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Abstract Supervised learning, a popular tool in modern science and technology, thrives on huge amounts of labeled data. Physics-enhanced deep neural networks offer an effective solution to alleviate the data burden by incorporating an analytical model that interprets the underlying physical processes. However, it completely fails in tackling systems without analytical solution, where wave scattering systems with multiple input multiple output are typical examples. Herein, we propose a concept of deep empirical neural network (DENN) that is a hybridization of a deep neural network and an empirical model, which enables seeing through an opaque scattering medium in an untrained manner. The DENN does not rely on labeled data, all while delivering as high as 58% improvement in fidelity compared with the supervised learning using 30000 data pairs for achieving the same goal of optical phase retrieval. The DENN might shed new light on the applications of deep learning in physics, information science, biology, chemistry and beyond.

High precision and robust indoor positioning system has a broad range of applications in the area of mobile computing. Due to the advancement of image processing algorithms, the prevalence of surveillance ambient cameras shows promise for offering sub-meter accuracy localization services. The tracking performance in dynamic contexts is still unreliable for ambient camera-based methods, despite their general ability to pinpoint pedestrians in video frames at fine-grained levels. Contrarily, ultra-wideband-based technology can continuously track pedestrians, but they are frequently susceptible to the effects of non-line-of-sight (NLOS) errors on the surrounding environment. We see a chance to combine these two most viable approaches in order to get beyond the aforementioned drawbacks and return to the pedestrian localization issue from a different angle. In this article, we propose UVtrack, a localization system based on UWB and ambient cameras that achieves centimeter accuracy and improved reliability. The key innovation of UVtrack is a well-designed particle filter which adopts UWB and vision results in the weight update of the particle set, and an adaptive distance variance weighted least squares method (DVLS) to improve UWB sub-system robustness. We take UVtrack into use on common smartphones and test its effectiveness in three different situations. The results demonstrated that UVtrack attains an outstanding localization accuracy of 7 cm.

Abstract Cellular glycosylation is crucial for cell recognition, signal transduction, and the development of various diseases, especially in tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. Current glycosylation profiling methods normally involve laborious sample processing and labeling and lack in-situ quantitative analysis. Here, we present a direct optical method to investigate and quantify the glycan expression on single cells based on lectin-glycan kinetic quantification with plasmonic imaging. Three unlabeled lectins (WGA, SBA, ConA) are employed as probes to bind with specific glycans, and binding kinetics are assessed to determine glycosylation profiles. The result reveals cell-to-cell heterogeneity in glycosylation patterns. To demonstrate the capability of our method, the glycosylation profiling of four distinct cell lines is explored, showing obvious alterations in glycan expression related to tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. This approach enables direct quantification of glycosylation and binding kinetics, providing insights into tumor cell glycosylation mechanisms and potential applications in disease diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract Background Both psychogenic pseudosyncope (PPS) and vasovagal syncope (VVS) in children and adolescents are diseases of transient loss of consciousness. It is difficult to distinguish them clinically. This paper will study the differential diagnostic value of P wave dispersion (Pd) and QT interval dispersion (QTd) between PPS and VVS. Methods The 31 children with PPS and 40 children with VVS from July 2014 to November 2023 were enrolled as the study group. Meanwhile, 30 healthy children who underwent a physical examination at the same hospital were matched to the control group. P wave duration and QT interval in the 12-lead electrocardiogram were measured at the baseline. Results (1) Comparison between groups: ① The Pd, corrected P wave dispersion (Pcd), QTd, and corrected QT interval dispersion (QTcd) in PPS group were significantly higher than those in control group (P 0.05). ② The Pd, Pcd, QTd, and QTcd in VVS group were significantly higher than those in control group (P 0.05). ③ The Pmax, Pd, QTmax, QTd, and QTcd in PPS group were significantly lower than those in VVS group (P 0.05). (2) ROC curve: Pmax, Pd, QTmax, QTd, and QTcd had a certain differential diagnostic value between PPS and VVS in children and adolescents (P

Abstract The current single-cell analysis technologies such as fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and fluorescence-activated droplet sorting (FADS) could decipher the cellular heterogeneity but were constrained by low sorting performance and cell viability. Here, an ultra-sensitive single-cell sorting platform has been developed by integrating the FADS technology with Tetramer-HCR-EvaGreen (THE) fluorescence signal amplification. The THE system produced much higher fluorescence signal than that of the single Tetramer or Tetramer-HCR signal amplification. Upon application to target MCF-7 cells, the platform exhibited high efficacy and selectivity while maintaining more than 95% cell viability. The THE-FADS achieved sorting efficiencies of 55.5% and 50.3% with purities of 91% and 85% for MCF-7 cells in PBS solutions and simulated serum samples, respectively. The sorted MCF-7 cells showed similar proliferation together with CK19 and EGFR mRNA expression compared with the control cells. The established THE-FADS showed the promising prospects to cellular heterogeneity understanding and personalized medicine.

Abstract Background Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) represents the most prevalent subtype, accounting for nearly 80% of all RCC cases. Recent research has shown that high expression of circular non-coding RNA (circRNA) is associated with poor prognosis in patients with renal clear cell carcinoma (ccRCC), however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Methods After analysing self-sequenced renal cancer and paracancer circRNA sequencing data and comparing it with the GEO public database, we discovered that circASAP1 expression was significantly up-regulated in renal cancers. We also tested circASAP1 levels in 102 renal cancer patients and found that high expression of circASAP1 was associated with poor prognosis and metastasis. The interaction between circASAP1, HNRNPC and their downstream target genes was confirmed through experiments such as RNA pull-down, RIP and fluorescence in situ hybridisation. A series of in vitro and in vivo functional experiments were performed to verify the effects of circASAP1 on RCC proliferation and metastasis. Results Circular RNA sequencing analysis revealed that circASAP1 expression was markedly elevated in ccRCC, with a significant association observed between elevated circASAP1 expression and poor prognosis and metastasis. Actinomycin D, RNase R, as well as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses revealed the ring structure and cytoplasmic localization of circASAP1. High circASAP1 expression was associated with ccRCC cell proliferative viability, invasion, and metastasis in CCK-8, transwell, plate cloning, and EdU experiments. Interaction of circASAP1 with HNRNPC and their downstream target genes was confirmed by RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation, FISH, silver staining, and mass spectrometry. Experiments using truncated isoforms demonstrated that amino acids 16–87 of HNRNPC bound circASAP1. Proteins altered by circASAP1 were enriched in the ferroptosis pathway on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis. Conclusions The relationship between circRNA and the ASAP1/HNRNPC/GPX4 axis was demonstrated by experimental data, which was further confirmed by rescue experiments. circASAP1 influenced tumor growth and ferroptosis in animal experiments and predicted the prognosis of patients with ccRCC. The circASAP1/HNRNPC/GPX4 axis provides novel directions and potential targets for RCC treatment.

Abstract Background Sugarcane is a crucial crop for both sugar and bioethanol production. The nobilization breeding and utilization of wild germplasm have significantly enhanced its productivity. However, the pollen sterility in Saccharum officinarum restricts its role to being a female parent in crosses with Saccharum spontaneum during nobilization breeding, resulting in a narrow genetic basis for modern sugarcane cultivars. Mitochondria, often referred to as the intracellular “energy factories”, provide energy for plant life activities, and are also implicated in cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). Results We performed mitochondrial genome assembly and structural analysis of two Saccharum founding species. We discovered that the proportions of repeat sequences are the primary factor contributing to the variations in mitochondrial genome structure and size between the two Saccharum species. Heterologous expression of the mitochondrial chimeric gene ORF113, which is highly expressed in male-sterile S. officinarum flowers, significantly inhibits growth and ATP synthesis in yeast cells, making it a key candidate CMS-related gene in sugarcane. Furthermore, we developed two co-dominant simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers based on the mitochondrial genome, which can effectively distinguish the cytoplasmic types of the two Saccharum species. Conclusion In this study, we identified structural variants and developed SSR molecular markers in the mitochondrial genomes of both S. officinarum and S. spontaneum. We also identified a novel mitochondrial chimeric ORF as a key candidate CMS-related gene. These findings offer valuable insights into variety identification, genetic resource development, and cross-breeding strategies in sugarcane.

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate the impact of AM1241 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced chondrocyte inflammation in mice and its potential mechanism for improving osteoarthritis (OA). Methods The OA mice model was established employing the refined Hulth method. The impact of different concentrations of AM1241 on mice chondrocyte activity was detected using CCK-8. Changes in the levels of LPS-induced inflammatory factors and cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation in chondrocytes were determined by western blot, RT-qPCR, ELISA, and immunofluorescence assays, respectively. The specific action modes and binding sites of AM1241 with NEMO/IκB kinases (IKKs) in the NF-κB pathway and Keap1 protein in the Nrf2 pathway were predicted via molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation, and the NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways were detected using western blot and immunofluorescence. In vivo, the impact of AM1241 on OA mice was analyzed through safranin-fast green staining, IHC staining, Mankin score, and microCT. Results AM1241 inhibited the levels of LPS-induced transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif 5 (ADAMTS-5) and diminished the degradation of type II collagen and Aggrecan. For the mechanism, AM1241 regulated the NF-kB and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways by binding to NEMO/IKKβ and Keap1 target proteins and suppressed the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway by activating the Nrf2 in chondrocytes. In vivo, AM1241 inhibited bone anabolism, mitigated articular cartilage hyperplasia and wear, and reduced the Mankin score in mice, thereby hindering the development of OA. Conclusion AM1241 inhibited activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway via activating Nrf2. It suppressed the expression of inflammation factors and the degradation of ECM in vitro, and improved OA in mice in vivo, suggesting its potential as an effective drug candidate for the treatment of OA. The remarkable efficacy of AM1241 in alleviating murine OA positions it as a potential therapeutic strategy in the clinical management of OA diseases.

BackgroundWorkers in printing jobs are exposed to a variety of organic solvents at low levels for a long period of time. Previous studies have focused on the main components in Material Safety Data Sheet or high-risk occupational hazardous agents, but have not been able to comprehensively and accurately identify the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in printing jobs. ObjectiveTo qualitatively analyze the VOCs in ink, detergent, varnish, fountain solution, and other raw and auxiliary materials by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and to accurately identify the occupational hazardous agents in printing jobs. MethodsRaw and auxiliary materials used in printing jobs in 6 printing enterprises in Shanghai were sampled by headspace sampling, analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, identified by National Institute of Standards & Technology ( NIST) Standard Library and retention time, and quantified by peak area percentage. ResultsA total of 181 VOCs were reported in the headspace of 25 organic solvent samples, with a total detection frequency of 337 items and 13.2±12.3 VOCs per sample. The most frequently detected VOCs category was naphthene, with a total of 69 items detected (22.5%), dominated by cyclohexane. The characteristics of VOCs components in the headspace of different types of samples were different. The largest number of VOCs was detected in the headspace of detergent samples, with an average of 31.5 VOCs detected. The characteristic components in detergent were aromatic hydrocarbons and ester compounds; alcohols were the characteristic components in varnish; and ester compounds were the characteristic components in ink. The results of cluster analysis showed that ethanol, toluene, ethyl acetate, cyclohexane, and acetone were occupational hazardous agents with high levels of exposure in printing jobs. ConclusionMany kinds of organic solvents used in printing process are difficult to identify by traditional methods. Headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry can help to accurately identify VOCs in the workplace, so as to more accurately assess the occupational hazards, and to provide a technical basis for guiding occupational health monitoring and implementing corresponding occupational health risk management and control.

Abstract Tpeak-Tend interval (Tp-Te) is an indicator of transmural dispersion of repolarization, which is often related to ventricular arrhythmias. The relationship between Tp-Te and vasovagal syncope (VVS) has been reported in previous studies, but very little is known about Tp-Te in differentiation between psychogenic pseudosyncope (PPS) and VVS in children. We aim to discuss the predictive value of Tp-Te of supine and orthostatic electrocardiogram (ECG) in the diagnosis between PPS and VVS in children. The 31 children with PPS and 40 children with VVS from July 2014 to November 2023 were enrolled as the study group. Meanwhile, 30 healthy children who underwent a physical examination in the same hospital were selected as the control group. Tp-Te and QT interval in 12-lead supine and orthostatic ECG were measured. (1) Supine ECG: ① The Tp-Te/QT in PPS group was significantly lower than that in control group in II lead (P 0.05). ② The Tp-Te in VVS group was significantly higher than that in control group in aVR, aVF, and V4 lead (P

Abstract Background Traditional fixation methods for posterior wall acetabular fractures (PWAFs) typically require the utilization of multiple plates and intraoperative plate contouring, which are technically demanding and carry the risk of intra-articular screw penetration. A novel posterior anatomical integrated locking compression plate (PAILCP) has been designed to optimize these shortcomings. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the PAILCP fixation method for the surgical management of PWAFs. Methods A total of 48 patients with PWAFs who were treated surgically in our department between January 2018 and December 2022 were selected for retrospective analysis. The 48 patients were classified into groups A (PAILCP fixation, n = 25) and B (traditional fixation, n = 23) according to different fixation methods. Fracture reduction quality, number of utilized plates, blood loss, surgical time, instrumentation time, hip function, and complications were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 25 PAILCPs were used in group A, while 34 mini-T plates and 29 reconstruction plates were employed in group B. Compared to the patients in group B, those in group A had significantly shorter instrumentation time (− 16 min) and surgical time (− 23 min) as well as lower blood loss (− 123 ml). However, no significant differences were observed in fracture reduction quality and hip function between the two groups. Additionally, the complication rate was slightly lower in group A (3/25 patients) than in group B (6/23); however, this difference was not statistically significant. Finally, follow-up examination revealed no main plate breakage, miniplate displacement, screw loosening, or intra-articular screw penetration in all patients. Conclusion The surgical treatment of PWAFs using the PAILCP fixation method results in shorter instrumentation and surgical time and lower blood loss than the traditional fixation method. Thus, the PAILCP fixation method is a promising alternative for PWAFs management, offering enhanced surgical ease and safety.

Abstract Background Prophylactic corticosteroids have been widely used to mitigate the inflammatory response induced by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). However, the impact of this treatment on clinically important outcomes in infants remains uncertain. Methods We systematically searched databases (Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), Clinical Trials Registry, and Google Scholar from inception to March 1, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which infants undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery received prophylactic corticosteroids or placebo were selected. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration risk-of-bias tool. Considering clinical heterogeneity between studies, the random-effects model was used for analysis. Subgroup analyses on the neonatal studies and sensitivity analyses by the leave-one-out method were also conducted. Results Eight RCTs comprising 1,920 patients were included. Our analysis suggested no significant difference in postoperative mortality (2.1% vs. 3.3%, risk ratio (RR) = 0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.41, 1.21]). Significantly increased insulin treatment in infants (19.0% vs. 6.5%, RR = 2.78, 95% CI [2.05, 3.77]) and significantly reduced duration of mechanical ventilation in neonates (mean difference = -22.28 h, 95% CI [-42.58, -1.97]) were observed in the corticosteroids group. There were no differences between groups for postoperative acute kidney injury, cardiac arrest, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support, low cardiac output syndrome, neurologic events, infection, or length of postoperative intensive care unit stay. Conclusions Current evidence does not support the routine prophylactic use of corticosteroids in infants undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB. Further large-scale research is needed to investigate the optimal agent, dosing regimen, and specific impact on various types of cardiac surgery. Trial registration This systematic review and meta-analysis was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42023400176).

Introduction: Cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450s) are recognized as the most versatile catalysts worldwide, playing vital roles in numerous biological metabolism and biosynthesis processes across all kingdoms of life. Despite the vast number of P450 genes available in databases (over 300,000), only a small fraction of them (less than 0.2 %) have undergone functional characterization. Objectives: To provide a convenient platform with abundant information on P450s and their corresponding reactions, we introduce the P450Rdb database, a manually curated resource compiles literature-supported reactions catalyzed by P450s. Methods: All the P450s and Reactions were manually curated from the literature and known databases. Subsequently, the P450 reactions organized and categorized according to their chemical reaction type and site. The website was developed using HTML and PHP languages, with the MySQL server utilized for data storage. Results: The current version of P450Rdb catalogs over 1,600 reactions, involving more than 590 P450s across a diverse range of over 200 species. Additionally, it offers a user-friendly interface with comprehensive information, enabling easy querying, browsing, and analysis of P450s and their corresponding reactions. P450Rdb is free available at http://www.cellknowledge.com.cn/p450rdb/. Conclusions: We believe that this database will significantly promote structural and functional research on P450s, thereby fostering advancements in the fields of natural product synthesis, pharmaceutical engineering, biotechnological applications, agricultural and crop improvement, and the chemical industry.

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to verify that aerosolization ocular surface microorganisms (AOSMs) accumulated during non-contact tonometry (NCT) measurements. Methods A total of 508 participants (740 eyes) were enrolled in the study. In Experiment 1, before NCT was performed on each eye, the air was disinfected, and environment air control samples were collected via Air ideal® 3P (Bio Merieux). During NCT measurements, microbial aerosol samples were collected once from each eye. In Experiment 2, we collected initial blank control samples and then repeated Experiment 1. Finally, in Experiment 3, after the background microbial aerosol investigation, we cumulatively sampled AOSMs from each 10 participants then culture once, without any interventions to interrupt the accumulation. The collected samples were incubated and identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Results Pathogenic Aerococcus viridans and other microorganisms from human eyes can spread and accumulate in the air during NCT measurements. The species and quantity of AOSMs produced by NCT measurements can demonstrate an accumulation effect. Conclusion AOSMs generated during NCT measurements are highly likely to spread and accumulate in the air, thereby may increase the risk of exposure to and transmission of bio-aerosols.

Abstract Background Invertases (INVs) are key enzymes in sugar metabolism, cleaving sucrose into glucose and fructose and playing an important role in plant development and the stress response, however, the INV gene family in passion fruit has not been systematically reported. Results In this study, a total of 16 PeINV genes were identified from the passion fruit genome and named according to their subcellular location and chromosome position. These include six cell wall invertase (CWINV) genes, two vacuolar invertase (VINV) genes, and eight neutral/alkaline invertase (N/AINV) genes. The gene structures, phylogenetic tree, and cis-acting elements of PeINV gene family were predicted using bioinformatics methods. Results showed that the upstream promoter region of the PeINV genes contained various response elements; particularly, PeVINV2, PeN/AINV3, PeN/AINV5, PeN/AINV6, PeN/AINV7, and PeN/AINV8 had more response elements. Additionally, the expression profiles of PeINV genes under different abiotic stresses (drought, salt, cold temperature, and high temperature) indicated that PeCWINV5, PeCWINV6, PeVINV1, PeVINV2, PeN/AINV2, PeN/AINV3, PeN/AINV6, and PeN/AINV7 responded significantly to these abiotic stresses, which was consistent with cis-acting element prediction results. Sucrose, glucose, and fructose are main soluble components in passion fruit pulp. The contents of total soluble sugar, hexoses, and sweetness index increased significantly at early stages during fruit ripening. Transcriptome data showed that with an increase in fruit development and maturity, the expression levels of PeCWINV2, PeCWINV5, and PeN/AINV3 exhibited an up-regulated trend, especially for PeCWINV5 which showed highest abundance, this correlated with the accumulation of soluble sugar and sweetness index. Transient overexpression results demonstrated that the contents of fructose, glucose and sucrose increased in the pulp of PeCWINV5 overexpressing fruit. It is speculated that this cell wall invertase gene, PeCWINV5, may play an important role in sucrose unloading and hexose accumulation. Conclusion In this study, we systematically identified INV genes in passion fruit for the first time and further investigated their physicochemical properties, evolution, and expression patterns. Furthermore, we screened out a key candidate gene involved in hexose accumulation. This study lays a foundation for further study on INV genes and will be beneficial on the genetic improvement of passion fruit breeding.

Abstract Aim To investigate the associations between insulin use and diabetic retinopathy (DR), and retinal vascular parameters in type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods A total of 6,374 T2DM patients, consisting of 2,231 patients receiving insulin alone and 4143 patients without any hypoglycemic medication, were included in cross-sectional analyses. Among those without DR at baseline, 791 patients were followed for three years in longitudinal analyses. Fundus photography was taken to diagnose DR and calculate central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE), central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE), arteriolar-to-venular ratio (AVR), and vascular tortuosity. Inverse probability treatment-weighted analyses were performed. Results After adjusting for gender, age, body mass index, blood pressure, blood glucose, T2DM duration, smoking, and alcohol use, insulin users showed a higher risk of DR (odds ratio (OR) = 2.27, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 2.08–2.48, P

Abstract Background There have been some studies on the occurrence of ESR1 and 2 polymorphisms and AIS, but some data extraction is wrong, and there are no studies on the progress of AIS. Methods Computer searches were conducted on PubMed, EMBASE, ScienceDirect and Scopus from the establishment of the database to April 2024. Cross-sectional and case-control studies on estrogen receptor ESR1, two single nucleotide polymorphisms, and the occurrence and development of AIS were collected, and statistical analysis was performed using the Revman 5.3 software. Results In the comparison of the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of estrogen receptors ESR1 and 2 and the occurrence and development of AIS, eight studies were included, including 2706 cases and 1736 controls.The results showed that the AA genotype [OR = 0.50,95%Cl(0.34,0.72),P = 0.0003] at the XbaI locus of ESR1,CC genotype [OR = 1.67,95%Cl(1.16,2.42), P = 0.006], C allele [OR = 1.28,95%Cl(1.03,1.59),P = 0.03], and T allele [OR = 0.78,95%] Cl(0.63,0.97),P = 0.03] at the PvuII locus of ESR1 and TT genotype [OR = 0.50,95%Cl(0.26,0.93),P = 0.03] at the AlwNI locus of ESR2 showed statistically significant differences between the progressive and stable AIS patients. Conclusion Single nucleotide polymorphisms of ESR1 and ESR2 were not related to the occurrence of AIS; however, some of them were related to the progression of AIS.

Background Immunosuppression significantly contributes to treatment failure in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Messenger RNA (mRNA) modifications such as methylation and acetylation play crucial roles in immunosuppression. However, N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C), the only acetylation modification event has rarely been studied in NPC.Methods First, clinical tissue samples and nude mouse models were used to explore the expression of N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) in NPC and its influence on it. Second, The Cancer Genome Atlas immune database and transgenic mouse peripheral blood immune cell panel were used to verify the immune cells mainly affected by NAT10. Then, NAT10 ac4C acetylation modification and expression of significantly upregulated transcription factors were explored by acetylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequence binding to RNA sequencing. Then, the downstream regulatory genes of CCAAT enhancer binding protein γ (CEBPG), dead box helicase 5 (DDX5) and helicase-like transcription factors (HLTF) were analyzed by luciferase report and chromatin Immunoprecipitation. Finally, the effect of inhibition of NAT10 on anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) treatment sensitivity was verified by animal models.Results In this study, we aimed to explore the role of NAT10, the enzyme responsible for ac4C modification, in NPC progression and patient prognosis. Elevated NAT10 promoted NPC progression and correlated with poor prognosis in patients with NPC. NAT10-mediated ac4C modification of CEBPG, DDX5, and HLTF mRNA improved their stability and translation efficiency, with the NAT10/ac4C/DDX5 axis upregulating high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and inhibiting CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Inhibition of NAT10 increased the sensitivity to PD-1 therapy. Additionally, HLTF was found to transcriptionally regulate NAT10, indicating the formation of an HLTF-NAT10 positive feedback loop.Conclusions Our study elucidates the mechanism by which the NAT10/DDX5/HMGB1 axis promotes the immunosuppression of NPC by promoting T-cell dysfunction. In addition, NAT10 knockdown can enhance anti-PD-1 treatment sensitivity as a combination therapy for NPC.

Severe burn injuries immediately trigger a sustained systemic and local stress response. During this process, the sympathetic nervous system releases large amounts of catecholamines, which bind to β-adrenergic receptors (β-AR) on cell membranes, negatively affecting skin regeneration. Additionally, recurrent bacterial infections make burn wounds difficult to treat, posing significant and ongoing challenges to burn care. To address these challenges, we pioneered the study of locally delivered propranolol for burn wound treatment, revealing its ability to antagonize norepinephrine (NE) and regulate the sympathetic nervous system. In this study, a Cu2⁺-loaded anti-sympathetic hydrogel (copper ion cross-linked propranolol@gelatin/alginate, PNL@GA-Cu) was developed to remodel the challenging neuromodulatory microenvironment and accelerate the repair of the infected burn wound. The hydrogel system releases Cu2⁺ and propranolol simultaneously during degradation, synergistically acting on local wound tissue. Cu2⁺ exhibits dual effects of antibacterial activity and promoting angiogenesis, effectively killing Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli while enhancing the expression of angiogenesis-related genes (CD31, VEGF). Meanwhile, propranolol can counteract the inhibitory effects of NE simulated chronic stress microenvironment on angiogenesis and mitigate sympathetic nerve innervation during the early stages of wound healing. Finally, the PNL@GA-Cu hydrogel significantly promoted the repair of third-degree full-thickness burns in SD rats. Approaches targeting the neural microenvironment for burn wound treatment has not been previously addressed in the literature. The anti-sympathetic PNL@GA-Cu hydrogel offers a promising strategy for treating infected burn wounds. Remodeling the neuromodulatory microenvironment could be an emerging strategy in tissue engineering.

IntroductionCervical cancer (CC) is a highly prevalent malignancy of the reproductive system. This study aimed to methodically assess the function of circular RNAs (circRNAs) as possible indicators of CC, with a specific emphasis on their usefulness in the identification, prediction, and correlation with clinicopathological elements.MethodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The latest data were extracted on May 3rd, 2024. The diagnostic potential of circRNA expression was evaluated using a range of metrics including sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The importance of circRNAs was further evaluated in terms of clinical relevance, pathological features, and prognostic value using pooled odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs).ResultsThe meta-analysis included 27 studies, which were categorised based on diagnostic applications (n=3), clinicopathological correlations (n=15), and prognostic evaluations (n=23). Elevated expression levels of oncogenic circRNAs were significantly associated with poor clinical indicators, including tumour size (odds ratio [OR] = 0.425, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.267–0.676), International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (OR = 0.315, 95% CI: 0.224–0.443), and lymph node metastasis (OR = 2.975, 95% CI: 1.816–4.872). This upregulation of oncogenic circRNA was also identified as a predictor of worse survival outcomes, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.13 (95% CI: 1.73–2.62, P < 0.001). The downregulation of circRNAs with tumour-suppressor properties was similarly associated with poor clinical parameters, such as tumour size (OR = 0.310, 95% CI: 0.102–0.941), FIGO stage (OR = 0.231, 95% CI: 0.101–0.527), and lymph node metastasis (OR = 2.430, 95% CI: 1.156–5.110), and was indicative of a worsened prognosis (HR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.03–4.70, P = 0.042). In terms of diagnostic value, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated to be 0.85, 0.83, and 0.91, respectively.ConclusionThe results of our meta-analysis indicate that circRNAs have the potential to serve as promising biomarkers for CC diagnosis, prognosis, and clinicopathology.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42024544997.

Multiplexing information in light’s fundamental attributes to create supplementary orthogonal data channels has been well heralded as an effective means for optical data storage with greatly enhanced capacities. However, robust decoding methods against inevitable crosstalks associated with experimental noise and writing imperfections as the increase of multiplexing dimensions represent a major hurdle preventing the effective practice of multi-dimensional optical recording. Here, we propose a deep-learning-based retrieval approach for robust decoding multiplexed information. An artificial neural network is trained to learn the crosstalks from multiplexed recording in disordered gold nanorod aggregates with loosened orthogonality constraints. The acquired raw readout images are analyzed by the trained neural network, which allows quick, high-fidelity, and reliable information retrieval from polarization-, wavelength-, and 3D spatially multiplexed data. The smart decoding protocol paves the way toward the mass-production ready and wide-spread application of high-capacity multi-dimensional optical storage.

The potential for improving sweetpotato quality remains underutilized due to a lack of comprehensive quality data on germplasm resources. This study evaluated 296 core germplasms, revealing significant phenotypic diversity across 24 quality traits in both stem tips and roots. Landraces had higher sugar content in roots, while wild relatives showed increased total flavonoid and phenol contents. Accessions with red-orange flesh were rich in sugars and carotenoids, whereas those with purple flesh had higher dry matter, flavonoids, and phenols. The accessions were classified into three clusters: high sugars and carotenoids, high phenolic compounds, and high starch. A comprehensive quality scoring model identified SP286 and SP192 as superior for stem tips and roots, respectively. Near-infrared spectroscopy, combined with a random forest algorithm, enabled rapid screening of superior germplasm, achieving prediction accuracies of 97 % for stem tips and 98 % for roots. These findings offer valuable resources and high-throughput models for enhancing sweetpotato quality.

ABSTRACTInfluenza A viruses (IAVs) pose a persistent potential threat to human health because of the spillover from avian and swine infections. Extensive surveillance was performed in 12 cities of Guangxi, China, during 2018 and 2023. A total of 2540 samples (including 2353 nasal swabs and 187 lung tissues) were collected from 18 pig farms with outbreaks of respiratory disease. From these, 192 IAV-positive samples and 19 genomic sequences were obtained. We found that the H1 and H3 swine influenza A viruses (swIAVs) of multiple lineages and genotypes have continued to co-circulate during that time in this region. Genomic analysis revealed the Eurasian avian-like H1N1 swIAVs (G4) still remained predominant in pig populations. Strikingly, the novel multiple H3N2 genotypes were found to have been generated through the repeated introduction of the early H3N2 North American triple reassortant viruses (TR H3N2 lineage) that emerged in USA and Canada in 1998 and 2005, respectively. Notably, when the matrix gene segment derived from the H9N2 avian influenza virus was introduced into endemic swIAVs, this produced a novel quadruple reassortant H1N2 swIAV that could pose a potential risk for zoonotic infection.

With the atypical rise of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection (MPI) in 2023, prompt studies are needed to determine the current epidemic features and risk factors with emerging trends of MPI to furnish a framework for subsequent investigations. This multicentre, retrospective study was designed to analyse the epidemic patterns of MPI before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as genotypes and the macrolide-resistance-associated mutations in MP sampled from paediatric patients in Southern China. Clinical data was collected from 1,33,674 patients admitted into investigational hospitals from 1 June 2017 to 30 November 2023. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) data were retrieved based on MP sequence positive samples from 299 paediatric patients for macrolide-resistance-associated mutations analysis. Pearson's chi-squared test was used to compare categorical variables between different time frames. The monthly average cases of paediatric common respiratory infection diseases increased without enhanced public health measures after the pandemic, especially for influenza, respiratory syncytial virus infection, and MPI. The contribution of MPI to pneumoniae was similar to that in the outbreak in 2019. Compared to mNGS data between 2019–2022 and 2023, the severity of MP did not grow stronger despite higher rates of macrolide-resistance hypervariable sites, including loci 2063 and 2064, were detected in childhood MP samples of 2023. Our findings indicated that ongoing surveillance is necessary to understand the impact of post pandemic on MP transmission disruption during epidemic season and the severity of clinical outcomes in different scenarios.

Introduction The Agatston coronary artery calcification score (CACS) is an assessment index for coronary artery calcification (CAC). This study aims to explore the characteristics of CAC in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients and establish a predictive model to assess the risk of severe CAC in patients.Methods CACS of ESKD patients was assessed using an electrocardiogram-gated coronary computed tomography (CT) scan with the Agatston scoring method. A predictive nomogram model was established based on stepwise regression. An independent validation cohort comprised of patients with ESKD from multicentres.Results 369 ESKD patients were enrolled in the training set, and 127 patients were included in the validation set. In the training set, the patients were divided into three subgroups: no calcification (CACS = 0, n = 98), mild calcification (0 400, n = 130). Among the four coronary branches, the left anterior descending branch (LAD) accounted for the highest proportion of calcification. Stepwise regression analysis showed that age, dialysis vintage, β-receptor blocker, calcium-phosphorus product (Ca × P), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level were independent risk factors for severe CAC. A nomogram that predicts the risk of severe CAC in ESKD patients has been internally and externally validated, demonstrating high sensitivity and specificity.Conclusion CAC is both prevalent and severe in ESKD patients. In the four branches of the coronary arteries, LAD calcification is the most common. Our validated nomogram model, based on clinical risk factors, can help predict the risk of severe coronary calcification in ESKD patients who cannot undergo coronary CT analysis.

Background Norovirus is the leading cause of sporadic viral gastroenteritis cases and outbreaks. Gut microbiota plays a key role in maintaining immune homeostasis. We aimed to investigate the composition and functional effects of gut microbiota in children infected with norovirus.Methods Stool samples were collected from 31 children infected with norovirus and 25 healthy children. The gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, followed by composition, correlation network, functional and phenotype prediction analyses.Results Gut microbiota in children infected with norovirus was characterized by lower species richness and diversity. Veillonella is the dominant gut microbiota specie in norovirus infection. Blautia was significantly lower in norovirus infection. There was a positive correlation between Faecalibacterium, Blautia, Subdoligranulum, Eubacterium_hallii_group, Fusicatenibacter, Agathobacter, Roseburia and Dorea. Functionally, secondary metabolites biosynthesis, transport and catabolism, selenocysteine lyase and peroxiredoxin were the most significantly higher functional compositions of gut microbiota in norovirus infection. However, sn-glycerol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase and fermentation were the most significantly lower functional compositions in norovirus infection group. Phenotype analysis showed that Contains_Mobile_Elements had the highest level of phenotypes in the gut microbiota of norovirus infection.Conclusion Norovirus infection may lead to dysregulation of the gut microbiome in children.

Abstract The groove density mismatching of compression gratings, an often-neglected key issue, can induce significant spatiotemporal aberrations especially for super-intense femtosecond lasers. We mainly investigate the angular chirp and the consequent degradation of the effective focused intensity introduced by the groove density mismatching of compression gratings in ultra-intense femtosecond lasers. The results indicate that the tolerances of grating groove density mismatching will rapidly decrease with the beam aperture or spectral bandwidth increases. For our 100PW laser under construction, the grating groove density mismatching should be as small as 0.001 gr/mm if the drop of effective focused intensity has to be controlled below 15%. More importantly, new angular chirp compensation schemes are proposed for both double-grating and four-grating compressors. This work reveals the importance of groove density matching of compression gratings, and can provide helpful guidelines for the design of ultra-intense femtosecond lasers.

Abstract Beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds manufactured through the foam replication method are widely employed in bone tissue regeneration. The mechanical strength of these scaffolds is a significant challenge, partly due to the rheological properties of the original suspension. Various strategies have been explored to enhance the mechanical properties. In this research, β-TCP scaffolds containing varying concentrations (0.25–1.00 wt%) of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were developed. The findings indicate that the addition of MWCNTs led to a concentration-dependent improvement in the viscosity of β-TCP suspensions. All the prepared slurries exhibited viscoelastic behavior, with the storage modulus surpassing the loss modulus. The three time interval tests revealed that MWCNT-incorporated β-TCP suspensions exhibited faster structural recovery compared to pure β-TCP slurries. Introducing MWCNT modified compressive strength, and the optimal improvement was obtained using 0.75 wt% MWCNT. The in vitro degradation of β-TCP was also reduced by incorporating MWCNT. While the inclusion of carbon nanotubes had a marginal negative impact on the viability and attachment of MC3T3-E1 cells, the number of viable cells remained above 70% of the control group. Additionally, the results demonstrated that the scaffold increased the expression level of osteocalcin, osteoponthin, and alkaline phosphatase genes of adiposed-derived stem cells; however, higher levels of gene expersion were obtained by using MWCNT. The suitability of MWCNT-modified β-TCP suspensions for the foam replication method can be assessed by evaluating their rheological behavior, aiding in determining the critical additive concentration necessary for a successful coating process.

Recently, lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) have developed rapidly and have been applied in many fields, such as power storage and new energy transportation. LICs utilize the cathode materials of electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) and the anode materials of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This produces a unique energy storage mechanism different from those of LIBs and EDLCs, i.e., charge transfer and Li+ insertion and desorption. Consequently, LICs combine the advantages of LIBs and EDLCs with high energy density, high power density, and long cycle life. However, because of this unique energy storage protocol, LICs inherit the poor low-temperature performance of LIBs, severely limiting their widespread application. Sometimes, the electrolyte becomes more viscous or even solidifies, affecting normal ion transportation and charge transfer. An increase in impedance prevents the normal operation of LICs, severely limiting their all-weather applications. Improving the low-temperature performance of LICs has become an urgent issue and has received widespread attention from researchers. Electrodes and electrolytes are the main components of LICs, and numerous studies have shown that their relationship directly determines the energy storage process of LICs at low temperatures. Therefore, this article reviews the recent research progress on the design and fabrication of low-temperature LICs in terms of electrodes and electrolytes. First, the research on key electrode materials for high-performance low-temperature LICs is discussed, including chemical modification, surface modification, ion insertion, and the development of new electrode materials for rapid intercalation of traditional carbon-based materials. Second, the electrolyte system that matches the electrode material is critically reviewed. The fundamental reasons for the poor performance of LICs in low-temperature environments are comprehensively explained from the chemical properties, physical states, and reaction mechanisms, providing a sufficient theoretical basis for searching electrolyte systems with better low-temperature performance. Third, starting from the main components of the electrolyte–lithium salts, solvents, and additives, this article summarizes the past year’s progress on low-temperature electrolytes in LICs. Emphasis is placed on additives for LIC electrolytes, which, as the essence of the entire electrolyte system, are the most controllable factor throughout the electrolyte system and currently the most available factor for selection. They can reduce the viscosity of the electrolyte with minimal content and improve the low-temperature charging and discharging ability of LICs. Commonly used low-temperature additives such as fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), vinylene carbonate (VC), ropylene sulfite (PS) and lithium difluorooxalate borate (LiODFB) demonstrate excellent low-temperature performance. Finally, the article summarizes the research progress of the new generation of low-temperature electrolytes and provides a tentative outlook toward next-generation LICs with a wide temperature range.

Lung cancer remains as the leading cause of cancer-related fatalities globally, posing significant challenges to conventional treatment methods, particularly in advanced stages where limitations and adverse effects are prevalent. Nanotechnology offers promising solutions to enhance lung cancer therapy. Inorganic nanomaterials, such as metal nanoparticles, rare earth elements, and carbonaceous materials, exhibit unique properties that can address these challenges. Metal nanoparticles facilitate targeted drug delivery, biosensing, and imaging, while rare earth elements demonstrate selective cytotoxic effects and imaging capabilities. Carbonaceous materials find applications in biosensing and drug delivery, including carbon ion radiotherapy. These advancements in inorganic nanomaterials present an opportunity to revolutionize lung cancer treatment, potentially leading to improved outcomes and better patient well-being. This paper focuses on recent progress in utilizing inorganic nanomaterials for treating lung cancer, aiming to provide a clearer understanding of their benefits compared to conventional treatments, along with an in-depth examination of their associated limitations and adverse effects.

Abstract In this study, We aim to explore the association between the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII), lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and distant metastasis of gastric cancer and develop an efficient nomogram for screening patients with distant metastasis. A total of 1281 inpatients with gastric cancer were enrolled and divided into the training and validation set.Univariate, Lasso regression and Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis was used to identify the risk factors of distant metastasis. The independent predictive factors were then enrolled in the nomogram model. The nomogram’s predictive perform and clinical practicality was evaluated by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves, calibration curves and decision curve analysis. Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis identified d-dimer, CA199, CA125, NLR and PNI as independent predictive factors. The area under the curve of our nomogram based on these factors was 0.838 in the training cohort and 0.811 in the validation cohort. The calibration plots and decision curves demonstrated the nomogram’s good predictive performance and clinical practicality in both training and validation cohort. Therefore,our nomogram could be an important tool for clinicians in screening gastric cancer patients with distant metastasis.

Abstract. Background:. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common cause of respiratory failure in many critically ill patients. Although inflammasome activation plays an important role in the induction of acute lung injury (ALI) and ARDS, the regulatory mechanism of this process is still unclear. When cells are stimulated by inflammation, the integrity and physiological function of mitochondria play a crucial part in pyroptosis. However, the underlying mechanisms and function of mitochondrial proteins in the process of pyroptosis are largely not yet known. Here, we identified the 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO), a mitochondrial outer membrane protein, as an important mediator regulating nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation in macrophages during ALI. Methods:. TSPO gene knockout (KO) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI/ARDS mouse models were employed to investigate the biological role of TSPO in the pathogenesis of ARDS. Murine macrophages were used to further characterize the effect of TSPO on the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome was preformed through LPS + adenosine triphosphate (ATP) co-stimulation, followed by detection of mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and cell death to evaluate the potential biological function of TSPO. Comparisons between two groups were performed with a two-sided unpaired t-test. Results:. TSPO-KO mice exhibited more severe pulmonary inflammation in response to LPS-induced ALI. TSPO deficiency resulted in enhanced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, promoting more proinflammatory cytokine production of macrophages in LPS-injured lung tissue, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2. Mitochondria in TSPO-KO macrophages tended to depolarize in response to cellular stress. The increased production of mitochondrial damage-associated molecular pattern led to enhanced mitochondrial membrane depolarization and pyroptosis in TSPO-KO cells. Conclusion:. TSPO may be the key regulator of cellular pyroptosis, and it plays a vital protective role in ARDS occurrence and development.

Abstract Background Striga asiatica (L.) O. Kuntze is a traditional medicinal plant rich in flavonoids, which has various pharmacological effects such as anti-hepatitis and antioxidant activities. However, there is a scarcity of resources, and artificial cultivation has not yet been achieved. This study explored the association between flavonoid metabolites and soil physicochemical properties and trace elements in different habitats, with the aim of offering theoretical guidance for the high-quality artificial cultivation of S. asiatica. Results The results showed that S. asiatica has low requirements for soil fertility and prefers to grow in acidic soil with high contents of potassium and available potassium, while low contents of phosphorus, nitrogen and alkali hydrolyzed nitrogen. Additionally, 1592 kinds of metabolites were identified from S. asiatica, including 78 flavonoids. Conclusions The flavonoid metabolites were strongly related to soil factors. Reasonable application of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers as well as controlling the contents of sodium, manganese and boron in the soil, can promote the synthesis of flavonoid metabolites in the plant. Moreover, kaempferide, glycitein, luteolin, apigenin and genistein may be the metabolic markers for identifying different regions. Graphical Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to explore the relationship between shift-working nurses’ social jetlag and body mass index (BMI) and provide a theoretical basis for nursing managers to develop appropriate health interventions. Shift work is unavoidable in nursing and is associated with circadian rhythm disorders. Social jetlag is prevalent in shift-working nurses and is associated with adverse health outcomes (particularly metabolism-related indicators). BMI is a significant metabolic indicator, and research has demonstrated its effectiveness in predicting the formation of metabolic syndrome. The relationship between social jetlag and BMI can be explained by considering physiological, psychological, and behavioral factors. However, most studies on social jetlag and health status are focused on non-shift nurse populations, with fewer studies on shift workers. Five tertiary hospitals located at similar latitudes in Southwest China were selected for the study. We surveyed 429 shift-working nurses using sociodemographic data, the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire for Shift Workers, and BMI. The restricted cubic spline model was used to analyze the relationship between social jetlag and BMI among shift-working nurses, and segmented linear regression was performed around the inflection point using multiple linear regression analysis. The results revealed that social jetlag (82.0 [85.0] min) was experienced by 64.6% of the shift-working nurses. After controlling for confounding variables, the model with seven knots had the lowest accepted Akaike information criterion value, and there was a U-shaped relationship between shift-working nurses’ BMI and social jetlag in this model; its inflection (lowest) point of 20.7 was considered the cut-off point. Segmented regression showed that for BMI 20.7, BMI was significantly positive with standardized social jetlag. BMI has a U-shaped relationship with social jetlag, and attention should be paid to overweight or underweight shift-working nurses to detect early circadian rhythm disorder. Shift-working nurses with high social jetlag tended to have higher/lower BMI, which should be further investigated in the future, to minimize metabolic diseases among them.

Abstract Feature selection plays a crucial role in machine learning, as it eliminates data noise and redundancy, thereby significantly reducing computational complexity and enhancing the overall performance of the model. The challenges of feature selection for hybrid information systems stem from the difficulty in quantifying the disparities among nominal attribute values. Furthermore, a significant majority of the current methodologies exhibit sensitivity to noise. This paper introduces techniques that address the aforementioned issues from the perspective of fuzzy evidence theory. First of all, a new distance incorporating decision attributes is defined, and then a relation between fuzzy evidence theory and fuzzy $$\beta $$ β covering with an anti-noise mechanism is established. In this framework, two robust feature selection algorithms for hybrid data are proposed based on fuzzy belief and fuzzy plausibility. Experiments on 10 data sets of various types show that compared with the other 6 state-of-the-art algorithms, the proposed algorithms improve the anti-noise ability by at least 6% with higher average classification accuracy. Therefore, it can be concluded that the proposed algorithms have excellent anti-noise ability while maintaining good feature selection ability.

The ignition characteristics of nano-aluminum (nano-Al) in oxygen and steam environments were numerically studied in this work. A detailed kinetic mechanism of nano-Al combustion was developed, and the effects of initial reaction temperature, ignition pressure, the phase of reactant, and the ratio of O2 and H2O in the oxidizer on the oxidation performance of aluminum (Al) were analyzed in detail. Numerical results show that increasing the initial temperature promotes the ignition of liquid-phase Al, while the promotion is not significant for gas-phase Al ignition. The oxidation of liquid-phase Al is significantly slower than that of gas-phase Al, and the phase transition reaction of liquid-phase Al exhibits a typical endothermic process, which results in a temperature drop before ignition. The increase of initial reaction pressure can accelerate the consumption of both liquid-phase Al and gas-phase Al in the ignition process. The oxidizability of O2 is much larger than that of H2O, and the oxidation of Al becomes slower by adding H2O in the oxidizer. The rate of production (ROP) was performed to deeply realize the reaction pathways of Al consumption and main products formation. The reaction Al + O2 = AlO + O is the key reaction pathway in the Al-O2 ignition process, while the reaction Al + H2O = AlOH + O plays a more important role in the Al-H2O ignition process. In the all ignition cases, Al2O2 is a key intermediate species since it is the main precursor of gaseous Al2O3, and liquid-phase Al2O3 formed by the phase transition reaction of gaseous Al2O3 is the dominant final product.

Abstract Purpose This pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of REX exoskeleton rehabilitation robot training on the balance and lower limb function in patients with sub-acute stroke. Methods This was a pilot, single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Twenty-four patients with sub-acute stroke (with the course of disease ranging from 3 weeks to 3 months) were randomized into two groups, including a robot group and a control group. Patients in control group received upright bed rehabilitation (n = 12) and those in robot group received exoskeleton rehabilitation robot training (n = 12). The frequency of training in both groups was once a day (60 min each) for 5 days a week for a total of 4 weeks. Besides, the two groups were evaluated before, 2 weeks after and 4 weeks after the intervention, respectively. The primary assessment index was the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), whereas the secondary assessment indexes included the Fugl-Meyer Lower Extremity Motor Function Scale (FMA-LE), the Posture Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (PASS), the Activities of Daily Living Scale (Modified Barthel Index, MBI), the Tecnobody Balance Tester, and lower extremity muscle surface electromyography (sEMG). Results The robot group showed significant improvements (P

Abstract Background Solute carrier family 34 member 2 (SLC34A2) has been implicated in the development of various malignancies. However, the clinical significance and underlying molecular mechanisms of SLC34A2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain elusive. Methods Western blotting, quantitative real‐time PCR and immunohistochemistry were utilized to evaluate the expression levels of SLC34A2 mRNA/protein in ESCC cell lines or tissues. Kaplan–Meier curves were employed for survival analysis. CCK‐8, colony formation, EdU and xenograft tumor model assays were conducted to determine the impact of SLC34A2 on ESCC cell proliferation. Cell cycle was examined using flow cytometry. RNA‐sequencing and enrichment analysis were carried out to explore the potential signaling pathways. The autophagic flux was evaluated by western blotting, mRFP‐GFP‐LC3 reporter system and transmission electron microscopy. Immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry were utilized for identification of potential SLC34A2‐interacting proteins. Cycloheximide (CHX) chase and ubiquitination assays were conducted to test the protein stability. Results The expression of SLC34A2 was significantly upregulated in ESCC and correlated with unfavorable clinicopathologic characteristics particularly the Ki‐67 labeling index and poor prognosis of ESCC patients. Overexpression of SLC34A2 promoted ESCC cell proliferation, while silencing SLC34A2 had the opposite effect. Moreover, SLC34A2 induced autophagy to promote ESCC cell proliferation, whereas inhibition of autophagy suppressed the proliferation of ESCC cells. Further studies showed that SLC34A2 interacted with an autophagy‐related protein STX17 to promote autophagy and proliferation of ESCC cells by inhibiting the ubiquitination and degradation of STX17. Conclusions These findings indicate that SLC34A2 may serve as a prognostic biomarker for ESCC.

Abstract Esterases are crucial biocatalysts in chiral compound synthesis. Herein, a novel esterase EstSIT01 belonging to family V was identified from Microbacterium chocolatum SIT101 through genome mining and phylogenetic analysis. EstSIT01 demonstrated remarkable efficiency in asymmetrically hydrolyzing meso-dimethyl ester [Dimethyl cis-1,3-Dibenzyl-2-imidazolidine-4,5-dicarboxyate], producing over 99% yield and 99% enantiomeric excess (e.e.) for (4S, 5R)-monomethyl ester, a crucial chiral intermediate during the synthesis of d-biotin. Notably, the recombinant E. coli expressing EstSIT01 exhibited over 40-fold higher activity than that of the wild strain. EstSIT01 displays a preference for short-chain p-NP esters. The optimal temperature and pH were 45 °C and 10.0, with K m and k cat values of 0.147 mmol/L and 5.808 s− 1, respectively. Molecular docking and MD simulations suggest that the high stereoselectivity for meso-diester may attribute to the narrow entrance tunnel and unique binding pocket structure. Collectively, EstSIT01 holds great potential for preparing chiral carboxylic acids and esters.

Abstract The traffic flow prediction is the key to alleviate traffic congestion, yet very challenging due to the complex influence factors. Currently, the most of deep learning models are designed to dig out the intricate dependency in continuous standardized sequences, which are dependent to high requirements for data continuity and regularized distribution. However, the data discontinuity and irregular distribution are inevitable in the real-world practical application, then we need find a way to utilize the powerful effect of the multi-feature fusion rather than continuous relation in standardized sequences. To this end, we conduct the prediction based on the multiple traffic features reflecting the complex influence factors. Firstly, we propose the ATFEM, an adaptive traffic features extraction mechanism, which can select important influence factors to construct joint temporal features matrix and global spatial features matrix according to the traffic condition. In this way, the feature’s representation ability can be improved. Secondly, we propose the MFSTN, a multi-feature spatial–temporal fusion network, which include the temporal transformer encoder and graph attention network to obtain the latent representation of spatial–temporal features. Especially, we design the scaled spatial–temporal fusion module, which can automatically learn optimal fusion weights, further adapt to inconsistent spatial–temporal dimensions. Finally, the multi-layer perceptron gets the mapping function between these comprehensive features and traffic flow. This method helps to improve the interpretability of the prediction. Experimental results show that the proposed model outperforms a variety of baselines, and it can accurately predict the traffic flow when the data missing rate is high.

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a global health challenge due to its heterogeneity and diverse regional epidemiology. Treatment for advanced GC often requires chemotherapy, whose effects are closely associated with the cell cycle. This association highlights the critical need to understand cell cycle regulators that can influence the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Bioinformatics analyses were performed on transcriptome data from a hospital cohort and on a publicly available database. Flow cytometry was used for cell cycle analysis. The interaction of PMEPA1 with 14-3-3σ was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence staining. Western blot analysis was performed following inhibition of protein synthesis and degradation to assess 14-3-3σ protein stability, while ubiquitination was evaluated after treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132. High PMEPA1 expression was detected in GC tissues and was correlated with poor prognosis. In vitro overexpression of PMEPA1 promoted GC cell proliferation, while knockdown of PMEPA1 inhibited cell proliferation and induced G2/M arrest. In vivo study showed that overexpressing PMEPA1 promoted tumor growth, while knocking down PMEPA1 inhibited tumor growth, as indicated by the level of the proliferation marker Ki67. 14-3-3σ was identified as a downstream target of PMEPA1. PMEPA1 binds to 14-3-3σ and promoted its degradation by facilitating its ubiquitination. Overexpression of PMEPA1 increased its interactions with TTC3 and 14-3-3σ, increased 14-3-3σ ubiquitination, and reduced 14-3-3σ stability, and the opposite effects were observed after PMEPA1 knockdown. PMEPA1 recruited TTC3, allowing the ubiquitination of 14-3-3σ and leading to its degradation, thus promoting cell cycle progression in GC.

Accurately estimating vehicle emissions is crucial for effective air quality management. As key data for emission inventory construction, emission factors (EFs) are influenced by vehicle usage characteristics and experience deterioration. Current deterioration models often employ single-factor approaches based on vehicle age or accumulated mileage, which fail to capture the effects of varying usage intensities within the same mileage or age intervals. This study addressed this limitation by developing a novel emission deterioration model that incorporates multi-dimensional usage characteristics and that utilizes a large-scale inspection and maintenance (I/M) dataset for light-duty gasoline vehicles (LDGVs). The modeling results reveal distinct deterioration patterns for different pollutants and highlight the synergistic effects of the usage duration and intensity: natural aging significantly impacts HC and NOx emissions, while CO emissions are more strongly affected by intensive use. Specifically, China V LDGVs that were driven 4 × 104 km/yr exhibited HC, CO, and NOx deterioration rates per mile that were approximately 4.1 % lower, 10.3 % higher, and 1.1 % higher, respectively, than those of vehicles driven 2 × 104 km/yr as the mileage increased from 5 × 104 km to 10 × 104 km. By leveraging timely emission data and explicitly accounting for usage intensity, this study corrected biases in local emission estimates by 5–85 % with respect to estimates from commonly used models. This framework enables the development of more effective control strategies and refinements to policy evaluations in megacities with I/M programs.

Purpose: The optimal management of stage II follicular lymphoma (FL) is unclear. Radiation therapy (RT) alone has been the gold standard treatment, but a proportion of patients relapse. We sought to characterize outcomes and prognostic factors for stage II FL treated with RT alone to identify a high-risk subgroup of patients who may benefit from treatment intensification. Methods: This was a population-based, province-wide, retrospective study. Included patients had grade 1–3A, non-mesenteric, stage IIA or IIAE FL diagnosed between 1986 and 2016 and treated with curative-intent (≥20 Gy) RT alone. Results: 102 patients were included. Median follow-up was 10.4 years (range, 0.3–22.3). Median age was 59 years (range, 33–86). Median greatest disease diameter was 3.6 cm (range, 1.5–11.5). Freedom from progression (FFP) was 60.3% at 5 years and 40.7% at 10 years. Overall survival (OS) was 89.2% at 5 years and 81.8% at 10 years. Greatest disease diameter of >3.6 cm was associated with inferior FFP (10-year FFP 34% vs. 47%, p = 0.013) on univariable analysis and inferior FFP (hazard ratio [HR] 1.87, p = 0.019) and inferior OS (HR 2.12, p = 0.027) on multivariable analysis (MVA). Older age was associated with inferior OS (HR 1.08, unit = 1 year, p 3.6 cm was associated with inferior FFP and OS, representing a novel prognostic indicator in this population that may help in the decision-making process on whether to complement RT with systemic therapy.

Cryptococcus neoformans, a critical priority pathogen designated by the World Health Organization, poses significant therapeutic challenges due to the limited availability of treatment options. The emergence of antifungal resistance, coupled with cross-resistance, further hampers treatment efficacy. Aneuploidy, known for its ability to induce diverse traits, including antifungal resistance, remains poorly understood in C. neoformans. We investigated the impact of tunicamycin, a well-established ER stress inducer, on aneuploidy formation in C. neoformans. Our findings show that both mild and severe ER stress induced by tunicamycin lead to the formation of aneuploid strains in C. neoformans. These aneuploid strains exhibit diverse karyotypes, with some conferring resistance or cross-resistance to antifungal drugs fluconazole and 5-flucytosine. Furthermore, these aneuploid strains display instability, spontaneously losing extra chromosomes in the absence of stress. Transcriptome analysis reveals the simultaneous upregulation of multiple drug resistance-associated genes in aneuploid strains. Our study reveals the genome plasticity of C. neoformans as a major mechanism contributing to non-antifungal-induced antifungal resistance.

IntroductionAttentional control is crucial in the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of attentional control can help to shed light on the neuropathological processes in anxiety disorders (ANX). Quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) offers a cost-effective, noninvasive method for examining the neuropathological mechanisms of mental disorders.MethodsIn this study, 67 patients with ANX and 45 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. EEG recordings were obtained for 5 minutes in an eyes-closed condition. QEEG was employed to evaluate the mechanisms of attentional control in ANX.ResultsNeurophysiological measures indicated that anxiety patients exhibited a more frontal topographic pattern of theta/beta ratio (TBR) compared to HC. Additionally, a significant decrease in temporal beta power was observed in the ANX group. Correlation analysis revealed that decreased beta power and increased TBR were significant association between attentional control deficits in ANX.DiscussionThese findings provide electrophysiological evidence of impaired attentional control processing in anxiety patients, characterized by decreased temporal beta power and increased frontal TBR. Temporal beta power and frontal TBR may serve as promising biomarkers for attentional control in ANX.

BackgroundLangerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a systemic neoplasia with diverse clinical manifestations, predominantly affecting bone and skin. However, in children, LCH presenting primarily with cholestasis is rare.Case summaryWe present the case of a 22-month-old boy who was admitted to our hospital with a history of intermittent fever and abdominal distension for over 2 months, and jaundice for over 1 month. Prior to admission, the child had been managed with anti-infective and anti-inflammatory drugs and supportive care at multiple hospitals without significant improvement. He was then referred to our facility for further treatment. Upon admission, a series of laboratory tests, imaging studies, and pathological examinations were conducted, revealing the presence of diabetes insipidus, sclerosing cholangitis (SC), and liver cirrhosis. These findings led to a clinical diagnosis of LCH. Given the absence of definitive pathological evidence, his progression to decompensated liver cirrhosis and his pronounced growth retardation, the child was deemed a candidate for living donor liver transplantation. Following the liver transplant, pathological examination of the explanted liver tissue confirmed the clinical diagnosis of LCH. The child received postoperative chemotherapy, which resolved his systemic symptoms and normalized liver function. There was no evidence of LCH recurrence. The symptoms of diabetes insipidus were controlled with desmopressin acetate, however, the existing destructive lesions in the pituitary gland persisted.ConclusionSclerosing cholangitis is a late and severe form of liver involvement in LCH that may be accompanied by lesions in other tissues or organs. Along with pathological evidence, a diagnosis should be made based on characteristic rashes, osteolytic lesions, and thickening of the pituitary stalk. In children with LCH complicated by SC for whom pathological diagnostic evidence cannot be obtained, liver transplantation may be considered once signs of decompensated liver cirrhosis appear, followed by systemic chemotherapy to control active disease. This strategy represents a therapeutic approach with the potential to achieve a better prognosis in children with LCH.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a pivotal role in sculpting the tumor microenvironment and influencing cancer progression, particularly through their interactions with various forms of regulated cell death (RCD), including apoptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and necroptosis. This review examines the interplay between TAMs and these RCD pathways, exploring the mechanisms through which they interact to promote tumor growth and advancement. We examine the underlying mechanisms of these intricate interactions, emphasizing their importance in cancer progression and treatment. Moreover, we present potential therapeutic strategies for targeting TAMs and manipulating RCD to enhance anti-tumor responses. These strategies encompass reprogramming TAMs, inhibiting their recruitment, and selectively eliminating them to enhance anti-tumor functions, alongside modulating RCD pathways to amplify immune responses. These insights offer a novel perspective on tumor biology and provide a foundation for the development of more efficacious cancer therapies.

Mitophagy, the cellular process of selectively eliminating damaged mitochondria, plays a crucial role in maintaining metabolic balance and preventing insulin resistance, both key factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) development. When mitophagy malfunctions in diabetic neuropathy, it triggers a cascade of metabolic disruptions, including reduced energy production, increased oxidative stress, and cell death, ultimately leading to various complications. Thus, targeting mitophagy to enhance the process may have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for T2DM and its complications. Notably, plant-derived compounds with β-cell protective and mitophagy-stimulating properties offer potential as novel therapeutic agents. This review highlights the intricate mechanisms linking mitophagy dysfunction to T2DM and its complications, particularly neuropathy, elucidating potential therapeutic interventions for this debilitating disease.

BackgroundDiabetes is associated with the incidence and prognosis of various malignancies, most notably endometrial cancer (EC). This study investigated the connection between diabetes and EC, with a specific focus on elucidating the biological implications of the diabetes mellitus (DM)-related gene WFS1.MethodsUsing the CTD, GeneCards, and GSEA databases, we identified WFS1 as a diabetes-related gene and then conducted an extensive investigation focusing on WFS1 in the context of EC. First, we identified WFS1 as the target gene and obtained EC data from the TCGA database. Then, comprehensive analyses and verification experiments, including differential expression analysis, prognostic modeling, functional enrichment analysis, gene mutation profiling, assessment of immune cell infiltration, immunophenoscore (IPS), tumor stemness index scoring, drug sensitivity analysis, single-cell transcriptomic analysis, glycolytic pathway analysis, and clinical verification, were performed to comprehensively evaluate the clinical value of WFS1 in EC.ResultsThe EC group had significantly lower WFS1 expression, with an AUC of 0.857 for the ROC diagnostic curve. Overall survival analysis revealed that WFS1 was an independent risk factor for EC; low WFS1 expression was correlated with a poor prognosis. Stemness index analysis revealed that decreased WFS1 expression was associated with increased tumor grade and enhanced tumor stemness, suggesting increased malignancy of EC. In addition, WFS1 expression was correlated with tumor microenvironment features such as immune cell infiltration. WFS1 was also associated with tumor drug resistance.ConclusionEC patients with low WFS1 expression have a worse prognosis. WFS1 can be used as diagnostic and prognostic marker for EC.

Abstract Mortality rates due to lung cancer are high worldwide. Although PD‐1 and PD‐L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors boost the survival of patients with non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC), resistance often arises. The Warburg Effect, which causes lactate build‐up and potential lysine‐lactylation (Kla), links immune dysfunction to tumor metabolism. The role of non‐histone Kla in tumor immune microenvironment and immunotherapy remains to be clarified. Here, global lactylome profiling and metabolomic analyses of samples from patients with NSCLC is conducted. By combining multi‐omics analysis with in vitro and in vivo validation, that intracellular lactate promotes extracellular lipolysis through lactyl‐APOC2 is revealed. Mechanistically, lactate enhances APOC2 lactylation at K70, stabilizing it and resulting in FFA release, regulatory T cell accumulation, immunotherapy resistance, and metastasis. Moreover, the anti‐APOC2K70‐lac antibody that sensitized anti‐PD‐1 therapy in vivo is developed. This findings highlight the potential of anti lactyl‐APOC2‐K70 approach as a new combination therapy for sensitizing immunotherapeutic responses.