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Abstract Astroglia are integral to brain development and the emergence of neurodevelopmental disorders. However, studying the pathophysiology of human astroglia using brain organoid models has been hindered by inefficient astrogliogenesis. In this study, we introduce a robust method for generating astroglia-enriched organoids through BMP4 treatment during the neural differentiation phase of organoid development. Our RNA sequencing analysis reveals that astroglia developed within these organoids exhibit advanced developmental characteristics and enhanced synaptic functions compared to those grown under traditional two-dimensional conditions, particularly highlighted by increased neurexin (NRXN)-neuroligin (NLGN) signaling. Cell adhesion molecules, such as NRXN and NLGN, are essential in regulating interactions between astroglia and neurons. We further discovered that brain organoids derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) harboring the autism-associated NLGN3 R451C mutation exhibit increased astrogliogenesis. Notably, the NLGN3 R451C astroglia demonstrate enhanced branching, indicating a more intricate morphology. Interestingly, our RNA sequencing data suggest that these mutant astroglia significantly upregulate pathways that support neural functions when compared to isogenic wild-type astroglia. Our findings establish a novel astroglia-enriched organoid model, offering a valuable platform for probing the roles of human astroglia in brain development and related disorders.

Abstract Social memory impairment is a key symptom of many brain disorders, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Neuroligins (NLGs) are a family of cell adhesion molecules essential for synapse development and function and their dysfunctions are linked to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism and schizophrenia. Although NLGs are extensively studied in neurons, their role in glial cells is poorly understood. Here we show that astrocytic deletion of NLG3 in the ventral hippocampus of adult male mice impairs social memory, attenuates astrocytic Ca2+ signals, enhances the expression of EAAT2 and prevents long-term potentiation, and these impairments are rescued by increasing astrocyte activity, reducing EAAT2 function or enhancing adenosine/A2a receptor signaling. This study has revealed an important role of NLG3 in astrocyte function, glutamate homeostasis and social memory and identified the glutamate transporter and adenosine signaling pathway as potential therapeutic strategies to treat brain disorders.

Zhang Daqian (1899-1983) is an extremely influential painter in the history of modern Chinese painting. Among his works, the lotus paintings hold a special place in Zhang Daqian’s artistic career. This paper conducts a comparative study of Zhang Daqian’s early and late lotus paintings through quantitative analysis on three levels. Firstly, from the perspective of ink color, a quantitative comparative analysis concludes that the early works are characterized by high brightness, low contrast, and negative skewness. This indicates that the paintings possess a soft, delicate, and bright visual effect, giving a fresh and tranquil feeling. In contrast, the late works are characterized by low brightness, high contrast, and zero skewness, presenting a strong contrast, vivid colors, and visual balance. The color distribution in the late paintings is relatively balanced, forming a stark contrast to the soft style of the early works. Secondly, from the level of visual complexity, it is concluded that the early works have unique texture characteristics, while the late works are more uniform, consistent, and regular in these aspects, with stronger color contrast and dynamics, and more boldness. Finally, by extracting specific elements of “flowers, stems, leaves” for texture strokes and ink color gradation analysis, applying data quantification-based feature extraction and capturing important data information in MATLAB for data comparison, combined with professional analysis and research on related indicators of the artwork, the comparative results of quantitative analysis of Zhang Daqian’s early and late lotus paintings are given, summarizing the quantitative analysis results in descriptive language. The experimental results show that the algorithm has good performance, providing a solid basis for the quantitative analysis and comparative study of Zhang Daqian’s lotus paintings from early and late periods, and objectively presenting the style changes from “following the ancient” to “transforming the ancient” in Zhang Daqian’s lotus paintings through data.

To evaluate the lighting color preference on traditional Chinese paintings based on the spectral power distributions (SPDs) of light sources, an experiment to examine the color preference of 40 representative SPDs illuminating two typical traditional Chinese paintings was performed in a 1:1 simulated exhibition hall. By decomposing the data, the influence trend from the different narrowband spectra on the color preference was obtained, and two key spectra with a significant influence on the color preference were determined (WLP = 425 nm with FWHM = 20 nm and WLP = 525 nm with FWHM = 30 nm). With an evaluation model using the relative spectral areas of S425 and S525, the calculation of the lighting color preference for traditional Chinese painting illumination based on SPD was achieved. Our results could provide a mathematical tool for the comparison and selection of light sources for the illumination of traditional Chinese paintings and the development and design of specific light sources.

Museum exhibition halls are one of the most visually demanding buildings. However, unique lighting methods, luminance contrast, display cabinet reflections lead to complex spatial luminance distribution and intense glare, thus seriously affecting the visual effect. Modeling accurate glare calculations is an effective way to reduce the risk of visual discomfort. In this study, we obtain the real glare perception in the lighting scenes of museum exhibition halls through small-sample evaluation experiments, and then propose an improved model on the basis of testing the accuracy rate of UGR to be 41.67%, which contains key parameters characterizing the effects caused by multiple glares. Then we optimized the coefficients and power indices according to the real glare perception, and verified that the accuracy rate of glare calculation in museum exhibition halls was improved by 36.46% compared with that of UGR, and gave the glare rating corresponding to the calculated value of the model.

This study was initiated to explore a method for producing higher photocatalytic performance in layered double hydroxides (LDHs) through the preparation of ultrathin nanosheets, which would generate higher surface area (SA). Herein, a method is detailed for fabricating Ni2+-Al3+-LDHs with flower-like morphology assembled from an ultrathin nanosheet (Ni2+-Al3+-LDHs-U) employing a low temperature-reflux method together with a surfactant. The resulting products’ structures, morphologies, porous properties, and bandgaps were investigated using a series of characterization techniques, which confirmed the formation of Ni2+-Al3+-LDHs-U with an ultrathin nanosheet structure (4–8 nm) and large SA (151 m2/g), which were nearly three times greater than the Ni2+-Al3+-LDHs comprising a thick nanosheet structure (50 nm, Ni2+-Al3+-LDHs-T). In addition, the bandgaps of these new Ni2+-Al3+-LDHs-U materials were 5.11 electron volts lower than the Ni2+-Al3+-LDHs-T material (5.26 eV). These flower-like morphology assembled from an ultrathin nanosheet exhibited a greatly enhanced light response that utterly decomposed methyl orange and Rhodamine B in water, which represented far better photodegradation under similar conditions compared to the thicker Ni2+-Al3+-LDHs-T and thicker Ni2+-Fe3+-LDHs-T. The increased photoreaction efficiency was explained by higher SA and catalytically active sites of the experimental product.

Sinapis Semen (SS), the dried mature seed of Sinapis alba L. and Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. et Coss., is one of the traditional Chinese medicinal materials with a wide range of pharmacological effects being used for asthma, cough and many other ailments. SS is also widely used in food agriculture, medicine and other industries in North America and South Asia. More recently, the research on SS has gradually intensified and increased. However, there is no systematic review of SS. In this review, through literature exploration and analysis, the research advance on phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, analytical methods and pharmacokinetics of SS was aggregated initially. Total 144 compounds have been isolated and identified from SS. Among them, glucosinolates and their hydrolysates and volatile oils are the main active ingredients and important chemical classification markers. SS has a wide range of pharmacological effects, especially in cough suppressing, asthma calming, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, cardiovascular protective, inhibiting androgenic effects, anti-tumor, and skin permeation promoting effects. Sinapine and sinapic acid are the main active ingredients of SS for its medicinal effects. However, SS has a strong skin irritation, presumably related to the time of application, the method of processing, and original medicinal plants. This review will provide useful data for the follow-up research and safe and reasonable clinical application of SS.

Abstract Dyed artworks are highly sensitive to light and are easily affected by museum lighting, resulting in irreversible permanent color damage such as fading and discoloration. Exposure, light source spectrum and material properties are the three indicators causing damage to artworks. Therefore, it is the basis for effective lighting protection to reveal the quantitative influence of exposure and light source spectrum composition on the damage degree of different pigments and establish a mathematical model that can accurately express the above rules. At present, the color damage calculation model of dyed artworks under three parameters’ coupling action is missing. This research established a visual three-dimensional change surface of the color difference values of 23 pigments varying with the spectral wavelength and exposure through experimental methods. The relative responsivity function ΔE n = f n (λ, Q), where n = 1 ~ 23, was obtained for 23 pigments under the coupling effects of exposure and light source spectra. Furthermore, a mathematical model $$D_{n} = \mathop \smallint \limits_{380}^{780} S\left( \lambda \right) \cdot f_{n} \left( {\lambda ,Q} \right)d\lambda$$ D n = ∫ 380 780 S λ · f n λ , Q d λ calculating the color damage of pigments in the range of visible light was proposed. The proposed model was verified by the experimental method, which realizes the mathematical expression of the damage law of museum lighting on dyed artworks.

Spectral radiation could cause color damage to dyed cultural relics, and finding a method to obtain a minimum-damage light source is a key issue to be solved. In this paper, the color change behavior of pigments under exposure was experimentally investigated by irradiating 17 typical inorganic pigments used for dyed cultural relics with 10 different narrow-band LED light sources. Through an analysis of the color difference of the test pigments against the amount of exposure, the responsivity equations of the pigments were obtained and a mathematical model for predicting the color damage degree was proposed. The 10 kinds of narrow-band light were combined to obtain 106 LED by using the exhaustive method. The Ra, R9, and | Duv | value of the above spectra were calculated. Ra≥90, R9≥0, and | Duv | ≤0.0054 were taken as the evaluation basis, and 35,398 spectra that met color rendering requirements were obtained. The established mathematical model was used to calculate the color damage value to find the minimum-damage spectrum, which was then input into a Thouslite LEDCube system for reduction. An experiment was conducted among the minimum-damage LED and 3 randomly selected light sources, and results showed that the minimum-damage LED light source has an obvious illumination protection effect.

Background: The global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted substantial health inequities in Europe. Minorities and immigrants are the populations most likely to experience disparities related to health-care access and health outcomes. We aimed to link self-reports of health conditions with experiences of discrimination when using health-care services among Romani ethnic minorities in the European Union (EU). Methods: The Second EU Minorities and Discrimination Survey was disseminated in 2016 to ethnic minorities, immigrants, and descendants of immigrants in 19 member states of the EU (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Slovenia, and the UK). The primary outcomes were self-reported health status (subjective assessment of own health conditions), health-care utilisation, and unmet health-care need. Experiences of discrimination when using health-care services in the past 5 years was the key explanatory variable. Anonymised data relating to perceived discrimination, self-reported good health, health-care utilisation, and socioeconomic status were available for individuals who identify as Romani ethnic minorities in nine EU member states—Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain. We used multivariate logistic regression analyses to examine the association between perceived discrimination and self-reported health status, health-care utilisation, and unmet health-care needs, controlled for sex, age, income level, education level, health insurance coverage, and residential location. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs of self-perceived discrimination are reported. Findings: Using data on perceived discrimination when using health care, self-reported health status, health-care access, and socioeconomic status for 7942 Romani individuals (aged 16–90 years), including 4046 Romani individuals who have used health-care services during the past 5 years, we found that perceived discrimination when utilising health care is more prevalent for Romani people than other ethnic minorities in Europe (OR 2·19, 95% CI 1·96–2·44). After controlling for sex, age, income level, education level, health insurance coverage, and residential location, our multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the perceived discrimination of Romani people is negatively associated with self-reported good health (adjusted OR 0·84, 0·69–1·03), and health-care utilisation (adjusted OR 0·34, 0·25–0·44). Furthermore, Romani people's perceived discrimination is associated with an increased risk of unmet health-care needs (adjusted OR 3·01, 2·27–3·98). The results were robust across sexes. Interpretation: A multifaceted strategy might be needed to eliminate the disparities in health outcomes and health-care access between the Romani ethnic group and other ethnic minority groups in the EU, including expanding access to health care, addressing social determinants of health, and advancing anti-discrimination regulations in the EU. Funding: None.

Environmental perception forms the basis of intelligent driving systems and is a prerequisite for path planning and vehicle control. Among them, dynamic multi-obstacle tracking is the key to environmental perception. In order to solve the problem of a large amount of correlation calculations and false correlations in the process of dynamic multi-obstacle tracking, and to obtain more accurate surrounding environment information, this paper first designs an obstacle data correlation algorithm based on improving the joint probabilistic data-association algorithm. Then, in order to solve the problem of obstacle movement mobility and the poor filtering effect of a single model, the interacting multiple model is designed to complete the filtering of multiple behavior patterns of obstacles. An obstacle state estimation algorithm based on the unscented Kalman filter is designed to solve the nonlinear problem of obstacle motion. Finally, an experimental prototype is built and tested. The results show that the data association algorithm designed in this paper can complete the data association of obstacles at different times, and there is no problem of obstacle loss and association error. The average running time of each frame is 51.63 ms. The result comparison between the proposed method and the traditional method shows that the proposed method is more effective.

Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped Bi5O7I uniform porous microsphere photocatalysts were synthesized by a two-step chemical method, which possesses excellent photocatalytic performance and upconversion luminescence property. The photocatalytic performance of the photocatalysts was studied by degradation of bisphenol A in aqueous solution under visible light and different monochromatic light irradiation. The photocatalytic performance of Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped Bi5O7I sample is better than that of the pristine Bi5O7I and Er3+-doped Bi5O7I samples. Moreover, Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped Bi5O7I possesses photocatalytic ability with a red light monochromatic LED lamp (3 W, λ = 630 nm) and an infrared monochromatic LED lamp (100 W, λ = 940 nm) irradiation whose wavelength is longer than the absorption-limiting wavelength of pristine Bi5O7I sample. This phenomenon further verified that the upconversion property of Er3+ and Yb3+ causes the improved photocatalytic efficiency of Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped Bi5O7I sample.

Abstract Nanoscale tungsten (W) powder is used in some special materials. In this study, a hollow superstructure W powder consisting of nanoparticles was synthesized by spray drying combined with two-step calcination from commercial (NH4)6W7O24·6H2O. The high-pressure gas (HPG) was the significant factor in spray drying process, which affect the BET surface area and average particles size of the spray-dried powders. The detailed influences of calcined steps and calcination temperature in the microstructure and average particles size of final W particles were investigated. The size distribution of as-synthesized nanoscale W particles with hollow superstructure was from 40 to 200 nm, and the average size was about 100 nm. The as-synthesized W powder shows good sintering properties. It should be noted that the powder technology in this study can be used to synthesize other powders with high-performance requirements. Graphical abstract .

Aiming at the color deviation caused by different angle in color measuring, a correction method has been designed. CIE x, y chromaticity coordinates of 34 RAL-K7 samples under different illumination angles of 30°-60° were measured. Then, we use LASSO function fitting and cross validation to establish a chromaticity coordinate migration prediction model under arbitrary illumination angle in the range of 30°-60°. On this basis, chromaticity coordinates measured under any three illumination angles in the range of 30°-60° can be corrected to the chromaticity coordinate at 45°/0°CIE (Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage) standard illumination observation condition by sequential quadratic programming. The accuracy of the correction method was evaluated by experiments. The research results can provide a correction method of color deviation caused by different angle in color measuring.

Traditional Chinese paintings (TCPs), which are characterized by enormous storage and high value, are prone to suffering from radiation damage from museum illumination, such as color fading, discoloration, and color vanishing, especially for the most light-sensitive traditional Chinese paintings that are painted with organic pigments (op-TCPs). Thus, the development of light sources that minimize the damage to TCPs is essential. Meanwhile, the color quality of light sources is also of great importance, and there is a lack of methodology for obtaining light sources with optimized spectra to simultaneously achieve the protective effect and ensure the color quality. Here, changing curves of the CIE DE2000 color differences of pigments were shown as a function of the exposure duration by calculating the periodically measured color parameters in a long-term illumination experiment under four monochromatic lights. Relative spectral responsivity functions of the op-TCPs were deduced by fitting the experimental data and obtained the corresponding equal-illuminance relative damage formulas. Then, damage laws to the op-TCPs and the lowest color damage spectral power distributions that satisfy the color quality requirements of a four-primary white LED model were obtained. Our results can provide the theory and application basis to manufacture white LEDs that are suitable for illuminating op-TCPs; the method can be further used in preparing white LEDs for other cultural relics.

As a potential magnetic super adsorbent in wastewater treatment, Fe3O4 has been researched intensively up to date. However, its key problem of poor comprehensive magnetic properties is still challenging. In this work, an effective solution to this problem has been developed by a one-step carbothermal synthesis of Fe3O4 crystals, which are merited with pure-stoichiometry (FeO-phase free), high crystallinity, small-size (~10 nm), strong magnetism and sensitive magnetic response. The unveiled saturation magnetization of Fe3O4 nanoparticles reaches as high as 90.32 emu·g−1, and the fastest magnetic response time is as short as only 5 s. Such magnetic Fe3O4 super adsorbents exhibit outstanding performance when applied as an adsorbent for wastewater treatment. They can quickly and effectively adsorb methylene blue with an adsorption capacity of 62.5 mg·g−1, which is much higher than that of Fe3O4 adsorbents prepared by other methods reported in the literature. Importantly, this capacity is refreshable after removing the adsorbed methylene blue just by ultrasonic cleaning. With such combined outstanding magnetic properties and recyclable adsorption capacity, the problems associated with the conventional adsorbent solid–liquid separation could be resolved, thus making a forward development towards industrial wastewater treatment.

This work investigated crystallographic textures and the features of a flow localization band in a forged Ti6242S billet. The flow localization band experienced a large strain and grains within it were elongated under shear stress. The main macrotextural components were made up of (11 2 ¯ 0)/ 2 ¯ 0>, /axial direction, and a static recrystallization texture (11 2 ¯ 0)/(3 3 ¯ 02), which can be explained by motion of a prismatic slip system and a newly proposed method of projection. Finally, three types of macrozone, each with a sharp defined texture were observed and subsequently, it was demonstrated that the formation of macrozones was only connected with parameters of thermomechanical processing and was independent of variants selection.

In the article [1], the use of the formula (NH4)6W7O24·6H2O to represent the starting material ammonium paratungstate (APT) is outdated and incorrect.

The exact cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the role of metals in its etiology remain unclear. We have used an analytical approach, based on inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry coupled with multivariate statistical analysis, to study the profiles of a wide range of metals in AD patients and healthy controls. AD cannot be cured and the lack of sensitive biomarkers that can be used in the early stages of the disease may contribute to this treatment failure. In the present study, we measured plasma levels of amyloid-β1-42(0.142±0.029μg/L)and furin(2.292±1.54μg/L), together with those of the metalloproteinases, insulin-degrading enzyme(1.459±1.14μg/L) and neprilysin(0.073±0.015μg/L), in order to develop biomarkers for AD. Partial least squares discriminant analysis models were used to refine intergroup differences and we discovered that four metals(Mn, Al, Li, Cu) in peripheral blood were strongly associated with AD. Aberration in homeostasis of these metals may alter levels of proteinases, such as furin, which are associated with neurodegeneration in AD and can be a used as plasma-based biomarkers.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143135.].

This study investigated the effects of intervention with a combination of nutrients in the amyloid precursor protein-presenilin (APP-PSN) C57BL/6J double transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD).A total of 72 2-month-old APP-PSN mice were randomly assigned to three groups. The model group (MG) was fed regular, unsupplemented chow, while the low- and high-dose treatment groups (LG and HG, respectively) were given a combination of nutrients that included phosphatidylserine, blueberry extracts, docosahexaenoic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid as part of their diet. An additional 24 wild-type littermates that were fed unsupplemented chow served as the negative control group (NG). After 3 and 7 months of treatment, the cognitive performance was assessed with the Morris water maze and the shuttle box escape/avoidance task, and the biochemical parameters and oxidative stress were evaluated in both the blood and brain.An improvement in antioxidant capacity was observed in the treatment groups relative to the MG at 3 months, while superior behavioral test results were observed in the mice of the HG and NG groups. In the MG, pycnosis was detected in neuronal nuclei, and a loss of neurons was observed in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus. At 7 months, the β-amyloid1-42 peptide accumulation was significantly elevated in the MG but was markedly lower in the mice fed the nutrient combination. The antioxidant capacity and behavioral test scores were also higher in these mice.Early intervention with a combination of nutrients should be considered as a strategy for preventing cognitive decline and other symptoms associated with AD.

A new benzophenone derivative, 8′-hydroxymonomethylsulochrin (1), together with eighteen known compounds (2-19) were produced by the endophytic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus WJ-131, isolated from the stem of Gardenia jasminoides. The structure of 1 was determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis and X-ray crystallography. Under the condition of concentration of 20.0 μM, the splenic lymphocytes proliferation rates of compounds 1 and 7 induced by LPS were 39.4% and 38.1% (LPS, the splenic lymphocytes cell proliferation rates of 21.3%), and the splenic lymphocytes proliferation rate of compounds 7 induced by ConA is 44.6% (ConA, the splenic lymphocytes proliferation rates of 28.9%). Therefore, compounds 1 and 7 promoted the proliferation of ConA/LPS-stimulated splenic lymphocytes at 20.0 μM in vitro. In addition, compound 1 showed weak antibacterial activity against Fusarium oxysporum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]