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Accurate positioning at the inter-row canopy can provide data support for precision variable-rate spraying. Therefore, there is an urgent need to design a reliable positioning method for the inter-row canopy of closed orchards (planted forests). In the study, the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) fusion positioning method (method C) was first constructed by calibrating the IMU and encoder with errors. Meanwhile, 3D Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) observations were introduced to be fused into Method C. An EKF fusion positioning method (method D) based on 3D LiDAR corrected detection was designed. The method starts or closes method C by the presence or absence of the canopy. The vertically installed 3D LiDAR detected the canopy body center, providing the vehicle with inter-row vertical distance and heading. They were obtained through the distance between the center of the body and fixed row spacing. This can provide an accurate initial position for method C and correct the positioning trajectory. Finally, the positioning and canopy length measurement experiments were designed using a GPS positioning system. The results show that the method proposed in this study can significantly improve the accuracy of length measurement and positioning at the inter-row canopy, which does not significantly change with the distance traveled. In the orchard experiment, the average positioning deviations of the lateral and vertical distances at the inter-row canopy are 0.1 m and 0.2 m, respectively, with an average heading deviation of 6.75°, and the average relative error of canopy length measurement was 4.35%. The method can provide a simple and reliable inter-row positioning method for current remote-controlled and manned agricultural machinery when working in standardized 3D crops. This can modify the above-mentioned machinery to improve its automation level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tin oxide-based (SnO2) materials show high theoretical capacity for lithium and sodium storage benefiting from a double-reaction mechanism of conversion and alloying reactions. However, due to the limitation of the reaction thermodynamics and kinetics, the conversion reaction process of SnO2 usually shows irreversibility, resulting in serious capacity decay and hindering the further application of the SnO2 anode. Herein, SnO2/SnS heterojunction was anchored on the surface and inside of CMK-3 by in situ synthesis method, forming a stable 3D structural material (SnO2/SnS@CMK-3). The electrochemical properties of SnO2/SnS@CMK-3 composite show high capacity and reversible conversion reaction, which was attributed to the synergistic effect of CMK-3 and SnO2/SnS heterojunction. To further investigate the influence of the heterojunction on the reversibility of the conversion reaction, the Gibbs free energy (Δ G) was calculated using density functional theory. The results show that SnO2/SnS heterojunction has a closer to zero Δ G for lithium/sodium ion batteries compared to SnO2, indicating that the heterojunction enhances the reversibility of the conversion reaction in chemical reaction thermodynamics. Our work provides insights into the reversibility of the conversion reaction of SnO2-based materials, which is essential for improving their electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic gastrointestinal disease that can be managed with 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), the standard treatment for UC. However, the effectiveness of 5-ASA is not always optimal. Our study revealed that despite 5-ASA treatment, cells continued to experience excessive ferroptosis, which may hinder mucosal healing in UC and limit the success of this treatment approach in achieving disease remission. We found that combining 5-ASA with the ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1 led to a significant inhibition of ferroptosis in macrophages present in the colon tissue, along with an increase in the proportion of M2 macrophages, suggesting that targeting ferroptosis in M2 macrophages could be a potential therapeutic strategy for alleviating UC. Our study also demonstrated that M2 macrophages are more susceptible to ferroptosis compared to M1 macrophages, and this susceptibility is associated with the activated arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism pathway mediated by ERK-cPLA2-ACSL4. Additionally, we found that the expression of cPLA2 gene pla2g4a was increased in the colon of UC patients compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, targeted metabolomics analysis revealed that the combination treatment group, as opposed to the 5-ASA treatment group, exhibited the ability to modulate AA metabolism. Overall, our findings emphasize the importance of addressing macrophage ferroptosis in order to enhance macrophage anti-inflammation, improve mucosal healing, and achieve better therapeutic outcomes for patients with UC. [Display omitted] • The ferroptosis susceptibility of M2 is greater than that of M1. • The ferroptosis susceptibility of M2 is associated with the ERK-cPLA2-ACSL4 pathway. • The dysregulation of AA contributes to the ineffectiveness of 5-ASA in rescuing ferroptosis in M2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis is a newly discovered form of cell death that is featured in a wide range of diseases. Exosome therapy is a promising therapeutic option that has attracted much attention due to its low immunogenicity, low toxicity, and ability to penetrate biological barriers. In addition, emerging evidence indicates that exosomes possess the ability to modulate the progression of diverse diseases by regulating ferroptosis in damaged cells. Hence, the mechanism by which cell-derived and noncellular-derived exosomes target ferroptosis in different diseases through the system Xc−/GSH/GPX4 axis, NAD(P)H/FSP1/CoQ10 axis, iron metabolism pathway and lipid metabolism pathway associated with ferroptosis, as well as its applications in liver disease, neurological diseases, lung injury, heart injury, cancer and other diseases, are summarized here. Additionally, the role of exosome-regulated ferroptosis as an emerging repair mechanism for damaged tissues and cells is also discussed, and this is expected to be a promising treatment direction for various diseases in the future. 4WxzRHXWYmfm3Upmac56cr Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to various psychological disorders, including anxiety, particularly among the general public. It is crucial to monitor the mental health of school students, who are considered a vulnerable group in society, and assess their self-efficacy, as it can significantly affect their mental health. This study aimed to investigate the levels of anxiety and self-efficacy among school students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized convenience sampling to examine a sample of 335 school students from Sistan and Baluchestan province in southeastern Iran. An online questionnaire, distributed through social media platforms, was used to collect data. The questionnaire included demographic information, COVID-19 related items, the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children-MASC, and the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children-SEQ-C. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS version 24, with a significance level set at < 0.05. Results: The study revealed a significant negative correlation between children's anxiety and self-efficacy (r = -0.23, P < 0.001). Several factors were identified as predictors of anxiety, including low self-efficacy (β = -0.29, P < 0.001), female gender (β = 0.27, P < 0.001), concern about family members contracting COVID-19 (β = 0.18, P < 0.001), persistent advice of others to adopt preventive measures (β = 0.14, P < 0.005), level of education (β = -0.12, P < 0.017), and perceived risk of COVID-19 infection (β = -0.11, P < 0.030). These variables collectively accounted for 17% of the variance in anxiety. Conclusion: The findings of the study highlight the importance of addressing the mental health of school students, specifically their anxiety levels, during epidemics. The results also indicate that enhancing self-efficacy among students during a pandemic could be a beneficial strategy for promoting their mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organ fibrosis can occur in virtually all major organs with relentlessly progressive and irreversible progress, ultimately resulting in organ dysfunction and potentially death. Unfortunately, current clinical treatments cannot halt or reverse the progression of fibrosis to end-stage organ failure, and thus, advanced antifibrotic therapeutics are urgently needed. In recent years, a growing body of research has revealed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play pivotal roles in the development and progression of organ fibrosis through highly diverse mechanisms of action. Thus, manipulating circRNAs has emerged as a promising strategy to mitigate fibrosis across different organ types. In this review, we systemically summarize the current state of knowledge about circRNA biological properties and the regulatory mechanisms of circRNAs. A comprehensive overview of major fibrotic signaling pathways and representative circRNAs that are known to modulate fibrotic signals are outlined. Then, we focus on the research progress of the versatile functional roles and underlying molecular mechanisms of circRNAs in various fibrotic diseases in different organs, including the heart, liver, lung, kidney and skin. Finally, we offer a glimpse into the prospects of circRNA-based interference and therapy, as well as their utilization as biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of fibrotic diseases. DCwYr1U-SPU-jT71MBGR_n Video abstract Key points: Aberrant expression of circRNA has been described in fibrotic states affecting different organs, including the lung, heart, liver, kidney and skin. Some circRNAs are closely associated with fibrogenesis through their effects on various fibrotic pathways. CircRNAs have anti- or pro-fibrotic effects depending on the downstream targeted molecules and pathways and might contribute to the regulation of inflammation, apoptosis, fibroblast activation and proliferation, and extracellular matrix accumulation. A substantial body of research has mainly focused on the well-known microRNA sponge role of circRNAs. Recently, new mechanisms, including interactions with proteins, coding capacities, and extracellular exosomal circRNAs, have been uncovered. Much research has examined fibrotic effector cells, particularly fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. The circ-transcriptome in other cell types, including epithelial, endothelial, and immune cells involved in fibrosis, needs to be profiled. Further work is needed to identify and validate circRNAs as biomarkers of the development and progression of fibrotic diseases. Although circRNAs are promising antifibrotic therapeutic targets, their clinical use remains far off. Purification of synthetic circRNAs and their safety are key issues that need to be solved before they can be successfully translated into clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are increasingly used in single-arm cancer studies. We reviewed 60 papers published between 2018 and 2021 of single-arm studies of cancer treatment with PRO data for current practice on design, analysis, reporting, and interpretation. We further examined the studies' handling of potential bias and how they informed decision making. Most studies (58; 97%) analysed PROs without stating a predefined research hypothesis. 13 (22%) of the 60 studies used a PRO as a primary or co-primary endpoint. Definitions of PRO objectives, study population, endpoints, and missing data strategies varied widely. 23 studies (38%) compared the PRO data with external information, most often by using a clinically important difference value; one study used a historical control group. Appropriateness of methods to handle missing data and intercurrent events (including death) were seldom discussed. Most studies (51; 85%) concluded that PRO results supported treatment. Conducting and reporting of PROs in cancer single-arm studies need standards and a critical discussion of statistical methods and possible biases. These findings will guide the Setting International Standards in Analysing Patient-Reported Outcomes and Quality of Life Data in Cancer Clinical Trials–Innovative Medicines Initiative (SISAQOL-IMI) in developing recommendations for the use of PRO-measures in single-arm studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metal-ceramic composite Cu/Ce0.9Mn0.1O2-δ (Cu/CMO) is investigated as a fuel electrode for solid oxide cells (SOCs) regarding the interconversion between CO and CO2, and exhibits excellent anti-carbon and electrocatalytic performance. When the SOCs are operated in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) mode in CO2/CO = 50/50 atmosphere, the maximum power densities of the SOCs are 37, 88, and 151 mW/cm2 at 700, 750, and 800 °C, respectively, indicating that Cu/CMO electrode possesses excellent catalytic activity for CO oxidation. The Cu/CMO is also electrochemically active for CO2 reduction when the SOCs are operated in solid oxide electrolytic cell (SOEC) mode. At an applied voltage of 2.0 V, the current densities of the SOCs are 0.47, 0.87, and 1.36 A/cm2 at 700, 750, and 800 °C, respectively. Short-term durability measurement of CO2 electrolysis at various applied voltages shows that the SOCs is stable with only a small decrease in current density at 1.4 V, while the current density decreases more above 2.0 V, probably due to the deterioration of the electrode at high applied voltages. Long-term stability measurement of the SOCs at an applied voltage of 1.4 V for up to 200 h shows significant stability of the electrode. In this paper, the metal-ceramic composite Cu/CMO is used as a fuel electrode for SOCs and the performance in both SOEC and SOFC modes is investigated. The electrolysis of CO2 and oxidation of CO occurred at the fuel electrode Cu/CMO using CO2/CO = 50/50 mixture as the fuel gas to achieve the mutual conversion of CO2 and CO, respectively. After systematic electrochemical performance tests, SOCs using Cu/CMO as the fuel electrode can be reversibly converted in both SOEC and SOFC modes, achieving efficient conversion between chemical energy and renewable electricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aberrant differentiation of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells plays an important role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the mechanism of regulating Tfh cells differentiation remains unclear. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) act as important regulators in the processes of innate and adaptive immune response. Whether lncRNAs are involved in regulating Tfh cell differentiation and autoimmune responses need to be further identified. Methods: The characters and functions of human IL21‐AS1 and its mouse homologous lncRNA (mIl21‐AS) were investigated by a series of biochemical assays and cell transfection assay. mIl21‐AS1 regulating humoral immune response in vivo was explored by keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) and chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) model. Results: Human IL21‐AS1 and its mouse homologous lncRNA (mIl21‐AS) were identified and cloned. We uncovered that IL21‐AS1 was highly expressed in CD4+ T cells of SLE patients and Tfh cells, which promoted differentiation of Tfh cells. Mechanistically, IL21‐AS1 bound heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U and recruited acetyltransferases CREB‐binding protein to the promoter of IL21, leading to the transcriptional activation of IL21 and Tfh cells differentiation through increasing Histone H3 acetylation level on IL21 promoter. Moreover, Tfh proportion and antibodies production were significantly increased in mIl21‐AS knock‐in mice immunized with KLH. mIl21‐AS1 overexpression also exacerbated the lupus‐like phenotype in cGVHD mice model. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that IL21‐AS1 activates IL21 transcription via epigenetic mechanism to promote germinal centre response, adding insight into the molecular regulation of autoimmune pathogenesis and providing a novel target for SLE treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automatic navigation (AN) is an essential component to ensure the safety of pesticide application in orchards, whereas precision variable-rate spraying (PVS) serves as an indispensable technology for reducing the application of pesticides and protecting the environment. At present, AN and PVS are not closely combined. In this case, a single three-dimension (3D) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor is hereby adopted to sense the information of fruit trees around the robot and determine the region of interest (ROI). Moreover, two-dimensional (2D) processing is conducted over the point clouds within the ROI to obtain the center-of-mass coordinates of fruit trees, and determine the vertical distance of the robot to the center line of the fruit tree row (FTR) based on the FTR on both sides using the Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) algorithm. Then, the robot is controlled to drive along the center line of the FTR. At the same time, the speed and position of the robot are determined by the encoder and inertial measurement unit (IMU), and the IMU corrects the information collected from the zoned canopy of the fruit trees. The results present a lateral deviation (LD) of less than 22 cm and a course deviation (CD) of less than 4.02° during AN. Compared with the traditional spraying (TS), the PVS applies 32.46%, 44.34% and 58.14% less pesticide application, air drift and ground loss, respectively. With the spraying effect guaranteed, the single 3D LIDAR, the encoder and IMU realize the AN and PVS of the robot, reduce the volume of pesticide application, ground loss and air drift, and effectively control the pollution caused by pesticides to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to summarize the existing point cloud target detection algorithms based on deep learning, and provide reference for researchers in related fields. In recent years, with its outstanding performance in target detection of 2D images, deep learning technology has been applied in light detection and ranging (LiDAR) point cloud data to improve the automation and intelligence level of target detection. However, there are still some difficulties and room for improvement in target detection from the 3D point cloud. In this paper, the vehicle LiDAR target detection method is chosen as the research subject. Design/methodology/approach: Firstly, the challenges of applying deep learning to point cloud target detection are described; secondly, solutions in relevant research are combed in response to the above challenges. The currently popular target detection methods are classified, among which some are compared with illustrate advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, approaches to improve the accuracy of network target detection are introduced. Findings: Finally, this paper also summarizes the shortcomings of existing methods and signals the prospective development trend. Originality/value: This paper introduces some existing point cloud target detection methods based on deep learning, which can be applied to a driverless, digital map, traffic monitoring and other fields, and provides a reference for researchers in related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study prospectively compared the efficacy and safety between matched related donor-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (MRD-HSCT) (n = 108) and immunosuppressive therapy (IST) plus eltrombopag (EPAG) (IST + EPAG) (n = 104) to determine whether MRD-HSCT was still superior as a front-line treatment for patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA). Compared with IST + EPAG group, patients in the MRD-HSCT achieved faster transfusion independence, absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.0 × 109/L (P < 0.05), as well as high percentage of normal blood routine at 6-month (86.5% vs. 23.7%, P < 0.001). In the MRD-HSCT and IST + EPAG groups, 3-year overall survival (OS) was 84.2 ± 3.5% and 89.7 ± 3.1% (P = 0.164), whereas 3-year failure-free survival (FFS) was 81.4 ± 4.0% and 59.1 ± 4.9% (P = 0.002), respectively. Subgroup analysis indicated that the FFS of the MRD-HSCT was superior to that of the IST + EPAG among patients aged < 40 years old (81.0 ± 4.6% vs. 63.7 ± 6.5%, P = 0.033), and among patients with vSAA (86.1 ± 5.9% vs. 54.9 ± 7.9%, P = 0.003), while the 3-year OS of the IST + EPAG was higher than that of the MRD-HSCT among the patient aged ≥ 40 years old (100.0 ± 0.0% vs. 77.8 ± 9.8%, P = 0.036). Multivariate analysis showed that first-line MRD-HSCT treatment was associated favorably with normal blood results at 6-month and FFS (P < 0.05). These outcomes suggest that MRD-HSCT remains the preferred first-line option for SAA patients aged < 40 years old or with vSAA even in the era of EPAG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An additional force model is implemented in 3-D numerical simulation code. • Thermal-hydraulic analysis is performed on the HP-cooled MSR core under ocean conditions. • Improved flow and heat transfer performance can be obtained for the core in rolling conditions. The Heat-Pipe-cooled Molten Salt Reactor (HP-MSR) has been seen as a promising potential candidate for powering ocean vehicles with long endurance while reducing the carbon emissions in the shipping industry. By combining the operation merits of HPs and MSRs, this type of reactor can characterize no need for fuel fabrication, inherent safety, short waste lifespan, and elimination of in-core thermal stress issues, which is typical in other HP-cooled Reactors. In the ocean application, the reactor vessel, embedded in the ocean vehicle, is often led to continuous motion due to the wave action. This motion significantly influences the flow and heat transfer characteristics of liquid fuel within the reactor core. This paper performs numerical simulation on the thermal-hydraulics of the reactor core of HP-cooled MSR under the influence of ocean conditions through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code. The ANSYS FLUENT is implemented to develop an additional force model to simulate motion conditions. Through exploring changes in the fuel flow field, heat transfer, and heat pipes, the evaluation of the HP-cooled MSR performance in ocean conditions is conducted. With the temperature gradient decreasing from 57 K to 14 K in the rolling motion condition, the temperature distribution becomes more uniform. The average temperature of fuel from the static to motion condition only drops 8.1 K, leading to less thermal stress on the core vessel and more balanced heat pipe power output without bringing abrupt temperature-related reactivity change. The tangential movement with vortex pairs in gaps of heat pipes predominates the flow field in the rolling motion condition. It mixes the fuel salt and strengthens the heat transfer of heat pipes. This implies that the basic design and operation of the MSR are robust when situated in an oceanic environment. On the other hand, this study also reveals that the surface heat flux of heat pipes at certain positions within the core is considerably influenced by the fuel salt flow. This means that while the overall reactor performance remains stable, specific components within the system may experience more significant impacts due to the ocean motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NASICON-type material Na1+xZr2SixP3−xO12 (0 ≤ x ≤ 3) is considered to be one of the most promising solid-state electrolytes that can be applied in all-solid-state sodium batteries (SSNBs). However, further increasing the ionic conductivity of Na1+xZr2SixP3−xO12 (0 ≤ x ≤ 3) to obtain higher performance electrolyte materials is still a challenge for its practical application. Herein, the Na3.4Zr2Si2.4P0.6O12 (NZSP) powder is prepared by the solution-assisted solid-state reaction (SA-SSR), and solid-state electrolytes with excellent electrochemical properties are obtained by doping with NaF as a sintering aid. With the increase of NaF doping, the crystal structure of NZSP is changed as well as a slight excess of Na+ may increase the bottleneck size of the crystal, so that it enhances the migration ability of Na+ in the crystal. Also, NaF as a sintering aid lowers the sintering temperature, increases the densities and improves the effective contact between crystals, which reduces the grain boundary impedance of NZSP. However, the excessive NaF dopant leads to the generation of microcracks decreasing the Na+ conducting and mechanical properties of solid-state electrolytes. Using this simple and low-cost strategy of NaF doping, NZSP-0.3NaF achieves an excellent conductivity of 4.98 mS cm−1 with unexpectedly low activation energy of 0.227 eV. Therefore, this composition is one of the few electrolytes with high conductivity reported so far and is a competitive option for solid-state sodium batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the high-precision seismic imaging of complex structures on irregular topographies, this study proposes a Chebyshev spectral-element reverse time migration (CSE-RTM) method coupled with the implicit Newmark time integral method. The approach is first applied to a numerical example to consider factors affecting numerical accuracy, such as the time step and the pattern of subdivision of the computational domain. The results show that the smaller the time step is, the higher the numerical accuracy is and that numerical accuracy improves when the grid nodes tend to be distributed uniformly in the computational domain. The spectral element method combines the advantages of the stronger boundary-related adaptability of the finite element method with the high accuracy and fast convergence of the spectral method. This method is applied to reverse time migration imaging, and tests of the model show that its accuracy of imaging is higher than that of the conventional finite-difference reverse time migration method in case of complex structures in areas with irregular topography. To improve the efficiency of parallel computing of the CSE-RTM, an iterative algorithm is proposed to solve the hierarchical equilibrium sparse linear equations (HELPs) for it based on the idea of the degrees of cohesion of freedom and local relaxation. This algorithm has the advantage that the efficiency of parallel computation does not decrease with an increasing number of processors while the number of iterations required for convergence is controlled. Owing to the fast convergence of the spectral method on a sparse grid coupled with the parallel computational scheme of HELPs, the efficiency of calculation of the CSE-RTM is significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sluggish kinetics of CO2 reduction and evolution reaction (CRR and CER) on the Li–CO2 battery cathode seriously hindered its practical application. Rational design of the Ru/C interface is expected to simultaneously decrease the free energy barrier of intermediate species and create a favorable electronic structure, effectively promoting the catalytic reaction kinetics of the CRR and CER. Herein, a 3D self‐supporting cellulose carbon aerogel (CCA) with well‐defined Ru/C interfaces (Ru@CCA) is synthesized as an advanced CO2‐breathing cathode for Li–CO2 batteries. The results show that the energy efficiency significantly improves to 80% with a high discharge capacity of 10.71 mA h cm−2 at 20 µA cm−2, and excellent cyclic stability of 421 cycles at 100 µA cm−2. These outstanding performances are highly competitive compared with state‐of‐art Li–CO2 cathodes. In addition, the unique interface design strategy is applied to other non‐noble metal@CCA cathodes, which confirms the advantages of constructing nanostructure metal/C interfaces for improving the kinetics of CRR and CER. This fundamental understanding of the structure–performance relationship provides new inspiration for designing highly efficient cathode catalysts for Li–CO2 batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in postmenopausal women has increased significantly. Estrogen plays a very important role in NAFLD, but whether NAFLD in premenopausal women was caused by estrogen deficiency was unknown. Thus, it is of great clinical significance to explore the mechanism of NAFLD in premenopausal women. Gut microbiota and its metabolites short chain fatty acids (SCFA) have been shown to play important roles in the development of NAFLD. In this study, we investigated the impact of gut microbiota and SCFA in NAFLD patients and mice caused by estrogen deficiency. We showed that premenopause NAFLD patients had much lower estrogen levels. Estrogen deficient mice, due to ovariectomy (OVX), suffered more severe liver steatosis with an elevated body weight, abdominal fat weight, serum triglycerides and deterioration in hepatic steatosis. Altered gut microbiota composition and decreased butyrate content were found in NAFLD patients and in OVX mice. Furthermore, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) or supplementing with butyrate alleviated NAFLD in OVX mice. The production of antimicrobial peptides (AMP) Reg3ɣ, β-defensins and the expression of intestinal epithelial tight junction, including ZO-1 and Occluding-5, were decreased in the OVX mice compared to control mice. Upregulation of PPAR-ɣ and VLDLR, downregulation of PPAR-ɑ indicated that OVX mice suffered from abnormal lipid metabolism. These data indicate that changes in the gut microbiota and SCFA caused by estrogen reduction, together with a disorder in AMP production and lipid metabolism, promote NAFLD, thus provide SCFAs derived from microbiota as new therapeutic targets for the clinical prevention and treatment of NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• System analysis code is developed for FHR DRACS transient analysis under ocean conditions. • The influence of three types of ocean conditions is explored on the FHR DRACS system. • Ocean conditions are found to reduce the passive heat removal capability of FHR DRACS. Molten Salt Reactors are one of the 4th generation nuclear reactor concepts, which are proposed to be applied in future commercial ship propulsion, due to their great advantage in carbon emission reduction. The floating MSRs face the strong influence of ocean waves. This paper explores the transient response of the passive residual heat removal system adopted in the floating solid-fuel MSR, or the Fluoride-salt-cooled High-temperature Reactors (FHRs). The system analysis code, ASYST code is modified by adding the derived thermal–hydraulic model considering the ocean conditions effects. The code is validated through the scaled static FHR DRACS natural circulation experiment and single-phase-water natural circulation experiments under the inclination, heaving and rolling conditions. The validated code is adopted to investigate a scaled-up FHR DRACS prototype loop under the horizontal inclination, heaving and rolling conditions. The influence of different ocean condition parameters is investigated on the DRACS natural circulation thermal–hydraulic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-state electrolytes for sodium batteries have been studied for many years, however, have not advanced much since at ambient temperature solid-state electrolytes still exhibit a magnitude huge gap in ionic conductivity than the commercial organic liquid electrolytes. In this paper, the solid-state electrolyte Na 5 YSi 4 O 12 (NYS) is synthesized employing the solution-assisted solid-state reaction (SASSR) method with the ionic conductivity (σ t) reaching up to 1.52 mS cm−1 sintered at 1050 °C for 6 h, demonstrating a significant progress improvement over the conventional solid-phase reaction method. On this basis, Y3+ is further substituted with the other Lanthanides including Yb3+, Dy3+, Gd3+, Eu3+, and Sm3+ to form the solid electrolytes Na 5 MSi 4 O 12 (M = Yb3+, Dy3+, Gd3+, Eu3+, and Sm3+). The conductivity evolution is found increasing with the increase in the ionic radius of the substituted elements. The X-ray diffractometer analysis reveals a wider sodium ion transport channel and larger ionic radius which lead to higher sodium ion concentration. However, the sintering temperature and impurity phase are reduced with an increase in ionic radius. Notably, among the six solid-state electrolytes, Na 5 SmSi 4 O 12 (NSS) exhibits the highest conductivity of 2.41 mS cm−1 and the lowest sintering temperature of 950 °C. The low sintering temperature and high ionic conductivity make NSS a fast sodium conductor that can meet industrial needs. [Display omitted] • The solution-assisted solid-state reaction was used to synthesize Na 5 YSi 4 O 12. • The conductivity of Na 5 YSi 4 O 12 can reach 1.52 mS cm−1 at room temperature. • Lanthanides Yb3+, Dy3+, Gd3+, Eu3+and Sm3+ were substituted for Y3+ in Na 5 YSi 4 O 12. • Na 5 SmSi 4 O 12 exhibits the highest conductivity of 2.41 mS cm−1. • XRD revealed that enhancing the ionic radius of Lanthanides increased the Na + transport channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The helical-coiled-tube steam generator (HCTSG) has found application in certain liquid Lead-cooled Fast Reactors (LFRs) due to its compact design, ability to mitigate thermal stress, and superior heat transfer capabilities. In order to better understand its performance, research has been conducted on the flow dynamics and convective heat transfer within single-start helical coiled tube bundle of HCTSG, specifically focusing on the liquid lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) mixture, using numerical simulations. The accuracy of the simulations was verified by comparing the results with experimental data obtained from studies on liquid NaK. Turbulent models and turbulent Prandtl number models were utilized in the simulations and validated against experimental results for liquid NaK. Various parameters such as the pitch-to-diameter ratio and flow conditions were scrutinized to evaluate their impact on flow patterns and heat transfer characteristics. Transition criteria have been determined for the laminar and turbulent flow for LBE. Empirical correlations were developed to predict the friction factor and convective heat transfer coefficients within a Reynolds number range from 30 to 4.0 × 105 and a Peclet number range from 1 to 10000, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Transient analysis code is developed and validated for heat-pipe-cooled reactor system. • Multi-node thermal resistance network coupling closed-form solution is setup for heat pipe heat transfer analysis. • Safety analysis is performed on KRUSTY under three postulated accidents. The heat pipe cooled reactor is a type of nuclear reactor system that utilizes heat pipe technology for core cooling. It characterizes in high reliability, compactness and modularity, making it suitable for deep-space exploration, and other applications. To gain a deeper understanding of the system's dynamic behavior and evaluate its performance, a transient analysis code is developed with the reactor point kinetics model, core heat transfer model, improved heat pipe startup and operation models, and Stirling engine model established. The reliability and accuracy of the models and code are validated by comparing the simulation results of the various models with experimental data based on heat pipe startup, operation experiments and KRUSTY test results. The safety limits are developed for the KRUSTY and this paper conducts the transient analysis on KRUSTY and evaluates the safety performance of KRUSTY in accidents including the unexpected shutdown of the Stirling engine, reactivity insertion accident (RIA), and combined partial Stirling engine failure and RIA accidents. KRUSTY shows good thermal stability and controllability under hypothetical accident conditions where no safety limit is exceeded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Transient analysis is performed on S-CO 2 cooled micro modular reactor using modified SYST-CO 2. • Safety characteristics under ULOFA, URIA, ULOHS, UOC and PLOFA are investigated. • The MMR core outlet temperature is to be the most constraining factor in the reactor safety. The supercritical CO 2 (S-CO 2) demonstrates great potential as a coolant for nuclear reactors due to its low critical pressure and temperature. It offers improved thermal efficiency and decreased requirements for structural materials. By incorporating core physics models and updated thermal–hydraulic models, the SYST-SCO 2 code developed in prior research has been enhanced and utilized for conducting transient safety analysis on the micro modular reactor (MMR) proposed by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). The analyzed transients include the Unprotected Loss of Flow Accident (ULOFA), Unprotected Reactivity Insertion Accident (URIA), Unprotected Loss of Heat Sink (ULOHS), Unprotected Over Cooling (UOC), and the Protected Loss of Flow Accident (PLOFA). It is found that the MMR experiences the exceeding of coolant outlet temperature limit of 676℃ in the ULOFA for over 155 s. With the reactor shutdown system put into operation, the reactor core can be maintained to operate with the fuel pellet, cladding and coolant temperatures below their limits respectively in the LOFA. Enough safety margin can be left for the MMR reactor core in URIA, ULOHS and UOC transients. Among the safety limits for the fuel and coolant, the core outlet temperature limit is the easiest to reach in the analyzed accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the outcomes of antihuman T lymphocyte globulin (ATG-F) and porcine antihuman lymphocyte globulin (p-ALG) as part of a conditioning regimen in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for severe aplastic anemia (SAA). we performed a retrospective analysis, evaluating the outcome of patients with SAA who received ATG-F based conditioning (n = 26) with those receiving p-ALG conditioning (n = 34). The median time to neutrophil engraftment was 11 days (range, 8 − 38) and 11 days (range, 9 − 24) in the p-ALG and ATG-F groups (P = 0.857); the median platelet engraftment time was 15 (range, 9 − 330) days and 13 (range, 10 − 56) days (P = 0.155). There were no significant differences in grades II − IV acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), grades III − IV aGVHD, chronic GVHD (cGVHD), and the moderate-severe cGVHD between the ATG-F and p-ALG groups (P>0.05). Patients in the ATG-F group functioned significantly better on role-physical (P = 0.006), general health (P = 0.029), and physical component summary (P = 0.009). The estimated overall survival and failure free survival rates at 5 years were 88.5% ± 6.3% vs. 82.4% ± 6.5% (P = 0.515), 84.6% ± 7.1% vs. 79.4% ± 6.9%, respectively (P = 0.579). The infection rates were 61.53% and 47.05%, respectively (P = 0.265). As part of the conditioning regimen, p-ALG achieved a similar efficacy as ATG-F without increasing the incidence of transplantation complications in SAA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to find efficient new antitumor drugs, a series of novel pyrimidine derivatives containing urea moiety were designed and synthesized, and the antitumor activity of four human tumor cells was evaluated by MTT analysis. The results showed that most of the target compounds exhibited moderate antitumor activity. In particular, the IC50 (concentration required to achieve 50% inhibition of the tumor cell proliferation) value of compound 2-((4-(4-ethylphenoxy)-6-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidin-2-yl)thio)-N-((4-ethylphenyl)carba-moyl)acetamide for MGC-803 (human gastric carcinoma cell line) was 2.51 ± 0.17 µmol L–1, the anti-proliferative activity was significantly better than the positive control drug 5-fluorouracil. Molecular docking revealed that this compound can bind well to the active site of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and it may become a potential antitumor drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distal humeral fractures are challenging injuries to surgically correct and account for up to 2% of all adult fractures. Surgical management of extra-articular distal humeral fractures is challenging considering surgical approach, implant selection, and position of the implant owing to the availability of different precontoured implants and plate configurations. Anatomically precontoured locking compression plates (APLCPs) allow the placement of angular stable screws right underneath the reduced joint surface fragments. To date, there is a lack of evidence supporting its superiority to conventional locking plate osteosynthesis (LPO) in treating extra-articular distal humeral fractures. The objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of APLCPs in the treatment of extra-articular distal humeral fractures. A total of 100 patients diagnosed with humeral fractures and receiving treatments in our hospital between May 2018 and May 2020 fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to LPO and APLCP groups according to the odd-even of the order of hospital admission, 50 cases per groups. Clinical endpoints were assessed including operation time; in-bed time; length of hospital stay; volume of intraoperative blood loss; VSA scores before and 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery; MEPS scores before and 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery; range of motion, flexion, and extension of the elbow; serum levels of CK, CRP, and IL-6; and incidence of complications after surgery. It was found that the APLCP group exhibited shortened operation time and in-bed time, decreased length of hospital stay, and reduced volume of intraoperative blood loss compared to the LPO group (all P < 0.001). The two groups had declined VSA scores concomitant with increased MEPS scores after surgery in a time-dependent manner (P < 0.001). Notably, the VSA scores in the APLCP group were all lower than those in the LPO group at indicated time points (24, 48, and 72 h) after surgery (P < 0.001). Besides, the MEPS scores in the APLCP group were all higher than those in the LPO group at indicated time points (3, 6, and 12 months) after surgery (P < 0.001). It was revealed that the patients receiving extra-articular distal humeral APLCP through posterior approaches exhibited greater ranges of motion, flexion, and extension of the elbow than those receiving LPO after surgery (P < 0.001). The patients receiving extra-articular distal humeral APLCP through posterior approaches exhibited lower serum levels of IL-6, CRP, and CK than those receiving LPO after surgery (IL-6: P = 0.007 , CRP: P = 0.001 , CK: P = 0.001). The APLCP had a lower total incidence rate of complication than the LPO group (48.00% vs. 18.00%, P = 0.003). In conclusion, these data support the notion that the implantation of anatomically precontoured APLCP through a posterior approach allows for improved functional outcomes and attenuated inflammatory response and prevents the incidence of postoperative complications compared to conventional LPO for internal fixation of extra-articular distal humeral fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Merits in the inherent safety characteristics and multiple applications, cause the pebble‐bed‐type nuclear reactors, including the High‐Temperature Gas‐cooled Reactors, Fluoride‐salt‐cooled High‐temperature Reactors and Water‐cooled Pebble‐bed Reactors, to gain more focus in recent years. Thermal‐hydraulic characteristics in the pebble bed reactor core are of great significance to the safety evaluation and design of such reactors. Experimental investigations on the thermal‐hydraulics of different fluids in the pebble‐bed‐type of nuclear reactor core have been reviewed in this paper. Main experimental methods to determine the flow regime transition, convective heat transfer coefficients, and effective thermal conductivity have been summarized, with the merits and disadvantages discussed. Discussions are given on the main factors that can influence the flow, convective heat transfer and effective thermal conductivity in the pebble bed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small external disturbances may destabilize the bearing pillar, which in turn will change the stress distribution of the pillar supporting system, leading to its overall instability. Based on the engineering background of a mine and the mechanical analysis of pillar under disturbed stress, this paper investigated the stress, strain, and plastic zone of the pillar supporting system under different disturbed stresses. Then, the chain instability of the pillar supporting system was achieved. The law of stress transfer and plastic development of the pillar supporting system was explored. The results showed that the greater the disturbed stress, the faster the increase rate of the maximum stress of the pillar supporting system. As the width of the pillar increased, the maximum stress of the pillar decreased, so its risk of damage decreased. As the disturbed stress increased, the maximum principal strain and equivalent plastic strain of the 6 m wide pillar increased approximately linearly, and their growth rates of the 4 m wide pillar gradually increased. In the process of chain instability of the pillar supporting system, the sides of the middle pillar were destroyed first, and then the plastic zone gradually penetrated, causing the stress of the adjacent pillar to increase, which in turn led to its destruction. By analyzing the monitoring data of stress, displacement, or plastic strain, the instability of the pillar can be predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Most of the existing ground filtering algorithms are based on the Cartesian coordinate system, which is not compatible with the working principle of mobile light detection and ranging and difficult to obtain good filtering accuracy. The purpose of this paper is to improve the accuracy of ground filtering by making full use of the order information between the point and the point in the spherical coordinate. Design/methodology/approach: First, the cloth simulation (CS) algorithm is modified into a sorting algorithm for scattered point clouds to obtain the adjacent relationship of the point clouds and to generate a matrix containing the adjacent information of the point cloud. Then, according to the adjacent information of the points, a projection distance comparison and local slope analysis are simultaneously performed. These results are integrated to process the point cloud details further and the algorithm is finally used to filter a point cloud in a scene from the KITTI data set. Findings: The results show that the accuracy of KITTI point cloud sorting is 96.3% and the kappa coefficient of the ground filtering result is 0.7978. Compared with other algorithms applied to the same scene, the proposed algorithm has higher processing accuracy. Research limitations/implications: Steps of the algorithm are parallel computing, which saves time owing to the small amount of computation. In addition, the generality of the algorithm is improved and it could be used for different data sets from urban streets. However, due to the lack of point clouds from the field environment with labeled ground points, the filtering result of this algorithm in the field environment needs further study. Originality/value: In this study, the point cloud neighboring information was obtained by a modified CS algorithm. The ground filtering algorithm distinguish ground points and off-ground points according to the flatness, continuity and minimality of ground points in point cloud data. In addition, it has little effect on the algorithm results if thresholds were changed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare-earth site high entropy double perovskite oxides with different molar ratios have been evaluated as the cathodes for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFC). The effect of configuration entropy on crystal structure, electrical conductivity, electrochemical performance and stability are investigated. Our results reveal that the activity of all high entropy oxides show enhanced electrochemical activity. Among them, the equimolar one (HEO) exhibits the highest activity with a low polarization resistance of 0.05 Ω cm2 at 700 °C. Moreover, it exhibits excellent stability in the CO 2 -containing atmosphere. The enhanced activity and operational stability can be attributed to reduced surface Ba segregation and the formation of active and robust BaCoO 3-δ nanoparticles on HEO surface, rather than BaCO 3 and Co 3 O 4 phases. This work indicates that configurational entropy engineering is very effective for rational surface composition regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transcription factor B cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is a master regulator of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, which play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the mechanisms by which BCL6 expression is regulated are poorly understood. Ubiquitin-like with PHD and RING finger domains 1 (UHRF1) is an important epigenetic factor that regulates DNA methylation and histone modifications. In the present study, we assessed whether UHRF1 can regulate BCL6 expression and influence the differentiation and proliferation of Tfh cells. Results: Compared to healthy controls, the mean fluorescence intensity of UHRF1 (UHRF1-MFI) in Tfh cells from SLE patients was significantly downregulated, whereas that of BCL6 (BCL6-MFI) was significantly upregulated. In vitro, UHRF1 knockdown led to BCL6 overexpression and promoted Tfh cell differentiation. In contrast, UHRF1 overexpression led to BCL6 downregulation and decreased Tfh cell differentiation. In vivo, conditional UHRF1 gene knockout (UHRF1-cKO) in mouse T cells revealed that UHRF1 depletion can enhance the proportion of Tfh cells and induce an augmented GC reaction in mice treated with NP-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (NP-KLH). Mechanistically, UHRF1 downregulation can decrease DNA methylation and H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) levels in the BCL6 promoter region of Tfh cells. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that UHRF1 downregulation leads to increased BCL6 expression by decreasing DNA methylation and H3K27me3 levels, promoting Tfh cell differentiation in vitro and in vivo. This finding reveals the role of UHRF1 in regulating Tfh cell differentiation and provides a potential target for SLE therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "[Retracted] Imatinib inhibits oxidative stress response in spinal cord injury rats by activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway" has been retracted by the authors due to the use of improper experimental methods and concerns about the validity of the published data. A concerned reader also pointed out that the immunohistochemical data and control western blotting data in the article may have been derived from the same original source or were similar to data from other articles. As a result, the editor has accepted the authors' request to retract the paper from the journal. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Incomplete fracture healing may lead to chronic nonunion; thus, determining fracture healing is the primary issue in the clinical treatment. However, there are no validated early diagnostic biomarkers for assessing chronic nonunion. In this study, bioinformatics analysis combined with an experimental verification strategy was used to identify blood biomarkers for chronic nonunion. Methods: First, differentially expressed genes in chronic nonunion were identified by microarray data analysis. Second, Dipsaci Radix (DR), a traditional Chinese medicine for fracture treatment, was used to screen the drug target genes. Third, the drug-disease network was determined, and biomarker genes were obtained. Finally, the potential blood biomarkers were verified by ELISA and qPCR methods. Results: Fifty-five patients with open long bone fractures (39 healed and 16 nonunion) were enrolled in this study, and urgent surgical debridement and the severity of soft tissue injury had a significant effect on the prognosis of fracture. After the systems pharmacology analysis, six genes, including QPCT, CA1, LDHB, MMP9, UGCG, and HCAR2, were chosen for experimental validation. We found that all six genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum were differentially expressed after injury, and five genes (QPCT, CA1, MMP9, UGCG, and HCAR2) were significantly lower in nonunion patients. Further, CA1, MMP9, and QPCT were markedly increased after DR treatment. Conclusion: CA1, MMP9, and QPCT are biomarkers of nonunion patients and DR treatment targets. However, HCAR2 and UGCG are biomarkers of nonunion patients but not DR treatment targets. Therefore, our findings may provide valuable information for nonunion diagnosis and DR treatment. Trial registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN13271153. Registered 05 April 2020—Retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have attracted considerable attention due to their high energy density (2600 Wh kg−1). However, its commercialization is hindered seriously by the low loading and utilization rate of sulfur cathodes. Herein, we designed the cellulose-based graphene carbon composite aerogel (CCA) self-standing electrode to enhance the performance of Li-S batteries. The CCA contributes to the mass loading and utilization efficiency of sulfur, because of its unique physical structure: low density (0.018 g cm−3), large specific surface area (657.85 m2 g−1), high porosity (96%), and remarkable electrolyte adsorption (42.25 times). Compared to Al (about 49%), the CCA displayed excellent sulfur use efficiency (86%) and could reach to high area capacity of 8.60 mAh cm−2 with 9.11 mg S loading. Meanwhile, the CCA exhibits the excellent potential for pulse sensing applications due to its flexibility and superior sensitivity to electrical response signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atherosclerosis (AS), a major cause of cardiovascular disease, has developed into a serious challenge to the health system. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) is associated with the pathogenesis of AS. However, whether MALAT1 can affect cholesterol accumulation in macrophages during AS progression, and the potential molecular mechanism involved in this progression have not been elucidated. In the present study, the mRNA expression level of MALAT1 was measured using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and the protein expression level was detected via western blot analysis. Oil Red O staining was used for detecting lipid accumulation in macrophages. Bioinformatics, dual-luciferase reporter and RT-qPCR assays were used to investigate the relationship between MALAT1 and the microRNA (miR)-17-5p/ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) axis. The present results suggested that the MALAT1 expression level was significantly decreased in patients with AS and in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-stimulated macrophages. Knockdown of MALAT1 increased ox-LDL uptake, lipid accumulation and the total cholesterol (T-CHO) level in ox-LDL-induced macrophages. In addition, MALAT1 inhibition significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression levels of scavenger receptor (SR) class B member 1, apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and ABCA1. However, MALAT1 increased the expression level of SR class A. Subsequently, the present study investigated whether MALAT1 could target miR-17-5p to regulate the expression level of ABCA1, which is involved in cholesterol efflux from macrophages. The present results suggested that inhibition of miR-17-5p reversed the effects of MALAT1 knockdown on T-CHO content, and protein expression levels of ApoE and ABCA1 in ox-LDL-stimulated macrophages. In summary, knockdown of MALAT1 may promote cholesterol accumulation by regulating the miR-17-5p/ABCA1 axis in ox-LDL-induced THP-1 macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new aromatic diiodides with ether–sulfone linkages were synthesized via a one-step procedure. A series of poly(arylene ether sulfone amide)s were synthesized by a supported palladium-catalyzed polycondensation of aromatic diiodides having ether–sulfone linkages, aromatic diamines, and CO. Polycondensation reactions were conducted in N,N-dimethylacetamide using a magnetic nanoparticles-bound palladium(II) complex [Fe3O4@SiO2-2P-PdCl2] as the catalyst and 1,8-diazabicycle[5,4,0]-7-undecene as the base at 120 °C, yielding poly(arylene ether sulfone amide)s having inherent viscosities of 0.43–0.77 dL/g. The resulting polymers were soluble in polar aprotic solvents and showed glass transition temperatures in the 204–265 °C range, with 10% weight losses occurring at temperatures above 456 °C in nitrogen. Most of the polymers afforded transparent and tough films by solution-casting with tensile strengths of 71.8–82.2 MPa, Young's moduli of 1.77–2.35 GPa, and elongations at break of 9.3–13.4%. More importantly, this supported palladium catalyst can facilely be separated from the product by simply using an external magnetic field and reused at least seven times with almost consistent activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia‐induced extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition is an important cause of renal fibrosis that is triggered by unknown mechanisms. Human epididymis secretory protein 4 (HE4) is a newly discovered key molecule that causes ECM deposition. We used the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model to investigate the expression and mechanisms of HE4 in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis. Results were confirmed in the HK2 cell line and in human donors of kidney tissue with chronic kidney disease. Hypoxia significantly increased HE4 in renal tubular epithelial cells. HE4 overexpression activated the NF‐κB pathway through the NF‐κB transcription‐activating group P65 by phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. NF‐κB upregulated tissue inhibitor metalloproteinases 1, which may inhibit ECM degradation through inhibition of matrix metallopeptidase 2 activity. Silencing HE4 inhibited hypoxia‐induced ECM deposition and alleviated fibrosis in UUO mice in vivo and blocked NF‐κB activation in vitro. Expression of HE4 in the tubulointerstitium was positively correlated with tubulointerstitial fibrosis in tissue samples from patients with chronic kidney disease. Our results suggest that hypoxia induces renal fibrosis by upregulating HE4 and activating the HIF‐1α/HE4/NF‐κB signaling pathway. Uncovering the molecular mechanisms and function of HE4 overexpression in hypoxia‐induced renal fibrosis will provide important insights into understanding renal fibrosis and antifibrotic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effect of imatinib on rats with spinal cord injury (SCI) was investigated through the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling pathway. Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (n=12), model group (n=12), imatinib group (n=12) and inhibitor group (n=12). The results of immunohistochemistry showed that in comparison with sham operation group, the other three groups had overtly increased positive expression level of Bax and evidently reduced positive expression level of Bcl-2 (P<0.05). Compared with those in model group and inhibitor group, the positive expression level of Bax was distinctly lower, while that of Bcl-2 was notably increased in imatinib group (P<0.05). According to western blot analysis, the protein expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 were obviously higher in the other three groups than those in sham operation group (P<0.05), and they were remarkably higher in imatinib group than those in model group and inhibitor group (P<0.05). The results of qPCR assay revealed that the Nrf2 and HO-1 mRNA expression levels were markedly elevated in the other three groups compared with those in sham operation group (P<0.05). Based on ELISA, the other three groups exhibited notably raised content of IL-6, TNF-α, ROS and SOD compared with sham operation group (P<0.05), and imatinib group displayed remarkably decreased content of IL-6, TNF-α and ROS and markedly elevated SOD content in comparison with model group and inhibitor group (P<0.05). The results of TUNEL assay demonstrated that the rate of apoptosis was significantly raised in the other three groups compared with that in sham operation group (P<0.05), and it declined obviously in imatinib group compared with that in model group and inhibitor group (P<0.05). Imatinib inhibits oxidative stress response in SCI rats by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, thus repressing apoptosis and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reported fluorescent probes to image Zn2+ with plasma membrane-specific and Zn2+-specific fluorogenicities. The probes contained hydrophobic alkyl chains as membrane-anchored domains and hydrophilic zinc sensor ZTRS, and aggregated to display quenched fluorescence. Cells dissolved the aggregates and the liberated probes were dispersed on the outside of the cell plasma membrane. Aggregates that did not bind to the cell membrane still exhibited aggregation-induced fluorescence quenching after complexing with zinc ions, while probes anchored on the membrane surface exhibited a fluorescence-enhanced response upon recognition of zinc ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• All patients achieved successful donor engraftment, and no patients relapsed. • The cumulative incidences of aGVHD grades II to IV and grades III to IV were 15.91% and 2.27%, respectively. • The cumulative incidences of cGVHD and moderate to severe cGVHD were 26.73% and 9.70%, respectively. • The 3-year overall survival probability was 90.4% ± 4.6%. • The 3-year GVHD-free, failure-free survival probability was 85.6% ± 5.4%. We analyzed the outcomes of 44 patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) (haploidentical [haplo]-donors, 25; matched sibling donors [MSDs], 15; and matched unrelated donors, 4) between July 2007 and May 2018. All patients achieved successful donor engraftment. The median time was 12 days (range, 7 to 26) for myeloid engraftment and 13 days (range, 11 to 75) for platelets. The cumulative incidences were 15.91% and 2.27% for grades II to IV and grades III to IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), respectively, with a median follow-up time of 36 months (range, 4 to 132). The cumulative incidences were 26.73% for chronic GVHD and 9.70% for moderate to severe chronic GVHD. No patients relapsed. The probabilities of 3-year overall survival (OS) and GVHD-free, failure-free survival (GFFS) were 90.4% ± 4.6% and 85.6% ± 5.4%, respectively. The 3-year OS rates of the haplo-donor and MSD groups were 86.5% ± 7.3% versus 93.3% ± 6.4% (P =.520). The 3-year GFFS rates of the haplo-donor and MSD groups were 78.3% ± 8.6% versus 92.9% ± 6.9% (P =.250). The preliminary results indicated that allo-HSCT is a feasible option for patients with PNH; however, this should not be considered as a first-choice therapy, because the results seemed to only suggest rather than confirm that haplo-HSCT and MSD-HSCT exerted similar therapeutic efficacies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High expression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor has been found in myelomonocytic or monocytic subtypes (M4/M5) of acute myeloid leukemia. Herein, we aimed to improve the effect of CAG [Ara-C, ACR, and G-CSF (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor)] regimen for acute monocytic leukemia by replacing G-CSF with GM-CSF. Results showed that the percentage of cells in S phase was higher with GM-CSF than with G-CSF treatment at 20 ng/mL (P < 0.05). When THP-1 and SHI-1 cells were primed with 20 ng/mL G-CSF or GM-CSF followed by Ara-C and ACR, cell proliferation rate in the CAGM (Ara-C, ACR, and GM-CSF) regimen was lower than in the CAG regimen (P < 0.05). Furthermore, CAGM regimen induced more obvious cell apoptosis than CAG regimen probably by reducing Bcl-2/Bax ratio (P < 0.05). Similar results were seen in primary cells from M5 patients. Collectively, our study suggests that priming with GM-CSF may be more effective than G-CSF in CAG regimen in acute monocytic leukemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To analyze and summarize the clinicopathological features, risk factors for cervical nodal metastasis, and prognostic factors of malignant sublingual gland tumors (MSLGT). Methods: Patients diagnosed with MSLGT were retrospectively reviewed from January 2005 to December 2017 at Shanghai Ninth Hospital. The clinicopathological features were summarized, and the correlations between clinicopathological parameters, cervical nodal metastasis, and local–regional recurrence were evaluated using the Chi‐square test. Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression analysis were performed to assess the survival and independent prognostic factors. Results: Seventy‐nine patients were included, and the 5‐year overall survival and disease‐free survival rates was 85.7% and 71.7%, respectively. Gender and clinical tumor stage were risk factors for cervical nodal metastasis. Tumor size and pathological lymph node (LN) stage were independent prognostic factors for adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the sublingual gland; while age, pathological LN stage, and distant metastasis were prognostic factors for patients with non‐ACC of the sublingual gland. Patients with higher clinical stage were more likely to undergo tumor recurrence. Conclusions: Malignant sublingual gland tumors are rare, and neck dissection should be performed in male MSLGT patients with higher clinical stage. Among patients with both ACC and non‐ACC MSLGT patients, pN+ indicate a poor prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) was controversially associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This meta-analysis aimed at evaluating the association between RBP4 level and T2DM risk. MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched to identify relevant studies up to 3 December 2022. Random effects model was used to pool multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Publication bias was estimated by Funnel plot and Egger's test, it was considered to be significant when P < 0.05. Eight studies including 8087 participants were finally included. Compared to those with the lowest level, subjects with the highest level of RBP4 have a higher risk of T2DM (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.16–1.78, P < 0.001, I2 = 86.9%). No publication bias among the included studies was found (t = 0.94, P = 0.377). This meta-analysis indicated that high RBP4 level was associated with increasing risk of T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hyper-cross-linked polymer based Hg0 adsorbent was synthesized from waste plastic under mild conditions. • Ultralow loading active species can be achieved over HCPs surface for efficient Hg0 capture. • The interaction between active species and HCP substrate can be described as physical-bridging, chemical-complexation and organic-bonding. • The activity of Fe site can be regulated by surrounding halogen sites. Gaseous mercury pollution control is pressing to both human health and environment protection. Achieving high demercuration performance with the lowest possible amount of active species is critical for developing demercuration adsorbent. Herein, motivated by waste plastic recycling and flue gas demercuration, we report a cost-effective and mild method to reclaim waste polystyrene into highly porous hyper-cross-linked polymers for flue gas demercuration. The waste derived hyper-cross-linked polymer exhibits superior porosity and strong hydrophobic property. Further chemical modification at ultralow concentration (∼0.001 mmol/g) over pristine HCPs could promote the chemically Hg0 bonding ability thus obtaining remarkable demercuration ability (>90% in 15 mins for FeBr 3 -HCPs) under complicated flue gas conditions along with the interference of 1200 ppm SO 2 and 10% H 2 O. Such HCP-based demercuration adsorbents could greatly surpass state-of-the-art adsorbents. Comprehensive characterizations and density functional theory calculations are performed to illustrate the interaction between HCPs substrate and different active species as well as the Hg0 removal process over metal and halogen sites. The activity of Fe sites can be optimized by surrounding Cl and Br sites thus promoting the Hg0 bonding and oxidation. This work could broaden the reutilization methods for waste polystyrene and contribute to the development of gaseous Hg0 control technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon neutrality has been committed by over 100 countries to avoid the severe consequences of climate change caused by carbon emissions. As one of the key contributors to the low-carbon-emission energy system, nuclear energy has drawn much attention in both academia and industry. This paper discusses the role of nuclear energy in carbon neutrality and the development of the associated technologies. The contribution of nuclear energy to electricity generation is summarized and its non-electric applications are thoroughly reviewed, particularly in heat generation, hydrogen production, and desalination. It also presents the development of advanced nuclear reactors, including the 4th generation nuclear reactors and the small modular reactors (SMRs), which have significant advantages in safety, economics, sustainability, and non-electricity service. Challenges of nuclear energy utilization are discussed at the end, including power plant aging, safety concerns, unfavorable government policies, and public attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: POEMS syndrome is a rare clonal plasma cell disease characterized by polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein, and skin changes. We report a rare case of neurological impairment in patients with concurrent cervical disc herniation and POEMS syndrome.Methods: A patient presented to a local hospital with C3/4 and C4/5 disc herniation, apparent spinal cord compression concomitant with neurological signs, and concurrent POEMS syndrome. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion was performed.Results: The limb numbness was only slightly alleviated, and 10 days postoperatively the patient complained of muscle weakness of the extremities and was referred to our hospital. The patients exhibited non-typical neurological signs and an enlarged liver and spleen that could not be explained. Electroneuromyography and immunofixation electrophoresis produced abnormal results. We diagnosed concurrent POEMS syndrome, for which drug therapy was prescribed. The patient's symptoms receded.Conclusion: Patients presenting with cervical spondylopathy and non-typical neurological signs and symptoms or other systemic problems should be evaluated for the presence of concurrent disease and ruled out differential diagnoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been proven to serve vital roles in various human diseases. However, their involvement in the development of pleomorphic adenoma (PA) in the salivary gland has yet to be examined. In the present study, microarray analysis of the lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles in pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1) transgenic mice was performed. Next, bioinformatics tools were used to predict the differentially expressed genes associated with PA, including Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment and lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network analyses. Comparison of the transgenic and control mice demonstrated that a total of 9,110 lncRNAs and 7,750 mRNAs were significantly differentially expressed (fold change >2; P<0.05). Subsequently, six lncRNAs were randomly selected for further analysis, and five of these were validated as differentially expressed in PA by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, supporting the methodology employed in the current study. The GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed mRNAs revealed that these mRNAs were closely associated with a number of processes involved in the development of PA. Furthermore, the lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network indicated that certain lncRNAs may serve vital roles in the pathogenesis of PA by interacting with a number of core genes. Taken together, these results indicated that lncRNAs and mRNAs were differentially expressed in PA tissues obtained from PLAG1 transgenic mice as compared with those from control mice. These differentially expressed lncRNAs may act as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HLA-mismatched stem cell microtransplantation is a new form of transplantation reported in recent years. We compared 59 patients undergoing microtransplantation to 66 patients undergoing HLA-matched sibling donor (MSD) transplantation at the same period from April 2012 to December 2016, who all suffered from intermediate/high-risk acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in first complete remission (CR1). The estimated overall survival (OS) at 2 years was 74.1% ± 6.2% and 34.3% ± 7.9% in MSD and microtransplantation group, respectively (P = 0.001). The estimated leukemia-free survival (LFS) at 2 years was 73.3% ± 6.1% in the MSD group and 31.6% ± 7.6% in the microtransplantation group (P = 0.000). The 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse was 17.6% and 62.3% in the MSD and microtransplantation groups, respectively (P < 0.0001). The 2-year cumulative incidence of nonrelapse mortality was 10.9% in MSD group and 4.2% in the microtransplantation group (P = 0.251). Hematopoietic recovery time was shorter in the microtransplantation group than in the MSD group (P < 0.05). The infection rate was higher in the MSD group than in the microtransplantation group (P = 0.012). The preliminary results suggested that OS and LFS of microtransplantation were inferior to MSD transplantation for intermediate/high-risk AML in CR1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with non-remission (NR) after the first cycle of standard induction chemotherapy remain a challenge owing to poor response and tolerance to re-induction regimen. We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of three regimens in AML patients refractory to the first course of standard induction regimen.Materials and Methods: The three regimens consisted of (1) High-dose cytarabine, aclarubicin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (HD-CAG) regimen (n = 44); (2) intermediate/high-dose cytarabine (I/HDAC) regimen (n = 30); and (3) standard-dose cytarabine (SDAC) combination regimen that was identical to the first course of standard induction regimen (n = 27).Results: Results indicated that after the second course, the overall response (OR), i.e., complete remission [CR]+partial remission [PR]) rates in HD-CAG was higher than in the I/HDAC group (84.1% vs. 56.7%, P = 0.009), whereas the CR rates among 3 groups were not statistically different (P = 0.541). Meanwhile, the proportion of subjects reporting certain adverse effects in the HD-CAG group was lower than the I/HDAC or SDAC groups. There were no significant differences in overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates among the 3 groups (P = 0.881 and P = 0.872, respectively).Conclusion: Our preliminary results indicate that HD-CAG regimen may represent a better alternative option for AML patients with NR after the first course of standard induction chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cryptosporidium parvum is an important zoonotic parasitic disease worldwide, but the molecular mechanisms of the host–parasite interaction are not fully understood. Noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) are considered key regulators of parasitic diseases. Therefore, we used microarray, qPCR, and bioinformatic analyses to investigate the intestinal epithelial miRNA expression profile after Cryptosporidium parvum infection. Results: Twenty miRNAs were differentially expressed after infection (four upregulated and 16 downregulated). Further analysis of the differentially expressed miRNAs revealed that many important cellular responses were triggered by Cryptosporidium parvum infection, including cell apoptosis and the inflammatory and immune responses. Conclusions: This study demonstrates for the first time that the miRNA expression profile of human intestinal epithelium cells is altered by C. parvum infection. This dysregulation of miRNA expression may contribute to the regulation of host biological processes in response to C. parvum infection, including cell apoptosis and the immune responses. These results provide new insight into the regulatory mechanisms of host miRNAs during cryptosporidiosis, which may offer potential targets for future C. parvum control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]