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In this study, we investigated the thermoelectric properties of molecular junctions, created by trapping naphthacene (C18H12) and rubrene (C42H28) molecules between two graphene electrodes. It is found that the charge transport of naphthacene-based and rubrene-based graphene junctions is not sensitive to the introduction of edge side branches or the increase in molecular length and still maintains resonance transport at the Fermi level. Notably, the presence of pendant branches on the molecular trunk in rubrene-based graphene junctions leads to a suppression of phonon transport, attributed to multiple scattering at the branch attachment points or Fano resonance scattering. The phonon thermal conductance of the rubrene junctions can be reduced by nearly half compared to that of naphthalene junctions. Furthermore, the room-temperature figure of merit (ZT) is significantly enhanced from 0.2 to 1.1 upon constructing weak coupling junctions, representing an almost tenfold increase over covalent junctions. These findings mean that it is highly desirable to find a mechanism that can suppress the phonon thermal conductance of self-assembled molecular films, while preserving their power factor at optimal levels to obtain high-efficiency thermoelectric performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aromia bungii is a serious wood borer damaging Prunus persica and other numerous economic tree species. Host plant volatiles play a key role in pest population monitoring and trapping. To ascertain the influence of volatile organic compounds emitted by P. persica at varying physiological statuses on the host‐searching behaviour of A. bungii adults, we initially collected and identified the volatiles emitted by P. persica leaves infested with A. bungii using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Subsequently, we evaluated the behavioural response of A. bungii adults to the crude extracts, single compounds and blends of these compounds by Y‐tube olfactometer bioassay. Results showed that volatiles emitted from P. persica infested with A. bungii larvae at Grade I were more attractive to females, but males were more attracted to volatiles from P. persica infested with A. bungii larvae at Grade IV. Five compounds were identified and showed relatively high levels from both infested plants at Grade I and Grade IV. Among them, 3‐carene, cis‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol and cis‐3‐hexenyl acetate were attractive to females, and a blend of the three volatiles in a ratio of 3:91:6 for Grade I infestation was more attractive to females than a ratio of 3:83:14 from Grade IV infestation. The compounds, 3‐carene, cis‐3‐hexenyl acetate, cis‐3‐hexene‐1‐ol and benzaldehyde, were attractive to males and a blend in a ratio of 3:81:13:3 from Grade IV infestation was more attractive to males than a ratio of 3:89:6:2 from Grade I infestation. The results show that the kinds and ratios of volatiles emitted from P. persica infested with A. bungii larvae play important roles in host‐searching behaviour of A. bungii adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young adults are a high-risk population for developing smartphone addiction (SA), which bring about social issues. One theoretically and empirically supported proximal risk factor of SA is preference for smartphone-based internet applications (PSIA). However, most previous studies ignore gender difference and symptomatic heterogeneity of SA. Besides, many previous data analyses contain non-addicts, and the results derived might not be applicable to smartphone addicts. To bridging the gap, we used a symptom-level network analysis to assess gender differences in the links between preferences for 8 smartphone-based internet applications and 4 SA symptoms among young adults with high-level phone addiction (619 women and 415 men). The results showed that: (1) The relationship between the preference for video and the "loss of control" symptom was more pronounced in female addicts compared to their male counterparts. (2) Shopping app had stronger bridge centrality in women's smartphone applications-SA network, which was positively linked with more SA symptoms. (3) Our research identified marginal gender differences in smartphone addicts' psychological networks, with female addicts showing stronger links between social media/eBook preferences and withdrawal symptoms, and male addicts displaying a stronger connection between gaming/eBook and other smartphone activities. The study provides a visualized network association and network metrics for understanding the relationship between PSIA and SA. We propose adopting a selective processing hypothesis and an evolutionary psychology perspective to aid in understanding these gender differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Peer support specialists (PSSs) in mental healthcare services are individuals recovering from mental health conditions and providing formal peer support to clients with similar conditions. Despite evidence of the benefits of this modality and the increasing demand for it, little is known about the PSSs' experiences in mental healthcare services. This review systematically synthesises available qualitative data on the certified PSSs' experiences in providing formal peer support in mental healthcare services. A search was performed across six electronic databases and one grey literature database for all published and unpublished qualitative studies in English between 2014 and 2022. Mixed‐methods studies were included if their qualitative data were extractable. This review included PSSs who provided formal peer support to clients with similar mental health conditions. The included studies were appraised through the Critical Appraisal Skills Program Qualitative checklist, while data extraction was done through a customised tool. Our meta‐synthesis revealed an overarching theme on certified PSSs' journey in mental healthcare services, alongside four main themes: (i) emotional impacts of being PSSs, (ii) struggle to justify their roles, (iii) complex roles of PSSs and (iv) sources of support. The review has provided an insightful understanding of the PSSs' roles and needs, for which there is a need to cultivate a supportive working environment. Given the difficulties in adopting the PSSs' roles, as demonstrated by our findings, future research should explore how mental healthcare organisations can address their work‐related challenges and cultivate a supportive working environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orexin is exclusively produced in neurons localized within the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and perifornical area (PFA). Orexin has been identified as a key promotor of arousal. The selective loss of orexinergic neurons results in narcolepsy. It is known that the intrinsic electrophysiological properties are critical for neurons to perform their functions in corresponding brain regions. In addition to hypothalamic orexin, other brain nuclei are involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness. Quite a lot of studies focus on elucidating orexin‐induced regulation of sleep–wake states and modulation of neuronal electrophysiological properties in several brain regions. Here, we summarize that the orexinergic neurons exhibit spontaneous firing activity which is associated with the states of sleep–wake cycle. Orexin mainly exerts postsynaptic excitatory effects on multiple brain nuclei associated with the process of sleep and wakefulness. This review may provide a background to guide future research about the cellular mechanisms of orexin‐induced maintaining of arousal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The DNAN/DNB eutectic is a high-energy explosive eutectic with superior safety and thermal stability compared to traditional melt-cast explosives. However, the addition of polymer binders can effectively enhance its mechanical properties, allowing for continued production demands without the need for changes to existing factory equipment. In this paper, a model of the DNAN/DNB eutectic explosive was established, and five different types of polymers—cis-1,4-polybutadiene (BR), ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), fluorinated polymer (F2603), and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)—were added to the (1 0 − 1), (1 0 1), and (0 1 1) cleavage planes, respectively, to form polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs). The stability, trigger bond length, mechanical properties, and detonation performance of the various polymer-bound PBXs were predicted retrogressively. Among the five PBX models, the DNAN/DNB/PEG model exhibited the highest binding energy and the shortest trigger bond length, indicating a significant improvement in stability, compatibility, and sensitivity compared to the original eutectic. Additionally, although the detonation performance of DNAN/DNB decreased after the addition of binders, the final results were still satisfactory. Overall, the DNAN/DNB/PEG model demonstrated excellent comprehensive performance, proving that among the many polymer binders, PEG is the optimal choice for DNAN/DNB. Methods: Within the Materials Studio software, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed to predict the properties of the DNAN/DNB eutectic PBX. The MD simulation timestep was set to 1 fs, with a cumulative simulation duration of 2 ns. A 2 ns MD simulation was conducted using the isothermal-isobaric ensemble (NPT). The COMPASS force field was applied, and the temperature was fixed at 295 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the severe harmful impacts of industrial dyeing wastewater on ecosystems and human health, proper treatment is crucial. Herein, the use of modified graphite as an adsorbent for dyeing wastewater treatment was investigated in this study. The graphite was oxidized and intercalated using a phosphoric acid–nitric acid–potassium permanganate system and then thermally treated at high temperatures to optimize its structure. By adjusting the thermal treatment temperature, the graphite adsorbent with varying porosity was obtained. The optimized graphite demonstrated significant improvement in adsorption performance for dyes and organic compounds, achieving a removal rate of over 85% for methylene blue (MB) dye. The optimal adsorption performance is achieved with a 1.6 mg modified graphite adsorbent at 60 °C under alkaline conditions for adsorbing 10 ppm MB. Adsorption kinetics and isotherm models were applied to elucidate the adsorption mechanisms. The results fit the Langmuir model, suggesting that monolayer homogeneous adsorption is favorable. Importantly, the results demonstrate that high-temperature treatment can significantly enhance the adsorption properties of coal-based graphite, supporting its application in dyeing wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we theoretically studied the spin caloritronic properties of 7-width armchair graphene nanoribbons with isolated zigzag edge extension (D-system), cove-to-zigzag edge extensions (D1-system), cove-to-cove edge extensions (D2-system), and zigzag-to-zigzag edge extensions (D3-system), respectively, by combining first-principles calculations with a non-equilibrium Green's function method. The results illustrate that the D-system and D1-system with sublattice imbalance show spin-semiconductor properties and obtain thermally induced pure spin current devoid of charge current due to the symmetric spin-up and spin-down channels around the Fermi level. Additionally, it observes substantial spin-dependent Seebeck coefficients Ssp, approximately −2.5 mV/K for the D-system and −3.0 mV/K for the D1-system, near chemical potential ±0.5 eV. More than that, the D1-system showcases a remarkable spin-dependent thermoelectric figure of merit, ZspT, at room temperature, approximately approaching 8 near the Fermi level. In contrast, the D2-system and D3-system only achieved charge-dependent thermoelectric figure of merit of about 0.5 due to the preservation of sublattice balance. Our findings provide important suggestions for designing spin caloritronic devices with high efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of current interest, there have recently appeared a series of the shallow-water papers in Mod. Phys. Lett. B. Illuminated by those papers and to make the story more complete, for the nonlinear long waves in the shallow water, this paper is scheduled to investigate a (2+1)-dimensional generalized Broer-Kaup system. As for the wave height and wave horizontal velocity, we employ symbolic computation, with the view of constructing out two groups of the similarity reductions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the drawbacks of beluga whale optimization (BWO), such as low convergence accuracy, limited adaptive ability and weak anti-stagnation ability, two improved BWO algorithms based on Fuch mapping and dynamic opposition-based learning, namely, CIOEBWO and CPOEBWO, are proposed from the perspectives of chaos initialization, chaotic parameter, and nonlinear control strategy. Fuch chaotic initialization is used to increase the traversal of the initial population of BWO, which enhances the optimization accuracy and convergence speed of the algorithm. In the phase of exploitation, Fuch chaotic mapping is introduced to dynamically adjust the parameter C1 to coordinate the capabilities of global search and local search, which improves the adaptive ability of BWO effectively. On the basis of two improvement strategies described above, the dynamic opposition-based learning strategy is introduced to enrich the number of high-quality individuals and enhance the overall anti-stagnation ability of the algorithm. The experimental results of 8 benchmark test functions and Friedman rank test indicate that the convergence accuracy, adaptive ability, and anti-stagnation ability of improved BWO are effectively improved. Compared with BWO and CIOEBWO, CPOEBWO has the better performance. In addition, the optimization results of CPOEBWO and six comparison algorithms show that CPOEBWO has the stronger optimization ability and robustness. Finally, CPOEBWO is applied to solve the engineering optimization problems to demonstrate its applicability and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant JASMONATE ZIM‐DOMAIN (JAZ) genes play crucial roles in regulating the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites and stressful responses. However, understanding of JAZs controlling these biological processes lags due to numerous JAZ copies. Here, we found that two leaf‐specific CwJAZ4/9 genes from Curcuma wenyujin are strongly induced by methyl‐jasmonate (MeJA) and negatively correlated with terpenoid biosynthesis. Yeast two‐hybrid, luciferase complementation imaging and in vitro pull‐down assays confirmed that CwJAZ4/9 proteins interact with CwMYC2 to form the CwJAZ4/9‐CwMYC2 regulatory cascade. Furthermore, transgenic hairy roots showed that CwJAZ4/9 acts as repressors of MeJA‐induced terpenoid biosynthesis by inhibiting the terpenoid pathway and jasmonate response, thus reducing terpenoid accumulation. In addition, we revealed that CwJAZ4/9 decreases salt sensitivity and sustains the growth of hairy roots under salt stress by suppressing the salt‐mediated jasmonate responses. Transcriptome analysis for MeJA‐mediated transgenic hairy root lines further confirmed that CwJAZ4/9 negatively regulates the terpenoid pathway genes and massively alters the expression of genes related to salt stress signaling and responses, and crosstalks of multiple phytohormones. Altogether, our results establish a genetic framework to understand how CwJAZ4/9 inhibits terpenoid biosynthesis and confers salt tolerance, which provides a potential strategy for producing high‐value pharmaceutical terpenoids and improving resistant C. wenyujin varieties by a genetic approach. Summary statement: CwJAZ4/9 interacts with CwMYC2 and negatively regulates MeJA‐induced terpenoid biosynthesis by inhibiting jasmonate response in Curcuma wenyujin. Meanwhile, CwJAZ4/9 can confer salt tolerance and sustain hairy root growth by weakening the salt‐mediated JA response and upregulating the expression of stress‐responsive genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the relationships among leisure, heritage, and identity through the case study of Malaysian Chinese 24 Festive Drums Performance. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 respondents who were members of the Chinese diaspora from Malaysia currently studying in China and practising 24 Festive Drums as their leisure activity. The findings showed that the three components are interrelated: (a) as identity carrier, heritage confirmed identity, while identity helped to spread the heritage; (b) identity served as a motivation for leisure, which in turn increased leisure participation and strengthened identity; (c) heritage was promoted as leisure practice, which further developed as serious leisure. This study has theoretical contributions in developing a triangular model of interrelationships between leisure, heritage, and identity. Furthermore, practical implications were discussed on demonstrating the potential of the role of leisure in heritage promotion and identity construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variants (pathogenic) of the LMNA gene are a common cause of familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), which is characterised by early-onset atrioventricular (AV) block, atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTs), and progressive heart failure. The unstable internal nuclear lamina observed in LMNA-related DCM is a consequence of the disassembly of lamins A and C. This suggests that LMNA variants produce truncated or alternative forms of protein that alter the nuclear structure and the signalling pathway related to cardiac muscle diseases. To date, the pathogenic mechanisms and phenotypes of LMNA-related DCM have been studied using different platforms, such as patient-specific induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) and transgenic mice. In this review, point variants in the LMNA gene that cause autosomal dominantly inherited forms of LMNA-related DCM are summarised. In addition, potential therapeutic targets based on preclinical studies of LMNA variants using transgenic mice and human iPSC-CMs are discussed. They include mitochondria deficiency, variants in nuclear deformation, chromatin remodelling, altered platelet-derived growth factor and ERK1/2-related pathways, and abnormal calcium handling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of RE (Sm, Nd, Pr and Ho)-doped Rh@NSPC (NSPC stands for N, S co-doped porous carbon nanosheets) are prepared by a simple joule-heat pyrolysis method for the first time. The optimized Sm-Rh@NSPC achieves highly efficient alkaline hydrogen evolution with superior electrocatalytic property. [Display omitted] • RE (Sm, Nd, Pr and Ho)-doped Rh@NSPC are prepared by joule-heat pyrolysis method. • Collaborative electronic interactions between Sm and Rh clusters. • The overpotential of Sm-Rh@NSPC is merely 18.1 mV at current density of 10 mAcm−2. The unique electronic and crystal structures of rare earth metals (RE) offer promising opportunities for enhancing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) properties of materials. In this work, a series of RE (Sm, Nd, Pr and Ho)-doped Rh@NSPC (NSPC stands for N, S co-doped porous carbon nanosheets) with sizes less than 2 nm are prepared, utilizing a simple, rapid and solvent-free joule-heat pyrolysis method for the first time. The optimized Sm-Rh@NSPC achieves HER performance. The high-catalytic performance and stability of Sm-Rh@NSPC are attributed to the synergistic electronic interactions between Sm and Rh clusters, leading to an increase in the electron cloud density of Rh, which promotes the adsorption of H+, the dissociation of Rh-H bonds and the release of H 2. Notably, the overpotential of the Sm-Rh@NSPC catalyst is a mere 18.1 mV at current density of 10 mAcm−2, with a Tafel slope of only 15.2 mV dec-1. Furthermore, it exhibits stable operation in a 1.0 M KOH electrolyte at 10 mA cm−2 for more than 100 h. This study provides new insights into the synthesis of composite RE hybrid cluster nanocatalysts and their RE-enhanced electrocatalytic performance. It also introduces fresh perspectives for the development of efficient electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Getting enthusiastic from two Acta Mech. water-wave advances, this Letter proposes to visit a variable-coefficient generalized dispersive water-wave system for certain long-weakly nonlinear and weakly-dispersive surface waves of variable depth in a shallow water. In regard to the height modeling the deviation from the equilibrium position of the water and to the surface velocity of water waves along a horizontal direction, we symbolically compute out the following: (1) bilinear forms, the same as those published but by way of a different method; (2) similarity reductions, each of which to a known ordinary differential equation. Results are related to the fluid density, velocity and viscosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The relationship between delayed ambulation (DA) and postoperative adverse events (AEs) following transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in elderly patients remains elusive. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of DA on the postoperative AEs including complications, readmission and prolonged length of hospital stay (LOS). Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of a prospectively established database of elderly patients (aged 65 years and older) who underwent TLIF surgery. The early ambulation (EA) group was defined as patients ambulated within 48 h after surgery, whereas the delayed ambulation (DA) group was patients ambulated at a minimum of 48 h postoperatively. The DA patients were 1:1 propensity-score matched to the EA patients based on age, gender and the number of fused segments. Univariate analysis was used to compare postoperative outcomes between the two groups, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for adverse events and DA. Results: After excluding 125 patients for various reasons, 1025 patients (≤ 48 h: N = 659 and > 48 h: N = 366) were included in the final analysis. After propensity score matching, there were 326 matched patients in each group. There were no significant differences in the baseline data and the surgery-related variables between the two groups (p > 0.05). The patients in the DA group had a significant higher incidence of postoperative AEs (46.0% vs. 34.0%, p = 0.002) and longer LOS (p = 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression identified that age, operative time, diabetes, and DA were independently associated with postoperative AEs, whereas greater age, higher international normalized ratio, and intraoperative estimated blood loss were identified as independent risk factors for DA. Conclusions: Delayed ambulation was an independent risk factor for postoperative AEs after TLIF in elderly patients. Older age, increased intraoperative blood loss and worse coagulation function were associated with delayed ambulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specific detection of glycoproteins such as transferrin (TRF) related to neurological diseases, hepatoma and other diseases always plays an important role in the field of disease diagnosis. We designed an antibody-free immunoassay sensing method based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) formed by the polymerization of multiple functional monomers for the sensitive and selective detection of TRF in human serum. In the sandwich surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensor, the TRF-oriented magnetic MIP nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2–MIPs) served as capture units to specifically recognize TRF and 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid-functionalized gold nanorods (MPBA–Au NRs) served as SERS probes to label the targets. In order to achieve stronger interaction between the recognition cavities of the prepared MIPs and the different amino acid fragments that make up TRF, Fe3O4@SiO2–MIPs were obtained through polycondensation reactions between more silylating reagents, enhancing the specific recognition of the entire TRF protein and achieving high IF. This sensing method exhibited a good linear response to TRF within the TRF concentration range of 0.01 ng mL−1 to 1 mg mL−1 (R2 = 0.9974), and the LOD was 0.00407 ng mL−1 (S/N = 3). The good stability, reproducibility and specificity of the resulting MIP based SERS sensor were demonstrated. The determination of TRF in human serum confirmed the feasibility of the method in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient method for the continuous separation of Voriconazole enantiomers was developed using sulfobutyl ether‐β‐cyclodextrin (SBE‐β‐CD) as a chiral selector in high‐speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) with different types. The separation was performed using a two‐phase solvent system consisting of n‐hexane/ethyl acetate/100 mmol/L phosphate buffer solution (pH = 3.0, containing 50 mmol/L SBE‐β‐CD) (1.5:0.5:2, v/v/v). A fast and predictable scale‐up process was achieved using an analytical DE HSCCC instrument. The optimized parameters were subsequently applied to a preparative Tauto HSCCC instrument, resulting in consistent separation time and enantiomeric purity, with throughput boosted by a remarkable 11‐fold. Preparative HSCCC successfully separated 506 mg of the racemate, delivering enantiomers exceeding 99% purity as confirmed by high‐performance liquid chromatography analysis. This investigation presents an effective methodology for forecasting the HSCCC scale‐up process and attaining continuous separation of chiral drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senolytics are drugs that specifically target senescent cells. Flavonoids such as quercetin and fisetin possess selective senolytic activities. This study aims to investigate if chalcones exhibit antisenescence activities. Anti-senescence effect of 11 chalcone derivatives on the replicative senescence human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) and human fetal lung fibroblasts (IMR90) was evaluated. Compound 2 (4-methoxychalcone) and compound 4 (4-bromo-4'-methoxychalcone) demonstrated increased cytotoxicity in senescent HAEC compared to young HAEC, with significant differences on IC50 values. Their anti-senescence effects on HAEC exceeded fisetin. Higher selectivity of compound 4 toward HAEC over IMR90 could be attributed to 4-methoxy (4-OMe) substitution at ring A (R1). Chalcone derivatives have potentials as senolytics in mitigating replicative senescence, warranting further research and development on chalcones as anti-senescent agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National power has been an important discriminative signal for the evolution of great power competition and international patterns in recent years, not only in terms of the relative resource scale of the state but also in terms of the efficiency of resource use. Based on the two levels of national resources and conversion mechanisms, this article uses the entropy method to establish national power comprehensive assessment index systems covering 144 countries and 38 indicators from 1990–2020. At the same time, based on power transition theory (PTT), this article uses quadratic assignment procedures to verify the relevance and interpretation of international bilateral relations in the national power gap. The conclusion is that technology and economic elements are especially important for national power, and the conversion mechanism is icing on the cake rather than a decisive factor. The competition among great powers is transformed into nontraditional competition rather than an arms race; the international pattern has gradually developed from one superpower to a multipolar trend, and the global economic and geopolitical center has transitioned to Asia. The rise of China and the recession in the U.S. are factual; as the gap between the two countries' power narrows, their international relations become increasingly tense, confirming power transition theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by a redistribution of regional lung perfusion that impairs gas exchange. While speculative, experimental evidence suggests that perfusion redistribution may contribute to regional inflammation and modify disease progression. Unfortunately, tools to visualize and quantify lung perfusion in patients with ARDS are lacking. This review explores recent advances in perfusion imaging techniques that aim to understand the pulmonary circulation in ARDS. Dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography captures first-pass kinetics of intravenously injected dye during continuous scan acquisitions. Different contrast characteristics and kinetic modeling have improved its topographic measurement of pulmonary perfusion with high spatial and temporal resolution. Dual-energy computed tomography can map the pulmonary blood volume of the whole lung with limited radiation exposure, enabling its application in clinical research. Electrical impedance tomography can obtain serial topographic assessments of perfusion at the bedside in response to treatments such as inhaled nitric oxide and prone position. Ongoing technological improvements and emerging techniques will enhance lung perfusion imaging and aid its incorporation into the care of patients with ARDS. • Pulmonary perfusion in ARDS is highly variable and difficult to predict using existing clinical metrics. • Pulmonary perfusion impacts gas exchange and may modulate ARDS progression. • Several modalities exist to image and measure pulmonary perfusion in experimental and clinical ARDS. • Defining perfusion patterns using imaging will help advance precision medicine in ARDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cosmic plasmas are considered as the most abundant form of ordinary matter in the Universe while observations of the cosmic dust in different regions provide an insight into the Universe's recycling processes. For different types of the cosmic dusty plasmas, we hereby, with the symbolic computation and observational/experimental supports, study a (3+1)-dimensional generalized variable-coefficient Kadomtsev-Petviashvili-Burgers-type equation, which can describe the electron-acoustic, dust-acoustic, positron-acoustic, dust-magneto-acoustic, ion-acoustic, magneto-acoustic, ion, quantum-dust-ion-acoustic or dust-ion-acoustic waves in one of the cosmic/laboratory dusty plasmas. With respect to the fluctuation of the electron or ion density, or perturbation of the magnitude of the magnetic field, or electrostatic wave potential, or radial-direction component of the velocity of ions or dust particles, a set of the auto-Bäcklund transformations, several soliton families and a set of the similarity reductions are symbolically computed out, depending on the variable coefficients which represent the dispersion, nonlinearity, geometric effect, Burgers/dusty-fluid-viscosity dissipation and diffraction/transverse perturbation. Variable-coefficient constraints on the soliton solutions are presented. Our analytic results are in agreement with those dusty-plasma-experimentally reported. Future dusty-plasma experiments and observations might justify some other effects hereby offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have been known as the most widely used light source in lighting and displays for more than 60 years. There is still room for progress in the performance of LEDs, especially since the current devices with various types of different light-emitting layer materials have converged to unity in terms of internal quantum efficiency, and there is an urgent need to improve the light extraction efficiency. Metasurfaces (MSs) have received attention from researchers as structures that can be integrated with LEDs to efficiently modulate the phase and amplitude of light through resonance and scattering, which can reduce light loss. This paper reviews the development of metasurfaces in LEDs so far. The different working mechanisms of metasurfaces composed of different materials are first analyzed in depth. Subsequently, three aspects of light extraction, angle change, and polarization modulation are described in detail according to different applications of metasurfaces in LEDs. Finally, the current status of metasurface applications in LEDs is summarized, and the future development prospects are envisioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Impatiens is an important genus with rich species of garden plants, and its distribution is extremely extensive, which is reflected in its diverse ecological environment. However, the specific mechanisms of Impatiens' adaptation to various environments and the mechanism related to lignin remain unclear. Results: Three representative Impatiens species,Impatiens chlorosepala (wet, low degree of lignification), Impatiens uliginosa (aquatic, moderate degree of lignification) and Impatiens rubrostriata (terrestrial, high degree of lignification), were selected and analyzed for their anatomical structures, lignin content and composition, and lignin-related gene expression. There are significant differences in anatomical parameters among the stems of three Impatiens species, and the anatomical structure is consistent with the determination results of lignin content. Furthermore, the thickness of the xylem and cell walls, as well as the ratio of cell wall thickness to stem diameter have a strong correlation with lignin content. The anatomical structure and degree of lignification in Impatiens can be attributed to the plant's growth environment, morphology, and growth rate. Our analysis of lignin-related genes revealed a negative correlation between the MYB4 gene and lignin content. The MYB4 gene may control the lignin synthesis in Impatiens by controlling the structural genes involved in the lignin synthesis pathway, such as HCT, C3H, and COMT. Nonetheless, the regulation pathway differs between species of Impatiens. Conclusions: This study demonstrated consistency between the stem anatomy of Impatiens and the results obtained from lignin content and composition analyses. It is speculated that MYB4 negatively regulates the lignin synthesis in the stems of three Impatiens species by regulating the expression of structural genes, and its regulation mechanism appears to vary across different Impatiens species. This study analyses the variations among different Impatiens plants in diverse habitats, and can guide further molecular investigations of lignin biosynthesis in Impatiens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cistanche deserticola is a precious Chinese medicinal material with extremely high health care and medicinal value. In recent years, the frequent occurrence of stem rot has led to reduced or even no harvests of C. deserticola. The unstandardized use of farm chemicals in the prevention and control processes has resulted in excessive chemical residues, threatening the fragile desert ecological environment. Therefore, it is urgent to explore safe and efficient prevention and control technologies. Biocontrol agents, with the advantages of safety and environment-friendliness, would be an important idea. The isolation, screening and identification of pathogens and antagonistic endophytic bacteria are always the primary basis. In this study, three novel pathogens causing C. deserticola stem rot were isolated, identified and pathogenicity tested, namely Fusarium solani CPF1, F. proliferatum CPF2, and F. oxysporum CPF3. For the first time, the endophytic bacteria in C. deserticola were isolated and identified, of which 37 strains were obtained. Through dual culture assay, evaluation experiment and tissue culture verification, a biocontrol candidate strain Bacillus atrophaeus CE6 with outstanding control effect on the stem rot was screened out. In the tissue culture system, CE6 showed excellent control effect against F. solani and F. oxysporum, with the control efficacies reaching 97.2% and 95.8%, respectively, indicating its great potential for application in the production. This study is of great significance for the biocontrol of plant stem rot and improvement of the yield and quality of C. deserticola. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: γδ T cells are a distinct subset of unconventional T cells, which link innate and adaptive immunity by secreting cytokines and interacting with other immune cells, thereby modulating immune responses. As the first line of host defense, γδ T cells are essential for mucosal homeostasis and immune surveillance. When abnormally activated or impaired, γδ T cells can contribute to pathogenic processes. Accumulating evidence has revealed substantial impacts of γδ T cells on the pathogenesis of cancers, infections, and immune-inflammatory diseases. γδ T cells exhibit dual roles in cancers, promoting or inhibiting tumor growth, depending on their phenotypes and the clinical stage of cancers. During infections, γδ T cells exert high cytotoxic activity in infectious diseases, which is essential for combating bacterial and viral infections by recognizing foreign antigens and activating other immune cells. γδ T cells are also implicated in the onset and progression of immune-inflammatory diseases. However, the specific involvement and underlying mechanisms of γδ T cells in oral diseases have not been systematically discussed. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review using the PubMed/MEDLINE databases to identify and analyze relevant literature on the roles of γδ T cells in oral diseases. Results: The literature review revealed that γδ T cells play a pivotal role in maintaining oral mucosal homeostasis and are involved in the pathogenesis of oral cancers, periodontal diseases, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), oral lichen planus (OLP), and oral candidiasis. γδ T cells mainly influence various pathophysiological processes, such as anti-tumor activity, eradication of infection, and immune response regulation. Conclusion: This review focuses on the involvement of γδ T cells in oral diseases, with a particular emphasis on the main functions and underlying mechanisms by which γδ T cells influence the pathogenesis and progression of these conditions. This review underscores the potential of γδ T cells as therapeutic targets in managing oral health issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gamithromycin is an effective therapy for bovine and swine respiratory diseases but not utilized for rabbits. Given its potent activity against respiratory pathogens, we sought to determine the pharmacokinetic profiles, antimicrobial activity and target pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) exposures associated with therapeutic effect of gamithromycin against Pasteurella multocida in rabbits. Results: Gamithromycin showed favorable PK properties in rabbits, including high subcutaneous bioavailability (86.7 ± 10.7%) and low plasma protein binding (18.5–31.9%). PK analysis identified a mean plasma peak concentration (Cmax) of 1.64 ± 0.86 mg/L and terminal half-life (T1/2) of 31.5 ± 5.74 h after subcutaneous injection. For P. multocida, short post-antibiotic effects (PAE) (1.1–5.3 h) and post-antibiotic sub-inhibitory concentration effects (PA-SME) (6.6–9.1 h) were observed after exposure to gamithromycin at 1 to 4× minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Gamithromycin demonstrated concentration-dependent bactericidal activity and the PK/PD index area under the concentration-time curve over 24 h (AUC24h)/MIC correlated well with efficacy (R2 > 0.99). The plasma AUC24h/MIC ratios of gamithromycin associated with the bacteriostatic, bactericidal and bacterial eradication against P. multocida were 15.4, 24.9 and 27.8 h in rabbits, respectively. Conclusions: Subcutaneous administration of 6 mg/kg gamithromycin reached therapeutic concentrations in rabbit plasma against P. multocida. The PK/PD ratios determined herein in combination with ex vivo activity and favorable rabbit PK indicate that gamithromycin may be used for the treatment of rabbit pasteurellosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Connexins (Cx) 43 and 40 play a role in leukocytes recruitment in acute inflammation. They are expressed in the endothelial cells. They are also found in the placenta and involved in the placenta development. Acute chorioamnionitis is associated with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the expressions of Cx43 and Cx40 in the placenta of mothers with acute chorioamnionitis, and to correlate their association with the severity of chorioamnionitis and adverse perinatal outcomes. Methods: This study comprised a total of 81 cases, consisting of 39 placenta samples of mothers with acute chorioamnionitis and 42 non-acute chorioamnionitis controls. Cx43 and Cx40 immunohistochemistry were performed on all cases and their expressions were evaluated on cytotrophoblasts, syncytiotrophoblasts, chorionic villi endothelial cells, stem villi endothelial cells, maternal endothelial cells and decidua of the placenta. Results: Primigravida has a significantly higher risk of developing acute chorioamnionitis (p < 0.001). Neonates of mothers with a higher stage of fetal inflammatory response was significantly associated with lung complications (p = 0.041) compared to neonates of mothers with a lower stage. The expression of Cx40 was significantly higher in fetal and maternal vascular endothelial cells in acute chorioamnionitis (p < 0.001 and p = 0.037, respectively) compared to controls. Notably, Cx43 was not expressed in most of the types of cells in the placenta, except for decidua. Both Cx43 and Cx40 expressions did not have correlation with the severity of acute chorioamnionitis and adverse perinatal outcomes. Conclusion: Cx40 was overexpressed in the fetal and maternal vascular endothelial cells in the placenta of mothers with acute chorioamnionitis, and it may have a role in the development of inflammation in placenta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbal medicine is popularly used among patients who suffer from allergic rhinitis. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of single medicinal plants in the management of allergic rhinitis. We searched MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and Web of Science for randomised controlled trials which evaluated the use of single medicinal plant for allergic rhinitis among adults and children. Twenty-nine randomised controlled trials (n = 1879) were eligible while 27 (n = 1769) contributed data for meta-analyses. Most studies (studies = 20) compared medicinal plants against placebo and Petasites hybridus was most frequently investigated (studies = 5). Very-low-to-low-certainty evidence suggests that compared to placebo, single medicinal plants may improve overall total nasal symptoms (SMD -0.31, 95% CI -0.59 to -0.02; participants = 249; studies = 5; I2 = 21%) especially nasal congestion and sneezing; and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life (RQLQ) scores (MD -0.46, 95% CI -0.84 to -0.07; participants = 148; studies = 3; I2 = 0%). Moderate-certainty evidence show no clear differences between single medicinal plants and antihistamine in overall symptoms (Total nasal symptoms: SMD -0.14, 95% CI -0.46 to 0.18; participants = 149; studies = 2; I2 = 0%). As adjunctive therapy, moderate-certainty evidence shows that medicinal plants improved SNOT-22 scores when given as intranasal treatment (MD -7.47, 95% CI -10.75 to -4.18; participants = 124; studies = 2; I2 = 21%). Risk of bias domains were low or not clearly reported in most studies while heterogeneity was substantial in most pooled outcomes. Route of administration and age were identified to be plausible source of heterogeneity for certain outcomes. Medicinal plants appear to be well tolerated up to 8 weeks of use. Clear beneficial evidence of medicinal plants for allergic rhinitis is still lacking. There is a need for improved reporting of herbal trials to allow for critical assessment of the effects of each individual medicinal plant preparation in well-designed future clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae can convert carbon dioxide into organic matter through photosynthesis. Thus, they are considered as an environment-friendly and efficient cell chassis for biologically active metabolites. Microalgal lipids are a class of organic compounds that can be used as raw materials for food, feed, cosmetics, healthcare products, bioenergy, etc., with tremendous potential for commercialization. In this review, we summarized the commercial lipid products from eukaryotic microalgae, and updated the mechanisms of lipid synthesis in microalgae. Moreover, we reviewed the enhancement of lipids, triglycerides, polyunsaturated fatty acids, pigments, and terpenes in microalgae via environmental induction and/or metabolic engineering in the past five years. Collectively, we provided a comprehensive overview of the products, biosynthesis, induced strategies and genetic engineering in microalgal lipids. Meanwhile, the outlook has been presented for the development of microalgal lipids industries, emphasizing the significance of the accurate analysis of lipid bioactivity, as well as the high-throughput screening of microalgae with specific lipids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antidepressant response in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) is probably influenced by personality dimensions. However, personality dimensions in depression and their association with antidepressant treatment in adolescents are relatively unknown. We sought to investigate whether personality traits (PTs) can influence antidepressant treatment response in adolescents with depression. Eighty-two adolescents with MDD who had completed the 8 weeks of treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) were enrolled. The Revised NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI-R) was used to measure their personality at baseline, and the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) and Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R) were used to evaluate depressive symptoms at baseline and 8 weeks. Moreover, logistic regression was performed to investigate the relationship between personality dimensions and antidepressant response. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were employed to determine the accuracy of a PT-based model in predicting the antidepressant response rate. Adolescents with MDD had significantly different PTs at baseline. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that extroversion scores were associated with response to antidepressant treatment, the lower the extroversion score, the better the response to antidepressant treatment, after correcting for variables with significant differences and trends or all potential confounding variables. It was also found that the combination of disease duration, extraversion-gregariousness, and agreeableness-trust effectively predicted antidepressant response in adolescents with MDD, with a sensitivity of 79.4 % and specificity of 68.7 %. Personality dysfunction in adolescents is associated with MDD. The antidepressant treatment response is influenced by the degree of extroversion in adolescents with MDD. • Personality dysfunction in adolescents is associated with major depression disorder. • The degree of extroversion were associated with response to antidepressant treatment in adolescents. • Personality traits can effectively predict antidepressant response in adolescents with depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute liver injury (ALI) is an important medical problem that requires effective therapy. Astaxanthin (AST) is a carotenoid, and the beneficial effects of astaxanthin, including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour activities, have been identified. The present study was designed to elucidate the protective effects of astaxanthin against ALI and their underlying mechanisms. RAW264.7 macrophages were treated with dimethyl sulfoxide combined with different doses of astaxanthin for 12 h. Mice were fed with or without astaxanthin for up to 7 days. LPS was administered to induce inflammation. We assessed histopathology, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis .The results indicated that astaxanthin attenuated LPS-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and cell apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that astaxanthin down regulated the nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-κB), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) signalling pathways, inhibiting the LPS-induced inflammatory response, oxidative stress and cell apoptosis, and alleviating LPS-induced ALI in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although ROX index is frequently used to assess the efficacy of high-flow nasal cannula treatment in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) patients, the relationship between the ROX index and the mortality remains unclear. Therefore, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the ability of the ROX index to predict mortality risk in patients with AHRF. Method: Patients diagnosed with AHRF were extracted from the MIMIC-IV database and divided into four groups based on the ROX index quartiles. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, while in-hospital mortality and follow-up mortality were secondary outcomes. To investigate the association between ROX index and mortality in AHRF patients, restricted cubic spline curve and COX proportional risk regression were utilized. Result: A non-linear association (L-shaped) has been observed between the ROX index and mortality rate. When the ROX index is below 8.28, there is a notable decline in the 28-day mortality risk of patients as the ROX index increases (HR per SD, 0.858 [95%CI 0.794–0.928] P < 0.001). When the ROX index is above 8.28, no significant association was found between the ROX index and 28-day mortality. In contrast to the Q1 group, the mortality rates in the Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups had a substantial reduction (Q1 vs. Q2: HR, 0.749 [0.590–0.950] P = 0.017; Q3: HR, 0.711 [0.558–0.906] P = 0.006; Q4: HR, 0.641 [0.495–0.830] P < 0.001). Conclusion: The ROX index serves as a valuable predictor of mortality risk in adult patients with AHRF, and that a lower ROX index is substantially associated with an increase in mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To explore associations of combined exposure to metabolic/inflammatory indicators with thyroid nodules. Methods. We reviewed personal data for health screenings from 2020 to 2021. A propensity score matching method was used to match 931 adults recently diagnosed with thyroid nodules in a 1 : 4 ratio based on age and gender. Conditional logistic regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used to explore the associations of single metabolic/inflammatory indicators and the mixture with thyroid nodules, respectively. Results. In the adjusted models, five indicators (ORQ4 vs. Q1: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.07–1.58 for fasting blood glucose; ORQ4 vs. Q1: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.08–1.57 for systolic blood pressure; ORQ4 vs. Q1: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.04–1.53 for diastolic blood pressure; ORQ4 vs. Q1: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.02–1.48 for white blood cell; ORQ4 vs. Q1: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.07–1.55 for neutrophil) were positively associated with the risk of thyroid nodules, while high-density lipoproteins (ORQ3 vs. Q1: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.61–0.91) were negatively associated with the risk of thyroid nodules. Univariate exposure-response functions from BKMR models showed similar results. Moreover, the metabolic and inflammatory mixture exhibited a significant positive association with thyroid nodules in a dose-response pattern, with systolic blood pressure being the greatest contributor within the mixture (conditional posterior inclusion probability of 0.82). No interaction effects were found among the five indicators. These associations were more prominent in males, participants with higher age (≥40 years old), and individuals with abnormal body mass index status. Conclusions. Levels of the metabolic and inflammatory mixture have a linear dose-response relationship with the risk of developing thyroid nodules, with systolic blood pressure levels being the most important contributor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractGuiding by LC-MS/MS analysis and the Global Natural Products Social (GNPS) Molecular Networking, three undescribed sesquiterpenoids, stedapgens A–C, and two known analogues were discovered in the barks of Daphne genkwa Sieb. et Zucc. The structures were determined by analysis of their spectroscopic data and quantum-chemical calculations. All the isolated novel compounds were tested for their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities with IC50 = 0.754 ± 0.059, 0.696 ± 0.026, and 0.337 ± 0.023 μg/ml. Among them, stedapgen A displayed promising inhibitory activities against AChE, and the binding sites were predicted by molecular docking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High intensity fear training induced increasd activity in VTA glutmatergic neurons. • VTA glutamatergic neurons are involved in mediating fear response. • VTA glutamatergic neurons instead of dopaminergic neurons send outputs into ZI. • Manipulation of VTA-ZI glutamatergic projection is a stragy for treating excessive fear response. Innate defensive behavior is important for animal survival. The Vglut2+ neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) have been demonstrated to play important roles in innate defensive behaviors, but the neural circuit mechanism is still unclear. Here, we find that VTA – zona incerta (ZI) glutamatergic projection is involved in regulating innate fear responses. Combining calcium signal recording and chemogentics, we find that VTA-Vglut2+ neurons respond to foot shock stimulus. Inhibition of VTA-Vglut2+ neurons reduces foot shock-evoked freezing, while chemogentic activation of these neurons results in an enhanced fear response. Using viral tracing and immunofluorescence, we show that VTA – Vglut2+ neurons send direct excitatory outputs to the ZI. Moreover, we find that the activity of VTAVglut2 – ZI projection is pivotal in modulating fear response. Together, our study reveals a new VTA – ZI glutamatergic circuit in mediating innate fear response and provides a potential target for treating post-traumatic stress disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disulfidptosis is a newly discovered form of programmed cell death that is induced by disulfide stress. It is closely associated with various cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the factors involved in the modulation of disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) still remain unknown. In this study, we established and validated a novel risk score model composed of 11 disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs (DRLs) based on 24 DRGs in HNSCC. The results revealed strong correlations between the 11-DRL prognostic signature and clinicopathological features, immune cell infiltration, immune-related functions, and disulfidptosis-associated pathways, including NADPH and disulfide oxidoreductase activities. Furthermore, we studied and verified the involvement of ALMS1-IT1, one of the 11 model DRLs, in the disulfidptosis of HNSCC cell lines. A series of assays demonstrated that ALMS1-IT1 modulated cell death under starvation conditions in a pentose phosphate pathway (PPP)-dependent manner. Knockdown of ALMS1-IT1 inhibited the PPP, contributing to a decline in NADPH levels, which resulted in the formation of multiple intermolecular disulfide bonds between actin cytoskeleton proteins and the collapse of F-actin in the cytoplasm. Therefore, ALMS1-IT1, which is highly expressed in SLC7A11high cells, can be considered a promising therapeutic target for disulfidptosis-focused treatment strategies for cancer and other diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tradescantia spathacea has been traditionally employes for treating various conditions, including coughs, fevers, wounds, inflammation, and oxidative-related diseases. This paper presents a comprehensive review of its traditional uses, alongside an examination of phytochemical and pharmacological studies aimed at validating ethnopharmacological practices. A systematic search across electronic databases using relevant keywords yielded 845 articles, of which 70 articles were reviewed. T. spathacea exhibits a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, as evidenced by in vivo studies demonstrating hepatoprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. In vitro studies further support its medicinal properties, including antimicrobial, anti-viral, antioxidant, anti-helminthic, antimutagenic, antigenotoxic and cytotoxic activities. While these modern pharmacological properties substantiate traditional uses, further research is essential to validate them and develop safe and effective therapeutic formulations. Further investigations should focus on bioassay-guided isolation of bioactive compounds, extensive pharmacological, clinical, and toxicological studies, incorporating adequate data replication, proper standardization and control groups, and the selection of reasonable doses or concentrations of extracts and controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Complex chest wall reconstruction after an oncological resection requires a multidisciplinary approach with the aim of curative resection. Aim: The complexity of such reconstruction is challenged by prior reconstructions that limit the options for free tissue transfer and recipient vessels for microsurgical anastomoses. Case study: We present a case of an immunocompromised patient with prior breast reconstruction for left breast carcinoma with a pedicled lattisimus dorsi flap who presents with a recurrence to the latissimus dorsi flap requiring a more extensive oncological resection. Results and discussion: This resulted in a large chest wall defect that is re-constructed with plating and an anterolateral thigh fasciocutaneous free flap for soft tissue coverage. Conclusions: The radical resection allows for excellent overall survival and better quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tribological performance of two polymeric friction modifiers, one based on an ester‐based compound and another based on an ethoxylated fatty ester and an organic friction modifier, oleamide, was studied at 50, 90 and 140°C using a Mini Traction Machine equipped with optical interferometry and electrical contact resistance. The ability to form surface film is found to vary among the friction modifiers and with temperature and rubbing duration. Despite a thinner film being formed, polymeric friction modifier (PFMs) exhibited lower friction and wear than oleamide at all the studied temperatures. Further, the PFMs reduced boundary friction more effectively at higher temperature. In accordance with lower boundary friction, a smoother surface topography characterized by low wear was exhibited by PFM lubricated surfaces at higher temperatures. Scanning electron microscopy‐energy dispersive x‐ray analysis and time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry provided insights on the tribofilm formation. The improvement in the tribological performance of PFMs is attributed to temperature‐induced conformation transition of adsorbed polymer chains on the surface. The results are corroborated by data obtained from dynamic light scattering and gel permeation chromatography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancer types in males and rs12621278:A > G has been suggested to be associated with this disease by previous genome‐wide association studies. One thousand genomes project data analysis indicated that rs12621278:A > G is within two long‐core haplotypes. However, the origin, causal variant(s), and molecular function of these haplotypes were remaining unclear. Materials and Methods: Population genetics analysis and functional genomics work was performed for this locus. Results: Phylogeny analysis verified that the rare haplotype is derived from Neanderthal introgression. Genome annotation suggested that three genetic variants in the core haplotypes, rs116108611:G > A, rs139972066:AAAAAAAA > AAAAAAAAA, and rs3835124:ATTTATT > ATT, are located in functional regions. Luciferase assay indicated that rs139972066:AAAAAAAA > AAAAAAAAA and rs116108611:G > A are not able to alter ITGA6 (integrin alpha 6) and ITGA6 antisense RNA 1 expression, respectively. In contrast, rs3835124:ATTTATT > ATT can significantly influence PDK1 (pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1) expression, which was verified by expression quantitative trait locus analysis. This genetic variant can alter transcription factor cut like homeobox 1 interaction efficiency. The introgressed haplotype was observed to be subject to positive selection in East Asian populations. The molecular function of the haplotype suggested that Neanderthal should be with lower PDK1 expression and further different energy homeostasis from modern human. Conclusion: This study provided new insight into the contribution of Neanderthal introgression to human phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chirality, with its intrinsic symmetry‐breaking feature, is frequently utilized in the creation of acentric crystalline functional materials that exhibit intriguing optoelectronic properties. On the other hand, the development of chiral crystals from achiral molecules offers a solution that bypasses the need for enantiopure motifs, presenting a promising alternative and thereby expanding the possibilities of the self‐assembly toolkit. Nevertheless, the rational design of achiral molecules that prefer spontaneous symmetry breaking during crystallization has so far been obscure. In this study, we present a series of six achiral molecules, demonstrating that when these conformationally flexible molecules adopt a cis‐conformation and engage in multiple non‐covalent interactions along a helical path, they collectively self‐assemble into chiral superstructures consisting of single‐handed supramolecular columns. When these homochiral supramolecular columns align in parallel, they form polar crystals that exhibit intense luminescence upon grinding or scraping. We therefore demonstrate our molecular design strategy could significantly increase the likelihood of symmetry breaking in achiral molecular synthons during self‐assembly, offering a facile access to novel chiral crystalline materials with unique optoelectronic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chirality, with its intrinsic symmetry‐breaking feature, is frequently utilized in the creation of acentric crystalline functional materials that exhibit intriguing optoelectronic properties. On the other hand, the development of chiral crystals from achiral molecules offers a solution that bypasses the need for enantiopure motifs, presenting a promising alternative and thereby expanding the possibilities of the self‐assembly toolkit. Nevertheless, the rational design of achiral molecules that prefer spontaneous symmetry breaking during crystallization has so far been obscure. In this study, we present a series of six achiral molecules, demonstrating that when these conformationally flexible molecules adopt a cis‐conformation and engage in multiple non‐covalent interactions along a helical path, they collectively self‐assemble into chiral superstructures consisting of single‐handed supramolecular columns. When these homochiral supramolecular columns align in parallel, they form polar crystals that exhibit intense luminescence upon grinding or scraping. We therefore demonstrate our molecular design strategy could significantly increase the likelihood of symmetry breaking in achiral molecular synthons during self‐assembly, offering a facile access to novel chiral crystalline materials with unique optoelectronic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of remote sensing technology, the semantic segmentation of remote sensing images carries substantial importance. The creation of high-quality models for this task calls for an extensive collection of image data. However, the manual annotation of these images can be both time-consuming and labor-intensive. This has catalyzed the advent of semi-supervised semantic segmentation methodologies. Yet, the complexities inherent within the foreground categories of these remote sensing images present challenges in preserving prediction consistency. Moreover, remote sensing images possess more complex features, and different categories are confused within the feature space, making optimization based on the feature space challenging. To enhance model consistency and to optimize feature-based class categorization, this paper introduces a novel semi-supervised semantic segmentation framework based on Mean Teacher (MT). Unlike the conventional Mean Teacher that only introduces perturbations at the image level, we incorporate perturbations at the feature level. Simultaneously, to maintain consistency after feature perturbation, we employ contrastive learning for feature-level learning. In response to the complex feature space of remote sensing images, we utilize entropy threshold to assist contrastive learning, selecting feature key-values more precisely, thereby enhancing the accuracy of segmentation. Extensive experimental results on the ISPRS Potsdam dataset and the challenging iSAID dataset substantiate the superior performance of our proposed methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucor circinelloides lipase Lip10 is a dual-functional enzyme with lipolytic activity and phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (PDAT) activity in aqueous phase. However, the catalytic properties of Lip10 and its structural characteristics remain unknown. The present study systematically investigated its PDAT activity and lipolytic activity using six phospholipid substrates, 18:0 triacylglycerol and 16:0 1,2-diacylglycerol, predict the 3D structure of Lip10 using AlphaFold2, and evaluated residues' flexibility through molecular dynamics analysis. Lip10 exhibited a preference for phosphorylethanolamine (PE) with a long-chain fatty acyl group and showed the lipolytic activity to 18:0 triacylglycerol and 16:0 1.2-diacylglycerol. 20 mM Mg2+ and Fe2+ can significantly increase the PDAT activity of Lip10 by 50–80%. Molecular docking analysis suggest that the lower binding energy for 18:0 PE with Lip10 contributes to the higher structural stability of the complex of 18:0 PE and Lip10. Mutations of Phe565Asp and Glu318Met increase PDAT activity of Lip10 by 3.6-fold and 2.7-fold, while the TAG content produced by mutants Lip10Phe103Pro, Lip10Ile487Lys and Lip10Phe570Asp decrease by 33%− 43%. The present study demonstrated structural properties of the dual-functional lipase Lip10 and provide a theoretical basis to study its roles in the lipid metabolism of M. circinelloides in the future. [Display omitted] • Lip10 is a dual-functional enzyme with lipolytic activity and PDAT activity in aqueous phase. • Lip10 exhibited stronger PDAT activity when 18:0 PE was used as the substrate. • Lip10 showed the lipolytic activity to 18:0 triacylglycerol and 16:0 1.2-diacylglycerol. • Mutations of Phe565Asp and Glu318Met increase PDAT activity of Lip10 by 3.6-fold and 2.7-fold. • TAG produced by mutants Lip10Phe103Pro, Lip10Ile487Lys and Lip10Phe570Asp decrease by 33%− 43%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conversion of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) gas mixtures and epoxides to cyclic carbonates is an environmentally beneficial execution strategy, which is a useful platform chemical. However, this reaction is overly dependent on harsh reaction conditions including temperature and/or CO2 pressure in the traditional conversion process. We report a series of facilely prepared functionalized ionic liquids (ILs) for the one-pot synthesis of styrene carbonate (SC) from pure/diluted CO2 with styrene oxide (SO). Which achieved a yield up to 99% under atmospheric CO2 conditions. In addition, with the assistance of a small amount of catalyst, the product yield remained at 99% under diluted CO2 conditions. This result demonstrates that functionalized ILs could effectively catalyze the cycloaddition reaction of low-pressure CO2 without any co-catalysts such as metals, organic solvents, and active additives. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations combined with experimental results revealed that the highest catalytic ability of Cat.2 was ascribed to the synergic catalysis between positive charge delocalized cations and Br− anions to efficiently activate the substrates. Furthermore, the best ILs catalyst can be reused five times without significant reduction in catalytic activity, which shows its great potential for chemical conversion of atmospheric CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic pain is a notable health concern because of its prevalence, persistence, and associated mental stress. Drugs targeting chronic pain with potent abirritation, and minimal side effects remain unidentified. Substantial evidence indicates that the Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway plays a distinct and critical role in different stages of chronic pain. Aberrant activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway is evident in multiple chronic pain models. Moreover, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated that the downregulation of JAK2/STAT3 can attenuate chronic pain in different animal models. In this review, we investigated the mechanism and role of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in modulating chronic pain. The aberrant activation of JAK2/STAT3 can trigger chronic pain by interacting with microglia and astrocytes, releasing proinflammatory cytokines, inhibiting anti-inflammatory cytokines, and regulating synaptic plasticity. We also retrospectively reviewed current reports on JAK2/STAT3 pharmacological inhibitors that demonstrated their significant therapeutic potential in different types of chronic pain. In summary, our results provide strong evidence that the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway is a promising therapeutic target for chronic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]