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Background: Forced vital capacity (FVC) reflects respiratory health, but the long-term trend and heterogeneity in FVC of Chinese students were understudied. Methods: Data were from Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health 1985–2019. Super Imposition by Translation and Rotation model was used to draw FVC growth curves. Sex-, region-, and nationality-heterogeneity in FVC was evaluated. Spearman correlation and generalized additive model was used to reveal influencing factors for FVC. Results: Compared to 1985, age at peak FVC velocity was 1.09, 3.17, 0.74, and 1.87 years earlier for urban male, urban female, rural male, and rural female in 2019, respectively. Peak FVC velocity first decreased and then increased during 1985–2019, only male rebounded to larger than 1985 level. FVC declined from 1985 to 2005 and then raised. Males consistently had higher FVC than females, with disparities increasing in the 13–15 age group. Urban students also had higher FVC than rural students. In 2019, FVC difference between 30 Chinese provinces and the national average showed four scenarios: consistently above national average; less than national average until age 18, then above; greater than national average until age 18, then this advantage reversed; less than national average in almost all the age. Most Chinese ethnic minority students had lower FVC levels compared to Han students. Spearman correlation and generalized additive model showed that age, sex, and height were the leading influencing factors of FVC, followed by socioeconomic and environmental factors. Conclusions: Chinese students experienced advanced FVC spurt, and there was sex-, region- and nationality-heterogeneity in FVC. Routine measurement of FVC is necessary in less developed areas of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible microwave absorbers with Joule heating performance are urgently desired to meet the demands of extreme service environments. Herein, a type of flexible composite film is constructed by homogeneously dispersing a hierarchical Ni‐carbon microtube (Ni/CMT) into a processable polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) matrix. The Ni/CMT are interconnected into a 3D conductive network, in which the huge interior cavity of the carbon microtube (CMT) improves impedance matching and provides additional hyper channels for electromagnetic (EM) waves dissipation, and the hierarchical magnetic Ni nanoparticles enhance the synergistic interactions between confined heterogeneous interfaces. Such an ingenious structure endows the composites with excellent electrothermal performance and improves their serviceability for application under extreme environments. Moreover, under a low fill loading of 3 wt.%, the Ni/CMT/PTFE (NCP) can achieve excellent low‐frequency microwave absorption (MA) property with a minimum reflection loss of −59.12 dB at 5.92 GHz, which covers almost the entire C‐band. Relying on their brilliant MA property, an EM sensor is designed and achieved by the resonance coupling of the patterned NCP. This work opens up a new way for the design of next‐generation microwave absorbers that meet the requirements of EM packaging, proofing water and removing ice, fire safety, and health monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absorption frequency of conventional microwave absorbing materials (MAMs) is hardly tuned in operando, while such dynamic frequency regulation of MAMs is of great significance to meet the high demands of modern radars and intelligent electron devices. Here, an ingenious frequency‐tuning strategy by means of the pressure variations is developed by fabricating highly compressible carbon nanocoils/carbon foam (CNCs/CF) as a dynamically frequency‐tunable microwave absorber. Through adjusting the compression strain, the absorption bandwidth of CNCs/CF can be precisely tuned from S‐band (2−4 GHz) to Ku‐band (12−18 GHz). The adjustable effective absorption bandwidth is as wide as 15.4 GHz, which covers 96% of the entire microwave frequency. Under 10% compression strain, CNCs/CF shows an attractive bandwidth of 9.0 GHz and a strong reflection loss of −64.6 dB. Furthermore, the CNCs/CF also exhibit a good thermal insulation, strong hydrophobicity, and strain‐sensitive conductivity, endowing them with fascinating functions of heat insulation and self‐cleaning. The method of utilizing an external pressure to dynamically adjust the absorption frequencies of CNCs/CF is demonstrated for the first time, which opens an avenue for the applications of dynamically frequency‐tunable MAMs with an ultrawide adjusting range and absorption bandwidth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Obesity and leptin deficiency are associated with compromised bone regeneration. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the role of locally administrated low-dose BMP2+leptin on bone regeneration in leptin-deficient obese (ob/ob) mice. METHODS: Wildtype (WT) and ob/ob mice were divided into 3 groups (4 mice/group): BMP2 (5 μg) group, BMP2+low-dose leptin (1 μg) group, and BMP2+high-dose leptin (2.5 μg) group. WT mice were used as control mice. An equal size absorbable collagen sponge was prepared by loading the BMP2 or/and leptin and implanted subcutaneously. After 19 days, samples were collected and analyzed by micro-CT and H&E staining. RESULTS: No significant difference in bone regeneration among the three groups in WT mice. Quantification of newly formed bone parameters from micro-CT and H&E staining showed that low-dose BMP2 treatment formed less new bone in ob/ob mice compared to WT. BMP2+low-dose leptin treatment substantially rescued the compromised bone regeneration in ob/ob mice up to the level in WT mice. However, the BMP2 and high dose of leptin failed to rescue the compromised bone regeneration in ob/ob mice. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that a combination of the low-dose BMP2 and leptin could be a strategy to promote osteogenesis in obese populations with leptin deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the copy number variation (CNV) of PDGFRA pathway across all common cancer types as well as its clinical relevance. This study included a total of 10,678 patients with pan-cancerous species involving 33 types of cancers and patient information was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. According to the PDGFRA pathway CNV, all samples were divided into copy number gain (CN gain) group and No CN gain group. The analysis of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) fraction, CNV burden, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and the number of immunogenic mutations were performed, as well as the correlation analysis of PDGFRA pathway CN gain with tumor-related signaling pathways and tumor-infiltrating immune cell subpopulations. The results showed that CN gain of PDGFRA pathway in the cancer patients was associated with significantly shorter overall survival. The CN gain of PDGFRA pathway was identified as a prognostic risk factor for some tumors. CN gain was accompanied by an altered percentage of LOH, CNV burden, TMB, the number of immunogenic mutations were increased and tumor-infiltrating immune cell subpopulations were less. While certain tumor-related signaling pathways, such as hypoxia, cell cycle, DNA repair, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition were more enriched in the CN gain group, quiescence, and inflammation pathways were more enriched in the No CN gain group. In conclusion, PDGFRA pathway CNV gain may be a poor prognostic factor in cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic film mulching (PM) has been extensively used to increase crop yields in dryland regions in China. However, the impact of differently colored PM on crop radiation utilization due to the optical properties of the underlying PM surfaces remains unclear. We conducted a two-year field experiment in northwest China to evaluate the dynamics of photosynthetically active radiation interception and absorption (fIPAR and fAPAR), as well as the radiation use efficiency for intercepted and absorbed radiation (RUE i and RUE a) during spring maize (Zea mays L.) growth periods. Two fertilization levels (high and low) and 3 PM treatments (transparent film, black film, and no film) were considered in this study. We also developed empirical regression functions to calculate canopy fAPAR, accounting for both canopy and underlying surface characteristics. Furthermore, we used canopy absorption radiation to drive the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum System (SPACSYS) model to simulate maize biomass and yield. We found that transparent film mulching (TM) exhibited higher fIPAR and fAPAR than black film mulching and no mulching (CK). TM had an increase of RUE i and RUE a by 10.6% and 9.7%, respectively, relative to CK, resulting in a 9.3–19.2% increase in maize yield and a 25.8–30.2% increase in the partial factor productivity of nitrogen. These increases were mainly attributed to the increased relative chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis rate, and extended grain-filling period under TM. We found that the modified radiation input increased the accuracy of the SPACSYS model in simulating maize biomass and yield. We underscore the importance of using TM in dryland areas to increase crop yields and advocate for incorporating canopy radiation data into crop models, especially in agricultural regions where plastic film mulching is used, to enhance the accuracy of yield simulations. • Transparent film mulching (TM) with high nitrogen produced the highest maize yield. • TM increased light intercept and absorbed fraction (fAPAR). • We established empirical regression functions to calculate canopy fAPAR. • Soil–Plant–Atmosphere Continuum System (SPACSYS) model well simulated yield with modified radiation input data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) of the programmed cell death 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) immune checkpoint pathway has led to unprecedented advances in cancer therapy. However, the overall response rate of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy is still unpromising, underscoring the need for predictive biomarkers. In this retrospective study, we collected pretreatment plasma samples from two independent cohorts of patients receiving ICB. To determine whether a signature of plasma cytokines could be associated with therapeutic efficacy, we systemically profiled cytokine clusters and functional groups in the discovery and validation datasets by using 59 multiplexed bead immunoassays and bioinformatics analysis. We first attempted to functionally classify the 59 immunological factors according to their biological classification or functional roles in the cancer-immunity cycle. Surprisingly, we observed that two signatures, the "checkpoint signature" and "trafficking of T-cell signature", were higher in the response subgroup than in the nonresponse subgroup in both the discovery and validation cohorts. Moreover, enrichment of the "checkpoint signature" was correlated with improved overall survival and progression-free survival in both datasets. In addition, we demonstrated that increased baseline levels of three checkpoint molecules (PD-L1, T-cell immunoglobulin mucin receptor 3 and T-cell-specific surface glycoprotein CD28) were common peripheral responsive correlates in both cohorts, thus rendering this "refined checkpoint signature" an ideal candidate for future verification. In the peripheral blood system, the "refined checkpoint signature" may function as a potential biomarker for anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by dysfunction of exocrine glands, such as salivary glands. However, the molecular mechanism of salivary secretion dysfunction in SS is still unclear. Given the significance of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in cellular redox homeostasis, we hypothesized that dysregulation of GPX4 may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of salivary secretion dysfunction observed in SS. The salivary gland of SS patients and the SS mouse model exhibited reduced expression of the ferroptosis inhibitor GPX4 and the important protein aquaporin 5 (AQP5), which is involved in salivary secretion. GPX4 overexpression upregulated and GPX4 knockdown downregulated AQP5 expression in salivary gland epithelial cells (SGECs) and salivary secretion. Bioinformatics analysis of GSE databases from SS patients' salivary glands revealed STAT4 as a key intermediary regulator between GPX4 and AQP5. A higher level of nuclear pSTAT4 was observed in the salivary gland of the SS mouse model. GPX4 overexpression inhibited and GPX4 knockdown promoted STAT4 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation in SGECs. CHIP assay confirmed the binding of pSTAT4 within the promoter of AQP5 inhibiting AQP5 transcription. GPX4 downregulation accumulates intracellular lipid ROS in SGECs. Lipid ROS inhibitor ferrostatin-1 treatment during in vitro and in vivo studies confirmed that lipid ROS activates STAT4 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation in SGECs. In summary, the downregulated GPX4 in SGECs contributes to salivary secretion dysfunction in SS via the lipid ROS/pSTAT4/AQP5 axis. This study unraveled novel targets to revitalize the salivary secretion function in SS patients. Among patients with Sjogren's syndrome, inflammation stimulates the system Xc− - GSH axis in salivary gland epithelial cells, leading to the subsequent downregulation of GPX4. Consequently, the diminished capacity of GPX4 to clear lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) from cells results in cell death and subsequent dysfunction in salivary secretion. Concurrently, lipid ROS induces STAT4 phosphorylation, facilitating its nuclear translocation and binding to the AQP5 promoter region. Ultimately, this cascade leads to the inhibition of AQP5 transcription, culminating in impaired salivary secretion. [Display omitted] • Downregulated GPX4 and salivary gland epithelial cells (SGECs) dysfunction are observed in Sjogren's syndrome (SS). • Downregulated GPX4-induced lipid ROS promotes STAT4 phosphorylation (pSTAT4) in SGECs. • pSTAT4 binds to the promoter region of AQP5 inhibiting AQP5 expression and salivary secretion by SGECs. • Downregulated GPX4 in SS SGECs contributes not only to ferroptosis but also to hyposalivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic film mulching (PM) is a useful agronomic means to adapt to the environmental conditions of dryland agriculture and improve crop production. To improve the theoretical framework of PM technology, this study focuses on the interaction between the soil temperature change caused by PM and crop growth. The definition, action mechanism, and simulation of the compensatory effect of PM on growing degree days are introduced to reveal the effect of soil temperature under PM on crop development and growth. Our summary shows that the strength of the warming effect changes with the growth and development of crops, strengthening during the early stage of crop growth and gradually weakening as a crop canopy develops. Generally, the warming effect has a good promotion effect on crop growth, but the crop growth is hampered even with a yield reduction when the increased soil temperature caused by PM exceeds the tolerant temperature for plant growth. Moreover, the compensatory effect of PM could be used to quantify the growth and development of crops under PM and has been widely applied to cotton, corn, winter wheat, and rice. The compensation coefficient is larger in the early stage of crop growth than in the later stage. The compensation coefficient has certain differences for the same crop because of the influence of climate factors, soil moisture content, and soil microtopography. In future research, the theoretical integration of the safety period of PM and the time threshold of the compensatory effect could be theoretically interpreted, and the construction of the compensatory effect module in the crop models will also be an important issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the Loess Plateau, unfavorable late-sowing conditions often arise due to late harvests from the previous season or excessive rainfall during the sowing season, which can delay seed germination, reduce tiller numbers, and decrease winter wheat yields. Few studies have explored whether plastic mulching (PM) can mitigate the adverse effects of late sowing. Consequently, we conducted a 3-year field experiment from 2017 to 2020 on the Loess Plateau combining two mulching conditions [PM and no mulching (NPM)] and three sowing times (normal, 10-day late, and 20-day late sowing). We investigated the combined influence of sowing time and mulching conditions on soil hydrothermal status, crop water productivity (WP), and yield. The results revealed that delayed sowing significantly prolonged emergence times and decreased tiller numbers, leaf area index (LAI), root biomass, and aboveground biomass (AGB). The PM increased soil temperatures, advancing wheat emergence and increasing tiller numbers. Plants under PM had higher LAI, root biomass, and AGB than those under NPM. Moreover, PM reduced ineffective transpiration by accelerating the degradation of ineffective tillers, resulting in higher yields without a corresponding increase in evapotranspiration. The beneficial effects extended to spike numbers, thousand-grain weight, and harvest index. Specifically, PM combined with 10-day late sowing increased yield by 12.8 % compared to NPM combined with normal sowing. Furthermore, under 20-day late sowing, PM mitigated yield losses, reducing them from a 28.7 % decline under NPM to a 12.8 % decline when compared to normal sowing under NPM. We conclude that PM completed compensated for the yield loss under 10-day late sowing and partially alleviated losses under 20-day late sowing. Therefore, combining 10-day late sowing (accumulated air temperature before winter > 430 °C d) with PM was the optimal approach for simultaneously improving yield and WP in winter wheat seasons with unfavorable late-sowing conditions. • High early tiller count under plastic mulch (PM) benefited dry matter accumulation. • PM synergistically enhanced the yield and water productivity of late-sown wheat. • PM reduced ineffective transpiration by hastening ineffective tiller degradation. • PM combined with 10-day late sowing was optimal for wheat production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) in non-overweight/obese people is insidiously associated with cardiovascular disease. Novel anthropometric indices can reflect central obesity better than the traditional anthropometric indices. Therefore, we hypothesize that these newly developed anthropometric indices can better identify MetS in non-overweight/obese people than conventional indices. Methods: Cross-sectional data of sociodemographic, biochemical and anthropometric indices were collected from 2916 non-overweight/obese Chinese people. A body shape index (ABSI), body roundness index (BRI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI) and abdominal volume index (AVI) were calculated. Partial correlation analysis was used to clarify the correlation between anthropometric indices and MetS variables. Binary logistic regression analysis was applied to assess the association between anthropometric indices and MetS and its components. Receiver-operating characteristic curve was used to identify the diagnostic ability of anthropometric indices for MetS and its components. The area under curve (AUC) difference between WHtR and each new anthropometric index was compared in pairs. Results: After adjusting for covariates, AVI had the optimal ability of identifying MetS (AUC: 0.743 for male, 0.819 for female) and the strongest correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (coe: − 0.227 for male, − 0.207 for female) and the highest odds rations (OR) with low HDL-C group (male: OR = 1.37, female: OR = 1.55). The WHtR was comparable to BRI in assessing MetS (AUC: 0.739 for male, 0.817 for female). WHtR or BRI could also well identify hypertension (AUC: 0.602 for male, 0.688 for female) and dysglycemia (AUC: 0.669 for male, 0.713 for female) and female's high triglyceride level (AUC 0.712). The recognition ability of the two was equivalent. The ability of ABSI and WWI to identify MetS was weak. Conclusions: AVI is the optimal anthropometric indices to identify MetS in non-overweight/obese Chinese adults. BRI and WHtR can also be considered as discriminators, while ABSI and WWI are weak discriminators. WHtR is easy to measure. So, it is recommended as an early preliminary screening method for the MetS in non-overweight/obese people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel hierarchical CuNiAl layered double hydroxide (CuNiAl LDH) nanotubes were prepared with in situ transformation of Al2O3 produced using the atomic layer deposition (ALD) method. Based on the characterizations using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), FT-IR spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), CuNiAl LDH displays a typical nanotube-like structure consisting of uniform ultrathin nanoflakes. It is also confirmed that nitrate precursors play a crucial role in the formation of the LDH hierarchical structure. The unique hierarchical tube-like structure for CuNiAl LDH can supply more active sites and higher surface areas, leading to outstanding peroxidase mimicking property. The kinetic analyses indicate that the catalytic behavior of CuNiAl LDH follows classic Michaelis–Menten models and the affinity of CuNiAl LDH to the substrate is significantly higher than horseradish peroxidase. A simple and label-free method was developed for the colorimetric detection of glucose. As low as 2.9 μM of glucose can be detected with a broad linear range from 10 to 200 μM. The established method is also proved to be suitable for glucose detection in juice samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cognitive processing in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) has not been well established. Decision-making is an important component of cognitive function. Most brain regions involved in decision-making are abnormal in FD patients. This study aimed to investigate the decision-making under ambiguity and risk in FD patients. We recruited 40 FD patients meeting Rome III criteria and 40 healthy controls (HCs) matched for age, sex, marital status, and education level. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and the 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17) were used to evaluate their anxiety and depression emotions. The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and Game of Dice Task (GDT) were used to evaluate decision-making under ambiguity and risk, respectively. Helicobacter pylori status, disease duration, dyspeptic symptom score, and the Nepean Dyspepsia Life Quality Index (NDLQI) were obtained from all patients. In IGT, FD patients had a lower total net score, chose more adverse choices, and showed a slower response to change their behavior than HCs. However, there was no significant difference in the net score of the first 2 blocks between the two groups. In GDT, FD patients had a lower total net score, higher risk score, and lower use of negative feedback than HCs. In addition, FD patients showed better GDT performance than those without early satiation. FD patients showed impaired decision-making under risk. The deficiency might be related to dyspeptic symptoms of FD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brain metastases are one of the most common intracranial neoplasms. Increasing evidence have indicated that systemic immunotherapy may provide long‐term benefits for brain metastases. Herein, we presented the results of an immune oncology panel RNA sequencing platform for patients with brain metastases from different primary sites. Methods: We investigated 25 samples of human brain metastases from lung cancer (n = 12), breast cancer (n = 6), and colorectal cancer (n = 7). Besides, 13 paired samples of adjacent noncancerous brain tissue (10 from patients with lung cancer and 3 from patients with breast cancer) were collected as controls. By comparing the brain metastases and paired samples of adjacent noncancerous brain tissue from 13 patients, we detected three upregulated and six downregulated genes, representing the malignant properties of cancer cells and increased immune infiltration in the microenvironment. Next, we profiled the immune‐related genes in brain metastases from three primary cancer types. Results: A group of genes were significantly overexpressed in the microenvironment of brain metastases from lung cancer, covering the checkpoint pathways, lymphocyte infiltration, and TCR‐coexpression. Especially, immune checkpoint molecules, PD‐L1, PD‐L2, and IDO1 were expressed at higher levels in brain metastases from lung cancer than those from the other two cancer types. Conclusions: This study presents an immune landscape of brain metastases from different cancer types. With high RNA expression levels of PD‐1/PD‐L1 axis and immune infiltration in brain metastases, it would be worthwhile to explore the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade for lung cancer patients with intracranial metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Change in asthma burden attributed to specific environmental risk factor has not been evaluated. Objective: We aimed to explore the age, period, and cohort effects on asthma burden attributable to smoking and occupational asthmagens in different socio-demographic index (SDI) regions and the region and sex disparities. Methods: Risk factor-specific asthma deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates were extracted from Global Burden of Disease study 2019, estimated by standard Combined Cause of Death Model and DisMod-MR 2.1 modeling tool. Age-period-cohort analysis was conducted to decompose age, period, and cohort effects on asthma burden. Results: Smoking- and occupational asthmagens-related asthma deaths and DALYs rates dropped by > 45% during 1990–2019. In 2019, Africa, South and Southeast Asia had higher asthma burden than other regions. Male had higher asthma burden than female. Among nearly all age groups, low-middle SDI region had the highest smoking-related asthma burden, and low SDI region had the highest occupational asthmagens-related asthma burden. Inverse "V" shaped trend was observed in the above regions with increasing age. For smoking-related asthma deaths and DALYs rates, the most significant improvement of period rate ratio (RR) occurred in high SDI region, decreased from 1.67 (1.61, 1.74) to 0.34 (0.33, 0.36) and 1.61 (1.57, 1.66) to 0.59 (0.57, 0.61), respectively, as well as the cohort effect on smoking-related asthma burden. For occupational asthmagens-related asthma deaths and DALYs rates, the most sharply decrease of period and cohort RR appeared in the high and high-middle SDI regions. Low SDI region showed least progress in period and cohort RR of smoking- and occupational asthmagens-linked asthma burden. Conclusion: Smoking- and occupational asthmagens-related asthma burden sharply decreases, but region and sex disparities exist. Policy makers from low SDI region should reinforce tobacco control and prioritize workplace protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging evidence suggests that genetically highly specific triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) possesses a relatively uniform transcriptional program that is abnormally dependent on cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7). In this study, we obtained an inhibitor of CDK7, N76-1, by attaching the side chain of the covalent CDK7 inhibitor THZ1 to the core of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitor ceritinib. This study aimed to elucidate the role and underlying mechanism of N76-1 in TNBC and evaluate its potential value as an anti-TNBC drug. The results of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and colony formation assays showed that N76-1 inhibited the viability of TNBC cells. Kinase activity and cellular thermal shift assays showed that N76-1 directly targeted CDK7. Flow cytometry results revealed that N76-1 induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. N76-1 also effectively inhibited the migration of TNBC cells by high-content detection. The RNA-seq analysis showed that the transcription of genes, especially those related to transcriptional regulation and cell cycle, was suppressed after N76-1 treatment. Moreover, N76-1 markedly inhibited the growth of TNBC xenografts and phosphorylation of RNAPII in tumor tissues. In summary, N76-1 exerts potent anticancer effects in TNBC by inhibiting CDK7 and provides a new strategy and research basis for the development of new drugs for TNBC. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Could objective embryo assessment using iDAScore Version 2.0 perform as well as conventional morphological assessment? A retrospective cohort study of fresh day 3 embryo transfer cycles was conducted at a large reproductive medicine centre. In total, 7786 embryos from 4328 cycles with known implantation data were cultured in a time-lapse incubator and included in the study. Fetal heartbeat (FHB) rate was analysed retrospectively using iDAScore Version 2.0 and conventional morphological assessment associated with the transferred embryos. The pregnancy-prediction performance of the two assessment methods was compared using area under the curve (AUC) values for predicting FHB. AUC values were significantly higher for iDAScore compared with morphological assessment for all cycles (0.62 versus 0.60; P = 0.005), single-embryo transfer cycles (0.63 versus 0.60; P = 0.043) and double-embryo transfer cycles (0.61 versus 0.59; P = 0.012). For the age subgroups, AUC values were significantly higher for iDAScore compared with morphological assessment in the <35 years subgroup (0.62 versus 0.60; P = 0.009); however, no significant difference was found in the ≥35 years subgroup. In terms of the number of blastomeres, AUC values were significantly higher for iDAScore compared with morphological assessment for both the <8c subgroup (0.67 versus 0.56; P < 0.001) and the ≥8c subgroup (0.58 versus 0.55; P = 0.012). iDAScore Version 2.0 performed as well as, or better than, conventional morphological assessment in fresh day 3 embryo transfer cycles. iDAScore Version 2.0 may therefore constitute a promising tool for selecting embryos with the highest likelihood of implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. This study investigated the relationships among the characteristics of colon polyps and potential risk factors, including metabolic condition, CEA level, uric acid level, and Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection status. Method. Clinical data from patients who received colonoscopy were collected and analyzed, including patients' gender, age, polyp pathology, metabolic syndrome (MS) status, CEA level, uric acid level, and Hp infection status. Patients were divided into a polyp group and a control group based on whether they presented with colon polyps. Then, clinical data were compared between the two groups to identify any differences between the groups and their relationships to colon polyps. Result. Compared with the control group, the polyp group had significant differences in patient gender, body mass index (BMI), waistline, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose level, blood lipid level, and uric acid level (p<0.05), but there were no significant differences in LDL and CEA levels (p>0.05). Patients with MS or a uric acid level>340 mg/dl had a greater tendency to develop colon polyps but this was not statistically significant. Conclusion. The incidence of colon polyps may be associated with MS and uric acid levels, but further studies are warranted to confirm this conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an atomic-layer-deposited Al2O3-induced LDH growth strategy was proposed to easily prepare carbon fiber-supported ultrathin CuAl LDH nanosheets (CF@CuAl-LDH). The uniform Al2O3 coating on carbon fiber (CF) was obtained using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method and was used as a pinpoint inductive layer to transform into ultrathin CuAl LDH nanosheets through hydrothermal treatment. The LDH nanosheets grew densely attached to the CF surface and the nanosheet thickness was only about 3.3 nm. The obtained CF@CuAl-LDH exhibited superior enzyme mimic activity because its unique structural features offered a large ion-accessible surface, an increased active site area, and efficient electron-transfer pathways. Accordingly, a simple and sensitive biosensor was developed for colorimetric determination of H2O2 and glucose. The established method was successfully used to detect glucose in juice samples with satisfactory results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this prospective cohort study, the effects of a time-lapse monitoring system on embryo quality and clinical pregnancy outcomes were assessed. A total of 608 patients undergoing in vitro fertilization between April 2013 and June 2014 at our institution were recruited for this study and group-matched into a time-lapse monitoring (TLM) (N = 304) or a standard incubator (SI) (N = 304). The patients’ characteristics in the TLM and SI groups were not significantly different. The TLM group showed a significantly higher transferable embryo ratio at Day 3 (61.65% vs. 52.87%; p < 0.0010, RR =1.10 [1.02, 1.19]), a higher number of transferable embryos (4.71 ± 2.38 vs. 4.09 ± 2.35; p = 0.0053, SMD =0.26 [0.06, 0.46]) and number of good-quality embryos cryopreserved at Day 3 (2.72 ± 2.35 vs. 2.11 ± 2.33; p = 0.0056, SMD =0.26 [0.06, 0.46]). In addition, the implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were not statistically significant between the TLM and SI groups. However, the TLM group had a higher ongoing pregnancy rate (67.32% vs. 57.22%; p = 0.0410) and live birth rate (65.37% vs. 55%; p = 0.0380) compared with the SI group. The observed beneficial effects could be the result of a more stable environment provided by the TLM system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • High-rate solid-state supercapacitors were assembled by the integrated Fe-NiCoP/CC cathode and VN/CNT/CC anode respectively. • The doped Fe ions in NiCoP significantly improve the electronic conductivity and adsorption capacity of OH−. • The integrated electrodes and solid-state supercapacitors show excellent electrochemical performance and EMI shielding. The development of flexible and wearable electronics subjects to the limited energy density and accompanying electromagnetic pollution. With a high theoretical specific capacity, nickel–cobalt bimetallic phosphide (NiCoP) is considered to be potential cathode materials for supercapacitor. However, the pristine NiCoP fails to display excellent electrochemical performance due to its inferior rate performance and cycling stability. Herein, we design Fe doped NiCoP nanowire arrays on carbon cloth (Fe-NiCoP/CC) as the cathode for supercapacitors. The introduced Fe doping enable to increase in the electronic conductivity and enhance the adsorption of OH−, supported by the density functional theory (DFT) analysis. As a result, Fe-NiCoP/CC electrode displays a high areal capacity of 3.18 F cm−2 at 1 mA cm−2, superb rate capability (86.3 % capacity retention at 20 mA cm−2) and outstanding structure stability, superior to the NiCo/CC, FeNiCo/CC, and NiCoP/CC counterparts. Moreover, the assembled Fe-NiCoP/CC||VN/CNT/CC hybrid supercapacitor (HSC) device delivers a high energy density of 176.9 μWh cm−2 at the power density of 750 μW cm−2. More importantly, the designed electrodes and assembled HSC device exhibits excellent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance. This design concept presented in this paper can provide insights into the construction of multifunctional and high-performance flexible electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores change of precipitation and temperature using the Mann-Kendall test and the spatiotemporal variation of dryness/wetness using the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index and empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis on 1-month time scales in Zhejiang Province, China, over 1971-2015. The results show that monthly precipitation had significant decreasing trends during April, May, September, and October, and significant increasing trends during November and December. Monthly temperatures had significant increasing trends in each month. Increasing temperature significantly increased drought events and intensity. There were consistent spatial patterns of dryness/wetness in Zhejiang. There were dryness trends in April, May, and September, a wetness trend in August, and no dryness/wetness pattern change in other months. The second EOF modes showed that dryness/wetness patterns were anti-phase between northern and southern Zhejiang during April-October. The third EOF modes showed that patterns were anti-phase between eastern and western Zhejiang in August and September. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity, diabetes and fatty liver disease are extremely common in leptin-resistant patients. Dysfunction of leptin or its receptor is associated with obesity. The present study aimed to assess the effects of intramuscular injection of exogenous leptin or its receptor on fat deposition and leptin-insulin feedback regulation. Forty-five 40-day old female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were injected thrice with leptin or its receptor intramuscularly. Adiposity and fat deposition were assessed by assessing the Lee’s index, body weight, food intake, and total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, and triglyceride levels, as well as histological properties (liver and adipose tissue). Serum glucose, leptin, and insulin amounts were evaluated, and glucose tolerance assessed to monitor glucose metabolism in SD rats; pancreas specimens were analyzed immunohistochemically. Hypothalamic phosphorylated Janus kinase 2 (p-JAK2), phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3), and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling, and hepatic sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) were qualified by Western blotting. Leptin receptor immunogen reduced fat deposition, increased appetite, and lowered serum leptin levels, enhancing STAT3 signaling in hypothalamus and down-regulating hepatic SREBP-1. In contrast, SD rats administered leptin immunogen displayed significantly increased body weight and fat deposition, with up-regulated SREBP-1, indicating adiposity occurrence. SD rats administered leptin immunogen also showed glucose intolerance, β- cell reduction in the pancreas, and deregulation of JAK2-STAT3/PI3K signaling, indicating that Lep rats were at risk of diabetes. In conclusion, intramuscular injection of exogenous leptin or its receptor, a novel rat model approach, can be used in obesity pathogenesis and therapeutic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proteolytic activity of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus has been shown to affect the formation and stability of fermented milk. In the present study, the effects of purified cell-envelope proteinase (CEP) from L. bulgaricus on the quality of fermented milk were investigated (20 U g−1 protein). The CEP of L. bulgaricus could significantly increase gel hardness and consistency of fermented milk. The particle size of aggregates was significantly increased, and the negative charge of milk protein surface was significantly decreased. Hydrolysis with the purified CEP significantly increased the free Ca2+ levels and decreased the casein bound Ca2+ levels within gel networks. CEP treatment produced fermented milk with small holes in a uniform and closely connected structure. For the rheological properties, CEP of L. bulgaricus S3 increased viscosity and shear stress, whereas CEP from L. bulgaricus C3 increased the strength of the gel and gave milk gel a higher G′ value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe the clinical and sonographic features of ovarian benign Brenner tumor (BBT) and malignant Brenner tumor (MBT), and to compare performance of four diagnostic models in differentiating them. Methods: Fifteen patients with BBTs and nine patients with MBTs were retrospectively identified in our institution from January 2003 and December 2021. One ultrasound examiner categorized each mass according to ovarian-adnexal reporting and data system (O-RADS), international ovarian tumor analysis (IOTA) Simple Rules Risk (SR-Risk) assessment and assessment of different neoplasias in the adnexa (ADNEX) models with/without CA125. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to compare diagnostic performance. Results: Patients with MBT had higher CA125 serum level (62.5% vs. 6.7%, P = 0.009) and larger maximum diameter of lesion (89 mm vs. 43 mm, P = 0.009) than did those with BBT. BBT tended to have higher prevalence of calcifications (100% vs. 55.6%, P = 0.012) and acoustic shadowing (93.3% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.004), and lower color scores manifesting none or minimal flow (100.0% vs. 22.2%, P < 0.001). Areas under curves of O-RADS, IOTA SR-Risk and ADNEX models with/without CA125 were 0.896, 0.913, 0.892 and 0.896, respectively. There were no significant differences between them. Conclusion: BBTs are often small solid tumors with sparse color Doppler signals, which contain calcifications with posterior acoustic shadowing. The most common pattern of MBT is a large multilocular-solid or solid mass with irregular tumor borders, and most were moderately or richly vascularized at color Doppler. These four models have excellent performance in distinguishing them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ti–15Zr–5Cr–2Al alloy has been developed and various heat treatments have been investigated to develop new biomedical materials. It is found that the heat treatment conditions strongly affect the phase constitutions and mechanical properties. The as-cast specimen is comprised of β phase and a small fraction of α phase, which is attributed to the suppression of ω phase caused by adding Al. A high yield strength of 1148 ± 36 MPa and moderate Young's modulus of 96 ± 3 GPa are obtained in the as-cast specimen. Besides the β phase and α phase, ω phase is also detected in the air cooled and liquid nitrogen quenched specimens, which increases the Young's modulus and lowers the ductility. In contrast, only β phase is detected after ice water quenching. The ice water quenched specimen exhibits a good combination of mechanical properties with a high microhardness of 302 ± 10 HV, a large plastic strain of 23 ± 2%, a low Young's modulus of 58 ± 4 GPa, a moderate yield strength of 625 ± 32 MPa and a high compressive strength of 1880 ± 59 MPa. Moreover, the elastic energies of the ice water quenched specimen (3.22 MJ/m 3 ) and as-cast specimen (6.86 MJ/m 3 ) are higher than that of c.p. Ti (1.25 MJ/m 3 ). These results demonstrate that as-cast and ice water quenched Ti–15Zr–5Cr–2Al alloys with a superior combination of mechanical properties are potential materials for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • TiO 2 @C-Ni/CNTs nanobrushes were synthesized. • TiO 2 @C-Ni/CNTs possessed a wide bandwidth and a strong absorption. • The thermal conductivities and diffusivities were effectively enhanced. • A strategy was provided to fabricate microwave absorbers with good heat conduction. With the coming of 5G era, endowing the microwave absorbers with a light weight and a high thermal conductivity is crucial yet challenging. Combining dielectric/magnetic components with the abundant heterointerfaces has been considered as a promising approach for the development of functional materials with excellent microwave absorption (MA) performances. Herein, we successfully constructed a hierarchical hetero-nanobrush architecture with carbon-coated TiO 2 as a backbone decorated by Ni-catalyzed carbon nanotubes (TiO 2 @C-Ni/CNTs) for excellent MA and thermal management application, and investigated the influence of the Ni/CNTs content on its MA property. CNTs and the well-distributed Ni nanoparticles on top can promote dielectric behaviors and magnetic performances of composites, which is beneficial to the formation of dielectric and magnetic coupling network. Furthermore, the multiple core-shell structures included in TiO 2 @C-Ni/CNTs composites have the vast heterogeneous interfaces, which can result in multiple relaxation and effective interfacial polarization. Under the synergic action of the conductive loss, interface polarization, and three-dimensional spatial network structure, as-synthesized TiO 2 @C-Ni/CNTs nanobrushes possess superior MA performances with the minimum reflection loss (RL) of −32.3 dB at 17.3 GHz with a thickness of 1.6 mm and the broadest effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 5.5 GHz with a thickness of 1.8 mm. Furthermore, the thermal conductivities and diffusivities of the TiO 2 @C-Ni/CNTs/nature rubber hybrids are also effectively enhanced. This work provides an idea to design magnetic-dielectric composite nanostructures for MA and thermal management materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have been widely applied in the vicinity of the seafloor for various purposes, including pipeline, cable, and structure inspection; bottom detection and following; and bottom-mounted docking systems. Squatting is a crucial problem that occurs when cruising in the vicinity of the seafloor, which affects the maneuverability and safety of an AUV. Therefore, it is necessary to have a high-accuracy prediction of the AUV hydrodynamic performance to obtain an automatic guidance controller for safety. In this study, the hydrodynamic performance was investigated by a physics-based unsteady simulation of a self-propelled AUV approaching seafloor using multi-block hybrid dynamic grid method, combined with six degrees of freedom (6DOF), user-defined functions (UDFs), and Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) approach. This simulation was used to explore the principle of the complex unsteady motions experienced by an AUV operating at the vertical plane in the vicinity of the seafloor. The results indicated that, for an AUV speed higher than the critical speed (0.5 m/s at H/D = 1.832, where R e = 5. 49 × 105), the AUV experienced a speed loss and increased resistance, thrust, and suck force. The speed loss was due to the larger increment in resistance than that in thrust. The magnitude and direction of the trim moment were highly sensitive to variations in AUV speed, resulting from the two low-pressure regions. One region was at the AUV bow neck induced by the bow vortex and the other was at the AUV stern neck induced by the rotating propeller. The unsteady interaction between the AUV and seafloor during AUV self-propulsion was elucidated by flow analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify candidates for a morphokinetic embryo selection model for day-3 transfer through the analysis of known implantation data.Study Design: A diagnostic trial study was conducted. Two hundred twelve embryos from 109 patients participating in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) protocols.Results: In this diagnostic trial study, we analyzed cleavage times of transferred embryos with either failed (n=102) or full implantations (n=110). The logistic regression (LR) model of the relationship between the morphokinetic parameters and the implantation rate had a sensitivity of 79.61% and specificity of 47.56%. Results also showed that morphokinetic parameters such as tPNf (the time when pronuclei disappearanced), t2 (t2 for two cells), t4 (t4 for four cells) and t4-t3 were significantly different between embryos in the two groups (p<0.037). Implantation rates of embryos within the time interval of 21.27 h< t2 < 26.725 h were higher than those of embryos outside this period (60.83% vs. 40.21%, p=0.003). Fifty-seven patients with fully implanted embryos included five patients with pregnancy loss and 52 patients with live births. Embryos that met the time interval criteria for t2 and were also within the range of 11hConclusions: Selection and transfer of embryos that reach specific developmental stages within critical time intervals during IVF may improve the outcome of transfers and result in higher implantation rates and live birth rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, teardrop-shaped SiO 2 /TiO 2 nanoparticles (TST-NPs) with core–shell structure were fabricated from tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and tetrabutyl titanate (TBT) by sol–gel method. And these nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV–vis spectroscopy. Photocatalytic activity of teardrop-shaped SiO 2 /TiO 2 nanoparticles after calcination (CST-NPs) was studied towards degradation of methylene blue under sunlight irradiation. The result showed that CST-NPs possessed good photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic mechanism was also studied by adding different capture agent. Results showed that addition of 0.003 M of I − decreased the degradation of MB more than same amount of Ag + , indicating that the photogenerated holes may play a more essential role than photoinjected electrons in the oxidation of MB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study documents the sublethal effects of emamectin benzoate and chlorantraniliprole on the growth, development, and reproduction of the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). FAW is an invasive agricultural pest that poses a significant threat to grain production worldwide. We analyzed the age-stage, two-sex life table to understand the impact of sublethal doses (LC10 and LC25) of emamectin benzoate and chlorantraniliprole on FAW. Our findings indicate that both emamectin benzoate and chlorantraniliprole prolong the development of the FAW F0 generation, and fecundity was reduced at increasing concentrations of the insecticide. In the F1 generation, emamectin benzoate significantly reduced fecundity, and the LC10 dosage shortened the preadult period without affecting the adult stage. Furthermore, chlorantraniliprole lengthened the preadult and adult stages of FAW at LC10 and LC25, respectively, which significantly improved fecundity. Overall, our results indicate that emamectin benzoate effectively inhibits FAW population growth at low concentrations. In contrast, chlorantraniliprole may stimulate population growth and cause a resurgence of the FAW population. Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), commonly known as the fall armyworm (FAW), causes significant damage to many different crop species. In this study, age-stage, two-sex life table analysis was used to investigate the effects of sublethal concentrations of emamectin benzoate and chlorantraniliprole on FAW development and reproduction. In the F0 generation, exposure to emamectin benzoate and chlorantraniliprole significantly impacted the duration of FAW, thus prolonging the development duration of each instar, but not the prepupal stage. Furthermore, the weight of FAW pupae was significantly reduced by emamectin benzoate at LC25 and chlorantraniliprole at LC25 in the F0 generation. With respect to fecundity, emamectin benzoate and chlorantraniliprole significantly reduced fecundity in the F0 generation. In the F1 generation, emamectin benzoate at LC10 had no significant effect on the preadult or adult stages, whereas LC25 significantly shortened the preadult period. The preadult and adult stages of FAW exposed to chlorantraniliprole at LC10 and LC25 were significantly prolonged. Furthermore, emamectin benzoate had no significant effect on the pupal weight of the F1 generation. Chlorantraniliprole had no significant effect at LC10, but significant reduced pupal weight occurred at LC25 in the F1 generation. With respect to fecundity, emamectin benzoate significantly reduced fecundity in the F1 generation. Interestingly, chlorantraniliprole significantly increased fecundity in the F1 generation, which could promote population growth and pest resurgence. These findings have important implications for the integrated pest management of FAW and provide a reference for the more effective control of FAW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic film mulching (PM) has become a widely used cropping method in arid and semiarid areas. However, it is unknown how different PMs affect crop water and N utilization and their interaction under different N supplies. A two-year field experiment was conducted in the Hetao Irrigation District (HID), in northwest China. Following local irrigation practices, 500 mm border irrigation was used to grow spring maize over two growing seasons (2019 and 2020) with two N levels: high-N (225 kg N ha–1) and low-N (150 kg N ha–1). Combined with three mulching methods, the experiment had five treatments: (i) no mulching with high-N (control, CK), (ii) black plastic film with high-N (HB), (iii) transparent plastic film with high-N (HT), (iv) black plastic film with low-N (LB), and (v) transparent plastic film with low-N (LT). The 4 PM treatments had higher average soil water storage (0–120 cm) than CK. The PM treatments had the highest water consumption coefficients (K wcn) at 6–leaf to 12–leaf stage (K wc2) and milking to maturity (K wc5) stage. The HP treatments (HB and HT) had higher soil nitrogen storage than CK during the growth period. Averaged across two seasons, HB and HT had 23.9%, 29.2% respectively, higher grain yields than CK. Averaged across two seasons, the transparent PM treatments had 7.49%, 5.31%, and 1.72% higher water use efficiency (WUE), partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN), and harvest index, respectively, than the black PM treatments. The PM treatments showed the relationship between water use efficiency of biomass (WUE b) and nitrogen use efficiency of biomass (NUE b), with WUE b increased, NUE b also increased. Given these results, we recommend the high-N level and transparent PM for maize cropping to increase yield and resource utilization efficiency in the HID. • Plastic film mulching (PM) redistributed soil water and NO3--N and created a better rootzone soil environment. • PM improved WUE b , accelerated maize soil nitrogen utilization and dry matter accumulation. • Transparent film mulching produced higher yield and resource use efficiency than black film and no mulching. • PM is a promising practice for water and nitrogen management in arid agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ultrathin NiFe 2 O 4 coating on carbon nanotubes (NiFe 2 O 4 /CNTs) was obtained using an atomic layer deposition method. • NiFe 2 O 4 /CNTs exhibited highly efficient peroxidase-like activity. • The peroxidase-like activity of NiFe 2 O 4 /CNTs was maintained well over a wide range of temperature. • A simple approach was developed for the colorimetric detection of glucose with a low detection limit and a wide linear range. Developing peroxidase mimics with high sensitivity and good stability is highly desired to meet broad practical requirements. In this work, the ultrathin NiFe 2 O 4 coating on carbon nanotubes (NiFe 2 O 4 /CNTs) was obtained using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method. The investigation on peroxidase-like performance indicated that the prepared 100NiFe 2 O 4 /CNTs nanocomposites exhibited highly efficient peroxidase-like activity. In particular, the peroxidase-like activity of 100NiFe 2 O 4 /CNTs was maintained well over a wide range of temperature. On the basis of its high peroxidase-like activity, a simple and effective approach was developed for the colorimetric detection of glucose with a detection limit of 2.2 μM and a linear detection range from 5 to 60 μM. The established method was successfully applied to the determination of glucose in juice samples with satisfactory results. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper investigates the hydrodynamics issues that are associated with AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles) as they approach a cone-shaped dock, which is proposed by most AUV docking systems for the AUV׳s protection and simplification. However, this docking system is more sensitive to the hydrodynamic interactions between the dock and the ocean currents. The purpose is to exploit the hydrodynamic susceptibility in AUV docking with the dock and to identify a probable design for AUV control during docking. To achieve this purpose, numerical simulations of an AUV docking with a dock are conducted based on the dynamic mesh method. This paper illustrates the numerical methodology for AUV docking simulation. To increase the accuracy of the numerical simulation, turbulence models and grid-dependence problems are first studied. Then, 3D (three-dimensional) numerical simulations show the dependence of the AUV fluid forces near the dock on various velocities, accelerations, dock shapes, gliding modes, cross currents from several directions and rudder angles. The hydrodynamic behaviors of an AUV docking with a dock are obtained, which provide helpful suggestions for successful docking. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Tumour repopulation initiated by residual tumour cells in response to cytotoxic therapy has been described clinically and biologically, but the mechanisms are unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the mechanisms for the tumour‐promoting effect in dying cells and for tumour repopulation in surviving tongue cancer cells. Methods: Tumour repopulation in vitro and in vivo was represented by luciferase activities. The differentially expressed cytokines in the conditioned medium (CM) were identified using a cytokine array. Gain or loss of function was investigated using inhibitors, neutralising antibodies, shRNAs and ectopic overexpression strategies. Results: We found that dying tumour cells undergoing cytotoxic therapy increase the growth of living tongue cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Dying tumour cells create amphiregulin (AREG)‐ and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)‐based extracellular environments via cytotoxic treatment‐induced endoplasmic reticulum stress. This environment stimulates growth by activating lysine acetyltransferase 6B (KAT6B)‐dependent nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) signalling in living tumour cells. As direct targets of NF‐κB, miR‐22 targets KAT6B to repress its expression, but long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) (XLOC_003973 and XLOC_010383) counter the effect of miR‐22 to enhance KAT6B expression. Moreover, we detected increased AREG and bFGF protein levels in the blood of tongue cancer patients with X‐box binding protein‐1 (XBP1) activation in tumours under cytotoxic therapy and found that XBP1 activation is associated with poor prognosis of patients. We also detected activation of miR‐22/lncRNA/KAT6B/NF‐κB signalling in recurrent cancers compared to paired primary tongue cancers. Conclusions: We identified the molecular mechanisms of cell death‐induced tumour repopulation in tongue cancer. Such insights provide new avenues to identify predictive biomarkers and effective strategies to address cancer progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of colon cancer is increasing year over year, seriously affecting human health and quality of life in recent years. However, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been utilized for the treatment of colon cancer. S. officinalis Saponins (S-Saponins), the potential compound of TCM, displays multiple biological activities in colon cancer treatment. In our study, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) combined with multivariate statistical analysis were performed to analyze and identify raw and processed saponins. Then, MTT and cell migration assays were used to preliminarily explore the effects of saponins in vitro on colon cancer cells. The results showed that 29 differential saponins compounds under Paozhi were identified by UHPLC-MS/MS. Moreover, in vitro validation showed that Sprocessed better inhibited the proliferation and migration of colon cancer cells than Sraw. This study provides a basis for the determination of the chemical fundamentals of the efficacy changes during Paozhi through inferring the changes in saponin components and its possible transformation mechanisms before and after processing S. officinalis. Meanwhile, it also provides new insights into potential bioactive ingredients for the treatment of colon cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A selective and rapid ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) method was established and validated for the determination of ziyuglycoside I, 3β,19α-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic-acid 28-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester, and pomolic acid in rats after the oral administration of ziyuglycoside I, 3β,19α-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic-acid 28-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester, pomolic acid, and Sanguisorba officinalis L. extract. The separation was carried out on an ACQUITY UPLC®HSS T3 column (2.1 mm × 100 mm, 1.8 μm), using methanol and 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate water as the mobile phase. The three compounds were quantified using the multiple reaction monitoring mode with the electrospray ion source in both the positive and negative mode. Liquid-liquid extraction was applied to the plasma sample preparation. Bifendate was selected as the internal standard. The intra-day and inter-day precision and the accuracy of the method were all within receivable ranges. The lower limit of quantification of ziyuglycoside I, 3β,19α-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic-acid 28-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester, and pomolic acid were 6.50, 5.75, and 2.63 ng/mL, respectively. The extraction recoveries of analytes in rat plasma ranged from 83 to 94%. The three components could be rapidly absorbed into the blood (Tmax, 1.4–1.6 h) both in the single-administration group or S. officinalis extract group, but the first peak of PA occurred at 0.5 h and the second peak at 4–5 h in the S. officinalis extract. Three compounds were eliminated relatively slowly (t1/2, 7.3–11 h). The research was to establish a rapid, sensible, and sensitive UHPLC–MS/MS method using the multi-ion mode for multi-channel simultaneous mensuration pharmacokinetics parameters of three compounds in rats after oral administration of S. officinalis extract. This study found, for the first time, differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters of the three compounds in the monomer compounds and S. officinalis extract administration, which preliminarily revealed the transformation and metabolism of the three compounds in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop yields are related to N fertilizer management, and also depend on local precipitation. Varying precipitation levels with long-term meteorological data have not been considered to optimize nitrogen (N) strategies in previous studies on the Loess Plateau of China. In this study, Root Zone Water Quality Model 2 (RZWQM2) was calibrated and validated using data from multi-year experiments and used to assess and optimize N management strategies for winter wheat cultivation. Results showed that the basal dressing fertilizer with 120 kg N ha-1 together with the topdressing of 67–77 kg N ha-1 was recommended in regions with 443 mm average annual precipitation. For those with 364 mm and 290 mm average annual precipitation, the basal dressing fertilizer with 90 kg N ha-1 together with the topdressing of 67–77 kg N ha-1 and the basal dressing with 90 kg N ha-1 together with the topdressing fertilizer of 13–23 kg N ha-1 were recommended, respectively. Compared with farmers' practice (i.e., the single basal dressing), although decreasing the total rate by 12–18 kg N ha-1, the optimized N strategies (i.e., the basal fertilizer together with one-time topdressing) can effectively promote grain N uptake, nitrogen harvest index, and agronomic efficiency of N. It also maintained similar grain yield, evapotranspiration, and crop water productivity. The minimum precipitation threshold was around 300 mm, where the topdressing N fertilizer had little influence on grain yield, evapotranspiration, and grain N uptake. Additionally, the largest advantage of optimized N strategies was saving N fertilizer and reducing the environment footprint of wheat production. However, the crop production under the optimized N strategies was more sensitive to the precipitation variation than that under farmers' practice. Thus, if climate continues to change following historical data, greater harvest fluctuations are expected under optimized N strategies. To cope with the evolving climate change, optimized N strategies should be integrated with other management measures for smallholder farming households on the Loess Plateau. • RZWQM2 can effectively simulate N fertilizer rates and application methods. • Optimized N strategies (ONS) can save N fertilizer with high nitrogen harvest index. • ONS can improve grain N uptake and maintain grain yield. • Greater harvest fluctuation would be found under ONS with climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has unfavorable outcomes with the highest incidence seen in China. Accordingly, exploring effective molecular biomarkers is of great value. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression and modulate numerous biological processes in tumors. Our study aimed to identify prognostic miRNAs and investigate their role in ESCC. Methods: Prognosis-related plasma miRNAs were detected by miRNA microarray and qRT-PCR. Functional assays and molecular mechanism studies were used to investigate the role of miRNA in ESCC. Results: Over-expression of miR-323a-3p was associated with a favorable prognosis. MiR-323a-3p negatively regulated proliferation, migration, and invasion. Through biological predictions, the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) was found to be a potential target of miR-323a-3p. Further investigation revealed that miR-323a-3p directly targeted and suppressed FMR1. MiR-323a-3p and FMR1 mRNA, as well as miR-323a-3p and the FMR1-encoded protein FMRP, showed negative correlations. Luciferase activity of FMR1-3′-UTR, but not mutant counterparts, was decreased by mimic compared with that of the control. The compromised cell proliferation, migration, and invasion induced by transfection with miR-323a-3p mimic were rescued by transfection with a FMR1 expression plasmid. Tumors induced by miR-323a-3p overexpressed ESCC cells grew significantly slower in vivo and resulted in smaller tumor masses. Metastatic lung colonization was also inhibited by miR-323a-3p overexpression. Conclusions: MiR-323a-3p was significantly associated with survival and acted as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting proliferation, migration, and invasion via the regulation of FMR1. MiR-323a-3p is a promising biomarker and may be a potential therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A physics-based simulation for AUV docking with a stationary dock was performed with the multi-block hybrid dynamic grids method (MHDG) and a discretized propeller. URANS equations were coupled to 6DOF equations via UDF to predict the instantaneous velocity and position. The MHDG method uses a multi-block mesh topology, moving mesh, and dynamic-layer method to grid the domain, move the rigid body and its sub domain, and re-mesh the skewed mesh respectively, which can improve computation accuracy and speed. The numerical methods were validated by a comparison with open water curves and the velocity history in AUV free running between simulation and tests. Two docking modes were validated: constant RPM docking and brake docking. In constant RPM docking, the AUV velocity increased gradually, by approximately 11.5% in 6.0 s. The dock had less effect on AUV resistance except that the resistance increased and then declined as the AUV passed through the neck point of the dock. The tip vortex pairs extended and damped downstream of the rotating propeller. In brake docking, the propeller acted as a resistance part and led to a decrement of 46.2% in the velocity in nearly 9 s. The viscous pressure resistance occurred after the braking propeller. • The physics based simulation of AUV underwater docking using MHDG method was run at a desktop computer for about 14 days and had a high accuracy. • The numerical methods were validated by the open water curves comparison, and the velocity history comparison in AUV free running tests. • Two docking modes were simulated: constant RPM docking and braking docking. • In constant RPM docking, before the neck point, the dock would drag the AUV; after the neck point, it would push the AUV. • In brake docking, the propeller acted as a resistance part and made the velocity decrease fast from 0.65 m/s to 0.35 m/s in nearly 9 seconds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread adoption of returning crop residue to regulate soil properties and improve yields has been well-established. However, the long-term effects of residue return on soil organic carbon (SOC) and yield in film-mulched farmland, especially under future climate conditions, are still unclear. To address this issue, we utilized the SPACSYS model, which was calibrated with 5-year (2016–2020) field experiment data from various mulching and fertilization treatments in the Hetao irrigation district in northwest China. Furthermore, we investigated the impacts of climate change on SOC storage in 20 cm and maize yield with calibrated SPACSYS model driven by 27 global climate models under two climate scenarios (SSP245 and SSP585) from CMIP6. We considered multiple combinations of agronomic options: five residue return levels (R1: 20%; R2: 40%; R3: 60%; R4: 80%; R5: 100%) and three return depths (D1: surface applied; D2: 10 cm; D3: 20 cm) to evaluate the effects of residue return on SOC storage and yield. We found that yield at a high fertilization rate with transparent film mulching (HT) would increase by 10.1% under SSP245, 15.3% under SSP585 in 2021–2060 compared to the baseline (1981–2020). By contrast, the yield would decrease by 5.8% under SSP245, 21.7% under SSP585 in 2061–2100. SOC storage under HT would decrease by 9.4–12.7% and 18.4–41.4% in 2021–2060 and 2061–2100, respectively. We determined that the optimal treatment involves returning 100% of residue to a depth of 20 cm (R5D3). Under R5D3, yield showed an increasing trend in both two future periods; the SOC storage decreased by 4.8–6.8% in 2021–2060 and increased by 3.9–16.1% in 2061–2100 compared to the baseline under HT. Our results highlight the potential of residue return to increase yield while maintaining soil health when film mulching is adopted. • SPACSYS model simulated yield and soil organic carbon (SOC) content well. • SOC stocks show a declining trend in the future without residue return. • Residue return can mitigate negative effects of climate change on yield and SOC. • The optimal choice for augmenting SOC and yield is 100% residue return at 20 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain structure or functioning abnormality in regions such as insula and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is associated with functional dyspepsia (FD) and pain empathy, but the relationship between FD and pain empathy remains unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the pain empathic abilities of FD patients and healthy controls (HCs) and investigate the association of pain empathy with clinical characteristics and quality of life of FD patients. Pain empathic abilities was measured in 30 FD patients and 30 HCs using a validated pain empathy paradigm. Demographic characteristics, Helicobacter pylori status, duration, dyspeptic symptom score and Nepean Dyspepsia Life Quality Index (NDLQI) were obtained from all patients. FD patients scored higher than HCs when rating painful pictures, but the accuracy for painful pictures was significantly lower than HCs. Pearson correlation analysis showed significant negative correlation between NDLQI and pain rating scores for painful pictures. When sex, age, educational level, the number of complaints, duration, H. pylori infection and NDLQI were included in multiple linear regression analysis, NDLQI was independently associated with pain ratings. FD patients showed abnormally enhanced pain empathic abilities, which may be associated with the severity of symptoms and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C. officinalis Kuan is the dry root of Cyathula officinalis Kuan. Clinically, it is used for fall and flutter injury, rheumatism and arthralgia. Phytoecdysteroids have significant anti-inflammatory effects, and the phytoecdysteroids present in C. officinalis Kuan exhibit potential for treating rheumatoid arthritis. This study first developed a selective, accurate and efficient LC-MS/MS method for 12-day pharmacokinetic studies regarding the simultaneous determination of cyasterone, 25-epi-28-epi-cyasterone, precyasterone and capitasterone from C. officinalis Kuan phytoecdysteroids extract in normal and adjuvant arthritis rats. An Agilent Eclipse Plus C18 RRHD column (1.8 µm, 50mm × 2.1 mm) with a gradient mobile phase consisting of water (A) and acetonitrile (B) was used for analysis. The mass analysis was performed in an Agilent 6430 QQQ-MS mass spectrometer with positive mode multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The results indicated that the AUC0-t and AUC0-∞ values of the four phytoecdysteroids in adjuvant arthritis rats were different from those in normal rats on the first day, which could provide a helpful reference for pharmacological and toxicological studies, as well as clinical applications of C. officinalis Kuan in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. 1. C. officinalis Kuan is the dry root of Cyathula officinalis Kuan which has been used for the treatment of flapping injury, rheumatism arthralgia, foot flaccidity, and tendon contracture thousands of years in China, and has been officially included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. 2. A highly accurate, stable, and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was first established and validated for simultaneously determination four phytoecdysteroids: cyasterone, 25-epi-28-epi-cyasterone, precyasterone and capitasterone in normal and adjuvant arthritis rats plasma samples 12 days of continuous gavage of C. officinalis Kuan phytoecdysteroids extract. 3. The phytoecdysteroids is the important component of C. officinalis Kuan, which is difficult to separated. And there is no report for the pharmacokinetic study of phytoecdysteroids from C. officinalis Kuan. And the method provides a good reference for the follow-up studies clinical medication of the phytoecdysteroids from C. officinalis Kuan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract Two key limitations affecting supercapacitor application of manganese oxide (MO) are the poor electric conductivity and low accessible surface area. In this work, we reported an effective method to fabricate lamellar MO coating on carbon nanocoil (CNC) and investigated its supercapacitive properties. The elegant MO/CNC core shell structure enabled synergistic effects from both MO nanosheets and CNC by using nanosheets to provide a large interaction area for ion transport and CNC to improve the electric conductivity of composites. The investigation of electrochemistry showed that the specific capacitance of MO could reach 435 F g−1 at current density of 1 A g−1. Moreover, the composites presented an excellent rate capability and cycling performance with 92.7% capacitance retention at current density of 2 A g−1 after 5000 cycles. In addition, the asymmetric supercapacitor fabricated with MO/CNC as the positive electrode and CNC as the negative electrode demonstrated excellent energy density of 21.58 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 100 W kg−1. And the asymmetric supercapacitor exhibited an excellent electrochemical cycling stability with 96.3% initial capacitance remained after 1000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the regulatory role of miR‐155 and Kinesin Superfamily Proteins‐5C (KIF‐5C) in the progression of pulpitis based on bioinformatic analysis. Methodology: Normal pulp tissues and pulpitis pulp tissues were collected and subjected to high‐throughput sequencing and the differentially expressed miRNAs were determined. An in vitro and in vivo pulpitis model was established. HE, IHC staining and histological evaluation were used to verify the inflammatory state of human and mouse pulp tissues. The mRNA expression of IL‐1β and TGF‐β1 were determined by RT‐qPCR and protein expression of IL‐1α, IL‐4, IL‐8, IL‐13, IFN‐γ, IL‐6, IL‐10 and MCP‐1 were determined by protein chip. The target genes of miR‐155 were predicted by miRanda database and verified by Dual‐luciferase reporter assay, RT‐qPCR and western blotting. MiR‐155 lentivirus were used to upregulate or downregulate miR‐155 and the siRNA of KIF‐5C was used to downregulate KIF‐5C. The expression of miR‐155 or KIF‐5C was determined by RT‐qPCR. All statistics were analysed using GraphPad prism 8.2. Results: The high‐throughput sequencing results showed that 6 miRNAs (miR‐155, miR‐21, miR‐142, miR‐223, miR‐486, miR‐675) were significantly upregulated in diseased human pulp tissues, and miR‐155 was significantly elevated among the six miRNAs. RT‐qPCR results demonstrated that miR‐155 expression was upregulated in human pulpitic tissue, mice pulpitic tissue and LPS‐HDPCs. IL‐1β was increased while TGF‐β1 was decreased in lenti‐miR‐155 transfected LPS‐HDPCs. Analysis of protein chip results indicated that lenti‐miR‐155 transfected LPS‐HDPCs produced higher levels of IL‐8, IL‐6, MCP‐1. The opposite results were obtained when miR‐155 was inhibited. Through miRanda database screen and Dual‐luciferase reporter assay, the target gene (KIF‐5C) of miR‐155 was identified. In lenti‐miR‐155 transfected LPS‐HDPCs, the expression of KIF‐5C was downregulated. However, when shRNA‐miR‐155 was transfected to LPS‐HDPCs, the opposite result was obtained. Silent RNA was used to knock down KIF‐5C, the results showed that when both KIF‐5C and miR‐155 were knocked down simultaneously, the downregulated expression of inflammatory factors observed in LPS‐HDPCs following miR‐155 knockdown was rescued. Conclusion: MiR‐155 plays an important role in promoting pulpitis through targeting KIF‐5C and may serve as a potential therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploitation of multifunctional nanomaterials used for colorimetric biosensing assays is highly desired in diagnostic applications. In this paper, a novel TiO 2 -encapsulated Au (Au@TiO 2 ) yolk-shell nanostructure was synthesized via a simple and controllable method, in which the TiO 2 nanotubes could effectively restrain the aggregation and growth of Au nanoparticles and supply more active sites and high surface areas for biocatalytic reactions. The microstructure and composition of as-prepared nanocomposites were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM (HRTEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results demonstrated that unique Au@TiO 2 yolk-shell nanostructure with the well-dispersed Au nanoparticles confined in nanotube was obtained. The investigation of peroxidase-like activity of Au@TiO 2 nanocomposites confirmed that the relative catalytic kinetic followed Michaelis–Menten behaviors. On the basis of the highly efficient peroxidase-like activity of Au@TiO 2 , an effective method for colorimetric detection of H 2 O 2 and glucose was established. Considering numerous advantages including reduced aggregation, good chemical stability and high catalytic activity available by the present Au@TiO 2 with unique structure, designing other yolk-shell nanostructures with exact function orientation using a similar strategy may also be very promising in the application of biocatalysis and bioassays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ti 3 C 2 /Ni 2 P/triphenyl phosphite was synthesized as an antioxidative microwave absorber with excellent photothermal property. • The minimum RL of the composite is −57.87 dB and the maximum EAB is 5.04 GHz. • Ti 3 C 2 /Ni 2 P/triphenyl phosphite exhibited a good hydrophobicity and chemical stability. • Microwave absorbers with the photothermal conversion capability has not been reported. Microwave absorbers with the high-efficiency photothermal conversion performance are currently lacking but significantly desired as they can provide a sufficient heat energy besides the absorption property. Herein, Ti 3 C 2 /Ni 2 P/triphenyl phosphite (TPOP-Ti 3 C 2 /Ni 2 P) composite was synthesized by an ingenious one-pot solution-phase reaction and proved to be a superior antioxidative microwave absorbent with excellent photothermal properties. Ni 2 P can effectively optimize the impedance match of Ti 3 C 2 MXene and consequently improve its microwave absorption (MA) performance. Results show that the minimum reflection loss value of TPOP-Ti 3 C 2 /Ni 2 P is −57.87 dB at 10.88 GHz, the maximum effective absorption bandwidth is 5.04 GHz, and the thickness is merely 1.8 mm. Notably, TPOP on the MXene surface can serve simultaneously as an antioxidative stabilizer and a capping agent to improve its hydrophobicity and chemical stability. The average water contact angle of TPOP-Ti 3 C 2 /Ni 2 P is prompted to 96.59°, while the average oil contact angle is 26.02°. Moreover, compared with the pure Ti 3 C 2 , TPOP-Ti 3 C 2 /Ni 2 P has an obvious antioxidant stability in aqueous solution. Additionally, Ni 2 P nanoparticles exhibit a dipole resonance mode under illumination conditions, which enhances the surface absorption capability of visible light. The surface temperature of the natural rubber film after introducing TPOP-Ti 3 C 2 /Ni 2 P increased rapidly under simulated light, showing a high photothermal conversion ability. Furthermore, the MA performance of the composite film remains basically unchanged, whether is repeatedly bent or exposed under a harsh sun. This study provides a new strategy for manufacturing MA materials with efficient photothermal properties for the possible application to design wearable devices that can combine electromagnetic protection and self-generated heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increasing evidence suggests an association between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (pre-BMI) and adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, the effects of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms on these relationships require further investigation. This study aimed to investigate whether the relationship between pre-BMI and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes was influenced by MTHFR gene polymorphisms. Methods: A total of 5614 mother-fetus pairs were included in the study. The odds ratios (OR) of adverse pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), gestational hypertension (GHT), cesarean delivery (CS), and premature rupture of membranes (PROM), were estimated using adjusted logistic regression models and subgroup analysis. Results: Pregnant women with higher pre-BMI values were positively related to the risk of GDM, GHT, and CS. In the subgroup analysis, underweight BMI was associated with a decreased risk of CS and GDM in pregnant women with the MTHFR A1298C AA or C677T CC genotype, while overweight/obese BMI was associated with an increased risk of GDM and CS in different MTHFR variants. Moreover, pregnant women with MTHFR A1298C AC + CC or C667T CC were found to have an increased risk of GHT in the MTHFR A1298C AA or C667T CT + TT genotype. A remarkable association was observed between the obesity group with MTHFR A1298C AC + CC (OR = 6.49, CI: 2.67–15.79) and the overweight group with the C667T CC genotype (OR = 4.72, CI: 2.13–10.45). Conclusions: MTHFR gene polymorphisms exert a modifying effect on the association between maternal pre-BMI and the risk of GHT, CS, and GDM. Pregnant women with a high pre-BMI with specific MTHFR genotypes should be considered for GHT development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway plays an important role in cancer progression and treatment, including that of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), a disease with traditionally poor prognosis. Given the regulatory role of microRNA (miRNA) in gene expression, we examined the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at miRNA-binding sites of genes in the mTOR pathway with the prognosis of patients with limited-disease SCLC. A retrospective study was conducted of 146 patients with limited-disease SCLC treated with chemoradiotherapy. Nine SNPs of six mTOR pathway genes were genotyped using blood samples. Cox proportional hazard regression modeling and recursive partitioning analysis were performed to identify SNPs significantly associated with overall survival. Three SNPs, MTOR: rs2536 (T>C), PIK3R1: rs3756668 (A>G), and PIK3R1: rs12755 (A>C), were associated with longer overall survival. Recursive partitioning analysis based on unfavorable genotype combinations of the rs2536 and rs3756668 SNPs classified patients into three risk subgroups and was internally validated with 1000 bootstrap samples. These findings suggest that miRNA-related polymorphisms in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway may be valuable biomarkers to complement clinicopathological variables in predicting prognosis of limited-disease SCLC and to facilitate selection of patients likely to benefit from chemoradiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The mechanism of chemo‐resistance in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is unclear. This study aims to explore the resistance‐related genomic profiles of residual tumors after neo‐adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in SCLC through the whole‐exome sequencing (WES). Experimental design A total of 416 limited diseases (LD) SCLC patients underwent surgery were retrospectively analyzed, of which 40 patients received NAC. Then we selected 29 patients undergoing NAC (n = 19) and chemotherapy naïve (CTN, n = 10) to perform WES sequence with formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded samples including tumor and paired para‐tumor. Results: In total, single nucleotide variation and mutation rate were similar between NAC and CTN groups. The mutation signatures were significantly discrepant between NAC and CTN groups, as well as among patients with partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), and progressive disease. There were more copy number variation deletions in NAC group compared with CTN group. The inactivation of TP53 and RB1 were the most significantly events in both NAC and CTN groups. RB1 nonsense mutations were recurrent in NAC group (9/19 vs. 0/9, 47.4% vs. 0%) with favorable survival, while the frame‐shift deletions were frequent in CTN group (3/9 vs. 3/19, 33.3% vs.15.8%). Integrated function enrichment revealed that the frequently mutant genes were involved in cell cycle, metabolic reprogramming, and oncogenic signaling pathways in NAC group, such as BTG2 pathway, glycolysis in senescence and P53 pathway. A total of 27 genes presented frequently mutant in NAC group and might played a positive role in drug resistance. Multiple genes including BRINP3, MYH6, ST18, and PCHD15, which were associated with prognosis, occurred mutant frequently in PR and SD groups. Conclusion: Residual tumors after neo‐adjuvant therapy exhibited different mutation signature spectrum. Multiple genes including RB1 nonsense mutations, BRINP3, MYH6, ST18, and PCHD15 were with frequent mutation in residual tumors, which might participate chemo‐resistance and influenced the prognosis in patients with limited disease SCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]