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Objective: To investigate the expression features of common anti-glioma CAR-T targets (B7H3, CSPG4, EGFRv III, HER2 and IL-13Ra2) in gliomas with different grades and molecular subtypes, and explore the association of target expression with glioma malignant or immune phenotypes including immune evasion, stemness, antigen presentation, and tumor angiogenesis. Methods: Opal™ Multiplex immunofluorescence staining was performed on glioma tissues to detect the expression of targets, and biomarkers related to the phenotypes. Results: High variety of CAR-T target expression among glioma subtypes was observed. GBMs exhibited the highest expression level of all the examined targets among glioma subtypes. In all glioma cases, CSPG4 was the most prevalent target covering over 84% glioma cases, followed by B7H3 at over 64%. B7H3 exhibited the highest coverage (94%) in GBMs while CSPG4 was the most popular target in both oligodendrogliomas and astrocytomas, covering 94% and 80% cases, respectively. Bi or tri-target combination strategies markedly expanded the tumor coverage across glioma cases while increased tumor-cell coverage within tumor. PD-L1 expression was significantly enriched in all the target-positive cells (except the EGFRvIII+ cells); CD133 expression was higher in the CSPG4+ or IL-13Ra2+ cells, and CD31 elevated in the B7H3+ cells, as compared with their negative cell populations. Conclusion: Anti-glioma CAR-T targets have heterogenous expression and distinct tumor coverage among glioma subtypes, and closely correlate with glioma malignant or immune phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perioperative hypothermia is a frequent clinical complication resulting from the cold environment of the operating room and prolonged skin exposure, leading to adverse outcomes and increased healthcare burdens. To address this issue, this narrative review discusses in detail the currently common warming strategies for perioperative hypothermia.Forced air warming (FAW) systems are widely recognized as the most effective intervention for maintaining core body temperature. Additionally, alternative technologies, such as circulating-water mattresses, carbon-fiber resistive heating systems, self-regulated heated air garments, self-heating blankets, and chemical heat packs, offer diverse advantages and disadvantages. Passive warming methods, including thermal reflective blankets and cotton blankets, provide a cost-effective solution, albeit with reduced efficacy compared to active warming measures. Recent advancements have focused on improving both active and passive warming approaches to balance effectiveness and cost-efficiency. While FAW remains the gold standard, other systems offer specific benefits, such as improved portability and reduced costs, making them suitable for use in diverse clinical scenarios. Effective perioperative temperature management reduces hypothermia-related complications, decreases healthcare expenditures, and provides substantial social and organizational benefits. Thus, selecting the most appropriate warming intervention in clinical practice requires a tailored approach, considering both patient-specific needs and resource availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current landscape is characterized by a dearth of effective, safe, simple, and noninvasive methods for preventing pain following craniotomy. This clinical trial seeks to evaluate the efficacy profile of preemptive application of a topical 5% lidocaine patch in alleviating post-craniotomy pain. Methods: This was a multi-centric, prospective randomized placebo-controlled triple-blind clinical trial. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to either the masked intervention group, who received lidocaine 5% white hydrogel plasters (N = 90), or the placebo control group who received plain hydrogel plasters of the same pattern, size, appearance and material as L5Ps, but free of lidocaine (N = 90). Primary outcome was the pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale at 24 h) after craniotomy. Secondary outcomes included: intra-operative analgesics consumption, pain intensity, cumulative rescue analgesics consumption, sleeping scores, adverse effects such as skin reactions, etc. The intention-to-treat analyses and the per-protocol analyses were used. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the VAS scores at 24 h after craniotomy (P = 0.539). However, subgroup analysis for female and male patients showed that statistically significant differences were found in VAS scores in male patients (0 [0, 3] in the masked intervention group at 24 h after craniotomy and 3 [1, 4.5] in the placebo control group, P = 0.017). There were no obvious side effects directly associated with preemptive L5P. Conclusion: Preemptive lidocaine 5% plaster as a safe technique was not found to be effective in reducing post-craniotomy pain, but potential gender disparities in the outcomes of this method warrant further investigation. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.Gov (NCT 04169854). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Maxillary canines are often impacted, which can result in tooth disorders and adversely affect occlusal and facial development. The case report describes complete bilateral impaction of maxillary canines and significant root resorption of a central incisor. The multidisciplinary approach is the optimal strategy for addressing impacted maxillary canines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep learning is applied to many complex tasks in the field of wireless communication, such as modulation recognition of spectrum waveforms, because of its convenience and efficiency. This leads to the problem of a malicious third party using a deep learning model to easily recognize the modulation format of the transmitted waveform. Some existing works address this problem directly using the concept of adversarial examples in the computer vision field without fully considering the characteristics of the waveform transmission in the physical world. Therefore, we propose two low‐interception waveforms (LIWs) generation methods, the LIW and ULIW algorithms, which can reduce the probability of the modulation being recognized by a third party without affecting the reliable communication of the friendly party. Among them, ULIW improves LIW algorithm by simulating channel noise during training cycle, and substantially reduces the perturbation magnitude while maintaining low interception accuracy. Our LIW and ULIW exhibit significant low‐interception performance in both numerical simulations and hardware experiments. Key Points: Define the low‐interception question, and give the mathematical model, application scenarios, and evaluation criteriaPropose the ULIW algorithm based on our LIW algorithm, which substantially reduces perturbation while maintaining low interception accuracyVerify the low‐interception performance of LIW and ULIW in both the digital and physical worlds [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accumulated evidences indicate that dysbiosis of the urinary microbiota is associated with kidney stone formation. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the urinary microbiota composition and functionality of patients with calcium oxalate stones and compare it with those of healthy individuals. Method: We collected bladder urine samples from 68 adult patients with calcium oxalate stones and 54 age-matched healthy controls by transurethral catheterization. 16S rRNA gene and shotgun sequencing were utilized to characterize the urinary microbiota and functionality associated with calcium oxalate stones. Results: After further exclusion, a total of 100 subjects was finally included and analyzed. The diversity of the urinary microbiota in calcium oxalate stone patients was not significantly different from that of healthy controls. However, the urinary microbiota structure of calcium oxalate stone formers significantly differed from that of healthy controls (PERMANOVA, r = 0.026, P = 0.019). Differential representation of bacteria (e.g., Bifidobacterium) and several enriched functional pathways (e.g., threonine biosynthesis) were identified in the urine of calcium oxalate stone patients. Conclusion: Our results showed significantly different urinary microbiota structure and several enriched functional pathways in calcium oxalate stone patients, which provide new insight into the pathogenesis of calcium oxalate stones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated mogrol's impact on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) radiosensitivity and underlying mechanisms, using various methods including assays, bioinformatics, and xenograft models. CCK-8, clonogenic, flow cytometry, TUNEL, and Western blot assays evaluated mogrol and radiation effects on NSCLC viability and apoptosis. Ubiquitin-specific protease 22 (USP22) expression in NSCLC patient tissues was determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot. A xenograft model validated mogrol's effects on tumor growth. Bioinformatics identified four ubiquitin-specific proteases, including USP22, in NSCLC. Kaplan–Meier analysis confirmed USP22's value in lung cancer survival. Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database analysis indicated higher USP22 expression in lung cancer tissues. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis implicated ERK1/2 in NSCLC progression, and molecular docking showed stability between mogrol and ERK1/2. Further in vivo and in vitro experiments have demonstrated that mogrol enhances the inhibitory effect of radiation on NSCLC cell viability and clonogenic capacity. Cell viability and clonogenic capacity are reduced by >50%, and an increase in cellular apoptosis is observed, with apoptotic levels reaching 10%. USP22 expression was significantly elevated in NSCLC tissues, particularly in radiotherapy-resistant patients. Mogrol downregulated USP22 expression by inhibiting the ERK/CREB pathway, lowering COX2 expression. Mogrol also enhanced radiation's inhibition of tumor growth in mice. Mogrol enhances NSCLC radiosensitivity by downregulating USP22 via the ERK/CREB pathway, leading to reduced COX2 expression. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: Mogrol enhances non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell sensitivity to radiotherapy by downregulating USP22 through the ERK/CREB pathway, reducing COX2 expression. These findings highlight mogrol's potential as an adjunct to improve NSCLC radiotherapy and open avenues for further research and clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Currently, there remains a scarcity of established preoperative tests to accurately predict the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status in clinical scenarios, with limited research has explored the potential synergistic diagnostic performance among metabolite, perfusion, and diffusion parameters. To address this issue, we aimed to develop an imaging protocol that integrated 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) by comprehensively assessing metabolic, cellular, and angiogenic changes caused by IDH mutations, and explored the diagnostic efficiency of this imaging protocol for predicting IDH mutation status in clinical scenarios. Methods: Patients who met the inclusion criteria were categorized into two groups: IDH-wild type (IDH-WT) group and IDH-mutant (IDH-MT) group. Subsequently, we quantified the 2HG concentration, the relative apparent diffusion coefficient (rADC), the relative true diffusion coefficient value (rD), the relative pseudo-diffusion coefficient (rD*) and the relative perfusion fraction value (rf). Intergroup differences were estimated using t-test and Mann–Whitney U test. Finally, we performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and DeLong's test to evaluate and compare the diagnostic performance of individual parameters and their combinations. Results: 64 patients (female, 21; male, 43; age, 47.0 ± 13.7 years) were enrolled. Compared with IDH-WT gliomas, IDH-MT gliomas had higher 2HG concentration, rADC and rD (P < 0.001), and lower rD* (P = 0.013). The ROC curve demonstrated that 2HG + rD + rD* exhibited the highest areas under curve (AUC) value (0.967, 95%CI 0.889–0.996) for discriminating IDH mutation status. Compared with each individual parameter, the predictive efficiency of 2HG + rADC + rD* and 2HG + rD + rD* shows a statistically significant enhancement (DeLong's test: P < 0.05). Conclusions: The integration of 2HG MRS and IVIM significantly improves the diagnostic efficiency for predicting IDH mutation status in clinical scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are controversial about the application of cancer-directed surgery (CDS) in patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer, with improved responses to chemotherapy and targeted treatments, the role of CDS in metastatic gastric cancer to the liver needs to be revisited. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of CDS on patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer. Data for patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer were extracted from the population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. A total of 958 individuals were enrolled, 285 in the CDS group and 673 in the non-cancer guided surgery (Non-CDS) group. Following propensity score matching (PSM) analysis at 1:1 in the two groups,285 were included in the survival analysis for each group. Kaplan–Meier values and Cox proportional risk models were used to estimate the effect of CDS on patients' prognoses. Compared with the Non-CDS group, the CDS group significantly prolonged the median overall survival from 4 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 3–5) to 11 months (95% CI 8–12), p value < 0.001. Overall survival (OS) at 1 year was higher in the CDS group than in the Non-CDS group, at 44% (95 CI 38–50) and 25% (95 CI 20–30), respectively. OS at 3 years was also higher in the CDS group than in the Non-CDS group, at 24% (95 CI 19–29) and 6% (95 CI 3–9), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that Non-CDS (hazard ratio[HR] = 2.26, 95% CI 1.88–2.72, p value < 0.001) was an adverse independent prognostic factor for patients. This study concludes that CDS prolonged survival in patients with gastric cancer with liver metastases. Due to the lack of information on the quality of life, biomarkers, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy in the SEER database, the observed improved survival rates following CDS of hepatic metastasis from gastric cancer requires prospective studies that take these factors into account to properly address the survival advantages and impact on quality of life of such a method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Brainstem gliomas, particularly those with the H3K27M mutation, represent highly aggressive tumors with limited therapeutic avenues. The exploration of tumor cell antigens in this context becomes pivotal to identifying potential treatment targets. Through multiplex immunofluorescence analysis, we unveiled a robust correlation between the widespread expression of the IL13Ra2 membrane antigen in brainstem glioma and the presence of the H3.3K27M antigen. This compelling association underscores the promise of IL13Ra2 as a prime therapeutic target for treating brainstem glioma. The objective of this study was to investigate IL13Ra2 expression in brainstem glioma (BSG) and its correlation with key markers, functions, and prognostic implications, evaluating its therapeutic potential. A total of 80 tumor samples from BSG patients were analyzed. Multiplex immunofluorescence was used to examine six markers—IL13Ra2, H3.3K27M, CD133, Ki67, HLA-1, and CD4—establishing relationships between IL13Ra2 and these markers. Survival analysis, employing Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression models, encompassed 66 patients with complete follow-up. RNA-Seq data from a previously published study involving 98 patients were analyzed using the DESeq2 library to determine differential gene expression between groups. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) via the clusterProfiler library were used to delineate the gene functions of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Nearly all the BSG patients displayed varying IL13Ra2 expression, with 45.0% (36/80) exhibiting over a 20% increase. Elevated IL13Ra2 levels were notably observed in pontine gliomas, diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs), H3F3A-mutant gliomas, and WHO IV gliomas. IL13Ra2 expression was strongly correlated with H3.3K27M mutant protein, Ki67, and CD133. Patients with IL13Ra2 expression >20% showed shorter overall survival compared to those with ≤20% IL13Ra2 expression. The Cox proportional hazard regression model identified H3F3A mutations, rather than IL13Ra2 expression, as an independent prognostic factor. Analysis of RNA-Seq data from our prior cohort confirmed IL13Ra2's correlation with H3.3, CD133, and Ki67 levels. Widespread IL13Ra2 expression in BSG, particularly elevated in the H3F3A mutant group, was strongly correlated with H3F3A mutations, increased proliferation, and heightened tumor stemness. IL13Ra2 represents a promising therapeutic target for BSGs, potentially benefiting patients with H3K27M mutations, DIPGs, WHO Grade IV, and pontine location-specific BSGs, particularly those with H3K27M mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful mating of the hoverfly and the search for prey aphids are of great significance for biological control and are usually mediated by chemical cues. The odorant receptor co-receptor (Orco) genes play a crucial role in the process of insect odor perception. However, the function of Orco in the mating and prey-seeking behaviors of the hoverfly remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we characterized the Orco gene from the hoverfly, Eupeodes corollae, a natural enemy insect. We used the CRISPR/Cas9 technique to knock out the Orco gene of E. corollae, and the EcorOrco−/− homozygous mutant was verified by the genotype analysis. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that the antennal ORN of EcorOrco−/− mutant lack Orco staining. Electroantennogram (EAG) results showed that the adult mutant almost lost the electrophysiological response to 15 odorants from three types. The two-way choice assay and the glass Y-tube olfactometer indicated that both the larvae and adults of hoverflies lost their behavioral preference to the aphid alarm pheromone (E)-β-farnesene (EBF). In addition, the mating assay results showed a significant decrease in the mating rate of males following the knock out of the EcorOrco gene. Although the mating of females was not affected, the amount of eggs being laid and the hatching rate of the eggs were significantly reduced. These results indicated that the EcorOrco gene was not only involved in the detection of semiochemicals in hoverflies but also plays a pivotal role in the development of eggs. In conclusion, our results expand the comprehension of the chemoreceptive mechanisms in the hoverflies and offers valuable insights for the advancement of more sophisticated pest management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Seizures are a common clinical presentation in patients with glioma and substantially impact patients' quality of life. Hyperhomocysteinemia is defined as abnormally high serum levels of homocysteine (Hcy) and is reportedly linked to susceptibility to various nervous system diseases. However, it remains unclear whether and how hyperhomocysteinemia and its associated genetic polymorphisms promote seizures in glioma patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all medical data from 127 patients with malignant gliomas, who underwent initial tumor resection by our team between July 2019 and June 2021 and had preoperative measurements of serum Hcy levels. According to whether they had at least one seizure before surgery, they were divided into the seizure and nonseizure groups. We also detected polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and measured intratumoral Hcy levels in these patients. Results: Hyperhomocysteinemia was a susceptibility factor for preoperative seizures in glioma patients according to both univariate analyses (P < 0.001) and multivariate logistic regression analyses (OR 1.239, 95% CI 1.062–1.445, P = 0.007). Patients with the MTHFR C677T variant exhibited elevated serum Hcy levels (P = 0.027) and an increased prevalence of preoperative seizures (P = 0.019). Intratumoral Hcy levels were positively correlated with serum Hcy levels (R = 0.231, P = 0.046) and were elevated in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia (P = 0.031), the MTHFR C677T variant (P = 0.002) and preoperative seizures (P = 0.003). High intratumoral Hcy levels, rather than hyperhomocysteinemia or the MTHFR C677T variant, emerged as an independent risk factor for preoperative seizures (OR 1.303, 95% CI 1.015–1.673, P = 0.038). Furthermore, the effects of hyperhomocysteinemia on epileptic susceptibility were reduced to nonsignificance when intratumoral Hcy was controlled to the same level between groups. Significance: Glioma patients with hyperhomocysteinemia and the MTHFR C677T variant were susceptible to preoperative seizures, suggesting their potential as biomarkers for the management of seizures in glioma patients. The elevation of intratumoral Hcy is a possible mechanism underlying this susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A top drive side cover joint is fractured after service for 5 h. In this paper, the failure causes were investigated by mechanical property tests, chemical composition analysis, metallographic analysis, and scanning electron microscopy analysis. The results showed that the failure mode of the top drive side cover joint was a brittle fracture. In addition, the failure cause is mainly attributed to the banded metallographic structure of martensite and bainite. This would result in a low Charpy-V impact toughness and high ductile-brittle transition temperature of the material. The low service temperature and complex load conditions during the drilling process would make the fracture failure easier to happen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive primary brain tumor with a poor prognosis. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in GBM treatment. The sensitivity of different glioma specimens to Vγ9Vδ2 T cell-mediated cytotoxicity is assessed using a patient-derived tumor cell clusters (PTCs) model. Methods: The study evaluates the anti-tumor effect of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in 26 glioma cases through the PTCs model. Protein expression of BTN2A1 and BTN3A1, along with gene expression related to lipid metabolism and glioma inflammatory response pathways, is analyzed in matched tumor tissue samples. Additionally, the study explores two strategies to re-sensitize tumors in the weak anti-tumor effect (WAT) group: utilizing a BTN3A1 agonistic antibody or employing bisphosphonates to inhibit farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS). Furthermore, the study investigates the efficacy of genetically engineered Vγ9Vδ2 T cells expressing Car-B7H3 in targeting diverse GBM specimens. Results: The results demonstrate that Vγ9Vδ2 T cells display a stronger anti-tumor effect (SAT) in six glioma cases, while showing a weaker effect (WAT) in twenty cases. The SAT group exhibits elevated protein expression of BTN2A1 and BTN3A1, accompanied by differential gene expression related to lipid metabolism and glioma inflammatory response pathways. Importantly, the study reveals that the WAT group GBM can enhance Vγ9Vδ2 T cell-mediated killing sensitivity by incorporating either a BTN3A1 agonistic antibody or bisphosphonates. Both approaches support TCR-BTN mediated tumor recognition, which is distinct from the conventional MHC-peptide recognition by αβ T cells. Furthermore, the study explores an alternative strategy by genetically engineering Vγ9Vδ2 T cells with Car-B7H3, and both non-engineered and Car-B7H3 Vγ9Vδ2 T cells demonstrate promising efficacy in vivo, underscoring the versatile potential of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells for GBM treatment. Conclusions: Vγ9Vδ2 T cells demonstrate a robust anti-tumor effect in some glioma cases, while weaker in others. Elevated BTN2A1 and BTN3A1 expression correlates with improved response. WAT group tumors can be sensitized using a BTN3A1 agonistic antibody or bisphosphonates. Genetically engineered Vγ9Vδ2 T cells, i.e., Car-B7H3, show promising efficacy. These results together highlight the versatility of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells for GBM treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive primary brain tumor with a poor prognosis. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in GBM treatment. The sensitivity of different glioma specimens to Vγ9Vδ2 T cell-mediated cytotoxicity is assessed using a patient-derived tumor cell clusters (PTCs) model. Methods: The study evaluates the anti-tumor effect of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in 26 glioma cases through the PTCs model. Protein expression of BTN2A1 and BTN3A1, along with gene expression related to lipid metabolism and glioma inflammatory response pathways, is analyzed in matched tumor tissue samples. Additionally, the study explores two strategies to re-sensitize tumors in the weak anti-tumor effect (WAT) group: utilizing a BTN3A1 agonistic antibody or employing bisphosphonates to inhibit farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS). Furthermore, the study investigates the efficacy of genetically engineered Vγ9Vδ2 T cells expressing Car-B7H3 in targeting diverse GBM specimens. Results: The results demonstrate that Vγ9Vδ2 T cells display a stronger anti-tumor effect (SAT) in six glioma cases, while showing a weaker effect (WAT) in twenty cases. The SAT group exhibits elevated protein expression of BTN2A1 and BTN3A1, accompanied by differential gene expression related to lipid metabolism and glioma inflammatory response pathways. Importantly, the study reveals that the WAT group GBM can enhance Vγ9Vδ2 T cell-mediated killing sensitivity by incorporating either a BTN3A1 agonistic antibody or bisphosphonates. Both approaches support TCR-BTN mediated tumor recognition, which is distinct from the conventional MHC-peptide recognition by αβ T cells. Furthermore, the study explores an alternative strategy by genetically engineering Vγ9Vδ2 T cells with Car-B7H3, and both non-engineered and Car-B7H3 Vγ9Vδ2 T cells demonstrate promising efficacy in vivo, underscoring the versatile potential of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells for GBM treatment. Conclusions: Vγ9Vδ2 T cells demonstrate a robust anti-tumor effect in some glioma cases, while weaker in others. Elevated BTN2A1 and BTN3A1 expression correlates with improved response. WAT group tumors can be sensitized using a BTN3A1 agonistic antibody or bisphosphonates. Genetically engineered Vγ9Vδ2 T cells, i.e., Car-B7H3, show promising efficacy. These results together highlight the versatility of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells for GBM treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prenatal air pollution exposure may increase risk for childhood obesity. However, few studies have evaluated in utero growth measures and infant weight trajectories. This study will evaluate the associations of prenatal exposure to ambient air pollutants with weight trajectories from the 3rd trimester through age 2 years. Methods: We studied 490 pregnant women who were recruited from the Maternal and Development Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) cohort, which comprises a low-income, primarily Hispanic population in Los Angeles, California. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter < 10 µm (PM10), particulate matter < 2.5 µm (PM2.5), and ozone (O3) concentrations during pregnancy were estimated from regulatory air monitoring stations. Fetal weight was estimated from maternal ultrasound records. Infant/child weight measurements were extracted from medical records or measured during follow-up visits. Piecewise spline models were used to assess the effect of air pollutants on weight, overall growth, and growth during each period. Results: The mean (SD) prenatal exposure concentrations for NO2, PM2.5, PM10, and O3 were 16.4 (2.9) ppb, 12.0 (1.1) μg/m3, 28.5 (4.7) μg/m3, and 26.2 (2.9) ppb, respectively. Comparing an increase in prenatal average air pollutants from the 10th to the 90th percentile, the growth rate from the 3rd trimester to age 3 months was significantly increased (1.55% [95%CI 1.20%, 1.99%] for PM2.5 and 1.64% [95%CI 1.27%, 2.13%] for NO2), the growth rate from age 6 months to age 2 years was significantly decreased (0.90% [95%CI 0.82%, 1.00%] for NO2), and the attained weight at age 2 years was significantly lower (− 7.50% [95% CI − 13.57%, − 1.02%] for PM10 and − 7.00% [95% CI − 11.86%, − 1.88%] for NO2). Conclusions: Prenatal ambient air pollution was associated with variable changes in growth rate and attained weight from the 3rd trimester to age 2 years. These results suggest continued public health benefits of reducing ambient air pollution levels, particularly in marginalized populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-derived extracellular vesicles are functional nanovesicles that have significant applications in both disease prevention and treatment, as well as for use as drug carriers. Momordica charantia is a widely consumed food that has both medicinal and nutritional properties and has shown intervention in diabetes and inflammation caused by oxidative damage. In this study, Momordica charantia-derived extracellular vesicles (MCEVs) were extracted and demonstrated to have excellent antioxidant activity by characterization, lipid composition analysis, protein domain analysis, and in vitro antioxidant measurement. In addition, in vivo studies indicated that the MCEVs could restore ulcerative colitis by regulating oxidation and inflammatory factors. Therefore, the antioxidant properties of MCEVs may be important in protecting the colon from inflammation, which provides new insights into the application of MCEVs as drugs or vectors for intervention in ulcerative colitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation has aroused extensive attention as a green and sustainable route for ammonia synthesis under mild conditions. To boost nitrogen fixation efficiency, many approaches have been proposed to overcome the limitations of a high energy barrier, easy recombination of photogenerated electrons–holes and poor light absorption. Oxygen vacancies (OVs) introduced on the surface of photo-catalysts are critical for N2 molecular activation. Meanwhile, photonic crystals (PCs) can effectively promote the photon capture of catalysts. The focus of this work is to couple titanium dioxide (TiO2) with oxygen vacancies (TOVs) and silica (SiO2) photonic crystals (SPCs) for the purpose of synergistically enhancing the photocatalytic nitrogen fixation performance. Experimental results showed that TOV films exhibited better photocatalytic activity than anatase TiO2 films because the OVs provided more active sites for the chemisorption and activation of nitrogen. The photon localization effect of SPCs could improve the light-harvesting ability of TOVs, leading to further enhancement of the nitrogen photofixation performance of TiO2. This research provides a novel route for production of ammonia in a clean and low-energy consumption way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a common complication following craniotomy that increases morbidity, mortality, and medical expenses. The objectives of this study were to determine the relevant risk factors associated with SSI after elective craniotomy for brain tumor and analyse the treatments for SSI. Methods: A retrospective nested case‒control study was conducted using data from patients who underwent craniotomy for brain tumor resection at the Neurosurgical Oncology Department No. 6 of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, between January 2019 and December 2021. Risk factors for SSI were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis. We analyzed microbiological and related treatment data for different SSI types. Results: Among 2061 patients who underwent craniotomy for brain tumor, 31 had SSI (1.50%). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, body mass index (BMI) and operative duration were identified as independent risk factors for SSI. The most common microorganism isolated from SSIs was Staphylococcus epidermidis (22.9%), and drug sensitivity results showed that gram-positive bacteria were sensitive to linezolid, vancomycin and tigecycline, whereas gram-negative bacteria were sensitive to meropenem, cefepime and ceftazidime. Six of the seven patients who underwent bone flap removal due to osteomyelitis were infected with gram-negative bacteria. Conclusions: BMI and operative duration were identified as independent risk factors for SSI. Diabetes mellitus, previous ratio therapy, type of incision, recurrence tumor and other risk factors were not found to be associated with the occurrence of SSI in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this work is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of sufentanil vs. remifentanil anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Medical records of elderly patients aged ≥ 65 years who received curative resection for HCC between January 2017 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into either the sufentanil group or the remifentanil group according to the method of analgesia used. Vital signs including mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2), distribution of T-cell subsets (CD3, CD4, and CD8 lymphocytes), distribution of the stress response index [cortisol (COR), interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), and glucose (GLU)] were recorded prior to anesthesia (T0), after induction of anesthesia (T1), at the end of surgery (T2), 24 h after surgery (T3), and 72 h after surgery (T4). Postoperative adverse events were collected. Results: Repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that after controlling for baseline patient demographic and treatment characteristics as covariates, both between- and within-group effects were significant (all P < 0.01), and the interaction between time and treatments was also significant (all P < 0.01) in the vital signs (MAP, HR, and SpO2), distribution of T-cell subsets (CD3, CD4, and CD8 lymphocytes), and distribution of the stress response index (COR, IL-6, CRP, and GLU), indicating that sufentanil led to stable hemodynamic and respiratory functions, lower reduction of T-lymphocyte subsets, and stable stress response indices compared to remifentanil. There is no significant difference in adverse reactions between the two groups (P = 0.72). Conclusions: Sufentanil was associated with improved hemodynamic and respiratory function, less stress response, less inhibition of cellular immunity, and similar adverse reactions compared with remifentanil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of death worldwide. For early diagnosis, intervention and management of CVDs, it is highly desirable to frequently monitor blood pressure (BP), a vital sign closely related to CVDs, during people's daily life, including sleep time. Towards this end, wearable and cuffless BP extraction methods have been extensively researched in recent years as part of the mobile healthcare initiative. This review focuses on the enabling technologies for wearable and cuffless BP monitoring platforms, covering both the emerging flexible sensor designs and BP extraction algorithms. Based on the signal type, the sensing devices are classified into electrical, optical, and mechanical sensors, and the state-of-the-art material choices, fabrication methods, and performances of each type of sensor are briefly reviewed. In the model part of the review, contemporary algorithmic BP estimation methods for beat-to-beat BP measurements and continuous BP waveform extraction are introduced. Mainstream approaches, such as pulse transit time-based analytical models and machine learning methods, are compared in terms of their input modalities, features, implementation algorithms, and performances. The review sheds light on the interdisciplinary research opportunities to combine the latest innovations in the sensor and signal processing research fields to achieve a new generation of cuffless BP measurement devices with improved wearability, reliability, and accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a kernel ensemble SVM with integrated loss in shared parameters space. Different from the traditional multiple kernel learning methods of seeking linear combinations of basis kernels as a unified kernel, the proposed method aims to find multiple solutions in corresponding Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Spaces (RKHSs) simultaneously. To achieve this goal, we draw on the idea of multi-view data processing, and the individual kernel gram matrix is considered as one view of the data. We, therefore, propose an ensemble idea to combine those multiple individual kernel losses into a whole one through an integrated loss design. Therefore, each model can co-optimize to learn its optimal parameters by minimizing the integrated loss in multiple RKHSs. Besides, another feature of our method is the introduction of shared and specific parameters in multiple RKHSs for learning. In this manner, the proposed model can learn the common and individual structures of the data from its parameters space, thereby improving the accuracy of the classification task and further enhancing the robustness of the proposed ensemble model. Experimental results on several UCI classification and image datasets demonstrate that our method performs best among state-of-the-art MKL methods, such as SimpleMKL, EasyMKL, MREKLM, and MRMKL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 9 tests were carried out with 30 mm and 78 mm caliber scaled projectiles penetrating into granite targets. The penetration depth, crater diameter, and mass loss rate were examined and discussed. The results indicate that the dimensionless penetration depth of large-caliber projectiles is 20% greater than small-caliber projectiles. Based on the description of static resistance Ra in the Forrestal semi-empirical formula, the size effect of dimensionless penetration depth can be attributed to the size effect of static resistance Ra, and it can be seen that the penetration static resistance of projectile A is 40% higher than that of projectile B. Numerical simulations of projectile penetration into granite targets were conducted using the finite element program ANSYS/LS-DYNA. In terms of penetration depth and crater damage, the numerical simulation results agree well with the test data. This suggests that the selection of parameters was reasonable. The influence of compressive strength, projectile striking velocity, mass, diameter, and caliber–radius–head (CRH) ratio on the static resistance Ra were studied by RHT model parameterization. Based on the numerical results from the parametric study, an empirical formula was derived to predict the static resistance Ra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the straight-wall-arch structure in the rock medium is taken as the research object, and the high-pressure plane charge loading test technology is adopted to study the anti-explosion performance of different types of structures under the explosion loading. Three types of structures, which are individually built with the high-performance reinforced concrete, the C30 reinforced concrete, and the C30 reinforced concrete with a foam concrete backfill layer as well, are tested, and the dynamic responses and damage characteristics of these structures are investigated. The test results show that under the condition of the same plane charge explosion loading, in the vault of the high-performance reinforced concrete test section appears a through-tensile crack with a largest transverse relative displacement between the two straight walls, and the composite structure test section only shows an intermittent crack at the arch foot, which represents a slight damage mode. Meanwhile the arch spring of the C30 reinforced concrete test section suffers a through-compression shear failure with a largest vertical relative displacement between the vault and the floor, which represents a moderate damage mode. Therefore, adopting the high-performance reinforced concrete, and the C30 reinforced concrete with the foam concrete backfill layer, can effectively decrease the damage degree of the rock structures. Compared with the C30 reinforced concrete, the high-performance reinforced concrete can improve the resistance of the structure by improving the structural strength and strengthening its capacity to absorb waves and energy dissipation, and the foam concrete backfill layer can significantly reduce the lateral and vertical relative displacement of the structural free surface and the peak stress of the structural inner layer. The composite structure test section of the C30 reinforced concrete with foam concrete backfill layer appears to be an excellent anti-explosion performance property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pain after craniotomy remains a poorly controlled problem that is mainly caused by the inflammatory reaction at the incision site. Nowadays, systemic opioids use, as first-line analgesics, is often limited because of adverse effects. Flurbiprofen axetil (FA) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug merged into emulsified lipid microspheres, which represent a strong affinity to inflammatory lesions. Local administration of flurbiprofen into a surgical wound has induced enhanced analgesic efficacy and few systemic or local adverse effects after oral surgery. However, the impact of local FA, as a non-opioid pharmacologic alternative, remains elusive on postoperative pain in craniotomy. In this study, we presume that pre-emptive infiltration of scalp with FA as an adjuvant to ropivacaine can lead to less sufentanil consumption postoperatively in patient controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) compared with ropivacaine alone. Methods/Design: We design a multicenter, randomized controlled study that will enroll 216 subjects who are planned to receive supratentorial craniotomy. Patients will receive pre-emptive infiltration of scalp either with 50 mg FA and 0.5% ropivacaine, or with 0.5% ropivacaine alone. Primary outcome is total consumption of sufentanil with PCIA device at 48 h postoperatively. Discussion: This is the first study attempting to explore the analgesic and safety profile of local FA as an adjuvant to ropivacaine for incisional pain in patients undergoing craniotomy. It will provide additional insights into the opioid-sparing analgesia pathways by local administration of NSAIDs for neurosurgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical interactions between thorium(IV) and O2- in the LiF-BeF2 (2 : 1 mol%) (FLiBe) and LiF-NaF-KF (46.5 : 11.5 : 42 mol%) (FLiNaK) molten salt systems were studied at 873 K. The precipitation-dissolution behavior of Th(IV) oxide/oxyfluoride species, as well as the speciation law of these species and their relationship with oxide concentration in fluoride melts, were clarified. The results showed that the interactions between Th(IV) and O2- in the FLiBe melt would only produce ThO2. The saturated solubility of ThO2 in the FLiBe melt was 0.057 mol/kg, and its corresponding apparent solubility product ( K s p ′ ) was 8.8 ± 0.1 × 10 − 4 mol3/kg3 and 8.6 ± 0.7 × 10 − 4 mol3/kg3 by dissolution and oxide titration methods, respectively. However, in the FLiNaK melt, the interactions between Th(IV) and O2- were more complex than that in FLiBe, and Th(IV) oxyfluoride species (i.e., Th2OF104- and ThOF2) were produced. Th2OF104- was initially formed with the ratio of r ≤ 0.5 (r = O 2 − added / Th IV initial ), and the Th2OF104- was converted to ThOF2 precipitate when r > 0.5. Therefore, the soluble Th2OF104- is the important intermediate between Th(IV), O2-, and ThOF2 precipitation. The difference in results of the FLiBe and FLiNaK melts was attributed to the difference of free F- content in the two systems. The present work provided important reference and fundamental data for understanding the nature of thorium fuel precipitation and how to control it in the molten fluoride media, which is of significant importance for the safe operation of molten salt reactor (MSR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel self‐healing poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)‐based hydrogel is developed by cross‐linking PVA chains through multi dynamic covalent bonds by use of a small cross‐linker composed by 4‐formylphenylboric acid (FPBA) and lysine (Lys). The dynamic borate‐imine‐imine‐borate bond structure between PVA chains endows the hydrogel excellent stretchability and ultra‐fast self‐healing ability without external stimulation. The self‐healing efficiency can attain 94% and the elongation at break can reach up to near 1000% after only 3 min healing. Moreover, the self‐healing of the hydrogel through the contact of two faces from both the same cut position and different cut positions has similar excellent efficiency. The hydrogel with the unusual self‐healing performance and stretchability is used as an ideal material in strain sensors monitoring human movement and tiny vibrations caused by human voice. Interestingly, the sensor can continue to function normally after self‐healing for only ≈3 s. It is expected that this simple strategy of fabricating self‐healing hydrogels with multi dynamic bonds will provide new opportunities in the design and preparation of PVA‐based hydrogels to expand their potential applications in sensors and other various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant form of glioma and has a poor median survival time. Fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP) is a dual‐specificity serine protease that is strongly associated with the development and progression of human carcinomas. However, relatively little is known about the function of FAP and its potential as a therapeutic target in GBMs. Aims: In this study, we aimed to explore the role of FAP in GBM through a series of experiments and to evaluate the therapeutic effect of PT100, a small molecule inhibitor of FAP, on GBM. Results: Increased FAP expression was associated with poor survival in glioma. In vitro, FAP knockdown inhibited the process of EMT and caused a decrease in the number of M2 macrophages. In vivo, PT100 was confirmed to suppress the progression of GBMs significantly. Conclusions: FAP could serve as a biomarker and novel therapeutic target for the treatment of GBM and that PT100 is a promising drug for the treatment of GBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Egg-laying behavior of insect is critical for completing their ontogeny, reproduction, and maintaining population stability. Chemical cues play a dominant role in regulating insect oviposition. Volatile organic compounds released by plants, insects, and microorganisms influence the detection and localization of insect oviposition sites. Exploiting and rationally applying these chemical cues to regulate insect behaviors is an important strategy for environmentally friendly pest control. This article summarizes the diverse egg-laying strategies of insects and their contributing factors, details the sources of chemical information that regulate insect oviposition behavior, and lists the regulatory effects of volatiles released by plants, insect semiochemicals and microorganisms on insect behaviors. The mechanism and research status of oviposition selection mediated by chemical cues are illustrated on the mechanism of the important chemoreceptor proteins in the insect peripheral nervous system, and applications in environmentally friendly prevention and control of agricultural pests are reviewed. Finally, future research directions are prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonists can improve the anticancer efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade by amplifying tumor immunogenicity. However, the clinical translation of cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) as STING agonists is hindered by their poor drug-like properties. In this study, we investigated the design criteria for DOTAP/cholesterol liposomes for the systemic delivery of ADU-S100 and delineated the impact of key formulation factors on the loading efficiency, serum stability, and STING agonistic activity of ADU-S100. Our findings demonstrate that the cationic liposomal formulation of ADU-S100 can be optimized to greatly potentiate STING activation in antigen-presenting cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been reported to induce osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells for increasing bone regeneration, while the role of IL-6 in osteogenic differentiation during ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) remains to be determined. The current study aims to explore the downstream mechanism of IL-6 in cyclic tensile strain (CTS)-stimulated OPLL, which involves bioinformatically identified microRNA-135b (miR-135b). Initially, we clinically collected posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) and ossified PLL tissues, from which ossified PLL cells were isolated, respectively. The obtained data revealed a greater osteogenic property of ossified PLL than non-ossified PLL cells. The effect of regulatory axis comprising IL-6, Stat3, miR-135b, and BMPER on osteogenic differentiation of CTS-stimulated ossified PLL cells was examined with gain- and loss-of-function experiments. BMPER was confirmed as a target gene to miR-135b. Knockdown of BMPER or overexpression of miR-135b inhibited the osteogenic differentiation of CTS-induced ossification in PLL cells. Besides, IL-6 promoted the post-transcriptional process to mature miR-135b via Stat3 phosphorylation. In conclusion, IL-6 inhibited CTS-induced osteogenic differentiation by inducing miR-135b-mediated inhibition of BMPER through Stat3 activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic conversion of nitrogen to ammonia with water under ambient conditions is a desired strategy. In the present work, in order to increase the activity of the TiO2 photocatalyst for N2 fixation, bilayer TiO2/SiO2 opal composite membranes were prepared via coupling TiO2 films with SiO2 opal photonic crystal (PC) films, and their photocatalytic performance in nitrogen fixation was tested. It was shown that when the photonic band gap (PBG) of the SiO2 PCs matched with the UV-Vis absorption edge of TiO2, the photon localization effect of SiO2 PCs was maximized to promote the photon capture of TiO2, resulting in more photogenerated electron–hole pairs for N2 activation. The photon localization effect of SiO2 PCs is negatively correlated with the thickness of the TiO2 films in composite membranes. The nitrogen fixation activity of the TiO2/SiO2 opal composite membrane, with the thickness of TiO2 film being 700 nm, was found to be 42.6 μmol gcat−1 h−1, which was 68% higher than that of the plain TiO2 film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post-craniotomy pain is a common occurrence which is associated with poor outcomes. Pre-emptive scalp infiltration with dexamethasone and ropivacaine has been proven effective in previous studies but with limited clinical significance. Dexamethasone palmitate emulsion (D-PAL) is a pro-drug incorporating dexamethasone into lipid microspheres with greater anti-inflammatory activity and fewer side effects than free dexamethasone. However, its effects in post-craniotomy pain management remain unknown. This study hypothesizes that pre-emptive scalp infiltration with ropivacaine plus D-PAL emulsion can achieve superior analgesic effects to ropivacaine alone in adult patients undergoing craniotomy. Methods/design: This is a single center, randomized controlled trial enrolling 130 patients scheduled for supratentorial craniotomy, which is expected to last longer than 4 h. We compare the efficacy and safety for postoperative pain relief of ropivacaine plus D-PAL group and ropivacaine alone group following pre-emptive scalp infiltration. Primary outcome will be pain Numerical Rating Scale at 24 h postoperatively. Secondary outcomes will include further analgesia evaluations and drug-related complications within a follow-up period of 3 months. Discussion: This is the first randomized controlled trial aiming to assess the possible benefits or disadvantages of D-PAL emulsion for incisional pain in craniotomy. It may provide an alternative to optimize pain outcome for neurosurgical patients. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04488315). Registered on 19 July 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence regarding the relationship between preoperative platelet and 30-day postoperative mortality of intracranial tumor patients undergoing craniotomy is still limited. Therefore, the present research was conducted to explore the link of the platelet and 30-day postoperative mortality. Methods: Electronic medical records of 18,642 adult patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumors from 2012 to 2015 in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, were subject to secondary retrospective analysis. A binary logistic regression model evaluated the independent association between preoperative platelet and 30-day postoperative mortality. A generalized additive model and smooth curve fitting was conducted to explore the exact shape of the curve between them. Additionally, We also conducted sensitivity analyses to test the robustness of the results, and performed subgroup analyses. Results: Eighteen thousand sixty-three patients were included in this study analysis. Of these, 47.49% were male. The mean preoperative platelet value was (244.12 ± 76.77) × 109/L. The 30-day postoperative mortality of included participants was 2.5% (452/18,063). After adjusting covariates, the results showed that preoperative platelet was positively associated with 30-day postoperative mortality (OR = 0.999, 95%CI: 0.997, 1.000). There was also a nonlinear relationship between preoperative platelet and 30-day postoperative mortality, and the inflection point of the platelet was 236. The effect sizes (OR) on the right and left sides of the inflection point were 1.002 (1.000, 1.004) and 0.993 (0.990, 0.995), respectively. And sensitive analysis demonstrated the robustness of the results. Subgroup analysis showed a stronger association between preoperative platelet and 30-day postoperative mortality in non-emergency surgery patients when preoperative platelet value is less than 235 × 109/L. Conclusions: This research demonstrates a positive and non-linear relationship between preoperative platelet and 30-day postoperative mortality in U.S. adult brain tumor patients undergoing craniotomy. Preoperative platelet is strongly related to 30-day postoperative mortality when the platelet is less than 235 × 109/L. Proper preoperative management of platelet and maintenance of platelet near inflection point (235) could reduce risk of 30-day postoperative mortality in these cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The buckling behaviors of a nanocolumn on an elastic substrate are studied by using the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory (EBT) and the Timoshenko beam theory (TBT). According the Hamilton's principle, the governing equations for the buckling of nanocolumn with surface effect and self-weight are derived. The boundary conditions considering the rotational spring stiffness are given, the Galerkin method is adopted to solve the numerical solution of the governing equations, and the convergence and validation of the numerical solution are verified by using the finite element method (FEM). The influences of surface effect and elastic substrate on the critical load parameter are investigated. It is found that comparing with the EBT, the TBT can more accurately describe the buckling behaviors of the nanocolumn on the elastic substrate, and increasing the surface elastic modulus, or increasing the residual stress, can improve the stiffness of nanocolumn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine-root decomposition is a critical process regulating ecosystem carbon cycles and affecting nutrient cycling and soil fertility. However, whether interaction between warming and grazing affects fine-root decomposition is still under-researched in natural grasslands. A two-factorial experiment with asymmetric warming (i.e. daytime vs. nighttime and growing season vs. nongrowing season) and moderate grazing (i.e. about average 50% forage utilization rate) was conducted to explore whether warming and grazing affect fine-root decomposition and loss of nutrients during a 2-year decomposition period in an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau. Both warming and grazing facilitated carbon cycling through increase in fine-root decomposition, and influenced element cycling which varies among elements. The effects of warming and grazing on fine-root decomposition and loss of nutrients were additive. Both warming and grazing significantly increased cumulative percentage mass loss and total organic carbon loss of fine roots during the 2-year experiment. Only warming with grazing treatment reduced percentage nitrogen loss, whereas warming, regardless of grazing, decreased percentage phosphorus loss. Warming and grazing alone increased percentage loss of potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium compared with control. There were no interactions between warming and grazing on fine-root decomposition and loss of nutrients. There was greater temperature sensitivity of decreased phosphorus loss than that of decreased nitrogen loss. Different temperature sensitivities of percentage loss of nutrients from fine-root decomposition would alter ratios of the available nutrients in soils, and may further affect ecosystem structure and functions in future warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioma grading during surgery can help clinical treatment planning and prognosis, but intraoperative pathological examination of frozen sections is limited by the long processing time and complex procedures. Near-infrared fluorescence imaging provides chances for fast and accurate real-time diagnosis. Recently, deep learning techniques have been actively explored for medical image analysis and disease diagnosis. However, issues of near-infrared fluorescence images, including small-scale, noise, and low-resolution, increase the difficulty of training a satisfying network. Multi-modal imaging can provide complementary information to boost model performance, but simultaneously designing a proper network and utilizing the information of multi-modal data is challenging. In this work, we propose a novel neural architecture search method DLS-DARTS to automatically search for network architectures to handle these issues. DLS-DARTS has two learnable stems for multi-modal low-level feature fusion and uses a modified perturbation-based derivation strategy to improve the performance on the area under the curve and accuracy. White light imaging and fluorescence imaging in the first near-infrared window (650-900 nm) and the second near-infrared window (1,000-1,700 nm) are applied to provide multi-modal information on glioma tissues. In the experiments on 1,115 surgical glioma specimens, DLS-DARTS achieved an area under the curve of 0.843 and an accuracy of 0.634, which outperformed manually designed convolutional neural networks including ResNet, PyramidNet, and EfficientNet, and a state-of-the-art neural architecture search method for multi-modal medical image classification. Our study demonstrates that DLS-DARTS has the potential to help neurosurgeons during surgery, showing high prospects in medical image analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma represents one of the most aggressive cancers, characterized by severely limited therapeutic options. Despite extensive investigations into this brain malignancy, cellular and molecular components governing its immunosuppressive microenvironment remain incompletely understood. Here, we identify a distinct neutrophil subpopulation, termed disease-specific suppressive granulocytes (DSSGs), present in human glioblastoma and lower-grade gliomas. DSSGs exhibit the concurrent expression of multiple immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory signals, and their abundance strongly correlates with glioma grades and poor clinical outcomes. Genetic disruption of neutrophil recruitment in immunocompetent mouse models of gliomas, achieved through Cxcl1 knockout in glioma cells or host-specific Cxcr2 deletion or diphtheria toxin A-mediated neutrophil depletion, can significantly enhance antitumor immunity and prolong survival. Further, we reveal that the skull bone marrow and meninges can be the primary sources of neutrophils and DSSGs in human and mouse glioma tumors. These findings demonstrate a critical mechanism underlying the establishment of the immunosuppressive microenvironment in gliomas. [Display omitted] • Immunosuppressive neutrophils are distinctly present within human and mouse glioma tumors • Neutrophils in glioma tumors express multiple immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory signals • Blockage of neutrophil responses improves the survival in mouse models of lethal gliomas • Neutrophils can be recruited into glioma tumors from the skull bone marrow and the meninges Zhao et al. report the identification and characterization of immunosuppressive neutrophils within human and mouse glioma tumors. The presence of such disease-specific suppressive granulocytes (DSSGs) correlates with glioma grades and poor clinical outcomes. Blockage of DSSGs, which partly originate from the skull bone marrow and meninges, strongly delays tumor progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]