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Urological malignancies are a major global health issue because of their complexity and the wide range of ways they affect patients. There's a growing need for in-depth research into these cancers, especially at the molecular level. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) – these don't code for proteins but are crucial in controlling genes – and the tumor microenvironment (TME), which is no longer seen as just a background factor but as an active player in cancer progression. Understanding how ncRNAs and the TME interact is key for finding new ways to diagnose and predict outcomes in urological cancers, and for developing new treatments. This article reviews the basic features of ncRNAs and goes into detail about their various roles in the TME, focusing specifically on how different ncRNAs function and act in urological malignancies.

Abstract The mislocalization of proteins leads to breast cancer, one of the world’s most prevalent cancers, which can be identified from immunohistochemical images. Here, based on the deep learning framework, location prediction models were constructed using the features of breast immunohistochemical images. Ultimately, six differentially localized proteins that with stable differentially predictive localization, maximum localization differences, and whose predicted results are not affected by removing a single image are obtained (CCNT1, NSUN5, PRPF4, RECQL4, UTP6, ZNF500). Further verification reveals that these proteins are not differentially expressed, but are closely associated with breast cancer and have great classification performance. Potential mechanism analysis shows that their co-expressed or co-located proteins and RNAs may affect their localization, leading to changes in interactions and functions that further causes breast cancer. They have the potential to help shed light on the molecular mechanisms of breast cancer and provide assistance for its early diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is recommended as the first-line treatment for brain metastases of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) in many guidelines, but its specific mechanism is unclear. We aimed to study the changes in the proteome of brain metastases of LUAD in response to the hyperacute phase of GKRS and further explore the mechanism of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Cancer tissues were collected from a clinical trial for neoadjuvant stereotactic radiosurgery before surgical resection of large brain metastases (ChiCTR2000038995). Five brain metastasis tissues of LUAD were collected within 24 h after GKRS. Five brain metastasis tissues without radiotherapy were collected as control samples. Proteomics analysis showed that 163 proteins were upregulated and 25 proteins were downregulated. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that the DEPs were closely related to ribosomes. Fifty-three of 70 ribosomal proteins were significantly overexpressed, while none of them were underexpressed. The risk score constructed from 7 upregulated ribosomal proteins (RPL4, RPS19, RPS16, RPLP0, RPS2, RPS26 and RPS25) was an independent risk factor for the survival time of LUAD patients. Overexpression of ribosomal proteins may represent a desperate response to lethal radiotherapy. We propose that targeted inhibition of these ribosomal proteins may enhance the efficacy of GKRS.

Both starch and dietary fiber, which are important nutrients in cereals, and are beneficial to human health. The digestion rate and digestibility of starch are key factors affecting postprandial blood glucose in the human body. Dietary fiber, that is a nutrient content, has been not easily digested by small intestine, and has the effect of slowing down the digestion of starch, has received much attention in recent years. In this study, the effects of dietary fiber on starch digestibility have been reviewed, and the mechanisms of dietary fiber slowing down starch digestibility from three aspects: reducing amylolysis kinetics, delaying gastric emptying by viscosity of dietary fiber, physical embedding of starch by dietary fiber and wrapping starch with intact cell wall have been summarized, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the subsequent design and production of low glycemic index (GI) foods.

Abstract Background Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC), well known for its chemoresistance to platinum-based chemotherapy, exhibited a good response in clinical trials of anti–PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. By assessing PD-L1 expression, we sought to determine the potential therapeutic benefit of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in OCCC. Methods and results The retrospective study included 152 individuals with OCCC between 2019 and 2022 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Paired tumors of primary versus recurrent lesions (17 pairs from 15 patients) or primary versus metastatic lesions (11 pairs from 9 patients) were also included. The 22C3 pharmDx assay and whole sections were used for PD-L1 immunohistochemical staining. Pathologists with experience in premarket clinical trials evaluated PD-L1 expression based on various diagnostic criteria (TPS 1%, CPS 1, or CPS 10). The number and percentage of positive PD-L1 cases were 34 (22.4%, TPS ≥ 1%) and 59 (38.8%, CPS ≥ 1), respectively. Thirty-three (21.7%) of the cases had high PD-L1 expression (CPS ≥ 10). Half of the platinum-resistant patients (11/22) were PD-L1 positive (CPS ≥ 1). In addition, positive PD-L1 expression (CPS ≥ 1) was related to clinicopathological characteristics that represented a worse prognosis, such as advanced stages, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis (p = 0.032, p

Abstract Background Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is considered one of the most prevalent and distressing symptoms among cancer patients and may vary among patients with different cancer types. However, few studies have explored the influence of physical and psychological symptoms on CRF among esophageal cancer (EC) patients without esophagectomy. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of physical and psychological symptoms on CRF among EC patients without esophagectomy. Methods In the present study, a cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2021 to March 2022 in Liaoning Province, China. Among the 112 included participants, 97 completed our investigation. The questionnaires used consisted of the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Gastrointestinal Cancer Module (MDASI-GI), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and demographic and clinical information. Multivariate linear regression was conducted to test the relationships between physical and psychological symptoms and CRF. Results Of the 97 EC patients, 60.8% reported CRF (BFI ≥ 4). The mean age of the participants was 64.92 years (SD = 8.67). According to the regression model, all the variables explained 74.5% of the variance in CRF. Regression analysis indicated that physical symptoms, including constipation, diarrhoea, and difficulty swallowing, contributed to CRF. On the other hand, depressive symptoms increased the level of CRF among EC patients without esophagectomy. Conclusions Given the high prevalence of CRF among EC patients without esophagectomy, it is urgent to emphasize the importance of fatigue management interventions based on physical and psychological symptoms to alleviate CRF in EC patients.

Abstract Objective Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common spinal surgical disease. Low back and leg pain caused by LDH is the main factor leading to functional disability, which has caused a serious burden to patients and society. Osteoking can delay the progression of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, and even has a significant effect on the prevention of deep vein thrombosis after fracture surgery. In recent years, it has been gradually used in the treatment of LDH and has received significant results. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to predict the mechanism of Osteoking in the treatment of LDH through network pharmacology and verify it by molecular docking method. Methods The TCMSP database was used to collect the relevant active components and targets of Osteoking, while the GeneCards, OMIM and DisGeNET databases were utilized to collect the relevant disease targets of LDH. The Venny 2.1.0 software was employed to obtain the intersecting gene targets of Osteoking and LDH. PPI network construction and core target selection were performed using Cytoscape 3.9.0 software. The Metascape database was used for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of the relevant targets. Finally, molecular docking was conducted using AutoDock software. Results The study identified 116 potential targets and 26 core targets for the treatment of LDH with Osteoking. Pathways in cancer, Alzheimer's disease, microRNAs in cancer and the IL-17 signalling pathway were among the main involved signalling pathways. Molecular docking results demonstrated that the key targets AKT1, IL-6, ALB, TNF and IL-1β exhibited relatively stable binding activities with the main active components of Osteoking. Conclusions Osteoking can alleviate the symptoms of lumbar disc herniation through the modulation of multiple targets and signalling pathways.

ABSTRACTSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mutations are rapidly emerging. In particular, beneficial mutations in the spike (S) protein, which can either make a person more infectious or enable immunological escape, are providing a significant obstacle to the prevention and treatment of pandemics. However, how the virus acquires a high number of beneficial mutations in a short time remains a mystery. We demonstrate here that variations of concern may be mutated due in part to the influence of the human microbiome. We searched the National Center for Biotechnology Information database for homologous fragments (HFs) after finding a mutation and the six neighboring amino acids in a viral mutation fragment. Among the approximate 8,000 HFs obtained, 61 mutations in S and other outer membrane proteins were found in bacteria, accounting for 62% of all mutation sources, which is 12-fold higher than the natural variable proportion. A significant proportion of these bacterial species—roughly 70%—come from the human microbiota, are mainly found in the lung or gut, and share a composition pattern with COVID-19 patients. Importantly, SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase replicates corresponding bacterial mRNAs harboring mutations, producing chimeric RNAs. SARS-CoV-2 may collectively pick up mutations from the human microbiota that change the original virus’s binding sites or antigenic determinants. Our study clarifies the evolving mutational mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2.IMPORTANCESevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mutations are rapidly emerging, in particular advantageous mutations in the spike (S) protein, which either increase transmissibility or lead to immune escape and are posing a major challenge to pandemic prevention and treatment. However, how the virus acquires a high number of advantageous mutations in a short time remains a mystery. Here, we provide evidence that the human microbiota is a reservoir of advantageous mutations and aids mutational evolution and host adaptation of SARS-CoV-2. Our findings demonstrate a conceptual breakthrough on the mutational evolution mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 for human adaptation. SARS-CoV-2 may grab advantageous mutations from the widely existing microorganisms in the host, which is undoubtedly an “efficient” manner. Our study might open a new perspective to understand the evolution of virus mutation, which has enormous implications for comprehending the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract The two most prevalent subtypes of epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) are ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) and high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC). Patients with OCCC have a poor prognosis than those with HGSC due to chemoresistance, implying the need for novel treatment target. In this study, we applied single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) together with bulk RNA-seq data from the GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) database (the GSE189553 dataset) to characterize and compare tumor heterogeneity and cell-level evolution between OCCC and HGSC samples. To begin, we found that the smaller proportion of an epithelial OCCC cell subset in the G2/M phase might explain OCCC chemoresistance. Second, we identified a possible pathogenic OCCC epithelial cell subcluster that overexpresses LEFTY1. Third, novel biomarkers separating OCCC from HGSC were discovered and subsequently validated on a wide scale using immunohistochemistry. Amine oxidase copper containing 1 (AOC1) was preferentially expressed in OCCC over HGSC, while S100 calcium-binding protein A2 (S100A2) was detected less frequently in OCCC than in HGSC. In addition, we discovered that metabolic pathways were enriched in the epithelial compartment of the OCCC samples. In vitro experiments verified that inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation or glycolysis pathways exerted direct antitumor effects on both OCCC and HGSC cells, while targeting glutamine metabolism or ferroptosis greatly attenuated chemosensitivity only in OCCC cells. Finally, to determine whether there were any variations in immune cell subsets between OCCC and HGSC, data from scRNA-seq and mass cytometry were pooled for analysis. In summary, our work provides the first holistic insights into the cellular and molecular distinctions between OCCC and HGSC and is a valuable source for discovering new targets to leverage in clinical treatments to improve the poor prognosis of patients with OCCC.

The sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region has experienced substantial population growth over the past decades, accompanied by severe hunger and environmental degradation. Underperforming governance is a major driver of unsustainable agricultural production and land use in SSA. The impacts of governance performance on food security and the environment in SSA require better understanding by considering socioeconomic and biophysical dynamics. Using an agro-economic dynamic optimization model, we investigate the impacts of governance performance on land use, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and food security in the SSA region by 2050. Our findings indicate that strong governance could lead to less deforestation, thus reducing GHG emissions in the agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) sector. Strong governance could also improve food security, with higher agricultural productivity, lower food prices and food expenditure share, as well as higher self-sufficiency. These findings highlight that those efforts should extend beyond specific agricultural and environmental measures and promote integrated governance to achieve long-term synergies between food and environmental security in SSA.

The morbidity and mortality rates in lung cancer are high worldwide. Early diagnosis and personalized treatment are important to manage this public health issue. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has played increasingly important roles in early screening, auxiliary diagnosis, and prognostic assessment. AI uses algorithms to extract quantitative feature information from high-volume and high-latitude data and learn existing data to predict disease outcomes. In this review, we describe the current uses of AI in lung cancer-focused pathomics, imageomics, and genomics applications.

With the Goal-Establishment of “carbon compliance” and “carbon neutrality”, enterprises should upgrade “green development” to a strategic position and implement it through all aspects of business operations. Green supplier selection is the initial phase of supply chain management, therefore a green supplier evaluation system is needed to achieve green development. Based on a literature analysis, We selected 45 metrics as candidates for evaluating suppliers. Then through expert interviews, some indicators were revised and supplemented, and finally a green supplier evaluation index system for high energy-consuming enterprises was constructed. A unique aspect of this paper is the introduction of rough number theory into the supplier evaluation process to improve the indicator assignment and the grey correlation TOPSIS method, which optimizes the processing of uncertain semantic information in the evaluation process. The rough number-grey correlation TOPSIS supplier evaluation model developed in this paper has been verified to be applicable and stable in case studies and successfully implemented.

Abstract Background Metabolites of tryptophan (Trp) metabolism in the tumor microenvironment play crucial immunosuppressive roles in various cancers. However, the role of Trp metabolism in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or natural killer/T‐cell lymphoma (NK/TCL) remains unelucidated. Methods We investigated the potential role of Trp metabolism in a cohort of 43 patients with DLBCL and 23 with NK/TCL. We constructed tissue microarrays and performed in situ staining of Trp‐catabolizing enzymes and PD‐L1 using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results We observed 14.0% positive staining of IDO1 in DCBCL and 60.9% in NK/TCL; 55.8% of IDO2 in DCBCL and 95.7% in NK/TCL; 79.1% of TDO2 in DCBCL and 43.5% in NK/TCL; 29.7% of IL4I1 in DCBCL and 39.1% in NK/TCL. However, IDO1, IDO2, TDO2, and IL4I1 positivity did not significantly differ between PD‐L1+ and PD‐L1− biopsy tissue samples of NK/TCL; nonetheless, a positive correlation of IDO1 (r = 0.87, p

In order to analyze the ground vibration responses induced by the dynamic loads in a tunnel, this paper proposes a new simplified tunnel–soil model. Specifically, based on the basic theory of the thin-layer method (TLM), the basic solution of three-dimensional layered foundation soil displacement was derived in the cylindrical coordinate system. The perfectly matched layer (PML) boundary condition was applied to the TLM. Subsequently, a tunnel–soil dynamic interaction analysis model was established using the volume method (VM) in conjunction with the TLM-PML method. The displacement frequency response function of the foundation soil around the tunnel foundation was derived. Finally, a ground vibration test under an impact load in a tunnel was carried out. The test and calculated results were compared. The comparison results show that the ground vibration acceleration response values within 25 m from the load are similar. Compared with the test results, the theoretical calculation results exhibit a decreasing trend in the range of 40–80 Hz between 25 and 60 m, with the maximum reduction being approximately one order of magnitude. In addition, the experimental comparison demonstrates that the model can be used to analyze the ground vibrations caused by underground loads.

Resin-based dental composites, commonly used in dentistry, offer several advantages including minimally invasive application, esthetically pleasing appearance, and good physical and mechanical properties. However, these dental composites can be susceptible to microcracks due to various factors in the complex oral environment. These microcracks can potentially lead to clinical restoration failure. Conventional materials and methods are inadequate for detecting and repairing these microcracks in situ. Consequently, incorporating self-healing properties into dental composites has become a necessity. Recent years have witnessed rapid advancements in self-healing polymer materials, drawing inspiration from biological bionics. Microcapsule-based self-healing dental composites (SHDCs) represent some of the most prevalent types of self-healing materials utilized in this domain. In this article, we undertake a comprehensive review of the most recent literature, highlighting key insights and findings related to microcapsule-based SHDCs. Our discussion centers particularly on the preparation techniques, application methods, and the promising future of self-healing microcapsules in the field of dentistry.

The successful management of lepidopteran moths in orchards usually depends on the precise forecast of adult activity. However, the seasonal phenology of moths varies between crop cultivars and years, making it difficult to schedule the control measures. Here, we monitored male flight activity of oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta and summer fruit tortrix moth Adoxophyes orana by using sex pheromone traps in peach orchards of three different cultivars for three successive years. We developed a logistic multiple-peaks model to fit data and then calculated degree-days (DD) required for male activity and neonate emergency. Results show that G. molesta and A. orana males had 4–5 and 3 flight peaks per year, respectively. The seasonal phenology of G. molesta or A. orana was quite stable with an identical timing of each flight peak between cultivars in a year. The flight activity was usually higher in the second and third peaks for both moths, with a higher cumulative number of G. molesta males captured than that of A. orana. Compared to A. orana, G. molesta emerged early in spring and required lower degree-days to reach the subsequent flight peaks and for neonate emergency. Our results suggest that to decline the possibility of outbreaks of moths during the growing seasons, pheromone traps should be scheduled in April with a cumulative DD between 49.6 and 207.1 for G. molesta and in mid-May–early June with a cumulative DD between 450.4 and 866.7 for A. orana, aiming to trap the newly emerged male adults or disrupting female mating success of overwintered moths in orchards. Based on the thermal requirement for egg hatching (i.e., 79.4 DD for G. molesta and 90.0 DD for A. orana), insecticide treatments would be applied in late-April–early May and late May–early June to reduce the field population density of neonates of G. molesta and A. orana, respectively, to reduce fruit damage in orchards. Furthermore, pheromone traps set up in late July–early August (573.8–1025.2 DD) for G. molesta and in mid-September (1539.7–1788.9 DD) for A. orana may suppress overwintering populations and thus decrease pest infestation in next year.

Abstract Background The present study aimed to identify profiles of social constraints among Chinese breast cancer patients and to explore the variables associated with these patterns. Methods The study recruited 133 Chinese breast cancer patients in Liaoning Province, China, between June 2021 and February 2022. The questionnaire package included the Social Constraints Scale (SCS), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF), and the Social Impact Scale (SIS). The methods of statistical analysis used included latent profile analysis (LPA) and multinomial logistic regression. Results Three latent patterns of social constraints were found: class 1-the low social constraints group (51.9%), class 2-the moderate social constraints group (35.3%), and class 3-the high social constraints group (12.8%). Patients with high social support were more likely to report a low level of social constraint, while patients with a greater fear of progression were more likely to report a moderate or high level of social constraints. Significant differences existed among the latent classes identified by reference to social constraint in terms of education. Conclusion These results suggest that breast cancer patients’ perceptions of social constraints vary and exhibit individual differences. Health care providers should take into account patients’ fear of progression as well as their social support when developing interventions for patients with a high level of social constraints.

Abstract High bandwidth, low voltage electro-optic modulators with high optical power handling capability are important for improving the performance of analog optical communications and RF photonic links. Here we designed and fabricated a thin-film lithium niobate (LN) Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) which can handle high optical power of 110 mW, while having 3-dB bandwidth greater than 110 GHz at 1550 nm. The design does not require etching of thin-film LN, and uses hybrid optical modes formed by bonding LN to planarized silicon photonic waveguide circuits. A high optical power handling capability in the MZM was achieved by carefully tapering the underlying Si waveguide to reduce the impact of optically-generated carriers, while retaining a high modulation efficiency. The MZM has a $$V_\pi L$$ V π L product of 3.1 V.cm and an on-chip optical insertion loss of 1.8 dB.

IntroductionCocaine is a highly addictive drug that is abused due to its excitatory effect on the central nervous system. It is critical to reveal the mechanisms of cocaine addiction and identify key genes that play an important role in addiction.MethodsIn this study, we proposed a centrality algorithm integration strategy to identify key genes in a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network constructed by deferential genes from cocaine addiction-related datasets. In order to investigate potential therapeutic drugs for cocaine addiction, a network of targeted relationships between nervous system drugs and key genes was established.ResultsFour key genes (JUN, FOS, EGR1, and IL6) were identified and well validated using CTD database correlation analysis, text mining, independent dataset analysis, and enrichment analysis methods, and they might serve as biomarkers of cocaine addiction. A total of seventeen drugs have been identified from the network of targeted relationships between nervous system drugs and key genes, of which five (disulfiram, cannabidiol, dextroamphetamine, diazepam, and melatonin) have been shown in the literature to play a role in the treatment of cocaine addiction.DiscussionThis study identified key genes and potential therapeutic drugs for cocaine addiction, which provided new ideas for the research of the mechanism of cocaine addiction.

The transition towards advanced residential energy sources is a pressing priority for many countries. Despite this, solid fuels remain the dominant form of cooking energy for rural households in developing countries. This study investigates the physical and mental health impacts of cooking energy choices by using endogenous switching models to address selection bias associated with cooking energy adoption and to distinguish the health impacts of different types of cooking energy. Using country-representative household survey data from rural China, our results indicate that adopting advanced forms of energy, not only enhances physical health in terms of reducing the rates of chronic diseases but also improves mental health. We further delve into the heterogenous impacts of advanced energy adoption across different groups and find that women, old adults, and economically disadvantaged groups are more likely to experience greater mental health benefits compared to their counterparts, while the opposite results are observed for the physical health. Additionally, we differentiate the health impacts by distinguishing between various energy types. This study provides insights for policy making aimed at improving public health and promoting health equality, contributing to efforts towards achieving sustainable development goals by prioritizing clean and efficient residential energy solutions.

Foxtail millet, originated from China and now cultivated worldwide, is a kind of high dietary fiber whole grain food, and has a high level of vitamins and proteins. Furthermore, foxtail millet has many positive effects on the adjuvant treatment of diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases because of the abundance in polyphenols. Nonetheless, foxtail millet has poor processing characteristics due to the absence of gluten, restricting the development of foxtail millet products. Studies have demonstrated that heat-moisture treatment, extrusion, superfine grinding, and microbial fermentation are promising methods to improve the processing qualities of foxtail millet. Heat-moisture treatment is helpful to increase the content of resistant starch but has less influence on other components, further reduce the GI value of foxtail millet. The extrusion has positive effects on improving the solubility of foxtail millet starch and increasing the contents of polyunsaturated fatty acid, linoleic and linolenic acids, and adverse effects on reducing the solubility of foxtail millet proteins and causing losses of nutrients due to Maillard reaction. Superfine grinding can reduce the particle size of foxtail millet to obtain a better mouthfeel of foxtail millet products. The superfine foxtail millet flour has better solubility, higher freeze-thaw stability, and lower gelatinization temperature. Microbial fermentation contributes positively to reducing the molecular weight and retrogradation value of foxtail millet starch, degrading rapidly digested starch, and improving the digestibility of foxtail millet protein. This paper briefly introduced the effects of different processing methods on foxtail millet nutrients, aiming to provide references for increasing the variety and improving the quality of foxtail millet products.

Background Aside from immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), intervention of CD47/Sirpα mediated ‘don’t eat me’ signal between macrophage and tumor cell is considered as a promising therapeutic approach for cancer immunotherapy. Compared with CD47, the novel immune checkpoint CD24/Siglec-10 can also deliver ‘don’t eat me’ signal and CD24 shows much lower expression level in normal tissue which might avoid unwanted side effects.Methods Cell-based phage display biopanning and D-amino acid modification strategy were used to identify the CD24/Siglec-10 blocking peptide. Cell-based blocking assay and microscale thermophoresis assay were used to validate the blocking and binding activities of the peptide. Phagocytosis and co-culture assays were used to explore the in vitro function of the peptide. Flow cytometry was performed to assess the immune microenvironment after the peptide treatment in vivo.Results A CD24/Siglec-10 blocking peptide (CSBP) with hydrolysis-resistant property was identified. Surprisingly, we found that CSBP could not only block the interaction of CD24/Siglec-10 but also PD-1/PD-L1. CSBP could induce the phagocytosis of tumor cell by both the macrophages and monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs), which can further activate CD8+ T cells. Besides, combination of radiotherapy and CSBP synergistically reduced tumor growth and altered the tumor microenvironment in both anti-PD-1-responsive MC38 and anti-PD-1-resistant 4T1 tumor models.Conclusions In summary, this is the first CD24/Siglec-10 blocking peptide which blocked PD-1/PD-L1 interaction as well, functioned via enhancing the phagocytosis of tumor cells by macrophages and M-MDSCs, and elevating the activity of CD8+ T cells for cancer immunotherapy.

Summary: Kimura’s disease is a rare chronic inflammatory disorder characterized with subcutaneous masses, lymphadenopathy, and peripheral eosinophilia. So far, the disease pathogenesis remains hardly known. Here, we perform bulk-RNA sequencing and reveal a higher expression of transmembrane 176A (TMEM176A) with over-activated extracellular-signal-regulate kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinases (Erk/MAPK) signaling pathway in eosinophils of Kimura’s disease compared with healthy controls. Flow cytometry analysis shows that the composition of lymphocytes, monocytes, and dendritic cell subsets are similar between Kimura’s disease and healthy controls, which is further validated by scRNA-seq. Loss of S100 calcium binding protein P (S100P) is found in the CD24+ myeloid subset of Kimura’s disease. In vitro functional assays show that S100P may participate in promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in myeloid cells. Taken together, we are the first to study the immune pathogenesis systematically and demonstrate that Erk/MAPK signaling pathway might be a potential therapeutic target for Kimura’s disease.

Due to its high nutritional and dietotherapy values, highland barley has attracted the attention and favor of people all over the world in recent years. It has been demonstrated that the nutritional components of highland barley are comprehensive and unique, with the characteristics of high protein, high fiber, high vitamin, low fat, low sugar and variety of bioactive components. As the most important component in highland barley, highland barley starch not only has low digestibility, but also has good freeze-thaw stability, high solubility, good emulsion stability and superior film forming performance, which makes it have great application value in food, medicine and industrial production. The content of highland barley protein, which is rich in 18 kinds of amino acids, is higher than that of most grains, and its derivatives play an important role in medical treatment. Unfortunately, highland barley protein cannot form gluten network structure, which limits the application in daily staple food to a certain extent. Highland barley also contains a large amount of dietary fiber, especially β-glucan. Long-term consumption could significantly reduce the incidence of chronic diseases and metabolic syndromes such as heart disease and diabetes. However, the research on the application of highland barley is still in the laboratory stage, which failed to achieve large-scale application in the actual production. The value of highland barley has not been brought into full play, which leads to the waste of its resources and the reduction of its added value. This paper reviewed the macronutrients, health functions and applications of highland barley, aiming to provide some reference for the development of highland barley in food and health industry.

In order to understand more clearly the morphology of the structural layers of the soft and hard wheat bran to understand the effect of mechanical force on the wheat grain, we observed the microstructure of each layer of the wheat bran from soft and hard mature wheat. Based on the differences in mechanical properties and water permeability of each wheat bran layer, the mature wheat grains were alternately treated under cold and heat conditions and separated by manual dissection. The microstructure of each layer of wheat bran from soft and hard mature wheat was determined by optical and fluorescence microscopy. Seven different structure layers were observed by optical microscopy, named them as epidermis, epicarp, cross cells, tube cells, testa, nucellar layer, and aleurone layer. All the layers of the outer bran of wheat grains were separated, except for the tube cells layer. The autofluorescence imagings of five layers were obtained. It was found that the morphology of the structural layers of the soft and hard wheat bran did not differ much, except for the aleurone layer. The aleurone layer of soft wheat bran was significantly different from that of the hard wheat bran, which is fuller and denser compared to soft wheat. In this study, more aleurone grains were lost in the aleurone layer obtained by the outside-in peeling method. The mastery of the morphology of each structural layer of the bran helps us to quickly quantify the degree of peeling of wheat milling, and to make immediate adjustments to the process. At the same time, we understand that the contents of the aleurone cells have different binding strengths with the nucellar layer and the starchy endosperm. The paper is instructive to deep investigation of wheat milling mechanism and product process refinement.

Abstract Background To explore the effects of cardiac exercise rehabilitation on peripheral blood endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in elderly patients with chronic heart failure. Methods 80 elderly patients with chronic heart failure were selected from March 2017 to March 2019 and randomly divided into two groups (N = 40). The control group was treated routinely and walked freely for 30–60 min every day. The patients in the exercise rehabilitation group developed a cardiac exercise rehabilitation plan. Then, cardiac function and peripheral blood B-natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in the two groups were compared. The cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion ability of EPCs were detected. The levels of the PI3K/AKT pathway and eNOS and VEGF were compared. Results There were no significant differences in all indexes between the two groups before treatment (P > 0.05), and both improved significantly after treatment (P

Abstract Background Most research studying social constraints has been performed among Caucasian or Asian American breast cancer (BC) patients, but few studies have evaluated social constraint levels and explored the effect of social constraints on the integrative health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of Chinese BC patients. Therefore, our study aimed to examine the association of social constraints with HRQOL among Chinese women with BC. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 136 Chinese women diagnosed with BC in Liaoning Province, China, from December 2020 to May 2021. Questionnaire information contained HRQOL, social constraints, social support, social stigma, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Multiple linear regression was used to analyse the association of psychological factors with HRQOL. Results The mean score of FACT-B was 96.05 (SD = 18.70). After controlling for potential confounders, social constraints (Beta = − 0.301, P

ABSTRACT: A strategy for realizing a microchip-scale single-photon digital loop buffer controlled by low-voltage electronic signals was studied in the context of integrated photonics. A potential implementation for bridging a gap between other technologies used a recirculating loop architecture based on advances in low-loss passive waveguides and a fast electro-optic add-drop switch. Although the requirements of single-photon buffers are demanding, our analysis suggested that a voltage-controlled, room-temperature catch-and-store short-term quantum memory for light on a chip may be feasible in certain regimes.

IntroductionGardnerella vaginalis is a major pathogen responsible for bacterial vaginosis (BV). However, the recurrence of infection and the antibiotic resistance of biofilms remain significant challenges for the treatment of BV. In this study, we aimed to analyze the pathogenic factors and drug sensitivity associated with the clinical treatment of BV in Northeast China.MethodsSubgroups were identified by clade-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Biofilm formation was measured by crystal violet staining, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The inhibition and eradication of biofilm formation were measured by XTT and broth recovery-based methods.ResultsOf the 24 samples of G. vaginalis, 11 samples and American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 14018 formed biofilms; the remainder did not. The positive rates of detection for the sialidase A and vly genes in the 24 G. vaginalis samples were 100% and 79.2%, respectively. Moreover, 21 samples (87.5%) showed resistance to metronidazole and 16 (66.7%) presented with sensitivity towards clindamycin. The biofilm MIC80 (BMIC80) of metronidazole for ATCC14018 was 16 μg/ml while that of clindamycin was 0.125 μg/ml. The minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) of metronidazole was > 256 μg/ml while that of clindamycin was > 2 μg/ml.DiscussionOur results revealed that G. vaginalis is more resistant to metronidazole than clindamycin and neither metronidazole nor clindamycin are able to effectively eradicate vaginal biofilms. Thus, the role of antibiotics and biofilms in BV requires further investigation.

An increased reaction time often occurs after error responses (post-error slowing, PES). However, the role of top-down regulation in post-error processing remains to be debated. Impairing cognitive control function through acute stress would help to investigate the role and stage of top-down adaptive regulation in post-error processing. Here, we recruited 50 healthy male participants who were randomly assigned to either a stress condition (Trier Social Stress Task, TSST) or a control condition (control version of the TSST). A color-word Stroop task with different response stimulus intervals (RSIs) was used to investigate the effects of acute stress on different stages of post-error processing. The results showed that cortisol, heart rate, perceived stress level, and negative affect were higher in the stress group (n = 24) than in the control group (n = 26), indicating successful stress induction. The accuracy of post-error response in the control group increased with the extension of RSI, and the reaction time decreased. However, the accuracy of 1,200 ms RSI was close to that of 700 ms RSI in the stress group but was significantly lower than that in the control group. The results suggested that acute stress caused the impairment of top-down adaptive regulation after error. Furthermore, our study manifested adaptive adjustment only in the late stages of post-error processing, indicating the phasic and adaptive features of post-error adjustment.

Both colorectal and gastric cancer are lethal solid-tumor malignancies, leading to the majority of cancer-associated deaths worldwide. Although colorectal cancer (CRC) and gastric cancer (GC) share many similarities, the prognosis and drug response of CRC and GC are different. However, determinants for such differences have not been elucidated. To avoid genetic background variance, we performed multi-omics analysis, including single-cell RNA sequencing, whole-exome sequencing, and microbiome sequencing, to dissect the tumor immune signature of synchronous primary tumors of GC and CRC. We found that cellular components of juxta-tumoral sites were quite similar, while tumoral cellular components were specific to the tumoral sites. In addition, the mutational landscape and microbiome contributed to the distinct TME cellular components. Overall, we found that different prognoses and drug responses of GC and CRC were mainly due to the distinct TME determined by mutational landscape and microbiome components.

This comprehensive review delves into the rapidly evolving arena of cancer vaccines. Initially, we examine the intricate constitution of the tumor microenvironment (TME), a dynamic factor that significantly influences tumor heterogeneity. Current research trends focusing on harnessing the TME for effective tumor vaccine treatments are also discussed. We then provide a detailed overview of the current state of research concerning tumor immunity and the mechanisms of tumor vaccines, describing the complex immunological processes involved. Furthermore, we conduct an exhaustive analysis of the contemporary research landscape of tumor vaccines, with a particular focus on peptide vaccines, DNA/RNA-based vaccines, viral-vector-based vaccines, dendritic-cell-based vaccines, and whole-cell-based vaccines. We analyze and summarize these categories of tumor vaccines, highlighting their individual advantages, limitations, and the factors influencing their effectiveness. In our survey of each category, we summarize commonly used tumor vaccines, aiming to provide readers with a more comprehensive understanding of the current state of tumor vaccine research. We then delve into an innovative strategy combining cancer vaccines with other therapies. By studying the effects of combining tumor vaccines with immune checkpoint inhibitors, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and oncolytic virotherapy, we establish that this approach can enhance overall treatment efficacy and offset the limitations of single-treatment approaches, offering patients more effective treatment options. Following this, we undertake a meticulous analysis of the entire process of personalized cancer vaccines, elucidating the intricate process from design, through research and production, to clinical application, thus helping readers gain a thorough understanding of its complexities. In conclusion, our exploration of tumor vaccines in this review aims to highlight their promising potential in cancer treatment. As research in this field continues to evolve, it undeniably holds immense promise for improving cancer patient outcomes.

Labrune syndrome (LS) is caused by SNORD118 gene mutations with a particular neuroimaging of white matter disease, intracranial calcification, and cysts. There was no effective treatment until now. An 18-year-old man with infancy-onset LS was first treated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor Bevacizumab for 1 year, resulting in significant clinical and radiological improvements. We adopted a similar regimen in a patient with late-onset LS and demonstrated moderate cognitive improvements but without changes in imaging. As such, Bevacizumab could potentially be clinically effective in adult-onset LS with great safety.

Background: Cough is the main symptom of mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection. Cough potential protein transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1) plays an important role in cough reflex. The purpose of this study was to clarify the mechanism of wogonin, the effective component of Qinbai Qingfei concentrated pellet (Qinbai), in the treatment of cough after MP infection.Methods: The Biacore™ system was used to detect whether there was specific binding between Qinbai and cough potential protein TRPA1. Biacore™ fishing technology and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS technology were used during fishing combined active components and identification and analysis of recovered samples. The expression levels of TRPA1, substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), cough-related proteins, and mRNA in the lung tissues from each group were detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and real-time PCR.Results: Biacore™ results showed that Qinbai had strong specific binding to TRPA1 protein with a binding value of 99.0 resonance unit (RU). The samples obtained from angling were identified and analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS as wogonin. The results of immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and real-time PCR showed that compared with the model group, the wogonin group had lower expressions of mRNA, TRPA1, SP, and CGRP in the lung tissue of cough mice with MP infection (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05), and the effects were superior to those of azithromycin and pentoxyverine control groups.Conclusion: Wogonin can treat cough after MP infection by affecting the expressions of cough-related proteins, such as TRPA1, SP, and CGRP. This study provided a theoretical foundation for the clinical research of Qinbai.

Benefiting from its favorable effects in promoting intestinal peristalsis, increasing satiety and reducing postprandial blood sugar, wheat bran insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) could be added to noodles to improve the nutrition value of noodle products. However, the addition of IDF usually results in an adverse effect on the quality characteristics of fiber fortified products, leading to unfavorable texture and consumption drop. It was found that IDF could weaken dough characteristics, thereby causing the quality deterioration of noodles, but the mechanism is unclear as yet. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different amounts of IDF on the texture quality and cooking quality of noodles. The water distribution, rheological properties, pasting properties and cooking properties of the noodles were determined by low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR), dynamic rheometer, and rapid visco-analyzer. The results of the LF-NMR showed that the increased IDF in the noodles resulted in a contraction of relaxation time and an increase in the proportion of loosely bound water. At a high amount of IDF, the water absorption and tensile distance of the noodles significantly decreased and the cooking loss rate increased, with a downward trend in peak viscosity, final viscosity and setback values. Moreover, IDF could improve the storage modulus and loss modulus of sheeted dough and enhance the texture of noodles. Furthermore, the correlations between IDF addition amounts and rheological properties as well as cooking properties were analyzed, and the results confirmed that noodles with the IDF amount of 2%–4% had higher nutrition and quality. This study provides the basis for future development and improvement of IDF-enriched health foods.

Nowadays, Edge Information System (EIS) has received a lot of attentions. In EIS, Distributed Machine Learning (DML), which requires fewer computing resources, can implement many artificial intelligent applications efficiently. However, due to the dynamical network topology and the fluctuating transmission quality at the edge, work node selection affects the performance of DML a lot. In this paper, we focus on the Internet of Vehicles (IoV), one of the typical scenarios of EIS, and consider the DML-based High Definition (HD) mapping and intelligent driving decision model as the example. The worker selection problem is modeled as a Markov Decision Process (MDP), maximizing the DML model aggregate performance related to the timeliness of the local model, the transmission quality of model parameters uploading, and the effective sensing area of the worker. A Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) based solution is proposed, called the Worker Selection based on Policy Gradient (PG-WS) algorithm. The policy mapping from the system state to the worker selection action is represented by a deep neural network. The episodic simulations are built and the REINFORCE algorithm with baseline is used to train the policy network. Results show that the proposed PG-WS algorithm outperforms other comparation methods.

Starch with different particle sizes has different compositions and different physical and chemical properties. The amylopectin content and protein content and lipid content of small granule B starch are higher than that of A-type starch, which can form spiral complex to limit the expansion of starch. Under the same treatment conditions, B-type starch is more vulnerable to damage, sensitive to freezing storage, even breaks in freezing storage, and has higher gelatinization temperature than other starch during freezing. Amylose contained in A-type has high content, high crystallinity, high degree of ordering after frozen storage and insensitivity to frozen storage, which is beneficial to improve the stability of pores and texture of frozen dough. With the extension of freezing time, the content of amylose decreased, while the content of various amylopectin increased and the conformation of polysaccharide changed. Starch deterioration is different under different frozen storage conditions. The deterioration mechanism of frozen dough can be evaluated by variety of starch characteristics during freezing process, which is of great guiding significance to the improvement of frozen dough technology.

The rheological properties of wheat flour are very important for the production of bakery products, and the milling methods greatly influence the rheological properties. In this paper, we measured the particle size distributions, damaged starch contents, granular morphology, and pasting properties of the wheat flour, also carried out the uniaxial elongation test, the texture profile analysis, and rheological properties of the dough to evaluate effects of two milling methods, i.e. impact mill (IM) and hammer mill (HM), on the rheological properties of wheat flour and dough. The results showed that milling methods had no significant effects on flour pasting temperature (except the flour H3 obtained by HM grinding three times) and springiness of dough. Flour samples milled by IM had a lower damaged starch content, higher trough viscosity, higher final viscosity and higher values of setback compared to samples processed by HM. After repeated milling of IM, the damaged starch content of the endosperm granules could be controlled below 1% (P

Frozen dough technology can effectively recover sensory quality of frozen flour products. This technique has gradually drawn the research interest in the industrialization of staple food. However, the quality of the final frozen products remains inferior to that of fresh products. This study reviewed the deterioration of gluten network in dough caused by ice recrystallization and various additives. This study also investigated the optimization of the freezing process and other empirical improvement techniques. Suggestions for future research were also provided. Keywords: Frozen dough, Gluten protein, Poor quality, Improved technology

Summary: Background: Air pollution is a risk factor for poor cognitive function, while a plant-based dietary pattern is associated with better cognitive function. We aimed to explore their interaction with cognitive function among older adults. Methods: We used a prospective cohort of old individuals, including 6525 participants of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), aged 65-110 years and with normal cognition at baseline. Air pollution measurement was derived using satellite-derived annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations based on residential locations. Plant-based diet index (PDI) was calculated using survey responses to assess the dietary pattern. Repeated measures of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were utilized to assess cognitive function. We applied the Cox proportional hazard regression to explore the associations and further stratified the analysis by PDI. Findings: During a median of 5·6-year follow-up, 1537 (23·6%) out of 6525 participants with normal cognition at baseline developed poor cognitive function (MMSE

Screening active compounds from complex herbal extracts is an important part of the drug mechanism research. The present study describes the establishment and application of a sensitive, convenient and efficient method for screening active ingredients targeting pulmonary fibrosis factor TGF-β1 from Radix Scutellariae extracts based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors. Previous studies have proved that Qin bai qing fei pellet (Qin bai) can inhibit the expression of TGF-β1 in Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). Radix Scutellariae is the main component of Qin bai. However, the mechanism of Radix Scutellariae inhibiting TGF-β1 expression remains unexplained. The study investigated the active compound in Radix Scutellariae which was bound with TGF-β1 by SPR and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS techonology. As a result, Radix Scutellariae extracts showed a good combination with the TGF-β1 in vitro. Wogonoside was identified as a bioactive ingredient by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. The affinity constant of Wogonoside to TGF-β1 was determined by SPR affinity analysis (KD=21.7 μm). Pharmacology assays revealed that Wogonoside strongly inhibited the expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 in A549 cells infected by Mycoplasma pneumoniae(M.pneumoniae). Wogonoside prevented Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection by inhibiting the expression of TGF-β1, which might be one of the mechanisms for the anti-MPP properties of Qin bai. These results provided a foundation to further explore the mechanisms of Qin bai.

A better understanding of the relationship between land surface temperature (LST) and its influencing factors is important to the livable, healthy, and sustainable development of cities. In this study, we focused on the potential effect of human daily activities on LST from a short-term perspective. Beijing was selected as a case city, and Weibo check-in data were employed to measure the intensity of human daily activities. MODIS data were analyzed and used for urban LST measurement. We adopted spatial autocorrelation analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and spatial autoregressive model to explore the influence mechanism of LST, and the study was performed at both the pixel scale and subdistrict scale. The results show that there is a significant and positive spatial autocorrelation between LSTs, and urban landscape components are strong explainers of LST. A significant and positive effect of human daily activities on LST is captured at night, and this effect can last and accumulate over a few hours. The variables of land use functions and building forms show varying impacts on LST from daytime to nighttime. Moreover, the comparison between results at different scales indicates that the relationships between LST and some explainers are sensitive to the study scale. The current study enriches the literature on LST and offers meaningful and practical suggestions for the monitoring, early warning, and management of urban thermal environment with remote sensing technology and spatial big data sources.

Applying fracture mechanics theory to heterogeneous welded joints might lead to an uncertain assessment of fatigue crack propagation behavior and, consequently, an inaccurate estimation of the cyclic loading capacity and fatigue life of welded structures. Combining experimental testing and analytical equations of the marine overmatched welded joints of D32 marine structural steel provided a view of the influence of strength heterogeneity on fatigue crack growth (FCG) behavior under constant cyclic loading. FCG testing was conducted using compact tension specimens under different stress ratios. The effect of residual stress on the FCG behaviors of the heat-affected zones (HAZs) and fusion zones (FZs) of the compact tension (CT) specimens was examined in the overmatched welded joints. Subsequently, the welding residual stresses were removed by post-welding heat treatment (PWHT) to focus the FCGR assessment on the microstructural effect. The results indicated that the FCG rates (FCGRs) of the FZ and HAZ materials obviously varied in as-welded and stress-relieved states. The existence of residual stress in the overmatched welded joints led to a decrease in FCG rates and prolonged the fatigue crack propagation life for the FZs and HAZs. Moreover, the FCGR increased in the base metal (BM), HAZ, and FZ with the increase in the stress ratio. The FCG curves of these materials were fitted to correct the stress ratios using the NASGRO equation. Finally, an analytical analysis of the FCGR based on the NASGRO equation revealed the relationship between different stress ratios for different materials.

This study modified native highland barley (HB) flour by heat–moisture treatment (HMT) at different temperatures (90, 110, and 130 °C) and moisture contents (15%, 25%, and 35%). The effects of the treatment on the pasting, thermal, rheological, structural, and morphological properties of the native and HMT HB flour were evaluated. The results showed that HMT at 90 °C and 25% moisture content induced the highest pasting viscosity (3626–5147 cPa) and final viscosity (3734–5384 cPa). In all conditions HMT increased gelatinization temperature (To, 55.77–73.72 °C; Tp, 60.47–80.69 °C; Tc, 66.16–91.71 °C) but decreased gelatinization enthalpy (6.41–0.43 J/g) in the HMT HB flour compared with that in the native HB flour. The HB flour treated at 15% moisture content had a higher storage modulus and loss modulus than native HB flour, indicating that HMT (moisture content, 15%, 25%, and 35%) favored the strengthening of the HB flour gels. X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy results showed that HMT HB flour retained the characteristics of an A-type crystal structure with an increased orderly structure of starch, while the relative crystallinity could be increased from 28.52% to 41.32%. The aggregation of starch granules and the denaturation of proteins were observed after HMT, with additional breakage of the starch granule surface as the moisture content increased. HMT could increase the resistant starch content from 24.77% to 33.40%, but it also led to an increase in the rapidly digestible starch content to 85.30% with the increase in moisture content and heating temperature. These results might promote the application of HMT technology in modifying HB flour.

Abstract Background Depression and anxiety result in psychological distress, which can further affect mental status and quality of life in stroke patients. Exploring the associations between positive psychological variables and symptoms of psychological distress following stroke is of great significance for further psychological interventions. Methods A total of 710 stroke patients from the five largest cities in Liaoning Province in China were enrolled into the present study in July 2014. All patients independently completed the questionnaires with respect to psychological distress and positive psychological variables. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were evaluated using Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, respectively. Positive psychological variables were evaluated using Perceived Social Support Scale, Adult Hope Scale (AHS), General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale and Resilience Scale-14 (RS-14). Activities of Daily Living (ADL) was measured using Barthel Index. Factors associated with psychological variables and depressive and anxiety symptoms were identified using t-test, ANOVA, correlation and hierarchical linear regression analysis. Results Depressive and anxiety symptoms were present in 600 of 710 (84.51%) and 537 of 710 (75.63%) stroke patients enrolled, respectively. Social support (β = − 0.111, p

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of wheat bran dietary fiber on wheat flour dough rheological properties. In this paper, wheat bran dietary fiber (WBDF) with different levels (0, 3%, 6%, 9%, 12%) were added to wheat flour and the characterization of dough rheological properties was conducted by rapid visco-analyzer, farinograph, as well as rotational rheometer. The results from pasting properties showed a gradual reduction in peak viscosity, trough viscosity, final viscosity and setback with increasing WBDF content. At high WBDF concentration, the significant increase of water absorption, formation time as well as weakening degree implied the harder formation of gluten network structure and the competition for water between gluten and WBDF particles. Such conclusion was in line with the findings from dynamic rheology tests, in which the doughs containing WBDF were more sensitive to strain regardless of their rigid and stiff texture. This study revealed vulnerable dough structure induced by WBDF, as well as the strengthened elastic property, elaborating the harmful effects of WBDF on the rheological properties of doughs. Keywords: Wheat bran dietary fiber, Wheat dough, Rheological properties, Viscoelasticity

Hot compression tests of 6061 Al alloy were applied under the Gleeble-3500 system at temperature range of 300 – 450 °C and strain rate range of 0.01-10 s−1. The true stress-strain curves of 6061 Al alloy were acquired and the flow stress was recorded and corrected. The associated microstructure of 6061 Al alloy after hot deformation process was observed. The results suggest that the stress level of 6061 Al alloy during hot compression process decreases with increasing compression temperature and decreasing strain rate. Arrhenius equation and the Zener-Hollomon parameter in the hyperbolic sine-type equation were utilized in present research to formulate the constitutive equation of 6061 Al alloy. The microstructure after hot deformation consists of elongated grains and the dynamic recovery of 6061 Al alloy occurs during hot compression. However, for the alloy deformed at low Z value, the existence of newly refined grains around the serrated grain boundaries indicates the occurrence of partial dynamic recrystallization.

Background: Hypertension is a highly prevalent disorder. A nomogram to estimate the risk of hypertension in Chinese individuals is not available. Methods: 6201 subjects were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into training set and validation set at a ratio of 2:1. The LASSO regression technique was used to select the optimal predictive features, and multivariate logistic regression to construct the nomograms. The performance of the nomograms was assessed and validated by AUC, C-index, calibration curves, DCA, clinical impact curves, NRI, and IDI. Results: The nomogram140/90 was developed with the parameters of family history of hypertension, age, SBP, DBP, BMI, MCHC, MPV, TBIL, and TG. AUCs of nomogram140/90 were 0.750 in the training set and 0.772 in the validation set. C-index of nomogram140/90 were 0.750 in the training set and 0.772 in the validation set. The nomogram130/80 was developed with the parameters of family history of hypertension, age, SBP, DBP, RDWSD, and TBIL. AUCs of nomogram130/80 were 0.705 in the training set and 0.697 in the validation set. C-index of nomogram130/80 were 0.705 in the training set and 0.697 in the validation set. Both nomograms demonstrated favorable clinical consistency. NRI and IDI showed that the nomogram140/90 exhibited superior performance than the nomogram130/80. Therefore, the web-based calculator of nomogram140/90 was built online. Conclusions: We have constructed a nomogram that can be effectively used in the preliminary and in-depth risk prediction of hypertension in a Chinese population based on a 10-year retrospective cohort study. Funding: This study was supported by the Hebei Science and Technology Department Program (no. H2018206110).

Recent studies have investigated whether the Wnt family of extracellular ligands can signal at long range, spreading from their source and acting as morphogens, or whether they signal only in a juxtacrine manner to neighboring cells. The original evidence for long-range Wnt signaling arose from studies of Wg, a Drosophila Wnt protein, which patterns the wing disc over several cell diameters from a central source of Wg ligand. However, the requirement of long-range Wg for patterning was called into question when it was reported that replacing the secreted protein Wg with a membrane-tethered version, NRT-Wg, results in flies with normally patterned wings. We and others previously reported that Wg spreads in the ovary about 50 μm or 5 cell diameters, from the cap cells to the follicle stem cells (FSCs) and that Wg stimulates FSC proliferation. We used the NRT-wg flies to analyze the consequence of tethering Wg to the cap cells. NRT-wg homozygous flies are sickly, but we found that hemizygous NRT-wg/null flies, carrying only one copy of tethered Wingless, were significantly healthier. Despite their overall improved health, these hemizygous flies displayed dramatic reductions in fertility and in FSC proliferation. Further, FSC proliferation was nearly undetectable when the wg locus was converted to NRT-wg only in adults, and the resulting germarium phenotype was consistent with a previously reported wg loss-of-function phenotype. We conclude that Wg protein spreads from its source cells in the germarium to promote FSC proliferation.