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Background Purpose Methods Results Conclusions The advantages of proton therapy can be further enhanced with online magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance. One of the challenges in the realization of MRI‐guided proton therapy (MRPT) is accurately calculating the radiation dose in the presence of magnetic fields.This study aims to develop an efficient and accurate proton dose calculation algorithm adapted to the presence of magnetic fields.An analytical‐numerical radiation dose calculation algorithm, Proton and Ion Dose Engine (PRIDE), was developed. The algorithm combines the pencil beam algorithm (PBA) with a novel iterative voxel‐based ray‐tracing algorithm. The new ray‐tracing method uses fewer assumptions and ensures broader applicability for proton beam trajectory prediction in magnetic fields, and has been compared to Wolf's method and Schellhammer's method. The accuracy of PRIDE algorithm was validated on three phantoms and two practical plans (one single‐field water plan and one prostate tumor plan) in different magnetic field strengths up to 3.0 T. The validation was performed by comparing the results against the Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, using the global gamma index criteria of 2%/2 mm and 3%/3 mm with a 10% threshold.PRIDE showed good agreement with MC in homogeneous and slab heterogeneous phantom, achieving gamma passing rates (%GPs) above 99% for 2%/2 mm criteria when magnetic field strength is not greater than 1.5 T. Although the agreement decreased for scenarios involving high proton energy (240 MeV) and strong magnetic field (3.0 T), the 2%/2 mm %GPs still remained above 98%. In lateral heterogeneous phantom, the accuracy of PRIDE decreased due to the PBA's limitation. For the two practical plans in different magnetic fields, %GPs exceeded 98% and 99% for 2%/2 mm and 3%/3 mm criteria, respectively.PRIDE can perform efficient and accurate proton dose calculation in magnetic fields up to 3.0 T, and is expected to work as a useful tool for proton dose calculation in MRPT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Seventeen undescribed lindenane‐related sesquiterpenoid dimers, chlorajaponins A—Q (1—17), and 13 reported analogs (18—30) were isolated from Chloranthus japonicus Sieb. Compound 1 possesses an unprecedented 3/5/7/5/5/6/5/3 fused octacyclic scaffold, featuring a 6(5→4)‐abeo‐lindenane monomer, while 2 exhibits a 3/5/6/6/5/6/5/3 fused octacyclic scaffold. Their structures were determined through a combination of spectroscopic analyses and X‐ray crystallography. Compounds 1, 2, and 18 demonstrated significant inhibitory effects on lipid accumulation and effectively reduced the levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol, as well as the levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in a HepG2 cell model. In addition, compounds 1, 2, and 18 significantly suppressed the protein expression of the fatty acid synthase (FASN) and the sterol regulatory element‐binding protein 1 (SREBP1). Moreover, the anti‐inflammatory assay showed that compounds 19—22 and 25 inhibited the NO production induced by lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 macrophages with IC50 values of 7.89 ± 0.44, 6.25 ± 0.46, 2.98 ± 0.29, 10.77 ± 0.60, and 3.60 ± 0.28 μmol/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coiled-coil domain-containing protein 178 (CCDC178) has been revealed to exert metastasis-promoting properties in hepatocellular carcinoma, whereas its function in gastric cancer (GC) has not been fully understood. Aims: We evaluated its role in GC and the molecular mechanism. Methods: The differentially expressed genes in datasets related to GC metastasis were intersected with survival-related genes in GC, followed by prognostic significance prediction. Loss- and gain-of-function assays were conducted to examine the involvement of CCDC178, Homeobox protein BarH-like 1 (BARX1), and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in GC cell malignant phenotype and the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM). The corresponding functions were verified in the in vivo animal experiment. Results: High CCDC178 expression predicted a poor prognosis for GC patients, and CCDC178 correlated significantly with macrophage infiltration in GC tissues. CCDC178 activated the ERK pathway in GC. Silencing of CCDC178 reduced the colony formation, migratory and invasive potential of GC cells, and the M2-like polarization of TAM, which was reversed by TBHQ (an ERK activator). BARX1 bound to the promoter region of CCDC178, thus inducing its transcriptional level. Silencing of BARX1 suppressed the M2-type polarization of TAM in vitro and in vivo, and CCDC178 mitigated the repressing role of BARX1 knockdown. Conclusions: BARX1 activates the transcription of CCDC178 to induce the ERK pathway, thereby supporting macrophage recruitment and M2-like polarization in GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To build the foundation of food security and accelerate the pace of building a strong agricultural country, it is necessary to promote the high-quality development of agriculture. This is not only the core path of Chinese-style modernization, but also the key to meeting international and domestic development challenges. In the great journey towards Chinese-style modernization, we must deeply realize that the development of the times, the international situation and domestic demand have jointly shaped the important position of building a strong agricultural country. At present, it is necessary not only to enhance the comprehensive agricultural production capacity, but also to promote the rural economic revitalization and enhance the consumption capacity of rural residents. In addition, it is necessary to give full play to the diversity of agricultural science and technology, improve the sustainable development of rural environment and enhance the competitiveness of agriculture. Therefore, promoting the construction of a powerful agricultural country is an urgent need to pay equal attention to the yield, quality, and safety of food. To promote the construction of a strong agricultural country and consolidate the foundation of food security with Chinese-style modernization, the following measures should be taken: Optimizing the food security system to ensure national food security, accelerate scientific and technological research and realize technological innovation of grain production, explore the diversified development model of agriculture and promote the transformation and upgrading of agricultural industrial structure, promote the construction of agricultural management organizations and improve the efficiency of agricultural management, empowering opening to the outside world and enhancing the competitiveness of Chinese agricultural products in the global market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viscosity is a crucial indicator of the cellular microenvironment, which can affect the normal level of cellular metabolism. Aberrant levels of viscosity can result in the emergence of a variety of physiological problems including diabetes, Parkinson's disease, inflammation, etc. Therefore, it is crucial to exploit effective assays that can detect viscosity levels in living cells and organisms. Three new nitrogen-containing heterocyclic fluorescent probes, CNO, CNN and CNNB, were designed and prepared by coupling curcumin with isoxazole, pyrazole, and phenylpyrazole rings, respectively. The fluorescence response properties of these probes to the viscosity level were analyzed in parallel. All the probes, CNO, CNN and CNNB, exhibited a significantly enhanced fluorescence response to viscosity in a broad pH range with excellent photostability, sensitivity and anti-interference ability. The sensing mechanisms of these probes for viscosity were verified by DFT calculations. In addition, these probes were successfully employed for detecting viscosity levels in living HeLa cells and zebrafish. This research compares the viscosity-responsive capabilities of curcumin-based fluorescent probes containing different nitrogen-containing heterocyclic structures, and provides a new design strategy and guidance for developing curcumin-based fluorescent probes for viscosity analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scale and duration of neutralizing antibody responses targeting SARS-CoV-2 viral variants represents a critically important serological parameter that predicts protective immunity for COVID-19. In this study, we describe the development and employment of a new functional assay that measures neutralizing antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 and present longitudinal data illustrating the impact of age, sex and comorbidities on the kinetics and strength of vaccine-induced antibody responses for key variants in an Asian volunteer cohort. We also present an accurate quantitation of serological responses for SARS-CoV-2 that exploits a unique set of in-house, recombinant human monoclonal antibodies targeting the viral Spike and nucleocapsid proteins and demonstrate a reduction in neutralizing antibody titres across all groups 6 months post-vaccination. We also observe a marked reduction in the serological binding activity and neutralizing responses targeting recently newly emerged Omicron variants including XBB 1.5 and highlight a significant increase in cross-protective neutralizing antibody responses following a third dose (boost) of vaccine. These data illustrate how key virological factors such as immune escape mutations combined with host demographic factors such as age and sex of the vaccinated individual influence the strength and duration of cross-protective serological immunity for COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge graphs are knowledge bases that represent entities and relations in the objective world through graph structure, and they have a boosting effect on many artificial intelligence tasks. To facilitate the development of downstream artificial intelligence tasks, knowledge graph embedding (KGE) is proposed. It aims to express semantic information for each entity and relation in the knowledge graph within a low-dimensional space. However, when it comes to semantic hierarchy, multiple relation patterns and multi-fold relational structures in knowledge graphs, most of the existing models tend to focus on only one or two aspects, often neglecting the importance of considering all three simultaneously. Therefore, we propose a new knowledge graph embedding model, Hierarchical relation and Entity Rotation-based Multi-Feature knowledge graph Embedding (HERotMFE). Concerning hierarchical relation rotation and entity rotation, it can represent semantic hierarchy, multiple relation patterns and multi-fold relations simultaneously. Self-attention mechanism is used to learn the weights of the two-part rotation to further enhance the model's performance. According to the findings of the experiments, HERotMFE outperforms existing models on most metrics and achieves state-of-the-art results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiac steatosis is an early yet overlooked feature of diabetic cardiomyopathy. There is no available therapy to treat this condition. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are used as first or second-line therapy in different types of cancer. In cancer patients with diabetes mellitus, TKIs reportedly improved glycemic control, allowing insulin discontinuation. They also reduced liver steatosis in a murine model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The present study aimed to determine the therapeutic effect of the second-generation TKI Dasatinib on lipid accumulation and cardiac function in obese, type 2 diabetic mice. We also assessed if the drug impacts extra-cardiac fat tissue depots. Methods: Two studies on 21-week-old male obese leptin receptor mutant BKS.Cg-+Leprdb/+Leprdb/OlaHsd (db/db) mice compared the effect of Dasatinib (5 mg/kg) and vehicle (10% DMSO + 90% PEG-300) given via gavage once every three days for a week or once every week for four weeks. Functional and volumetric indices were studied using echocardiography. Post-mortem analyses included the assessment of fat deposits and fibrosis using histology, and senescence using immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. The anti-adipogenic action of Dasatinib was investigated on human bone marrow (BM)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Unpaired parametric or non-parametric tests were used to compare two and multiple groups as appropriate. Results: Dasatinib reduced steatosis and fibrosis in the heart of diabetic mice. The drug also reduced BM adiposity but did not affect other fat depots. These structural changes were associated with improved diastolic indexes, specifically the E/A ratio and non-flow time. Moreover, Dasatinib-treated mice had lower levels of p16 in the heart compared with vehicle-treated controls, suggesting an inhibitory impact of the drug on the senescence signalling pathway. In vitro, Dasatinib inhibited human BM-MSC viability and adipogenesis commitment. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that Dasatinib opposes heart and BM adiposity and cardiac fibrosis. In the heart, this was associated with favourable functional consequences, namely improvement in an index of diastolic function. Repurposing TKI for cardiac benefit could address the unmet need of diabetic cardiac steatosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic cores are essential intermediate mediums in casting superalloy hollow turbine blades. The developing of additive manufacturing (AM) technology provides a new approach for the preparation of ceramic cores with complex structure. In this study, alumina oxide (Al 2 O 3) ceramic cores with fine complex geometric shapes were fabricated by digital light processing (DLP) in high resolution. The maximum solid content of 70 vol% of ceramic slurry was adopted in the printing process, which is important for the regulation of deformations and mechanical properties. The effects of the printing parameters, including exposure intensity, printing layer thickness and sintering temperature on the microstructures and mechanical properties of printed samples were investigated. The decrease of residual stress and similar shrinkage in X, Y, and Z directions could be obtained by adjusting the printing parameters, which are crucial to prepare complex ceramic cores with high quality. Besides, the flexure strength and open porosity of ceramic cores reached 34.84 MPa and 26.94%, respectively, which were supposed to meet the requirement of ceramic cores for the fabrication of superalloy blades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the gelation mechanism of mung bean starch (MBS) as affected by addition of edible alum, the physicochemical properties of MBS gels and their gelation process under 0–0.25 % of alum addition were studied. The results showed that alum incorporation enhanced the gel texture and starch-water interaction in a concentration-dependent manner. With increasing amount of alum addition, the pH value and ζ-potential of MBS decreased, while the swelling power, pasting viscosity, the leached amylose content, gelation temperature, short-range ordered structure and the crystallinity of MBS gels increased. It is believed that alum addition improved the texture of MBS gels by promoting amylose leaching, starch aggregation and recrystallization. The increase in starch-water interaction might be due to the destruction of MBS structure by polar ions and the formation of clathrates by leached amylose and Al3+ ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon capture utilization and storage technique (CCUS) is an effective way to mitigate climate change. Carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration binders (CSB) composed of hydrated lime (CH) and cement has great application prospects in CCUS. Although CH in CSB can improve the carbon absorption capacity, it causes a significant decrease in flexural strength. This study focused on the effect of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) on the CO2 absorption capacity and flexural strength of CSB. The results show that PVA is beneficial to enhancing the flexural strength of CSB either under natural carbonation or accelerated carbonation. This enhancement is more pronounced at an early age for CSB with high CH content. Furthermore, CO2 uptake experiments show that the PVA would not reduce the CO2 absorption of CSB and even has a slight improvement effect. Finally, thermodynamic modeling and price calculation were adopted for CSB to illustrate the chemical phase and economic cost changes. The outcomes of this study shed new light on PVA to optimize CSB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Although a few research have tried to explore the relationship between problematic smartphone use (PSU) and school engagement, most of them are limited to relatively simple correlation, and the mechanism needs to be further explored. This research focused on the relationship between PSU and school engagement/disengagement, and intended to verify two mediation paths. Methods: We conducted two studies in 2019 at a middle school in China. 289 students (44.6% girls), aged 11–18 (Mage = 13.25, standard deviation [SD] = 1.73), participated in Study 1, a longitudinal cross‐lag analysis intend to verify the relationship between PSU and school engagement/disengagement. Using a separate sample, Study 2 explored the mediating roles of academic procrastination and sleep quality. Four hundred thirty‐two students aged 11–19 (42.1% girls, Mage = 16.11, SD = 1.56) participated in this cross‐sectional study. In both studies, all participants completed self‐report measures in classrooms during regular school hours. Results: In Study 1, the results showed that PSU (T1) could significantly predict school engagement/disengagement (T2), but school engagement/disengagement (T1) could not predict PSU (T2). In Study 2, we found that academic procrastination could mediate the effect of PSU on school engagement, and sleep quality could mediate the effect of PSU on both school engagement and disengagement. Conclusions: Results highlighted that the school engagement/disengagement of adolescents can be influenced by PSU through several different ways, through which we can protect adolescents from the negative effects of PSU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop an alarm device for the mechanical compression device displacement (MCD), and further evaluate its effectiveness in clinical use. The alarm device is mainly composed of buzzer, indicator light, magnetic sheet. This is a prospective randomized and controlled study. Four hundred patients who met the inclusion/exclusion criteria were included and randomly assigned to two groups (MCD group vs alarm + MCD group). The primary outcome measures were the sensitivity and specificity of the alarm device to detect MCD displacement, time to hemostasis (TTH), time to ambulation (TTA), time to hospital discharge (TTHD), hospital costs (HC), complication rates, and patient satisfaction. The sensitivity and specificity of the alarm device in detecting MCD displacement were 94.44% and 88.46%, respectively. The study group achieved shorter TTH (p =.034), shorter TTA (p =.021), lower complication rates (p =.025), and better patients' satisfaction (p <.001) compared to the control group. However, no significant difference was observed in TTHD (p =.361) and HC (p =.583). The alarm device is highly sensitive in detecting MCD displacement, while achieving better clinical outcomes compared with artificial monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (S-AKI) is a critical illness and is often associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. The soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is an important immune mediator and is involved in kidney injury. However, its diagnostic value in S-AKI patients remains unclear. Therefore, we assessed the early predictive value of suPAR for S-AKI patients. We prospectively enrolled adult patients, immediately after fulfilling the sepsis-3 criteria. Plasma suPAR levels at 0-, 12-, 24-, and 48-h post-sepsis diagnosis were measured. S-AKI development was the primary outcome. S-AKI risk factors were analyzed using logistic regression, and the value of plasma suPAR for early S-AKI diagnosis was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Of 179 sepsis patients, 63 (35.2%) developed AKI during hospitalization. At 12-, 24-, and 48-h post-sepsis diagnosis, plasma suPAR levels were significantly higher in patients with S-AKI than in patients without S-AKI (p < 0.05). The plasma suPAR had the highest area under the ROC curve of 0.700 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.621–0.779) at 24-h post-sepsis diagnosis, at which the best discrimination ability for S-AKI was achieved with suPAR of ≥6.31 ng/mL (sensitivity 61.9% and specificity 71.6%). Logistic regression analysis showed that suPAR at 24-h post-sepsis diagnosis remained an independent S-AKI risk factor after adjusting for mechanical ventilation, blood urea nitrogen, and pH. The findings suggest that plasma suPAR may be a potential biomarker for early S-AKI diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CircZBTB44 (hsa_circ_0002484) has been identified to be upregulated in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tissues, while its role and contribution in RCC remain elusive. We confirmed the overexpression of circZBTB44 in RCC cells compared to normal kidney cell HK-2. CircZBTB44 knockdown suppressed the viability, proliferation, and migration of RCC cells and inhibited tumorigenesis in xenograft mouse models. Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein C (HNRNPC) and Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) are two RNA binding proteins of circZBTB44. HNRNPC facilitated the translocation of circZBTB44 from nuclei to cytoplasm via m6A modification, facilitating the interaction of IGF2BP3 and circZBTB44 in the cytoplasm of RCC cells. Furthermore, circZBTB44 upregulated Hexokinase 3 (HK3) expression by binding to IGF2BP3 in RCC cells. HK3 exerted oncogenic effects on RCC cell malignant behaviors and tumor growth. In the co-culture of RCC cells with macrophages, circZBTB44 promoted M2 polarization of macrophages by up-regulating HK3. In summary, HNRNPC mediated circZBTB44 interaction with IGF2BP3 to up-regulate HK3, promoting the proliferation and migration of RCC cells in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. The results of the study shed new light on the targeted therapy of RCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor microenvironment (TME)-induced nanocatalytic therapy is a trending strategy for tumor-targeting therapy, but the low catalytic efficiency remains to limit its therapeutic effect. The single-atom catalysts (SACs) appear as a novel type of nanozymes that possesses incredible catalytic activity. Here, we developed PEGylated manganese/iron-based SACs (Mn/Fe PSACs) by coordinating single-atom Mn/Fe to nitrogen atoms in hollow zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs). Mn/Fe PSACs catalyze cellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) converting to hydroxyl radical (•OH) through a Fenton-like reaction; it also enhances the decomposition of H2O2 to O2 that continuously converts to cytotoxic superoxide ion (•O2−) via oxidase-like activity. Mn/Fe PSACs can reduce the depletion of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by consuming glutathione (GSH). Here, we demonstrated the Mn/Fe PSACs-mediated synergistic antitumor efficacy among in vitro and in vivo experiments. This study proposes new promising single-atom nanozymes with highly efficient biocatalytic sites and synergistic therapeutic effects, which will give birth to abundant inspirations in ROS-related biological applications in broad biomedical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To elucidate the behavior of fluoride evaporation in an electroslag remelting process, the non-isothermal evaporation of the low-fluoride CaF2-CaO-Al2O3-MgO-TiO2-(Na2O-K2O) slag is studied using thermogravimetric analysis. The evaporation law of the melted slag is further verified using thermodynamic calculations. Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is used to evaluate the change in slag structure. It is discovered that the principal evaporating substances are CaF2, KF, and NaF, while the evaporation of MgF2, AlF3, and AlOF is less. KF evaporates absolutely in the early stage of the reaction, and CaF2 evaporates in a large proportion during the late reaction period. At 1500 °C, the order of vapor pressure is KF > CaF2. When K2O and Na2O are added to the residue sample at the same time, the evaporation ability of KF is stronger than that of CaF2 and NaF. As the K2O content increases from 0 to 8.3 wt%, evaporation increases from 0.76% to 1.21%. The evaporation rates of samples containing more K2O and those containing more Na2O are 1.48% and 1.32%, respectively. Under the same conditions, K2O has a greater effect on evaporation than Na2O. FTIR results show that the addition of K2O depolymerizes the network structure and that K2O can depolymerize the network structure better than Na2O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Packaging is a pivotal step in electronic device manufacturing, determining the translational performance of bare chips. In summary, although emerging technologies might be quite different when electronic devices turn "soft", the essence of electronic packaging technology will always focus on the interconnection, integration, and protection of associated microsystems. More broadly, for the development of mainstream "Hard" packaging technology, that is, "More Moore" or "More-than-Moore", gives us opportunities to explore the unknown with non-generic packaging designs for integrated circuit (IC), micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS), optoelectronics, lasing photonics, and power electronics, among others. Currently, the total number of micro-bumps in a single advanced integrated circuit (IC) chip has already surpassed 100,000, and the pitch size between adjacent microbumps can be lower than 20 m. Therefore, the continuing pursuit of bonding technology [[5]] is driven by the down-scaling trend of microbumps with an ultra-fine pitch for a more compact and reliable design of 3D packaging architectures. [Extracted from the article]

The effects of Limosilactobacillusfermentum 332 on quality characteristics in fermented sausage were explored in terms of physicochemical characteristics, volatile flavor components, and Quorum sensing (QS). The results showed that the pH of fermented sausage decreased from 5.20 to 4.54 within 24 h with the inoculation of L.fermentum 332. Lightness and redness were significantly improved, and hardness and chewiness were significantly increased after the addition of L.fermentum 332. With the inoculation of L.fermentum 332, the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance content decreased from 0.26 to 0.19 mg/100 g and total volatile basic nitrogen content decreased from 2.16 to 1.61 mg/100 g. In total, 95 and 104 types of volatile flavor components were detected in the control and fermented sausage inoculated with starter culture, respectively. The AI-2 activity of fermented sausage inoculated with L.fermentum 332 was significantly higher than that of the control and positively correlated with viable count and quality characteristics. These results provide support for further research on the effect of microorganisms on the quality of fermented food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emblematic of the ubiquitous wet markets in China, the live‐poultry trade has far‐reaching influences on Chinese people's diet, culinary art, social interactions, and cultural identities. Since the COVID‐19 pandemic began, the live‐poultry trade has also borne the brunt of this public health crisis due to its notorious history of spreading avian flu and its association with the spread of coronavirus. There have been serious consequences—successive open‐ended bans on live poultry trade at urban markets have been announced by several cities, Wuxi, China, included. Based on seven‐week field research on a conventional live‐poultry stall at a major wet market in Wuxi, this article examines the live‐poultry stall's work setting, interactions between live‐poultry vendors and consumers in building and practicing culinary values (including food qualities and cooking mastery), ethical issues around live‐poultry slaughtering, and how the local Wuxi government contrives to rehabilitate the city from an "endemic" business via an epidemic. We argue that there are underlying political agendas relating to cravings for modernity and urbanization behind a seemingly radical hygienic discourse, which tends to proselytize cultural customs and suppress the social functions of public space. The live‐poultry stall thus undergoes intersectional framing as a "culinary oasis" versus a "petri dish," and a "social courtyard" versus a "political theater," in this national anti‐epidemic movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate photoactivated disinfection (PAD) to treat acute pseudomembranous stomatitis, an animal model was established. Six‐week‐old male ICR mice were inoculated with Candida albicans under immunosuppression then divided into three groups (15 mice per group). Pseudomembranous area was measured, then mice had 1 mg mL−1 toluidine blue solution spread on the area, left for 1 min (PAD‐1 group) or 2 min (PAD‐2 group), then irradiated with a 750 mW LED red light for 1 min, a control group received no treatment. Fungal load was measured immediately; after 48 h of observation pseudomembranous area and fungal load were measured. The mice were sacrificed and histopathological examination was performed. Before treatment, pseudomembranous area scores were similar (3 to 4 points) in all groups; 48 h after treatment, the treatment groups' scores were lower (1 to 2 points) than the control group (3 to 4 points, P < 0.05). Immediately after treatment and 48 h later, the fungal loads of the treatment groups were lower than the control group (both P < 0.05). Histopathology of the treatment groups improved more than controls. The treatment groups' results were similar. Therefore, this method of PAD, with short treatment time, reduced the fungal load and pseudomembranous area scores in a mouse model of acute pseudomembranous stomatitis and may have clinical potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface treatment technology is an effective method to reinforce the durability of concrete. In this study, cement-based materials containing industrial solid wastes were modified by hybrid nano-silica (HN), then applied as a novel surface protection material (SPM-HN). The effect of SPM-HN on surface hardness of mortar matrix exposed to seawater was investigated. Further, the microstructure was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The results show SPM-HN could significantly enhance the surface hardness of matrix in seawater curing, and the rebound number is increased by 94%.The microstructure analysis demonstrates that the incorporation of HN inhibits the formation of ettringite, thaumasite, and Friedel's salt. In addition, thermodynamic modeling shows the incorporation of hybrid nano-silica could generate more C-S-H, and decrease the maximum volume of Friedel's salt when SPM is exposed to seawater. This research indicates SPM-HN can be applied as a concrete protective layer in the marine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the uniform parallel well pattern widely used in shale gas cluster well, the directional drilling limits (DDL) can better reflect the productivity of shale gas cluster well than extended-reach limits (ERL). In this paper, the concept of directional drilling limits is proposed to predict the productivity of shale gas cluster well. Around this concept, the forecast model of mechanical directional drilling limits is established by introducing the objective function, geometric constraints, mechanical constraints and operation conditions. A shale gas cluster well developed by Sinopec in Fuling field is analyzed. The mechanical directional drilling limits for different constraints are calculated, and the laws of the directional drilling limits under different operation conditions are analyzed. The results indicate that the cluster well optimized by the established model can drill more horizontal wells than that without optimization. The mechanical directional drilling limits firstly increases and tends to stable with the increases in the holding angles. Besides, running-in is the limit operation in sliding and rotating mode, and high friction coefficient is the fundamental mechanical constraint for directional drilling limits. The constrained optimization model established in this paper can provide a theoretical guidance for shale gas cluster well engineering to improve outputs and avoid drilling hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To realize the construction of smart cities, the fine management of various street objects is very important. In dealing with the form of objects, it is considered a pursuit of normativeness and precision. Store signboards are a tangible manifestation of urban culture. However, due to factors such as high spatial heterogeneity, interference from other ground objects, and occlusion, it is difficult to obtain accurate information from store signboards. In this article, in response to this problem, we propose the OSO-YOLOv5 network. Based on the YOLOv5 network, we improve the C3 module in the backbone, and propose an improved spatial pyramid pooling model. Finally, the channel and spatial attention modules are added to the neck structure. Under the constraint of rectangular features, this method integrates location attention and topology reconstruction, realizes automatic extraction of information from store signboards, improves computational efficiency, and effectively suppresses the effect of occlusion. Experiments were carried out on two self-labeled datasets. The quantitative analysis shows that the proposed model can achieve a high level of accuracy in the detection of store signboards. Compared with other mainstream object detection methods, the average precision (AP) is improved by 5.0–37.7%. More importantly, the related procedures have certain application potential in the field of smart city construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examined the possibility of using industrial microwave processing to enhance the gelling properties and reduce the starch digestibility of mung bean flour (MBF). MBF (12.6 % moisture) was microwaved at a power of 6 W/g to different final temperatures (100–130 °C), and then its structural and functional properties were characterized. The microwave treatment had little impact on the crystalline structure or amylose content of the starch, but it roughened the starch granule surfaces and decreased the short-range ordered structure and degree of branching. In addition, the extent of mung bean protein denaturation caused by the microwave treatment depended on the final temperature. Slightly denaturing the proteins (100 °C) did not affect the nature of the gels (protein phase dispersed in a starch phase) but the gel network became more compact. Moderately denaturing the proteins (110–120 °C) led to more compact and homogeneous starch-protein double network gels. Excessive protein denaturation (130 °C) caused the gel structure to become more heterogeneous. As a result, the facilitated tangles between starch chains by more linear starch molecules after debranching, and the protein network produced by moderate protein denaturation led to the formation of stronger gel and the improvement of plasticity during large deformation (large amplitude oscillatory shear-LAOS). Starch recrystallization, lipid complexion, and protein network retard starch digestion in the MBF gels. In conclusion, an industrial microwave treatment improved the gelling and digestive properties of MBF, and Lissajous curve has good adaptability in characterizing the viscoelasticity of gels under large deformations. [Display omitted] • Microwave treatment facilitated starch debranching and protein denaturation. • Starch debranching improved the tangle and plasticity during LAOS. • Moderate protein denaturation led to uniform starch-protein double network gels. • The denser double gel network is beneficial for retard starch digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Moisture content is vital for starch-lipid/protein interaction during heating. • Two gel textures appeared at different moisture levels: soft solids and pasty fluids. • Starch-lipid/protein interactions decreased starch digestion rate. Effects of heat treatment (100 °C) at different moisture content (13–70 %) on the structural, gelation and digestive properties of starch in real mung bean flour (MBF) systems are investigated. The results showed that the structural destruction of the starch, the starch-lipid complexion and starch-protein interaction were promoted with increasing moisture content. The starch-protein interaction was mainly driven by hydrophobic interaction forces, leading the increase of total phase transition enthalpy. Even though starch retained ordered structure after heating at 50 %–70 % moisture, the typical pasting curve almost disappeared. The less leached amylose to construct the continuous phase, and more flexible amylopectin swollen granules dispersed in the matrix may weakened the viscoelasticity of the gels. As a result, two distinct gel textures were presented: soft solids with good water-binding capacity (below 30 %) and pasty fluids (above 40 %). Starch-lipid/protein interactions were demonstrated to retard the digestion rate of starch during MBS gelatinization according to the two-stage first-order kinetic and LOS (logarithm of the slope) models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Discovery of increased Trim27 expression in asthma. • The deletion of Trim27 effectively relieved ovalbumin (OVA)-induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and lung tissue histopathological changes. • Verification of Trim27's impact on asthma symptoms and Revealing Trim27's role in promoting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory disease, yet understanding its ecology and pathogenesis remains a challenge. Trim27, a ubiquitination ligase belonging to the TRIM (tripartite motif-containing) family, has been implicated in regulating multiple pathophysiological processes such as inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and cell proliferation. However, the role of Trim27 in asthma has not been investigated. Our study found that Trim27 expression significantly increases in the airway epithelium of asthmatic mice. Knockdown of Trim27 expression effectively relieved ovalbumin (OVA)-induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and lung tissue histopathological changes. Moreover, Trim27 knockdown exhibited a significant reduction in airway inflammation and oxidative stress in asthmatic mice, and in vitro analysis confirmed the favorable effect of Trim27 deletion on inflammation and oxidative stress in mouse airway epithelial cells. Furthermore, our study revealed that deletion of Trim27 in MLE12 cells significantly decreased NLRP3 inflammasome activation, as evidenced by reduced expression of NLRP3, ASC, and pro-IL-1β mRNA. This downregulation was reversed when Trim27, but not its mutant lacking ubiquitination ligase activity, was replenished in these cells. Consistent with these findings, protein levels of NLRP3, pro-caspase-1, pro-IL-1β, cleaved-caspase-1, and cleaved-IL-1β were higher in Trim27-replenished cells compared to cells expressing Trim27C/A. Functionally, the downregulation of IL-1β and IL-18 levels induced by Trim27 deletion was rescued by replenishing Trim27. Overall, our findings provide evidence that Trim27 contributes to airway inflammation and oxidative stress in asthmatic mice via NLRP3 inflammasome activation, providing crucial insights into potential therapeutic interventions targeting Trim27 as a way to treat asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously, we presented a green and efficient separation method for soluble undenatured type II collagen (SC II) based on the complex coacervation of SC II and anionic polysaccharides, and demonstrated the significant impact of molecular weight (M w). In this study, we combined differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), microscale thermophoresis (MST) and molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) to further explore the affinity and interaction types of SC II with different anionic polysaccharides. Results showed that the denaturation temperature of SC II increased (about 3 °C) after complex coacervating with chondroitin sulfate (CS, a small anionic polysaccharide), which might be related to their strong affinity (dissociation constant of K d and binding energy were about 3.04 × 10−6 mg/mL and −4054.97 kJ/mol, respectively), and the molecular weight of anionic polysaccharides had a greater impact than chain conformation. The non-covalent interactions between SC II and anionic polysaccharides were mainly hydrogen bonds, followed by hydrophobic interactions and ionic bonds. The hydroxyl and sulfate groups in polysaccharides could form extensive hydrogen bonds and small amount of ionic bonds with a large number of amino acids in SC II, and the hydrophobic groups such as methyl also formed hydrophobic interactions with hydrophobic parts in SC II (such as Pro82, Pro85, Val88). Importantly, the smaller the M w of anionic polysaccharides, the faster they formed stable interactions with SC II. Therefore, anionic polysaccharides with smaller M w had higher affinity and faster non-covalent interactions formation speed with SC II, resulting in more compact structure and higher thermal stability of the complexes. [Display omitted] • Anionic polysaccharides with smaller M w had stronger affinity with SC Ⅱ. • Thermal stability of SC II increased after combining with chondroitin sulfate and pectin. • Hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions were the main non-covalent interactions. • Small M w of anionic polysaccharides was beneficial to the interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain (BC) maintains a continuously growing database in a "decentralized" way, and its impact on the financial auditing industry is becoming increasingly significant. This paper aims to study the research on financial automation auditing methods supported by blockchain technology and proposes the related concepts of blockchain technology, hash function, financial auditing analysis, and the impact of BP Neural Network (BPNN) and its algorithms on financial automation auditing methods. Simultaneously, this paper likewise disperses the poll overview to definite individuals, for example, endeavor, monetary work force, focus and ranking directors, university researchers, and specialists, who have pragmatic support in the execution and use of monetary review. The experimental results of this paper show that speculation based on the interconnected environment is the most basic natural factor for understanding this idea, and its score is also the largest at 4.36 points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention is a particularly important indicator in life, as inattention can lead to many negative consequences. As a non-invasive intervention, real-time neurofeedback training can effectively enhance individuals' attention adjustment abilities. However, previous studies have neglected to consider differences among individuals. In this study, an individualized neurofeedback training (INT) method based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was proposed for attention improvement and compared with non-individualized neurofeedback training (NINT). The neurofeedback channels and thresholds were determined individually for each subject. Then, participants conducted four runs of neurofeedback training. Two attention tests (i.e., AX version of continuous performance task (AX-CPT) and attention network test (ANT)) were used to assess the performance of the neurofeedback training. The length of time that the two groups of participants continuously kept their oxygenated hemoglobin concentration above a threshold showed an increasing trend, and the improvement rate of the INT group was higher than that of the NINT group. The reaction times for both groups showed a downward trend, but the INT group declined more significantly. In the fNIRS data, it was observed that the activation degree of the INT group in the middle and dorsolateral prefrontal areas was higher than that of the NINT group. It is preliminarily proved that the proposed INT method can effectively improve the attention level, and its overall performance is better than that of the NINT method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various problems are often encountered during the backfilling process of deep foundation pits. The development of low-cost and efficient solidified materials for the preparation of fluidized solidified soil is currently an ideal solution. This article used industrial solid waste (granulated blast furnace slag, fly ash, carbide slag, etc.) as the main raw material to study the hydration hardening properties of solidified materials and the construction feasibility of fluidized solidified soil prepared from solid waste materials. The results are as follows: Compared with cement-based materials, solid waste-based solidified materials had lower early activity. The cumulative heat release within 72 h was less than 200 J/g. Different solid wastes, such as fly ash and carbide slag, had different effects on the properties of solidified materials. Overall, they had the potential to prepare fluidized solidified soil. The prepared fluidized solidified soil had a fluidity greater than 350 mm, a 28d compressive strength greater than 3 MPa, and exhibited good workability and excellent mechanical properties. Hydration products such as C-S-H and AFt were filled in the soil structure. The 28d compressive strength well above the design requirements of general engineering projects. Meanwhile, the prepared fluidized solidified soil had good adaptability to conventional water reducers (fluidity could be increased by more than 40%) and early strength agents (1d compressive strength could be increased by more than 60%). • Use fluidized solidified soil to solve the problem of backfilling deep foundation pits. • Utilize the synergy between industrial solid waste to improve the solidification effect. • Establish the connection between solidified materials and fluidized solidified soil. • The adaptability of fluidized solidified soil to admixtures was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A self-standing, robust bacterial cellulose (BC)-based multifunctional composite membrane embedded with desirable nano-adsorbents has been successfully fabricated VIA a facile versatile strategy. As expected, the developed BC-based composite membrane enables the simultaneous and efficient removal of multiple co-existing pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing programmed death ligand‐1 (PD‐L1) expression in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly in metastatic cases, remains challenging. In this study, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis and [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐WL12 micro‐PET/CT imaging are performed. [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐WL12 PET/CT and [18F]FDG PET/CT are performed on a cohort of 20 patients with NSCLC. Semi‐quantitative assessments include SUVmax, metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and target‐to‐background ratio (TBR). DOTA‐WL12 exhibits robust PD‐L1 binding with a KD value of 0.2 nM. Subsequent human studies reveal significant correlations between PD‐L1 expression and the [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐WL12 SUVmax in primary and metastatic lesions, surpassing the [18F]FDG results (r = 0.8889, p <0.0001 vs r = 0.0469, p = 0.8127). Notably, [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐WL12 imaging discerned SUVmax and TBR differences between PD‐L1 TPS ≤1% and PD‐L1 TPS > 1% groups (p all <0.001). In an NSCLC patient with brain metastases, [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐WL12 shows a SUVmean of 0.04 in the brain background, with TBR values of 17 and 23, underscoring its potential for detecting brain metastases. The study provides initial evidence for the clinical utility of [68Ga]Ga‐DOTA‐WL12 PET/CT for lesion detection, immunotherapy selection, and therapeutic efficacy evaluation in PD‐L1‐expressing NSCLC, demonstrating its potential as a valuable tool in NSCLC research and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quorum-sensing (QS) system between the phages and their hosts is important for the phage lysis-lysogeny decision. In Vibrio cholerae , the QS system consists of a LuxR-type receptor VqmA (VqmA Vc) and an autoinducer molecule 3,5-dimethylpyrazin-2-ol (DPO). A VqmA homolog encoded by vibriophage VP882 (VqmA Phage) can intervene the host QS system via binding to both the host-produced DPO and its cognate promoter (P qtip) to induce the phage lysogeny-to-lysis transition, whereas VqmA Vc cannot influence the VqmA Phage -induced pathway, suggesting an asymmetry regulation. In this study, we report the crystal structure of VqmA Phage -DPO complex at 2.65 Å and reveal that the mechanism of DPO recognition is conserved in VqmA homologs. Besides, we identify a non-classical palindrome sequence in P qtip , which can be effectively recognized by VqmA Phage but not VqmA Vc. The sequence contains an interval longer than that in the vqmR promoter recognized by VqmA Vc. In addition, the two DBD regions in the VqmA Phage dimer exhibit more relaxed architecture than that of the reported VqmA Vc , which is likely to be in the conformation that may easily bind to target promoter containing a longer interval. In summary, our findings provide a structural and biochemical basis for the DBD-dependent DNA recognition in different promoter regions in the phage lysogeny-to-lysis decision communication system, and provide clues for developing phage therapies against Vibrio cholerae infection. • The crystal structure of VqmA Phage -DPO complex was solved. • The molecular mechanism of DPO recognition is conserved in VqmA homologs. • DBD domain of VqmA Phage is important in qtip promoter recognition. • The target qtip promoter region of VqmA Phage was identified. • Demonstrates the difference of DNA sites recognized by VqmA Phage and VqmA Vc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce the notions of a four-angle Hopf quasimodule and an adjoint quasiaction over a Hopf quasigroup H in a symmetric monoidal category C. If H possesses an adjoint quasiaction, we show that symmetric Yetter-Drinfeld categories are trivial, and hence we obtain a braided monoidal category equivalence between the category of right Yetter-Drinfeld modules over H and the category of four-angle Hopf modules over H under some suitable conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The choice of location and orientation of the surface target-hitting point significantly affects the well productivity and wellbore stability of the reservoir. Thus, before starting actual drilling, the optimal location of the entering point and the direction of the well trajectory are determined by the numerical simulation method. However, the coordinates of the actual landing point and the direction vector of the trajectory are calculated assuming that the target-hitting surface of the reservoir is a plane. Compared with the curved target-hitting surface model, the planar model does not consider the actual shape of the reservoir surface, which can affect the accuracy of calculations. The inaccuracy of the simulation model can cause inaccurate landing and increase the operational costs of the drilling. In this paper, we propose a mathematical background for target-hitting trajectory design in the case of a nonplanar target-hitting surface. First, the elliptical truncated cone surface is assumed as the target-hitting surface due to its complex and diverse shape. Second, the vector algebra method is applied to develop a geometric model of the wellbore trajectory and elliptical truncated cone surface. Third, the target-hitting trajectory design model is established, and the model is solved by a genetic algorithm. Finally, a case study is performed. The off-target distance calculated by the horizontal circular target-hitting surface model is compared with the distance calculated by the horizontal elliptical target-hitting surface model and the proposed model. The case study indicates that the model established in this paper is more accurate than other models in the case of the elliptical truncated cone surface of the reservoir. The established model provides theoretical guidance for the target-hitting trajectory design for nonplanar surface reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quorum sensing (QS) exists in bacteria to communicate with each other and regulate group behaviors in a cell density-dependent manner, which uses signal molecule autoinducer-2 (AI-2) to intra- and inter-species communication. Effects of exogenous AI-2 on biofilm formation and environmental tolerance in Lactobacillus plantarum are the focus of this review. The responses to the exogenous AI-2 cross multiple physiological metabolic behaviors involving the bacteria growth, morphological characterization, biofilm development, extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) amount and related genes expression as well as the environmental stresses tolerance. The cell surface was smoother in the AI-2 supplemented treatments than without AI-2. Meanwhile, AI-2 had ability to promote the growth and formation of biofilm by increasing the yield of EPS, the main components of biofilm. The changes in lamC and ftsH gene expression point to altered regulation for hydrolysis process of polysaccharides as well as the potential for enhanced biofilm formation. The presence of AI-2 also significantly improved (p < 0.01) the tolerance of bile salts in L. plantarum , but the same results did not appear in acid tolerance. In conclusion, AI-2 supplementation could improve the biofilm formation and bile salts tolerance in L. plantarum , and this effect was likely modulated by facilitating EPS production and suppression polysaccharides hydrolysis. • The addition of AI-2 made the cell surface of L. plantarum smoother. • Exogenous AI-2 had positive impact on L. plantarum growth and biofilm formation. • Be promoted biofilm caused by more EPS secretion and reduced polysaccharide hydrolysis. • The ability of the strain to resist bile salts has increased under the action of AI-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a part of by-product generated during the incineration, the municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MFA) is a secondary pollutant. The ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based stabilization/solidification (S/S) is a prevalent and robust technique for the treatment of MFA, which can not only effectively dispose the MFA, but also decrease the demand of OPC and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. However, when MFA was directly utilized to partly replace the cement with a replacement ratio of 15%, the MFA-OPC based composites exhibited inferior mechanical properties. The nano silica (NS) was considered to be introduced to compensate for the strength loss caused by the MFA. In this research, the NS with varying dosages and particle sizes were integrated into the MFA-OPC composites and in total seven groups of the composites were prepared. The mechanical properties of the composites were examined and the results indicated that the composites containing 2 wt% 100 nm NS presented relatively superior mechanical properties. The incorporation of NS could increase the compressive strength of MFA-OPC composites by 37.5% at later age. Then, thermodynamic modelling and the micro-structural analysis including hydration heat, XRD, TG, MIP and SEM were coupling applied to probe into the NS modification mechanism. Experimental results indicated that the addition of NS enhanced the strength of OPC containing MFA at both early and later ages via pozzolanic reaction, hydration acceleration and micro filling effects. Overall considering the macro performance improvement and microstructure modification effect, the 2 wt% NS with particle size of 100 nm was recommended to be utilized. Therefore, this study expands the emerging application of NS and demonstrates that NS-augmented binders can ensure low-carbon and high-performance S/S of hazardous materials. • The nanoSiO 2 with varying particle sizes and dosages were utilized to compensate for the performance loss caused by the MFA. • The experimental analysis and thermodynamic modeling were coupling used to investigate the effect of nanoSiO 2 on the composites. • The optimal nanoSiO 2 particle size (100 nm) and dosage (2%) was recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kidneys are one of the targets for SARS-CoV-2, it is reported that up to 36% of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection would develop into acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI is associated with high mortality in the clinical setting and contributes to the transition of AKI to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Up to date, the underlying mechanisms are obscure and there is no effective and specific treatment for COVID-19-induced AKI. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms and interactions between Quercetin and SARS-CoV-2 targets proteins by using network pharmacology and molecular docking. The renal protective effects of Quercetin on COVID-19-induced AKI may be associated with the blockade of the activation of inflammatory, cell apoptosis-related signaling pathways. Quercetin may also serve as SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor by binding with the active sites of SARS-CoV-2 main protease 3CL and ACE2, therefore suppressing the functions of the proteins to cut the viral life cycle. In conclusion, Quercetin may be a novel therapeutic agent for COVID-19-induced AKI. Inhibition of inflammatory, cell apoptosis-related signaling pathways may be the critical mechanisms by which Quercetin protects kidney from SARS-CoV-2 injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• LPS preconditioning prevents CSDS-induced behavioral abnormalities in mice. • 10-days interval abolishes the effect of LPS on behavioral abnormalities. • A second LPS injection produces prophylactic effect on behavioral abnormalities. • Repeated LPS injection prior to stress exposure prevents behavioral abnormalities. • Microglial inhibition blocks the effect of LPS on behavioral abnormalities. Over-activation of the innate immune system constitutes a risk factor for the development of nervous system disorders but may reduce the severity of these disorders by inducing tolerance effect. Here, we studied the tolerance-inducing effect and properties of innate immune stimulation on chronic social defeat stress (CSDS)-induced behavioral abnormalities in mice. A single injection of the innate immune enhancer lipopolysaccharide (LPS) one day before stress exposure prevented CSDS-induced impairment in social interaction and increased immobility time in the tail suspension test and forced swimming test. This effect was observed at varying doses (100, 500, and 1000 μg/kg) and peaked at 100 μg/kg. A single LPS injection (100 μg/kg) either one or five but not ten days before stress exposure prevented CSDS-induced behavioral abnormalities. A second LPS injection ten days after the first LPS injection, or a 2 × or 4 × LPS injections ten days before stress exposure also induced tolerance against stress-induced behavioral abnormalities. Our results furthermore showed that a single LPS injection one day before stress exposure skewed the neuroinflammatory response in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of CSDS-exposed mice toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Inhibiting the central innate immune response by pretreatment with minocycline or PLX3397 abrogated the tolerance-inducing effect of LPS preconditioning on CSDS-induced behavioral abnormalities and neuroinflammatory responses in the brain. These results provide evidence for a prophylactic effect of innate immune stimulation on stress-induced behavioral abnormalities via changes in microglial activation, which may help develop novel strategies for the prevention of stress-induced psychological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are significant differences in pathology, etiology, clinical features, and treatment options between small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the differences of macrophage distribution and its associated function between SCLC and NSCLC are not fully investigated. Through methods of flow cytometry and cytometric bead array, we examined the levels of various subtypes of macrophages, monocytes, and regulatory T cells (Tregs) as well as interleukin (IL)-10 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with SCLC or NSCLC. Our study showed that the frequency of CD14+, CD206+CD14+ and IL-10+CD206+CD14+M2-like macrophages were significantly increased, with simultaneously elevated IL-10 in BALF of SCLC patients, as compared to those in BALF of NSCLC patients. Furthermore, the increased frequency of IL-10+CD206+CD14+M2-like macrophages and elevated level of IL-10 in BALF of SCLC patients were positively correlated with advanced tumor stage, but negatively correlated with their survival time. On the other hand, the level of supernatant IL-10 and frequency of IL-10+CD206+CD14+M2-like macrophages in SCLC patients were positively correlated. The frequency of above mentioned macrophages was also positively correlated with that of Foxp3+CD25+CD4+Tregs. Compared to NSCLC patients, the level of circulating IL-10+CD206+CD14+M2-like monocytes in SCLC patients were significantly increased after chemotherapy. Overall, increased IL-10+CD206+CD14+M2-like macrophages were an important feature of SCLC, rather than NSCLC, and it is associated with development of SCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoplates were for the first time synthesized on electrospun chitosan/polyethylene oxide (CS/PEO) fibers via tollens reaction. Ag nanoplates/CS/PEO fibers were used as the SERS-active substrates for quantitative evaluation of 2-naphthylthiol, with an enhancement factor (1.41 ± 0.07) × 106. The SERS-active substrates are flexible, stable, and easy for transportion and preservation, and act as the SERS platform for sensitive detection of the target. Thiram and thiabendazole as the representatives of pesticide residues were identified and detected by the Ag nanoplates/CS/PEO fibers, exhibiting linear response ranges from 10−11 to 10−7 M with a detection limit of 10−11 M. The Ag nanoplates/CS/PEO fibers meet the requirement of thiram detection in practical samples, such as apple, pear, tomato, and cucumber juices. The strategy revealed the feasibility of fabrication of Ag nanoplates on electrospun fibers via tollens reaction and SERS sensing of pesticides in real samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Previous studies have demonstrated abnormalities in functional connectivity (FC) of AD under the assumption that FC is stationary during scanning. However, studies on the FC dynamics of AD, which may provide more insightful perspectives in understanding the neural mechanisms of AD, remain largely unknown. Methods: Combining the sliding‐window approach and the k‐means algorithm, we identified three reoccurring dynamic FC states from resting‐state fMRI data of 26 AD and 26 healthy controls. The between‐group differences both in FC states and in regional temporal variability were calculated, followed by a correlation analysis of these differences with cognitive performances of AD patients. Results: We identified three reoccurring FC states and found abnormal FC mainly in the frontal and temporal cortices. The temporal properties of FC states were changed in AD as characterized by decreased dwell time in State I and increased dwell time in State II. Besides, we found decreased regional temporal variability mainly in the somatomotor, temporal and parietal regions. Disrupted dynamic FC was significantly correlated with cognitive performances of AD patients. Conclusion: Our findings suggest abnormal dynamic FC in AD patients, which provides novel insights for understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new evaluation method was investigated for the magnetic properties of the amorphous alloys by comparing the experimental results with the theoretical calculations. First, The (Fe70Co6P4.8Si9.6B9.6)100−xCux (x=0–0.5) amorphous ribbons were prepared by melt spinning method. Then, the magnetic properties of the prepared amorphous alloys were measured as 165.86–147.04emu/g, respectively. On the other side, we analyzed the valence electron structure and obtained the magnetizations as 159.92–158.77emu/g by calculating the magnetic moments of unit cells based on empirical electron theory (EET) of solids and molecules. Through comparing the magnetic properties of the calculations with the measurements, we found that the differences between the calculations and the measurements are less than 12% for all samples, meeting the first approximation requirement. Moreover, with the addition of Cu, the change trends both in the calculated and measured magnetic properties are also consistent. These results prove that it is feasible to calculate the magnetic property of the amorphous alloy from the valence electron level using EET, which provides a new method to investigate the soft magnetic property of the amorphous alloy instead of the real measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In soft electronics, anisotropic conductive adhesive films (ACFs) are the trending interconnecting approach due to their substantial softness and superior bondability to flexible substrates. However, low bonding pressure (≤1 MPa) and fine-pitch interconnections of ACFs become challenging while being extended in advanced device developments such as wafer-level packaging and three-dimensional multi-layer integrated circuit board assembly. To overcome these difficulties, we studied two types of ACFs with distinct conductive filler sizes (ACF-1: ~20 μm and ACF-2: ~5 μm). We demonstrated a low-pressure thermo-compression bonding technique and investigated the size effect of conductive particles on ACF's mechanical properties in a customized testing device, which consists of flexible printing circuits and Flex on Flex assemblies. A consistency of low interconnection resistance (<1 Ω) after mechanical stress (cycling bending test up to 600 cycles) verifies the assembly's outstanding electrical reliability and mechanical stability and thus validates the great effectiveness of the ACF bonding technique. Additionally, in numerical studies using the finite element method, we developed a generic model to disclose the size effect of Au/Ni-coated polymer fillers in ACF on device reliability under mechanical stress. For the first time, we confirmed that ACFs with smaller filler particles are more prone to coating fracture, leading to deteriorated electrical interconnections, and are more likely to peel off from substrate electrode pads resulting in electrical faults. This study provides guides for ACF design and manufacturing and would facilitate the advancement of soft wearable electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Statin has been more and more widely used in chronic liver disease, however, existed studies have attained contradictory results. According to the present study, we aimed to test the efficacy and safety of statin via a meta-analysis.Methods: Different databases were searched for full-text publication based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. For data-pooling, fixed-effect model was applied if heterogeneity wasn't detected. Otherwise, random-effect model was adopted. Heterogeneity was detected by I squire (I2) test. All results of analysis were illustrated as forest plots. Publication bias was assessed using the Begg's adjusted rank correlation test. Standard mean difference (SMD) was calculated in continuous variables. Pooled hazard ratio or odds ratio was calculated in catergorical variables.Results: Seventeen clinical studies were finally included. Hepatic portal hemodynamic parameters were improved in statin users for a short-term response. For a long-term follow-up, statin treatment surprisingly decreased mortality rate (HR = 0.782, 95% CI: 0.718-0.846, I2 > 50%) and lower the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.64-0.86, I2 > 50%) in liver cirrhosis. Statin seemed not to decrease the risk of esophageal variceal bleeding and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. However, statin was proved to decrease the risk of hepatic encephalopathy and ascites. Incidence of drug related adverse events didn't increase in statin users. Dose-dependent effects of statin on hepatocellular carcinoma development, decompensated cirrhosis events occurrence, and liver cirrhosis progression.Conclusion: Statin influenced parameters of hepatic portal vessel pressure in short-term treatment. Prognosis of liver cirrhosis benefited from statin treatment in long term follow-up. The efficacy and safety of statin in liver cirrhosis treatment is confirmed. To date, similar study is hardly seen before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is generally believed that DNA methylation, as one of the most important epigenetic modifications, participates in the regulation of gene expression and plays an important role in the development of cancer, and there exits epigenetic heterogeneity among cancers. Therefore, this study tried to screen for reliable prognostic markers for different cancers, providing further explanation for the heterogeneity of cancers, and more targets for clinical transformation studies of cancer from epigenetic perspective.Methods: This article discusses the epigenetic heterogeneity of cancer in detail. Firstly, DNA methylation data of seven cancer types were obtained from Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation 450 K platform of TCGA database. Then, differential methylation analysis was performed in the promotor region. Secondly, pivotal gene markers were obtained by constructing the DNA methylation correlation network and the gene interaction network in the KEGG pathway, and 317 marker genes obtained from two networks were integrated as candidate markers for the prognosis model. Finally, we used the univariate and multivariate COX regression models to select specific independent prognostic markers for each cancer, and studied the risk factor of these genes by doing survival analysis.Results: First, the cancer type-specific gene markers were obtained by differential methylation analysis and they were found to be involved in different biological functions by enrichment analysis. Moreover, specific and common diagnostic markers for each type of cancer was sorted out and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that there was significant difference in survival between the two risk groups.Conclusions: This study screened out reliable prognostic markers for different cancers, providing a further explanation for the heterogeneity of cancer at the DNA methylation level and more targets for clinical conversion studies of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to evaluate the percentage of different programmed cell death‐1 (PD‐1)+ T cell subsets in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. The percentages of PD‐1+ T cell subsets in peripheral blood and BALF samples obtained from 52 lung cancer and 20 pneumonia patients, and 20 healthy controls were examined by flow cytometry. In addition, clinical parameters, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels, were also determined using Spearman's correlation test to assess their association with PD‐1+ T cell subsets. These present results revealed that the percentage of circulating PD‐1+ Tfh and peripheral helper T cells (Tph) cells significantly increased in peripheral blood of SCLC patients, when compared to non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) pneumonia patients and healthy controls. In addition, PD‐1+ Tfh cells were also significantly enhanced in patients in the extensive‐stage group. In contrast, the BALF samples of SCLC patients exhibited a significant decrease in percentage of Tph cells. An overall imbalance was observed between PD‐1+Tfh and Tph cells in both compartments. Furthermore, SCLC patients exhibited a significant decrease in the percentage of circulating PD‐1+ Tfh and Tph cells following chemotherapy, and the in vitro analysis revealed that the concentration of IL‐2 and IFN‐γ derived from PD‐1 + Tfh cells in SCLC were significantly lower than that from NSCLC. However, this had no significant correlation with disease severity. The present study indicated that elevated circulating PD‐1+ T cells can primarily be used as a biomarker for disease diagnosis and a potential therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both seed length and seed width are important traits for soybean yield. In the present study, 89 Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of seed length and 65 QTLs of seed width were collected from published papers and our study. QTLs in this study were evaluated by the soymap2, then totally 23 consensus QTLs were located on 17 linkage groups (LGs) through the meta‐analysis. The minimum confidence interval was 0.28 cM and the mean phenotypic variance (R2) was ranged from 5.33% to 23.36%. To optimize these QTLs based on statistic analysis, overview method was further used to narrow down CI, the number of QTLs was narrowed down to 84. Furthermore, 2,750 candidate genes were screened from the consensus QTL intervals by informatics, a total of 37 genes were found to be associated with seed size. All results could lay a foundation for MAS (Molecular Assisted Selection) and gene cloning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]