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Background: The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a vital role in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in the EMT process as an important regulatory factor and have the potential to serve as prognostic biomarkers. We aimed to construct a novel lncRNA prognostic signature for LUAD based on EMT-related lncRNAs, identify EMT-related hub lncRNA, and investigate its biological functions. Methods: RNA-seq data, clinical and survival information were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. The EMT-related lncRNA prognostic signature (EMTscore) was constructed using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator Cox regression analysis. The efficiency of EMTscore in predicting the prognosis of LUAD was evaluated through the area under the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The hub lncRNA of the prognostic signature was selected using a co-expression network map, and its effects on cell proliferation and metastasis were explored by in vitro experiments. Results: We constructed a prognostic signature (EMTscore) containing 8 tumor-high expressed lncRNAs. The EMTscore performed well in predicting overall survival rates with AUC values of 0.708 at 5 years in the training set. EMTscore could independently predict the survival of LUAD, with HR = 4.011 (95% CI 2.430–6.622) in the multivariate Cox regression. Importantly, we identified LINC01615 as the hub lncRNA in the EMTscore and revealed that LINC01615 enhanced the proliferation, migration, and EMT of lung cancer cells. Conclusions: A new EMT-related lncRNA prognostic signature named EMTscore was developed, and LINC01615 was identified as the hub lncRNA of EMTscore. The hub lncRNA LINC01615 had an oncogenic biological function in LUAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An interface control method is proposed to improve the material quality of InAs/InAsSb superlattices. • Mid-wavelength InAs/InAsSb nBn infrared detector with AlAs/AlSb barrier is demonstrated. • Dark current models are used to extract the minority carrier lifetime of InAs/InAsSb superlattices. We report our study to optimize the growth of mid-wavelength InAs/InAsSb nBn infrared detectors through interface control method with AlSb/AlAs superlattices as electron barrier. The dark current model was employed to investigate the dominant dark current mechanism at various operating temperatures. We extracted the minority carrier lifetime of InAs/InAsSb material grown by different interface growth methods. Electrical and optical characterizations indicated superior performance of the device grown by migration-enhanced epitaxy (MEE) with a 3 s As and Sb soak time. With −0.3 V applied bias and 150 K operating temperature, the optimal device shown a dark current density of 8.95 × 10−6 A/cm2 and peak specific detectivity of 7.12 × 1011 cm Hz1/2/W at 3.8 µm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Regular engagement in behavioral activities plays a crucial role against depressive symptoms in older adults. This study aims to explore the relationship between behavioral activities and the temporal evolution of depressive symptoms.Methods: We included community-dwelling Japanese adults aged 64 or 65 years with and without depressive symptoms enrolled in the New Integrated Suburban Seniority Investigation (NISSIN) project. Depressive symptoms at baseline and follow-up were assessed using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. Behavioral activities were measured by self-reported questions. Risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using modified Poisson regression, adjusting for relevant sociodemographic variables and health-related confounders.Results: During the 6 year follow-up period, 139 (10.1%) without depressive symptoms at baseline developed such symptoms over time, while 174 (51.6%) with depressive symptoms improved to the point of these symptoms being absent. The participants without depressive symptoms at baseline and those who engaged in social activity or daily walking at a continued regular frequency (CRF) or an increased frequency (IF) and exercise habits at CRF were the least likely to have depressive symptoms onset at follow-up. There was no significant difference between the changes in behavioral activities and the improvement of depressive symptoms after controlling for confounders. Participants engaging in a greater variety of behavioral activities at CRF were less likely to experience a new onset of depressive symptoms.Conclusions: Consistent and regular participation in one or more behavioral activities was significantly associated with the onset of depressive symptoms in Japanese community-dwelling older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Social activities involved social-related, learning, and personal activities. • Increased learning activities reduce the risk of LTC needs in depressed older adults. • Increased learning activities prolong depressed older adults LTC-needs-free survival. To examine the effects of changes in individual/multiple social activities between 65 and 70 years of age on incident long-term care (LTC) needs between 70 and 80 in older adults with depressive symptoms. Participants were recruited from the New Integrated Suburban Seniority Investigation Project, an ongoing prospective cohort study. A total of 525 older adults with depressive symptoms were included. The validated 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale was used to assess depressive symptoms. A self-report questionnaire was used to measure social activities (social-related, learning, and personal). LTC needs was defined according to Japan's Long-term Care Insurance System. A competing risk model and a Laplace regression model were used to estimate the hazard ratios of LTC needs incidence and the 25th percentile difference in LTC-needs-free survival time and their 95% confidence intervals. Out of 4314 person-years of mild LTC needs, 108 individuals developed it. Participants who increased their frequency of learning activities have a lower risk of developing mild LTC needs. Increasing the frequency could also prolong LTC-needs-free survival time by approximately 2.61 years. Out of 4535 person-years for severe LTC needs, 54 individuals developed it. Participants with a continuous regular frequency of learning activities had a lower risk of developing severe LTC needs. However, the association between this frequency and LTC-needs-free survival time for severe LTC needs was insignificant in the multivariable models. Increased frequency of learning activities reduced the risk of LTC needs among older adults with depressive symptoms and prolonged their LTC-needs-free survival time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People spend a lot of time indoors and the indoor microbiome is a major part of the environment that we are exposed to. However, awareness of the exposure to the indoor microbiome and its health effects remains poor. Outdoor environment (soil and air), indoor sources (ventilation, dampness and building materials), human occupants, and pets compose the indoor microbial community. It has been estimated that up to 500–1000 different species can be present in house dust. House dust is a major source and reservoir of indoor microbiome, which influences human microbiome and determines health and disease. Herein, we review the origins and the components of the fungal and bacterial communities in house dust and their possible effect on human health, in particular on allergic disorders, intestinal microbiome, and immune responses. We expect to lay a solid foundation for the further study on the mechanisms of how the house dust microbes interact with the host microbiome and the human immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Social activities involved social-related, learning, and personal activities. • Personal activities had a great impact on depressive symptoms. • Combinations of regular social activities was associated with depressive symptoms. We aimed to explore the association between changes in social activities and the occurrence/persistence of depressive symptoms and investigate the difference in effect sizes among the types and combinations of social activities. The study adopted a valid 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale to assess depressive symptoms in 2480 community-dwelling adults aged 64/65 years. Changes in social-related, learning, and personal activities were classified into four categories: continued low frequency (CLF), increased frequency (IF), decreased frequency (DF), and continued regular frequency (CRF) 1 1 CLF: continued low frequency, IF: increased frequency, DF: decreased frequency, CRF: continued regular frequency. Relative ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using a modified Poisson regression model. Those without depressive symptoms at baseline and who engaged in social-related (RR IF = 0.56 (0.39, 0.81), RRC RF = 0.55 (0.41, 0.74)), learning (RR IF = 0.63 (0.44, 0.89), RR CRF = 0.62 (0.46, 0.85)), and personal activities (RRIF = 0.37 (0.24, 0.57), RR CRF = 0.41 (0.30, 0.56)) at IF or CRF were less likely to develop depressive symptoms. Those with depressive symptoms at baseline, engaging in personal activities at IF (RR=0.67 (0.51, 0.87)) and CRF (RR= 0.80 (0.65-1.00)) were less likely to have persistent depressive symptoms. Participation in all three activities consistently at a regular frequency was inversely associated with the occurrence/persistence of depressive symptoms. The effect of personal activities was more manifest in preventing depressive symptoms than the other two kinds, regardless of depressive symptoms at baseline. Regularly engaging in a combination of all three activities at baseline and follow-up was associated with the occurrence and persistence of depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Four new organic dyes with N-carboxymethyl pyridinium as electron acceptors/anchoring groups were designed and synthesized. The optical and electrochemical properties were characterized by UV–vis, fluorescence spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The absorption spectra of the four pyridinium dyes were in the range of 450–650nm. The dye with triphenylamine as the electron donor shows a solar-energy-to-electricity conversion efficiency (η) of 2.33% in comparison with the reference Ru-complex (N719 dye) with a η value of 5.45% under the same experimental conditions. The dye with phenoxazine as the electron donor gives broad IPCE spectra in the range of 400–750nm. All these new dyes are simple in structure, very easy to synthesize, and gives high V oc. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Organic dyes with ethoxy-substituted oligo-phenylenevinylene as chromophores were synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), and the detailed relationships between the dye structures, photophysical properties, electrochemical properties, and performances of DSSCs were described. The dye S3O showed broad IPCE spectra in the spectral range of 350-750 nm, and the dye S1P showed solar energy-to-electricity conversion efficiency ( () of up to 4.23% under AM 1.5 irradiation (100 mW/cm2) in comparison with the reference Ru-complex (N719 dye) with an η value of 5.90% under similar experimental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel organic dye with N-substituted pyridinium as the acceptor and carboxylate as the anchoring group were designed and synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cells, which give solar energy-to-electricity conversion efficiency (η) of up to 3.47% in comparison with the reference Ru-complex (N719 dye) with an η value of 5.27% under similar experimental conditions. This new dye is simple in structure, very easy to synthesize, and gives high V oc. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

High-performance p-B-n infrared photodetectors based on In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As / Ga 0.51 As 0.49 Sb type-II superlattices with an Al 0.85 Ga 0.15 AsSb barrier on an InP substrate have been demonstrated. These photodetectors exhibit 50% and 100% cutoff wavelengths of ∼ 2.1 μm and ∼ 2.6 μm, respectively. At a bias voltage of −100 mV bias voltage, the device exhibits a peak responsivity of 0.618 A/W at 2.1 μm, corresponding to a quantum efficiency of 36.5%. The device exhibits a saturated dark current shot noise limited specific detectivity (D*) of 4.12 × 10 10 cm · Hz 1 / 2 / W (at a peak responsivity of 2.1 μm) under −100 mV applied bias at 300 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation is indispensable for atherogenesis. Mitophagy has emerged as a potential strategy to counteract NLRP3 inflammasome activation triggered by impaired mitochondria. Our previous research has indicated that dihydromyricetin, a natural flavonoid, can mitigate NLRP3-mediated endothelial inflammation, suggesting its potential to treat atherosclerosis. However, the precise underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This study sought to investigate whether dihydromyricetin modulates endothelial mitophagy and inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation to alleviate atherogenesis, along with the specific mechanisms involved. Methods: Apolipoprotein E-deficient mice on a high-fat diet were administered daily oral gavages of dihydromyricetin for 14 weeks. Blood samples were procured to determine the serum lipid profiles and quantify proinflammatory cytokine concentrations. Aortas were harvested to evaluate atherosclerotic plaque formation and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Concurrently, in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, Western blotting, flow cytometry, and quantitative real-time PCR were employed to elucidate the mechanistic role of mitophagy in the modulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activation by dihydromyricetin. Results: Dihydromyricetin administration significantly attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome activation and vascular inflammation in mice on a high-fat diet, thereby exerting a pronounced inhibitory effect on atherogenesis. Both in vivo and in vitro, dihydromyricetin treatment markedly enhanced mitophagy. This enhancement in mitophagy ameliorated the mitochondrial damage instigated by saturated fatty acids, thereby inhibiting the activation and nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Consequently, concomitant reductions in the transcript levels of NLRP3 and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), alongside decreased activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β secretion, were discerned. Notably, the inhibitory effects of dihydromyricetin on the activation of NF-κB and subsequently the NLRP3 inflammasome were determined to be, at least in part, contingent upon its capacity to promote mitophagy. Conclusion: This study suggested that dihydromyricetin may function as a modulator to promote mitophagy, which in turn mitigates NF-κB activity and subsequent NLRP3 inflammasome activation, thereby conferring protection against atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polydopamine (PDA), which is derived from marine mussels, has excellent potential in early diagnosis of diseases and targeted drug delivery owing to its good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and photothermal conversion. However, when used as a solid nanoparticle, the application of traditional PDA is restricted because of the low drug-loading and encapsulation efficiencies of hydrophobic drugs. Nevertheless, the emergence of mesoporous materials broaden our horizon. Mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) has the characteristics of a porous structure, simple preparation process, low cost, high specific surface area, high light-to-heat conversion efficiency, and excellent biocompatibility, and therefore has gained considerable interest. This review provides an overview of the preparation methods and the latest applications of MPDA-based nanodrug delivery systems (chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy, photothermal therapy combined with chemotherapy, photothermal therapy combined with immunotherapy, photothermal therapy combined with photodynamic/chemodynamic therapy, and cancer theranostics). This review is expected to shed light on the multi-strategy antitumor therapy applications of MPDA-based nanodrug delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We have manufactured a SWIR detector and characterized its photoelectric performance in detail. • We calculated the carrier lifetime and dark current activation energy of the device, and found that dark current limits its application at high temperatures. This study investigates the performance of infrared photodetectors through variable temperature tests, specifically examining dark current, light current, and capacitance. The reduction of dark current and the increase in carrier lifetimes are crucial for enabling the utilization of infrared photodetectors in complex environments. By conducting tests and analyses on high-performance detectors, the physical mechanisms governing carrier transport processes can be obtained. In order to elucidate the characteristics of InAs/GaSb/AlSb type-II superlattices, a short-wave infrared (SWIR) photodetector exhibiting low dark current and low saturation bias voltage is designed and fabricated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compound (II) exhibits broad IPCE spectra in the range of 350-750 nm and compound (Ia) shows solar energy-to-electricity conversion efficiency up to 4.23%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The receptor of severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, is more abundant in kidney than in lung tissue, suggesting that kidney might be another important target organ for SARS-CoV-2. However, our understanding of kidney injury caused by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is limited. This study aimed to explore the association between kidney injury and disease progression in patients with COVID-19.Methods: A retrospective cohort study was designed by including 2630 patients with confirmed COVID-19 from Huoshenshan Hospital (Wuhan, China) from 1 February to 13 April 2020. Kidney function indexes and other clinical information were extracted from the electronic medical record system. Associations between kidney function indexes and disease progression were analyzed using Cox proportional-hazards regression and generalized linear mixed model.Results: We found that estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and creatinine clearance (Ccr) decreased in 22.0% and 24.0% of patients with COVID-19, respectively. Proteinuria was detected in 15.0% patients and hematuria was detected in 8.1% of patients. Hematuria (HR 2.38, 95% CI 1.50-3.78), proteinuria (HR 2.16, 95% CI 1.33-3.51), elevated baseline serum creatinine (HR 2.84, 95% CI 1.92-4.21) and blood urea nitrogen (HR 3.54, 95% CI 2.36-5.31), and decrease baseline eGFR (HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.07-2.34) were found to be independent risk factors for disease progression after adjusted confounders. Generalized linear mixed model analysis showed that the dynamic trajectories of uric acid was significantly related to disease progression.Conclusion: There was a high proportion of early kidney function injury in COVID-19 patients on admission. Early kidney injury could help clinicians to identify patients with poor prognosis at an early stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superlubricity is a sliding regime with almost vanishing friction sustained under stringent material conditions. This remarkable phenomenon was first found between surfaces with incommensurate lattice structures, and later extended to materials with weak shear, as in many two-dimensional layered materials. Such materials, however, face great challenges that limit their applications, including the difficulty to scale up to meet the needs of many practical implementations and low durability stemming from the intrinsic structural weakness. Overcoming these limitations hinges on new design and fabrication of advanced superlubricating materials. Here, we report on the realization of macroscale ultradurable superlubricity on passivated transition-metal diborides (TMB 2) following an unconventional design principle that first construct materials with strong anti-wear ability then create superlubricity via effective surface passivation. TMB 2 possess superior mechanical strength and durability, along with the ability to activate in-situ load-induced passivation layers via tribochemical actions at the surface. The resultant passivated TMB 2 exhibits characteristic superlubricating and ultradurable friction coefficient (0.002) and wear rate (10−19 m3/N·m). These findings introduce a fresh approach toward rational design and implementation of superlubricating materials, opening a new avenue for versatile applications at large (up to industrial) scales. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We aimed to investigate the role of Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) and glucose fluctuation in the prognosis of COVID-19 patients stratified by pre-existing diabetes.Methods: The associations of FPG and glucose fluctuation indexes with prognosis of COVID-19 in 2,642 patients were investigated by multivariate Cox regression analysis. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality; the secondary outcome was disease progression. The longitudinal changes of FPG over time were analyzed by the latent growth curve model in COVID-19 patients stratified by diabetes and severity of COVID-19.Results: We found FPG as an independent prognostic factor of overall survival after adjustment for age, sex, diabetes and severity of COVID-19 at admission (HR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.06-1.25, P = 1.02 × 10-3). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the standard deviation of blood glucose (SDBG) and largest amplitude of glycemic excursions (LAGE) were also independent risk factors of COVID-19 progression (P = 0.03 and 0.04, respectively). The growth trajectory of FPG over the first 3 days of hospitalization was steeper in patients with critical COVID-19 in comparison to moderate patients.Conclusions: Hyperglycemia and glucose fluctuation were adverse prognostic factors of COVID-19 regardless of pre-existing diabetes. This stresses the importance of glycemic control in addition to other therapeutic management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]