Search

The Cygnus region, which contains massive molecular and atomic clouds and young stars, is a promising Galactic neutrino source candidate. Cosmic-ray transport in the region can produce neutrinos and γ -rays. Recently, the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) detected an ultrahigh-energy γ -ray bubble (Cygnus Bubble) in this region. Using publicly available track events detected by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in 7 yr of full detector operation, we conduct searches for correlated neutrino signals from the Cygnus Bubble with neutrino emission templates based on LHAASO γ -ray observations. No significant signals were found for any employed templates. With the 7 TeV γ -ray flux template, we set a flux upper limit of 90% confidence level for the neutrino emission from the Cygnus Bubble to be 5.7 × 10−13 TeV−1 cm−2 s−1 at 5 TeV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resourceful and inexpensive seawater direct splitting omits the desalination process and effectively increases the efficiency of hydrogen energy generation. However, the development of seawater splitting is hampered by the competing selectivity challenges from anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and chlorine evolution reaction and the issues of electrode corrosion. Herein, the borate anion‐intercalated NiV‐LDH nanoflakes/NiCoP nanowires heterostructures supported on Ni foam (2D/1D NiV‐BLDH/NiCoP/NF) is synthesized. Theoretical calculations show that a small amount of V atom doping in Ni(OH)2 is favorable for changing the electronic environment around Ni atoms via bridging Ni─O, which can construct Ni─O─V to accelerate electron transfer and promote catalytic activity. The borate anions (B(OH)4−) intercalation not only results in the good hydrophilicity and high OH− selectivity but also weakens the adsorption of chlorine (Cl−), which effectively restrains the chlorine evolution reaction. Thus, the component optimized NiV0.1‐BLDH/NiCoP/NF electrocatalyst only requires 268 mV overpotential to reach 100 mA cm−2 for OER in an alkaline environment. Particularly, the NiCoP/NF||NiV0.1‐BLDH/NiCoP/NF cell exhibits attractive overall water splitting performance with a low voltage of 1.46 and 1.53 V at 10 mA cm−2 in alkaline freshwater and alkaline seawater, respectively. The design strategy of this electrocatalyst provides a new avenue for seawater splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Interleukin 33 (IL-33) is a crucial inflammatory factor that functions as an alarm signal in endometriosis (EMs). Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process related to inflammatory signals, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and lipid peroxidation, have been proposed as potential mechanisms that contribute to the development and progression of EMs. IL-33 is highly upregulated in the ectopic milieu. Moreover, ectopic endometrial cells constitutively express interleukin-33 receptor ST2 (IL-33R). However, the role of IL-33/ST2 in the EMT of EMs remains largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to mechanistically determine the role of IL-33/ST2 in EMs-associated fibrosis. Materials and methods: We established a non-lethal oxidative stress model to explore the conditions that trigger IL-33 induction. We performed α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein detection, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, and scratch assays to analyze the impact of IL-33 on primary endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) proliferation and invasion. Clinical samples from patients with or without EMs were subjected to immunohistochemical (IHC) and and immunofluorescence(IF) staining to assess the clinical relevance of IL-33 receptor ST2 and EMT-related proteins. Furthermore, we used the ectopic human endometrial epithelial cell line 12Z and normal human epithelial cell line EEC to evaluate the effects of IL-33 on Wnt/β-catenin signaling. The effect of IL-33 on EMT-associated fibrosis was validated in vivo by intraperitoneal injections of IL-33 and antiST2. Results: We observed that ectopic milieu, characterized by ROS, TGF-β1, and high level of estrogen, triggers the secretion of IL-33 from ectopic ESCs. Ectopic endometrial lesions exhibited higher level of fibrotic characteristics and ST2 expression than that in the normal endometrium. Exogenous recombinant human (rhIL-33) enhanced ESC migration and survival. Similarly, 12Z cells displayed a higher degree of EMT characteristics with elevated expression of CCN4 and Fra-1, downstream target genes of the WNT/β-catenin pathway, than that observed in EECs. Conversely, blocking IL-33 with neutralizing antibodies, knocking down ST2 or β-catenin with siRNA, and β-catenin dephosphorylation abolished its effects on EMT promotion. In vivo validation demonstrated that IL-33 significantly promotes EMs-related fibrosis through the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Conclusion: Our data strongly support the vital role of the IL-33/ST2 pathway in EMs-associated fibrosis and emphasize the importance of the EMT in the pathophysiology of fibrosis. Targeting the IL-33/ST2/Wnt/β-catenin axis may hold promise as a feasible therapeutic approach for controlling fibrosis in EMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeMethodsResultsConclusionPROSPERO registration numberEvidence shows diet promotes brain health. Combining foods and nutrients may have beneficial synergistic effects, but the effects on cognitive function interventions are inconsistent. So, a meta-analysis of RCTs was conducted to examine the specific effects on cognitive function.We searched four databases from creation to April 2023. Eligible randomized controlled trials were identified. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to combine standardized mean differences (SMD) (95% confidence intervals [CI]), and homogeneity tests for a variance were calculated.A total of 19 studies involving 12,119 participants were included in this systematic review. The dietary intervention group had a positive effect on overall cognitive functioning compared to the control group (SMD = 0.14, 95% CI [0.08, 0.20], P < 0.00001). The dietary intervention improved executive function, processing speed and language skills (SMD = −0.10, 95% CI [−0.17,−0.04], P = 0.002, I2 = 0%), (SMD = −0.16, 95% CI [−0.23,−0.09], P < 0.00001, I2 = 0%), (SMD = 0.10, 95% CI [0.01, 0.20], P = 0.03, I2 = 0%). The dietary intervention had no effect on delayed memory and spatial ability (SMD = 0.04, 95% CI [−0.02, 0.09], P = 0.20, I2 = 0%), (SMD = 0.08, 95% CI [−0.01, 0.16], P = 0.08, I2 = 0%).The Mediterranean diet, a diet with restricted caloric intake, a diet incorporating aerobic exercise, a low-carbohydrate diet, and a healthy lifestyle diet (increased intake of fruits and vegetables, and weight and blood pressure management) appear to have positive effects on cognitively healthy adults, as reflected in their overall cognitive, processing speed, executive, and language functions.CRD42023414704. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) fusion gene caused by chromosomal rearrangement is a dominant oncogenic driver in leukemia. Due to having diverse MLL rearrangements and complex characteristics, MLL leukemia treated by currently available strategies is frequently associated with a poor outcome. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify novel therapeutic targets for hematological malignancies with MLL rearrangements. Methods: qRT-PCR, western blot, and spearman correction analysis were used to validate the regulation of LAMP5-AS1 on LAMP5 expression. In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to assess the functional relevance of LAMP5-AS1 in MLL leukemia cell survival. We utilized chromatin isolation by RNA purification (ChIRP) assay, RNA pull-down assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and immunofluorescence to elucidate the relationship among LAMP5-AS1, DOT1L, and the LAMP5 locus. Autophagy regulation by LAMP5-AS1 was evaluated through LC3B puncta, autolysosome observation via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and mRFP-GFP-LC3 puncta in autophagic flux. Results: The study shows the crucial role of LAMP5-AS1 in promoting MLL leukemia cell survival. LAMP5-AS1 acts as a novel autophagic suppressor, safeguarding MLL fusion proteins from autophagic degradation. Knocking down LAMP5-AS1 significantly induced apoptosis in MLL leukemia cell lines and primary cells and extended the survival of mice in vivo. Mechanistically, LAMP5-AS1 recruits the H3K79 histone methyltransferase DOT1L to LAMP5 locus, directly activating LAMP5 expression. Importantly, blockade of LAMP5-AS1-LAMP5 axis can represses MLL fusion proteins by enhancing their degradation. Conclusions: The findings underscore the significance of LAMP5-AS1 in MLL leukemia progression through the regulation of the autophagy pathway. Additionally, this study unveils the novel lncRNA-DOT1L-LAMP5 axis as promising therapeutic targets for degrading MLL fusion proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), mainly comprising ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, is a group of gradually progressive diseases bringing significant mental anguish and imposes serious economic burdens. Interplay of genetic, environmental, and immunological factors have been implicated in its pathogenesis. Nutrients, as crucial environmental determinants, mainly encompassing carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and micronutrients, are closely related to the pathogenesis and development of IBD. Nutrition is essential for maintaining the dynamic balance of intestinal eco‐environments to ensure intestinal barrier and immune homeostasis, while this balance can be disrupted easily by maladjusted nutrition. Research has firmly established that nutrition has the potential to shape the composition and function of gut microbiota to affect the disease course. Unhealthy diet and eating disorders lead to gut microbiota dysbiosis and further destroy the function of intestinal barrier such as the disruption of membrane integrity and increased permeability, thereby triggering intestinal inflammation. Notably, appropriate nutritional interventions, such as the Mediterranean diet, can positively modulate intestinal microecology, which may provide a promising strategy for future IBD prevention. In this review, we provide insights into the interplay between nutrition and gut microbiota and its effects on IBD and present some previously overlooked lines of evidence regarding the role of derived metabolites in IBD processes, such as trimethylamine N‐oxide and imidazole propionate. Furthermore, we provide some insights into reducing the risk of onset and exacerbation of IBD by modifying nutrition and discuss several outstanding challenges and opportunities for future study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a dual-function metabolite, succinate has emerged in cell function and plays a key signaling role in linking mitochondrial function to other cellular functions. Succinate accumulation in the cytoplasm is commonly associated with hypoxia in the microenvironment and immune cell activation. Extracellular succinate released into the microenvironment is considered an inflammatory alarm that can be sensed by its membrane receptor SUCNR1, which boosts proinflammatory responses and acts akin to classical hormones and cytokines. Succinate plays an important role in the development of inflammatory diseases. Whether succinate facilitates the progression of endometriosis (EMs), characterized by chronic inflammation and peritoneal adhesion, is worth exploring. Objective: We mimicked the ectopic milieu in vitro and in vivo to evaluate the main source and potential role of succinate in endometriosis. We assessed the molecular and functional effects of succinate on macrophages and peritoneal mesothelial cells in peritoneal cavity. The effect of succinate/SUCNR1 signaling on ectopic endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) was further explored in this study. Methods: In this study, we used targeted organic acid metabolomics analysis and in vitro assays to assess the potential accumulation of succinate in the peritoneal fluid of EMs patients. We examined its correlation with disease severity, Visual Analogue Scale, and the Endometriosis Fertility Index. Flow cytometry, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, western blot assay, quantitative real-time PCR, and other molecular biology techniques were used to explore the potential mechanisms. Results: By mimicking the ectopic milieu, we constructed an in vitro co-culture system and found that M1 polarized macrophages and that the peritoneal mesothelial cell line (HMrSV5) mainly released succinate into their microenvironment and activated the succinate receptor (SUCNR1) signal, which further polarized the macrophages and significantly enhanced the invasive survival of ESCs, and the adhesion to the peritoneum. We further investigated the pathological effects of extracellular succinate in vivo using a xenograft mouse models of endometriosis. Conclusions: Succinate-SUCNR1 signaling facilitates the creation of inflammatory cells and plays a vital role in EMs progression and peritoneal adhesion. Our work on the molecular mechanisms underlying succinate accumulation and function will help elucidate the phenotypic mysteries of pain and infertility in EMs. BkiB34NQBDvkGHWZYD1GB2 Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in women. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) can potentially regulate the development of OC. Therefore, this study investigated the role of circASXL1 in OC progression. Cell functions were assessed by MTT, colony formation, wound healing, and transwell assays. RIP and dual luciferase reporter assays confirmed the relationship between miR-320d and circASXL1 or RACGAP1. MeRIP was utilized to detect m6A levels. Xenograft tumor was established for in vivo experiments. CircASXL1 and RACGAP1 levels were increased in OC tissues and cells, whereas miR-320d expression was decreased. Upregulation of circASXL1 was associated with poor prognosis in OC patients. CircASXL1 silencing suppressed OC cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, METTL3/IGF2BP1-mediated m6A modification maintained circASXL1 stability and upregulated its expression. CircASXL1 was a ceRNA that sequestrated miR-320d from RACGAP1, leading to increased RACGAP1 expression. CircASXL1 promoted OC cell proliferation, migration and invasion via the miR-320d/RACGAP1 axis. Therefore, m6A-modified circASXL1 acts as an oncogene in OC by targeting miR-320d and activating RACGAP1/PI3K/Akt pathway, which provides novel promising biomarkers for OC diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We look into the influence of the anisotropic distribution of fabric and force network on the angle of repose, which is technically accomplished by fabricating several trap doors underneath a mother granular heap with the angle of repose α, to generate two child heaps with the angles of repose β (for the left child heap) and γ (for the right child heap) through the particle removal. The results indicate that with the deposition plane orientation angle θ varying from 0° to 90°, β experiences a local minimum value at θ = 30°~45°, and γ takes a local maximum value at θ = 45°~60°. As the trap door position shifts towards the free surface of mother heap, β increases first and then decreases in the experiments, and γ rises monotonically, with the existence of relation γ > β ≈ α. We explore the micromechanical responses of granular heaps by DEM simulations and propose conceptual models to explain the experimental and numerical observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Hom-group is the non-associative generalization of a group whose associativity and unitality are twisted by a compatible bijective map. In this paper, we give some new examples of Hom-groups, and show the first, second and third isomorphism theorems of Hom-groups. We also introduce the notion of Hom-group action, and as an application, we prove the first Sylow theorem for Hom-groups along the line of group actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study explored the relationship between the ankle-brachial index (ABI) (>.9) and all-cause or cardio-cerebrovascular mortality. Participant details were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2004. The association between baseline ABI and the risk of mortality was evaluated by a priori defined quartile categories and on a continuous scale (per.1-unit change) with Cox regression models adjusted for demographic and traditional risk factors. A total of 7087 individuals (age: 59.6 ± 12.8 years) were included; 3612 (51.0%) were male. After an average follow-up of 12.2 years, 1926 deaths occurred. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the lowest ABI quartile (<1.06) was associated with the highest risk of all-cause, cardio-cerebrovascular and cancer mortality (all P <.001). However, after adjusting for potential confounders, ABI ranging between 1.06 and 1.12 was associated with the lowest risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio.88, 95% confidence interval.78–1.00, P <.05) compared with the reference group (<1.06). Besides, splines showed the relationship was nonlinear (P <.05) and the inflection point was 1.11. In conclusion, the level of ABI associated with the lowest risk of all-cause mortality was 1.11, under which a lower ABI was independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammasome activation is exclusively involved in sensing activation of innate immunity and inflammatory response during viral infection. Accumulating evidence suggests that the manipulation of inflammasome assembly or its interaction with viral proteins are critical factors in viral pathogenesis. Results from pilot clinical trials show encouraging results of NLRP3 inflammasome suppression in reducing mortality and morbidity in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. In this article, we summarize the up-to-date understanding of inflammasomes, including NLRP3, AIM2, NLRP1, NLRP6, and NLRC4 in various viral infections, with particular focus on RNA viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, HIV, IAV, and Zika virus and DNA viruses such as herpes simplex virus 1. We also discuss the current achievement of the mechanisms involved in viral infection-induced inflammatory response, host defense, and possible therapeutic solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lubricating oils are usually produced by solvent extraction to separate aromatics in order to achieve the desired specifications and better quality products. Among the different properties of lubricating oils, density and refractive index are some of the most important properties which can both be used for petroleum fluid characterization. Predictions of density and refractive index for naphthenic oils during solvent extraction by DMSO obtained by the pseudo-component approach and the quadratic correlation were both examined. The pseudo-component approach is a method to predict density and refractive index from composition while the latter merely relates density to refractive index. Results indicated that the predictions yielded by the pseudo-component method were in good agreement with experimental data for naphthenic oils. And the use of a function of refractive index (FRI20) as a pseudo-component property remarkably improved n20 predictions for the naphthenic mixtures. However, the density and refractive index predictions obtained by the quadratic correlation exhibited significantly higher deviations for naphthenic oils than those for paraffinic oils. Thus a new modified correlation of the same functional form was proposed for naphthenic oils. The modification significantly improved predictions for naphthenic oils, which presented similar accuracy as the pseudo-component approach. And the previous correlation was still used for paraffinic oils. Additionally, effect of temperature on density and refractive index of naphthenic oils was examined. Results showed that the modified quadratic correlation was accurate for describing the relationship between density and refractive index of naphthenic oils at 20-90 °C. The temperature dependence of density and refractive index for the raffinates and the extracts could be accurately described by the thermal coefficients for saturates and aromatics, respectively. Regarding the refractive index variation of the extracts with temperature, the empirical equation was proved to be a better option compared with the method using the thermal coefficient for aromatics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the status quo of cognitive appraisal of health and its influencing factors among pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey was conducted from June 2020 to November 2020. Participants were recruited from a tertiary hospital by a convenient sample method. A total of 300 pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus completed the survey, including self‐compiled individual information questionnaire, Cognitive Appraisal of Health Scale, Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale and General Self‐Efficacy Scale. Results: For cognitive appraisal of health, the median score of challenge dimension was 3.75 (3.50, 4.00), benign/irrelevant was 2.75 (2.00, 3.50), harm/loss was 2.38 (2.00, 3.00) and threat was 2.40 (2.00, 2.80), respectively. Regression analyses showed that gestational age, mode of conception, history of abortion, insulin usage, pregnancy stress and self‐efficacy were the predictors of cognitive appraisal of health. Conclusions: This study revealed that pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus tended to make positive cognitive appraisal of health. And healthcare providers need to make full use of their predictors of cognitive appraisal of health to improve cognitive appraisal to manage stress and ameliorate pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal dust explosion is a major accident affecting the safety of coal mine production. In order to control coal dust explosion, using inert dust to suppress explosion is one of the effective methods. Taking the gas-fat coal as the research object and CaCO3, NaCl, and NH4H2PO4 as the inert dust, the suppression effect of inert dust on gas-fat coal dust explosion pressure and flame is studied. It is found that when the gas-fat coal dust particle size is 48~58 µm, both the maximum pressure and the farthest distance of flame reach the maximum value. Among the three inert dusts, NH4H2PO4 has the best suppression effect, followed by NaCl, and CaCO3 has the worst suppression effect on explosion. The smaller the particle size of NH4H2PO4, the better the explosion suppression effect. When the mass percentage of NH4H2PO4 mixed into gas-fat coal dust is 60%, and the particle size of NH4H2PO4 is 0~38 µm, the explosion is completely suppressed, it is mainly due to the isolation of the coal dust particles from the oxygen and the dilution of the oxygen concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a spherical coordinate system and Maxwell's set of equations, the calculation formulas of one‐dimensional (1‐D) magnetized ferrite spherical photonic crystals (MFSPCs) are obtained and treated with the solution method of the spherical Bessel equations. Combined with the conventional transmission matrix method, expressions for the absorptance, reflectance, and transmittance of the 1‐D MFSPCs are given. 1‐D MFSPCs consisting of the general dielectric and Yttrium iron garnet (YIG) are also designed to verify the correctness of the conclusions. Variables such as external magnetic field, incidence angle, initial radius, and YIG thickness effects on the features of such 1‐D MFSPCs are also discussed. The transformation of the external magnetic field has a linear relationship with the position of the absorption band (AB). The three variables of incidence angle, initial radius, and YIG thickness have a substantial influence on the width and position of the AB, which can be adjusted according to the actual demand and are of high application significance. The results of this study can be helpful for the design of multifunctional absorbers and radome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the consumer's anticipated regret caused by price discount, the impact of anticipated regret and manufacturers' fairness concerns on pricing and profits is explored, and a revenue-sharing contract to optimize the profits of supply chain is explored. In centralized decision-making model with manufacturer's fairness neutrality and retailer-led decentralized decision-making model with the manufacturer's fairness concerns, numerical simulation and model comparison is used to analyse regret sensitivity coefficient, consumer heterogeneity, the fairness concern coefficient on pricing decisions and profit coordination. Our results reveal that consumer's anticipated regret has a negative impact on product prices, retailer's profit and manufacturer's profit. Manufacturer's fairness concerns also increase product price and reduce profits of all parties. Retailer-led supply chain can share the revenue to achieve Pareto optimization. When formulating promotional strategies, retailers should consider the characteristics of anticipated regrets of consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

miR-124 is a significantly up-regulated miRNA in peripheral blood collected from piglets infected with Salmonella Typhimurium, suggesting that it may play an important role in Salmonella pathogenesis. This study focused on the transcriptomic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from miR-124 sponge and Salmonella Typhimurium-treated piglets, and trying to investigate the function of miR-124 in Salmonella infection. The transcriptome profiling analysis revealed that 2778 genes in miR-124 sponge + Salmonella Typhimurium treatment versus control, 2271 genes in Salmonella Typhimurium treatment versus control, and 1301 genes in miR-124 sponge + Salmonella Typhimurium versus Salmonella Typhimurium treatment, were differentially expressed, respectively (FDR < 0.05 and fold change > 2.0). Pathway analysis indicated that the MAPK signaling pathway, Ribosome pathway, and T-cell receptor signaling pathway were the most significantly enriched pathway in differentially expressed genes between miR-124 sponge + Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Typhimurium along treatment (FDR < 0.05). Reporter assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that miR-124 is a crucial regulatory factor that targets IQ motif containing GTPase-activating protein 2 (IQGAP2). Cell culture experiment indicated that miR-124 attenuated the Salmonella Typhimurium-mediated activation of CDC42 and RAC1 (P < 0.05). Cultured PBMCs treated with miR-124 and IQGAP2-siRNA had higher intracellular Salmonella count than control samples, particularly 12 h post-infection (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that miR-124 treatment reduced the percentage of LAMP-1-positive phagosomes. The miR-124 could be an important regulator for IQGAP2/Rho GTPase pathway in Salmonella Typhimurium-infected PBMCs, and this pathway could be a target for Salmonella that support its infection in PBMCs in piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This meta‐analysis aimed to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of auricular acupressure on pain management during labor. Methods: Six English and three Chinese electronic databases were comprehensively searched from inception to 6 November 2021. The PRISMA checklist was followed. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration Bias Risk Assessment Tool. The meta‐analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3 software. Heterogeneity between studies was calculated using I2. Results: Five studies comprising 312 participants were included. The labor pain scores of the auricular acupressure group were significantly lower than those of the usual care group at cervix dilations of 6, 8, and 10 cm, with mean differences (95% confidence intervals) of −1.05 (−1.41, −0.69), −1.44 (−2.07, −0.82), and −1.96 (−3.30, −0.61), respectively. Auricular acupressure can thus effectively improve the labor pain perception at cervix dilations of 6, 8, and 10 cm. Moreover, auricular acupressure shortened the active phase, and had the trend of shortening the second and third stages of labor. There was no evidence that auricular acupressure had an effect on the rate of cesarean section or the 1 and 5 min Apgar scores. Conclusion: Effective labor pain relief, better labor pain perception, and the lack of adverse effects support the use of auricular acupressure. More high‐quality and rigorous trials are needed to verify our findings before we can make strong recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis are closely associated with a poor prognosis in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We investigated the role of C–C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) in SAH. Methods: Pre-processed RNA-seq transcriptome datasets GSE167110 and GSE79416 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were screened for genes differentially expressed between mice with SAH and control mice, using bioinformatics analysis. The endovascular perforation model was performed to establish SAH. RS504393 (a CCR2 antagonist) and LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) were administered to explore the mechanism of neuroinflammation after SAH. SAH grading, neurological scoring, brain water content and blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability determination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blotting, and immunofluorescence were performed. An in vitro model of SAH was induced in H22 cells by hemin treatment. The protective mechanism of CCR2 inhibition was studied by adding RS504393 and LY294002. Clinical cerebrospinal fluid (CST) samples were detected by ELISA. Results: Expression of CCR2 was upregulated in both datasets and was identified as a hub gene. CCR2 expression was significantly upregulated in the cytoplasm of neurons after SAH, both in vitro and in vivo. RS significantly reduced the brain water content and blood–brain barrier permeability, alleviated neuroinflammation, and reduced neuronal apoptosis after SAH. Additionally, the protective effects of CCR2 inhibition were abolished by LY treatment. Finally, the levels of CCR2, inflammatory factors, and apoptotic factors were elevated in the CSF of patients with SAH. CCR2 levels were associated with patient outcomes at the 6-month follow-up. Conclusion: CCR2 expression was upregulated in both in vitro and in vivo SAH models. Additionally, inhibition of CCR2, at least partly through the PI3K/AKT pathway, alleviated neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. CCR2 levels in the CSF have a moderate diagnostic value for 6-month outcome prediction in patients with SAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis are closely associated with a poor prognosis in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We investigated the role of C–C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) in SAH. Methods: Pre-processed RNA-seq transcriptome datasets GSE167110 and GSE79416 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were screened for genes differentially expressed between mice with SAH and control mice, using bioinformatics analysis. The endovascular perforation model was performed to establish SAH. RS504393 (a CCR2 antagonist) and LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) were administered to explore the mechanism of neuroinflammation after SAH. SAH grading, neurological scoring, brain water content and blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability determination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blotting, and immunofluorescence were performed. An in vitro model of SAH was induced in H22 cells by hemin treatment. The protective mechanism of CCR2 inhibition was studied by adding RS504393 and LY294002. Clinical cerebrospinal fluid (CST) samples were detected by ELISA. Results: Expression of CCR2 was upregulated in both datasets and was identified as a hub gene. CCR2 expression was significantly upregulated in the cytoplasm of neurons after SAH, both in vitro and in vivo. RS significantly reduced the brain water content and blood–brain barrier permeability, alleviated neuroinflammation, and reduced neuronal apoptosis after SAH. Additionally, the protective effects of CCR2 inhibition were abolished by LY treatment. Finally, the levels of CCR2, inflammatory factors, and apoptotic factors were elevated in the CSF of patients with SAH. CCR2 levels were associated with patient outcomes at the 6-month follow-up. Conclusion: CCR2 expression was upregulated in both in vitro and in vivo SAH models. Additionally, inhibition of CCR2, at least partly through the PI3K/AKT pathway, alleviated neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. CCR2 levels in the CSF have a moderate diagnostic value for 6-month outcome prediction in patients with SAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar steam generation (SSG) has become a cutting‐edge technology to solve fresh water shortage. Herein, a neotype photothermal conversion material (CAEP‐PFO) was designed and prepared by using expanded perlite as raw material and sodium alginate as crosslinking agent, through directional freezing, surface carbonization and oil‐phobic modification. Through characterization analysis, the results showed that the prepared CAEP‐PFO has a porosity of 92 %, a light absorption of more than 88 %, and a low thermal conductivity of 0.06834 W m−1 K−1. In addition, CAEP‐PFO exhibits excellent salt resistance and oil repellency, and possess an evaporation efficiency of 78.6 % in 10 % brine and 80.2 % in oil‐bearing wastewater under the irradiation of 1 kW m−2, respectively. After 8 cycles of test, the evaporation efficiency in pure water is relatively stable, and the average evaporation efficiency can reach 84.28 %. The research may lay a foundation for the future preparation of photothermal materials and the practical application in seawater and oil‐bearing wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants experiencing abiotic stress can produce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), ultimately impacting the crop growth and yield. Hydrogen peroxide H2O2 is a relatively stable active ROS and is mainly scavenged by catalase. In this study, the catalase‐encoding E. coli KatE gene was transferred to cotton plants by Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation. From almost 100 independent transgenic lines, three transgenic lines were identified that did not display a discernible growth and yield phenotype when grown under well‐watered field conditions, but were tolerant to drought under field conditions, resulting in a ~ 25% higher cotton‐seed yield. The three lines were analysed under controlled laboratory conditions to explain the drought‐dependent phenotype: the transgenic lines displayed drought‐inducible EcKatE expression and total catalase activity was only higher than that of the wild type during growth under drought or salinity stress. Furthermore, drought‐induced ectopic EcKatE expression increased total SOD and POD activities, decreased H2O2 levels and improved photosystem II performance and relative water content. The results show that ectopic EcKatE expression displays an advantage during drought stress, without negatively affecting yield during well‐watered field conditions. EcKatE overexpression confers hyper‐resistance to drought in cotton and provides improved cotton‐seed yield under water‐limiting field conditions. And the EcKatE gene might also be a promising drought‐resistant gene for improving other crop varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a type of potentially fatal malignant tumor. Immunotherapy has shown a lot of potential for various types of solid tumors, but the benefits have been less impressive in PCa. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is one of the three core subunits of the polycomb repressive complex 2 that has histone methyltransferase activity, and the immune effects of EZH2 in PCa are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential of EZH2 as a prognostic factor and an immune therapeutic biomarker for PCa, as well as the expression pattern and biological functions. All analyses in this study were based on publicly available databases, mainly containing Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), UCSCXenaShiny, and TISIDB. We performed differential expression analysis, developed a prognostic model, and explored potential associations between EZH2 and DNA methylation modifications, tumor microenvironment (TME), immune-related genes, tumor mutation burden (TMB), tumor neoantigen burden (TNB), and representative mismatch repair (MMR) genes. We also investigated the molecular and immunological characterizations of EZH2. Finally, we predicted immunotherapeutic responses based on EZH2 expression levels. We found that EZH2 was highly expressed in PCa, was associated with a poor prognosis, and may serve as an independent prognostic factor. EZH2 expression in PCa was associated with DNA methylation modifications, TME, immune-related genes, TMB, TNB, and MMR. By gene set enrichment analysis and gene set variation analysis, we found that multiple functions and pathways related to tumorigenesis, progression, and immune activation were enriched. Finally, we inferred that immunotherapy may be more effective for PCa patients with low EZH2 expression. In conclusion, our study showed that EZH2 could be a potentially efficient predictor of prognosis and immune response in PCa patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and a key element in the exacerbation of NAFLD. Since there are currently no drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat this disease, the search for treatments that can be translated into clinical use is urgent. Butyrolactone I (BLI), isolated from Aspergillus terreus , is an active compound possessing multiple biological activities. However, the effects of BLI on NASH have never been reported. In this study, RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were applied to study the anti-inflammatory effect and the underlying mechanisms of BLI in vitro. Following this, mice fed with high-fat and -fructose diet (HFFD) were used to explore the alleviation of NASH by BLI in vivo. We found that BLI attenuated inflammation in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway and downregulating the expression of iNOS and COX-2. Moreover, results of experiments in vivo demonstrated that BLI reduced serum transaminase levels, decreased hepatic fat accumulation, inhibited inflammation, suppressed oxidative stress, and ameliorated liver fibrosis. For the first time, we investigated the role of BLI in the treatment of murine NASH. We found that BLI alleviates NASH partly by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway of signaling. Given its hepatoprotective effects and non-toxic properties, BLI can be a novel and effective drug for NASH patients. • For the first time, butyrolactone I was found to inhibit inflammatory responses through the NF-κB signaling pathway. • Butyrolactone I was found to retain its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity in vivo. • The first finding is that butyrolactone I treatments NASH by modulating the inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective reflective anode remains a highly desirable component for the fabrication of reliable top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes (TE-OLEDs) which have the potential to be integrated with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) circuits for microdisplays. This work demonstrates a novel laminated anode consisting of a Cr/Al/Cr multilayer stack. Furthermore, we implement an ultra-thin titanium nitride (TiN) layer as a protective layer on the top of the Cr/Al/Cr composite anode, which creates a considerably reflective surface in the visible range, and meanwhile improves the chemical stability of the electrode against the atmosphere or alkali environment. Based on [2-(2-pyridinyl-N)phenyl-C](acetylacetonate)iridium(III) as green emitter and Mg/Ag as transparent cathode, our TE-OLED using the TiN-coated anode achieves the maximum current efficiency of 71.2 cd/A and the maximum power efficiency of 66.7 lm/W, which are 81% and 90% higher than those of the reference device without TiN, respectively. The good device performance shows that the Cr/Al/Cr/TiN could function as a promising reflective anode for the high-resolution microdisplays on CMOS circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell division cycle-associated (CDCA) gene family members are essential cell proliferation regulators and play critical roles in various cancers. However, the function of the CDCA family genes in gliomas remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the role of CDCA family members in gliomas using in vitro and in vivo experiments and bioinformatic analyses. We included eight glioma cohorts in this study. An unsupervised clustering algorithm was used to identify novel CDCA gene family clusters. Then, we utilized multi-omics data to elucidate the prognostic disparities, biological functionalities, genomic alterations, and immune microenvironment among glioma patients. Subsequently, the scRNA-seq analysis and spatial transcriptomic sequencing analysis were carried out to explore the expression distribution of CDCA2 in glioma samples. In vivo and in vitro experiments were used to investigate the effects of CDCA2 on the viability, migration, and invasion of glioma cells. Finally, based on ten machine-learning algorithms, we constructed an artificial intelligence-driven CDCA gene family signature called the machine learning-based CDCA gene family score (MLCS). Our results suggested that patients with the higher expression levels of CDCA family genes had a worse prognosis, more activated RAS signaling pathways, and more activated immunosuppressive microenvironments. CDCA2 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of glioma cells. In addition, the MLCS had robust and favorable prognostic predictive ability and could predict the response to immunotherapy and chemotherapy drug sensitivity. • An integration analysis of CDCA gene family in gliomas by multiple omics data. • Novel CDCA family clusters with distinct signaling, genomic features, TIME, and prognosis. • Experiments showed CDCA2 acted as an oncogene in gliomas by RAS signaling. • An artificial intelligence-driven CDCA family signature was developed. • The MLCS was a stable and robust biomarker for prognosis and immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Highlights the critical role of the CXCR6/CXCL16 axis in fibrosis across various organs, including liver, kidney, lungs, cardiovascular system, skin, and intestines. • Discusses the mechanisms by which the CXCR6/CXCL16 axis modulates immune cell communication and fibroblast activity in fibrotic diseases. • Highlights the potential of targeting the CXCR6/CXCL16 axis as a therapeutic approach for treating fibrotic diseases. CXC chemokine receptor 6 (CXCR6), a seven-transmembrane domain G-protein-coupled receptor, plays a pivotal regulatory role in inflammation and tissue damage through its interaction with CXC chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16). This axis is implicated in the pathogenesis of various fibrotic diseases and correlates with clinical parameters that indicate disease severity, activity, and prognosis in organ fibrosis, including afflictions of the liver, kidney, lung, cardiovascular system, skin, and intestines. Soluble CXCL16 (sCXCL16) serves as a chemokine, facilitating the migration and recruitment of CXCR6-expressing cells, while membrane-bound CXCL16 (mCXCL16) functions as a transmembrane protein with adhesion properties, facilitating intercellular interactions by binding to CXCR6. The CXCR6/CXCL16 axis is established to regulate the cycle of damage and repair during chronic inflammation, either through modulating immune cell-mediated intercellular communication or by independently influencing fibroblast homing, proliferation, and activation, with each pathway potentially culminating in the onset and progression of fibrotic diseases. However, clinically exploiting the targeting of the CXCR6/CXCL16 axis requires further elucidation of the intricate chemokine interactions within fibrosis pathogenesis. This review explores the biology of CXCR6/CXCL16, its multifaceted effects contributing to fibrosis in various organs, and the prospective clinical implications of these insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) observed a dozen gamma-ray sources with significant emission above 100 TeV that may be strong candidates for PeVatrons. Neutrino observations are crucial for diagnosing whether the gamma-ray radiative process is hadronic or leptonic. We use the Bayesian method to analyse the 10-yr (2008–2018) IceCube data, and hence constrain the hadronic gamma-ray emission in the LHAASO sources. The present neutrino data show that the hadronic gamma-ray flux from the Crab Nebula is lower than the observed gamma-ray flux at the 90 per cent confidence level and contributes less than 86 per cent, which disfavours the hadronic origin of gamma-rays below tens of TeV. For the other LHAASO sources, the present neutrino observations cannot put useful constraints on the gamma-ray radiative process. We consider the uncertainty of the source extension: the upper limits on the hadronic gamma-ray flux tend to increase with the extension; and some sources, namely LHAASO J2032+4102, LHAASO J1929+1745, and LHAASO J1908+0621, show a relatively high statistical significance of neutrino signals if the extension is ≲ 0.°6. Finally, we estimate the future observational results of LHAASO sources by proposed neutrino telescopes. If the LHAASO-observed PeV gamma-rays are of hadronic origin, the Crab Nebula may be detected at >100 TeV at the 3σ confidence level within 20 years by a neutrino detector with an effective area 30 times that of IceCube. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sacroiliac joint tuberculous arthritis is a relatively rare site of tuberculosis infection, but it can lead to severe sacroiliac joint destruction and dysfunction. Since there are few studies on the surgical methods of sacroiliac joint tuberculosis (SJT), we adopted three different surgical methods based on different degrees of destruction of sacroiliac joint tuberculous arthritis. While revealing its clinical symptoms to improve the diagnostic accuracy, and to determine the safety and feasibility of this surgical approach in the treatment of sacroiliac joint tuberculous arthritis.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 17 patients with tuberculous arthritis of the sacroiliac joint treated by anterior debridement. All these patients underwent anterior debridement of tuberculosis with or without bone graft fusion. Mean postoperative follow-up was 17.2 months (12-25 months). The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was used to judge the general situation after surgery, and the fusion of sacroiliac joints was observed by X-ray films and CT scans. And VAS and ODI were used to score to observe postoperative functional recovery.Results: Anterior approach debridement is an effective surgical approach for sacroiliac joint tuberculous arthritis. All patients achieved effective relief of lower back and hip pain. The pain was significantly relieved 3 months after the operation, and the pain basically disappeared 6 months after the operation. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was also significantly reduced after the operation, and it can basically return to the normal level 3 months after the operation. The VAS score and ODI index of the other 16 patients after surgery were significantly lower than those before surgery, except for 1 patient who died of severe type I respiratory failure and septic shock 3 months after surgery, The surviving patients were basically able to achieve stable fusion of the sacroiliac joint at 12 months postoperatively. None of the patients reported significant pain until the last follow-up visit.Conclusions: The anterior approach is a very effective surgical method for the treatment of sacroiliac joint tuberculous arthritis, and it is safe and feasible. A clear operative field of view facilitates complete debridement and reduces recurrence, and its function recovers well with stable arthrodesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spider silks exhibit excellent mechanical properties and have promising application prospects in engineering fields. Because natural spider silk fibers cannot be manufactured on a large scale, researchers have attempted to fabricate bio-inspired spider silks. However, the fabrication of bio-inspired spider silks with dynamically tunable mechanical properties and stimulation–response characteristics remains a challenge. Herein, the 4D printing of shape memory polyurethane is employed to produce dynamic bio-inspired spider silks. The bio-inspired spider silks have two types of energy-absorbing units that can be adjusted, one by means of 4D printing with predefined nodes, and the other through different stimulation methods to make the bio-inspired spider silks contract and undergo spiral deformation. The shape morphing behaviors of bio-inspired spider silks are programmed via pre-stress assemblies enabled by 4D printing. The energy-absorbing units of bio-inspired spider silks can be dynamically adjusted owing to stress release generated with the stimuli of temperature or humidity. Therefore, the mechanical properties of bio-inspired spider silks can be controlled to change dynamically. This can further help in developing applications of bio-inspired spider silks in engineering fields with dynamic changes of environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low-profile double U-slot microstrip patch antenna with a wide operating bandwidth has been developed in this article. This design produces the dual radiative resonant modes adjacent to each even at the thickness of the antenna of $0.02 {\lambda _{0}}$. An extremely stable radiation gain that varied from 6.2 to 6.8 dBi is achieved within the whole operating band. In addition, detailed parametric studies in this article provide antenna engineers with simple approximate rules that result in an excellent first-pass design with prescribed characteristics requiring only minimal tuning. Finally, the proposed antenna with the thickness of $0.04 {\lambda _{0}}$ is fabricated and measured. Simulated and measured results are found in good agreement with each other. They have evidently illustrated that the bandwidth is increased by 50% compared to the traditional U-slot antenna. With the help of these simple design procedures and examples in this article, antenna designers could easily develop a low-profile broadband antenna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In buildings with the solar heat collection/insulation energy-saving window (SHC/IESW), when the insulation device is placed at night in winter, a double-wall structure façade (DSF) is formed between the glass and the insulation curtain, and the existence of air inlet and outlet leads to cold air penetration. In this paper, the Nusselt number (Nu) correlation and convective heat transfer coefficient (CHTC) of the cavity in SHC/IESW were calculated through an experiment combined with a theoretical analysis. Then, numerical simulation was performed on the fluid dynamics and thermal characteristics caused by air convection in an asymmetrically heated cavity under uniform heat flow conditions, to optimize the SHC/IESW structure and analyze its heat transfer mechanism to solve the problem of convection heat transfer between plates under cold air infiltration. Using the calculation formulas obtained from the experiment, the heat transfer coefficient of SHC/IESW is 1.71 W·m−2·K−1. The numerical simulation results showed that with the increase of air layer thickness, the outlet temperature, the average air velocity of the cavity, and the surface temperature of thermal insulation curtain all decrease; with the increase of inlet width, the outlet temperature and the surface temperature of thermal insulation curtain decreases significantly, while the average air velocity of cavity increases. It can help to weaken the convective heat transfer in the cavity and thus, reduce the total heat transfer coefficient to 1.28 W·m−2·K−1 when the air layer thickness is 12 mm and the inlet width is 1 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pneumonia is a major contributor to hospital admission for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, evidence for acute effects of ambient air pollution exposure on pneumonia hospital admission among patients with COPD is scarce. We aimed to examine the association between short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and pneumonia hospital admission among patients with COPD.Methods: We enrolled COPD cases aged ≥ 60 years old and further filtered those who were admitted into hospitals from pneumonia during 2016-2019 in Guangdong province, China for main analysis. A time-stratified case-crossover design was applied to investigate the association and conditional logistic regression model was used for data analysis. We performed inverse distance weighting method to estimate daily individual-level exposure on particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5), particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3) based on personal residential addresses.Results: We included 6473 pneumonia hospital admissions during the study period. Each interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5 (lag 2; IQR, 22.1 μg/m3), SO2 (lag 03; IQR, 4.2 μg/m3), NO2 (lag 03; IQR, 21.4 μg/m3), and O3 (lag 04; IQR, 57.9 μg/m3) was associated with an odds ratio in pneumonia hospital admission of 1.043 (95% CI: 1.004-1.083), 1.081 (95% CI: 1.026-1.140), 1.045 (95% CI: 1.005-1.088), and 1.080 (95% CI: 1.018-1.147), respectively. Non-linear trends for PM2.5, PM10, and SO2 were observed in the study. Sex, age at hospital admission, and season at hospital admission did not modify the associations.Conclusions: We found significantly positive associations of short-term exposure to PM2.5, SO2, NO2, and O3 with pneumonia hospital admission among COPD patients. It provides new insight for comprehensive pneumonia prevention and treatment among COPD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews various oxidants and catalysts commonly used in catalytic oxidation desulfurization processes,evaluates them,and prospects for the future. The production of green fuel oil is of great significance for reducing environmental pollution and protecting the ecological environment. In order to fully meet the new requirements of sulfur content standards, sulfur-containing compounds ( such as thio-phene and its derivatives) must be effectively removed from fuel oil. Compared with high investment costs and harsh reaction conditions, hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and oxidative desulfurization (ODS) have the advantages of mild reaction conditions, mild operating conditions, and high desulfurization efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new detachable microneedle platform has been developed to access the ISF and monitoring of key biomarkers. • The platform can be customized by pairing it with different test papers to fulfill specific sensing requirements. • The design of the biosensor features a mortise and tenon structure, significantly improving its durability and versatility. • The sampling performance of the platform has good stability and robustness. The microneedle array provides a painless method for penetrating the skin to reach interstitial fluid (ISF), making it suitable for drug delivery and monitoring of key biomarkers. While current microneedle sensors integrate sensitive components for detecting specific biomarkers, challenges remain in their development, particularly in diversifying detection capabilities and ensuring durability. To address these challenges, we present a detachable microneedle platform capable of monitoring various biomolecules through colorimetric and electrochemical sensing. This platform is also compatible with the Urit uric acid tester, which, when coupled with the microneedles (MNs), demonstrates satisfactory stability results. The design features a mortise-tenon structure that significantly enhances the durability of the biosensor, while the provision of insertable cavities increases its versatility. By pairing with a variety of test strips, the platform can be customized to meet specific sensing requirements for a range of metabolites, aiding in disease management and regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the synergetic gelation of curdlan gum (CG) and gellan gum (CG) at different biopolymer ratios were investigated. The optimal gelation of CG and GG was determined at total biopolymer concentration of 0.6% and a mass ratio of 1:1 according to visual observation and viscoelastic properties. The gelation behavior of the CG/GG binary composite gel exhibited ratio-dependent behavior at different biopolymer mixing ratios (2:8–8:2). With the increase in the CG/GG ratio from 2:8 to 8:2, the gel strength and transition temperature of the CG/GG gel showed an increasing trend followed by a decrease, reaching a peak at 5:5, with corresponding G′ , melting and gelling temperatures of 335.8 Pa, 82.5 °C and 33.7 °C, respectively. The improved gel properties could be ascribed to hydrogen bonds between CG and GG, as reflected by the blueshift of the O–H vibration peaks and water associated regional variation. Moreover, the CG/GG binary composite gel exhibited a significantly increasing water holding capacity (WHC) as the ratio of CG/GG decreased from 8:2 to 4:6, while the excess involvement of GG had no effect on the WHC improvement. Furthermore, the CG/GG binary composite gel exhibited denser and more homogeneous microstructures in comparison to individual CG and GG and performed the most compact gel network at ratio of 5:5, supporting the stronger gel rigidity and WHC. Therefore, these novel CG/GG hydrogels showed considerable gel strength and microstructures, which would provide a better mechanistic understanding of the polysaccharide complex in practical applications as a hydrogel base material. [Display omitted] • The addition ratio between CG and GG exhibited a significant effect on the synergy. • CG/GG binary composite gels exhibited good water holding capacity. • The CG/GG binary composite gels mainly driven by hydrogen bonding forces. • The CG/GG binary composite gels exhibited dense and homogeneous microstructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal ions and organic pollutants discharged into various water bodies have caused serious water pollution, and the efficient removal of these contaminants remains a challenge. Here, we report a novel MXene/poly-melamine-formaldehyde (PMF) composite membrane, in which the PMF particles serve as spacers, and the –NH 2 groups of PMF and the hydroxyl groups of MXene nanosheets have a synergistic effect on the adsorption of pollutants, and the crosslinking of glutaraldehyde inhibits the swelling of the composite membrane. The MXene/PMF composite membrane with 83.7% PMF particle loading displays a water permeability of 381.2 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 (405% that of MXene membrane) and excellent adsorption ability. In static adsorption, the removal rates of Zn2+, Pb2+, phenol, and crystal violet reach 96.2%, 91.7%, 99.1%, and 96.4% respectively, 20∼100% higher than those of MXene membranes. In dynamic adsorption, the breakthrough volumes of the membrane for 2 ppm p-nitrophenol solution and methyl blue solution reach 75 mL (about 8500 times membrane volume) and 350 mL (about 39800 times membrane volume), and the saturation volumes are 1500 mL and 5000 mL, respectively. After cyclic adsorption/desorption for four times, the removal rate of the membranes still maintains above 90%. This work provides an efficient composite membrane for removing pollutants from wastewater. [Display omitted] • A novel MXene/poly-melamine-formaldehyde (PMF) composite membrane are prepared. • The introduction of PMF particles widens the transmission channel and increases water permeance. • PMF and MXene nanosheets have a synergistic effect on the adsorption of pollutants. • Removal rates of Zn2+, Pb2+, phenol and crystal violet by MXene composite membranes are above 90%. • After 4 times of use, the removal rate of pollutant of composite membrane is above 90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A multiphysics simulation model of LU inspection is established. • Propagation characteristics of excited ultrasonic waves in different LPBF alloys is studied. • Interaction between ultrasonic waves and submillimeter artificial defects is investigated. • Four typical LPBF alloys are fabricated and measured by the LU through-transmission inspection. In the development of additive manufacturing (AM) technology, laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is one of the important processing methods. However, the hole defects in the fabricated samples limit the development. Laser ultrasonic (LU) technology plays a major role in the detection of LPBF parts with tiny defects, which has the advantages of non-contact and non-destructive. In this work, the detection of submillimeter internal defects in four typical LPBF alloys by LU technology is studied numerically and experimentally. A multiphysics simulation model of LU detection is established to investigate the propagation characteristics of excited ultrasonic waves in different LPBF alloys and their interaction with submillimeter artificial defects. Simulation results show that the amplitude of longitudinal (L) wave at the defect is the largest in AlSi10Mg alloy, and the amplitude of L wave in the 316L alloy, Ti6Al4V alloy and In718 alloy are very close, but their phases are slightly different. The amplitude of L wave tends to decrease nearly linearly with the increase in defect diameter. Then, four typical LPBF alloys are fabricated and measured by the LU through-transmission detection. The geometric information of artificial holes with a diameter larger than 0.2 mm are clearly characterized by the LU C-scan results, indicating the prominent applicability and feasibility of LU detection on different materials fabricated by LPBF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An excess of osteoclastogenesis significantly contributes to the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Activation of the nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS)-to-NF-κB signaling cascade are important mechanisms regulating osteoclastogenesis; however, whether Nrf2 is involved in RANKL-induced NF-κB activation is controversial. Isoquercitrin, a natural flavonoid compound, has been shown to have Nrf2-dependent antioxidant effects inprevious studies. We sought to verify whether isoquercitrin could modulate RANKL-induced NF-κB activation by activating Nrf2, thereby affecting osteoclastogenesis. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining, F-actin ring staining and resorption pit assay suggested that isoquercitrin significantly inhibited osteoclastogenesis and osteolytic function. Mitosox staining showed that RANKL-induced ROS generation was significantly inhibited by isoquercitrin from day 3 of the osteoclast differentiation cycle. Quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence indicated that isoquercitrin activated the Nrf2 signaling pathway and inhibited NF-κB expression. And when we used the Nrf2-specific inhibitor ML385, the inhibition of NF-κB by isoquercitrin disappeared. Moreover, we found that Nrf2 is not uninvolved in RANKL-induced NF-κB activation and may be related to the timing of ROS regulation. When we limited isoquercitrin administration to 2 days, Nrf2 remained activated and the inhibition of NF-κB disappeared. In vivo experiments suggested that isoquercitrin attenuated RA modeling-induced bone loss. Overall, isoquercitrin-activated Nrf2 blocked the RANKL-induced ROS-to-NF-κB signaling cascade response, thereby inhibiting osteoclastogenesis and bone loss. These findings provide new ideas for the treatment of RA. [Display omitted] • Isoquercitrin inhibits osteoclast differentiation and osteolytic function by increasing Nrf2-dependent antioxidant capacity. • Activation of Nrf2 by isoquercitrin blocks the RANKL-induced ROS signaling cascade, thereby inhibiting NF-κB activation. • Isoquercitrin reduces osteoclastogenesis and bone loss in the model of rheumatoid arthritis. • Isoquercitrin might be a promising candidate for treatment of RA in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) detected 12 gamma-ray sources above 100 TeV, which are the possible origins of Galactic cosmic-rays. We summarize the neutrino measurements by IceCube and ANTARES in the vicinity of LHAASO sources to constrain the contribution of hadronic gamma-rays in these sources. We find that the current observations constrain hadronic gamma-rays to contribute no more than ∼60% of the gamma-rays from the Crab Nebula. Gamma-rays from two LHAASO sources, LHAASO J1825âˆ'1326 and LHAASO J1907+0626, are dominated by leptonic components up to ∼200 TeV, under the hypotheses in the analysis by IceCube. The uncertainties of the constraint on the hadronic gamma-ray emission are discussed. We also constrain the total 100 TeV gamma-ray emission from TeV pulsar wind nebulae by relying on the remarkable sensitivity of LHAASO at that energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a disease caused by infection with the SFTS virus (SFTSV). SFTS has become a crucial public health concern because of the heavy burden, lack of vaccines, effective therapies, and high-fatality rate. Evidence suggests that SFTSV circulates between ticks and animals in nature and is transmitted to humans by tick bites. In particular, ticks have been implicated as vectors of SFTSV, where domestic or wild animals may play as the amplifying hosts. Many studies have identified antigens and antibodies against SFTSV in various animals such as sheep, goats, cattle, and rodents. Besides, person-to-person transmission through contact with blood or mucous of an infected person has also been reported. In this study, we reviewed the literature and summarized the vectors and hosts associated with SFTS and the possible risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two pairs of pure enantiomers of high-nuclearity chiral lanthanide–oxo clusters with the formulas [Y14(L)16(μ3-OH)16(H2O)20]·(ClO4)10·xH2O (x ≈ 55; L = L -L− for L -Y14; L = D -L− for D -Y14) and [Dy14(L)16(μ3-OH)16(H2O)20]·(ClO4)10·xH2O (x ≈ 67; L = L -L− for L -Dy14; L = D -L− for D -Dy14) were prepared in the presence of chiral ligands N-acetyl- L -alanine (L -HL) and N-acetyl- D -alanine (D -HL). Structural analysis showed that four cubane-like units as building blocks sharing vertices formed the lanthanide–oxo cluster unit {(ClO4)2@[Y12(μ3-OH)16]}18+ with two ClO4− as anion templates. The remaining Y3+ ions were connected to the opposite position of {(ClO4)2@[Y12(μ3-OH)16]}18+ through four L -L−, respectively. High-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESI-MS) captured the signals of the cluster fragment {Y12(OH)16−x(O)x} (x = 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) and the unbroken dimer of {Y12(L -L)12(OH)16−x(O)x}2 (x = 4, 5, 12) from L -Y14 in a mixed solution of methanol and dichloromethane, suggesting that {Ln12(OH)16−x(O)x} is a stable cluster unit that could be further assembled into higher-nuclearity lanthanide–oxo clusters in solution. The solid-state circular dichroism (CD) spectra of compounds L -Y14/ D -Y14 and L -Dy14/ D -Dy14 displayed mirror symmetry effects in the range of 220–250 nm. The study of magnetic properties showed that L -Dy14 had a weak antiferromagnetic interaction and displayed SMM-like behavior in the absence of a dc field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In radio astronomy observations, radio frequency interference (RFI) is mixed into the telescope receiving system in various forms. The existence of RFI brings misjudgment to the observation or reduces the observational signal-to-noise ratio. In recent years, the domestic and overseas radio astronomy has developed rapidly. Large-scale radio telescopes and telescope arrays at home and abroad have been constructed successively. Observation sensitivity is greatly improved, and the influence of RFI is particularly prominent. With the development of science and technology and the intensification of human activities, the RFI has become increasingly serious and irreversible. We propose to use the two-dimensional discrete wavelet transform method to analyze the data of radio astronomy observations, and to perform wavelet transform on the time-frequency sequence output by the telescope system. According to the wavelet coefficients, the every component in the original signal is separated, and the corresponding threshold value is obtained by the statistics on each component. Each component is compared with the threshold to identify the interference component, and to mark it for removal. This method is used to process the actual observation data. The results show that this method can well mark and eliminate the interference signal, and improve the observational signal-to-noise ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hollow metal oxide microspheres (HMMs) have drawn enormous attention in different research fields. Reliable and scalable synthetic protocols applicable for a large variety of metal oxides are in emergent demand. Here we demonstrated that polymer hydrogel, such as the resorcinol formaldehyde (RF) one, existed as an efficient synthetic platform to build HMMs. Specifically, the RF gel forms stacked RF microspheres enlaced with its aqueous phase, where the following evaporation of the highly dispersed water leads to a gel‐assisted precipitation (GAP) of the dissolved metal precursor onto the embedded polymeric solids suited for the creation of HMMs. By taking advantage of the structural features of hydrogel, this synthesis design avoids the delicate control on the usually necessitated coating process and provides a simple and effective synthetic process versatile for functional HMMs, particularly Nb2O5 as a high‐performance electrode material in Li‐ion intercalation pseudocapacitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hollow metal oxide microspheres (HMMs) have drawn enormous attention in different research fields. Reliable and scalable synthetic protocols applicable for a large variety of metal oxides are in emergent demand. Here we demonstrated that polymer hydrogel, such as the resorcinol formaldehyde (RF) one, existed as an efficient synthetic platform to build HMMs. Specifically, the RF gel forms stacked RF microspheres enlaced with its aqueous phase, where the following evaporation of the highly dispersed water leads to a gel‐assisted precipitation (GAP) of the dissolved metal precursor onto the embedded polymeric solids suited for the creation of HMMs. By taking advantage of the structural features of hydrogel, this synthesis design avoids the delicate control on the usually necessitated coating process and provides a simple and effective synthetic process versatile for functional HMMs, particularly Nb2O5 as a high‐performance electrode material in Li‐ion intercalation pseudocapacitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FGF12 (FHF1) gene encodes voltage-gated sodium channel (Nav)-binding protein fibroblast growth factor homologous factor 1, which could cause seizures by regulating voltage dependence of Nav fast inactivation and neuron excitability. The most common pathogenic variant FGF12 c.341G > A related early-onset epileptic encephalopathies (EOEE) was characterized by intractable seizures and developmental disabilities. Using whole exome sequencing, a de novo hotspot variant c.341G > A (NM_021032.4) of FGF12 was identified in three unrelated EOEE probands. All probands were seizure free after a combination treatment of valproic acid (VPA) and topiramate (TPM). The motor and cognitive skills in two probands were improved due to the early and effective treatment. In order to compare the effectiveness of different treatment strategies for the disease, a review of treatments for FGF12 -related epilepsy was made. We reported three FGF12 c.341G > A related EOEE patients responded well to a combination antiepileptic therapy of VPA and TPM. The current study is the first to describe the combination therapy of VPA and TPM in FGF12 c.341G > A related EOEE patients. This study may contribute to future medication consultation for intractable epilepsy with FGF12 hotspot variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rahman et al. ([7]) presented two siblings who were both impacted by a large terminal duplication (18.82 Mb at 7q34-q36.3) and a deletion (3.90 Mb at 15q26.3), with absence in both parents, implicating a possible germline mosaicism. Apparent germline mosaicism for a 15q11-q13 deletion causing recurrent Angelman syndrome in a Chinese family. Meyer et al ([3]) reported an apparent de novo 281 kb duplication of chromosome 2p25.3 in two male half-siblings with autism transmitted through the mechanism of maternal germline mosaicism. [Extracted from the article]

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has emerged as an abundant modification throughout the transcriptome with widespread functions in protein-coding and noncoding RNAs. It affects the fates of modified RNAs, including their stability, splicing, and/or translation, and thus plays important roles in posttranscriptional regulation. To date, m6A methyltransferases have been reported to execute m6A deposition on distinct RNAs by their own or forming different complexes with additional partner proteins. In this review, we summarize the function of these m6A methyltransferases or complexes in regulating the key genes and pathways of cancer biology. We also highlight the progress in the use of m6A methyltransferases in mediating therapy resistance, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy. Finally, we discuss the current approaches and clinical potential of m6A methyltransferase-targeting strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. A Chinese herbal prescription, Yiqi Jiedu (YQJD) decoction, is used for injuries caused by radiotherapy. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic protective effects of YQJD decoction in mice on radiation damage at different time points of the testis. Methods. The 200 male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups (blank, model, Anduolin, low-dose YQJD, and high-dose YQJD groups). Blank and model groups were all given stomach deionized water. Anduolin group and high and low dose of Chinese herb groups were treated with Chinese material medical decoction compound for 2 weeks before being irradiated. Except for the blank group, other groups were given whole-body one-time irradiation of 5.5 Gy 60Co gamma rays. Histopathology examination of testes was conducted on the 1st, 7th, 21st, and 35th day after irradiation, respectively. Indexes of sperm motility rate, sperm count, serum levels of testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were also measured correspondingly. Result. Compared to 1 day and 7 days after irradiation, most of the indexes, including testis index, sperm motility, and count, were decreased on the 21st and 35th day in all irradiated groups. However, compared with the model group, the indexes to assess sperm quality and the morphological structures of testis in low-dose and high-dose YQJD groups were significantly recovered on the 21st and 35th days. Additionally, reproductive hormones, including testosterone and estradiol, were recovered more in low-dose and high-dose YQJD groups on the 21st and 35th days. Conclusion. The YQJD decoction is able to accelerate the recovery of sperm indexes, testosterone, and estradiol levels of sex hormones in mice after irradiation and demonstrated good protective effects on the testis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]