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Autophagy, an efficient and effective approach to clear rapidly damaged organelles, macromolecules, and other harmful cellular components, enables the recycling of nutrient materials and supply of nutrients to maintain cellular homeostasis. Ubiquitination plays an important regulatory role in autophagy. This paper summarizes the most recent progress in ubiquitin modification in various stages of autophagy, including initiation, elongation, and termination. Moreover, this paper shows that ubiquitination is an important way through which selective autophagy achieves substrate specificity. Furthermore, we note the distinction between monoubiquitination and polyubiquitination in the regulation of autophagy. Compared with monoubiquitination, polyubiquitination is a more common strategy to regulate the activity of the autophagy molecular machinery. In addition, the role of ubiquitination in the closure and fusion of autophagosomes warrants further study. This article not only clarifies the regulatory mechanism of autophagy but also contributes to a deeper understanding of the importance of ubiquitination modification.

Abstract Background As a minimally invasive tool for caries prevention tool, the pulsed erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser is being used in a large number of studies. Microorganisms are extremely vital in the occurrence and development of dental caries. However, the impact of Er:YAG laser irradiation combined with fluoride on the dynamic microbial changes that occur in dental plaques is still uncertain. In this study, we examined the effect of an Er:YAG laser combined with fluorine on supragingival microbial composition and diversity in children with multiple caries. Methods In this study, dental plaque samples (n = 48) were collected from 12 children with over 8 filled teeth. Supragingival plaques from left mandibular molars before (CB) and after fluoride treatment (CA) and right mandibular molars before (EB) and after fluoride+Er:YAG laser treatment (EA) were collected from each patient. In CB and EB groups, the samples were collected just before the treatments. In CA and EA groups, the samples were collected 1 month after treatments. Then, all specimens were subjected to 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing to investigate the changes in microbial composition and diversity in mandibular molar supragingival plaques before and after fluoride or fluoride+Er:YAG laser treatment. Results The dental plaque microbial diversity was higher in the EA group than in the EB group (baseline levels), and the microbial composition changed in EA group compared with EB group (P

The expansion of hydraulic fractures in coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs is key to effective stimulation, making it essential to understand fracture propagation and its influencing factors for efficient resource development. Using petrological characteristics, logging data, microseismic monitoring, and fracturing reports from the Baode Block on the eastern Ordos Basin, this study systematically investigates the geological and engineering factors influencing hydraulic fracture propagation. The real-time monitoring of fracture propagation in 12 fractured wells was conducted using microseismic monitoring techniques. The results indicated that the fracture orientations in the study area ranged from NE30° to NE60°, with fracture lengths varying between 136 and 226 m and fracture heights ranging from 8.5 to 25.3 m. Additionally, the fracturing curves in the study area can be classified into four types: stable, descending, fluctuating, and falling. Among these, the stable and descending types exhibit the most effective fracture propagation and are more likely to generate longer fractures. In undeformed–cataclastic coals and bright and semi-bright coals, long fractures are likely to form. When the Geological Strength Index (GSI) of the coal rock ranges between 60 and 70, fracture lengths generally exceed 200 m. When the coal macrolithotype index (Sm) is below 2, fracture lengths typically exceed 200 m. When the difference between the maximum and minimum horizontal principal stresses exceeds 5 MPa, fractures with length >180 m are formed, while fracture heights generally remain below 15 m. From an engineering perspective, for the study area, hydraulic fracturing measures with a preflush ratio of 20–30%, an average sand ratio of 13–15%, and a construction pressure between 15 MPa and 25 MPa are most favorable for coalbed methane production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a modularized reconfigurable functional electromagnetic surface (MRFES) for broadband absorption and polarization conversion by using tightly coupled dipole antennas (TCDA) and back-loaded radio frequency (RF) circuits (BLRFC). A dual-polarized antenna array with tight coupling and wide angular scanning characteristics is designed. By loading different RF circuits on the back side of the antenna array's ground plane, switchable broadband absorption and polarization conversion functions are achieved. The design adopts modularization to facilitate the replacement of back-loaded RF circuits for diverse electromagnetic (EM) control functions. The final design of the tightly coupled antenna array has a thickness of 13.437 mm and a size of 119.5 mm × 119.5 mm. It works in a bandwidth range of 4.14–13 GHz. Upon loading the absorption circuit board, a broadband absorbing electromagnetic (EM) surface is formed, achieving dual-polarization absorption within a bandwidth of 4.14–12.4 GHz. With the polarization conversion circuit board attached, polarization conversion effects are realized within a bandwidth of 4.4–12.9 GHz. Both simulations and experiments verify that the designed EM surface possesses modular reconfigurable functions for broadband absorption/polarization conversion. The proposed design scheme holds promising prospects for applications in active stealth, adaptive camouflage, intelligent communication and other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Some studies have suggested that the forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of vital capacity (FEF25-75) can be used as an early marker of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR), but is highly variable. Here, we aimed to assess whether the FEF25-75 can be used to diagnose BHR in patients with asthma-like symptoms and AR. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, Cochrane Library, SinoMed, CNKI, and Wanfang Data were searched to acquire eligible studies. Articles published before 30 Sep 2023 were included. Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 was used to evaluate the risk of bias and application concern of the included articles. Data were pooled using random-effects models. The univariable meta-regression and subgroup analyses were used to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Results: Twenty-five studies were included, describing 12,310 patients with asthma-like symptoms and AR. In terms of the FEF25-75, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.56(95% CI 0.47–0.65) and 0.86 (95% CI 0.80–0.90), respectively. In addition, the pooled diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was 8.00 (95% CI 6–10) and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.80 (95% CI 0.76–0.83). Furthermore, we performed the univariable meta-regression and subgroup analyses, indicating that the disease types and ethnicity may be the sources of heterogeneity. Conclusion: This meta-analysis showed that if BPT cannot be performed a value of FEF25-75 < 65% of predicted may suggest the presence of BHR in patients with suspected asthma and /or AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sesuvium portulacastrum L. is a dicotyledonous halophyte belonging to the family Aizoaceae. Its young leaves are highly nutritious, and many ecotypes are used as leafy vegetable and medicinal crops. Additionally, due to their tolerance to soil salinity, flooding, and high temperatures, some ecotypes are used for the remediation of saline soils. As a result, there is an increasing need for a large number of disease-free S. portulacastrum propagules. This study developed an efficient protocol for the regeneration of S. portulacastrum through indirect shoot organogenesis. Leaf explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog basal medium supplemented with different concentrations of zeatin (ZT) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Callus was induced in all explants cultured with 1.5 mg/L ZT only or 1.5 mg/L ZT with 0.5 mg/L IAA. The callus was cut into small pieces and cultured on the same medium on which it was initially induced. ZT at 1.5 mg/L induced 73.7% of callus pieces to produce adventitious shoots, and the shoot numbers per callus piece were up to 20. To improve the in vitro rooting of adventitious shoots, commonly known as microshoots or microcuttings, an endophytic fungus, Cladosporium 'BF-F', was inoculated onto the rooting medium. 'BF-F' substantially enhanced rooting and plantlet growth, as the root numbers were three times more and plantlet heights were 70% greater than those without 'BF-F' inoculation. To detect the genes involved in the enhanced rooting and plantlet growth, qRT-PCR analysis was performed. Results showed that genes related to auxin responses and nitrogen uptake and metabolism were highly upregulated in 'BF-F'-inoculated plantlets. Plants inoculated with 'BF-F' grew vigorously after being transplanted into a sand–soil substrate. Thus, this study not only established an efficient protocol for the regeneration of S. portulacastrum but also developed a novel method for improving the rooting of microshoots and plantlet growth. The established propagation system could be used for producing a large number of S. portulacastrum plantlets for commercial use and also for genetic transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The activation of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in endothelial cells (ECs) contributes to vascular inflammation in atherosclerosis. Considering the high glycolytic rate of ECs, we delineated whether and how glycolysis determines endothelial NLRP3 inflammasome activation in atherosclerosis. Methods and results Our results demonstrated a significant up-regulation of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), a key regulator of glycolysis, in human and mouse atherosclerotic endothelium, which positively correlated with NLRP3 levels. Atherosclerotic stimuli up-regulated endothelial PFKFB3 expression via sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2) transactivation. EC-selective haplodeficiency of Pfkfb3 in Apoe−/− mice resulted in reduced endothelial NLRP3 inflammasome activation and attenuation of atherogenesis. Mechanistic investigations revealed that PFKFB3-driven glycolysis increased the NADH content and induced oligomerization of C-terminal binding protein 1 (CtBP1), an NADH-sensitive transcriptional co-repressor. The monomer form, but not the oligomer form, of CtBP1 was found to associate with the transcriptional repressor Forkhead box P1 (FOXP1) and acted as a transrepressor of inflammasome components, including NLRP3, caspase-1, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Interfering with NADH-induced CtBP1 oligomerization restored its binding to FOXP1 and inhibited the glycolysis-dependent up-regulation of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and IL-1β. Additionally, EC-specific overexpression of NADH-insensitive CtBP1 alleviates atherosclerosis. Conclusion Our findings highlight the existence of a glycolysis-dependent NADH/CtBP/FOXP1-transrepression pathway that regulates endothelial NLRP3 inflammasome activation in atherogenesis. This pathway represents a potential target for selective PFKFB3 inhibitors or strategies aimed at disrupting CtBP1 oligomerization to modulate atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter presents a Ka‐band low‐cost microstrip line phase shifter based on liquid crystal (LC) technology. Furthermore, a sum‐difference beamforming antenna array based on the LC phase shifter is designed. The phase shifter is composed of two coaxial connectors, a metal base, an intermediate dielectric layer, a gradient metal sheet and a top glass layer. The simulated results show that a nearly 360° phase shift coverage can be achieved with the effective permittivity of LC varying from 2.5 to 3.5. The sum‐difference beam antenna array is composed of a circulator, a sum‐difference network, a one‐to‐eight power‐division network, eight liquid crystal phase shifters, and a serious fed antenna array. The simulation results show that the antenna array can achieve sum‐difference beam scanning range of ±30°. A prototype of LC phase shifter is fabricated and tested. The results show that the designed LC phase shifter can achieve a 360° phase coverage by applying a direct current (DC) voltage ranging from 0 to 12 V. Compared to traditional phase shifters, the proposed design offers a simple structure at a lower cost. When applied in the design of a sum‐difference beam antenna array, it can reduce the producing cost and enable integrated design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]