Search

Background: No reliable clinical tools exist to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) progression. We aim to explore a scoring system for predicting the composite outcome of progression to severe AKI or death within seven days among early AKI patients after cardiac surgery. Methods: In this study, we used two independent cohorts, and patients who experienced mild/moderate AKI within 48 h after cardiac surgery were enrolled. Eventually, 3188 patients from the MIMIC-IV database were used as the derivation cohort, while 499 patients from the Zhongshan cohort were used as external validation. The primary outcome was defined by the composite outcome of progression to severe AKI or death within seven days after enrollment. The variables identified by LASSO regression analysis were entered into logistic regression models and were used to construct the risk score. Results: The composite outcome accounted for 3.7% (n = 119) and 7.6% (n = 38) of the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. Six predictors were assembled into a risk score (AKI-Pro score), including female, baseline eGFR, aortic surgery, modified furosemide responsiveness index (mFRI), SOFA, and AKI stage. And we stratified the risk score into four groups: low, moderate, high, and very high risk. The risk score displayed satisfied predictive discrimination and calibration in the derivation and validation cohort. The AKI-Pro score discriminated the composite outcome better than CRATE score, Cleveland score, AKICS score, Simplified renal index, and SRI risk score (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: The AKI-Pro score is a new clinical tool that could assist clinicians to identify early AKI patients at high risk for AKI progression or death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Conventional potato breeding has produced only limited genetic gain due to the polyploid nature of the crop. In recent years, hybrid potato breeding at the diploid level has been developed to overcome this limited genetic gain. In diploid potato breeding, homozygous inbred lines are developed by self-fertilization, enabling incremental improvements of the material in each generation. This type of breeding requires self-fertility, which makes hybridization of inbred lines labor-cumbersome and results in hybrids that produce many undesirable berries in the field. In many crop species, cytoplasmic male sterility is used to produce maternal inbred lines that are male sterile. In this study, we explore the antherless cytoplasmic male sterility system in potato. We identify a recessive locus that is required for sterility and we show that this trait is expressed in Phureja cytoplasm but not in Andigena or Tuberosum cytoplasm. We implemented this system in hybrid seed production and show that the resulting hybrids set far fewer berries in the field than male fertile controls. Recent advances in diploid F1 hybrid potato breeding rely on the production of inbred lines using the S-locus inhibitor (Sli) gene. As a result of this method, female parent lines are self-fertile and require emasculation before hybrid seed production. The resulting F1 hybrids are self-fertile as well and produce many undesirable berries in the field. Utilization of cytoplasmic male sterility would eliminate the need for emasculation, resulting in more efficient hybrid seed production and male sterile F1 hybrids. We observed plants that completely lacked anthers in an F2 population derived from an interspecific cross between diploid S. tuberosum and S. microdontum. We studied the antherless trait to determine its suitability for use in hybrid potato breeding. We mapped the causal locus to the short arm of Chromosome 6, developed KASP markers for the antherless (al) locus and introduced it into lines with T and A cytoplasm. We found that antherless type male sterility is not expressed in T and A cytoplasm, proving that it is a form of CMS. We hybridized male sterile al/al plants with P cytoplasm with pollen from al/al plants with T and A cytoplasm and we show that the resulting hybrids set significantly fewer berries in the field. Here, we show that the antherless CMS system can be readily deployed in diploid F1 hybrid potato breeding to improve hybridization efficiency and reduce berry set in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The community transmission of COVID-19 has caused the breakdown of the regional emergency medical system (REMS), impacting the rights and care of regional patients with acute and severe conditions. This study proposes a model for the surge capacity of REMS to plan for readiness and preparedness during challenging events that overload capacity. Methods. The surge capacity of REMS during the COVID-19 pandemic was studied. The data collection included 26 hospitals that received the data. To simulate the dynamics of Taipei's REMS surge capacity, we observed its ability to treat COVID-19 patients with moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This will involve monitoring the stock of ventilators, physicians, and nurses within the subsystem loops. Results. Healthcare managers and administrators can use the overload model and hypothetical scenarios to develop new scenarios with different demands on surge capacity. The REMS system capacity model can be used as an aid to guide planning and cross-checking for address Prepare to plan. Conclusions. We combined data regarding the availability of ventilators, physicians, nurses, specialized beds, and general acute care beds in our simulations. Thus, our simulations, with support from a well-established regional command and management structure, could help REMS achieve the optimal surge capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Using a promising one-step vacuum space confined with carbon-coated tri-doped reaction method. • A unique novel core/shell structure comprises C N S-TiO 2 nanotubes and N S carbon coating. • Stable nitrogen, carbon and sulfur doping, and cocatalyst have synergistic effects. • Under simulated sunlight and visible light conditions, the photocurrent exhibited an increase of 18.3 times and 32.8 times, respectively. • The photoelectrocatalyst was recyclable and had excellent water splitting performance. The integration of non-metallic doping and carbon coating for TiO 2 -based photoelectrocatalysts can be recognized as a promising strategy to enhance their hydrogen production performance. To this end, this study explored the carbon coating engineering to induce stable multi-element doping with an aim to develop high-performance TiO 2 nanotube array-based photoelectrocatalysts. The resulting structures consisted of carbon–nitrogen-sulfur-tri-doped TiO 2 nanotube arrays with a nitrogen-sulfur-codoped carbon coating (C N S-TNTA/N S C). The fabrication process involved a one-step, low-cost strategy of the carbon-coated tridoped reaction confined in vacuum space, utilizing polymer thiourea sealed in a controlled environment. Compared the photocurrent density of C N S-TNTA/N S C with pristine TNTA, the photocurrent enhancement of approximately 18.3-fold under simulated sunlight and a remarkable increase of 32.8-fold under simulated visible light conditions. The enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light was ascribed to two factors: First, C, N, and S tri-doping and Ti3+ created a diverse array of impurity energy levels within the band gap, which synergistically narrowed the band gap and further enhanced response to the visible light range. Second, the presence of a carbon coating shell doped with N and S can greatly promote electron transfer and efficient electron-hole pair separation. This study could provide significant insights concerning the design of sophisticated photoanodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To attain a lightweight structure with high pressure and a high hydrogen storage mass ratio, the type IV hydrogen storage tank is the most popular choice for many fuel cell vehicle enterprises. Using polymer as the liner material prevents hydrogen embrittlement and hydrogen-induced damage of the tanks, but hydrogen permeation is inevitable. Within the service conditions (233–358 K, 0–87.5 MPa) of the Type-IV tanks, the dissolution and diffusion behaviors of H 2 in polyamide 6 are comprehensively explored for the first time through the molecular dynamics and Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations in this study. The diffusion mechanism of H 2 in polyamide 6 is further revealed. The results show that both the diffusion and permeability coefficients have positive correlations with temperature, whereas the opposite is true for the solubility coefficient. These relationships are all consistent with Arrhenius's law in the temperature range, although multiple Arrhenius regions are needed to describe them. A slight decrease in the diffusion and permeability coefficients is observed with increasing pressure. However, this effect is not as significant as that of temperature and can be ignored when the pressure range is narrow enough. The "hopping" mechanism can be used to describe the diffusion of H 2 in polyamide 6, where the continuous vibrations and "hopping" allow the diffusion of H 2 molecules. These findings will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the permeation behavior of H 2 in polyamide 6 and evaluate the gas barrier property of the material in practical applications. • The dissolution and diffusion behaviors of H 2 in PA6 are explored by MD and GCMC simulations. • The "hopping" mechanism can describe the diffusion of H 2 in PA6. • Multiple Arrhenius regions are observed under service conditions. • The effect of pressure on permeability is not as significant as that of temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The level and style of teaching management have been continuously updated and enhanced as part of China's educational system reform in recent years. A new era of individualized learning and teaching administration has begun as a result of the fusion of cutting-edge educational technologies and pedagogical theories. In light of this, we introduced a teaching management system created for the ever-changing needs of physical education in colleges and universities. We use support vector machines (SVM) to personalize and improve students' educational experiences by using the Theory of multiple intelligences (MI) as our theoretical framework. In the very first step, we started with the collection of diverse student information, such as academic records, athletic prowess, and many intelligence profiles. To obtain this information, multiple skills of all the students were thoroughly analyzed using MI's theory. By conducting thorough feature engineering and data preprocessing, we established the foundation for our analysis using SVM. In this phase, we score each student's performance in sports-related skills. From there, we created a profile for each student and preprocessed the data to build a useful dataset. This dataset trains an SVM model to forecast student engagement and performance using specific kernels and hyperparameters. Our proposed system places a big emphasis on personalized learning. We enable teachers to design a learning environment that fosters student potential by adapting teaching tactics to individual student's strengths and limitations in both sports skills and multiple intelligences. The effectiveness of the system is assessed by separating the students into two groups: one group received training using our suggested system, known as the experimental group, and the other group, known as the control group, received training using the conventional approach. The result shows that the score of the experimental group is 88.9, which is higher than the control group's 83.5. The result shows that after applying MI's theory and SVM in physical education teaching in colleges and universities, the scores have been significantly improved, which can maximize the students' multiple intelligences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interplay of water resources with social-economy spheres involves a reciprocal feedback mechanism. With the acceleration of the construction process of modernized water networks in Hunan Province, investigating the adaptation status of the "Water-Social-Economy " composite system (WSE) is crucial for promoting sustainability. This study clarifies the connotation of the adaptability of WSE, and the quantitative analyses were conducted through coupling coordinative degree, harmonious development capacity, and the evolution of development lag types among the 14 cities of Hunan Province from 2005 to 2020. The results show that: (1) The development index of the water resources subsystem (WRS) showed a "downward-fluctuation-upward" trend, while the development index of the social-economy subsystem (SES) showed signs of great improvement, the former didn't catch up with the latter. (2) The coupling coordination degree of WSE developed well, and reached the coordinative development stage by 2020, but the unbalanced spatial pattern between north to south and east to west still exists and is further intensified. (3) The development ability of WSE improved while the harmony ability reduced, and the development rate of WRS and SES hasn't achieved dynamic synchronization. Finally, the policies and suggestions to improve the adaptability are put forward, which is of instructive significance for the sustainable development of water suitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Skin pigmentation is modulated by various processes, with melanogenesis playing a key role. Melanin is synthesized by the catalysis of melanogenesis‐related enzymes, such as tyrosinase and tyrosine‐related proteins TRP‐1 and TRP‐2. Paeoniflorin is the main bioactive component of Paeonia suffruticosa Andr., Paeonia lactiflora., or Paeonia veitchii Lynch and has been used for centuries for its anti‐inflammatory, anti‐oxidant, and anti‐carcinogenic properties. Aims & methods: In this study, melanin biosynthesis in mouse melanoma (B16F10) cells was induced using α‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (α‐MSH), and then cells were co‐treated with paeoniflorin to evaluate its potential anti‐melanogenic effect. Results: α‐MSH stimulation increased melanin content, tyrosinase activity, and melanogenesis‐related markers in a dose‐dependent manner. However, treatment with paeoniflorin reversed α‐MSH‐induced upregulation of melanin content and tyrosinase activity. Furthermore, paeoniflorin inhibited cAMP response element‐binding protein activation and TRP‐1, TRP‐2, and microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor protein expression in α‐MSH‐stimulated B16F10 cells. Conclusion: Overall, these findings show the potential of paeoniflorin as a depigmenting agent for cosmetic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a malignant tumor with a high lethality rate. Immunotherapy has become a breakthrough in cancer treatment and improves patient survival and prognosis. Therefore, it is necessary to find new immune-related markers. However, the current research on immune-related markers in LUAD is not sufficient. Therefore, there is a need to find new immune-related biomarkers to help treat LUAD patients. Methods: In this study, a bioinformatics approach combined with a machine learning approach screened reliable immune-related markers to construct a prognostic model to predict the overall survival (OS) of LUAD patients, thus promoting the clinical application of immunotherapy in LUAD. The experimental data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, including 535 LUAD and 59 healthy control samples. Firstly, the Hub gene was screened using a bioinformatics approach combined with the Support Vector Machine Recursive Feature Elimination algorithm; then, a multifactorial Cox regression analysis by constructing an immune prognostic model for LUAD and a nomogram to predict the OS rate of LUAD patients. Finally, the regulatory mechanism of Hub genes in LUAD was analyzed by ceRNA. Results: Five genes, ADM2, CDH17, DKK1, PTX3, and AC145343.1, were screened as potential immune-related genes in LUAD. Among them, ADM2 and AC145343.1 had a good prognosis in LUAD patients (HR < 1) and were novel markers. The remaining three genes screened were associated with poor prognosis in LUAD patients (HR > 1). In addition, the experimental results showed that patients in the low-risk group had better OS rates than those in the high-risk group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: In this paper, we propose an immune prognostic model to predict OS rate in LUAD patients and show the correlation between five immune genes and the level of immune-related cell infiltration. It provides new markers and additional ideas for immunotherapy in patients with LUAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accumulating evidence shows that high expression of casein kinase 2 (CK2) and phosphorylated acetyl CoA carboxylase (pACC) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) correlates with decreased survival rates. Computational analysis has shown that ACC is a potential substrate for CK2, and its inhibition can suppress ACC phosphorylation in vitro. CX-4945, also known as silmitasertib, is an orally administered, highly specific, ATP-competitive inhibitor of CK2 and is under clinical investigation as a treatment for malignancies. We hypothesize that inhibition of CK2 by CX-4945 can reduce CK2-downstream phosphorylation of ACC as a therapeutic strategy against SCCHN.Methods: Three aggressive SCCHN cell lines (OSC-19, FaDu and HN31) were cultured to investigate the anticancer mechanism of the CK2 inhibitor, CX-4945. Cell cycle analysis, Annexin V/PI staining, and cleavage of PARP were performed to detect apoptosis. Western blot, electron microscopy and analysis of acidic vesicular organelle development were used to detect autophagy. Interference with cellular metabolism by CX-4945 treatment was determined by Seahorse XF24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer and mass spectrometry.Results: Cellular metabolism was impeded by CX-4945 in aggressive SCCHN cells by Seahorse XF24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer and mass spectrometry, and consequently time- and dose-dependent lipid droplet accumulation and non-apoptotic cell death were observed. The lipogenic enzyme ACC was demonstrated to be associated with CK2, and its repressive phosphorylation could be removed by the CK2 inhibitor CX-4945. Overexpression of ACC resulted in impaired cell survival following transient transfection.Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that CK2 inhibition impairs normal cellular energy metabolism and may be an attractive therapy for treating aggressive SCCHN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infrared camouflage textile materials with soft and wear-resistant properties can effectively reduce the possibility of soldiers and military equipment being exposed to infrared detectors. In this paper, the infrared camouflage textile composites with intelligent temperature adjustment ability were prepared by different methods, using phase change microcapsule as the main raw material and high polymer polyurethane as the matrix, combining the two factors of temperature control and emissivity reduction. It was tested by differential scanning calorimeter, temperature change tester, infrared emissivity tester, and infrared imager. The results show that the temperature regulation effect of textile materials finished by coating method is better than dip rolling method, the temperature regulation ability and presentation effect are the best when the microcapsule content is 27%. When the bottom layer of infrared camouflage textile composite is 27% phase change microcapsule and the surface layer is 20% copper powder, its infrared emissivity in the band of 2–22 μm is 0.656, and the rate of heating and cooling is obviously slowed down. It has excellent heat storage and temperature regulation function, which can reduce the skin surface temperature by more than 6 °C and effectively reduce the infrared radiation. This study can provide reference for laboratory preparation and industrial production of infrared camouflage composite material. The infrared camouflage textile composite prepared are expected to be used in the field of military textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The type IV hydrogen storage tank with a polymer liner is a promising storage solution for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). The polymer liner reduces the weight and improves the storage density of tanks. However, hydrogen commonly permeates through the liner, especially at high pressure. If there is rapid decompression, damage may occur due to the internal hydrogen concentration, as the concentration inside creates the pressure difference. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of the decompression damage is significant for the development of a suitable liner material and the commercialization of the type IV hydrogen storage tank. This study discusses the decompression damage mechanism of the polymer liner, which includes damage characterizations and evaluations, influential factors, and damage prediction. Finally, some future research directions are proposed to further investigate and optimize tanks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polarization is a fundamental characteristic of light waves carrying sensitive measurement and signal communication information. Traditional schemes for advanced controlling polarization impose stringent requirements on material features and obtain merely limited performance. Integration of diversified and switchable functions into monolithic metamaterials has become a rising research field, particularly for the terahertz (THz) spectrum. However, the study on the switchable and wearable polarization meta‐converter with nonvolatile operation stays unexplored. Here, the switching of metamaterial‐induced ultra‐broadband and very efficient reflective linear polarization conversion at the THz frequency is experimentally realized. When the as‐deposited Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST225) capping layer of the proposed converter is in amorphous state, the multilayered metamaterials possess triple neighboring peak resonances, by which the linear incident polarization could be converted to its orthogonal counterpart on reflection. The measured polarization conversion ratio (PCR) under normal incidence is above 0.7 in the spectrum ranging from 0.53 to 1.25 THz. Notably, the strength of PCR can be continuously tuned as gradually transiting the structural state of GST225 from amorphous to crystalline. This continuously switchable converter may pave an avenue for dynamically controlling the THz polarization states and bring more possibilities for flexible meta‐devices in the various applications for THz imaging, spectroscopy, and communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis is a unique process of cell death that specifically requires iron. We investigated ferroptosis genes and their function in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients. Data on the expression levels of genes associated with ferroptosis were collected from the FerrDb and the Cancer Genome Atlas database. Kaplan-Meier Plotter was employed to generate the survival curves of LUAD patients with high vs low expression of ferroptosis genes. The relationship between immune cell infiltration and ferroptosis genes was analyzed via TIMMER. Immunohistochemical staining was employed to quantitatively evaluate gene expression in 43 LUAD patients. A total of 89 ferroptosis genes were found to have significant differential expression between LUAD and normal tissues (p<0.05), 23 of which were selected and consistent prognostic trends were observed based on analysis of RNA-Seq and RNA microarray data (p<0.05). These 23 ferroptosis genes were assigned to 10 high-abundance pathways and 18 functional categories. Besides, the expression of ALOX5 and FTL3 demonstrated a positive correlation with sets of immune markers. The expression of ALOX5 exhibited a positive correlation with the levels of infiltration of dendritic cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and CD4+ T cells, while FLT3 expression correlated with the infiltration of B cells, CD4+ T cells, neutrophils, and dendritic cells. Furthermore, ALOX5 was confirmed to be downregulated in lung tumor tissues (p<0.01). Our findings show that the ferroptosis genes FLT3 and ALOX5 play prominent roles in immune cell infiltration during LUAD progression and may serve as prognostic biomarkers for LUAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the case of a 60-year-old man with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), a condition characterized by the presence of cutaneous telangiectasias (dilated blood vessels) that can cause pain and bleeding. The patient had recurrent telangiectasias on his fingertips and heels, which significantly impacted his quality of life. The article explores different treatment modalities for HHT-associated telangiectasias, including laser therapy, electrocautery, and cryotherapy. Cryotherapy, which involves the use of liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy the lesions, was found to be an effective and non-invasive treatment option for the patient. The article concludes by suggesting that cryotherapy can be considered as a safe and effective treatment for cutaneous telangiectasias associated with HHT. [Extracted from the article]

With the capacities of large-scale turbine generators increase, higher electrical and thermal loads may cause higher risk of thermal faults. Especially, for those air cooling machines with single channel ventilation system, the comparatively poor thermal conductibility of air makes the air-gap become a critical part in thermal transmission network. Thus, the heat transfer in air-gap of large scale turbine generators is followed with interest. The investigation is performed on a 150 MW air cooling turbine generator with single channel ventilation cooling system, and realized via the thermal-fluid coupling field studying. A nonlinear numerical calculation model for fluid flowing and heat transfer within the machine is proposed, and solved by finite volume method (FVM). Then, the heat transfer in the air-gap is analyzed, whilst the temperature distributions in machine different parts, as windings, stator core, and rotor components, are investigated. In addition, the velocity vector distribution of coolant in the ventilation system is also studied, and the air motion track in the air-gap is analyzed while considering the influence of rotor rotation. Finally, the influence of flow in the air-gap on fluid flowing in the stator radial ventilation ducts is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia. However, the association of type 1 diabetes with herpes zoster or postherpetic neuralgia remains unclear. This retrospective cohort study using Taiwan’s Health Insurance Research Database included 199,566 patients with type 1 diabetes and 1,458,331 with type 2 diabetes, identified during the period 2000 to 2012. Patients with type 1 diabetes had a significantly higher risk of developing herpes zoster than those with type 2 diabetes (p<0.001). Across all age groups, the impact of diabetes on herpes zoster was greater in type 1 than in type 2 diabetes. Patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes had a 1.45-fold higher risk of post-herpetic neuralgia than those without diabetes (hazard ratio 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.28–1.65; hazard ratio 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.37–1.52, respectively), and there was no difference between the 2 types of diabetes (hazard ratio 1.06; 95% confidence interval 0.93–1.21). The results recommend consideration of herpes zoster vaccination at an earlier age in patients with type 1 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moderate acute stress responses are beneficial for adaptation and maintenance of homeostasis. Exposure of male rat to stress induces effects in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), for it can be activated by the same stimuli that induce activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. However, the underlying mechanism of the BNST on male stress reactivity remains unclear. In this study, we explored whether systematic administration of dexmedetomidine (DEXM) altered the acute stress reactivity through its effect on the BNST. Male Sprague-Dawley rats in the stress (STRE) group, DEXM group, and the DEXM + GSK-650394 (GSK, an antagonist of serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1)) group, except those in the vehicle (VEH) group, underwent 1-h restraint plus water-immersion (RPWI) exposure. All the rats proceeded the open field test (OFT) 24 h before RPWI and 1 h after RPWI. After the second OFT, the rats received VEH, DEXM (75 μg/kg i.p.), or were pretreated with GSK (2 μM i.p.) 0.5 h ahead of DEXM respectively. The third OFT was conducted 6 h after drug administration and then the rats were sacrificed. The rats that experienced RPWI showed dramatically elevated serum corticosterone (CORT), multiplied neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and SGK1 in the BNST, and terrible OFT behavior. We discovered when the nNOS and SGK1 were decreased in the rat BNST through DEXM treatment, the serum CORT was reduced and the OFT manifestation was ameliorated, whereas these were restrained by GSK application. Our results reveal that modest interventions to SGK1 and nNOS in the BNST improve the male rat reactivity to acute stress, and DEXM was one modulator of these effects. • We verified effects of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) on acute stress in male rats. • Interventions to SGK1 and nNOS in the BNST improve reactivity to acute stress. • Dexmedetomidine is one modulator of the BNST improving reactivity to acute stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

S‐adenosyl‐L‐methionine (SAM)‐dependent O‐methyltransferases (O‐MTs) are a class of valuable and attractive biocatalysts for alkylation of catechols. In this work, an O‐methyltransferase (GeOMT) from the plant Galanthus elwesii was identified and characterised. GeOMT methylated a series of catechols with excellent regioselectivity. Moreover, a strategy was developed that combines structure‐directed protein engineering and metal ion substitution for regioselective inversion of GeOMT. The resultant W50M/A53N/Y186K triple variant preferentially coordinated Ni2+ instead of Mg2+ and displayed almost complete inversion in regioselectivity from 1 : 99 to 94 : 6 (para/meta) for 4‐nitrocatechol, the para‐methylated product of which is a vital plant growth regulator. This represents a promising strategy for regioselectivity improvement of O‐MTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over‐fasting before surgery can lead to dehydration, irritability, lethargy, nausea, hypoglycemia, tricky intravenous cannulation, and decreased patient satisfaction (Newton et al., Pediatr Anesth, 2017, 27, 793). We used "Kotter's 8 steps for change" as an approach to tackling the problem of over‐fasting in our day surgery unit (Kotter, Leading Change, Harvard Business School Press, 1996). Using a video of a patient's experience with overfasting, we created a sense of urgency and need for change (Step1: create urgency). We formed a multi‐disciplinary fasting improvement team (FIT) (Step2: form a powerful coalition) and conducted a retrospective data analysis to establish a baseline. We then studied the system thoroughly using Ishikawa charts, process mapping, bench‐marking, user surveys, and Pareto charts. Using these findings, we created a vision for our change (Step3: create a vision for change). Within 6 months, we aimed for 90% of patients to have a fluid fasting time of <2 h and for 90% of afternoon patients to have had breakfast. We communicated this vision to all staff involved in the day surgery (Step4: communicate the vision). Following this, we empowered them (Step5: empower action) by asking for their opinions for changes and let them take over various tasks without micromanagement. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Psychology of Change Framework described a focus on the human side of change, to increase the likelihood that improvement efforts will succeed by activating people's agency (Hilton & Anderson. IHI Psychology of Change Framework to Advance and Sustain Improvement, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2018). Our change ideas were divided into "short‐term wins," "intermediate term goals," and "longer term goals." We focussed on creating short‐term wins (Step6: create quick wins) and celebrated successes along the way to create initial momentum. We did this in parallel with working on longer term changes. We continued to work on cementing these new ideas (Step7: build on the changes), so that transformation in the day surgery would persist before using the same system to spread the change to the rest of the hospital (Step8: making it stick). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The design and discovery of free-standing hybrid electrode materials with large absolute capacity and high cycling stability for energy storage become desirable and are still challenging. In this work, we demonstrate that the hybrid supercapacitor (HSC) device is assembled by 3D core–shell hierarchical nanorod arrays of Ni 3 S 2 @NiCoP nanocomposite for the first time. The Ni 3 S 2 @NiCoP nanocomposite is successfully synthesized through a facile stratagem containing hydrothermal process and the subsequent electrodeposition method. The 3D architecture of Ni 3 S 2 @NiCoP hybrid electrode composed of vertically aligned "hyperchannel" 1D Ni 3 S 2 nanorods and highly conductive interconnected 2D nanosheets of NiCoP is beneficial to fast electron transfer kinetics, thus leading to enhancing the ionic and electronic conductivity, kinetics of redox reaction, and synergistic behavior of active species. The fabricated HSC device with Ni 3 S 2 @NiCoP electrode delivers outstanding areal capacity of 109 µAh cm−2 at a current density of 1 mA cm−2, brilliant energy density of 74.9 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 700 W kg−1, and prominent cyclic performance of 92% capacity retention even after 144-h floating test. This work demonstrates that the core–shell hierarchical nanorod arrays of Ni 3 S 2 @NiCoP can be viewed as one of the novel battery-type electrode materials for high-performance HSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In communication and sensing integrations, an intelligent reflective surface (IRS) will provide an auxiliary wireless link to enhance coverage and information transmission quality. For IRS‐aided millimetre wave multi‐input multi‐output systems, the instantaneous cascaded channel is highly dimensional, resulting in the difficulty of acquiring channel state information. This letter proposed a tensor‐based Kalman filtering method. Under a parallel factor decomposition condition, a distributed sub‐filter algorithm is established. This method benefits from low‐dimensional tensor modes and known IRS phase shifts. It can track the channel with a few pilot overheads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sunburn is common in pomegranate, and sunburned fruits have poor appearance and low marketability. However, the physiological and metabolic responses to sunburn and their underlying molecular mechanisms in pomegranate fruit are little understood. Fruit of sunburn-sensitive cultivar 'Hongyushizi' was used to carry out physiological parameter detection and widely-targeted metabolomics and transcriptome study. Results: Malondialdehyde and relative conductivity increased with the severity of sunburn, which indicated increased membrane injury. Meanwhile, the content of antioxidants (total phenols and flavonoids), which reduce and repair membrane damage, increased and were accompanied by increases in total antioxidant capacity. In sunburned fruits compared with controls, 129 metabolites changed (including naringenin, pelargonidin and kaempferol) and 447 differentially expressed genes including CHI (Pgr25966.1), F3′5′H (Pgr26644.1), and CHS (Pgr005566.1) may have contributed to these changes. Transcription factors, such as NAC 5 (Pgr008725.1), MYB 93 (Pgr001791.1), and MYB 111 (Pgr027973.1) may be involved in phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis by regulating the CHI, F3′5′H, and CHS etc. Conclusions: These findings provide insight into the sunburn mechanisms of pomegranate, and also into the genetic improvement of fruit sunburn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substantial progress has been made in perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs), but the fabrication of high-performance blue PeLEDs still remains a challenge due to its low efficiency, spectral instability and short operational lifetime. How to produce an efficient and stable blue PeLED is the key to realizing the application of PeLEDs in full-color displays. We herein report a blue PeLED usint the ligand-assisted reprecipitation method, in which phenylethylammonium bromide (PEABr) was used as ligands, and chloroform was used as anti-solvent to prepare blue perovskite nanocrystal films. By increasing the PEABr content from 40% to 100% (The ratio of x% PEABr refers to the molar ratio between PEABr and PbBr2), the film quality is highly improved, and the emission exhibits a blue shift. Introducing a poly(9-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) hole transport layer into the device, the PVK layer can not only achieve efficient hole injection, but can also isolate the PEDOT: PSS layer to inhibit the non-radiative recombination of metal halide luminescence layer, reduce surface ion defects and successfully inhibit halide atom migration. Finally, the PeLED presents a stable electroluminescence under different driving voltages without any red shift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a delay differential equation model to describe the Wolbachia infection dynamics in mosquitoes in which the key factor of cytoplasmic incompactibility (CI) is incorporated in a more natural way than those in the literature. By analyzing the dynamics of the model, we are able to obtain some information on the impact of four important parameters: the competition capabilities of the wild mosquitoes and infected mosquitoes, the maternal transmission level and the CI level. The analytic results show that there are ranges of parameters that support competition exclusion principle, and there are also ranges of parameters that allow co-persistence for both wild and infected mosquitoes. These ranges account for the scenarios of failure of invasion, invasion and suppressing the wild mosquitoes, and invasion and replacing the wild mosquitoes. We also discuss some possible future problems both in mathematics and in modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foam materials have been widely used in cushioning packaging to ensure the integrity of products inside by absorbing energy and preventing collision. However, the extensive use of petroleum-based plastic foams may exacerbate environmental pollution and consume large amounts of energy. Therefore, there has been an increasing focus on producing high-performance and environmentally friendly foams in recent years. In this study, we developed a simple approach for manufacturing cellulose fiber-based capillary foams featuring superior stability and three-dimensional (3D) backbone network cross-linking structure composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and cationic starch (CS). The resultant capillary foam showed low density (0.154 g/cm3), superior mechanical properties (elastic modulus ranging from 77 to 501 kPa), high energy absorbing efficiency (32.8 %), and low cushioning coefficient (3.0). Besides, the end-of-life cellulose fiber-based capillary foam can be easily recycled for use, showing an attractive closed-loop cycle process. This study presents a unique option for creating affordable, eco-friendly, and malleable foams, demonstrating the potential to substitute the currently used petroleum-based foams in the packaging, food, and transport industries. • A feasible approach for fabricating cellulose fiber-based green capillary foam was developed. • The interactions between PVA/CS and fibers stabilized and reinforced the 3D porous network structure. • Cellulose fiber-based capillary foam demonstrated better cushioning performance than most commercial petroleum-based foams. • Capillary structures of cellulose fiber improved foam's mechanical properties. • The end-of-life capillary foam can be easily recycled and reused, showing an attractive closed-loop cycle process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the sliding mode control (SMC) problem of discrete-time singular Markovian jump systems with time-varying delay under an event-triggered strategy (ETS). In the system we study, there are uncertainties in the system matrix, especially in the difference matrix. A state augmentation strategy is proposed due to uncertainties in the difference matrix. A suitable sliding mode surface (SMS) function is built, and the corresponding sliding mode dynamics (SMD) is derived based on ETS. Some sufficient conditions are presented to guarantee that SMD is H∞\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\usepackage{amsmath}\usepackage{wasysym}\usepackage{amsfonts}\usepackage{amssymb}\usepackage{amsbsy}\usepackage{mathrsfs}\usepackage{upgreek}\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt}\begin{document}$$H_{\infty }$$\end{document}-admissible for all uncertainties. Furthermore, an SMC law under ETS is derived so that the system trajectories can be driven onto the prescribed SMS in finite time. Finally, the effectiveness of the approach in the paper is demonstrated by two simulated examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Clinical risk scores help predict functional outcomes for patients with stroke. • MR images contain crucial information related to ischemic lesions. • Deep learning techniques can extract imaging biomarkers from MR images. • MR imaging biomarkers enhance the predictive ability of existing risk scores. Clinical risk scores are essential for predicting outcomes in stroke patients. The advancements in deep learning (DL) techniques provide opportunities to develop prediction applications using magnetic resonance (MR) images. We aimed to develop an MR-based DL imaging biomarker for predicting outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and evaluate its additional benefit to current risk scores. This study included 3338 AIS patients. We trained a DL model using deep neural network architectures on MR images and radiomics to predict poor functional outcomes at three months post-stroke. The DL model generated a DL score, which served as the DL imaging biomarker. We compared the predictive performance of this biomarker to five risk scores on a holdout test set. Additionally, we assessed whether incorporating the imaging biomarker into the risk scores improved the predictive performance. The DL imaging biomarker achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.788. The AUCs of the five studied risk scores were 0.789, 0.793, 0.804, 0.810, and 0.826, respectively. The imaging biomarker's predictive performance was comparable to four of the risk scores but inferior to one (p = 0.038). Adding the imaging biomarker to the risk scores improved the AUCs (p- values) to 0.831 (0.003), 0.825 (0.001), 0.834 (0.003), 0.836 (0.003), and 0.839 (0.177), respectively. The net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement indices also showed significant improvements (all p < 0.001). Using DL techniques to create an MR-based imaging biomarker is feasible and enhances the predictive ability of current risk scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs), glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN) are involved in the response to stress. The present study investigated the role of GRs and MRs in the PVN in regulating depressive and anxiety-like behaviours.Experimental Approach: To model chronic stress, rats were exposed to corticosterone treatment via drinking water for 21 days, and GR antagonist RU486 and MR antagonist spironolactone, alone and combined, were directly injected in the PVN daily for the last 7 days of corticosterone treatment. Behavioural tests were run on days 22 and 23. Depressive- and anxiety-like behaviours were evaluated in forced swim test, sucrose preference test, novelty-suppressed feeding test and social interaction test. The expression of GRs, MRs and CRF were detected by western blot.Key Results: Rats exposed to corticosterone exhibited depressive- and anxiety-like behaviours. The expression of GRs and MRs decreased, and CRF levels increased in the PVN. The intra-PVN administration of RU486 increased the levels of GRs and CRF without influencing depressive- or anxiety-like behaviours. The spironolactone-treated group exhibited an increase in MRs without influencing GRs and CRF in the PVN and improved anxiety-like behaviours. Interestingly, the intra-PVN administration of RU486 and spironolactone combined restored expression of GRs, MRs and CRF and improved depressive- and anxiety-like behaviours.Conclusion and Implications: In this rat model of stress, the simultaneous restoration of GRs, MRs and CRF in the PVN might play an important role in the treatment of depression and anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Messenger RNA vaccine contains the genetic code (mRNA) of the spike protein (found on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus), when this genetic material enters the body, subsequently produced spike protein triggers an immune response [[3]]. Existing COVID-19 vaccines currently take three different forms: (1) mRNA vaccines such as the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the Moderna vaccine; (2) viral vector vaccines such as the ChAdOx1nCoV-19 (AZ) vaccine and the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine; and (3) protein subunit vaccines such as the Novavax vaccine [[1]]. There are many tools that can be used to detect both immune response elements, and their utilization could help establish a comprehensive efficacy evaluation for COVID-19 vaccines to promote vaccine optimization and further the goal of slowing down and reducing the impact of the pandemic. How to Evaluate COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness - An Examination of Antibody Production and T-Cell Response. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) analysis may serve as a tool for assessing the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and for monitoring its progress. The present study aimed to assess the association between steroid therapy and quantitative CT parameters in a longitudinal cohort with COVID-19.Methods: Between February 7 and February 17, 2020, 72 patients with severe COVID-19 were retrospectively enrolled. All 300 chest CT scans from these patients were collected and classified into five stages according to the interval between hospital admission and follow-up CT scans: Stage 1 (at admission); Stage 2 (3-7 days); Stage 3 (8-14 days); Stage 4 (15-21 days); and Stage 5 (22-31 days). QCT was performed using a threshold-based quantitative analysis to segment the lung according to different Hounsfield unit (HU) intervals. The primary outcomes were changes in percentage of compromised lung volume (%CL, - 500 to 100 HU) at different stages. Multivariate Generalized Estimating Equations were performed after adjusting for potential confounders.Results: Of 72 patients, 31 patients (43.1%) received steroid therapy. Steroid therapy was associated with a decrease in %CL (- 3.27% [95% CI, - 5.86 to - 0.68, P = 0.01]) after adjusting for duration and baseline %CL. Associations between steroid therapy and changes in %CL varied between different stages or baseline %CL (all interactions, P < 0.01). Steroid therapy was associated with decrease in %CL after stage 3 (all P < 0.05), but not at stage 2. Similarly, steroid therapy was associated with a more significant decrease in %CL in the high CL group (P < 0.05), but not in the low CL group.Conclusions: Steroid administration was independently associated with a decrease in %CL, with interaction by duration or disease severity in a longitudinal cohort. The quantitative CT parameters, particularly compromised lung volume, may provide a useful tool to monitor COVID-19 progression during the treatment process. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04953247. Registered July 7, 2021, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04953247. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although breastfeeding-friendly workplaces are provided to promote an employed mother's breastfeeding intention, few studies have explored breastfeeding intentions and behavior after a mother returns to work on a shift work or non-shift work schedule. To explore the impact of breastfeeding-friendly support on the intention of working mothers with different work schedules to continue breastfeeding, we conducted a survey at a female labor-intensive electronics manufacturer in Taiwan from August 2011 to April 2012. Methods: Female workers who met the inclusion criteria (maternity leave between January 2009 and January 2011) were invited to participate in the survey. A structured questionnaire survey was administered to 715 working mothers employed at an electronics manufacturing plant in Tainan Science Park in Southern Taiwan. The questionnaire content included female employee demographic characteristics, employment characteristics, continued breastfeeding behavior after returning to work, access to lactation rooms, and employee perception of the breastfeeding policy and support when raising their most recently born child. Results: A total of 715 employed mothers' data were collected. Of the shift workers, 90.1% breastfed during maternity leave, but the breastfeeding rates after returning to work decreased to 21.5% for one to six months and 17.9% for more than six months. Of the non-shift workers, 87.6% breastfed during maternity leave and the breastfeeding rates after returning to work were 24.1% for one to six months and 34.6% for more than six months. Using a lactation room and taking advantage of breast-pumping breaks were significant factors for continuing to breastfeed one to six months after returning to work and more than six months after returning to work among shift workers and non-shift workers. In addition, among non-shift workers, a higher education level of the mother (odds ratio (OR) = 9.57) and partner support (OR = 4.89) had positive effects toward a mother continuing breastfeeding for more than six months after returning to work. Conclusions: Workplaces or employers should provide more support to encourage employed mothers to take advantage of the breastfeeding room and breast-pumping breaks, enhance the frequency of the usage of lactation rooms, and increase the rate of continued breastfeeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sunburn is common in pomegranate, and sunburned fruits have poor appearance and low marketability. However, the physiological and metabolic responses to sunburn and their underlying molecular mechanisms in pomegranate fruit are little understood. Fruit of sunburn-sensitive cultivar 'Hongyushizi' was used to carry out physiological parameter detection and widely-targeted metabolomics and transcriptome study. Results: Malondialdehyde and relative conductivity increased with the severity of sunburn, which indicated increased membrane injury. Meanwhile, the content of antioxidants (total phenols and flavonoids), which reduce and repair membrane damage, increased and were accompanied by increases in total antioxidant capacity. In sunburned fruits compared with controls, 129 metabolites changed (including naringenin, pelargonidin and kaempferol) and 447 differentially expressed genes including CHI (Pgr25966.1), F3′5′H (Pgr26644.1), and CHS (Pgr005566.1) may have contributed to these changes. Transcription factors, such as NAC 5 (Pgr008725.1), MYB 93 (Pgr001791.1), and MYB 111 (Pgr027973.1) may be involved in phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis by regulating the CHI, F3′5′H, and CHS etc. Conclusions: These findings provide insight into the sunburn mechanisms of pomegranate, and also into the genetic improvement of fruit sunburn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Risk management intentions prior to genetic counseling predict risk management uptake following genetic testing. Limited studies examined the attitude and understanding towards genetic counseling/testing in underserved countries. The purposes of this study were to explore knowledge and attitude towards genetic counseling, testing, and risk management for breast and ovarian cancer, and to understand the factors influencing risk management intentions in women with cancer in Taiwan. Methods: Cross-sectional with correlational design was used in this study. Participants were enrolled for genetic testing based on clinical criteria suspected of having hereditary cancer. Survey was conducted using a standardized questionnaire including (1) demographics and personal/family history of cancer; (2) prior experience or consideration of genetic testing and reasons for not considering; (3) perception and attitude towards genetic counseling; and (4) intentions for risk management with a hypothetical BRCA1 mutation status. Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the predictors of participants' intentions for cancer risk management strategies. Results: A total of 430 women with cancer were analyzed in which 51.6% had family history of cancer in first-degree relatives. Only 30.7% had considered genetic testing and 28.4% had known about genetic counseling prior to the study. When prompted with the services of genetic counseling, the attitude towards genetic counseling was fairly positive (score of 19.8 ± 2.9 out of 25). Given hypothetical BRCA1 mutation status, enhanced breast cancer screening with annual breast MRI was much more accepted than cancer risk reducing interventions. More positive attitude towards genetic counseling (each score point increase) was associated with higher odds of intention for breast MRI (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.09–1.32) and preventive tamoxifen (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.02–1.22). Having considered genetic testing prior to the study was associated with higher odds of intention for all four risk management strategies: breast MRI (OR 2.99, 95% CI 1.46–6.11), preventive tamoxifen (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.00–3.17), risk-reducing mastectomy (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.13–4.42), and risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (OR 2.69, 95% CI 1.27–6.93). Conclusion: Knowledge of genetic testing and positive attitude towards genetic counseling were associated with increased willingness to consider cancer risk management strategies for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. Given the limited knowledge on genetic testing and counseling in the studied population, increasing public awareness of these services may increase adoption of the risk management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, epitaxial Fe1.1Ti0.9O3−δ thin films with a smooth surface were prepared by adjusting the substrate temperature (TS) and via pulsed laser deposition (PLD) in Ar gas and α-Al2O3 (001) substrate. During the study of the optical properties and magnetism of the thin film samples, it was established that all thin films grown in Ar gas were hypoxic, having more oxygen vacancies and widening the optical band gap of the thin films significantly. The substrate temperature has a significant effect on the crystallization and magnetism of the thin films. It was established that the crystallization of a film at TS = 800 °C is the best, and the saturation magnetization reaches 172.5 emu/cc. The coercivity of films at TS = 600 °C reaches 15 kOe affected by film stress and oxygen vacancies, which is reportedly the maximum value in (1 − x)Fe2O3 − xFeTiO3. Thereafter, it decreases rapidly with the increase in TS, resulting in lattice relaxation, stress reduction, and coercivity reduction. Oxygen vacancies affect the electrical properties in thin films. In contrast to bulk materials, we established that the conduction mechanism of films changes from thermally activated transition to programmed transition with decreasing temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chloroplasts are the sites for photosynthesis, and two Golden2-like factors act as transcriptional activators of chloroplast development in rice (Oryza sativa L.) and maize (Zea mays L.). Rice OsGLK1 and OsGLK2 are orthologous to maize ZmGLK1 (ZmG1) and ZmGLK2 (ZmG2), respectively. However, while rice OsGLK1 and OsGLK2 act redundantly to regulate chloroplast development in mesophyll cells, maize ZmG1 and ZmG2 are functionally specialized and expressed in different cell-specific manners. To boost rice chloroplast development and photosynthesis, we generated transgenic rice plants overexpressing ZmG1 and ZmG2, individually or simultaneously, with constitutive promoters (pZmUbi::ZmG1 and p35S::ZmG2) or maize promoters (pZmG1::ZmG1, pZmG2::ZmG2, and pZmG1::ZmG1/pZmG2::ZmG2). Both ZmG1 and ZmG2 genes were highly expressed in transgenic rice leaves. Moreover, ZmG1 and ZmG2 showed coordinated expression in pZmG1::ZmG1/pZmG2::ZmG2 plants. All Golden2-like (GLK) transgenic plants had higher chlorophyll and protein contents, Rubisco activities and photosynthetic rates per unit leaf area in flag leaves. However, the highest grain yields occurred when maize promoters were used; pZmG1::ZmG1, pZmG2::ZmG2, and pZmG1::ZmG1/pZmG2::ZmG2 transgenic plants showed increases in grain yield by 51%, 47%, and 70%, respectively. In contrast, the pZmUbi::ZmG1 plant produced smaller seeds without yield increases. Transcriptome analysis indicated that maize GLKs act as master regulators promoting the expression of both photosynthesis-related and stress-responsive regulatory genes in both rice shoot and root. Thus, by promoting these important functions under the control of their own promoters, maize GLK1 and GLK2 genes together dramatically improved rice photosynthetic performance and productivity. A similar approach can potentially improve the productivity of many other crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Women whose mothers have been diagnosed with breast cancer are concerned about their mothers' illness and fear developing cancer themselves. This study, conducted in Taiwan, aims to understand daughters' lived experiences after their mothers were diagnosed with breast cancer. Method: In-depth interviews were conducted to understand daughters' emotional reactions to their mothers' diagnoses, their challenges with taking care of their mothers, and their concerns or perceptions regarding their own risks of developing breast cancer. Themes were identified using a phenomenological approach with 18 transcripts. Results: Six themes were identified: "taking care of my mother is my responsibility", "desiring sufficient information/support", "feeling helplessness in providing care", "expecting a cancer diagnosis in fear", "anticipating reassurance other than surveillance", and "worrying about myself is not a priority". In addition, these themes reflected their concerns about how to support their mothers physically and psychologically, how to manage their own worries about cancer, and how to maintain their health. Conclusion: The daughters prioritized the responsibility of caring for their mothers physically and psychologically rather than managing their own cancer concerns. Health care professionals should be aware of these priorities to provide education regarding the care of high-risk populations and psychological support to adult daughters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of expression of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) is frequently associated with KMT2A -rearranged subtype of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, this association has not been investigated extensively in the Asian population. A retrospective analysis of TdT expression in pediatric B-cell ALL (B-ALL) was performed in patients treated using the Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group (TPOG) ALL 2002 and 2013 protocols. Among the 331 patients with B-ALL, 12 patients showed TdT negativity at initial diagnosis. Among these, eight patients showed KMT2A rearrangement (66.7%). Other patients showing negative TdT expression had ETV6::RUNX1 , MEF2D- rearranged, and other B-ALL subtypes. However, in the context of KMT2A -rearranged B-ALL (n = 20), only eight patients showed TdT negativity. The 5-year event-free survival and overall survival of patients with and without TdT expression were 83.8% versus 46.8% (P <0.001) and 86.3% versus 55.4% (P = 0.004), respectively. Moreover, several aberrant markers, such as CD2, CD56, CD7, and CD117, were rarely expressed in the B-ALL samples, and if expressed, they were enriched in specific genetic subtypes. The results of this study indicate that immunophenotypic features are correlated with specific genetic subtypes of childhood B-ALL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) play a critical role in the modulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Early-life exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has been associated with an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders in adulthood. The present work was designed to explore the impact of neonatal exposure to DEHP on adult PVN CRH neuronal activity. DEHP or vehicle was given to male rat pups from PND16 to PND22. Then, anxiety-like behaviors, serum corticosterone and testosterone, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, fluorescence in situ hybridization and acute ex vivo slice electrophysiological recordings were used to evaluate the influence of DEHP on adult PVN secretory CRH neurons. Neonatal DEHP-exposed rats exhibited enhanced anxiety-like behaviors in adults, with an increase in CORT. Secretory CRH neurons showed higher spontaneous firing activity but could be inhibited by GABA A R blockers. CRH neurons displayed fewer firing spikes, prolonged first-spike latency, depolarizing shifts in GABA reversal potential and strengthened GABAergic inputs, as indicated by increases in the frequency and amplitude of sIPSCs. Enhancement of GABAergic transmission was accompanied by upregulated expression of GAD67 and downregulated expression of GABA B R 1 , KCC2 and GAT1. These findings suggest that neonatal exposure to DEHP permanently altered the characteristics of secretory CRH neurons in the PVN, which may contribute to the development of psychiatric disorders later in life. • Neonatal DEHP-exposed rats exhibited enhanced anxiety-like behaviors in adulthood. • DEHP-exposure induced higher spontaneous firing rates of secretory CRH neurons in PVN with depolarization shift of E GABA. • DEHP exposure impaired adult male PVN CRH E/I balance with enhancing of GABAergic transmission. • Alteration of CRH neuronal activity was accompanied by upregulation of GAD67 and downregulation of GABA B R 1 , KCC2 and GAT1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chloroplasts are the sites for photosynthesis, and two Golden2-like factors act as transcriptional activators of chloroplast development in rice (Oryza sativa L.) and maize (Zea mays L.). Rice OsGLK1 and OsGLK2 are orthologous to maize ZmGLK1 (ZmG1) and ZmGLK2 (ZmG2), respectively. However, while rice OsGLK1 and OsGLK2 act redundantly to regulate chloroplast development in mesophyll cells, maize ZmG1 and ZmG2 are functionally specialized and expressed in different cell-specific manners. To boost rice chloroplast development and photosynthesis, we generated transgenic rice plants overexpressing ZmG1 and ZmG2, individually or simultaneously, with constitutive promoters (pZmUbi::ZmG1 and p35S::ZmG2) or maize promoters (pZmG1::ZmG1, pZmG2::ZmG2, and pZmG1::ZmG1/pZmG2::ZmG2). Both ZmG1 and ZmG2 genes were highly expressed in transgenic rice leaves. Moreover, ZmG1 and ZmG2 showed coordinated expression in pZmG1::ZmG1/pZmG2::ZmG2 plants. All Golden2-like (GLK) transgenic plants had higher chlorophyll and protein contents, Rubisco activities and photosynthetic rates per unit leaf area in flag leaves. However, the highest grain yields occurred when maize promoters were used; pZmG1::ZmG1, pZmG2::ZmG2, and pZmG1::ZmG1/pZmG2::ZmG2 transgenic plants showed increases in grain yield by 51%, 47%, and 70%, respectively. In contrast, the pZmUbi::ZmG1 plant produced smaller seeds without yield increases. Transcriptome analysis indicated that maize GLKs act as master regulators promoting the expression of both photosynthesis-related and stress-responsive regulatory genes in both rice shoot and root. Thus, by promoting these important functions under the control of their own promoters, maize GLK1 and GLK2 genes together dramatically improved rice photosynthetic performance and productivity. A similar approach can potentially improve the productivity of many other crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Substance use has increasingly been linked to the onset of catatonic episodes; however, no large observational studies have examined this association. This study aimed to identify catatonic episodes temporally associated with acute intoxication, withdrawal or chronic substance use, investigate which substances were involved, and compare clinical characteristics of substance-related and non-substance-related catatonic episodes. Methods: This study retrospectively identified all catatonic episodes recorded in an electronic case register hosted at a large secondary mental health trust in London, UK. Episodes were categorized as substance-related if the clinical record reported either a positive urine drug screen, an ICD-10 diagnosis of a mental or behavioral disorder due to substance use, or documented substance use between two weeks prior to the catatonic episode and the date of the catatonic episode. Results: 108 of 2130 catatonic episodes (5.1%) were deemed substance-related. The number of contemporaneously reported substance-related episodes increased between 2007 and 2016 [r = 0.72, p = 0.02]. Episodes in the context of acute intoxication (n = 54) were most frequently related to cannabis (n = 31) or cocaine (n = 5) use, whilst those in the context of drug withdrawal (n = 8) were most commonly related to alcohol, opioids and benzodiazepines. There were 50 episodes of catatonia associated with chronic substance use without intoxication or withdrawal, of which the majority were related to cannabis use (n = 37). 21 episodes had overlapping intoxication, withdrawal and chronic use of different substances within an episode. Compared to catatonic episodes not related to substance use, episodes of substance-related catatonia occurred in individuals who were younger (mean age 31.3 years [SD 12.2] vs 35.7 years [SD 16.3], p = 0.01) and more likely to be men (74.0% vs 54.3%, p < 0.001). The clinical features of catatonia were similar between the two groups. Conclusions: A relatively small proportion of catatonic episodes were temporally associated with reported substance use within their electronic records. Substance-related catatonic episodes were mostly related to cannabis use, but other substances including cocaine, alcohol, opioids and benzodiazepines were sometimes implicated. This is likely an underestimate of substance-related catatonia use due to issues with documentation and appropriate investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexity of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling cascade has increased over the course of evolution; however, it does not suffice to accommodate the dynamic yet robust requirements of differential Hh signaling activity needed for embryonic development and adult homeostatic maintenance. One solution to solve this dilemma is to apply multiple forms of post‐translational modifications (PTMs) to the core Hh signaling components, modulating their abundance, localization, and signaling activity. This review summarizes various forms of protein modifications utilized to regulate Hh signaling, with a special emphasis on crosstalk between different forms of PTMs and their feedback regulation by Hh signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stator ventilation duct is the main path for fluid flowing to cool the stator bar and the core. Considering the complexity of the ventilation system, the investigation on the relationship between the air motion law in the ventilation duct and its surface heat transfer coefficient is crucial for the accurate calculation of the temperature field. Therefore, this paper takes the 150 MW air-cooled turbo-generator as a research object. Firstly, a new calculation model of the stator taking the air gap under rotor rotation state, and the yoke back into account is proposed to calculate the heat transfer coefficient in inner surface of stator ventilation duct. The relationship among the velocity vector, temperature of fluid and heat transfer coefficient in the ventilation duct is analyzed. Secondly, the temperature field of the new model calculated by finite volume method is compared with the measured values to verify the accuracy of calculation method. Finally, the influence of the varied rotational velocity on the heat transfer coefficient is investigated. The correction coefficient of the heat transfer coefficient related to the velocity is proposed. The calculation of the heat transfer coefficient and the correction of the fitting formula can provide theoretical guidance for the ventilation design of generators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gossypium hirsutum is extensively cultivated due to its wide adaptability to environment, high production and better yield potential. The saline soil inhibited the emergence and seedling stage, and then effect on the production of upland cotton. In this study, a recombinant inbred lines (RIL) population was developed from a salt-sensitive variety (Zhong G5) and a salt-tolerance variety (Zhong 07). Using GBS-sequence technology, a genetic linkage map was constructed with 1,154 bin markers, which included 4,077 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) covering the 1796.067 cM of genome length. We performed QTL mapping controlling field emergence rate, seedling age, yield and fiber quality traits under salt stress and normal conditions in 2017—2019 years, to explore genetic basis of salt stress in upland cotton. There were 162 QTLs identified for seedling, yield and fiber quality traits from RIL population in field conditions. In the yield-related, five stable QTLs, qBNP-ChrA13-1, qBW-ChrD12-1, qBW-ChrD12-2, qLP-ChrA01-1 and qLP-ChrD05-1, were identified under different conditions in different years. Three stable loci, qFL-ChrD11-3, qFM-ChrA13-2 and qFM-ChrD05-1, were detected in fiber quality traits under multiple conditions in two years. These results could be useful in understanding the genetic basic of the salt tolerance mechanisms of cotton, and facilitating cotton salt tolerance breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the dynamic creation of two different geometric quantum discords (GQDs) defined, respectively, via the Hilbert–Schmidt norm (GQD-2) and trace norm (GQD-1) between the two qubits, which are prepared initially in a zero discord two-qubit X-shape state, and subject to a two layers environment that consists of a lossy cavity coupled to the W-coupled lossy cavities. We find that the GQD-2 and GQD-1 exhibit oscillatory behavior in the regime of the strong coupling between the qubit and first-layer cavity environment. And in both the weak and strong coupling regimes, for the greater the number of cavities in the second-layer environment, the GQDs reach their peak value in a larger time and go to zero more slowly. But in the qubit–cavity coupling, the coupling between two nearest neighbor cavities and the decay rate of cavities in the second-layer environment have the opposite effect on the GQDs. Furthermore, the maximum value of GQDs remains unchanged and the steady value increases, or they both decrease, depending on the threshold value of coupling between the two layers environment. Finally, we propose an effective strategy to improve the GQD-2 and GQD-1 by using local filtering operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparation and application of P(DMDAAC-MAA)/Ag/ZnO composite and its antimicrobial mechanism. [Display omitted] • A novel kind of "friendly" antibacterial material was prepared by in-situ method. • P(DMDAAC-MAA)/Ag/ZnO composite was assembled into uniform flower-like morphology. • Ag/ZnO and N+ endowed leather with good antibacterial and anti-mildew properties. • Avoid using leather antibacterial material which contains harmful substances. Leather is easy to breed colonies or mildew during the storage process, destroy the fiber structure, and affect human health. The antibacterial treatment of leather is usually through adding antimicrobials during the re-tanning process. However, traditional leather antibacterial agent has benzene, sulfur and other harmful substances. In recent years, they have been banned in the process of making leather. In this study, poly(dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride-methacrylic acid)/silver deposited ZnO composite was prepared by in-situ method and used in leather re-tanning process. The self-assembly behavior occured between silver deposited ZnO and polymer with the flower-like morphology formed via the situ polymerization. After re-tanning process, Ag/ZnO and N+ in the composite provide leather with efficient antibacterial, anti-mildew and physical properties. Meanwhile, there were no harmful substances in the composite compared with traditional leather antibacterial agent, which was a kind of "friendly" antimicrobial material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common types of cancers in developing countries. A major contributor to the high mortality rate of OSCC is the tendency of oral cancer cells to metastasize to lymph nodes around the head and neck during the early stages of cancer development. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), an endopeptidase, can degrade the extracellular matrix and basement membrane and plays a key role in tumor invasion and metastasis. In vitro, cell migration ability was conducted by scratching assays. We also investigated the interaction abilities between OSCC cells and vascular endothelial cells (ECs) by an adhesion assay and transendothelial migration assay. And we established a BALB/c nude mouse tongue-xenografted metastasis model to investigate the role of MMP-9 and explore its potential underlying mechanism in OSCC growth, lymph node metastasis, and angiogenesis in vivo. The results showed that knockdown of MMP-9 could significantly suppress OSCC cell migration, proliferation, interactions between endothelial cells, xenografted tumor growth, and angiogenesis and simultaneously markedly inhibited OSCC cell metastasis to mouse lymphonodi cervicales superficiales, axillary lymph nodes, and even distant inguinal lymph nodes. Mechanistic studies revealed that knockdown of MMP-9 also led to a decreased expression of RhoC, Src, and F-actin by RT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. And the bioinformatic analysis showed that MMP-9, RhoC, and Src mRNA expression was positively and linearly correlated in OSCC on TCGA database. Together, our findings indicated that MMP-9 plays a very important role in OSCC growth, migration, angiogenesis, and lymph node metastasis, and its potential mechanism may be mediated by RhoC and Src gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: QTL for fiber quality traits under salt stress discerned candidate genes controlling fatty acid metabolism. Salinity stress seriously affects plant growth and limits agricultural productivity of crop plants. To dissect the genetic basis of response to salinity stress, a recombinant inbred line population was developed to compare fiber quality in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under salt stress and normal conditions. Based on three datasets of (1) salt stress, (2) normal growth, and (3) the difference value between salt stress and normal conditions, 51, 70, and 53 QTL were mapped, respectively. Three QTL for fiber length (FL) (qFL-Chr1-1, qFL-Chr5-5, and qFL-Chr24-4) were detected under both salt and normal conditions and explained 4.26%, 9.38%, and 3.87% of average phenotypic variation, respectively. Seven genes within intervals of two stable QTL (qFL-Chr1-1 and qFL-Chr5-5) were highly expressed in lines with extreme long fiber. A total of 35 QTL clusters comprised of 107 QTL were located on 18 chromosomes and exhibited pleiotropic effects. Thereinto, two clusters were responsible for improving five fiber quality traits, and 6 influenced FL and fiber strength (FS). The QTL with positive effect for fiber length exhibited active effects on fatty acid synthesis and elongation, but the ones with negative effect played passive roles on fatty acid degradation under salt stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]