Search

The increasing prevalence of grandparenting has drawn attention to the effects of this alternative childcare arrangement on children's growth. For Chinese migrant worker families, grandparents are the primary caregivers for the left-behind children. This article examines the factors that contribute to the dominance of grandparenting in these families, highlighting the challenges faced by rural left-behind children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sarcopenia, prevalent in patients with cancer, negatively affects quality of life. However, generic tools are unable to capture theminor effects of sarcopenia on quality of life. The short-form version of the Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SFSarQoL) questionnaire was developed as an efficient tool to assess the impact of sarcopenia on quality of life in older adults. However, its clinimetric properties in patients with cancer remain unknown. Purpose: This study was designed to examine the clinimetric properties of the Chinese SF-SarQoL in patients with colorectal cancer, particularlywith regard to its ability to detect changes in quality of life. Methods: A longitudinal survey was conducted using the SFSarQoL and other questionnaires on 408 patients with colorectal cancer planning to undergo surgery. Follow-up was subsequently conducted on 341 of these patients 1 month after surgery. The clinimetric properties of the SF-SarQoL were examined, including reliability (internal consistency), validity (construct validity, concurrent validity), sensitivity (ability to detect changes, discriminative ability), and floor and ceiling effects. Results: The internal consistency of the SF-SarQoL was found to be acceptable (Cronbach's alpha = .94 and McDonald's omega = .94). Strong scalability of the total score and each item was confirmed usingMokken analysis. Concurrent validity analyses indicate the SF-SarQoL is significantly correlated with muscle-related and health-related questionnaire scores. The SF-SarQoL showed adequate sensitivity due to its good ability to detect changes in quality of life with a moderate effect size (Cohen's d = 0.56) and discriminate between sarcopenic and nonsarcopenic patients (area under the curve = 0.73, 95% CI [0.66, 0.79]) using receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. No floor or ceiling effects were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study explores the relationship between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and diabetes, particularly focusing on the impact of physical exercise on ER stress mechanisms and identifying potential therapeutic drugs and targets for diabetes-related sepsis. The research also incorporates traditional physical therapy perspectives, emphasizing the genomic insights gained from exercise therapy in disease management and prevention. Methods: Gene analysis was conducted on the GSE168796 and GSE94717 datasets to identify ER stress-related genes. Gene interactions and immune cell correlations were mapped using GeneCard and STRING databases. A screening of 2,456 compounds from the TCMSP database was performed to identify potential therapeutic agents, with a focus on their docking potential. Techniques such as luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA interference were used to examine the interactions between microRNA-149-5p and MMP9. Results: The study identified 2,006 differentially expressed genes and 616 miRNAs. Key genes like MMP9, TNF-α, and IL1B were linked to an immunosuppressive state. Licorice glycoside E demonstrated high affinity for MMP9, suggesting its potential effectiveness in treating diabetes. The constructed miRNA network highlighted the regulatory roles of MMP9, IL1B, IFNG, and TNF-α. Experimental evidence confirmed the binding of microRNA-149-5p to MMP9, impacting apoptosis in diabetic cells. Conclusion: The findings highlight the regulatory role of microRNA-149-5p in managing MMP9, a crucial gene in diabetes pathophysiology. Licorice glycoside E emerges as a promising treatment option for diabetes, especially targeting MMP9 affected by ER stress. The study also underscores the significance of physical exercise in modulating ER stress pathways in diabetes management, bridging traditional physical therapy and modern scientific understanding. Our study has limitations. It focuses on the microRNA-149-5p-MMP9 network in sepsis, using cell-based methods without animal or clinical trials. Despite strong in vitro findings, in vivo studies are needed to confirm licorice glycoside E's therapeutic potential and understand the microRNA-149-5p-MMP9 dynamics in real conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a novel protocol dealing with the preparation of sterically hindered alcohols has been successfully developed via radical--radical coupling reactions enabled by mild and redox-neutral photocatalysis. With alkylsilicates as the radical precursors, a range of primary alkyl radicals bearing various functional groups could couple with a range of phthalimides and activated ketones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpha-glycosyl isoquercitrin (AGIQ) is composed of isoquercitrin and its glucosylated derivatives and has many biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties. However, the effect of AGIQ administered orally on gut microbiota composition remains unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of AGIQ on the gut microbiota of animals in different dose groups. Male rats and mice received different doses of AGIQ (1.5%, 3%, or 5% w/v) in diet for carcinogenic or chronic toxicity studies (rasH2 mice: 6 months; Sprague-Dawley rats: 12 months). Male minipigs received 100, 300, or 1000 mg/kg/day for 28 days. Fecal samples were collected from the different animal species and analyzed using 16S-rRNA gene sequencing. No significant changes were observed in alpha and beta diversity of the gut microbiota. Characteristic bacteria that responded to AGIQ were identified in each animal species, and, interestingly, Kineothrix alysoides, a butyrate-producing bacterium, was commonly detected in all three species, suggesting that it may be related to the biological activities of AGIQ. AGIQ selectively modulated the number of beneficial butyrate-producing commensal bacterium beneficial bacteria without changing the diversity of gut microbiota, which further supports the safe use of AGIQ in food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension-related diseases occur in both hypertensive and non-hypertensive individuals. However, few studies to date have explored blood pressure (BP) control in non-hypertensive individuals. This before-after study aimed to examine the impact of visual stimulation-based digital therapeutics (VSDTx) on BP and heart rate (HR). Eighty-three eligible non-hypertensive participants were included in this study. The McNemar test and Paired Samples Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test were employed to assess decline rates and differences in BP and HR between the control phase and the intervention (using VS-DTx) phase. Pairwise correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the two phases. This study found the systolic BP (SBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in the VS-DTx phase showed a downward trend (66.2% vs 49.3%; 68.7% vs 55.4%). The mean SBP decreased from 114.73 mm Hg to 111.18 mm Hg, and the mean MAP decreased from 87.96 mm Hg to 84.88 mm Hg in the VS-DTx phase. Paired Samples Wilcoxon Test showed differences in both ΔSBP (Z = -3.296; P < 0.01) and ΔMAP (Z = -2.386; P < 0.05) (Δ is defined as the difference between baseline and post-stimulus). The pairwise correlations analysis revealed that VS-DTx affected the MAP reduction (r = 0.33; P < 0.01) between the browsing digital devices phase and the VS-DTx phase. The results indicated that VS-DTx may have a certain effect on BP, including SBP and MAP. This study preliminarily explored the possible effects of VS-DTx on BP, providing certain useful insights for future research in digital BP management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Health status and life expectancy are important considerations for assessing potential benefits and harms of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs, particularly among older adults. METHODS: We examined receipt of past-year CRC screening according to predicted 10-year mortality risk among 25,888 community-dwelling adults aged 65-84 years who were not up-to-date with screening in the nationwide National Health Interview Survey. Ten-year mortality risk was estimated using a validated index; from the lowest to highest quintiles of the index, risk was 12%, 24%, 39%, 58%, and 79%, respectively. We also examined the proportion of screening performed among adults with life expectancy <10 years. RESULTS: The prevalence of past-year CRC screening was 39.5%, 40.6%, 38.7%, 36.4%, and 35.4%, from the lowest to highest quintile of 10-year mortality risk. Odds of CRC screening did not differ between adults in the lowest vs highest quintile (adjusted odds ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval: 0.93-1.20). One-quarter (27.9%) of past-year CRC screening occurred in adults with life expectancy <10 years, and more than half (50.7%) of adults aged 75-84 years had 10-year mortality risk ≥50% at the time of screening. In an exploratory analysis, invasive but not noninvasive screening increased as 10-year mortality risk increased (P < 0.05) among adults aged 70-79 years. DISCUSSION: Past-year CRC screening does not differ by predicted 10-year mortality risk. An age-based approach to CRC screening results in underscreening of older, healthier adults and overscreening of younger adults with chronic conditions. Personalized screening with incorporation of individual life expectancy may increase the value of CRC screening programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to measure the charge and size of single particles is essential to understanding particle adhesion and interaction with their environment. Characterizing the physical properties of biological particles, like cells, can be a powerful tool in studying the association between the changes in physical properties and disease development. Currently, measuring charge via the electrophoretic mobility (μep) of individual particles remains challenging, and there is only one prior report of simultaneously measuring μep and size. We introduce microfluidic transverse AC electrophoresis (TrACE), a novel technique that combines particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) and AC electrophoresis. In TrACE, electric waves with 0.75 to 1.5 V amplitude are applied transversely to the bulk flow and cause the particles to oscillate. PTV records the particles' oscillating trajectories as pressure drives bulk flow through the microchannel. A simple quasi-equilibrium model agrees well with experimental measurements of frequency, amplitude, and phase, indicating that particle motion is largely described by DC electrophoresis. The measured μep of polystyrene particles (0.53, 0.84, 1, and 2 μm diameter) are consistent with ELS measurements, and precision is enhanced by averaging ∼100 measurements per particle. Particle size is simultaneously measured from Brownian motion quantified from the trajectory for particles <2 μm or image analysis for particles ≥2 μm. Lastly, the ability to analyze intact mammalian cells is demonstrated with B cells. TrACE systems are expected to be highly suitable as fieldable tools to measure the μep and size of a broad range of individual particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenols were a kind of pollutant in coal chemical wastewater with high concentration and difficult to decompose and have a significant impact on the subsequent biochemical treatment of the wastewater. In addition, phenols were a kind of weak electrolytes that partially dissociation oxidation under weakly alkaline conditions, making recovery more difficult. In order to solve this problem, phenols were extracted from weak alkaline wastewater with a synergistic solvent. First, the interaction between solvents and phenols and the solvent effect of solvents were calculated by quantum chemistry and the synergistic extractant cyclohexanone/1-pentanol was determined to have significant advantages. Moreover, the synergistic extractant was further analyzed through independent gradient model based on Hirshfeld partition analysis, atoms in molecule topology analysis, electrostatic potential analysis. Results indicated that the synergistic extract can provide multiple hydrogen bond interactions with phenol due to the double action sites of the C=O group of ketone and the -OH group of alcohol. In addition, the efficacy of the extractant was validated by multistage extraction, indicating partial dissociation oxidation of hydroquinone to benzoquinone under weakly alkaline conditions, with removal rates of 99.5% and 99.2% for phenol and hydroquinone, respectively. In general, the synergistic extractant can effectively remove phenols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of photocatalysts for organic degradation is a hot research topic. In this study, CdZnS was selected as the carrier, and ZIF-8 was combined with it to explore the photocatalytic performance of the composite. In addition, the compound material, CdZnS@ZIF-8, was used as a photocatalyst for the decomposition of methylene blue dye, and the performance of pure CdZnS and pure ZIF-8 was compared. The photocatalytic efficiency of CdZnS@ZIF-8 was significantly higher than that of the other two. In the experimental reaction, the amount of catalyst was 0.04 g, the pH value was 7, the initial concentration of methylene blue aqueous solution was 20 mg/L, and the degradation of methylene blue in 50 mL aqueous solution could reach 99.5% under visible light irradiation for 90 min, showing excellent photocatalytic efficiency in the visible light range. It demonstrated excellent photocatalytic function in the visible light region, and the electron transfer phenomenon at the interface occurred in the het-junction and the separation of the photo-generating electron–hole as an electron acceptor of ZIF-8 further promoted the photocatalytic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particle image velocimetry and particle tracking velocimetry have played pivotal roles in flow and particle characterization, owing to their non-invasive and accurate data collection methods. However, their broader application in the biomicrofluidics field is constrained by challenges, such as intensive calibration, high post-processing costs, and optical compatibility issues, especially in settings where space is a bottleneck. This article describes recent advancements in non-iterative ray tracing that promise more streamlined post-capture calibration and highlights examples of applications and areas that merit further technological investigation. The development and adoption of these techniques may pave the way for new innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The study examines the impact of foreign capital flows and financial development on renewable energy. • The panel data set for 17 developing countries is used for the period 1990 to 2020. • Panle cointegration and causality techniques are used for empirical analysis. • Financial development and foreign capital flows have a positive impact on renewable energy consumption in developing countries with both high and low income levels. • Developing countries need to encourage financial development and foreign capital flows to promote sustainable energy resources. The study tries to explore the impact of foreign capital flows and financial development on renewable energy consumption. The empirical analysis is conducted using data for 17 developing countries for the period 1990 to 2020. The analysis is conducted for three sets of countries i.e. high-income developing countries, low-income developing countries, and all developing countries. The study uses sophisticated panel data estimation approaches to find the results, i.e. continuously-updated and fully modified (CUP-FM) and continuously updated and bias-corrected (CUP-BC) panel estimation techniques. The results show that financial development and capital flows positively affect renewable energy in all three samples of developing countries. The study also employs the Dumitrescu and Hurlin (2012) panel causality test to analyze the causal relationship among variables. Bidirectional causality is found between FD and RE and between CF and RE in all income developing countries group and high-income developing group but a unidirectional causality is found from FD and CF to RE in low-income developing countries group. On the basis of the findings of the study, it is recommended that to promote RE in developing countries it is imperative to encourage FD and CF in these countries. Further, developing countries ought to support the concept of green financing and need to allocate funds for investments in green energy to promote sustainable energy resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of both animals and plants relies on populations of pluripotent stem cells that provide the cellular raw materials for organ and tissue formation. Plant stem cell reservoirs are housed at the shoot and root tips in structures called meristems, with the shoot apical meristem (SAM) continuously producing aerial leaf, stem, and flower organs throughout the life cycle. Thus, the SAM acts as the engine of plant development and has unique structural and molecular features that allow it to balance self-renewal with differentiation and act as a constant source of new cells for organogenesis while simultaneously maintaining a stem cell reservoir for future organ formation. Studies have identified key roles for intercellular regulatory networks that establish and maintain meristem activity, including the KNOX transcription factor pathway and the CLV-WUS stem cell feedback loop. In addition, the plant hormones cytokinin and auxin act through their downstream signaling pathways in the SAM to integrate stem cell activity and organ initiation. This review discusses how the various regulatory pathways collectively orchestrate SAM function and touches on how their manipulation can alter stem cell activity to improve crop yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have examined the effect of early enteral nutrition on postoperative recovery as well as the incidence of complications in patients undergoing laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery. The control group received traditional nursing care for postop)erative nutrition, whereas the treatment group received early postoperative enteral nutrition. Relative to the control group, the postoperative anal exhaust time, first defecation time, first eating of solid food time, bowel sound recovery time, and hospital stay in the treatment group were shorter (P < 0.05), nutrition-related indexes including serum total protein, albumin, and prealbumin were elevated (P < 0.05), levels of serum inflammatory factors C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α were lower (P < 0.05), peripheral blood CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+/CD8+ cells were elevated, while CD8+ cells were decreased (P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the treatment groups was lower relative to the control group (P < 0.05). To sum up, early postoperative enteral nutrition can not only promote the immune function and nutritional status of patients undergoing laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery but also help reduce the postoperative inflammatory response and promote recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a retrospective study that investigates the cognitive effects of learning a foreign language in late adulthood. The learner group, consisting of 21 L1 Chinese speakers who have been learning to read Arabic for 2 years and 4 months, were compared to the matched group on their performance on a series of cognitive tasks that tap into working memory, processing speed, reasoning, conflict monitoring, and attention. The results showed that the learning group's performance was significantly better in attention (measured by the Posner cueing attention task). Their working memory capacities (measured by the digit span tests) were also better, but the difference only reached marginal significance. The findings suggest that language learning may lead to improvement in attention abilities, which is in line with the converging evidence in the field of bilingualism showing that executive attention may underlie the mechanism of how bilingual experience can alter brain and the cognitive system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which showed that the structures of high-entropy alloy (HEA) nanocrystals with spatial compositions can be predicted by knowing the reduction kinetics of metal precursors and entropy of mixing in the nanocrystals under dropwise addition of the mixing five-metal precursor solution. Topics include synthesis of phase-separated multimetallic nanocrystals, dropwise synthesis of solid-solution HEA nanocrystals, and synthesis of dendritic solid-solution HEA nanocrystals.

This paper presents the results of a retrospective study that investigates the cognitive effects of learning a foreign language in late adulthood. The learner group, consisting of 21 L1 Chinese speakers who have been learning to read Arabic for 2 years and 4 months, were compared to the matched group on their performance on a series of cognitive tasks that tap into working memory, processing speed, reasoning, conflict monitoring, and attention. The results showed that the learning group's performance was significantly better in attention (measured by the Posner cueing attention task). Their working memory capacities (measured by the digit span tests) were also better, but the difference only reached marginal significance. The findings suggest that language learning may lead to improvement in attention abilities, which is in line with the converging evidence in the field of bilingualism showing that executive attention may underlie the mechanism of how bilingual experience can alter brain and the cognitive system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States provide Element Sets (ELSET) database in Two-Line Element (TLE) format for public use, which plays an important role in the inversion of atmospheric density in the thermosphere, ballistic coefficient estimation, early-warning and so on. Due to large uncertainties existing in the TLE generation process, space environment changes, and space events, ELSET database contains a large number of abnormal TLE data to be filtered, such as corrected TLE, orbital element outlier, and Bstar outlier. The existing methods to filter out the outliers lack general applicability and are very complicated, which are only applicable to a few space targets in certain orbit regions. To overcome the shortcomings of the existing methods, a filtering method is proposed based on Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithm employing a sliding window and polynomial fitting method, which can detect outliers for different orbital elements and space events. The research shows that the algorithm can effectively single out the outliers in TLE sequences and is suitable for all orbital debris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibody-based therapies that inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokine signalling are commonly used in dermatology. Paradoxically, these biological agents may induce or exacerbate paradoxical reactions. Recently, it has been reported that the treatment of eczema with dupilumab can lead to the development of psoriasiform eruptions, which we called psoriasiform paradoxical reactions (P-PRs). Conversely, cases of eczematous paradoxical reactions (E-PRs) have also been described in patients with psoriasis treated with biologics. To summarise the case characteristics and disease features of phenotypic transition between psoriasis and eczematoid dermatitis, and to explore the mechanism or connection related to biological agents or patients' genetic characteristics, a systematic review was conducted for P-PRs in atopic dermatitis and E-PRs in patients with psoriasis treated with corresponding biological agents, respectively. We identified a series of P-PRs in 42 atopic dermatitis cases treated with dupilumab. The time to onset of P-PRs typically ranged from weeks to months, with a mean latency period of 22.65 weeks. Almost all patients presented with new-onset P-PRs. Simultaneously, we reviewed 22 articles reporting 51 patients with psoriasis with biological agent-induced E-PRs, which occurred on average at 24.47 weeks, 72.55% of them induced by IL-17A inhibitors. 48.98% (24/49) of cases reported a positive personal history of atopy, which may suggest an increased risk of biological agent-induced paradoxical eruptions. Overall, the improvement or resolution upon discontinuation of the inciting biologics was relatively common, and further studies are needed to estimate the real prevalence and unveil the pathophysiological mechanisms of these paradoxical events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auxin plays an important role in regulating leaf senescence. Auxin response factors (ARFs) are crucial components of the auxin signaling pathway; however, their roles in leaf senescence in cereal crops are unknown. In this study, we identified TaARF15-A1 as a negative regulator of senescence in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by analyzing TaARF15-A1 overexpression (OE) and RNA interference lines and CRISPR/Cas9-based arf15 mutants. OE of TaARF15-A1 delayed senescence, whereas knockdown lines and knockout mutants showed accelerated leaf senescence and grain ripening. RNA-seq analysis revealed that TaARF15-A1 delays leaf senescence by negatively regulating senescence-promoting processes and positively modulating senescence-delaying genes including senescence-associated phytohormone biosynthesis and metabolism genes as well as transcription factors (TFs). We also demonstrated that TaARF15-A1 physically interacts with TaMYC2, a core jasmonic acid (JA) signaling TF that positively modulates wheat senescence. Furthermore, TaARF15-A1 suppressed the expression of TaNAM-1 (TaNAM-A1 and TaNAM-D1) via protein-protein interaction and competition with TaMYC2 for binding to its promoter to regulate senescence. Finally, we identified two haplotypes of TaARF15-A1 in global wheat collections. Association analysis revealed that TaARF15-A1-HapI has undergone strong selection during wheat breeding in China, likely owing to its earlier maturity. Thus, we identify TaARF15-A1 as a negative regulator of senescence in common wheat and present another perspective on the crosstalk between auxin and JA signaling pathways in regulating plant senescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which explores that two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks for ultraflexible electrochemical transistors with high transconductance and fast response speeds. It mentions that electrochemical transistors (ECTs) have shown broad applications in bioelectronics and neuromorphic devices due to their high transconductance, low working voltage, and versatile device design.

To observe the characteristics of a new extracorporeal high intensity focused ultrasound transducer, titled Haifu system JCQ-B, and to compare its safety and efficacy for breast ablation with the standard Haifu system JC transducer. Ox liver with pig skin and pork ribs were prepared in a semi-sphere shape, served as in vitro acoustic model. The udders of female goats were used as in vivo acoustic model. Both in vitro and in vivo models were ablated by either JCQ-B or JC transducer. The morphology of biological focal region (BFR), the coagulative necrosis volume, and the temperature increase were observed and compared. The BFR morphology of JCQ-B transducer was circular both in vitro and in vivo, with a length-width ratio close to one. Under the same sonication parameters (sonication power, time and depth in tissue), coagulation necrosis volume caused by JCQ-B transducer was larger than that caused by JC transducer both in vitro and in vivo. The increase in temperature in the near and far acoustic pathways with JCQ-B transducer was significantly lower than that of JC transducer in vitro. After receiving high sonication energy during in vivo experimentation, there were no complications observed after the ablation of JCQ-B transducer, while small skin damage was observed after the ablation of JC transducer. The JCQ-B transducer improved the safety and efficacy of treatment by optimizing BFR morphology and ablation efficiency, which could be applied in the treatment of breast tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polluted water continues to be a major problem globally since it deteriorates human health after consumption and impedes sustainable development. Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) has been used to tackle the problem, but certain significant disadvantages of the nZVI limit its efficiency. Owing to the demerits of nZVI, various materials have been employed to support the nZVI to ensure efficient decontamination. There is rising interest in using attapulgite as a support for nZVI. The use of attapulgite supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (A-nZVI) to decontaminate wastewater/groundwater has proven to be highly efficient as compared to unsupported nZVI. This paper presents an overview of the syntheses, performance, application and limitations of using A-nZVI to treat wastewater/remediate groundwater. A-nZVI has been extensively employed on laboratory scale, thus making it difficult to simulate its removal efficiency on a large scale. However, its high removal efficiency under the appropriate operational conditions make it ideal to be used on an industrial level. This review is important because it identifies gaps in literature with respect to A-nZVI that need to be filled to improve ZVI-based technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Authenticity assessment of (E)-cinnamic acid, vanillin, and benzoic acid from various origins (n = 26) was performed using gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry coupled with combustion and pyrolysis mode (GC-C/P-IRMS). For that reason, the above three compounds (1–3) from synthetic, natural, and Sumatra benzoin balsam (laboratory prepared, adulterated, and commercial) were investigated. The δ13CV-PDB and δ2HV-SMOW values for compounds 1–3 from synthetic samples (S1–S5) ranging from −26.9 to −31.1‰ and 42 to 83‰, respectively, were clearly different from those of authentic samples (N1–N4, L1–L9) varying from −29.8 to −41.6‰ and −19 to −156‰. In adulteration verification testing, for compounds 1 and 3, both δ13CV-PDB and δ2HV-SMOW data of A1 (5.0% added) and A2 (2.5% added) except A3 (0.5% added) fell into the synthetic region, whereas for compound 2, the δ2HV-SMOW data of adulterated samples (A1–A3) fell into the synthetic region, and even the lowest adulterated sample A3 is no exception. With this conclusion, some commercial Sumatra benzoin balsam samples were identified to be adulterated with synthetic 1 (C1, C3, and C5) and synthetic 2 (C3, C4, and C5) but not with synthetic 3. GC-C/P-IRMS allowed clear-cut differentiation of the synthetic and natural origin of 1, 2, and 3 and definite identification of whether a Sumatra benzoin balsam was adulterated or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) has a high mortality rate, and therapeutic approaches to treat these cancers are varied and depend on the metabolic state of the tumour. Profiles of CRC tumours have identified several biomarkers, including microRNAs. microRNA‐210 (miR‐210) levels are directly correlated with CRC survival. miR‐210 expression is higher in metastatic colon cancer cells versus non‐metastatic and normal colon epithelium. Therefore, efficient methods to inhibit miR‐210 expression in CRC may provide new advances in treatments. Methods: Expression of miRs was determined in several metastatic and non‐metastatic cell lines. miR‐210 expression was inhibited using PMIS‐miR‐210 in transduced cells, which were transplanted into xenograft mice. In separate experiments, CRC tumours were allowed to grow in xenograft mice and treated with therapeutic injections of PMIS‐miR‐210. Molecular and biochemical experiments identified several new pathways targeted by miR‐210 inhibition. Results: miR‐210 inhibition can significantly reduce tumour growth of implanted colon cancer cells in xenograft mouse models. The direct administration of PMIS‐miR‐210 to existing tumours can inhibit tumour growth in both NSG and Foxn1nu/j mouse models and is more efficacious than capecitabine treatments. Tumour cells further transfer the PMIS‐miR‐210 inhibitor to neighbouring cells by extracellular vesicles to inhibit miR‐210 throughout the tumour. miR‐210 inhibition activates the cleaved caspase 3 apoptotic pathway to reduce tumour formation. We demonstrate that the long non‐coding transcript XIST is regulated by miR‐210 correlating with decreased XIST expression in CRC tumours. XIST acts as a competing endogenous RNA for miR‐210, which reduces XIST levels and miR‐210 inhibition increases XIST transcripts in the nucleus and cytoplasm. The increased expression of NME1 is associated with H3K4me3 and H3K27ac modifications in the NME1 proximal promoter by XIST. Conclusion: Direct application of the PMIS‐miR‐210 inhibitor to growing tumours may be an effective colorectal cancer therapeutic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of the combination of glucocorticoid and different doses of atorvastatin in the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Sixty MS patients treated at Heping Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College from January 2020 to June 2021, were equally and randomly assigned to study group (OG) and control group (CG). Patients in OG were treated with glucocorticoid and atorvastatin (half in low-dose, LDG; 20 mg/day) and the other half, in high-dose atorvastatin (HDG, 40 mg/day)). Patients in CG were treated with glucocorticoid and placebo. Changes in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), blood lipids, RhoA, and neural function were determined. Results: After treatment, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score was lower in HDG than in LDG and CG (p < 0.05). Total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and lipoprotein a (LP(a)) were significantly reduced and followed the rank order: HDG < LDG < CG (p < 0.05). No appreciable differences occurred in HDL-C levels amongst HDG, LDG and CG (p > 0.05). Furthermore, RhoA levels were lower in HDG than in LDG and CG, with lower levels in LDG than in CG (p < 0.05). There were lower numbers of T2 lesions in HDG than in LDG and CG at 28 days, 3, 6 and 12 months, post-treatment (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Glucocorticoid and high-dose atorvastatin combination is better at reducing neurological dysfunction and improving blood lipid indicators in MS patients. This finding may provide a useful guide in the determination of the optimal dose of atorvastatin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary aim of this paper was to identifying the geographical origin of tobacco leaves based on stable isotopic and mineral elemental fingerprint. We collected eighty-one tobacco leaf samples from Argentina, Brazil, Zimbabwe, the U.S., Zambia, and China. And nine mineral element contents and four strontium and lead isotope ratios of the tobacco leaves were determined by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). After variance and stepwise discriminant analysis, the discriminant functions of the tobacco leaf's geographical origin were established. The results indicate that: (1) the contents of six mineral elements including Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, and Pb, together with four strontium and lead isotope ratios containing 87Sr/86Sr, 208Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 206Pb/204Pb, were significantly different among six countries. (2) Different countries presented some characteristic mineral elemental and isotopic fingerprint. The even contents of mineral elements from Zambian tobacco leaf were much lower than the other countries, among which four elements consisting of Zn, Cr, As, and Cd were not detected. The three average lead isotope ratios including 208Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 206Pb/204Pb from Zimbabwe tobacco leaves were far higher than the other countries, and the range of which was unoverlapped. (3) The effective identification of the geographical origin of tobacco leaf was accomplished by Fisher stepwise discriminant analysis and the characteristic tracing elements consisted of Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, Pb, 87Sr/86Sr, 207Pb/204Pb, and 206Pb/204Pb. Based on the established discriminant functions, the original and cross-validation accuracy towards different geographical origins of tobacco leaves were 98.8% and 95.1%, respectively. The study shows that the strontium and lead isotopic with mineral elemental fingerprints is a potential effective method to identify the geographical origin of tobacco leaves from different countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we investigate a hybrid metamaterial consisting of square split wires and cut-wires on a dielectric substrate. The metamaterial can exhibit a broadband cross-polarization conversion for both reflected and transmitted waves in the frequency range of about 10 GHz. We can coherently modulate the broadband linear and circular polarization conversions in the standing wave formed by two counterpropagating coherent beams. At electric antinodes and nodes, the metamaterial undergoes enhanced or vanishing polarization conversion due to interferometric effect. In particular, the broadband polarization conversion can be freely applied to different polarized waves and its efficiency can be easily accomplished via phase modulation between two input beams. The coherent control scheme enables the metamaterial to achieve a dynamic broadband modulation of the polarization state and is of importance for all-optical data processing and polarization crosstalk elimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of sustainable catalysts for the conversion of carbon dioxide into value-added chemicals is an effective way to alleviate environmental problems. The design of catalysts with excellent catalytic activities that are able to efficiently convert CO2 under mild conditions is very important. The novel, single-component, metal-free functionalized ionic liquids ([N2,2,2,2OH][BA], [N2,2,2,2OH][SA], [N2,2,2,2OH][OAc], [N2,2,2,2OH][GA], [N2,2,2,2][BA]) were synthesized using a simple method, and were further used as efficient catalysts for the catalytic conversion of CO2 into cyclic carbonates without any solvent and co-catalyst. These ionic liquids exhibited outstanding catalytic activity for the conversion of CO2 and various epoxides to cyclic carbonates. A mechanism for the synergistic effects of cations and anions in functionalized ionic liquids was also proposed. The catalytic activity of [N2,2,2,2][BA] without any OH functional groups was clearly lower than that of [N2,2,2,2OH][BA]. The relationship between the higher catalytic reactivity and the OH functional group presence was shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most important subsystem of regional low-carbon innovation capability is low-carbon technology innovation system. It is necessary to objectively evaluate the balance of interest among low-carbon technology innovation subjects. This paper constructs the theoretical framework model of benefit balance evaluation of low-carbon collaborative innovation (LCCI). It also explores the main content and index system of evaluation and makes a specific evaluation with TOPSIS method. Our study shows the follow conclusions: ① The interest balance of the subjects of LCCI includes not only the interest balance among subjects, but also the balance of interests within the subject. ② Subjects have different motivations for cooperation. ③ The benefit distribution of LCCI includes the distribution of all tangible and intangible benefits. ④ The equilibrium state is dynamic. When it is unbalanced, it can be adjusted according to the evaluation results to achieve equilibrium. Finally, according to the research conclusions, three suggestions are put forward for LCCI management practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a non-iterative ray tracing method with robust post-capture microlens array sensor alignment to reconstruct sparse particle concentration in light field particle image velocimetry and particle tracking velocimetry nearly instantaneously. Voxels traversed by various rays are stored by a kd-tree to reduce memory load and computational time. A cloud point classification algorithm is employed for particle identification and spatial reconstruction. The approach is tested with a physically-based realistic model of a light field camera. Also, an optical system is assembled in a microscope to directly obtain the 3D laminar velocity field in the fully-developed region, which exhibits good agreement with the theoretical solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Lipid metabolism imbalance in HIV-infected patients is probed by HPLC–MS/MS. • Lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) and acylcarnitines (ACs) are identified as biomarkers. • A robust and sensitive method of LPC and AC analysis in blood serum is developed. • Multi-LPC and AC indices enable discrimination of different HIV infections & controls. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and highly active antiretroviral therapy use are associated with the disruption of lipid and glucose metabolism. Herein, a sensitive and robust high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantitation of lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) and acylcarnitines (ACs) in human blood serum was developed and validated to investigate them as markers of metabolic disorders in HIV-infected patients. Under optimal extraction and detection conditions, the lower limits of quantification reached 5 ng/mL (LPCs) and 0.1 ng/mL (ACs), and precision and accuracy for both intra- and inter-day analyses were generally below 15%. Serum samples were stable for at least six months when stored at − 80 °C and for at least 12 h when stored at 4 °C or 25 °C. We investigated inter-group differences and associations between the biomarkers and observed a particular volatility trend of LPCs and ACs for HIV-infected patients with metabolic disorders. Thus, the developed method can be used for the rapid and sensitive quantitation of LPCs and ACs in vivo to further appraise the process of HIV infection, evaluate intervening measures, conduct mechanistic investigations, and further study the utility of LPCs and ACs as biomarkers of HIV infection coupled with metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia, a common environmental condition, can affect cell survival and physiological function by triggering oxidative stress. Akt/FoxO pathway has been proven to play a non-negligible role in the regulation of autophagy. However, the role of Akt/FoxO pathway in hypoxia-induced autophagy is unclear in fish. Therefore, in this study, grass carp hepatocyte cells (L8824) were treated by CoCl2 to simulate hypoxia, and the results showed that CoCl2 can increase the expression of Hif-1a protein at different concentrations or different treatment time. Further study found that hypoxia increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, and the expression of autophagy-related genes (LC3-II, pink1, beclin-1 and p62) and foxO1a/1b. The mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was also depolarized, and autophagosomes were intriguingly detected by transmission electron microscope (TEM) after the treatment of hypoxia. Moreover, hypoxia inhibited Akt phosphorylation, while PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitor, LY294002 significantly up-regulated the expression of foxO1a/1b and autophagy-related genes. Additionally, silencing foxo1b also resulted in down-regulation of autophagy-related genes. It was demonstrated that hypoxia induced autophagy via Akt/FoxO1 pathway. These results will provide a new light on further understanding the role of Akt/FoxO pathway in the response to hypoxia in fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immune system can control cancer progression. However, even though some innate immune sensors of cellular stress are expressed intrinsically in epithelial cells, their potential role in cancer aggressiveness and subsequent overall survival in humans is mainly unknown. Here, we show that nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR) family CARD domain-containing 4 (NLRC4) is downregulated in epithelial tumor cells of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) by using spatial tissue imaging. Strikingly, only the loss of tumor NLRC4, but not stromal NLRC4, was associated with poor immune infiltration (mainly DCs and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells) and accurately predicted progression to metastatic stage IV and decrease in overall survival. By combining multiomics approaches, we show that restoring NLRC4 expression in human CRC cells triggered a broad inflammasome-independent immune reprogramming consisting of type I interferon (IFN) signaling genes and the release of chemokines and myeloid growth factors involved in the tumor infiltration and activation of DCs and T cells. Consistently, such reprogramming in cancer cells was sufficient to directly induce maturation of human DCs toward a Th1 antitumor immune response through IL-12 production in vitro. In multiple human carcinomas (colorectal, lung, and skin), we confirmed that NLRC4 expression in patient tumors was strongly associated with type I IFN genes, immune infiltrates, and high microsatellite instability. Thus, we shed light on the epithelial innate immune sensor NLRC4 as a therapeutic target to promote an efficient antitumor immune response against the aggressiveness of various carcinomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly efficient and simple route for the synthesis of 2-alknyl benzo[ d ]thiazoles has been developed by palladium and copper catalyzed the cross-coupling reaction of 2-thiobenzo[ d ]thiazoles with (hetero)aromatic and aliphatic alkynylaluminum reagents. Various 2-alkynyl benzo[ d ]thiazole derivatives can be obtained in 19–97 % isolated yields using 1 mol% PdCl 2 (dppf)/5 mol% xanthpos as the catalyst and CuI (3 equiv.) as desulfurization agent. The cross-coupling reaction can be carried out smoothly with electron-donating or -withdrawing groups on the aromatic ring of the organo aluminum reagents or the 2-thiobenzo[ d ]thiazoles. Furthermore, the broad substrate scope and the maintenance of high efficiency on a gram scale make this protocol a potentially practical method to synthesize 2-alkynylbenzo[ d ]thiazole derivatives. On the basis of the experimental results, a possible catalytic cycle has been proposed.2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the unique examples of the development of subsoil karren into a stone forest on the varied geological bedrock of the Lunan surface is revealed to us. Originally of subsoil formation and later denuded, the rounded hills that dissect the karst surface have transformed into a clustered stone forest whose central part usually consists of a larger dissected rock mass with individual stone pillars and teeth at the edge. The geologic profile contains beds of dense, homogeneous and compact finegrained limestones that alternate with beds of mostly coarsegrained and just as compact dolomitised limestones. These bed properties are also reflected in the exterior of the rock as a diverse relief. The average calcium carbonate content in both types of rocks combined is 97.3%. The rock is thickly bedded to massive; beds are mainly positioned subhorizontally. The contacts between the beds of limestone and dolomitised limestone are sharp and clearly visible, especially in the bottom part of the geologic profile, whereas in the central part, they are often blurred and one type of rock grades continuously into the other. In the areas containing limestone, individual bedding planes are especially visible. As can be inferred, the slightly more porous dolomitised rock, made up of larger particles, disintegrates faster in a more permanently waterlogged acid subsoil environment, where the moisture penetrates it deeper. However, as it takes longer to dissolve, it protrudes from the surface of the dolomitic limestone rock when exposed to moisture from occasional rain. The composition and fracturing of the diverse rock strata decisively influences the shape of the pillars and their rock relief. Larger subsoil rock forms (channels, notches, half-bells) have developed on all rock strata. The diversity of the rock is also reflected by the notches that have formed under the soil along the more rapidly soluble partly dolomite rock strata. Denuded subsoil-shaped pillars are reshaped by rainwater and trickling water. Smaller rock forms carved by rainwater have formed mostly only on evenly composed, fine-grained limestone rock. The tops on such rock are more distinctly conical and blade-like and wider on more slowly soluble rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the absorption rate and factors related to the development of benign thyroid nodules (BTNs) following image-guided microwave ablation (MWA). Materials and methods: This retrospective study reviewed nodule efficacy in patients who underwent MWA of BTNs between January 2016 and January 2018. The endpoint was a third-year follow-up. Nodules were categorized into those showing complete absorption (volumes with less than 100% volume reduction ratio (VRR) and those showing partial absorption (100% VRR)). Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were carried out to identify variables that were associated with nodule absorption rates. Results: A total of 173 BTNs (median volume = 4.23 ml; 25–75 percentiles = 2.27–9.00 ml) from 173 patients were evaluated. 49.7% (86/173) of patients had nodules that became completely absorbed. The mean VRRs of all BTNs were 18.0%, 78.7%, 89.0%, 94.5%, and 97.1% at the 1-, 6-,12-, 24- and 36- month follow-ups. At the 3-year follow-up time point, nodule characteristics related to nodule VRR included nodule volume (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.1 [95% CI: 1.0, 1.2]; p = 0.03) and nodule margin (AOR, 5.3 [95% CI: 1.8, 16.0]; p < 0.01). Treatment-related characteristics included energy per ml in nodular volume (AOR, 1.0 [95% CI: 1.0, 1.0]; p < 0.01) and blockage of peripheral flow (AOR, 3.3 [95% CI: 1.3 8.3]; p = 0.01). Conclusions: US-guided image-guided MWA results in satisfactory long-term outcomes for the patients with BTNs. Factors related to nodule absorption rate were the volume and margin of the nodule, energy per ml in nodular volume and blockage of peripheral flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To identify the characteristics and subtypes of depressive symptoms and explore the relationship between depressive subtypes and age among Chinese female breast cancer patients. Method: In this cross-sectional study, 566 breast cancer patients were recruited from three tertiary comprehensive hospital in Shandong Province, China through convenient sampling from April 2013 to June 2019. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Data analyses included descriptive analyses, latent class analysis. Results: There were significant differences in specific depressive symptoms by age group, but no significant difference in total scores on PHQ-9. The depressive subtypes were severe (Class 4), relatively severe (Class 3; with lower psychomotor agitation/retardation and suicidal ideation), moderate (Class 2; with higher psychomotor agitation/retardation and suicidal ideation), and mild depressive symptoms (Class 1). The distribution of depression subtypes is different in various age groups. In the 45--59 age groups, severe symptoms subtype showed the highest ratios (i.e. 50.3%). Conclusion: This is the first study that analyses depressive symptom characteristics and identifies depressive subtypes in Chinese women with breast cancer across ages to explore symptom heterogeneity. Our findings can contribute to identifying the mechanisms behind these relationships and developing targeted interventions for patients with specific depressive subtypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the development of an ultrafast, low-cost, and portable detection platform for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) using organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs). The platform offers rapid and sensitive detection of IgG levels, which are crucial for various aspects, including infection diagnosis, seroepidemiological analysis, and vaccine evaluation.

Ischemic cardiomyopathy is associated with an increased risk of sudden death, activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), and reductions in multiple cardiac ion channels. When activated, the protein kinase–like ER kinase (PERK) branch of the UPR reduces protein translation and abundance. We hypothesized that PERK inhibition could prevent ion channel downregulation and reduce arrhythmia risk after myocardial infarct (MI). MI induced in mice by coronary artery ligation resulted in reduced ion channel levels, ventricular tachycardia (VT), and prolonged corrected intervals between the Q and T waves on the ECGs (QTc). Protein levels of major cardiac ion channels were decreased. MI cardiomyocytes showed significantly prolonged action potential duration and decreased maximum upstroke velocity. Cardiac-specific PERK KO reduced electrical remodeling in response to MI, with shortened QTc intervals, fewer VT episodes, and higher survival rates. Pharmacological PERK inhibition had similar effects. In conclusion, we found that activated PERK during MI contributed to arrhythmia risk by the downregulation of select cardiac ion channels. PERK inhibition prevented these changes and reduced arrhythmia risk. These results suggest that ion channel downregulation during MI is a fundamental arrhythmia mechanism and that maintenance of ion channel levels is antiarrhythmic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reduction in sucrose preference is a key characteristic of depressivelike behaviors after spinal cord injury as judged by the sucrose preference test, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Male rats were divided into three groups: control, sham and spinal cord injury groups. The spinal cord injury rats received a severe mid-thoracic contusion. The Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan score was used to assess motor function. The sucrose preference test and forced swim test were used to evaluate depressive-like behaviors. Serum corticosterone levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor levels were examined by Western blot to evaluate the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis was assessed by testing hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor and tropomyosin receptor kinase B levels by Western blot and doublecortin levels by immunohistochemistry. Data showed that spinal cord injury impaired motor function. The spinal cord injury rats exhibited decreased sucrose preference on day six, which continued to decrease until day twelve, followed by a plateau phase. Additionally, the immobility time of the spinal cord injury rats was increased on day thirty-four. Moreover, serum corticosterone levels in the spinal cord injury group peaked on day seven, was decreased by day twenty-one and was increased again on day thirty-five. Serum corticosterone levels were significantly negatively correlated with sucrose preference and positively correlated with immobility time. Finally, hippocampal doublecortin levels on days twenty-one and thirty-five were lower in the spinal cord injury group than in the other groups. These results suggest that hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the inhibition of adult hippocampal neurogenesis may be part of the underlying mechanism responsible for depressive-like behaviors after spinal cord injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tacho-less order tracking is an effective tool for fault detection in gearboxes operating under speed fluctuations. This technique’s performance depends on extracting instantaneous shaft speed information from a complex multicomponent gearbox signal, which is first preprocessed by a bandpass filter. However, spectral overlap resulting from the time-varying frequency components makes it challenging to isolate the shaft speed harmonic mono-component using this approach. In order to overcome such issues, an adaptive tacho-less order-tracking (OT) method combining the variational mode decomposition (VMD) and the fast dynamic time warping (FDTW) is proposed in this article. The proposed method first decomposes the measured gearbox vibration signal using VMD to estimate the instantaneous shaft speed profile to construct the shaft vibration signal. The gearbox vibration signal is then resampled based on the optimal warping path obtained by FDTW, which performs an “elastic” stretching and compression along the time axis of the extracted shaft vibration signal with respect to a sinusoidal reference signal with a constant shaft rotational frequency. Finally, the presence of gear fault is detected by constructing the order spectrum of the resampled vibration signal. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated using both simulation analysis and experimental validation using measurements from two different wind-turbine gearboxes collected under test and field conditions, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flowering time is crucial for successful reproduction in plants, the onset and progression of which are strictly controlled. However, flowering time is a complex and environmentally responsive history trait and the underlying mechanisms still need to be fully characterized. Post‐translational regulation of the activities of transcription factors (TFs) is a dynamic and essential mechanism for plant growth and development. CRL3BPM E3 ligase is a CULLIN3‐based E3 ligase involved in orchestrating protein stability via the ubiquitin proteasome pathway. Our study shows that the mutation of MYB106 induced early flowering phenotype while over‐expression of MYB106 delayed Arabidopsis flowering. Transcriptome analysis of myb106 mutants reveals 257 differentially expressed genes between wild type and myb106‐1 mutants, including Flowering Locus T (FT) which is related to flowering time. Moreover, in vitro electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA), in vivo chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative polymerase chain reaction (ChIP‐qPCR) assays and dual luciferase assays demonstrate that MYB106 directly binds to the promoter of FT to suppress its expression. Furthermore, we confirm that MYB106 interacts with BPM proteins which are further identified by CRL3BPM E3 ligases as the substrate. Taken together, we have identified MYB106 as a negative regulator in the control of flowering time and a new substrate for CRL3BPM E3 ligases in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correction for 'Measuring the electrophoretic mobility and size of single particles using microfluidic transverse AC electrophoresis (TrACE)' by M. Hannah Choi et al., Lab Chip, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00413A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this essay, we provide an overview of a social worker-led, interdisciplinary practice model designed to combine essential online psycho-social support and local community self-governance for COVID-19 patients with minor symptoms in quarantine field hospitals in the city of Wuhan from February to May 2020. The interdisciplinary bridging response teams (IBRTs) model was designed for congregating settings to bridge offline community mobilization and online interdisciplinary professional services. We discuss the two-tier structure and organization of the practice model, the professionals' roles and main tasks, and the key features that ensured the success of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple organ perfusion is impaired in sepsis. Clinical studies suggest that persistent perfusion disturbances are prognostic of fatal outcome in sepsis. Pyroptosis occurs upon activation of caspases and their subsequent cleavage of gasdermin D (Gsdmd), resulting in Gsdmd-N (activated NH2-terminal fragment of Gsdmd) that form membrane pores to induce cell death in sepsis. In addition, Gsdmd-/- mice are protected from a lethal dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, how Gsdmd-mediated pyroptosis occurs in endothelial cells and leads to impaired perfusion remain unexplored in endotoxemia. We used transgenic mice with ablation of Gsdmd and determined that mice lacking Gsdmd exhibited reduced breakdown of endothelial barrier, improved organ perfusion, as well as increased survival in endotoxemia. Phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1) contributed to Gsdmd-mediated endothelial pyroptosis in a calcium-dependent fashion, without affecting Gsdmd-N production. Cytosolic calcium signaling promoted Gsdmd-N translocation to the plasma membrane, enhancing endothelial pyroptosis induced by LPS. We used adeno-associated virus (AAV9) vectors carrying a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) against murine PLCγ1 mRNA under control of the tie1 core promoter (AAV-tie1-sh-PLCγ1) to uniquely downregulate PLCγ1 expression in the endothelial cells. Here, we showed that unique inhibition of endothelial PLCγ1 attenuated breakdown of endothelial barrier, reduced vascular leakage, and improved perfusion disturbances. Moreover, unique downregulate endothelial PLCγ1 expression markedly decreased mortality of mice in endotoxemia. Thus, we establish that endothelial injury as an important trigger of fatal outcome in endotoxemia. Additionally, these findings suggest that interfering with Gsdmd and PLCγ1-calcium pathway may represent a new treatment strategy for critically ill patients sustaining endotoxemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 poses more risk to patients who already suffer from other diseases, particularly respiratory disorder. In this study, we analyzed the clinical characteristics and related risk factors during hospitalization of COVID-19 patients admitted with kidney damage. A total of 102 COVID-19 patients with kidney damage [irrespective of their chronic kidney disease (CKD) history] during hospitalization were included in this study. The patients were divided into a core group and a group who developed critical illness or death. Clinical data included age, gender, length of hospitalization, clinical manifestations, medical history, hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs -CRP), high serum creatinine, low cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and hemoglobin. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the risk factors of patients' outcome. Among the outcomes, 75 patients (73.53%) were cured, 27 (26.47%) developed to critical illness or death, 20 (19.61%) of them died. A total of 36 (4.26%) out of 845 COVID-19 patients, developed acute kidney injury (AKI). Decreased oxygen saturation, elevated hs-CRP, elevated serum creatinine, elevated cTnI, and anemia were related factors for COVID-19 patients who developed to critical illness or death (P <0.05). Decreased oxygen saturation, elevated hs-CRP and anemia were not independent factors, but elevated serum creatinine and elevated cTnI were independent factors for COVID-19 patients who developed to critical illness or death (P <0.05). Among COVID-19 patients with or without CKD but with kidney damage during hospitalization, patients with elevated serum creatinine and elevated TnI, more likely to developed critical illness or death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the application of the mass-action-equation models to the study of amyloid fiber formation, time-consuming numerical calculations constitute a major bottleneck. To conquer this difficulty, here an alternative efficient method is introduced for the fragmentation-only model. It includes two basic steps: (1) simulate close-formed time-evolutionary equations for the number concentration P(t) derived from the moment-closure method; (2) reconstruct the detailed fiber length distribution based on the knowledge of moments obtained in the first step. Compared to direct calculation, our method speeds up the performance by at least 10 000 times (from days to seconds). The accuracy is also satisfactory if suitable functions for the approximate fibril length distribution are taken. Further application to the sonication studies on PI264-b-PFS48 micelles performed by Guerin et al. confirms our method is very promising for the real-time analysis of the experiments on fibril fragmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the theory of extended irreversible thermodynamics (EIT), the flux-dependent entropy function plays a key role; it is a fundamental distinction between EIT and the usual flux-independent entropy function adopted by classical irreversible thermodynamics (CIT). However, its existence, as a prerequisite for EIT, and its statistical origin have never been justified. In this work, by studying the macroscopic limit of an ϵ-dependent Langevin dynamics, which admits a large deviations (LD) principle, we show that the stationary LD rate functions of probability density pϵ(x, t) and joint probability density actually turn out to be the desired flux-independent entropy function in CIT and flux-dependent entropy function in EIT respectively. The difference of the two entropy functions is determined by the time resolution for Brownian motions times a Lagrangian, the latter arises from the LD Hamilton–Jacobi equation and can be used for constructing conserved Lagrangian/Hamiltonian dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The finite difference scheme is now widely used in the reverse time migration and full waveform inversion. Their results are dependent on the accuracy of finite difference operators. In this paper, we combine the cosine function with the original window function to construct a new window function, in order to obtain higher precision finite difference operators. The absolute error curves of the optimized finite difference operators are close to zero for low wavenumbers. In other words, we do not observe an oscillating curve of absolute errors produced by other optimized methods. In order to overcome the limitations of a single graphics processing unit (GPU), we developed the multiple-GPU method for the elastic wave equation. Numerical experimental results show that our new window function can control the numerical dispersion better than the binomial window and scaled binomial window, and the multiple-GPU computation is very stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]