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Highlights Both higher tumor staging and positive lymph node status were associated with a worse cancer-specific survival in patients with post-transplant de novo UTUC. Aristolochic acid was associated with multifocality of tumors and higher incidence of contralateral upper tract recurrence. Prophylactic contralateral resection was suggested for post-transplant UTUC, especially for patients with aristolochic acid exposure.

Temperate forest soil warming (>14 years) increased soil phosphorus (P) losses and P sorption, reducing bioavailable P in soil solution and resulting in higher acid phosphatase activity but lower biotic phosphate immobilization and microbial biomass.

PURPOSETo retrospectively analyze the effectiveness and safety of computed tomography (CT)-guided microcoil localization for scapula-blocked pulmonary nodules using penetrating lung puncture prior to video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).METHODSOne hundred thirty-eight patients with 138 pulmonary nodules were included in this single-center retrospective study. Among them, 110 patients who underwent CT-guided microcoil localization using the routine puncture technique formed the routine group; the other 28 patients who underwent the CT-guided microcoil localization using the penetrating lung puncture technique formed the penetrating lung group. The main outcomes were the success rate and complication rate of the two groups.RESULTSThe localization success rate was 95.5% (105/110) in the routine group and 89.3% (25/28) in the penetrating lung group (P = 0.205). There was no statistical difference in any of the complications (pneumothorax, intrapulmonary hemorrhage, or moderate and severe chest pain) in both groups (P = 0.178, P = 0.204, P = 0.709, respectively). Localization procedure time was significantly increased in the penetrating lung group compared with the routine group (31.0 ± 3.0 min vs. 21.2 ± 2.8 min, P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONCT-guided microcoil localization for scapula-blocked pulmonary nodules using penetrating lung puncture prior to VATS resection is effective and safe. However, the deployment of the microcoil using penetrating lung puncture required more time than the routine puncture method.

Abstract Objective The conventional breast Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was subtly influenced by microcirculation owing to the insufficient selection of the b values. However, the multiparameter derived from multiple b-value exhibits more reliable image quality and maximize the diagnostic accuracy. We aim to evaluate the diagnostic performance of stand-alone parameter or in combination with multiparameter derived from multiple b-value DWI in differentiating malignant from benign breast lesions. Methods A total of forty-one patients diagnosed with benign breast tumor and thirty-eight patients with malignant breast tumor underwent DWI using thirteen b values and other MRI functional sequence at 3.0 T magnetic resonance. Data were accepted mono-exponential, bi-exponential, stretched-exponential, aquaporins (AQP) model analysis. A receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of quantitative parameter or multiparametric combination. The Youden index, sensitivity and specificity were used to assess the optimal diagnostic model. T-test, logistic regression analysis, and Z-test were used. P value

Cerebral ischemia is a serious disease that triggers sequential pathological mechanisms, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Although most studies to date have typically focused on the lysosome, a single organelle, current evidence supports that the function of lysosomes cannot be separated from that of the endolysosomal system as a whole. The associated membrane fusion functions of this system play a crucial role in the biodegradation of cerebral ischemia-related products. Here, we review the regulation of and the changes that occur in the endolysosomal system after cerebral ischemia, focusing on the latest research progress on membrane fusion function. Numerous proteins, including N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor and lysosomal potassium channel transmembrane protein 175, regulate the function of this system. However, these proteins are abnormally expressed after cerebral ischemic injury, which disrupts the normal fusion function of membranes within the endolysosomal system and that between autophagosomes and lysosomes. This results in impaired “maturation” of the endolysosomal system and the collapse of energy metabolism balance and protein homeostasis maintained by the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. Autophagy is the final step in the endolysosomal pathway and contributes to maintaining the dynamic balance of the system. The process of autophagosome-lysosome fusion is a necessary part of autophagy and plays a crucial role in maintaining energy homeostasis and clearing aging proteins. We believe that, in cerebral ischemic injury, the endolysosomal system should be considered as a whole rather than focusing on the lysosome. Understanding how this dynamic system is regulated will provide new ideas for the treatment of cerebral ischemia.

Abstract Background The aim of the study was to investigate and summarize the effectiveness and safety of CT-guided microcoil localization before video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for the removal of ground-glass opacity (GGO). Methods A total of 147 patients with GGO who were treated at our hospital between January 2019 and February 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into two groups according to the final position at the end of the microcoil: intracavity (n = 78) and extracavity (n = 69), which were compared based on puncture complications and influence of the coil end position on VATS. Results The proportions of supine and prone positions in the intracavity group were significantly higher than those in the extracavity group (82.1% vs. 66.7%, P 0.05). The time of VATS and the rate of conversion to thoracotomy in the intracavity group were significantly lower than those in the extracavity group (103.4 ± 21.0 min vs. 112.2 ± 17.3 min, 0% vs. 5.8%, P

Abstract Objective In observational studies, testosterone has been reported to be associated with some types of cancers. However, the direction and magnitude of the causal association between testosterone and different types of cancer remain unclear. This Mendelian randomization study assessed the causal associations of total testosterone (TT) and bioavailable testosterone (BT) with cancer risk in men. Methods We performed two-sample Mendelian randomization using publicly available GWAS summary statistics to investigate the genetically causal association between testosterone and the risk of 22 kinds of cancers in men. Causal estimates were calculated by the inverse variance weighted method. We also performed additional sensitivity tests to evaluate the validity of the casualty. Results Genetically predicted BT level were significantly associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer [odds ratio (OR) = 1.17 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09–1.26, P = 2.51E−05] in the MR analysis with the IVW method. TT was found to be the suggestive protective factor against stomach cancer (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.48–0.93, P = 0.0116) as well as pancreatic cancer (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.36–0.96, P = 0.0346). A suggestive association was found between TT and the occurrence of small intestine cancer (OR = 1.0004, 95% CI: 1.0001–1.0007, P = 0.0116). However, testosterone had no significant association with other cancers. Conclusion This study investigated the role of testosterone in the development of prostate cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, and small intestine cancer but found no strong association with the other cancers in men.

This study combined the characteristics of rock mass structure, channel characteristics of main and tributary rivers, and flow conditions in the Three Gorges Reservoir area of the Yangtze River and designed and constructed a three-dimensional granular rock shallow-water landslide surge model test system under dynamic water flow conditions. The main influencing variables, including the volume of the landslide body, the inclination of the sliding surface, the water depth of the channel, and the flow velocity, were determined. A four-factor four-level orthogonal test design and a single-factor test design were combined to determine 28 sets of test conditions. Based on existing field surveys and physical model test simulation results, the motion process of the landslide body was divided into four stages: starting, accelerating, slowly accelerating or decelerating, and rapidly decelerating. The variations in the motion and velocity of the landslide body over time were determined by analyzing the image sequence extracted using a high-speed camera. The morphological characteristics of the landslide accumulation body were analyzed, and the submerged rate of the landslide body was statistically calculated. The relationship between the maximum bottom width of the landslide underwater accumulation body and the volume of the underwater accumulation body was established.

The present study focuses on investigating the influence of oil and solid body temperatures on elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) film formation. Experimental and numerical simulation methods are employed to examine three heating methods: oil and ball heating, disc heating, and entire system heating. A preliminary comparison between the measured results and numerical simulations confirms the impact of heating methods on film formation while validating the availability of the numerical models. Further numerical analysis reveals that in the case of oil and ball heating, the temperature gradient induced by differences in solid body temperatures plays a more significant role in film formation compared to the conventional thermal-viscosity wedge effect caused by EHL film shear. This effect is further amplified at large sliding–rolling ratios and in steel–steel contacts. The overall film formation is primarily governed by the oil inlet temperature, whereas local film formation characterized by a dimple shape is influenced by both thermal gradient effects and thermal-viscosity wedge effects. This study provides valuable insights for selecting appropriate heating methods in experiments as well as understanding how temperature differences affect film formation in practical engineering.

As derivatives of metal halide perovskite materials, low-dimensional metal halide materials have become important materials that have attracted much attention in recent years. As one branch, zinc-based metal halides have the potential for practical applications due to their lead-free, low-toxicity and high-stability characteristics. However, pure zinc-based metal halide materials are still limited by their poor optical properties and cannot achieve large-scale practical applications. Therefore, in this work, we report an organic–inorganic hybrid zero-dimensional zinc bromide, (TDMP)ZnBr4, using transition metal Mn2+ ions as dopants and incorporating them into the (TDMP)ZnBr4 lattice. The original non-emissive (TDMP)ZnBr4 exhibits bright green emission under the excitation of external UV light after the introduction of Mn2+ ions with a PL peak position located at 538 nm and a PLQY of up to 91.2%. Through the characterization of relevant photophysical properties and the results of theoretical calculations, we confirm that this green emission in Mn2+:(TDMP)ZnBr4 originates from the 4T1 → 6A1 optical transition process of Mn2+ ions in the lattice structure, and the near-unity PLQY benefits from highly localized electrons generated by the unique zero-dimensional structure of the host material (TDMP)ZnBr4. This work provides theoretical guidance and reference for expanding the family of zinc-based metal halide materials and improving and controlling their optical properties through ion doping.

Lead halide perovskites have been widely used in optoelectronic devices due to their excellent properties; however, the toxicity of lead and the poor stability of these perovskites hinder their further application. Herein, we report a zero-dimensional (0D) lead-free organic manganese (II) bromide hybrid compound of (TBA)2MnBr4 (TBA+ = tetrabutylammonium cation) single crystals (SCs) with great environmental stability. The (TBA)2MnBr4 SCs show a strong green emission peak at 518 nm with a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 84.98% at room temperature, which is attributed to the d-d transition of single Mn2+ ions, as also confirmed through density functional calculation. A green light-emitting diode was produced based on (TBA)2MnBr4 SCs, which exhibited CIE coordinates (0.17, 0.69) close to those of standard green. A photodetector fabricated by the (TBA)2MnBr4 SCs shows an obvious photo response with a rapid millisecond rise/decay response time (at 365 nm). Our findings promote the research of Mn(II)-based organic–inorganic hybrid materials and pave the way by using these materials for future high-performance optoelectronic devices.

Rapid construction of versatile perfusable vascular networks in vitro with cylindrical channels still remains challenging. Here, a microfiber-patterned method is developed to precisely fabricate versatile well-controlled perfusable vascular networks with cylindrical channels. This method uses tensile microfibers as an easy-removable template to rapidly generate cylindrical-channel chips with one-dimensional, two-dimensional, three-dimensional and multilayered structures, enabling the independent and precise control over the vascular geometry. These perfusable and cytocompatible chips have great potential to mimic vascular networks. The inner surfaces of a three-dimensional vascular network are lined with the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to imitate the endothelialization of a human blood vessel. The results show that HUVECs attach well on the inner surface of channels and form endothelial tubular lumens with great cell viability. The simple, rapid and low-cost technique for versatile perfusable vascular networks offers plenty of promising opportunities for microfluidics, tissue engineering, clinical medicine and drug development.

The assemblage of oceanic islands and seamounts, arising from the widespread presence of mature oceans, plays a crucial role in reconstructing the evolutionary history of the paleoocean. Oceanic islands or seamounts within the Longmuco-Shuanghu metamorphic complex, a remnant of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in the central Tibetan Plateau, have seldom been reported due to their remoteness. This study has identified an oceanic island-seamount in the Maoershan area, situated to the west of the Longmuco-Shuanghu metamorphic complex, composed of basalt, diabase, limestone, and siliceous rocks. Based on field observations, petrology, zircon U-Pb dating, whole-rock geochemistry, and Sr-Nd isotopes analyses, we have identified a suite of mafic rocks with OIB affinity. The youngest zircon U-Pb age cluster was concentrated at ~243–241 Ma. The geochemical characteristics of the siliceous rocks indicate a mixture of terrigenous material, suggesting that they formed in a continental margin. In combination with regional geological data, we conclude that the Longmuco-Shuanghu Paleo-Tethys Ocean remained open during the Middle Triassic. Furthermore, a fraction of the oceanic island-seamounts underwent scraping and transformed into a metamorphic complex, while other segments experienced deep subduction, resulting in the formation of high-pressure metamorphic rocks. Collectively, these processes gave rise to the distinctive high-pressure metamorphic complex within the central Qiangtang terrane.

Single-crystal silicon carbide has excellent electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties. However, due to its high hardness material properties, achieving high-precision manufacturing of single-crystal silicon carbide with an ultra-smooth surface is difficult. In this work, quantum dots were introduced as a sacrificial layer in polishing for pulsed-ion-beam sputtering of single-crystal SiC. The surface of single-crystal silicon carbide with a quantum-dot sacrificial layer was sputtered using a pulsed-ion beam and compared with the surface of single-crystal silicon carbide sputtered directly. The surface roughness evolution of single-crystal silicon carbide etched using a pulsed ion beam was studied, and the mechanism of sacrificial layer sputtering was analyzed theoretically. The results show that direct sputtering of single-crystal silicon carbide will deteriorate the surface quality. On the contrary, the surface roughness of single-crystal silicon carbide with a quantum-dot sacrificial layer added using pulsed-ion-beam sputtering was effectively suppressed, the surface shape accuracy of the Ø120 mm sample was converged to 7.63 nm RMS, and the roughness was reduced to 0.21 nm RMS. Therefore, the single-crystal silicon carbide with the quantum-dot sacrificial layer added via pulsed-ion-beam sputtering can effectively reduce the micro-morphology roughness phenomenon caused by ion-beam sputtering, and it is expected to realize the manufacture of a high-precision ultra-smooth surface of single-crystal silicon carbide.

The one-time application of blended urea (BU), combining controlled-release urea (CRU) and uncoated urea, has proven to be a promising nitrogen (N) management strategy. However, the long-term sustainability of blending urea remains largely unexplored. To assess whether a single application of blended urea could effectively replace split uncoated urea applications, a long-term field experiment was conducted in the North China Plain (NCP). The results indicated that, when compared to common urea (CU) at the optimal N rate (180 kg N ha−1), BU achieved comparable grain yields, N uptake and NUE (61% vs. 62). BU exhibited a 12% higher 0–20 cm soil organic nitrogen stock and a 9% higher soil organic carbon (C) stock. Additionally, BU reduced life–cycle reactive N (Nr) losses and the N footprint by 10%, and lowered greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the C footprint by 7%. From an economic analysis perspective, BU demonstrated comparable private profitability and a 3% greater ecosystem economic benefit. Therefore, BU under the optimal N rate has the potential to substitute split applications of common urea in the long–term and can be regarded as a sustainable N management strategy for wheat and maize production in the NCP.

Abstract Although lipophilic membrane dyes (LMDs) or probes (LMPs) are widely used to label extracellular vesicles (EVs) for detection and purification, their labelling performance has not been systematically characterized. Through concurrent side scattering and fluorescence detection of single EVs as small as 40 nm in diameter by a laboratory‐built nano‐flow cytometer (nFCM), present study identified that (1) PKH67 and PKH26 could maximally label ∼60%–80% of EVs isolated from the conditioned cell culture medium (purity of ∼88%) and ∼40%–70% of PFP‐EVs (purity of ∼73%); (2) excessive PKH26 could cause damage to the EV structure; (3) di‐8‐ANEPPS and high concentration of DiI could achieve efficient and uniform labelling of EVs with nearly 100% labelling efficiency for di‐8‐ANEPPS and 70%–100% for DiI; (4) all the four tested LMDs can aggregate and form micelles that exhibit comparable side scatter and fluorescence intensity with those of labelled EVs and thus hardly be differentiate from each other; (5) as the LMD concentration went up, the particle number of self‐aggregates increased while the fluorescence intensity of aggregates remained constant; (6) PKH67 and PKH26 tend to form more aggregated micelles than di‐8‐ANEPPS and DiI, and the effect of LMD self‐aggregation can be negligible at optimal staining conditions. (7) All the four tested LMDs can label almost all the very‐low‐density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles, indicating potential confounding factor in plasma‐EV labelling. Besides, it was discovered that DSPE‐PEG2000‐biotin can only label ∼50% of plasma‐EVs. The number of LMP inserted into the membrane of single EVs was measured for the first time and it was confirmed that membrane labelling by lipophilic dyes did not interfere with the immunophenotyping of EVs. nFCM provides a unique perspective for a better understanding of EV labelling by LMD/LMP.

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) play essential roles in multiple physiological processes including bone formation. Investigators have revealed that LncRNAs regulated bone formation through various signaling pathways and micro RNAs (miRNAs). However, several problems exist in current research studies on osteogenic LncRNAs, including sophisticated techniques, high cost for in vivo experiment, as well as low homology of LncRNAs between animal model and human, which hindered translational medicine research. Moreover, compared with gene editing, LncRNAs would only lead to inhibition of target genes rather than completely knocking them out. As the studies on osteogenic LncRNA gradually proceed, some of these problems have turned osteogenic LncRNA research studies into slump. This review described some new techniques and innovative ideas to address these problems. Although investigations on osteogenic LncRNAs still have obtacles to overcome, LncRNA will work as a promising therapeutic drug for osteoporosis in the near future.

Abstract Intratumoral CD8+ T cells are crucial for effective cancer immunotherapy, but an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) contributes to dysfunction and insufficient infiltration. Drug repurposing has successfully led to new discoveries among existing clinical drugs for use as immune modulators to ameliorate immunosuppression in TME and reactivate T‐cell‐mediated antitumor immunity. However, due to suboptimal tumor bioavailability, the full potential of immunomodulatory effects of these old drugs has not been realized. The self‐degradable PMI nanogels carrying two repurposed immune modulators, imiquimod (Imi) and metformin (Met), are reported for TME‐responsive drug release. It remodels the TME through the following aspects: 1) promoting dendritic cells maturation, 2) repolarizing M2‐like tumor‐associated macrophages, and 3) downregulating PD‐L1 expression. Ultimately, PMI nanogels reshaped the immunosuppressive TME and efficiently promote CD8+ T cell infiltration and activation. These results support that PMI nanogels can potentially be an effective combination drug for enhancing the antitumor immune response of anti‐PD‐1 antibodies.

PurposeIschemic stroke (IS), a serious cerebrovascular disease, greatly affects people's health and life. Genetic factors are indispensable for the occurrence of IS. As a biomarker for IS, the MMP-9 gene is widely involved in the pathophysiological process of IS. This study attempts to find out the relationship between MMP-9 polymorphisms and IS susceptibility.MethodsA total of 700 IS patients and 700 healthy controls were recruited. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers of the MMP-9 gene were genotyped by the MassARRAY analyzer. Multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) was applied to generate SNP–SNP interaction. Furthermore, the relationship between genetic variations (allele and genotype) of the MMP-9 gene and IS susceptibility was analyzed by calculating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsOur results demonstrated that rs2250889 could significantly increase the susceptibility to IS in the codominant, dominant, overdominant, and log-additive models (p < 0.05). Further stratification analysis showed that compared with the control group, rs2250889 was associated with IS risk in different case groups (age, female, smoking, and non-drinking) (p < 0.05). Based on MDR analysis, rs2250889 was the best model for predicting IS risk (cross-validation consistency: 10/10, OR = 1.56 (1.26–1.94), p < 0.001).ConclusionOur study preliminarily confirmed that SNP rs2250889 was significantly associated with susceptibility to IS.

Abstract The liver plays a central role in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. Aberrant insulin action in the liver is a major driver of selective insulin resistance, in which insulin fails to suppress glucose production but continues to activate lipogenesis in the liver, resulting in hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia. The underlying mechanisms of selective insulin resistance are not fully understood. Here It is shown that hepatic membrane phospholipid composition controlled by lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3 (LPCAT3) regulates insulin signaling and systemic glucose and lipid metabolism. Hyperinsulinemia induced by high‐fat diet (HFD) feeding augments hepatic Lpcat3 expression and membrane unsaturation. Loss of Lpcat3 in the liver improves insulin resistance and blunts lipogenesis in both HFD‐fed and genetic ob/ob mouse models. Mechanistically, Lpcat3 deficiency directly facilitates insulin receptor endocytosis, signal transduction, and hepatic glucose production suppression and indirectly enhances fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) secretion, energy expenditure, and glucose uptake in adipose tissue. These findings identify hepatic LPCAT3 and membrane phospholipid composition as a novel regulator of insulin sensitivity and provide insights into the pathogenesis of selective insulin resistance.

In hydrogen evolution reaction, inefficient mass transfer caused by bubble adhesion on electrode, bubble dispersion in electrolyte and slow H2 diffusion, has greatly impeded the reaction process. Existing techniques can only resolve bubble adhesion or bubble dispersion problems. Strategy that simultaneously solve bubble adhesion, bubble dispersion and poor hydrogen diffusion problems is rarely reported. Recently, an article reported a new electrode with special wettability design, which can efficiently promote bubble transfer and dissolved H2 diffusion. This design can simultaneously solve above mentioned three mass transfer issues and improve electrode efficiency. We summarize the remaining challenges of this work and outlook potential approaches to promote mass transfer in gas-evolution reactions.

ABSTRACTThe intestine is prone to radiation damage in patients undergoing radiotherapy for pelvic tumors. However, there are currently no effective drugs available for the prevention or treatment of radiation-induced enteropathy (RIE). In this study, we aimed at investigating the impact of indole-3-carboxaldehyde (I3A) derived from the intestinal microbiota on RIE. Intestinal organoids were isolated and cultivated for screening radioprotective tryptophan metabolites. A RIE model was established using 13 Gy whole-abdominal irradiation in male C57BL/6J mice. After oral administration of I3A, its radioprotective ability was assessed through the observation of survival rates, clinical scores, and pathological analysis. Intestinal stem cell survival and changes in the intestinal barrier were observed through immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. Subsequently, the radioprotective mechanisms of I3A was investigated through 16S rRNA and transcriptome sequencing, respectively. Finally, human colon cancer cells and organoids were cultured to assess the influence of I3A on tumor radiotherapy. I3A exhibited the most potent radioprotective effect on intestinal organoids. Oral administration of I3A treatment significantly increased the survival rate in irradiated mice, improved clinical and histological scores, mitigated mucosal damage, enhanced the proliferation and differentiation of Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells, and maintained intestinal barrier integrity. Furthermore, I3A enhanced the abundance of probiotics, and activated the AhR/IL-10/Wnt signaling pathway to promote intestinal epithelial proliferation. As a crucial tryptophan metabolite, I3A promotes intestinal epithelial cell proliferation through the AhR/IL-10/Wnt signaling pathway and upregulates the abundance of probiotics to treat RIE. Microbiota-derived I3A demonstrates potential clinical application value for the treatment of RIE.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and practicality of anterior trans‐intervertebral space decompression and fusion (ATIDF) by comparing radiological and clinical outcomes between ATIDF and traditional anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) in cervical spondylosis patients with severe disc space narrowing. Methods Seventy‐one cervical spondylosis patients with severe disc space narrowing underwent anterior cervical spine surgery were included in this retrospective study. Thirty‐seven patients underwent ATIDF and 34 patients underwent ACCF. The neck disability index (NDI), Japan Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and the Hirabayashi improvement rate were used to evaluate patient neurological status. Cervical sagittal alignment (C2–C7 Cobb angle), surgical segment sagittal alignment (Cobb angle of surgical segment) and disc space height were also compared between the two groups. Results There were 39 males and 32 females; mean age was 63.72 ± 6.36 years (range, 39–81 years). Mean follow‐up was 22.4 months (range, 6–45 months). All patients achieved an adequate neurological improvement. There were no significant differences in NDI, JOA scores and Hirabayashi improvement rate between the two groups. The change of C2–7 Cobb angle and surgical segment Cobb angle were both greater in the ATIDF group. The average intervertebral height ratio of the patients in the ATIDF group increased significantly after surgery (0.38 ± 0.17 before surgery to 1.13 ± 0.32 after surgery, P

Abstract Carbonaceous materials have been regarded as highly promising anode candidates for potassium storage with their cost‐effectiveness and environmental benignity. However, low specific capacity and difficulty in large‐scale synthesis largely hinder their further development. Herein, a thermal‐induced potassium–carbon alloy phase (KxCy) with the expanded interlayer spacing strategy is first put forward. Through in situ high‐temperature X‐ray diffraction, a K2C2 phase is evoked by thermal energy during the in‐situ carbonization process of carbon quantum dots intermediate derived from potassium‐containing precursors, whereas no lithium or sodium–carbon alloy phase is observed from lithium/sodium‐containing precursors. The as‐obtained ultra‐thin carbon nanosheets achieve adjustable layer spacing, preparation in bulk, delivering reversible potassium storage of 403.4 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 and 161.2 mAh g−1 even at 5.0 A g−1, which is one of the most impressive K‐storage performances reported so far with great potential application. Furthermore, the assembled potassium‐ion hybrid capacitor by combining the impressive CFMs‐900 anode with the three‐dimensional framework‐activated carbon delivers a high energy‐power density of 251.7 Wh kg−1 at 250 W kg−1 with long‐term stability. This study opens a scalable avenue to realize the expanded interlayer spacing, which can be extended to other multicarboxyl potassium salts and can provide approach for the design of high‐performance carbon anode materials for potassium storage.

To date, it is controversial which metallic impurities play crucial role in the laser induced degradation and damage of fused silica at 355 nm. In this work, a First -principles study for the influences of impurities in fused silica are presented, which are usually contaminated during manufacture and post-processing processes. Our results show that Ca, K, Fe and Ce can lead to obvious optical absorption near 355 nm. Moreover, we find that, for K and Ca, the absorption intensity near 355 nm is highly sensitive to the concentration. Our results indicate that K and Ca can easily induce degradation and damage of fused silica at 355 nm. These two impurities should be concerned during manufacture and post-processing processes. The detailed theoretical study reveal that Ca and K can induce obvious impurity states in band gap and the optical absorption near 355 nm is originated from the transition between impurity states to conduction band. Our results also reveal that, for fused silica with Ca impurity, the exciton effect plays an important role for the optical absorptions near 355 nm, while it is not significant for K. Our work helps to explore laser damage mechanism and improve manufacture and post-processing techniques of fused silica.

Abstract Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by a cluster of signs of metabolic disturbance and has caused a huge burden on the health system. The study aims to explore the prevalence and characteristics of MetS defined by different criteria in the Chinese population. Methods Using the data of the China Hypertension Survey (CHS), a nationally representative cross-sectional study from October 2012 to December 2015, a total of 28,717 participants aged 35 years and above were included in the analysis. The MetS definitions of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the updated US National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (the revised ATP III), and the Joint Committee for Developing Chinese Guidelines (JCDCG) on Prevention and Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Adults were used. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with MetS. Results The prevalence of MetS diagnosed according to the definitions of IDF, the revised ATP III, and JCCDS was 26.4%, 32.3%, and 21.5%, respectively. The MetS prevalence in men was lower than in women by IDF definition (22.2% vs. 30.3%) and by the revised ATP III definition (29.2% vs. 35.4%), but the opposite was true by JCDCG (24.4%vs 18.5%) definition. The consistency between the three definitions for men and the revised ATP III definition and IDF definition for women was relatively good, with kappa values ranging from 0.77 to 0.89, but the consistency between the JCDCG definition and IDF definition (kappa = 0.58) and revised ATP III definition (kappa = 0.58) was poor. Multivariable logistic regression showed that although the impact and correlation intensity varied with gender and definition, area, age, education, smoking, alcohol use, and family history of cardiovascular disease were factors related to MetS. Conclusions The prevalence and characteristics of the MetS vary with the definition used in the Chinese population. The three MetS definitions are more consistent in men but relatively poor in women. On the other hand, even if estimated according to the definition of the lowest prevalence, MetS is common in China.

Highlights Sex differences exist in the prevalence, tumor invasiveness, treatment responses, and clinical outcomes of pan-cancer, suggesting that, while not yet incorporated, sex will probably be considered in future practice guidelines. Inherent genetic differences, overlapping epigenetic alterations, and sex hormone influences underpin everything. Androgen receptors influence the sexual differences in TME by regulating epigenetic and transcriptional differentiation programs. It highlights a sex-based therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy. Proper consideration of sex, age, sex hormones/menopause status, and socio-cultural gender differences in clinical investigation and gene association studies of cancer are needed to fill current gaps and implement precision medicine for patients with cancer.

Here the authors identify retinoblastoma (RB) protein as an intrinsic inhibitor of BRD4 and demonstrate that loss of RB induces BRD4 cistrome changes in the genome and enrichment of GPCR-cAMP signaling pathway, conferring resistance to small molecule BET inhibitor.

In December 2019, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection broke. With the gradual deepening understanding of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, researchers and clinicians noticed that this disease is closely related to the nervous system and has complex effects on the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). In this review, we summarize the effects and mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 on the nervous system, including the pathways of invasion, direct and indirect effects, and associated neuropsychiatric diseases, to deepen our knowledge and understanding of the relationship between COVID-19 and the nervous system.

Abstract Background This study aimed to compare the biomechanical differences between anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with multiple-level separate plates and conventional long plates by using finite element analysis. Methods The following four finite element models were created to simulate various fixations: (1) C4–6 ACDF with multiple plates, (2) C4–6 ACDF with a single plate, (3) C3–6 ACDF with multiple plates, and (4) C3–6 ACDF with a single plate. The maximum Von-mises stress of the cage and fixation, compressive force of the adjacent intervertebral discs and range of motion (ROM) of different segments in the four models were calculated and analyzed. Results For C4–6 ACDF, the maximum Von-mises stress of the cage and fixation was lower in the multiple plate fixation model in all motion states. Similarly, for the C3–6 ACDF models, the peak stress of the C3–4 and C5–6 cages was lower with multiple plates fixation in all motions but the stress of the C4–5 cage in the multiple plates model was slightly higher in flexion, bending and rotation. Besides, applying multiple plates in C3–6 ACDF models resulted in a decreased maximum stress of the fixation under different motions except for bending. In both the C4–6 ACDF and C3–6 ACDF models, the ROM values of the adjacent motion segments were lower in the multiple plates models in extension, bending and rotation. In the C4–6 ACDF models, the peak stress on the adjacent intervertebral discs in the multiple plates models was slightly smaller. In C3–6 ACDF models, the maximum stress on the adjacent intervertebral discs was larger in the single-plate model under flexion, bending and rotation movements. Conclusion Multiple plates fixation has a positive effect on increasing stiffness and maintaining the ROM of adjacent segments, indicating lower risk of construct failure and adjacent segment degeneration. Further studies are required to confirm its efficacy in clinical practice.

Introduction: Adriamycin (ADR) is an efficient and common broad-spectrum anticancer drug. However, the cumulative and dose-dependent toxicity induced by ADR severely limits its application in the clinic. Previous studies found that psoralidin (PSO) exhibits remarkable therapeutic effects against multiple cancers. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine if PSO has beneficial effects on ADR-induced cardiotoxicity and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: ADR-induced cardiotoxicity models were established in BALB/c mice and HL-1 cardiomyocytes. A series of experimental methods were used to evaluate the effects of PSO on cardiac function indicators, blood biochemical parameters, histopathology, oxidative stress, apoptosis, mitochondrial function, fibrosis, and SIRT1/PPARγ signaling. Results: PSO significantly improved cardiac function indicators, blood biochemical parameters, and mitochondrial function and reduced the degree of myocardial fibrosis, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in ADR-injured mice. PSO significantly increased cell viability, inhibited the release of LDH, reduced oxidative stress and apoptosis, and improved mitochondrial function in ADR-injured HL-1 cells. Moreover, we also demonstrated there was cross-talk between SIRT1 and PPARγ, as shown by SIRT1 siRNA significantly decreasing the expression of PPARγ and GW9662 (a PPARγ antagonist), which remarkably reduced the expression of SIRT1. Conclusion: In summary, this study proved for the first time the beneficial effect of PSO on ADR-induced cardiotoxicity through activation of the SIRT1/PPARγ signaling pathway. Therefore, these findings may favor PSO as a potential cardioprotective drug candidate to alleviate ADR-induced cardiotoxicity in the clinic and improve the application of ADR in oncotherapy.

The S280 ultra-high strength stainless steel was subjected to isothermal constant strain rate compression experiments under the conditions of deformation temperature 1000–1150 °C and strain rate 0.001–10 s−1 by Thermecmaster-Z thermal simulation testing machine. The flow behavior of S280 ultra-high strength stainless steel was analyzed; the dynamic recrystallization critical strain model, dynamic recrystallization volume fraction model, dynamic recrystallization grain size and average grain size model of the steel were established, and its dynamic recrystallization behavior was numerically simulated. The results show that the flow stress of S280 ultra-high strength stainless steel increases with the increase of strain rate and the decrease of deformation temperature. The distribution of dynamic recrystallization volume fraction and average grain size in each deformation region after thermal compression is not uniform, and the dynamic recrystallization volume fraction increases with the increase of deformation temperature and decrease of strain rate; the average grain size increases with the increase of deformation temperature and strain rate. The numerical simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results, which can provide a theoretical basis for the microstructure control of the steel during thermal deformation.

Abstract Background There were relatively few studies about the incidence and risk factors for bloodstream infection (BSI) in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) supported by veno–venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV–ECMO). Methods Patients who were diagnosed with severe ARDS and received VV–ECMO treatment in the medical intensive care unit of China–Japan Friendship Hospital from August 2013 to March 2019 were retrospectively studied. The pathogens isolated from blood culture (BC) were identified and analyzed for drug sensitivity. The risk factors for BSI were analyzed by logistic regression. Results A total of 105 patients were included in this single–center retrospective cohort study. Among them, 23 patients (22%) had BSIs. 19 cases were identified as primary BSI; while the other 4 cases were as secondary BSI. A total of 23 pathogenic strains were isolated from BCs, including gram–negative (G–) bacilli in 21 (91%) cases, gram–positive (G+) cocci in 1 case, fungus in 1 case, and multidrug–resistant (MDR) organisms in 8 cases. Compared with patients without BSI, patients with BSI had a higher Murray score (odds ratio = 6.29, P = 0.01) and more blood transfusion (odds ratio = 1.27, P = 0.03) during ECMO. Conclusions The incidence of BSI in patients with severe ARDS supported by VV–ECMO was 22%. G– bacilli was the main pathogen, and most of them were MDR–G– bacilli (MDR–GNB). Higher Murray score and more blood transfusion may be the independent risk factors for BSI.

Abstract Background Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a condition with local and referred pain characterized by trigger points (taut bands within the muscle). Ischemic compression is a noninvasive manual therapy technique that has been employed for the treatment of MPS in past decades. However, little attention has been devoted to this topic. Objectives The present review was designed to explore the efficacy of ischemic compression for myofascial pain syndrome by performing a descriptive systematic review and a meta-analysis to estimate the effect of ischemic compression on MPS. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis concerning randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with myofascial pain subjects who received ischemic compression versus placebo, sham, or usual interventions. Five databases (PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, Ovid) were searched from the earliest data available to 2022.1.2. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and the 95% confidence interval (CI) were used for statistics. Version 2 of the Cochrane risk of tool 2 (RoB 2) was used to assess the quality of the included RCTs. Results Seventeen studies were included in the systematic review, and 15 studies were included in the meta-analysis. For the pressure pain threshold (PPT) index, 11 studies and 427 subjects demonstrated statistically significant differences compared with the control at posttreatment (SMD = 0.67, 95% CI [0.35, 0.98], P

Abstract Scramjet is the main power device of hypersonic vehicles. With the gradual expansion of wide velocity domain, shock wave/shock wave and shock wave/boundary layer are the main phenomena in scramjet isolator. When the leading edge of the shock train is pushed out from the inlet of the isolator, the engine will not start. Therefore, it is very important to detect the flow field structure in the isolator and the leading edge position of the shock train. The traditional shock train detection methods have low detection accuracy and slow detection speed. This paper describes a method based on deep learning to reconstruct the flow field in the isolator and detect the leading edge of the shock train. Under various back pressure conditions, the flow field images of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) data and the corresponding upper and lower wall pressure data were obtained, and a data set corresponding to pressure and flow field was constructed. By constructing and training convolutional neural networks, a mapping model with pressure information as input and flow field image as output is obtained, and then the leading edge position of shock train is detected on the output flow field image. The experimental results show that the average structure similarity (SSIM) between the reconstructed flow field image and the CFD flow field image is 0.902, the average peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) is 25.289, the average correlation coefficient (CORR) is 0.956, and the root mean square error of shock train leading edge detection is 3.28 mm. Moreover, if the total pressure input is appropriately reduced, the accuracy of flow field reconstruction does not decline significantly, which means that the model has a certain robustness. Finally, in order to improve the detection accuracy of the leading edge position, we fine tuned the model and obtained another detection method, which reduced the root mean square error of the detection results to 1.87 mm.

Objective: To study the efficacy of the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program on postoperative recovery and complications in patients with gastric cancer. Methods: Eighty patients in the perioperative period with radical gastrectomy were enrolled and randomly divided into 2 groups, the ERAS group and the non-ERAS group. The differences between the 2 groups in terms of postoperative recoveries and complications rate were determined. According to the body mass index (BMI) level, the ERAS group was divided into 2 subgroups, namely group A (BMI < 28 kg/m2, n = 16) and group B (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2, n = 24). The non-ERAS group was also divided into group C (BMI < 28 kg/m2, n = 18) and group D (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2, n = 22). The recovery and complications of each group were then determined. Results: The postoperative length of stay and visual analogue scale pain score were less in the ERAS group than the non-ERAS group (P < 0.05). Time to first postoperative exhaustion, first postoperative defecation, returning leukocyte count to normal, and stopping intravenous nutrition were significantly shorter in the ERAS group (n = 40), compared to the non-ERAS group (n = 40, all P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative lower extremity intramuscular venous thrombosis was significantly higher in group D than in group B (χ2 = 4.800, P = 0.028). In addition, the incidence of lower extremity intermuscular venous thrombosis and lung infection in group D was higher than those in other groups. Conclusions: The perioperative ERAS program was associated with faster recovery in patients undergoing radical gastrectomy. For patients with higher BMI (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2), the use of the perioperative ERAS program was more advantageous.

Abstract. Background:. The increasing burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) worldwide imposes an emerging public health issue. We perform the current study to estimate the global prevalence, incidence, disease progression, and clinical outcomes of NAFLD. Methods:. A systematic search was conducted in Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Cochrane CENTRAL that screened articles in English language published from January 2000 to December 2021. NAFLD prevalence, incidence, rate of disease progression, and outcomes were calculated with the DerSimonian-Laird random effects model with arcsine transformation. Results:. Our search identified 59,156 records, of which 578 studies fulfilled our inclusion criteria. The overall prevalence of NAFLD was 29.38% (95% confidence interval [CI] 28.09–30.69) regardless of the diagnostic techniques. Looking at the group in which the diagnosis was made by ultrasound exclusively, the pooled prevalence was 30.49% (95% CI 29.55–31.43). NAFLD has become more prevalent during the year 2011–2021 (31.63%, 95% CI 30.23–33.04) compared with year 2000–2010 (27.94%, 95% CI 26.23–29.69). The pooled estimation of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis prevalence was 8.26% (95% CI 1.13–21.01), 46.49% (95% CI 35.93–57.20), and 46.72% (95% CI 37.57–55.98) in general population, NAFLD patients, and severe/morbidly obese patients, respectively. Based on a total of 110,142 newly developed NAFLD patients, the pooled incident rate was estimated as 46.24 cases per 1000 person-years (95% CI 43.21–49.30). In patients with NAFLD, the incident rate of hepatocellular carcinoma was 1.46 (95% CI 0.90–2.03) cases per 1000 person-years. The overall pooled estimate of NAFLD related mortality was 23.91 (95% CI 13.55–37.18) death per 1000 person-years. Conclusions:. The prevalence of NAFLD is increasing globally. It is contributing to poor clinical outcomes including hepatocellular carcinoma and death. Rising awareness and urgent actions are warranted to control the NAFLD pandemic across the globe. Registration:. PROSPERO, No. CRD42020171104.

Abstract Tactile sensing is essentially required for dexterous manipulation in robotic applications. Mimicking human perception of softness identification in a non-invasive fashion, thus achieving satisfactory interaction with fragile objects remains a grand challenge. Here, a scatheless measuring methodology based on the multisensory electronic skins to quantify the elastic coefficient of soft materials is reported. This recognition approach lies in the preliminary classification of softness by piezoelectric signals with a modified machine learning algorithm, contributing to an appropriate contact force assignment for subsequent quantitative measurements via strain sensing feedback. The integration of multifunctional sensing system allows the manipulator to hold capabilities of self-sensing and adaptive grasping motility in response to objects with the various softness (i.e., kPa-MPa). As a proof-of-concept demonstration, the biomimetic manipulator cooperates with the robotic arm to realize the intelligent sorting of oranges varying in freshness, paving the way for the development of microsurgery robots, human-machine interfacing, and advanced prosthetics.

Abstract Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common and progressive urological disease in elderly men worldwide. Epidemiological studies have suggested that the speed of disease progression varies among individuals, while the pathophysiological mechanisms of accelerated clinical progression in some BPH patients remain to be elucidated. In this study, we defined patients with BPH as belonging to the accelerated progressive group (transurethral resection of the prostate [TURP] surgery at ≤50 years old), normal-speed progressive group (TURP surgery at ≥70 years old), or non-progressive group (age ≤50 years old without BPH-related surgery). We enrolled prostate specimens from the three groups of patients and compared these tissues to determine the histopathological characteristics and molecular mechanisms underlying BPH patients with accelerated progression. We found that the main histopathological characteristics of accelerated progressive BPH tissues were increased stromal components and prostatic fibrosis, which were accompanied by higher myofibroblast accumulation and collagen deposition. Mechanism dissection demonstrated that these accelerated progressive BPH tissues have higher expression of the CYP19 and G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) with higher estrogen biosynthesis. Estrogen functions via GPER/Gαi signaling to modulate the EGFR/ERK and HIF-1α/TGF-β1 signaling to increase prostatic stromal cell proliferation and prostatic stromal fibrosis. The increased stromal components and prostatic fibrosis may accelerate the clinical progression of BPH. Targeting this newly identified CYP19/estrogen/GPER/Gαi signaling axis may facilitate the development of novel personalized therapeutics to better suppress the progression of BPH.

Abstract Background Currently, there are relatively few studies on the effects of changes in oestrogen and androgen levels on prostatic microvessel density (MVD). This article aimed to study the changes in prostatic MVD in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats after castration under the effect of oestrogen/androgen at different concentrations. Methods Male SD rats aged 3–4 months were randomly divided into a control group, a castration group, and groups with different concentrations of oestrogen/androgen treatment after castration. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and oestradiol (E) were administered daily by subcutaneous injection for one month. All the rats were killed by cervical dislocation after one month, and the serum DHT and E concentrations of the rats in each group were measured by ELISA. Prostate tissue specimens were immunohistochemically stained with monoclonal antibodies against CD34 and factor VIII for MVD. Results Compared with the control group, the MVD decreased significantly in the castration group (P

The upconversion color tuning of Lanthanide ions usually requires complex core–shell structures and excitation configurations. This work presents simple Er3+ doped Yttria phosphors capable of color change through the manipulation of 1530 nm excitation intensity. Compared to the reported results of Er3+ color change from green to red with the increase in excitation intensity, the formed color-tunable phosphors show an inverse change of red to green. The color tuning mechanisms are attributed to the competition between the upward absorption and the downward decay at the Er3+ intermediate state. Finally, the potential applications of the formed color-tunable phosphors are demonstrated. This work provides a simple solution for high-performance upconversion color tuning and thus shows wide application prospects.

IntroductionThe presence of soluble human programmed cell death-ligand 1 (shPD-L1) in the blood of patients with cancer has been reported to be negatively correlated with disease prognosis. However, little information exists about the mechanisms underlying high levels of shPD-L1 for promoting disease progression.MethodsIn this study, we first analyzed the correlations between shPD-L1 and apoptosis of T cells in patients with cancer, then tested the effect of shPD-L1 on T-cell functions and the production of regulatory T cells.ResultsWe found that the apoptosis of human peripheral PD-1+CD4+ T cells was significantly elevated in patients with cancer compared with healthy donors and was positively correlated with circulating PD-L1 levels in patients with cancer. In vitro, monomeric shPD-L1 significantly inhibited the proliferation, cytokine secretion, and cancer cell-killing activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) activated by either agonist antibodies or HATac (high-affinity T cell activation core)-NYE (NY-ESO-1 antigen). It also promoted CD4+ T cells to express forkhead family transcription factor 3 (FoxP3) for the conversion of induced T regulatory cells, which was more significant than that mediated by soluble human PD-L1 fusion protein (shPD-L1-Fc).DiscussionThese results confirm that soluble PD-L1 could be a candidate for inhibiting the functions of activated T cells, promoting peripheral tolerance to tumor cells, and implicating in system tumor immune escape in addition to the tumor microenvironment. This is an important mechanism explaining the negative correlation between peripheral blood PD-L1 levels and cancer prognosis. Therefore, understanding the roles of hPD-L1 in peripheral blood will be helpful for the development of precision immunotherapy programs in treating various tumors.

Abstract Most sepsis deaths are due to the development of multiple organ failure, in which heart failure is a recognized manifestation of sepsis. To date, the role of liver X receptors α (NR1H3) in sepsis is still uncertain. Here, we hypothesized that NR1H3 mediates multiple essential sepsis‐related signalings to attenuate septic heart failure. Adult male C57BL/6 or Balbc mice and HL‐1 myocardial cell line were performed for in vivo and in vitro experiments, respectively. NR1H3 knockout mice or NR1H3 agonist T0901317 was applied to evaluate the impact of NR1H3 on septic heart failure. We found decreased myocardial expression levels of NR1H3‐related molecules while increased NLRP3 level in septic mice. NR1H3 knockout worsensed cardiac dysfunction and injury in mice subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), in association with exacerbated NLRP3‐mediated inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis‐related markers. The administration of T0901317 reduced systemic infection and improve cardiac dysfunction in septic mice. Moreover, Co‐IP assays, luciferase reporter assays, and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis, confirmed that NR1H3 directly repressed NLRP3 activity. Finally, RNA‐seq detection further clarified an overview of the roles of NR1H3 in sepsis. In general, our findings indicate that NR1H3 had a significant protective effect against sepsis and sepsis‐induced heart failure.

Taxifolin is a flavonoid compound, originally isolated from the bark of Douglas fir trees, which is often found in foods such as onions and olive oil, and is also used in commercial preparations, and has attracted the interest of nutritionists and medicinal chemists due to its broad range of health-promoting effects. It is a powerful antioxidant with excellent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and other pharmacological activities. This review focuses on the breakthroughs in taxifolin for the treatment of diseases from 2019 to 2022 according to various systems of the human body, such as the nervous system, immune system, and digestive system, and on the basis of this review, we summarize the problems of current research and try to suggest solutions and future research directions.

Trees can invest up to one-third of the carbon (C) fixed by photosynthesis into belowground allocation, including fine root exudation into the rhizosphere. It is still unclear how climate and soil warming affect tree root C exudation, in particular quantifying longer-term warming effects remains a challenge. In this study, using a C-free cuvette incubation method, in situ C exudation rates from tree fine roots of a mature spruce dominated temperate forest were measured in regular intervals during the 14th and 15th year of experimental soil warming (+ 4°C). In addition, a short-term temperature sensitivity experiment (up to + 10°C warming within 4 days) was conducted to determine the inherent temperature sensitivity of root exudation. Root exudation rates in the long-term warmed soil (17.9 μg C g–1 root biomass h–1) did not differ from those in untreated soil (16.2 μg C g–1 root biomass h–1). However, a clear increase (Q10 ∼5.0) during the short-term temperature sensitivity experiment suggested that fine root exudation can be affected by short-term changes in soil temperature. The absence of response in long-term warmed soils suggests a downregulation of C exudation from the individual fine roots in the warmed soils. The lack of any relationship between exudation rates and the seasonal temperature course, further suggests that plant phenology and plant C allocation dynamics have more influence on seasonal changes in fine root C exudation. Although exudation rates per g dry mass of fine roots were only marginally higher in the warmed soil, total fine root C exudation per m2 soil surface area increased by ∼30% from 0.33 to 0.43 Mg C ha–1 yr–1 because long-term soil warming has led to an increase in total fine root biomass. Mineralization of additional fine root exudates could have added to the sustained increase in soil CO2 efflux from the warmed forest soil at the experimental site.

To investigate the energy partitioning up to the fourth oscillation of a millimeter-scale spherical cavitation bubble induced by laser, we used nanosecond laser pulses to generate highly spherical cavitation bubbles and shadowgraphs to measure the radius-time curve. Using the extended Gilmore model and considering the continuous condensation of the vapor in the bubble, the time evolution of the bubble radius, bubble wall velocity, and pressure in the bubble is calculated till the 4th oscillation. Using Kirkwood-Bethe hypothesis, the evolution of velocity and pressure of shock wave at the optical breakdown, the first and second collapses are calculated. The shock wave energy at the breakdown and bubble collapse is directly calculated by numerical method. We found the simulated radius-time curve fits well with experimental data for the first four oscillations. The energy partition at the breakdown is the same as that in previous studies, the ratio of shock wave energy to bubble energy is about 2:1. In the first collapse and the second collapse, the ratio of shock wave energy to bubble energy is 14.54:1 and 2.81:1 respectively. In the third and fourth collapses, the ratio is less, namely than 1.5:1 and 0.42:1 respectively. The formation mechanism of the shock wave at the collapse is analyzed. The breakdown shock wave is mainly driven by the expansion of the supercritical liquid resulting from the thermalization of the energy of the free electrons in the plasma, and the collapse shock wave is mainly driven by the compressed liquid around the bubble.

The functional organization of the hippocampus mirrors that of the cortex, changing smoothly along connectivity gradients and abruptly at inter-areal boundaries. Hippocampal-dependent cognitive processes require flexible integration of these hippocampal gradients into functionally related cortical networks. To understand the cognitive relevance of this functional embedding, we acquired fMRI data while participants viewed brief news clips, either containing or lacking recently familiarized cues. Participants were 188 healthy mid-life adults and 31 adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD). We employed a recently developed technique - connectivity gradientography - to study gradually changing patterns of voxel to whole brain functional connectivity and their sudden transitions. We observed that functional connectivity gradients of the anterior hippocampus map onto connectivity gradients across the default mode network during these naturalistic stimuli. The presence of familiar cues in the news clips accentuates a stepwise transition across the boundary from the anterior to the posterior hippocampus. This functional transition is shifted in the posterior direction in the left hippocampus of individuals with MCI or AD. These findings shed new light on the functional integration of hippocampal connectivity gradients into large-scale cortical networks, how these adapt with memory context and how these change in the presence of neurodegenerative disease.

Barnacle exhibits high adhesion strength underwater for its glue with coupled adhesion mechanisms, including hydrogen bonding, electrostatic force, and hydrophobic interaction. Inspired by such adhesion mechanism, we designed and constructed a hydrophobic phase separation hydrogel induced by the electrostatic and hydrogen bond interaction assembly of PEI and PMAA. By coupling the effect of hydrogen bond, electrostatic force and hydrophobic interaction, our gel materials show an ultrahigh mechanical strength, which is up to 2.66 ± 0.18 MPa. Also, benefit from the coupled adhesion forces, as well as the ability to destroy the interface water layer, the adhesion strength on the polar materials can be up to 1.99 ± 0.11 MPa underwater, while that of the adhesion strength is about 2.70 ± 0.21 MPa under silicon oil. This work provides a deeper understanding of the underwater adhesion principle of barnacle glue. Furthermore, our bioinspired strategy would provide an inspiration for the fabrication of high mechanical gel materials, and the rapid strong adhesive used in both water and organic solvents.

Intestinal inflammation is a protective response that is implicated in bacterial enteritis triggered by gastrointestinal infection. The immune mechanisms elicited in teleost against the infection of Aeromonas veronii are largely unknown. In this study, we performed a de novo northern snakehead (Channa argus) transcriptome assembly using Illumina sequencing platform. On this basis we performed a comparative transcriptomic analysis of northern snakehead intestine from A. veronii-challenge and phosphate buffer solution (PBS)-challenge fish, and 2076 genes were up-regulated and 1598 genes were down-regulated in the intestines infected with A. veronii. The Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis indicated that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched to 27, 21 and 20 GO terms in biological process, cellular component, and molecular function, respectively. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that 420 DEGs were involved in 194 pathways. Moreover, 33 DEGs were selected for quantitative real-time PCR analysis to validate the RNA-seq data. The results reflected the consistency of the expression levels between qRT-PCR and RNA-seq data. In addition, a time-course analysis of the mRNA expression of 33 immune-related genes further indicated that the intestinal inflammation to A. veronii infection simultaneously regulated gene expression alterations. The present study provides transcriptome data of the teleost intestine, allowing us to understand the mechanisms of intestinal inflammation triggered by bacterial pathogens. Data availability statement: All data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and Supplementary files. The RNA-seq raw sequence data are available in NCBI short read archive (SRA) database under accession number PRJNA615958.

Objective: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified genetic variants in SEC16 homolog B (SEC16B) locus to be associated with obesity and body mass index (BMI) in various populations. SEC16B encodes a scaffold protein located at endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit sites that is implicated to participate in the trafficking of COPII vesicles in mammalian cells. However, the function of SEC16B in vivo, especially in lipid metabolism, has not been investigated. Methods: We generated Sec16b intestinal knockout (IKO) mice and assessed the impact of its deficiency on high-fat diet (HFD) induced obesity and lipid absorption in both male and female mice. We examined lipid absorption in vivo by acute oil challenge and fasting/HFD refeeding. Biochemical analyses and imaging studies were performed to understand the underlying mechanisms. Results: Our results showed that Sec16b intestinal knockout (IKO) mice, especially female mice, were protected from HFD-induced obesity. Loss of Sec16b in intestine dramatically reduced postprandial serum triglyceride output upon intragastric lipid load or during overnight fasting and HFD refeeding. Further studies showed that intestinal Sec16b deficiency impaired apoB lipidation and chylomicron secretion. Conclusions: Our studies demonstrated that intestinal SEC16B is required for dietary lipid absorption in mice. These results revealed that SEC16B plays important roles in chylomicron metabolism, which may shed light on the association between variants in SEC16B and obesity in human.