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In this experiment, the excellent coordination ability of sulfur-containing ligands was utilized. Diphenylacetyl disulfide and 3,3′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone were selected as ligands, and Cu(NO3)2·3H2O, Ni(NO3)2·6H2O and ZnCl2 were reacted under one-pot conditions to synthesize three mononuclear complexes: [C4H18CuO12S2](I), [C12H18N4NiO11S](II) and [C24H24Cl2N4O4S2Zn](III). Complex (I) belongs to the orthorhombic crystal system with space group Pbca, while complexes (II) and (III) belong to the monoclinic crystal system with space groups P21/n and P2/n. The crystal structure of the complex was determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The structure of the complex was analyzed using infrared Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and the thermal stability and composition of the complex were detected via thermogravimetry (TGA). In terms of application, the biological activity of complexes (I)–(III) in human cancer cell lines (lung cancer A549, liver cancer SMMC-7721, breast cancer MDA-MB-231, and colon cancer SW480) was tested using the MTS method. The results showed that complex (II) had a good inhibitory effect on breast cancer MDA-MB-231. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: GM3 synthase deficiency (GM3SD) is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting from mutations in the ST3GAL5 gene. It is characterized by intellectual disability, microcephaly, psychomotor and developmental delay, hearing and visual impairments, and changes in skin pigmentation. This study aims to broaden the genetic mutation spectrum of GM3SD through the report of a de novo mutation and a comprehensive summary of GM3SD phenotype to aid in genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis. Results: Compound heterozygous variants in ST3GAL5 (NM_003896.4: c.1000delC, p.Arg334Glufs*15 and c.207-1G > T, p.Cys70Glufs*81) were identified via trio-whole exome sequencing (trio-WES) and confirmed pathogenic through functional experiments. Notably, c.207-1G > T was a newly discovered variant. Additionally, previously reported GM3SD mutations were classified into R288X and non-R288X, revealing that R288X mutations were more likely to manifest developmental, emotional abnormalities, and severe feeding difficulties. Conclusions: This study reveals a novel mutation in ST3GAL5 and provides a comprehensive overview of GM3SD phenotype, aiding in the diagnosis and genetic counseling of GM3SD in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies with a 5‐year survival rate of only 15% in patients with advanced diseases. Tumor protein 63 (TP63), a master transcription factor (TF) in ESCC, cooperates with other TFs to regulate enhancers and/or promoters of target oncogenes, which in turn promotes tumorigenesis. TAR‐DNA‐binding protein‐43 (TDP‐43) is an RNA/DNA binding protein with elevated expression in several neoplasms. However, it remains unclear how TDP‐43 contributes to ESCC progression. In this study, TDP‐43 is identified as a novel oncogene with markedly upregulated expression in ESCC tissues through profiling expression levels of one hundred and fifty canonical RNA binding protein (RBP) genes in multiple ESCC patient cohorts. Importantly, TDP‐43 boosted TP63 expression via post‐transcriptionally stabilizing TP63 mRNAs as a RBP and promoting TP63 transcription as a TF binding to the TP63 promoter in ESCC cells. In contrast, the master TF TP63 also bound to the TDP‐43 promoter, accelerated TDP‐43 transcription, and caused a noticeable increase in TDP‐43 expression in ESCC cells. The findings highlight TDP‐43 as a viable therapeutic target for ESCC and uncover a hitherto unrecognized TDP‐43/TP63 circuit in cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: FTY720 is an agonist of the Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor 1, 3, 4, and 5 and a functional antagonist of the S1P1 receptor; it can inhibit the activation of mTOR/NF-κB and has therapeutic potential in inflammatory disease. This study was designed to determine the role of the inflammatory process in diabetic retinopathy and investigate the effect of FTY720 on high glucose (HG)-induced rat retinal Müller cells (rMC-1 cells). Methods: In the present study, the role of FTY720 in inhibiting inflammation and its underlying mechanism were investigated. rMC-1 cells were treated without or with HG, FTY720, CQ, or RAP. Cell viability was examined by CCK-8 assay; cell activation was assessed by western blot analysis and IF staining; and cell migration was evaluated by a scratch wound healing assay. The expression of inflammation-associated proteins and autophagy-related proteins was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy, AO staining, MDC-labeled autophagic vacuoles, western blot analysis and ELISA. Results: Western blot analysis and IF staining showed that the level of the rMC-1 cell marker GFAP was decreased, while GS was increased in FTY720 groups compared to that in the HG group. The healing assay results showed that compared with HG treatment, FTY720 treatment significantly reduced cell migration. Western blot analysis, ELISA and IF staining showed that compared with HG, FTY720 reduced proinflammatory proteins by inhibiting the mechanistic target of the mTOR/NF-κB signaling pathway and regulating autophagy. Conclusions: This study suggests that in an HG-induced rMC-1 cell model, FTY720 significantly inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting mTOR/NF-κB signaling and regulating autophagy. These findings were associated with a decrease in rMC-1 cell injury, suggesting that FTY720 or related compounds may be valuable modulators of HG-induced retinal injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: Dietary factors has been found to influence serum uric acid (SUA) levels. We further explored the associations between dietary and supplemental vitamin C intake and SUA in a large population-based study. Methods: The cross-sectional study included 6308 participants (3146 males and 3162 females) aged ≥20 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2016 in the United States. The dietary vitamin C was log-transformed for statistical analysis. Hyperuricemia was defined as SUA concentrations >420 umol/L in males or >360 umol/L in females. The associations of dietary vitamin C and supplemental vitamin C with SUA levels and hyperuricemia risk were evaluated using weighted linear regression models and weighted multivariate logistic regression models, and a subgroup analysis stratified by gender was also conducted. Results: In this large-scale database study, there was a negative association between dietary vitamin C (log transformed) and SUA levels in US adults (β = −7.27, 95% CI: −11.58, −2.97). The inverse relationship existed among males but not females (P for interaction = 0.02). There was inverse correlation between dietary vitamin C (log transformed) and hyperuricemia risk (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.57, 0.81), especially in males compared to females determined through an interaction test (P = 0.04). There were no associations between supplemental vitamin C and SUA levels (β = 1.00 (95% CI: −4.44, 6.44) or hyperuricemia risk (OR = 0.98 (95% CI: 0.78, 1.24). High-dosage supplemental vitamin C (>300 mg) and hyperuricemia risk were not associated (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.69, 1.56). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that there were negative associations between dietary vitamin C and SUA levels and hyperuricemia risk among US adults. The inverse correlations between dietary vitamin C and hyperuricemia risk were more significant in males compared to females. There were no associations between supplemental vitamin C and SUA levels or hyperuricemia risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel biodegradable layered double hydroxide-copper selenide nanocomplex was prepared by anchoring copper selenide on manganese iron layered double hydroxide nanosheets. This nanocomplex can specifically release CuSe, Mn2+ and Fe3+ in the tumor microenvironment, which implements NIR-II photoacoustic imaging-guided synergistic cancer therapy under 1064 nm laser irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scoparone is widely regarded as an indicator of enhanced disease resistance in citrus fruit. However, the pathway and regulation of scoparone biosynthesis in citrus fruit remains unclear. In this study, we determined the content of scoparone by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and analyzed transcriptome data to explore possible candidate genes involved in scoparone biosynthesis in citrus fruit after salicylic acid (SA) stimulation. The results showed that the concentration of scoparone increased rapidly in SA-treated fruit, while no significant accumulation occurred in untreated fruit or decaying fruit. Simultaneously, we identified 33 differentially expressed genes belonging to 11 enzyme families potentially involved in the scoparone pathway. Specifically, we further identified two key modules with 3930 genes that displayed a positive correlation with the scoparone content by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Eleven key candidate genes, including four scoparone-related structural genes, four plant signal transduction-related genes and three transcription factors, were identified playing essential roles in scoparone accumulation induced by elicitor. The expression patterns of all of the 11 genes were further validated using quantitative real-time PCR and positively correlated with scoparone accumulation. These results provided valuable information for further revealing scoparone biosynthesis regulation in citrus fruit. • SA treatment enhanced scoparone accumulation in peels of citrus fruit. • Transcriptome analysis revealed the possible biosynthesis pathway of scoparone. • WGCNA identifies two modules with 3930 genes linked to scoparone accumulation. • 11 candidate genes were screened with essential roles in scoparone biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multi-system chronic autoimmune disease with a complex occurrence and development process, associated with immune disorders, uncertain prognosis, and treatment modalities which vary by patient and disease activity. At present, the clinical treatment of SLE mainly focuses on hormones and immunosuppressants. In recent years, the research on new treatment strategies for SLE has been booming, and strong preclinical results and clinical research have promoted the development of numerous drugs (such as rituximab and orencia), but numerous of these drugs have failed to achieve effectiveness in clinical trials, and there are some adverse reactions. Recent evidence suggests that resveratrol (RSV) has the effect of ameliorating immune disorders by inhibiting overactivation of immune cells. In the present review, advances in research on the protective effects and potential mechanisms of RSV against SLE are summarized and the potential potency of RSV and its use as a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of SLE are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A mesoporous platinum@copper selenide-based NIR-II photothermal agent was prepared. • This photothermal agent has the photothermal conversion efficiency over 80%. • This photothermal agent was used for NIR-II photoacoustic imaging and targeted cancer therapy. • This photothermal agent provides new insights into the design of novel multifunctional biomedical nanomaterials. Elevating photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) is the key to enhance curative efficacy during photothermal therapy. Nevertheless, current functionalized or synthetic methods for preparing photothermal agents with high PCE are too complicated, greatly hindering the development of photothermal therapy. In this study, we developed a tumor-targeting flower-like nanocomposite termed mesoporous platinum nanoparticles@Cu 2- x Se-AS1411 (MPNPs@Cu 2- x Se-AS1411, denoted as MPCSA) with remarkable PCE for high-resolution photoacoustic (PA) imaging guided photothermal/chemodynamic therapy for tumor ablation. We discovered that MPNPs served as carriers for delivering PA contrast agents. Cu 2- x Se nanosheets emerged as promising near-infrared-II (NIR-II) PA imaging and photothermal/chemodynamic therapy agents owing to their strong localized surface plasmon resonance property in the NIR-II region. The amine-modified AS1411 aptamer, which is connected to the surface of the flower-like MPNPs@Cu 2- x Se can target the nucleolar protein on the surface of 4T1 cells, achieving the accumulation of MPCSA at the tumor site in mice. Notably, these MPCSA nano-flowers exhibited an excellent PCE up to 82.33 % under 1064 nm laser irradiation, resulting in highly efficient cancer cell ablation and greatly hindering in vivo tumor growth. This study has paved the way for imaging-guided accurate cancer diagnosis and targeted cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functional integrity of CD8+ T cells is closely linked to metabolic reprogramming; therefore, understanding the metabolic basis of CD8+ T cell activation and antitumor immunity could provide insights into tumor immunotherapy. Here, we report that ME2 is critical for mouse CD8+ T cell activation and immune response against malignancy. ME2 deficiency suppresses CD8+ T cell activation and anti-tumor immune response in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, ME2 depletion blocks the TCA cycle flux, leading to the accumulation of fumarate. Fumarate directly binds to DAPK1 and inhibits its activity by competing with ATP for binding. Notably, pharmacological inhibition of DAPK1 abolishes the anti-tumor function conferred by ME2 to CD8+ T cells. Collectively, these findings demonstrate a role for ME2 in the regulation of CD8+ T cell metabolism and effector functions as well as an unexpected function for fumarate as a metabolic signal in the inhibition of DAPK1. [Display omitted] • ME2 deletion impairs antitumor function of T cells through accumulation of fumarate • Fumarate directly binds to and inhibits DAPK1 • DAPK1 signals fumarate to CD8+ T cell activation and antitumor function • ME2 maintains CD8+ T cell antitumor immunity through fumarate-DAPK1-mTORC1 axis Zhang et al. report that ME2 deficiency leads to fumarate accumulation in CD8+ T cells and suppresses CD8+ T cell activation and antitumor function. Increased fumarate directly binds to and inhibits DAPK1, leading to blocked mTORC1 signaling and reduced the antitumor capacity of CD8+ T cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder mainly caused by mutations in the methylmalonyl coenzyme A mutase (MCM) gene (MMUT) and leads to the reduced activity of MCM. In this study, a 3-year-old girl was diagnosed with carnitine deficiency secondary to methylmalonic acidemia by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GS/MS). Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed on the patient and identified two compound heterozygous mutations in MMUT: c.554C>T (p. S185F) and c.729–730insTT (p. D244Lfs ∗ 39). Bioinformatics analysis predicted that the rare missense mutation of c.554C>T would be damaging. Moreover, this rare mutation resulted in the reduced levels of MMUT mRNA and MMUT protein. Collectively, our findings provide a greater understanding of the effects of MMUT variants and will facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of patients with MMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the synergetic adsorption capacity of layered double hydroxide (LDH) and photocatalytic reduction property of TiO 2 for aqueous Cr(VI), the Fe 3 O 4 -ZnAl-LDH and TiO 2 composites (FLT) were prepared via sol-gel method. The removal efficiency of FLT composites for Cr(VI) changed with the mass ratio of Fe 3 O 4 -LDH/TiO 2 , and the optimal ratio was 20% (FLT-2). The adsorption efficiencies of 100 mg FLT-2 were 74% and 64% for 20 and 50 mg/L Cr(VI) solution, and the total removal ratios of Cr(VI) were all over 97% after UV irradiation. The experimental data of adsorption kinetic, adsorption isothermal, and photocatalytic reduction were consistent with the pseudo-second-order, Langmuir, and first-order reaction equations, respectively. From the X–ray photoelectron spectra analysis, FLT composites adsorbed Cr(VI) directly via surface complexation, also reduced aqueous Cr(VI) to Cr(III). The photocurrent and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of FLT composites indicated the photo-induced electron-hole pairs were separated effectively. The regeneration results show that the FLT composites had good stability and reusability after five consecutive cycles. Therefore, FLT composites are promising materials in the disposal of wastewater containing Cr(VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enhanced magnetoelectric properties of Ba0.5Sr1.5Zn2(In0.08Fe0.92)12O22 are demonstrated. This hexaferrite exhibits great magnetoelectric tunability and high electrical resistivity. Mutual modulation of ferroelectricity and magnetism is simultaneously achieved near room temperature. Moreover, the reversal of M direction by an electrical field is obtained at low magnetic field. This study illuminates a potential application in magnetoelectric devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CD38 combined with CD138 in chronic endometritis improves the diagnostic accuracy. • The prevalence of chronic endometritis is nearly one-third in the infertile population. • Reproductive outcomes were improved in patients with chronic subtrotritis after combined laparoscopic surgery. To investigate the prevalence of chronic endometritis (CE) in infertile patients and whether it affects spontaneous pregnancy after reproductive surgery in infertile patients. In this study, we collected clinical information on infertility patients who underwent reproductive surgery at the Reproductive Medicine Centre of the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University from 2021.1 to 2022.8. All patients underwent laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery. Tubal lubrication was performed concurrently with endometrial sample collection and pathological examination. The specimens were immunohistochemically stained with CD38 and CD138, and those who tested positive at the same time were diagnosed with chronic endometritis. As of 2023.9, the patients were followed up by telephone to determine whether chronic endometritis impacted postoperative pregnancy. A total of 81 patients were finally included in the study. Of these, 25 were in the chronic endometritis group, and 56 were in the non-chronic endometritis group. There were no appreciable differences between the two groups' demographic statistics. Furthermore, neither the bilateral appendages nor the uterus's intraoperative conditions showed a statistically significant difference. Patients in the chronic endometritis group had a longer time to conception from the time of surgery (7 (6.00–11.75) vs. 10 (6.50–16.00), p = 0.467) and a lower rate of spontaneous pregnancies (8/25 = 32.00 % vs. 28/55 = 50.00 %, p = 0.132) than patients with non-chronic endometritis. Among the patients who had successful spontaneous pregnancies after surgery, approximately 77.14 % had live births and 22.86 % had miscarriages, and the live birth rate between the two groups was not significantly different. (21/28 = 75.00 % vs 7/8 = 87.50 %, p = 0.651) Chronic endometritis affects approximately 31.82% of infertile patients, and following reproductive surgery, it has no discernible impact on spontaneous pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress is crucial in ulcerative colitis (UC) and colitis‐associated colorectal cancer (CAC). Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) are an important component of the intestinal barrier. In previous studies, we have demonstrated that suppressing microRNA‐222‐3p (miR‐222‐3p) can protect against oxidative stress in IECs, which ameliorates colonic injuries in UC mice and prevents the conversion of UC to CAC. In this case, we hope to explore whether moxibustion can alleviate UC and CAC by inhibiting miR‐222‐3p based on mouse models of UC and CAC. After herb‐partitioned moxibustion (HPM) intervention, the disease activity index (DAI) and colon macroscopic damage index (CMDI) were significantly reduced in UC mice, and the number and volume of intestinal tumors were decreased considerably in CAC mice. Meanwhile, we found that HPM suppressed miR‐222‐3p expression and upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of Brahma‐related gene 1 (BRG1), nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1), while inhibiting Kelch‐like ECH‐associated protein 1 (Keap1) expression in IECs of UC and CAC mice. With changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), and inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)‐1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α), we verified that HPM protects against oxidative stress and inflammation in IECs of UC and CAC mice. The effect of HPM was inhibited in miR‐222‐3p overexpression mice, further demonstrating that the protective effect of HPM on UC and CAC mice was through inhibiting miR‐222‐3p. In summary, HPM regulates the BRG1/Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway by inhibiting miR‐222‐3p to attenuate oxidative stress in IECs in UC and CAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TIMM9 has been identified as a mediator of essential functions in mitochondria, but its association with pan-cancer is poorly understood. We herein employed bioinformatics, computational chemistry techniques and experiments to investigate the role of TIMM9 in pan-cancer. Our analysis revealed that overexpression of TIMM9 was significantly associated with tumorigenesis, pathological stage progression, and metastasis. Missense mutations (particularly the S49L variant), copy number variations (CNV) and methylation alterations in TIMM9 were found to be associated with poor cancer prognosis. Moreover, TIMM9 was positively related with cell cycle progression, mitochondrial and ribosomal function, oxidative phosphorylation, TCA cycle activity, innate and adaptive immunity. Additionally, we discovered that TIMM9 could be regulated by cancer-associated signaling pathways, such as the mTOR pathway. Using molecular simulations, we identified ITFG1 as the protein that has the strongest physical association with TIMM9, which show a promising structural complement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three TiO 2 and Zn-Al-layered double hydroxide composites, denoted LDH-TiO 2 composites, were prepared using the sol–gel method and characterized utilizing scanning and transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, N 2 adsorption–desorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photocurrent, photoluminescence and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. The characterization results illustrated that TiO 2 was attached onto the surface of LDH and the sizes of both TiO 2 and LDH particles were in the nanoscale range. The combination of LDH and TiO 2 promoted the photogenerated electron–hole transfer and separation. The removal abilities of the LDH-TiO 2 composites for Cr(VI) were evaluated using the synergistic adsorption and photocatalytic method. The adsorption percentages of the three LDH-TiO 2 composites for 20.0 mg/L Cr(VI) solutions ranged between 26% and 75%, and upon ultraviolet irradiation, the total removal percentages rapidly increased to approximately 100%. The removal efficiency for Cr(VI) depended on the TiO 2 contents of the LDH-TiO 2 composites. Increasing the TiO 2 percentage resulted in decrease in the adsorption capacities and increase in the photocatalytic removal ratios. The kinetic and isothermal data well fitted the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir equations, respectively. The high removal efficiencies suggested that the composites were suitable for the treatment of Cr(VI)-containing wastewater. Unlabelled Image • The removal percentage of LDH-TiO 2 composites for 20 mg/L Cr(VI) approached 100%. • The combination of Zn-Al-LDH and TiO 2 promoted photoinduced charge transport. • Cr(VI) was removed using LDH-TiO 2 via synergistic adsorption and photocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The filtering problem is considered for dynamic systems perturbed by additive and multiplicative noises under interval constraints. Interval constraints induce unknown inputs existing in the reconstructed dynamical model when transforming the state constrained problem into the unconstrained one, which makes the filter design based on minimising the estimate error covariance fail. Due to the coexistence of multiplicative noises and unknown inputs caused by interval uncertainty, a novel recursive upper bound filtering structure is designed for the considered system by a series of linear matrix inequalities. Then, the recursion of the upper bound of the estimate error covariance is realised through the scalar parameter optimisation, based on scaling the diagonal sub‐block matrices and non‐diagonal sub‐block matrices of the innovation covariance which is dependent on the arriving measurement adaptively. Finally, a numerical example shows the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to air pollutants has been associated with various adverse health outcomes, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the precise underlying mechanism by which air pollution impacts COPD through remains insufficiently understood. To elucidated the molecular mechanism by which air pollutant exposure contributes to alterations in the gut microbiome and metabolism in AECOPD patients, we employed metagenomics and untargeted metabolomics to analyse the gut microbial, faecal, and serum metabolites. The correlations among air pollutants, gut microbes, serum metabolites, and blood biochemical markers were assessed using generalised additive mixed models and Spearman correlation analysis. The findings revealed that for every 10 μg/m3 increase in PM 2.5 concentration, the α-diversity of the gut flora decreased by 2.16% (95% CI: 1.80%−2.53%). We found seven microorganisms that were significantly associated with air pollutants, of which Enterococcus faecium , Bacteroides fragilis , Ruthenibacterium lactatiformans , and Subdoligranulum sp.4_3_54A2FAA were primarily associated with glycolysis. We identified 13 serum metabolites and 17 faecal metabolites significantly linked to air pollutants. Seven of these metabolites, which were strongly associated with air pollutants and blood biochemical indices, were found in both serum and faecal samples. Some of these metabolites, such as 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, C-8C1P and melatonin, were closely associated with disturbances in lipid and fatty acid metabolism in AECOPD patients. These findings underscore the impact of air pollutants on overall metabolism based on influencing gut microbes and metabolites in AECOPD patients. Moreover, these altered biomarkers establish the biologic connection between air pollutant exposure and AECOPD outcomes.The identification of pertinent biomarkers provides valuable insights for the development of precision COPD prevention strategies. • Present a theoretical foundation for COPD prevention and treatment strategies. • Establish the connection between air pollutant exposure and AECOPD outcomes. • Reveal disturbances in lipid and fatty acid metabolism in AECOPD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their structural arrangements, coordination complexes have shown potential to combat various human diseases. Nitrogen heteroatoms are a fascinating class of coordination compounds with many applications in synthesis and medicine. Herein, four Co(II), Zn(II), Cu(II), and Ni(II) complexes (I–IV) such as [CoC10H14Cl2N6O2] (I), [ZnC6H10Cl2N6O2] (II), [Cu2C16H34N2O12] (III), and [Ni4C80H100N16O22] (IV) bearing aza-heterocyclic ligands have been synthesized under one-pot self-assembly conditions. The reaction of 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-methylpyrimidine and 3-amino-5-hydroxypyrazole with CoCl2·6H2O and ZnCl2, respectively, produced two mononuclear complexes (I)–(II) while two binuclear complexes (III)–(IV) (complex IV are in two halves) were synthesized using Cu (OAC)2·H2O and NiCl2·6H2O, respectively, with salicylidene salicylhydrazide. Then, the complexes were characterized using NMR, FTIR UV–Vis, X-ray diffraction, TGA, and elemental analysis techniques to confirm their structures. The synthesis complexes were employed against different human tumour cell lines (SMMC-7721, A549, MDA-MB-231, and SW480). The best activity was demonstrated by complex (II) against human tumour cell lines SMMC-7721 (liver cancer cell) with an IC50 value of (6.356 µM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a serious obstacle encountered in cancer treatment, in which the overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) plays an important role. Here, a novel α-hederagenin derivative, designated H6, was designed, synthesized and evaluated for its ability to reverse MDR. Our results showed that H6 could sensitize KBV and MCF7/T cells to paclitaxel and vincristine. Meanwhile, H6 could increase both rhodamine 123 and paclitaxel accumulation in MDR cells without affecting the expression of P-gp. Interestingly, siRNA knockdown of MDR1 further sensitized the cytotoxic activity of paclitaxel when co-administrated with H6. In addition, H6 could directly stimulate P-gp ATPase activity in vitro . Importantly, H6 enhanced the efficacy of paclitaxel against KBV cancer cell-derived xenograft tumors in nude mice. Finally, H6 showed high binding affinity with P-gp with a high docking score. Overall, we show H6 is a novel and potent MDR reversal agent, which has the potential to be administered in combination with conventional anticancer drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional inequality‐constrained H∞ filter needs checking whether each inequality is active or not, where the true but unknown state has to be approximated by its prediction in inequality check, and hence the prediction error unavoidably triggers decision risks and further causes the inequality mis‐utilisation, implying the optimality loss. Here, the authors reformulate the interval constraints as equality constraints via the sine functions. However, the resultant equality constraints contain unknown parameters, i.e. the corresponding angles in the sine functions, and hence cannot be directly dealt within the framework of equality‐constrained filtering. Through maximising the cost function with respect to the initial state, modelling errors, measurements and angles while minimising it with respect to state estimates, the interval‐constrained H∞ filter is derived optimally and analytically, and validated via a road target tracking simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) is a key molecule in biology. As a byproduct of many enzymatic reactions, H 2 O 2 is also a popular biosensor target. We report the first use of uniform nanoparticles of porphyrin functionalized ceria (Por-Ceria) prepared by a one-step method, as a colorimetric probe in detection for H 2 O 2 . Por-ceria nanoparticles exhibited strong intrinsic peroxidase activity toward a classical peroxidase substrate, 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), in the presence of H 2 O 2 . Enhanced peroxidase-like activity of Por-ceria originated from synergistic effect of porphyrin and ceria, thereby explaining the high performance of Por-Ceria as an artificial enzyme mimicking peroxidase. When coupled with glucose oxidase, glucose is detected. A detection limit of 1.9 × 10 −2 mM glucose with a linear range up to 0.15 mM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring promising nanomaterials with high efficiency and robust stability holds paramount significance for addressing water crisis and water pollution. Herein, novel core-shell structured SiO 2 @C-Ag nanocomposites were fabricated by one-pot Stöber method using resorcinol formaldehyde resins (RF) as a carbon source and silver ion as a catalyst and linker. Silver-ion–RF crosslinked frameworks were developed on silicon oxide cores through a coordination reaction, which was then transformed into metallic Ag nanoparticles impregnated in carbon frameworks after the carbothermal reduction. The resulting SiO 2 @C-Ag nanocomposites exhibited enhanced catalytic performance for 4-nitrophenol reduction because of its increased specific surface area and abundant active sites. In addition, the well-dispersed Ag nanoparticles also offered excellent antimicrobial capability against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. This work explores constructing multifunctional materials used as high-performance catalysts/bactericides for water purification. [Display omitted] • Core-shell structured SiO 2 @C-Ag nanocomposite was fabricated by the one-pot Stöber method. • Resorcinol formaldehyde resins (RF) and silver ions were utilized as the reducing and linker. • The carbon coating can inhibit the aggregation of Ag NPs and improve the stability of Ag NPs. • SiO 2 @C-Ag nanocomposites exhibited desirable catalytic performance and antimicrobial capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, rechargeable water-based zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have drawn a wide range of interest, which is beneficial due to their environmental friendliness and high safety. Spinel ZnMn 2 O 4 is considered as a potential cathode material due to its abundant reserves and special tunnel crystal structure; however, the inherently low electronic conductivity and slow electrochemical reaction kinetics are the main limitations of ZnMn 2 O 4 in aqueous battery applications. Herein, an anionic sulfur doping of ZnMn 2 O 4 cathode strategy is firstly applied and reported. Simultaneously, a proper amount of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is also added in order to increase conductivity. Experimental and computational results show that sulfur doping can increase the intrinsic conductivity of ZnMn 2 O 4 and reduce the electrostatic forces in the diffusion process of Zn2+. In addition, the Gibbs free energy of Zn2+ adsorption near the doped sulfur atoms is closer to the thermal neutral values, implying that the adsorption/desorption procedure of Zn2+ is more reversible. Moreover, the substitution of oxygen by sulfur atoms creates more oxygen defects, thus enhancing the electronic conductivity of ZnMn 2 O 4 and the diffusion of Zn2+. The ZIB assembled by as-prepared S–ZnMn 2 O 4 /CNTs exhibits the merits of superior storage capacity and prolonged cycle life. At a current density of 500 mA g−1, an optimal specific capacity is up to 175.1 mA h g−1, when increasing to 1500 mA g−1, it still reaches 91.7 mA h g−1 after 800 cycles (94.1% capacity retention). This study aimed to provide an insightful guide for anion doping strategies. [Display omitted] • S-doped ZnMn 2 O 4 cathode material with carbon nanotube modification is reported. • Sulfur doping creates more oxygen defects in the ZnMn 2 O 4 bulk lattice. • Gibbs free energy of Zn2+ adsorption near the sulfur is closer to thermal neutral value. • S–ZnMn 2 O 4 /CNTs exhibits excellent rate and cycling stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: CoFe2O4 (CFO) films with different thicknesses are grown on (001) Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–PbTiO3 (PMN–PT) substrate using pulsed laser deposition. The manipulation of magnetization is observed in CFO films by magnetic force microscopy (MFM) images and magnetization measurement with an electric field applying on the piezoelectric substrate. Taking advantage of the change in coercivity induced by the electric field, the magnetization reversal is realized in this heterostructure at room temperature. The mechanism and potential applications for electric control of magnetism in CFO/PMN–PT layered films are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The face-centered tetragonal (FCT) ordered L10 CoPt nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared by the sol–gel method. Their structure and magnetic properties are characterized by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), the transmission electron microscope (TEM) and the vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The results indicate that the CoPt NPs heated at 400°C are the disordered face-centered cubic (FCC) structure, whereas the samples annealed at the temperature above 600°C exhibit an ordered FCT structure. TEM images show the increase of the particle size as the annealing temperature increases. SAED images show the appearance of the L10 phase at 800°C, and the maximum coercivity is 254,720.3A/m. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Corethrodendron fruticosum is an endemic forage grasses in China with high ecological value. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of C. fruticosum was sequenced using Illumina paired-end sequencing. The C. fruticosum chloroplast genome was 123,100 bp and comprised 105 genes, including 74 protein-coding genes, 4 rRNA-coding genes, and 27 tRNA-coding genes. The genome had a GC content of 34.53%, with 50 repetitive sequences and 63 simple repeat repetitive sequences that did not contain reverse repeats. The simple repeats included 45 single-nucleotide repeats, which accounted for the highest proportion and primarily comprised A/T repeats. A comparative analysis of C. fruticosum, C. multijugum, and four Hedysarum species revealed that the six genomes were highly conserved, with differentials primarily located in the conserved non-coding regions. Moreover, the accD and clpP genes in the coding regions exhibited high nucleotide variability. Accordingly, these genes may serve as molecular markers for the classification and phylogenetic analysis of Corethrodendron species. Phylogenetic analysis further revealed that C. fruticosum and C. multijugum appeared in different clades than the four Hedysarum species. The newly sequenced chloroplast genome provides further insights into the phylogenetic position of C. fruticosum, which is useful for the classification and identification of Corethrodendron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence is a susceptible period to establish health-risk behaviors, which may have an impact on academic performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between health-risk behaviors (HRBs) and perceived academic performance (PAP) of adolescents in Shanghai, China. The data of the present study included three-round Shanghai Youth Health-risk Behavior Survey (SYHBS). This cross-sectional survey investigated multiple HRBs of students involved in dietary behaviors, physical activity and sedentary behaviors, intentional and unintentional injury behaviors, and substance abuse behaviors, as well as PAP by using self-reported questionnaire. Using a multistage random sampling method, 40,593 middle and high school students aged 12 to 18 years were involved. Only participants with complete data on HRBs information, academic performance and covariates were included. A total of 35,740 participants were involved in analysis. We used ordinal logistic regression to analyze the association between each HRB and PAP adjusting for sociodemographic, family environment and duration of extracurricular study. The results showed that students who did not eat breakfast or drink milk everyday were more likely to have a lower PAP, with a decreased odds of 0.89 (95%CI: 0.86–0.93, P<0.001) and 0.82 (95%CI: 0.79–0.85, P<0.001), respectively. The similar association was also found in students who did exercise ≥60 minutes for less than 5 days/week, spend time on watch TV beyond 3 hours/day and other sedentary behaviors. Most intentional and unintentional injuries, and ever smoked were associated with a lower PAP. Our finding suggests that multiple HRBs negatively associated with PAP of adolescents. It needs to raise public health concerns with HRBs in adolescents, and to develop and implement comprehensive interventions on HRBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

POLR3B gene encodes the 2nd largest catalytic subunit and affects the function of RNA polymerase III enzymes in transcription. Bi‐allelic variants in POLR3B pathogenically cause hypomyelinating leukodystrophy‐8 (HLD8). Herein, we recruited a family with two patients, who presented clinically with cerebellar atrophy, intellectual disability, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and visual problems. We identified the two affected siblings carrying the compound heterozygous variations (c.165_167del; c.1615G>T) in POLR3B by trio‐whole‐exome sequencing (trio‐WES). The qPCR and western blot showed that both transcriptional and translational levels of the mutation (c.165_167del, p.I55_K56delinsM) were sharply attenuated. Following that, a thorough functional examination of a zebrafish line disrupted for human POLR3B validated the pathogenic effects of the two mutations. Our research broadens the spectrum of HLD8‐related pathogenic POLR3B mutations and provides new molecular and animal evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Cr-doped zinc oxide (Zn1−x Cr x O, 0≤x≤0.08) diluted magnetic semiconductors have been synthesized successfully by the sol–gel method. Investigations on magnetic, optical and structural properties of the produced samples have been done. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) shows the existence of Cr ion in the Cr-doped ZnO. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD), the transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) indicate that the Cr ions are at least partially substitutionally incorporated into the crystal lattice of ZnO. The produced samples show good high-T c (Curie temperature) ferromagnetism (FM) in Cr-doped ZnO nanoparticles with Cr concentration of less than 5at%. The results of photoluminescence (PL) further testify that FM is an intrinsic property of the Cr-doped ZnO nanoparticles. And the occurrence of FM should mainly contribute to the Cr doping. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The water wave transmission properties and the frequency spectra of one-dimensional combination bottom of water and mercury with different filling fractions are studied by the transfer matrix method. For the periodic bottoms (PBs), the effect of the steps' numbers and the width on the band gaps are discussed. Each of whole band gaps is the juxtaposition of the gaps of three kinds of PBs, without covering. The numerical results show that the band gaps could be enlarged effectively by choosing the steps' width properly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Copper phthalocyanine (CuPc), was reported to have high electron mobility. In order to gain a deeper understanding for its carrier transport properties, we adopt the density functional theory (DFT) with generalized gradient approximation (GGA) to calculate the electronic band structure by the Becke exchange plus Lee–Yang–Parr correlation (BLYP) functional. The intermolecular interaction related to transport behavior has been analyzed from the bandwidths and band gaps. Within the effective mass approximation, we conclude that the interband gaps within the unoccupied bands are generally smaller than those for the occupied bands, which indicate that the electron can hop through scattering from one band to another, much easier than the hole. These facts indicate that, in CuPc the electron are the dominant carriers in transport, in contrast to most organic materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Bis(2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzthiazolate)zinc(II), [Zn(BTZ)2]2, is amongst the best white-light emissive as well as electron transport materials used in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). In order to gain a deeper understanding for its carrier transport properties, we adopt the density-functional theory (DFT) with generalized gradient approximation (GGA) to calculate the electronic band structure and the density of states (DOS) by the Becke exchange plus Lee–Yang–Parr correlation (BLYP) functional. The intermolecular interaction related to transport behavior has been analyzed from the bandwidths and band gaps. Within the effective mass approximation, we find that the mobility of electron is about two times larger than that for the hole. Furthermore, if we consider the bands near Fermi level, we conclude that the interband gaps within the unoccupied bands are generally smaller than those for the occupied bands, which indicate that the electron can hop through scattering from one band to another, much easier than the hole. These facts indicate that, in [Zn(BTZ)2]2, the electron are the dominant carriers in transport, in contrast to most organic materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Quasiperiodic structures can be generated by cluster covering approach. In a decagonal covering pattern there are nine nearest neighbor configurations. These basic configurations exhibit certain correlations in the whole system and will develop to higher order configurations, which reflect the local structures concerning the neighbors beyond the nearest ones. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Oridonin (Ori) possesses anti-inflammatory properties. However, its potential to treat diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the retinal protective function of Ori and the underlying mechanism. In streptozotocin-induced mice, Ori alleviated visual impairment, reduced retinal and vascular lesions, protected the neuroretinal structure, reversed retinal nerve layer thickening. Addtionnally, Ori reduced TNF-α and IL-1β levels in the peripheral blood, and suppressed retinal NLRP3 inflammasome-related inflammatory factor. In vitro, human retinal endothelial cells (hRECs) were stimulated by high glucose (HG). HG-stimulated hRECs activated the NLRP3 inflammasome, whereas Ori significantly alleviated pyroptosis by enhancing cell viability and reducing IL-1β levels in the supernatant. Ori also inhibited NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. NEK7 depletion alleviated NLRP3 inflammasome activation and, to some extent, mimicked the role of Ori. Indeed, Ori reversed NLRP3 inflammasome activation by suppressing NEK7–NLRP3 interaction. Therefore, Ori may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for attenuating DR progression. • Oridonin (Ori) is a novel therapeutic agent for diabetic retinopathy (DR). • Ori alleviates DR by inhibiting NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome activation. • NEK7-NLRP3 interaction blockade by Ori reduces pyroptosis in DR. • Ori restores retinal morphology and function in diabetic mouse models. • Ori suppresses inflammation and cell death in hyperglycemic retinal cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three BCs promoted the oxidation of 1-naphthylamine in water. • Products were the coupling and oxygen-containing oligomers of 1-naphthylamine. • Dissolved oxygen was the oxidant of the reaction. • BCs induced O 2 to produce reactive oxygen species. • Reactive oxygen species oxidized 1-naphthylamine to the final products. Black carbons (BCs) are ubiquitous in the natural environment and can significantly influence the environmental behavior of pollutants. This work examined the mediating effects of graphite, soot, and biochar on 1-naphthylamine (1-NA) oxidation under aerobic conditions. It was shown that the three BCs significantly promoted the oxidation of 1-NA in the dark, and the mediation efficiency of graphite was much greater than that of soot or biochar. The oxidation products were the coupling oligomers (dimers and trimers) and the oxygen-containing oligomers of 1-NA (di-OH-1-NA, OH-azo naphthalene, OH-trimers and amino-naphthoquinone derivatives etc.). The phenolic OH on BCs were identified as the active sites for 1-NA oxidation, which could stimulate O 2 to produce reactive oxygen species through successive single electron transfer and then cause 1-NA oxidation. Moreover, the superior catalytic performance of graphite was also related to its high electrical conductivity. The synergies between the sp2-hybridized carbon surface and the active sites (such as phenolic OH and defects) facilitated the oxidation of 1-NA on graphite. Findings in this study not only are helpful for better understanding the reactivity of environmental BCs, but also provide new insights into the risk assessment of 1-NA in the natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leymus is a perennial genus that belongs to the tribe Triticeae (Poaceae) which has an adaptive capacity to ecological conditions and strong resistance to cold, drought, and salinity. Most Leymus species are fine herbs that can be used for agriculture, conservation, and landscaping. Due to confusion taxonomy within genera, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of 13 Leymus species was sequenced, assembled, and compared with those of three other previously published Leymus species (Leymus condensatus, Leymus angustus, and Leymus mollis) to clarify the issue. Overall, the whole cp genome size ranged between 135,057 (L. condensatus) and 136,906 bp (Leymus coreanus) and showed a typical quadripartite structure. All studied species had 129 genes, including 83 protein-coding genes, 38 transfer RNAs, and 8 ribosomal RNAs. In total, 800 tandem repeats and 707 SSR loci were detected, most of which were distributed in the large single-copy region, followed by the inverted repeat (IR) and small single-copy regions. The sequence identity of all sequences was highly similar, especially concerning the protein-coding and IR regions; in particular, the protein-coding regions were significantly similar to those in the IR regions, regardless of small sequence differences in the whole cp genome. Moreover, the coding regions were more conserved than the non-coding regions. Comparisons of the IR boundaries showed that IR contraction and expansion events were reflected in different locations of rpl22, rps19, ndhH, and psbA genes. The close phylogenetic relationship of Leymus and Psathyrostachys indicated that Psathyrostachys possibly is the donor of the Ns genome sequence identified in Leymus. Altogether, the complete cp genome sequence of Leymus will lay a solid foundation for future population genetics and phylogeography studies, as well as for the analysis of the evolution of economically valuable plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Au/Fe 3 O 4 nanocatalyst have been prepared and characterized in detail. • Au/Fe 3 O 4 nanocatalyst displayed efficient and reusable catalytic activity on the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. • The catalytic reactions of 4-NP to 4-AP obeyed pseudo-first order kinetics. A highly efficient Au/Fe 3 O 4 nanocatalyst is fabricated by using a seed deposition method, and is characterized by XRD, TEM, EDS, XPS, UV–vis and VSM, respectively. TEM image shows that small Au nanoparticles are immobilized onto Fe 3 O 4 surface uniformly and densely. After immersion treatment by NaBH 4 , the Au/Fe 3 O 4 nanocatalyst exhibits high catalytic efficiency in reducing 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. The 4-nitrophenol could be fully degraded in less than one minute. The Au/Fe 3 O 4 nanocatalyst demonstrate good magnetic recoverability and high conversion in 1 min (>98%) after 8 successive cycles. The reaction rate constant k of the catalyst with volume Au sol/mass Fe 3 O 4 microspheres ratio 3 (Au/FeO-3) is 13.8 min−1, which is 4.7 times larger than that of Au/FeO-1. The catalytic mechanisms were discussed. This work provides a simple and environmentally friendly method for preparing magnetic noble nanocatalyst used for 4-nitrophenol reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoporosis with pathological fractures is a significant public health issue, contributing to morbidity, disability, diminished quality of life, and increased mortality. Understanding mortality trends related to this condition is crucial for developing effective interventions to reduce mortality and improve healthcare outcomes. This study aimed to analyze trends and causes of death associated with osteoporosis and pathological fractures in the United States using a multi-cause approach. Methods: Annual death and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) data from 1999 to 2020 were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mortality database. Death certificates listing ICD-10 M82 (osteoporosis with pathological fracture) as an underlying or related cause of death were analyzed. Epidemiological data were analyzed, and the ASMR data were calculated for each year, and trends were assessed using the Cochran-Armitage trend test. Results: From 1999 to 2020, there were 40,441 deaths related to osteoporosis with pathological fractures in the United States, with a female-to-male ratio of 5.6:1. Among these, 12,820 deaths (31.7%) listed osteoporosis with pathological fractures as the underlying cause of death (UCD), yielding a female-to-male ASMR ratio of approximately 5.0-7.7:1. When classified as a non-UCD, the ASMR ratio was approximately 4.8–6.2:1. At the same time, we found that the total number of deaths classified as UCD and multiple causes of death (MCD), but the trend ratio of the two groups in different years did not change statistically significant (P > 0.05), and the ASMR of both groups showed a downward trend. The UCD-to-MCD ratio increased between 1999 and 2007, then decreased from 2007 to 2020. As MCD, the number of female deaths was more than that of male, and both showed a decreasing trend, but there was no statistical significance in the change of trend ratio in different years (P > 0.05). Deaths were predominantly concentrated in individuals over 75 years of age, with those over 84 years being the most affected. The number of deaths in different age groups showed a decreasing trend, and the change of trend ratio in different years was statistically significant (P < 0.05). White individuals had the highest number of deaths. The leading causes of death were heart diseases, chronic lower respiratory diseases, and alzheimer's disease. In addition, the number of deaths of patients with prostate cancer and breast cancer showed a significant downward trend, and the change of trend ratio between the two groups in different years was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Although mortality from osteoporosis with pathological fractures is decreasing, anti-osteoporosis therapy remains essential for elderly patients. Healthcare providers should remain vigilant for potential complications, including malignant neoplasms, and ensure timely diagnosis and treatment to further reduce mortality in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As an important forage in arid and semi-arid regions, Agropyron cristatum provides livestock with exceptionally high nutritional value. Additionally, A. cristatum exhibits outstanding genetic characteristics to endure drought and disease. Therefore, rich genetic diversity serves as a cornerstone for the improvement of major food crops. The purposes of this study were to systematically describe mitogenome of A.cristatum and preliminarily analyze its internal variations. Result: The A. cristatum mitogenome was a single-ring molecular structure of 381,065 bp that comprised 52 genes, including 35 protein-coding, 3 rRNA and 14 tRNA genes. Among these, two pseudoprotein-coding genes and multiple copies of tRNA genes were observed. A total of 320 repetitive sequences was found to cover more than 10% of the mitogenome (105 simple sequences, 185 dispersed and 30 tandem repeats), which led to a large number of fragment rearrangements in the mitogenome of A. cristatum. Leucine was the most frequent amino acid (n = 1087,10.8%) in the protein-coding genes of A. cristatum mitogenome, and the highest usage codon was ATG (initiation codon). The number of A/T changes at the third base of the codon was much higher than that of G/C. Among 23 PCGs, the range of Pi values is from 0.0021 to 0.0539, with an average of 0.013. Additionally, 81 RNA editing sites were predicted, which were considerably fewer than those reported in other plant mitogenomes. Most of the RNA editing site base positions were concentrated at the first and second codon bases, which were C to T transitions. Moreover, we identified 95 sequence fragments (total length of 34, 343 bp) that were transferred from the chloroplast to mitochondria genes, introns, and intergenic regions. The stability of the tRNA genes was maintained during this process. Selection pressure analysis of 23 protein-coding genes shared by 15 Poaceae plants, showed that most genes were subjected to purifying selection during evolution, whereas rps4, cob, mttB, and ccmB underwent positive selection in different plants. Finally, a phylogenetic tree was constructed based on 22 plant mitogenomes, which showed that Agropyron plants have a high degree of independent heritability in Triticeae. Conclusion: The findings of this study provide new data for a better understanding of A. cristatum genes, and demonstrate that mitogenomes are suitable for the study of plant classifications, such as those of Agropyron. Moreover, it provides a reference for further exploration of the phylogenetic relationships within Agropyron species, and establishes a theoretical basis for the subsequent development and utilization of A. cristatum plant germplasm resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Magnetic CoFe 2 O 4 /AC was synthesized as the catalysts for PMS with AOPs. • CoFe 2 O 4 /AC could absorb MB in high concentration near catalysts. • CoFe 2 O 4 /AC adsorption and degradation with PMS both contributed to MB removal. • The synergistic effect of CoFe 2 O 4 /AC and PMS increased the MB removal to 100%. • CoFe 2 O 4 /AC separated easily by magnetic separation from solution. • CoFe 2 O 4 /AC presented the good repeatability and could be recycled and reused. Magnetic cobalt ferrites (CoFe 2 O 4)/activated carbon (AC) nanocomposites were prepared by the hydrothermal method, and then the catalysis for potassium hydrogen persulfate (PMS) to degrade methylene blue (MB) was investigated. The results indicated that 9 wt% CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles supplied the sufficient magnetic response for magnetic separation and activated PMS to generate SO 4 − radicals. The pore-structures of AC could adsorb the residual MB in high concentration near CoFe 2 O 4 catalysts, and promoted MB degradation with SO 4 − radicals. CoFe 2 O 4 /AC nanocomposites presented the good stability and reusability. It was proved that the synergistic effect of PMS and CoFe 2 O 4 /AC nanocomposites could greatly improve the MB removal to 100% at the optimized conditions for 60 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated detection of cervical lesion cell/clumps in cervical cytological images is essential for computer-aided diagnosis. In this task, the shape and size of the lesion cell/clumps appeared to vary considerably, reducing the detection performance of cervical lesion cell/clumps. To address the issue, we propose an adaptive feature extraction network for cervical lesion cell/clumps detection, called AFE-Net. Specifically, we propose the adaptive module to acquire the features of cervical lesion cell/clumps, while introducing the global bias mechanism to acquire the global average information, aiming at combining the adaptive features with the global information to improve the representation of the target features in the model, and thus enhance the detection performance of the model. Furthermore, we analyze the results of the popular bounding box loss on the model and propose the new bounding box loss tendency-IoU (TIoU). Finally, the network achieves the mean Average Precision (mAP) of 64.8% on the CDetector dataset, with 30.7 million parameters. Compared with YOLOv7 of 62.6% and 34.8M, the model improved mAP by 2.2% and reduced the number of parameters by 11.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For women who have experienced recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), it is crucial not only to treat them but also to evaluate the risk of recurrence. The study aimed to develop a risk predictive model to predict the subsequent early pregnancy loss (EPL) in women with RPL based on preconception data. Methods: A prospective, dynamic population cohort study was carried out at the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University. From September 2019 to December 2022, a total of 1050 non-pregnant women with RPL were participated. By December 2023, 605 women had subsequent pregnancy outcomes and were randomly divided into training and validation group by 3:1 ratio. In the training group, univariable screening was performed on RPL patients with subsequent EPL outcome. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multivariate logistic regression were utilized to select variables, respectively. Subsequent EPL prediction model was constructed using generalize linear model (GLM), gradient boosting machine (GBM), random forest (RF), and deep learning (DP). The variables selected by LASSO regression and multivariate logistic regression were then established and compared using the best prediction model. The AUC, calibration curve, and decision curve (DCA) were performed to assess the prediction performances of the best model. The best model was validated using the validation group. Finally, a nomogram was established based on the best predictive features. Results: In the training group, the GBM model achieved the best performance with the highest AUC (0.805). The AUC between the variables screened by the LASSO regression (16-variables) and logistic regression (9-variables) models showed no significant difference (AUC: 0.805 vs. 0.777, P = 0.1498). Meanwhile, the 9-variable model displayed a well discrimination performance in the validation group, with an AUC value of 0.781 (95%CI 0.702, 0.843). The DCA showed the model performed well and was feasible for making beneficial clinical decisions. Calibration curves revealed the goodness of fit between the predicted values by the model and the actual values, the Hosmer–Lemeshow test was 7.427, and P = 0.505. Conclusions: Predicting subsequent EPL in RPL patients using the GBM model has important clinical implications. Future prospective studies are needed to verify the clinical applicability. Trial registration: This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with the registration number of ChiCTR2000039414 (27/10/2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoindentation has emerged as a pioneering technique for fabricating array structures at the nanoscale. This research incorporates molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the deformation mechanisms of materials influenced by structured indenters exhibiting diverse geometries. The primary objective of this study is to mitigate interference during the continuous indentation applied by the indenters, diminish the material's elastic recovery, and minimize the occurrence of defects. The simulation results unveil that plastic deformation of the workpiece induced by structured indenters manifests through the nucleation and slip of dislocations. The cylindrical indenter engenders the most pronounced residual indentation morphology, accompanied by substantial pile-up interference and an extensive range of dislocation expansion, surpassing that of other indenters. Conversely, pyramidal indenters exhibit minimal residual indentation morphology, albeit displaying considerable elastic recovery. A comprehensive evaluation that considers factors such as recovery after indentation, ease of processing, system stability, and material transfer against the indentation force is imperative for the determination of the ideally structured indenter. The meticulous analysis supports the efficacy of paraboloidal indenters possessing smaller taper angles in attaining consistent processing results, rendering them highly suitable for continuous indentation processing. The research content bears significant implications for advancing the application of structured indenters. [Display omitted] • The defect evolution mechanisms of the structured indentation processing were analyzed. • The plastic deformation mechanisms of structured indenters processing were analyzed. • The filling rates of characteristic gaps were presented and calculated for structured indenters. • The indentation recovery rate and stability of the structured indenter were calculated and analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penicillium italicum, a major postharvest pathogen, causes blue mold rot in citrus fruits through the deployment of various virulence factors. Recent studies highlight the role of the epigenetic reader, SntB, in modulating the pathogenicity of phytopathogenic fungi. Our research revealed that the deletion of the SntB gene in P. italicum led to significant phenotypic alterations, including delayed mycelial growth, reduced spore production, and decreased utilization of sucrose. Additionally, the mutant strain exhibited increased sensitivity to pH fluctuations and elevated iron and calcium ion stress, culminating in reduced virulence on Gannan Novel oranges. Ultrastructural analyses disclosed notable disruptions in cell membrane integrity, disorganization within the cellular matrix, and signs of autophagy. Transcriptomic data further indicated a pronounced upregulation of hydrolytic enzymes, oxidoreductases, and transport proteins, suggesting a heightened energy demand. The observed phenomena were consistent with a carbon starvation response potentially triggering apoptotic pathways, including iron-dependent cell death. These findings collectively underscored the pivotal role of SntB in maintaining the pathogenic traits of P. italicum, proposing that targeting PiSntB could offer a new avenue for controlling citrus fungal infections and subsequent fruit decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bromus (Poaceae Bromeae) is a forage grass with high adaptability and ecological and economic value. Here, we sequenced Bromus ciliatus, Bromus benekenii, Bromus riparius, and Bromus rubens chloroplast genomes and compared them with four previously described species. The genome sizes of Bromus species ranged from 136,934 bp (Bromus vulgaris) to 137,189 bp (Bromus ciliates, Bromus biebersteinii), with a typical quadripartite structure. The studied species had 129 genes, consisting of 83 protein-coding, 38 tRNA-coding, and 8 rRNA-coding genes. The highest GC content was found in the inverted repeat (IR) region (43.85–44.15%), followed by the large single-copy (LSC) region (36.25–36.65%) and the small single-copy (SSC) region (32.21–32.46%). There were 33 high-frequency codons, with those ending in A/U accounting for 90.91%. A total of 350 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified, with single-nucleotide repeats being the most common (61.43%). A total of 228 forward and 141 palindromic repeats were identified. No reverse or complementary repeats were detected. The sequence identities of all sequences were very similar, especially with respect to the protein-coding and inverted repeat regions. Seven highly variable regions were detected, which could be used for molecular marker development. The constructed phylogenetic tree indicates that Bromus is a monophyletic taxon closely related to Triticum. This comparative analysis of the chloroplast genome of Bromus provides a scientific basis for species identification and phylogenetic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to unveil the central mechanism of moxibustion treating chronic inflammatory visceral pain (CIVP) from the angle of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks in the spinal cord. The rat CIVP model was established using a mixture of 5% (w/v) 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid and 50% ethanol at a volume ratio of 2:1 via enema. Rats in the moxibustion group received herb-partitioned moxibustion at Tianshu (ST25, bilateral) and Qihai (CV6) points. The abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR), mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT), and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) were adopted for pain behavior observation and pain sensitivity assessment. The circRNA, miRNA, and mRNA expression profiles were detected using the high-throughput sequencing technique. Relevant databases and bioinformatics analysis methods were used to screen for differentially expressed (DE) RNAs and build a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA (competing endogenous RNA) ceRNA regulatory network. The real-time quantitative PCR was employed to verify the sequencing result. CIVP rat models had a significantly higher AWR and lower TWL and MWT than normal rats. Between normal and model rats, there were 103 DE-circRNAs, 16 DE-miRNAs, and 397 DE-mRNAs in the spinal cord. Compared with the model group, the moxibustion group had a lower AWR and higher TWL and MWT; between these two groups, there were 118 DE-circRNAs, 15 DE-miRNAs, and 804 DE-mRNAs in the spinal cord. Two ceRNA networks were chosen to be verified. As a result, moxibustion's analgesic effect on visceral pain in CIVP rats may be associated with regulating the circRNA_02767/rno-miR-483-3p/Gfap network in the spinal cord and improving central sensitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the distributed filtering problem for discrete‐time nonlinear systems with colored measurement noise obeying a nonlinear autoregressive process in sensor networks. A novel block‐decomposed information‐type filter for such systems is proposed in a centralized fusion structure, by using the statistical linear regression to deal with model nonlinearities and the measurement difference approach to overcome the noise correlation caused by colored measurement noises. Meanwhile, with the help of block matrix inverse operation to realize the high‐dimensional block matrix decomposition, the information vector and information matrix of the original system state in the designed information filter is directly estimated recursively, so as to own good numerical stability. Then, the finite‐time distributed implementation of the proposed filter is put forward, where the final filtering estimate in each sensor node is consistent with the centralized filtering result, by ensuring that each sensor node directly obtains the average values of shared variables in the sensor network through finite iterations of average consensus. Finally, the posterior Cramér–Rao lower bound is derived to show the proposed filter reaches the optimal theoretical performance bound in the premise of statistical linear regression and Gaussian posterior probability density approximation. A target tracking example with colored measurement noise obeying a linear and a nonlinear autoregressive processes validates the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: At present, individualized interventions can be given to patients with a clear etiology of pregnancy loss to improve the subsequent pregnancy outcomes, but the current reproductive status of the patient cannot be changed. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between female reproductive status and subsequence pregnancy outcome in patients with prior pregnancy loss (PL). Methods: A prospective, dynamic population cohort study was carried out at the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University. From September 2019 to February 2022, a total of 1955 women with at least one previous PL were enrolled. Maternal reproductive status and subsequent reproductive outcomes were recorded through an electronic medical record system and follow-up. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between reproductive status and the risk of subsequent reproductive outcomes. Results: Among all patients, the rates of subsequent infertility, early PL, late PL, and live birth were 20.82%, 24.33%, 1.69% and 50.77% respectively. In logistic regression, we found that age (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.04–1.13) and previous cesarean delivery history (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.27–4.76) were risk factors for subsequent infertility in patients with PL. Age (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03–1.10), age at first pregnancy (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03–1.10), BMI (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02–1.11), previous PL numbers (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.04–1.57) and without pre-pregnancy intervention (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.35–2.24) were risk factors for non-live birth. Age (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03–1.09), age at first pregnancy (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02–1.09), BMI (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02–1.11), previous PL numbers (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02–1.31) and without pre-pregnancy intervention (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.65–2.84) were risk factors for PL. Conclusions: The reproductive status of people with PL is strongly correlated with the outcome of subsequent pregnancies. Active pre-pregnancy intervention can improve the subsequent pregnancy outcome. Trial registration: This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with the registration number of ChiCTR2000039414 (27/10/2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]