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Color centers in silicon carbide (SiC) offer exciting possibilities for quantum information processing. However, the challenge of ionization during optical manipulation leads to charge variations, hampering the efficacy of spin-photon interfaces. Recent research predicted that modified divacancy color centers can stabilize their charge states, resisting photoionization. This study presents a method for precisely creating single divacancy arrays in 4H-SiC using a focused helium ion beam. Photoluminescence tests reveal consistent emission with minimal linewidth fluctuations (∼50 MHz over 3 h). By measuring the ionization rate for different polytypes of divacancies, we found that the modified divacancies are more robust against resonant excitation. Furthermore, angle-resolved photoluminescence excitation spectra unveil two resonant-transition lines with orthogonal polarizations. Enhanced optical and spin characteristics were notably observed in these color centers compared to those generated through carbon-ion and shallow implantation methods, positioning modified divacancies as promising contenders for advancing quantum networking. Divacancy color centers in SiC are promising candidates for a spin-photon interface, but typically show charge-state instability under optical excitation. Here the authors show that modified divacancies created by a focused helium ion beam are robust against photoionization and have promising properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of N,N‐chelate half‐sandwich iridium complexes were synthesized by a simple method with good yields. The dehydrogenation of a series of aromatic and aliphatic primary alcohols to corresponding carboxylic acids has been successfully achieved by the prepared air stable iridium complexes under mild reaction conditions. Carboxylic acids were obtained in high yields under open flask condition with broad substrates and good tolerance to sensitive functional groups. Such a half‐sandwich iridium catalyst system showed desirable stability and catalytic activity, and the achievement of a high TOF of 372.0 h−1 could be observed with an extremely low catalyst loading of only 0.05 mol%. Furthermore, the sustainable catalyst could be reused for a minimum of five cycles without obviously losing its activity, highlighting its potential application in industry. Structure of N,N‐chelate iridium complexes 1 and 3 were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TQS‐168, a first‐in‐class small‐molecule inducer of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma coactivator 1‐alpha gene expression, is in development for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A single‐ascending‐dose (SAD) and multiple‐ascending‐dose (MAD) study of TQS‐168 was carried out in healthy male subjects to investigate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), food effect, and preliminary pharmacodynamic effects (PD). Since solubility enhancement could be beneficial, assessment of three formulations was incorporated into the study using an integrated rapid manufacturing and clinical testing approach. Dosing in the SAD part was initiated with a crystalline methylcellulose (MC) suspension, and then spray‐dried dispersion (SDD) and hot‐melt extrusion (HME) suspensions were evaluated. The HME and SDD formulations showed two and fourfold higher exposure than the MC suspension, respectively, and the SDD formulation was selected for progression to subsequent SAD and MAD cohorts, in which there was further investigation of the food effect on exposure in addition to assessments of safety, tolerability, PK, and PD. Cmax and AUC plasma exposures of TQS‐168 were supra‐proportional at higher doses, irrespective of formulation. Median Tmax for TQS‐168 occurred between 0.5 and 4.0 h post‐dose and occurred later with higher doses. Geometric mean half‐lives (T1/2) for TQS‐168 were independent of formulation and food, ranging from 3.2 to 10.5 h following single doses and 4.1 to 7.3 h following multiple doses. Food blunted TQS‐168 Cmax but had minimal impact on AUC. TQS‐168 was considered to be safe and generally well tolerated following single and multiple oral doses. The SDD formulation was selected for future patient studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The impacts of plastic pollution on soil ecosystems have emerged as a significant global environmental concern. The progress in understanding how plastic pollution affects soil microbial communities and ecological functions is essential for addressing this issue effectively. Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted on the literature from the Web of Science Core Collection database to offer valuable insights into the dynamics and trends in this field. Results: To date, the effects of plastic residues on soil enzymatic activities, microbial biomass, respiration rate, community diversity and functions have been examined, whereas the effects of plastic pollution on soil microbes are still controversial. Discussion: To include a comprehensive examination of the combined effects of plastic residue properties (Type, element composition, size and age), soil properties (soil texture, pH) at environmentally relevant concentrations with various exposure durations under field conditions in future studies is crucial for a holistic understanding of the impact of plastic pollution on soil ecosystems. Risk assessment of plastic pollution, particularly for nanoplasctics, from the perspective of soil food web and ecosystem multifunctioning is also needed. By addressing critical knowledge gaps, scholars can play a pivotal role in developing strategies to mitigate the ecological risks posed by plastic pollution on soil microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early screening methods for the thyroid gland include palpation and imaging. Although palpation is relatively simple, its effectiveness in detecting early clinical signs of the thyroid gland may be limited, especially in children, due to the shorter thyroid growth time. Therefore, this constitutes a crucial foundational work. However, accurately determining the location and size of the thyroid gland in children is a challenging task. Accuracy depends on the experience of the ultrasound operator in current clinical practice, leading to subjective results. Even among experts, there is poor agreement on thyroid identification. In addition, the effective use of ultrasound machines also relies on the experience of the ultrasound operator in current clinical practice. In order to extract sufficient texture information from pediatric thyroid ultrasound images while reducing the computational complexity and number of parameters, this paper designs a novel U-Net-based network called DC-Contrast U-Net, which aims to achieve better segmentation performance with lower complexity in medical image segmentation. The results show that compared with other U-Net-related segmentation models, the proposed DC-Contrast U-Net model achieves higher segmentation accuracy while improving the inference speed, making it a promising candidate for deployment in medical edge devices in clinical applications in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-efficient development of shale oil is one of the urgent problems in the petroleum industry. The technology of CO2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) has shown significant effects in developing shale oil. The effects of several glycol ether additives with low molecular weight on the interactions between CO2 and oil were investigated here. The solubility of glycol ether additive in CO2 was firstly characterized. Then, the effects of glycol ether additives on the interfacial tension (IFT) between CO2 and hexadecane and the volume expansion and extraction performance between CO2 and hexadecane under different pressures was investigated. The experimental results show that diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (DEG), triethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEG), and tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TTEG) all have low cloud point pressure and high affinity with CO2. Under the same mass fraction, DGE has the best effect to reduce the IFT between hexadecane and CO2 by more than 30.0%, while an overall reduction of 20.0%e30.0% for TEG and 10.0%e20.0% for TTEG. A new method to measure the extraction and expansion rates has been established and can calculate the swelling factor accurately. After adding 1.0% DEG, the expansion and extraction amounts of CO2 for hexadecane are respectively increased to 1.75 times and 2.25 times. The results show that glycol ether additives assisted CO2 have potential application for EOR. This study can provide theoretical guidance for the optimization of CO2 composite systems for oil displacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preschooling is a critical time for intervention in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); thus, we analyzed brain tissue component volumes (BTCVs) and clinical indicators in preschool children with ASD to identify new biomarkers for early screening. Methods: Eighty preschool children (3–6 years) with ASD were retrospectively included. The whole-brain myelin content (MyC), white matter (WM), gray matter (GM), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and non-WM/GM/MyC/CSF brain component volumes were obtained using synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (SyMRI). Clinical data, such as intelligence scores, autism diagnostic observation schedule-calibrated severity scores, age at first production of single words (AFSW), age at first production of phrases (AFP), and age at walking onset (AWO), were also collected. The correlation between the BTCV and clinical data was evaluated, and the effect of BTCVs on clinical data was assessed by a regression model. Results: WM and GM volumes were positively correlated with intelligence scores (both P < 0.001), but WM and GM did not affect intelligence scores (P = 0.116, P = 0.290). AWO was positively correlated with AFSW and AFP (both P < 0.001). The multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that MyC, AFSW, AFP, and AWO were significantly different (P = 0.005, P < 0.001, P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study revealed positive correlations between WM and GM volumes and intelligence scores. Whole-brain MyC affected AFSW, AFP, and AWO in preschool children with ASD. Noninvasive quantification of BTCVs via SyMRI revealed a new visualizable and quantifiable biomarker (abnormal MyC) for early ASD screening in preschool children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, complicated and life threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome that maybe triggered by various infectious agents, malignancies and rheumatologic disorders. Early diagnosis and identification of the cause is essential to initiate appropriate treatment and improve the quality of life and survival of patients. The recently developed Onco-mNGS technology can be successfully used for simultaneous detection of infections and tumors. Methods: In the present study, 92 patients with clinically confirmed HLH were etiologically subtyped for infection, tumor and autoimmunity based on CNV and microbial data generated by Onco-mNGS technology, and a predictive model was developed and validated for the differential diagnosis of the underlying disease leading to secondary HLH. Furthermore, the treatment outcomes of patients with HLH triggered by EBV infection and non-EBV infection were evaluated, respectively. Results: The current study demonstrated that the novel Onco-mNGS can identify the infection and malignancy-related triggers among patients with secondary HLH. A random forest classification model based on CNV profile, infectious pathogen spectrum and blood microbial community was developed to better identify the different HLH subtypes and determine the underlying triggers. The prognosis for treatment of HLH patients is not only associated with CNV, but also with the presence of pathogens and non-pathogens in peripheral blood. Higher CNV burden along with frequent deletions on chromosome 19, higher pathogen burden and lower non-pathogenic microbes were prognosis factors that significantly related with unfavorable treatment outcomes. Discussion: Our study provided comprehensive knowledge in the triggers and prognostic predictors of patients with secondary HLH, which may help early diagnosis and appropriate targeted therapy, thus improving the survival and prognosis of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the convergence properties of the parareal algorithm with uni- form coarse time grid and arbitrarily distributed (nonuniform) fine time grid, which may be changed at each iteration. We employ the backward-Euler method as the coarse propagator and a general single-step time-integrator as the fine propagator. Specifically, we consider two implementations of the coarse grid correction: the standard time-stepping mode and the parallel mode via the so-called diagonalization technique. For both cases, we prove that under certain conditions of the stability function of the fine propagator, the convergence factor of the parareal algorithm is not larger than that of the associated algorithm with a uniform fine time grid. Furthermore, we show that when such conditions are not satisfied, one can indeed observe degenerations of the convergence rate. The model that is used for performing the analysis is the Dahlquist test equation with nonnegative parameter, and the numerical results indicate that the theoretical results hold for nonlinear ODEs and linear ODEs where the coefficient matrix has complex eigenvalues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Evidence on the relationship between self-rated health status and incident type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in China is scarce. This study aims to examine the prospective association of self-rated health status with the subsequent risk of T2DM among middle- aged and older Chinese subjects. Methods: Data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study of 9844 Chinese individuals aged 45 years or older. Cox proportional hazardsmodels were used to yield hazard ratios (HRs) relating self-rated health status to the 7-year incidence of T2DM, adjusting for conventional risk factors. Results: Compared to those with very good or good self-rated health, individuals with poor health had a significantly higher risk of developing T2DM in the multivariable-adjusted model [HR = 1.36 (1.07, 1.73)]. Subgroup analysis by sex showed stronger associations in women [HR = 1.53 (1.11, 2.12)]. Interaction analyses indicated that factors such as age, sex, obesity, smoking status, drinking status, history of hypertension and history of dyslipidemia did not modify the association (all P-interaction >0.05). Conclusion: Poor self-rated health status is associated with a higher risk of developing T2DM in middle-aged and older Chinese people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to identify and quantify the kinematic and kinetic gait deviations in post-stroke hemiplegic patients with matched healthy controls using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM). Methods: Fifteen chronic stroke patients [4 females, 11 males; age 53.7 (standard deviation 12.2) years; body mass 65.4 (10.4) kg; standing height 168.5 (9.6) cm] and 15 matched healthy controls [4 females, 11 males; age 52.9 (11.7) years; body weight 66.5 (10.7) years; standing height 168.3 (8.8) cm] were recruited. In a 10-m walking task, joint angles, ground reaction forces (GRF), and joint moments were collected, analyzed, and compared using SPM for an entire gait cycle. Results: Generally, when comparing the stroke patients' affected (hemiplegic) and less-affected (contralateral) limbs with the control group, SPM identified significant differences in the late stance phase and early swing phase in the joint angles and moments in bilateral limbs (all p < 0.005). In addition, the vertical and anteroposterior components of GRF were significantly different in various periods of the stance phase (all p < 0.005), while the mediolateral component showed no differences between the two groups. Conclusion: SPM was able to detect abnormal gait patterns in both the affected and less-affected limbs of stroke patients with significant differences when compared with matched controls. The findings draw attention to significant quantifiable gait deviations in the less-affected post-stroke limb with the potential impact to inform gait retraining strategies for clinicians and physiotherapists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Alcohol consumption can induce a neuroinflammatory response and contribute to the progression of neurodegeneration. However, its association with Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, remains undetermined. Recent studies suggest that the glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) is a potential biomarker for PD. We evaluated the association of rs199347, a variant of the GPNMB gene, with alcohol consumption and methylation upstream of GPNMB. Methods: We retrieved genetic and DNA methylation data obtained from participants enrolled in the Taiwan Biobank (TWB) between 2008 and 2016. After excluding individuals with incomplete or missing information about potential PD risk factors, we included 1,357 participants in our final analyses. We used multiple linear regression to assess the association of GPNMB rs199347 and chronic alcohol consumption (and other potential risk factors) with GPNMB cg17274742 methylation. Results: There was no difference between the distribution of GPNMB rs199347 genotypes between chronic alcohol consumers and the other study participants. A significant interaction was observed between the GPNMB rs199347 variant and alcohol consumption (p = 0.0102) concerning cg17274742 methylation. Compared to non-chronic alcohol consumers with the AA genotype, alcohol drinkers with the rs199347 GG genotype had significantly lower levels (hypomethylation) of cg17274742 (p = 0.0187). Conclusion: Alcohol consumption among individuals with the rs199347 GG genotype was associated with lower levels of cg17274742 methylation, which could increase expression of the GPNMB gene, an important neuroinflammatoryrelated risk gene for PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many patients with dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) seek traditional medicine consultations. This study intended to investigate the association of complementary Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) with the surgery rate in patients with DUB in Taiwan. Methods: We enrolled 43,027 patients with newly diagnosed DUB (ICD-9-CM codes 626.8) from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan during the period of 1997 to 2010. Among them, 38,324 were CHM users, and 4703 did not receive CHM treatment. After performing a 1:1 propensity-score match based on patients' age (per 5 years), comorbidities, conventional drugs, childbirth status, duration from the diagnosis year of DUB and index year, there were an equal number (n=4642) of patients in the CHM cohort and non-CHM cohort. The outcome measurement was the comparison of incidences of surgical events, including hysterectomy and endometrial ablation, in the two cohorts before the end of 2013. Results: CHM users had a lower incidence of surgery than non-CHM users (adjusted HR 0.27, 95% CI: 0.22– 0.33). The cumulative incidence of surgery was significantly lower in the CHM cohort during the follow-up period (Log rank test, p < 0.001). A total of 146 patients in the CHM cohort (4.99 per 1000 person-years) and 485 patients in the non-CHM cohort (20.19 per 1000 person-years) received surgery (adjusted HR 0.27, 95% CI: 0.22– 0.33). CHM also reduced the risk of surgery in DUB patients with or without comorbidities. Regardless of childbirth status or whether patients took NSAIDs, tranexamic acid or progesterone, fewer patients in the CHM cohort underwent surgery than in the non-CHM cohort. The most commonly prescribed single herb and formula were Yi-Mu-Cao (Herba Leonuri) and Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San, respectively. Conclusion: The real-world data revealed that CHM is associated with a reduced surgery rate in DUB patients. This information may be provided for further clinical investigations and policy-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the important pathomechanisms in the development of atrial fibrillation (AF) with underidentified genetic pathophysiology. Methods: Summarized data of methylation, expression and protein abundance levels of mitochondria-related genes were obtained from corresponding studies, respectively. Genes related to mitochondria dysfunction in associations with AF were obtained from the UK Biobank (discovery), and the FinnGen study (replication). Summary-data-based Mendelian randomization analysis (SMR) was performed to assess potential causal relationships between mitochondria-related genes related to the molecular features of AF. Colocalization analysis was further conducted to assess whether the identified signal pairs shared causal genetic variants. Results: Five mitochondria-related genes were found to have causal effects with AF in the sensitivity and the colocalization analyses. Strong associations with increased risk of AF were identified with increased expression level of 4 mitochondria-related genes, including PCCB (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.05-1.12; PPH4 = 0.95), COX18 (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.29-2.60; PPH4 = 0.83), SLC25A15 (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.14-1.58; PPH4 = 0.85), and STX17 (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.08-1.24; PPH4 = 0.76). Conversely, genetically predicted higher levels expression of UQCC1 (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.91–0.97) were associated with decreased risk of AF. After further tissue-specific validation, genetically predicted expression levels of PCCB (OR 1.12, 95%, CI 1.01-1.24, p = 0.025) and STX17 (OR 1.13, 95%, CI 1.04- 1.23, p = 0.006) in atrial appendage were strongly associated with the increased risk of AF. Conclusion: Mitochondria-related genes are involved either positively (PCCB, COX18, SLC25A15 and STX17) or negatively (UQCCI) in the pathogenesis and the development of AF. These candidate genes may serve as targets for potential development of agents in the prevention and treatment of AF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety-related disorders respond to cognitive behavioral therapies, which involved the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Previous studies have suggested that subregions of the mPFC have different and even opposite roles in regulating innate anxiety. However, the specific causal targets of their descending projections in modulating innate anxiety and stress-induced anxiety have yet to be fully elucidated. Here, we found that among the various downstream pathways of the prelimbic cortex (PL), a subregion of the mPFC, PLmediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MD) projection, and PL-ventral tegmental area (VTA) projection exhibited antagonistic effects on anxiety-like behavior, while the PL-MD projection but not PL-VTA projection was necessary for the animal to guide anxiety-related behavior. In addition, MD-projecting PL neurons bidirectionally regulated remote but not recent fear memory retrieval. Notably, restraint stress induced high-anxiety state accompanied by strengthening the excitatory inputs onto MD-projecting PL neurons, and inhibiting PL-MD pathway rescued the stress-induced anxiety. Our findings reveal that the activity of PL-MD pathway may be an essential factor to maintain certain level of anxiety, and stress increased the excitability of this pathway, leading to inappropriate emotional expression, and suggests that targeting specific PL circuits may aid the development of therapies for the treatment of stress-related disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herba Epimedii’s leaves are highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine for their substantial concentration of flavonoids, which play a crucial role in manifesting the plant’s therapeutic properties. This study investigated the metabolomic, transcriptomic and proteomic profiles of leaves from two Herba Epimedii cultivars, Epipremnum sagittatum (J) and Epipremnum pubescens (R), at three different developmental stages. Metabolite identification and analysis revealed a total of 1,412 and 1,421 metabolites with known structures were found. Flavonoids made up of 33%, including 10 significant accumulated icariin analogues. Transcriptomic analysis unveiled totally 41,644 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) containing five encoded genes participated in icariin biosynthesis pathways. Totally, 9,745 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were found, including Cluster-47248.2.p1 (UDP-glucuronosy/UDP-glucosyltransferase), Cluster-30441.2.p1 (O-glucosyltransferase), and Cluster-28344.9.p1 (anthocyanidin 3-O-glucoside 2 “-O-glucosyltransferase-like) through proteomics analysis which are involved to icariin biosynthesis. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) assay exhibited, totally 12 proteins showing a strong relationship of false discovery rate (FDR) <0.05 with these three proteins containing 2 leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase-like protein SRF7, and 5 methyl jasmonate esterase 1. Multi-omics connection networks uncovered 237 DEGs and 72 DEPs exhibited significant associations with the 10 icariin analogues. Overall, our integrated omics approach provides comprehensive insights into the regulatory network underlying icariin synthesis in Herba Epimedii, offering valuable resources for further research and development in medicinal plant cultivation and pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A brake dynamometer has been modified to accurately study the concentration and size distribution of wear particles in different testing conditions. The test equipment was a charged low-pressure impactor ELPI+ from Dekati, Finland. 29 test conditions were defined based on speed, acceleration and initial brake temperature. Additionally, five different types of brake pads were selected for testing to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the particle size distribution characteristics of brake wear particles. The results showed that the mass of BWPs was unimodal in the range of 0.01-8.11 µm, with peak sizes at 2-5 µm or >8.11 µm, and particles of 0.5-3.0 µm accounted for an average of 49.09% of the total particulate mass, while particles with sizes of 3.0-8.11 µm accounted for an average of 49.72% of the total particulate mass. The number of particles emitted by abrasion had a bimodal distribution, with one in the nucleation mode and the other in the accumulation mode, with peak sizes of <10 nm and 1 µm, respectively; the nucleation mode particles accounted for an average of 60.11% of the total PN10, and the ultrafine particles accounted for an average of 82.15%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structurally symmetric dyes using functionalized fluorenes and benzotriazole as the main building moieties have been synthesized and found to exhibit efficient dual-state emission (DSE) and interesting two-wavelength or dual amplified spontaneous emission (dual-ASE) behaviors in the solution phase, which may benefit the development of organic gain materials with dual-wavelength amplification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Guanyu Zhixie Granule (GYZXG) is a traditional Chinese medicine compound with definite efficacy in intervening in gastric ulcers (GUs). However, the effect mechanisms on GU are still unclear. This study aimed to explore its mechanism against GU based on amalgamated strategies. Methods: The comprehensive chemical characterization of the active compounds of GYZXG was conducted using UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS. Based on these results, key targets and action mechanisms were predicted through network pharmacology. GU was then induced in rats using anhydrous ethanol (1  mL/200  g). The intervention effects of GYZXG on GU were evaluated by measuring the inhibition rate of GU, conducting HE staining, and assessing the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-4, Pepsin (PP), and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Real-time quantitative PCR (RT–qPCR) was used to verify the mRNA levels of key targets and pathways. Metabolomics, combined with 16S rRNA sequencing, was used to investigate and confirm the action mechanism of GYZXG on GU. The correlation analysis between differential gut microbiota and differential metabolites was conducted using the spearman method. Results: For the first time, the results showed that nine active ingredients and sixteen targets were confirmed to intervene in GU when using GYZXG. Compared with the model group, GYZXG was found to increase the ulcer inhibition rate in the GYZXG-M group (p < 0.05), reduce the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, PP in gastric tissue, and increase the levels of IL-10, IL-4, and EGF. GYZXG could intervene in GU by regulating serum metabolites such as Glycocholic acid, Epinephrine, Ascorbic acid, and Linoleic acid, and by influencing bile secretion, the HIF-1 signaling pathway, and adipocyte catabolism. Additionally, GYZXG could intervene in GU by altering the gut microbiota diversity and modulating the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Bacteroides, Verrucomicrobia, Akkermansia, and Ruminococcus. The differential gut microbiota was strongly associated with serum differential metabolites. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated a significant role of the HIF-1 signaling pathway in GYZXG’s intervention on GU. The changes in metabolites within metabolic pathways and the alterations in RELA, HIF1A, and EGF mRNA levels in RT-qPCR experiments provide further confirmation of this result. Conclusion: GYZXG can intervene in GU induced by anhydrous ethanol in rats by regulating gut microbiota and metabolic disorders, providing a theoretical basis for its use in GU intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: As an important coniferous tree in northeast China, Pinus koraiensis not only maintains the stability of the forest ecosystem at high latitudes but also plays a crucial role in regional socioeconomic development. With the intensification of climate change in recent years, the stability of P. koraiensis habitats is constantly disturbed by external uncertain environmental factors, which greatly affects the geographical distribution of P. koraiensis. However, its geographical distribution is still unclear, which greatly hinders further understanding of the ecological process of P. koraiensis. Consequently, it is particularly important to explore the potential distribution and migration of P. koraiensis during several critical periods. Methods: Random forest (RF) was used to establish the redistribution of P. koraiensis. Results: The results showed that temperature seasonality and precipitation in the coldest quarter were the key factors limiting the current distribution of P. koraiensis. Currently, P. koraiensis is mainly distributed in the Lesser Khingan Mountains and Changbai Mountains, with a total suitable area of ~4.59 x 105 km². In the past, the historical distribution of P. koraiensis during the LIG period was basically consistent with the current distribution range, but its distribution range was more complete. In the LGM period, the suitable distribution of P. koraiensis became fragmented, especially at the connection between the Lesser Khingan Mountains and the Changbai Mountains. Under future climate scenarios, the suitable distribution of P. koraiensis is projected to increase, while the highly suitable distribution will be reduced. The dramatically worrying change is that the suitable habitats of P. koraiensis are gradually breaking and separating in the junction zone between the Lesser Khingan Mountains and Changbai Mountains, which will cause the ecological corridor to break. The shifts in the distribution centroid indicated that the P. koraiensis population will migrate northward. Discussion: However, it remains to be verified whether long-distance migration can be achieved without human assistance. Our results can provide some solutions for protection and management strategies for P. koraiensis populations and the impact of climate change, shedding light on the effectiveness of management responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing an ideal luminescent material with exceptional performance in various aspects, such as affordability, low toxicity, high photostability and security, is vital for advanced optical anti-counterfeiting. Here, halogen-doping-dependent luminescence MoS2 quantum dots were synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method for optical anti-counterfeiting ink. The results show that F-, Cl- and Br- doping results in notable fluorescence blueshifts of MoS2 quantum dots and significant enhancements in the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of up to 5.7, 5.0, and 3.2 times, respectively. However, I- incorporation causes a fluorescence redshift and a 25% decrease of PLQY. This mechanism is elucidated using density functional theory (DFT) and experiments. Specifically, F-, Cl- and Br- doping localizes surface electrons and blocks sulfur vacancies in MoS2 quantum dots, enhancing the release of neutral excitons from trions and defect-bound excitons. Conversely, I- doping increases the surface charge and sulfur vacancies, favouring the conversion of neutral excitons into trions and defect-bound excitons. The halogen-doped MoS2 quantum dots are engineered as security ink, demonstrating high concealment, excellent photostability and easy fabrication. The study offers a novel way of tailoring fluorescence of MoS2 quantum dots, potentially extending to other transition metal dichalcogenide quantum dots and their optical anti-counterfeiting implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Icosahedral carboranes, C2B10H12 have long been considered to be aromatic but the extent of conjugation between these clusters and their substituents is still being debated. m- and p-Carboranes are compared with m- and p-phenylenes as conjugated bridges in optical functional chromophores with a donor and an acceptor as substituents here. The absorption and fluorescence data for both carboranes from experimental techniques (including femtosecond transient absorption, time-resolved fluorescence and broadband fluorescence upconversion) show that the absorption and emission processes involve strong intramolecular charge transfer between the donor and acceptor substituents via the carborane cluster. From quantum chemical calculations on these carborane systems, the charge transfer process depends on the relative torsional angles of the donor and acceptor groups where an overlap between the two frontier orbitals exists in the bridging carborane cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A photoredox/copper co‐catalyzed ring‐opening cross‐coupling of aryl azides with cyclopropanols has been developed with fac‐Ir(ppy)3 as the photocatalyst. The reaction involves intermediacy of the anilino radical generated through reduction of the azido group by fac‐Ir(ppy)3* and [CuII]‐enabled oxidative ring‐opening of the cyclopropanol. An array of β‐aminoketone compounds were synthesized under redox‐neutral conditions by using this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Signal peptide peptidase (SPP) is an intramembrane protease involved in a variety of biological processes, it participates in the processing of signal peptides after the release of the nascent protein to regulate the endoplasmic reticulum associated degradation (ERAD) pathway, binds misfolded membrane proteins, and aids in their clearance process. Additionally, it regulates normal immune surveillance and assists in the processing of viral proteins. Although SPP is essential for many viral infections, its role in silkworms remains unclear. Studying its role in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, may be helpful in breeding virus-resistant silkworms. Methods: First, we performed RT-qPCR to analyze the expression pattern of BmSPP. Subsequently, we inhibited BmSPP using the SPP inhibitor 1,3-di-(Ncarboxybenzoyl-L-leucyl-L-leucylaminopropanone ((Z-LL)2-ketone) and downregulated the expression of BmSPP using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Furthermore, we assessed the impact of these interventions on the proliferation of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV). Results: We observed a decreased in the expression of BmSPP during viral proliferation. It was found that higher concentration of the inhibitor resulted in greater inhibition of BmNPV proliferation. The down-regulation of BmSPP in both in vivo and in vitro was found to affect the proliferation of BmNPV. In comparison to wild type silkworm, BmSPPKO silkworms exhibited a 12.4% reduction in mortality rate. Discussion: Collectively, this work demonstrates that BmSPP plays a negative regulatory role in silkworm resistance to BmNPV infection and is involved in virus proliferation and replication processes. This finding suggests that BmSPP servers as a target gene for BmNPV virus resistance in silkworms and can be utilized in resistance breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most preschool children are distressed during anesthesia induction. While current pharmacological methods are useful, there is a need for further optimization to an "ideal" standard. Remimazolam is an ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine, and intranasal remimazolam for pre-induction sedation may be promising. Methods: This study included 32 preschool children who underwent short and minor surgery between October 2022 and January 2023. After pretreatment with lidocaine, remimazolam was administered to both nostrils using a mucosal atomizer device. The University of Michigan Sedation Score (UMSS) was assessed for sedation 6, 9, 12, 15, and 20 min after intranasal atomization. We used Dixon's up-and-down method, and probit and isotonic regressions to determine the 50% effective dose (ED50) and 95% effective dose (ED95) of intranasal remimazolam for pre-induction sedation. Results: Twenty-nine pediatric patients were included in the final analysis. The ED50 and ED95 of intranasal remimazolam for successful pre-induction sedation, when processed via probit analysis, were 0.65 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59-0.71) and 0.78 mg/kg (95% CI, 0.72-1.07), respectively. In contrast, when processed by isotonic regression, they were 0.65 (95% CI: 0.58-0.72 mg/kg) and 0.78 mg/kg (95% CI: 0.69-1.08 mg/kg), respectively. At 6 min after intranasal remimazolam treatment, 81.2% (13/16) of "positive" participants were successfully sedated with a UMSSS1. All the "positive" participants were successfully sedated within 9 min. Conclusion: Intranasal remimazolam is feasible for preschool children with a short onset time. For successful pre-induction sedation, the ED50 and ED95 of intranasal remimazolam were 0.65 and 0.78 mg/kg, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surfactants are widely used in the fracturing fluid to enhance the imbibition and thus the oil recovery rate. However, current numerical models cannot capture the physics behind capillary imbibition during the wettability alteration by surfactants. Although the interacting capillary bundle (ICB) model shows potential in characterizing imbibition rates in different pores during wettability alteration, the existing ICB models neglect the influence of wettability and viscosity ratio on the imbibition behavior, making it difficult to accurately describe the oilewater imbibition behavior within the porous media. In this work, a new ICB mathematical model is established by introducing pressure balance without assuming the position of the leading front to comprehensively describe the imbibition behavior in a porous medium under different conditions, including gaseliquid spontaneous imbibition and oilewater imbibition. When the pore size distribution of a tight rock is known, this new model can predict the changes of water saturation during the displacement process in the tight rock, and also determine the imbibition rate in pores of different sizes. The water saturation profiles obtained from the new model are validated against the waterflooding simulation results from the CMG, while the imbibition rates calculated by the model are validated against the experimental observations of gaseliquid spontaneous imbibition. The good match above indicates the newly proposed model can show the water saturation profile at a macroscopic scale while capture the underlying physics of the multiphase flow in a porous medium at a microscopic scale. Simulation results obtained from this model indicate that both wettability and viscosity ratio can affect the sequence of fluid imbibition into pores of different sizes during the multiphase flow, where less-viscous wetting fluid is preferentially imbibed into larger pores while more-viscous wetting fluid tends to be imbibed into smaller pores. Furthermore, this model provides an avenue to calculate the imbibition rate in pores of different sizes during wettability alteration and capture the non-Darcy effect in micro- and nano-scale pores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulating electronic structures of single-atom metal cocatalysts is vital for highly active photoreduction of CO2, and it's especially challenging to develop a facile method to modify the dispersion of atomical photocatalytic sites. We herein report an ion-loading pyrolysis route to in-situ anchor Pd single atoms as well as twinned Pd nanoparticles on ultra-thin graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (PdTP/PdSA-CN) for high-efficiency photoreduction of CO2. The anchored Pd twinned nanoparticles donate electrons to adjacent single Pd-N4 sites through the carbon nitride networks, and the optimized PdTP/PdSA-CN photocatalyst exhibits a CO evolution rate up to 46.5 μmol g-1 h2 with nearly 100% selectivity. As revealed by spectroscopic and theoretical analyses, the superior photocatalytic activity is attributed to the lowered desorption barrier of carbonyl species at electron-enriched Pd single atoms, together with the improved efficiencies of light-harvesting and charge separation/transport. This work has demonstrated the engineering of the electron density of single active sites with twinned metal nanoparticles assisted by strong electronic interaction with the support of the atomic metal, and unveiled the underlying mechanism for expedited photocatalytic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that involves dysregulation of innate and adaptive immune systems. Osteopontin (OPN) is a phosphorylated glycoprotein produced by a broad range of immune cells such as macrophages, keratinocytes, and T cells. However, the role of OPN in rosacea remains to be elucidated. In this study, it was found that OPN expression was significantly upregulated in rosacea patients and LL37-induced rosacea-like skin inflammation. Transcriptome sequencing results indicated that OPN regulated pro-inflammatory cytokines and promoted macrophage polarization towards M1 phenotype in rosacea-like skin inflammation. In vitro, it was demonstrated that intracellular OPN (iOPN) promoted LL37-induced IL1B production through ERK1/2 and JNK pathways in keratinocytes. Moreover, secreted OPN (sOPN) played an important role in keratinocyte-macrophage crosstalk. In conclusion, sOPN and iOPN were identified as key regulators of the innate immune system and played different roles in the pathogenesis of rosacea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rh(D) phenotype in a sample from a 19-year-old female patient showed weak positivity (1+). A follow- up sample was requested to further define the Rh(D) phenotype, her Rh(D) phenotype was tested by using another reagent, Rh(D) phenotype still showed weak reactivity (1+), RhCcEe phenotype was Ccee. Methods: Seven samples from the family members of the proposita were received. The RhDCcEe phenotypes were typed by the micro-column gel card and the unexpected antibodies were assayed by indirect anti-human globulin test (IAT). Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood sample and the novel RHD1058G>C allele was detected through an established sequence-specific primer PCR (PCR-SSP), RHD exons 1 - 10 were sequenced afterward by exon-specific amplification. The distribution of RHD1058G>C allele and RHD weak positive phenotype were investigated in the pedigrees. Results: The unexpected antibodies all were negative in the family members. The novel RHD1058G>C allele was found in the proposita, her father, and grandfather. Five family members were detected serologically with the common Rh(D)-positive phenotypes either as homozygote of RHD/RHD or heterozygote of RHD/RHd. Two family members were detected as weak D phenotypes in accordance with the genotyping results by PCR-SSP, and both of them have a D1058Ce haplotype and a dce haplotype. One member, her father, was tested common Rh(D)-positive with D1058Ce haplotype and a Dce haplotype. Conclusions: These data allow us to describe the characteristics of the weak D phenotype with a novel c.RHD-1058G>C allele, which may be partial D and increase the risk of RHD alloantibody. The novel RHD1058G>C allele was inherited in three generations in a family rather than spontaneous mutation in an individual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, significantly impacting patients' quality of life and increasing the risk of death, stroke, heart failure, and dementia. Over the past two decades, there have been significant breakthroughs in AF risk prediction and screening, stroke prevention, rhythm control, catheter ablation, and integrated management. During this period, the scale, quality, and experience of AF management in China have greatly improved, providing a solid foundation for the development of guidelines for the diagnosis and management of AF. To further promote standardized AF management, and apply new technologies and concepts to clinical practice in a timely and comprehensive manner, the Chinese Society of Cardiology of the Chinese Medical Association and the Heart Rhythm Committee of the Chinese Society of Biomedical Engineering have jointly developed the Chinese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation. The guidelines have comprehensively elaborated on various aspects of AF management and proposed the CHA2DS2-VASc-60 stroke risk score based on the characteristics of AF in the Asian population. The guidelines have also reevaluated the clinical application of AF screening, emphasized the significance of early rhythm control, and highlighted the central role of catheter ablation in rhythm control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intricate interplay between biomechanical and biochemical pathways in modulating morphogenesis is an interesting research topic. How biomechanical force regulates epithelial cell tubulogenesis remains poorly understood. Here, we established a model of tubulogenesis by culturing renal proximal tubular epithelial cells on a collagen gel while manipulating contractile force. Epithelial cells were dynamically self-organized into tubule-like structures by augmentation of cell protrusions and cell-cell association. Reduction and asymmetric distribution of phosphorylated myosin light chain 2, the actomyosin contractility, in cells grown on soft matrix preceded tube connection. Notably, reducing matrix stiffness via sonication of collagen fibrils and inhibiting actomyosin contractility with blebbistatin promoted tubulogenesis, whereas inhibition of cytoskeleton polymerization suppressed it. CXC chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1) expression was transcriptionally upregulated in cells undergoing tubulogenesis. Additionally, inhibiting actomyosin contractility facilitated CXCL1 polarization and cell protrusions preceding tube formation. Conversely, inhibiting the CXCL1-CXC receptor 1 pathway hindered cell protrusions and tubulogenesis. Mechanical property asymmetry with cell-collagen fibril interaction patterns at cell protrusions and along the tube structure supported the association of anisotropic contraction with tube formation. Furthermore, suppressing the mechanosensing machinery of integrin subunit beta 1 reduced CXCL1 expression, collagen remodeling, and impaired tubulogenesis. In summary, symmetry breaking of cell contractility on a soft collagen gel promotes CXCL1 polarization at cell protrusions which in turn facilitates cell-cell association and thus tubule connection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the alteration of individual brain morphological and functional network topological properties and their clinical significance in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Materials and methods: Eighteen patients with NMOSD and twenty-two healthy controls (HCs) were included. The clinical assessment of NMOSD patients involved evaluations of disability status, cognitive function, and fatigue impact. For each participant, brain images, including high-resolution T1-weighted images for individual morphological brain networks (MBNs) and resting-state functional MR images for functional brain networks (FBNs) were obtained. Topological properties were calculated and compared for both MBNs and FBNs. Then, partial correlation analysis was performed to investigate the relationships between the altered network properties and clinical variables. Finally, the altered network topological properties were used to classify NMOSD patients from HCs and to analyses time- to-progression of the patients. Results: The average Expanded Disability Status Scale score of NMOSD patients was 1.05 (range from 0 to 2), indicating mild disability. Compared to HCs, NMOSD patients exhibited a higher normalized characteristic path length (λ) in their MBNs (P = 0.0118, FDR corrected) but showed no significant differences in the global properties of FBNs (p: 0.405-0.488). Network-based statistical analysis revealed that MBNs had more significantly altered connections (P< 0.01, NBS corrected) than FBNs. Altered nodal properties of MBNs were correlated with disease duration or fatigue scores (P< 0.05/6 with Bonferroni correction). Using the altered nodal properties of MBNs, the accuracy of classification of NMOSD patients versus HCs was 96.4%, with a sensitivity of 93.3% and a specificity of 100%. This accuracy was better than that achieved using the altered nodal properties of FBNs. Nodal properties of MBN significantly predicted Expanded Disability Status Scale worsening in patients with NMOSD. Conclusion: The results indicated that patients with mild disability NMOSD exhibited compensatory increases in local network properties to maintain overall stability. Furthermore, the alterations in the morphological network nodal properties of NMOSD patients not only had better relevance for clinical assessments compared with functional network nodal properties, but also exhibited predictive values of EDSS worsening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]