflammatory disorders with a long history. To investigate the mechanisms underlying anti-inflammatory action of the extract from the herb. The extract was identified and quantified using the Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Photo Diode Array-Mass Spectrometer method. The anti-inflammatory activities were examined in xylene-induced mouse ear edema and cotton ball-induced rat granuloma. The inflammatory mediators, pro-inflammatory cytokines and TLR-4-mediated signals in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages were determined using ELISA, real-time PCR, Western blot and/or immunofluorescence, respectively. The extract was found to enrich flavonoids (44.3%, mainly astilbin, engeletin, isoastilbin, cinchonain Ia, quercetin-3-O-a-L-rhamnopyranoside and chlorogenic acid). The flavonoid-enriched extract (FEE) inhibited xylene-induced mouse ear edema and cotton ball-induced rat granuloma, and suppressed LPS-induced over-release and/or overexpression of tumor necrosis factor-α, cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 in RAW264.7 macrophages. Mechanistically, FEE suppressed protein overexpression of TLR-4 and its downstream signals, MyD88 protein, phosphorylated inhibitory κB-α, NF-κB-P65 and MAPK p38, as well as phosphorylation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) p85α at Tyr607 and Akt at Ser473 in LPS-stimulated macrophages. The mode of the anti-inflammatory action of FEE was similar to that of TAK-242 (a selective TLR-4 inhibitor). The present results demonstrate that FEE inhibit inflammatory responses via the TLR-4-mediated signaling pathway. Our findings go a new insight into the mechanisms underlying anti-inflammatory action of the herb, and provide a better understanding of its use for inflammatory diseases. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]